Ep 1. Operation Barbarossa

Soviet Storm: WWII in the East is a historical documentary series that chronicles the Eastern Front of World War II, with a focus on the Soviet Union's role in the conflict. In the first episode of season one, titled "Operation Barbarossa," viewers are taken back to the early morning of Sunday, June 22, 1941, when Nazi Germany launched a surprise attack on the Soviet Union along a front that stretched from the Baltic Sea in the north to the Black Sea in the south.

The episode showcases the initial success of the Germans in their lightning-fast advance into Soviet territory, and the stunned disbelief of the Soviet leadership, who had been lulled into a false sense of security by the non-aggression pact signed between the two countries in 1939. Using a mix of archival footage, reenactments, and expert commentary, "Operation Barbarossa" tells the story of the first few weeks of the war, from the Wehrmacht's crushing blows to the Red Army's desperate attempts to regroup and organize a defense.

As the episode progresses, viewers are introduced to some of the key figures on both sides of the conflict. We see Adolf Hitler and his generals celebrating their initial victories, convinced that victory is within their grasp. We witness the arrival of Erich von Manstein, one of the most talented and innovative German commanders of the war, who helps to shape the strategy for the push towards Moscow. And we meet Soviet leaders like Joseph Stalin and Georgy Zhukov, who must confront the harsh realities of a war that they were not fully prepared for.

One of the highlights of the episode is its emphasis on the human cost of the conflict. We see footage of devastated Soviet cities, with their buildings reduced to rubble and their civilians fleeing for their lives. We hear accounts of soldiers on both sides struggling to stay alive in the harsh conditions of the Eastern Front, with freezing temperatures, mud, and disease taking as many lives as enemy fire. And we learn about the atrocities committed by the Germans against Soviet civilians and prisoners of war, including the massacre at Babi Yar, where tens of thousands of Jews, Romani, and others were murdered in cold blood.

Despite the overwhelming odds against them, the Soviet forces eventually manage to halt the German advance in several key places, most notably at Moscow, where the Wehrmacht is stopped just miles from the capital's center. "Operation Barbarossa" ends with the Soviets mounting a counteroffensive that pushes the Germans back and sets the stage for a long and brutal war of attrition in which both sides will suffer staggering losses.

Overall, "Operation Barbarossa" is a gripping and informative introduction to Soviet Storm, laying out the conflict's stakes and key players while also providing insights into the human toll of war. With its mix of historical footage, expert analysis, and dramatic reenactments, the episode takes viewers on a harrowing journey into one of the most savage and consequential conflicts of the 20th century.