Unsolved Mysteries of World War II Season 2 Episode 5 Stalin's Secret Armies

During World War II, Joseph Stalin’s Soviet Union played a crucial role in Allied victory. But what if some unknown forces backed the Soviets in ways never before imagined? This is the subject of Unsolved Mysteries of World War II season 2 episode 5, titled "Stalin's Secret Armies."

The episode delves into the mysteries surrounding Soviet victories, asking whether there were secret armies that contributed to Stalin's success. The episode attempts to unravel the web of mystery around the unfathomable numbers of soldiers, resources, and supplies that Stalin had at his disposal. As the Allies landed in Normandy in June 1944, Stalin had already successfully repulsed a massive invasion from the East. The sheer scale of the Soviet war machine seemed almost too much to be true, and the question remains whether some “secret armies” backed Stalin, and if so, who were they?

Experts on the Soviet Union and military history discuss the possibilities in "Stalin's Secret Armies," explaining how Stalin was able to move tens of thousands of troops and massive amounts of supplies across Nazi-occupied Europe at such an incredible pace. They look specifically at the 28th Army, which appeared to have suddenly appeared out of nowhere in the winter of 1941 to turn the tide against the Nazis at Moscow.

This idea gains further credence by evidence of secret military operations in several countries in Europe. Mysterious reports of Soviet submarines in Swedish waters and rumors of Soviet agents operating in France have led some to believe there were more than just conventional forces at work.

"Stalin's Secret Armies" also touches on Stalin's own paranoia, as the paranoia led him to see spies everywhere and forced him to take drastic measures. The so-called "purge trials" led to the imprisonment and execution of many Soviet officers, leaving aspirational leaders waiting for their chance to seize power. Some conspiracy theorists speculate that these purges were to remove those with knowledge of ‘secret armies’ under Soviet control.

Finally, "Stalin's Secret Armies" explores what may have happened to these alleged armies after the war. Despite a hope for “peaceful coexistence,” the relationship between the Soviet Union and Western powers broke down almost immediately. The continuing arms race ensured the funds for secret armies may have still been in play, though no one can point an exact finger at who is still paying for the possible hidden armament.

Overall, season 2 episode 5 of Unsolved Mysteries of World War II, "Stalin's Secret Armies” is a thrilling exploration of a little-known aspect of the Soviet military machine, reopening the possibility of secret weapons and armies during the era of World War II.