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Russian anti-aircraft emplacements spoil Gorky Park. German troops roared into Russia on 22nd June 1941. Turning the Soviet-Nazi Pact on it's head, Hitler's almost manic hatred of communism led him to believe that crushing Soviet Russia would be a quick campaign before concentrating on the destruction of Britian's defences. By the time the hard Russian winter had set in, Hitler's forces had pushed to the outskirts of Moscow, capturing a staggering total 170,000 prisoners in several camapaigns. A large scale Russian counter offensive began, exhausting the Germans who were not equipped to deal with the extremeties in the weather. Despite an attempted second German advance in the spring of '42, the forces were halted in Stalingrad when one of the German Field Marshals surrendered. The tide had turned and Russia swept the enemy out of the country, taking their own troops as far as Berlin. Ulitimately, the invasion was one of The Fuhrer's greatest mistakes, and it cost him dear, 1941, Russia. (KEYSTONE/CAMERA PRESS/STR) === , ===