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Summary:Fearing an attack after the rise of the Nazi Party in Germany Stalin signed a non-aggression pact with Hitler in 1939. However, on June 22 1941 Nazi forces attacked the Soviet Union. Nearly four years of devastating war followed during which an estimated 21 million Soviets, military and civilian, died. The turning point came with the defence of Stalingrad late in 1942. From then on, Soviet armies gradually pushed the Nazis back and by early 1945 Soviet forces from the east and Anglo-American forces from the west were closing in on the centre of Germany. The Red Army took Berlin just a few days before Germany surrendered.
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Location:USSR CCCP MOSCOW MOSKVA
Reuters ID:LDL000YQHLU67
Aspect Ratio:4:3
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Copyright Holder:Reuters Archive
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