Even as the war against Britain dragged on,

Adolf Hitler was planning the real war. Even as the war against Britain dragged on,

Adolf Hitler was planning the real war, the war he wanted,

the war against the Soviet Union.

Welcome to the history of the 20th century.

Music history of the 20th century. Episode 341, A Crime Against the Future.

On July 31st, 1940, Adolf Hitler held a meeting at the Berghoff, his mountain retreat,

at which the commander of the German Navy, Admiral Erich Redder,

briefed a group of army commanders on preparations for

Operation Sea Lion, the German invasion of Britain. After Redder finished and left, Hitler addressed

the army commanders on a different topic, the USSR. Hitler told as generals that the reason the British obstinately refused to make peace with Germany

was that they were hoping for support from Russia or America. If Russia were eliminated, it would be the

end of Britain's hopes, because Japan, now free of the threat to its west, could concentrate its attention

on the United States. The Americans would have their hands full with Japan and would not be able to give

significant support to the British. Therefore, the elimination of the Soviet Union was a crucial step

toward Germany's final victory.

It was too late to move against the USSR this year, Hitler told them,

but the army should make preparation for war against the Soviets by May of 1941.

There's no sign that anyone in the Army High Command, the OKH, resisted this new

strategic directive, not as they had when Hitler ordered an offensive against France. By this time,

generals were convinced Hitler was more than just a blustering politician. He was a shrewd strategist

who had chosen the right move every time. There was no reason to doubt his insights now.

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