Why was the invasion of Russia by Germany such a surprise?

Answer 1

The surprise comes down to two things. Firstly, no one (and that really does mean no one) had EVER successfully invaded Russia. This is largely due to it's vast size - supply lines become far too long to manage and, also, no matter what season the invasion takes place in, the invading army will encounter the Russian winter. During WWII this was so cold that petrol froze in German vehicles... Secondly, the Third Reich was already fighting a war in the west. It's an act of military suicide to open a war on two fronts, and that's exactly what Hitler did. So, it was hugely surprising because it flew in the face of historical experience on all levels, it was, in short, supremely stupid - and arguably cost Germany the war.

MORE REASONS AS TO WHY THE NAZIS LOST

Yes, it really was the brutal Russian climate and terrain that defeated the Nazis. The invasion didn't fail overnight. The Red Army, couldn't really stop the Nazis for crap. The Red Army got their butts handed over to them in Smolensk, Mahilow, Minsk, Kiev, Polotsk and Kharkiv. Millions of Red Army troops were captured as prisoners. The Nazis ended up pushing the Soviets further east back all they way into Stalingrad where the Soviets ended up fighting for their dear lives and for the sake of keeping Stalingrad under Soviet hands. It was a rule in the Red Army, never to retreat anywhere past the Volga. It was pure misery, the Red Army was in really poor conditions and they were that desperate not to let Stalingrad fall, even civilians were used as militias. Joseph Stalin even banned civilians from leaving Stalingrad. The Nazis eventually gave up Stalingrad, because despite having the big and bad war machine; they were losing too much men and too much equipment. Something that the Soviets were NOTHING NEAR afraid of losing, the Red Army didn't care if every one of their soldeirs died, as long as they died fighting for their motherland and Stalingrad. The Red Army eventually surrounded the Nazis in Stalingrad, making them surrender the city. Stalingrad was one of Hitler's key targets, with that lost the invasion fell pointless and then the German War Machine in Russia eventually met its demise and the invasion was diverted into the Soviet invasion of Nazi Germany that led to the Nazis' final demise.