Why did the Soviet Union Fight So Hard in World War II?

World War II was a pivotal moment in history, with the Soviet Union fighting an almost impossible battle for survival. The fate of the Soviet regime hung in the balance, and the intensity of the resistance from the Soviets was nothing short of astonishing. This article explores why the Soviet Union fought so fiercely during the conflict, focusing on the key factors that fueled their relentless determination.

Barbarossa and Initial Defeat

Initially, the Soviet Union faced a crushing defeat in the face of the Nazi invasion. In the early stages of Operation Barbarossa, hundreds of thousands of Soviet soldiers surrendered to the advancing German forces. However, this was just the beginning. The devastating blow suffered by the Red Army did not break their spirit entirely; it merely pushed them further into a defensive and ultimately victorious stance.

War as a Matter of Survival

As the war progressed, the situation became one of life or death for the Soviet regime. The Battle of Kyiv in September 1941 saw around 600,000 Soviet soldiers surrender, highlighting the scale of initial German advances. But as the reality of the war set in, the Soviet soldiers realized that this was not just a war but a fight for their very existence. The necessity to win, or at least survive, became the driving force behind their unwavering resistance.

Fanatic Resistance and Communist Loyalty

The term fanatic is somewhat misleading when applied to the Soviet soldiers. Their motivation stemmed from a deep sense of loyalty to their country, their ideology, and their leaders. The Red Army fought with a fervor that was almost otherworldly, driven by the belief that defeat and extermination awaited them if they did not resist. This fanatical resistance was not an aberration but a testament to the unyielding determination of the Soviet people.

Communism, for many Soviet citizens, was the only life they had known. Growing up under a system of extreme poverty and harsh conditions, they had no other context to compare against. This lack of a contrasting experience meant that they could fight with the same relentless intensity even when half-starved and in dire straits. Any Western army, having enjoyed a measure of comfort and relative prosperity, would have been far less willing to endure such extremes.

German Underestimation and Fascistic Nature

The Nazi high command severely underestimated the Soviet military's resolve. Hitler and his generals assumed that the Soviet Union would crumble within 6 to 8 weeks, much like a house of cards. They believed that the Marxist ideology and its fanatical proponents would collapse once faced with the force of the Wehrmacht's might. This miscalculation was based on a flawed understanding of the deeply rooted connection between the Soviet people and their land and leaders.

What the Nazis did not understand was the reverse intensity of the fanatical devotion to a cause. Their own fanatical racism and lack of empathy made them blind to the potential for such a deeply rooted loyalty to be turned against them. The Nazi assumption that their hatred of the "subhuman" East would make them superior fighters was shortsighted and harmful, revealing a lack of reflective and empathetic thinking.

Empirical Reflections and Comparative Analysis

The nature of the Soviet resistance has been dissected by historians and analyzed within the context of comparative studies. Alexander Hamilton in his iThe Federalist Papers/i discusses the fragility of newly established republics, noting that their stability can often depend on strong leaders and institutions. Similarly, Alexis de Tocqueville's iDemocracy in America/i draws parallels between the founding of Russia and the United States, highlighting the contrasting paths their societies took. While the United States grew through hard work and economic ingenuity, Tsarist Russia expanded its territory primarily through military might, a path that deeply ingrained a warrior culture into its society.

Survival as a Lifeline

In conditions of extreme hardship, the Soviet people viewed any form of resistance as a lifeline. The prospect of Hitler and the Nazis—known for their violent and oppressive policies—governing their sacred land was intolerable. The threat of summary execution if they surrendered or the even harsher punishment of fleeing (which also led to execution) made the decision to fight a matter of survival. The psychological and physical torments inflicted by the Nazis only hardened the resolve of the Soviet people, turning them into formidable warriors fighting for their freedom and their way of life.

Such extreme circumstances, while horrifying, can unexpectedly forge a tenacity and resilience that ordinary conditions might not reveal. The Soviet soldiers who fought in World War II became an embodiment of the will to survive against all odds, a testament to the human spirit under the most adverse of circumstances.

Understanding the reasons behind the Soviet Union's fierce resistance during World War II provides valuable insights into the complexities of war, survival, and human tenacity. The lessons learned from this period are as relevant today as they were during the conflict itself, reminding us of the deep-seated motivations that can drive individuals and nations to fight for their very existence.