 Ramba uchiverenga ndima iyi - Mauto eGermany akapinda muSoviet Unionmusi wa22 June 1941, zvichitanga makore anenge mana ehondo yakazara. Pakutanga Axis yakafambira mberi ichirwisana nokuedza kwakapererwa asi kusina kubudirira kweRed Army. Muhondo yokukomberedza Kyiv, guta racho rakarumbidzwa seGuta reGamba, nemhaka yokuramba kwaro kwakasimba. Varwi veSoviet vanopfuura 600 000 kana kuti chikamu chimwe muzvina cheSoviet Western Front vakaurawa kana kuti kutapwa ikoko, vakawanda vachitambura kubatwa zvisina kufanira kwakakomba. 