 In preparation for Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union, the "Geschwaderstab" began heading east on 8 June 1941.They stopped for several days at Breslau-Gandau, the present day Wrocław–Copernicus Airport in Poland.On 18 June, the "Geschwaderstab" relocated to Hostynne, from where on 22 June 1941, Lützow led JG 3 in combat against the Soviet Union.