 The initial momentum of the German ground and air attack completely destroyed the Soviet organizational command and control within the first few hours , paralyzing every level of command from the infantry platoon to the Soviet High Command in Moscow . Therefore , Moscow failed to grasp the magnitude of the catastrophe that confronted the Soviet forces in the border area . At around 7 : 15 am , Stalin issued NKO Directive No. 2 , which announced the invasion to the Soviet Armed Forces , and called on them to attack Axis forces wherever they had violated the borders and launch air strikes into the border regions of German territory . At around 9 : 15 pm , Stalin issued NKO Directive No. 3 , signed by Marshal Semyon Timoshenko , which now called for a general counteroffensive on the entire front " without any regards for borders " that both men hoped would sweep the enemy from Soviet territory . Timoshenko 's order was not based on a realistic appraisal of the military situation at hand , and it resulted in devastating casualties . 
