On
22nd June, 1941, the German Army invaded
the Soviet Union. Stalin went on Soviet radio and gave instructions
that when forced to withdraw, the Red Army
should destroy anything that could be of use to the enemy.
The
scorched earth policy and the formation of guerrilla units behind
the German front lines, created severe problems for the German war
machine which was trying to keep her three million soldiers supplied
with the necessary food and ammunition.
(1)
Joseph Stalin, radio speech (June, 1941)
The Red Army, the Red Navy, and all citizens of the Soviet Union must
defend every inch of Soviet soil, must fight to the last drop of blood
for our towns and villages, must display the daring, initiative and
mental alertness characteristic of our people.
In case
of forced retreat of Red Army units, all rolling stock must be evacuated,
the enemy must not be left a single engine, a single railway truck,
not a single pound of grain or gallon of fuel. Collective farmers
must drive off all their cattle and turn over their grain to the safe
keeping of the state authorities, for transportation to the rear.
If valuable property that cannot be withdrawn, must be destroyed without
fail.
In areas
occupied by the enemy, partisan units, mounted and on foot, must be
formed; sabotage groups must be organized to combat enemy units, to
foment partisan warfare everywhere, blow up bridges and roads, damage
telephone and telegraph lines, set fire to forests, stores and transport.
In occupied regions conditions must be made unbearable for the enemy
and all his accomplices. They must be hounded and annihilated at every
step, and all their measures frustrated.
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