After Operation Barbarossa, which began on 22 June 1941, German forces collapsed more than 400,000 Soviet troops at Battle of Białystok–Minsk, which ended on 3 July.
Filled with morale, the Germans headed to Smolensk, between Minsk and Moscow.
The Germans expected a leisurely advance, but Stalin called most of the troops in an emergency call to stop them.
On July 10, the 2nd Panzer Group, led by Heinz Guderian, quickly launched an offensive south of the city.
Ignoring the superior fighting power of the Germans, the Soviets launched a charge to defend the city, and the result was a major defeat for the Soviets from day one.
In just five days, approximately 1000 tanks were destroyed, and more than 400,000 Soviet troops were surrounded by the 3rd Panzer Group, led by Hermann Hoth.
Stalin, however, ordered the resistance to the end, resulting in 150,000 casualties in less than a month, and 500,000 Soviet troops surrendered.
In just two months after Operation Barbarossa, it lost 40% of its total power.
