Kings and Generals
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Stalin's Early Wars and Purges - Eastern Front Week-by-Week Prelude #6
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May 13, 2025
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14:01Now PlayingWatch the next 6 episodes in early access on youtubeand Patreon
Kings and Generals historical animated documentary series on the Eastern Front of World War II starts out with the prelude episode #6. Previously we discussed industralization of the Soviet Union and Stalin's new army (), while this episode will focus on the major Soviet conflicts of the 1930s, including the war with Japan in the Far East and the Winter War, and the Purges in the military. We examine the evolution of Soviet military power and foreign policy in the turbulent 1930s. We begin by exploring how the Red Army's rise and Stalin’s purges reshaped the USSR's military leadership, often with devastating consequences. Meanwhile, Soviet expansion in the Far East and Mongolia demonstrated Moscow’s growing influence, as it established satellite regimes and secured strategic frontiers. We then turn to the Manchurian conflict and the fight over railways, where clashes with regional powers highlighted the importance of controlling vital infrastructure like the Chinese Eastern Railway. Japan’s aggression soon escalated into the Japanese invasion of Manchuria and Soviet reactions, a turning point that exposed the limitations of Soviet soft power and prompted defensive militarization. Back at home, Stalin's paranoia intensified, leading to mass purges within the army just as border tensions exploded this sets the stage for purges, Lake Khasan, and the Battle of Khalkhin Gol, a major confrontation where General Zhukov proved decisive. Finally, we analyze the MolotovRibbentrop Pact and the Winter War with Finland, as Stalin's diplomatic gambits turned into fullscale war in the north.
Eastern Front of WW2 WeekbyWeek
Eastern Front Podcast
Pacific War
Modern Warfare
Khalkhin Gol
Video: Hazimin Arif
Script: Russell Hellyer
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Production Music courtesy of Epidemic Sound
Bibliography
#Documentary #EasternFront #WW2
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