Russia and Germany had a non-aggression treaty at the start of the war. However, Hitler just hated Stalin to the bone (to a lesser extent communists). Hitler wanted a swift take over of at least the European USSR; he didn't really expect so much resistance, but took some very strategic and economic places (like Ukraine). In the end of the offensive Hitler took over most of western USSR by December 1941. However, the turning point came when Hitler wanted to destroy Stalin and take away was the egotist Stalin valued most. This is why Hitler didn't try to take the oil fields before going after Stalingrad. Otherwise the Russians would have been screwed (and maybe the rest of the world). The battle of Stalingrad was the turning point of the war since a good portion of Hitler's forces were attacking Stalingrad and Hitler gave orders to stay in Stalingrad until it is captured or you die. After that the Russians took back the USSR and continued west. So remember: Britain gave time, The US gave money, and the Russians gave blood. [/history lesson]
