Question

How did the Soviet forces respond to Operation Barbarossa?

They focused on battles in France, allowing the German army to capture Moscow.

They surrounded the German army and defeated them at Stalingrad.

They ignored German advancements, focusing instead on the Italian invasion.

They launched air raids on Moscow to prevent the German army from taking the arms stored there.

Answer 1

Not sure who is writing these questions for the students, but a a few of these answers are hilarious. Let's go over why.

The first one is obviously false because Moscow was the Soviet capital. Why would the Soviets sacrifice it to fight to head to France almost a continent away? More importantly, how would they even get there?

The third answer is also strange. The Italians did join the Germans in their drive during Barbarossa but it was the Germans that drove the bulk of the blitzkrieg into Russia. The Soviets obviously focused more on them. Why would they ignore a huge armored column backed by Wehrmacht infantry across a front several hundred miles wide just to focus on the Italians?

The fourth answer wouldn't work, either, because Stalin decided to stay in Moscow. Nor was the city invaded by the Germans because Stalin received intelligence that allowed him to move vast numbers of soldiers and material from the East to defend the city. The Germans came within about 20 or so miles of the city, but were driven back. So there was no need to bomb their own city.

The only answer that makes sense, then, is the second one -- the Soviets surrounded them at Stalingrad. Hitler was obsessed with the city and his armies, even after taking most of the city itself, couldn't dislodge the fierce Soviet resistance from the beach head on their side of the Volga. Nor did they expect the Soviets to circle around through their flanks -- as stretched as they were -- to encircle and trap the Sixth Army. It was a huge and devastating catastrophe for Hitler and for the Wehrmacht as a whole.

Answer 2

B - They surrounded the German army and defeated them at Stalingrad.