In August 1941, when Walther von Brauchitsch (commander-in-chief of the Wehrmacht) and Fedor von Bock appealed for an attack on Moscow, Hitler instead ordered the encirclement and capture of Ukraine, in order to acquire the farmland, industry, and natural resources of that country.
I august 1941 da Walther von Brauchitsch (øverstkommanderende for Wehrmacht) og Fedor von Bock appellerede om at måtte angribe Moskva, beordrede Hitler i stedet omringning og erobring af Ukraine, for at få kontrol over landbrugsområdet, industrien og råstofferne i landet.