The German Wehrmacht suffered colossal losses on the Eastern Front during World War II. The vast majority of these casualties were sustained in combat against the Red Army, but a significant number were also due to disease, starvation, and exposure to the harsh Russian winter.
The following table provides an overview of German losses on the Eastern Front, by year:
| Year | Killed | Wounded | Missing | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1941 | 220,000 | 550,000 | 200,000 | 970,000 |
| 1942 | 775,000 | 1,600,000 | 950,000 | 3,325,000 |
| 1943 | 1,000,000 | 2,500,000 | 1,100,000 | 4,600,000 |
| 1944 | 850,000 | 2,000,000 | 950,000 | 3,800,000 |
| 1945 | 400,000 | 1,000,000 | 500,000 | 1,900,000 |
| Total | 3,245,000 | 7,650,000 | 3,700,000 | 14,595,000 |
These figures are based on estimates from various sources, and they may not be entirely accurate. However, they provide a general indication of the scale of the German losses on the Eastern Front.
In addition to the millions of military casualties, the German invasion of the Soviet Union also resulted in the deaths of millions of civilians. The Nazis implemented a policy of deliberate starvation in the occupied territories, and they also carried out mass executions of Jews and other minorities. It is estimated that as many as 25 million Soviet civilians died as a result of the war.
The German losses on the Eastern Front were a major factor in the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. The Wehrmacht was simply unable to sustain the enormous casualties that it suffered on the Eastern Front, and eventually it collapsed under the weight of the Soviet onslaught.