July 10, 1941: Start of the Battle of Smolensk that disrupted Operation Barbarossa

On July 10, 1941, the Battle of Smolensk began, disrupting Operation Barbarossa and significantly altering the course of the war. The battle halted Hitler's hopes for a blitzkrieg against the USSR, as Army Group 'Center' became bogged down for two months, losing crucial time and manpower. Later, Smolensk became a launch point for the large-scale Soviet advance westward, leading to the liberation of Europe from Nazi occupation.