how did geography influence the war in Eastern Europe and Russia?

- heavily forested swamps of Eastern Poland and White Russia: Hitler was forced to choose whether he wanted to attack northeast or southeast, with forces once committed to one direction not being easily available to be transferred; it is said that the war was long in July 1941 when the bulk of German armor was pulled from the northern route south to Kiev, slowing down the advance in the north just enough for Russians to make a stand at Smolensk, earning them time they desperately needed; the very same forests slowed down Russians in 1944.
- major rivers: Russians were forced to expend major resources when trying to cross Dnepr, Visla, and other rivers during their offensive. Not only did this mean heavier casualties, it also required coordination and concentration of artillery on a scale not seen before.
- long distances: Whereas war in France in 1940 included just one offensive and allied campaign in the west in 1944-1945 three, the distances in Russia were so great that it was a constant stop and go for both sides as they constantly ran out of supplies on its frontlines. Battles such as Kursk (1943) required months of preparation just to make sure everything arrives where it needs to. Long distances and stretched frontlines also meant having to use 2nd line troops (e.g. Stalingrad operation) or having no troops at all in certain areas of the frontline (e.g. Kursk operation or Rumanian offensive 1944).