A Russian Village in Flames (January 10, 1944) On February 14, 1943, after the Germans experienced a devastating defeat on the Eastern Front, Hitler ordered his retreating army to leave nothing but “scorched earth” behind them – the idea being that this would slow the Red Army’s advance. As this picture shows, numerous non-military structures (i.e., civic buildings and private homes) and even entire villages were destroyed in accordance with the order.