Russian armour page

The friendship of the peoples of Germany and the Soviet Union, cemented by blood,
has every reason to be durable and solid. _STALIN

AA

KV-1

SU100

T-34

JS2

Stalin`s response when Marshal Zhukov informed him that Hitler was dead:

So that`s the end of the bastered!



In the early summer of 1941, the Germans received a rude awakening when the Wehrmacht first encountered the new Russian T-34 and KV-1 tanks, whose existence had not been known. Overnight, the German armour designs were rendered obsolete; not only were the new Soviet tanks formidable fighting vehicles, but the simplicity of their design meant that they could be easily mass produced. The tanks were not complicated to operate either so relatively inexperienced crews could manage them. However, that did not fly to well up against superior German tactics and well trained Panzer crews which enabled the Wehrmacht to hold it's own. However, the Russians were rapidly adding to their tank strength and to their experience.



What is your opinion to the following?

Operation Barbarossa,

the invasion of Russia began on June 22, 1941, with the biggest assembly of an invasion force to date. The Germans crossed over into Soviet territory in a concentration of three massed armies; Army Group North, Army Group Centre, Army Group South. With various objectives, one of which to encircle and bag mass numbers of Soviet troops in deep swift mobile thrust, the Germans were achieving great success.


Operation Typhoon,

the drive to Moscow, began On October 2, this is what many of Hitler's Generals wanted to do from the very start, run full speed straight to Moscow, cutting off the enemy at the head and render the body a fatal, psychological blow.
The dash to Moscow at this point held promise. At Vyazma and Bryansk alone 750,000 Soviet troops were trapped. It appeared that a German victory was close at hand. But with the size of Russia, their deep gains were putting a strain on there supply lines. Also consider that German and Russian train tracks were of a different size so the German train had to be unloaded of all material and then reloaded onto the Russian train. Also, on October 8 heavy rains became common, turning roads and fields into mud pits that crippled and even at times halted the German advance and vital supply lines.

When the temperatures turned colder, freezing the ground creating a solid surface for the German army to operate, they were moving eastward again at a better pace only to be reduced to a crawl as temperatures plunged to -20° C as early as November 15, freezing both men and machines. With this and the fact that Soviet resistance had stiffened, the drive to Moscow was called off on December 5, 19 miles from the Capital. German troops actually entered the suburbs of Moscow but that would be as far as they would go.



This brings us to a point of debate.

Could the Germans had conquered Russia had Hitler drove all out for Moscow on June 22, instead of waiting until the brink of winter, October 2?
Or, was Russia just to vast, with to many people?

I personally feel that at the very beginning, had they gone for Moscow, they would had with a heavy price taken it. But I don't believe they could had kept it.
Why?
Capturing the Capital would not guarantee a warm bed. To occupy and defend against certain counterattacks, and to keep a supply line open from Germany to Moscow, the Germans still lacked winter clothing to perform this.

"What was Hitler thinking?" Was he asleep when giant Russia was suffering through the costly bitter cold in a lop-sided victory against little Finland in November 1939 into March 1940? Russia paid a stiff price! Now it was Germany's turn.



In my opinion Any chance of taking Russia were these:
  • On June 22, go straight for Moscow and achieve a psychological victory.
  • Properly supply all troops with winter clothing.
  • Enter and occupy territory as liberators.
Atrocities committed by the SS convinced many partisans who they would fight for. These partisan groups reached well into the hundreds of thousands and became a deadly force that greatly hindered the German war effort. Had they been inclined to join their “liberators”, makes me wonder.

Any commits you may have are welcome, e-mail me or post it in the guestbook.



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