What went "wrong" on the Eastern Front?

[Gary J]

What I don't understand, is the lack of detail examined and duly processed from the Napoleonic campaign.
Even trusting to the modern warfare and equipment of the 40's, the lessons and pitfalls were clear ....

A hand of Poker was played, that they majority would have classed as "All in" on the river card.

Gary J.

[ian]

history should be learned from ,, not copied
the latest afgan campaign is a clasic example
50 years the brits tried to subdue the afgans
the russians could not do it
what makes the USA believe they can do it ???
they are bancrupt
but the afgans still fight
history repeats its self
$1 a day to suply an afgan
$1.500 a day to look after a us soldier
???
the afgans will win
all beit by default
but they will win AGAIN
learn from history
hitlers big mistake
and his miss trust of new thinking generals
germany could have won the russian campaign
if they had have thought new ,and learned from history
and if they had have taken moscowit would have been all over
the comand and control from moscow was dictatorial
local commanders were not allowed autonomouse dicsition
which meant confusion , and loss of the war
BUT germany did not have the man power to control such a vast country
so the resistance /partisans would have beaten them in the end any way
cheers ian

[ian]

allso dont forget
the russianswere supplied with vast amounts of suplies by the alies
i believe the french sent some white flags
but the russians sent them back LOL

[Datrus]

I think you are right in your final conclusion Ian, unless the Germans would manage to win the "hearts and minds" of the Russian population. They had the opportunity to do so, but they never went down that path.

[ian]

they felt far to supierior to even consider "hearts and minds"
they only wanted to conquor and subdue
a people that have next to nothing will fight hard for the little they have
a people who have evrything ,will give it up easily
the old saying EASY COME EASY GO

[big ned]

I think you are right in your final conclusion Ian, unless the Germans would manage to win the "hearts and minds" of the Russian population. They had the opportunity to do so, but they never went down that path.

That is correct. They took the other path and anhilated, at a conservative guess, three and a half million Russian people....Which is just over a third of the amount that 'Uncle Joe' is thought to have done to his own people then, and until his death. Bastard.

Ned.

[Troy Tempest]

What if Army Group North and Centre had the bulk of the forces, and Army Group South was used mainly as a blocking force against any Russian counter-attacks in their area. Since, even with the late start, the Germans reached Lenningrad and Moscow, could those two cities have been taken before Winter set in, with the plan of a Spring 42 major offensive in the South? It seems to me that with a plan to concentrate on Lenningrad and Moscow, and using the bulk of the armour and aviation assets, and no changing of plans, those two important cities could well have been in German hands before General Mud arrived. Von Manstein could then run riot in the South in 1942.

[Datrus]

Does not sound as a bad alternative. What interest me on this question, is why they seemingly handled this daunting task with such a light hand so to speak.

[CARL]

Does not sound as a bad alternative. What interest me on this question, is why they seemingly handled this daunting task with such a light hand so to speak.

All before had fallen so quickly, the confidence turned to arrogance...

[mauser9]

If perhaps the invasion could have started a month earlier it could have made a difference. Another month of warm weather may well have possibly contributed to further gains but greece interfered with the original plan.