Quote:
Originally Posted by Klaus
In my opinion it is defenitly "Operation Barbarossa".
They were not sure about the military strength of the USSR.
It is your turn now. What do you think was Hitlers most crucial mistake...?
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Actually that is not strictly true
The population of the Soviet Union was then some c.120 million
The population of the 'Greater Reich' was some 96 million, plus around another 29 million people in Finland, Hungary, Bulgaria etc.
So in fact the Germans could theoretically put more men into the field than the USSR. They also had more modern equipment, combat experienced roops, and the element of surprise which allowed a quick occupation of the Soviet Union's most populace, most industrious and most agricultural areas.