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Originally Posted by TRDG
A double edged sword here, and a what if topic, but IF Hitler decided to invade, say the following year........ or so. Would there have been a difference as to forces, training and better arms?
I have always wondered if the Germans would have "caought on" to the T-34 somehow, then kick the Panther and Tiger up a bit more, or other designs, let alone other/ more (basic) men and equipment, maybe strike with a bit longer campaign in mind, and consider winter Russian fighting as well?
Russian would also have a year advantage to get their higher command in order from the purges, as well as train more and study the "German" way of war, I.E. Hitler and his generals. Maybe Britian was subdued or a treaty signed to that effect, then focus on Russia, I'm no expert here, but these are a couple of my thoughts on this for now at least.
Cheers
Tom  |
IMO, it would've been worse for the Germans. The T-34 had only started being incorporated into Tank Corps in 1940, by 1942 the transition would've been complete. Also, the mistake of abandoning 'Deep Battle' had been realized after the Russo-Finnish war and this doctrine was being transition into when Barbarossa launched. The Russians were really caught with their pants down in June 41; changing MBT's AND doctrine at the same time while being attacked by what was then the best army in the world but by the end of 42' Russia was starting to prove superior to the Germans in Operational Art.
On the "German way of war": Deep Battle and Blitzkrieg both originated and matured simultaneously. The purges eliminated most of DB's supporting generals, including Tukhachevsky, and any general with new ideas was seen as a revolutionary and an enemy of the state. IMHO, and historically, Deep Battle was superior to Blitzkrieg. They are basically the same but DB is on a much larger scale.
Deep operations - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The longer Germany waits, the stronger Russia becomes.