US concentration camps

[Fungus]

In the words of Stalin, if the Nazi Facists want a War of extermination , then they will have one.

Without the vast heroic sacrifces of the Russians we would have been unable to resist the Nazi War machine.

And if Stalin had not purged his army of a large proportion of its officers in the late 30's, Hitler would not have had as much success as he did against Russia, and the war might have ended sooner.

[Fleetwood]

O-Level History Alert

[AlfredJPruffock]

True enough, but if the Soviets hadn't signed a non-aggression pact with Nazi Germany and conspired in carving up Poland between them, then we might not have had the war in the first place.

But, as my granny used to say: if "ifs" and "ands" were pots and pans, there'd be no need for tinkers.

Aye LB

Speaking of Poland, given that Britain declared War on Germany after the invasion of Poland,I consider it an absolute disgrace that Poland was left to the Soviets and suffer a communist sytem for decades thereafter.

If we entered the War as a result of the Nazi invasion of Poland why did why sit with our arms folded and agree to allow Stalin to occupy Poland ?

[AlfredJPruffock]

And if Stalin had not purged his army of a large proportion of its officers in the late 30's, Hitler would not have had as much success as he did against Russia, and the war might have ended sooner.

Yet you have to bear in mind the Soviet army had only been prepared and trained to be an attacking force ie under Soviet Doctirne they would liberating Capitalist states from the tyranny of that system,I guess to the tyrranny of another system, so the Soviet Army was not at all prepared for a defensive role.

Yet by sheer grit they managed to hold the Nazis outside Moscow then after defeating the Nazis at Stalingrad showed their true training by rolling the Nazis back thousands of miles all they way back to Berlin, when the Soviets were being attacked they had no effective strategy hence the Nazis early sucesses, but when they counter attacked nobody could oppose them.

[EternalOptimist]

a brilliant analysis Alf. except for one small thing

could you explain why this magnificent juggernaught failed to duff up Finland in the Winter war of 1939 ?

[threaded]

It was cold?

[Mailman]

Yet by sheer grit they managed to hold the Nazis outside Moscow

This wasnt all due to the massive determination and organisation of the Red Army. Hitlers interference with the drive to moscow had a massive impact on not only the course of the campaign BUT then entire war.

then after defeating the Nazis at Stalingrad showed their true training by rolling the Nazis back thousands of miles all they way back to Berlin,

Again...had Hitler left his Generals to fight the war Germany would not have lost the entire 6th Army in Stalingrad.

Having said that Germany could have absorbed the loss of the 6th Army without too much strain on reserves just as they could have absorbed the loss of half a million men during the Normandy Campaign...HOWEVER... Germany could not absorbe the losses of men and equipment from both battles.

when the Soviets were being attacked they had no effective strategy hence the Nazis early sucesses, but when they counter attacked nobody could oppose them.

They had no effective strategy because all their best leaders had been "liquidated". Up until the Perges the Red Army was considered one of the best armies in Europe. The Red Airforce one of the most effective and technologically advanced. However with the loss of all that operational experience and the appointment of the Political Commisars in to key positions meant that individual initiative was quashed and now one did anything without the approval from GHQ, you couldnt even wipe your arse without first getting approval from General Breshnev!

Mailman

[EternalOptimist]

what was cold ?

[threaded]

The vodka.

[EternalOptimist]

colder than in '35 ?