How Russia Stopped The Blitzkrieg

[HagarTheHorrible]

The Germans defeated the Blitzkrieg, not the Russians.

 

The Germans underestimated the Russian capacity for dogged determination but, even with large disparities in numbers the Germans could still act, almost at will, unfortunately for them on increasingly small areas of operation. Tactical success without any strategic overview.

 

It'll all be over by Christmas mentality lost the war.

 

Had the Germans, not got tangled up in Greece and started on time, it might even have all been over by the end of 41, so it might be argued that the Italians defeated Blitzkrieg.

 

Had the Germans appreciated the scale of the task and geared up their econamy and military programs to match as soon as they invaded it might have been a completely different story.

Edited May 31, 2017 by HagarTheHorrible

[Brano]

Every weapon ordered by the army is what army decides it to be. Maybe if Klaus was the head of the АБТУ RKKA in 1937,ho would order the development of T-34 as an assault gun....and received a visit from NKVD guys next day early morning.

 According Deep operation doctrine of RKKA,T-34 has been ordered as a Tank. Tanks were supposed to be used as 2nd line exploitation force to operate in enemy rear (destroying HQs,means of communications,supply lines etc.) after the breakthrough has been established by first line infantry units+artillery+tactical AF 

 As war progressed,it was clear that tanks themselves couldnt accomplish such tasks. AT combat means were more and more powerfull. Germans introduced new generation of well armored and upgunned tanks (Tiger,Panther). Soviets lost their advantage of 1941-42 models of T-34 and KV tanks.

 Thats why SU-76/85/122/153 were ordered as samochodnyie ustanovki = self-propelled (gun) carriages to support tanks in their main role. SU-76 and 122 being mostly attached to infantry divisions/corps as an direct and indirect mobile artillery support (having either 76mm divisional gun or 122mm cannon-howitzer installed). SU-85/100 as part of independant brigades were mostly attached to the tank corps as tank destroyers (due to superior penetrating power of their guns) and SU-152 were kind of universal,as their gun was able to destroy practicly anything on the battlefield.

[HagarTheHorrible]

You've got to admire the Russians ability to adapt, modify and develop there way around problems in short order. Maybe, it could be argued, brutally, at the point of a bayonet or at the gates of a gulag but never the less they achieved miracles.

[Feathered_IV]

Please answer my question. Why did Guderian suggest copying the T-34?

 

Because he wanted to be cool like that sassy Mr Galland?