Post by andrew on May 23, 2005 16:20:19 GMT -5
No other war in history has ever been on such a massive scale as the German/Russian front. Many look at the struggle as ending by the January of 1941. After this point looking back the Germans never had a chance of knocking the Giant out of the war with one fell swoop!
Most recognize that the Germans could not continue with the prospect of winning a drawn out conflict. However, lets take this opportunity to zoom in on the conflict isolate it and analyse it.
One of the biggest areas the Germans were deficient was the pool of infantry and other needed personnel was to small to match the Russian pool. Looking at the number of those called up by the Russians to fight the war was larger than the entire German population. Though this is significant, the Germans proved that they could weather being out numbered some times 20 to 1. This fact is obvious when looking at how much infantry or massive mechanized infantry division relied heavily on armored divisions. If the armored units could defeat the enemy’s protective armor than the infantry would deploy and be supported be the remaining protective armor.
The superiority of the German tanks is undeniable. In the beginning the Germans over came the few numbers and spread out KV-1 and KV-2s by artillery or swarming them with a rush of tanks. Later, after the Soviets began to deploy the T-34 in large numbers the Germans responded with Panzer IV's and Panthers, which if properly equipped could offset the Russian's numerical superiority. However, even with the Germans being able to hold their own for certain amounts of time the strain on their forces could not be hidden.
The first hypothetical question would have to be...
Had Albert Sphere been appointed munitions chief earlier on could he have influenced Hitler to push German War time production to the levels it handled towards the end of the war? Also, if those production numbers could have been met earlier could this have a significant impact on the Eastern Theatre?
Moving along...
With German production increased earlier we ask our next question.
Could Hitler have bagged Herman Goreing for a more effective air commander and call for a branch wide reorganization with the goal of regaining the air initiative?
Last but not least...
Even if the Germans were able to produce more munitions, tanks, and planes could they pull out a victory over the USSR?
IF not what if you consider all other theatres as completed, say that the British called for an armistice while Germany pounds the worlds Communist threat.
Most recognize that the Germans could not continue with the prospect of winning a drawn out conflict. However, lets take this opportunity to zoom in on the conflict isolate it and analyse it.
One of the biggest areas the Germans were deficient was the pool of infantry and other needed personnel was to small to match the Russian pool. Looking at the number of those called up by the Russians to fight the war was larger than the entire German population. Though this is significant, the Germans proved that they could weather being out numbered some times 20 to 1. This fact is obvious when looking at how much infantry or massive mechanized infantry division relied heavily on armored divisions. If the armored units could defeat the enemy’s protective armor than the infantry would deploy and be supported be the remaining protective armor.
The superiority of the German tanks is undeniable. In the beginning the Germans over came the few numbers and spread out KV-1 and KV-2s by artillery or swarming them with a rush of tanks. Later, after the Soviets began to deploy the T-34 in large numbers the Germans responded with Panzer IV's and Panthers, which if properly equipped could offset the Russian's numerical superiority. However, even with the Germans being able to hold their own for certain amounts of time the strain on their forces could not be hidden.
The first hypothetical question would have to be...
Had Albert Sphere been appointed munitions chief earlier on could he have influenced Hitler to push German War time production to the levels it handled towards the end of the war? Also, if those production numbers could have been met earlier could this have a significant impact on the Eastern Theatre?
Moving along...
With German production increased earlier we ask our next question.
Could Hitler have bagged Herman Goreing for a more effective air commander and call for a branch wide reorganization with the goal of regaining the air initiative?
Last but not least...
Even if the Germans were able to produce more munitions, tanks, and planes could they pull out a victory over the USSR?
IF not what if you consider all other theatres as completed, say that the British called for an armistice while Germany pounds the worlds Communist threat.