Törni Posted July 16, 2000 Share Posted July 16, 2000 A big question about Russians that has always intriqued me; is why they did not launch attack against Germany in 1940, when her forces were tied up in France? Even in 1941 as the Germans launched Barbarossa the Soviet forces were grouped for offence, not defense. Russo-Nazi conflict was just matter of time. So what was Stalin waiting for??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peterk Posted July 16, 2000 Share Posted July 16, 2000 They were respecting a non-agression pact at the time. Stalin was probably hoping that France would seriously damage Germany which would allow him to possibly invade easily a year or two later. The Russian Army was in the process of being reorganized as well when they were attacked. Bottom line - they just weren't ready. p. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Törni Posted July 16, 2000 Author Share Posted July 16, 2000 As a Finn do I know this. But so had the Germans a pact that handed Finland to Soviets! Luckily Russians did not hit our country with all their might, we would have been eventually annihilated with sheer numbers. I agree with you that Stalin (beign the devious bastard he was) waited for the warring sides to maul each other WWI style and then he would have just taken all Europe. But the speed of German victory in the west caught him pants down Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Formerly Babra Posted July 16, 2000 Share Posted July 16, 2000 Red Army was also still recovering from the purges of '38. ------------------ It's a mother-beautiful bridge and it's gonna be THERE. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Törni Posted July 16, 2000 Author Share Posted July 16, 2000 Russian leadership and skills of their tactical and operational leaders surely improved "learning by doing". But only with a terrible cost of 20 million lives. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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