Could operation Barbarrosa be successful if German had concentrated its entire force against Moscow?

Question

And started the campaign one and half month earlier as originally planned?

Answer 1

Hi Jason,

Quite apart from what "johnykay" wrote, this is another great question (you always write the best questions).

There's no doubt in my mind that Hitler would have succeeded if he concentrated his full force on Moscow and began the campaign earlier. But in the long run I don't think it would have mattered.

Do I think he would have taken Moscow? Yes, definitely. Do I think this would have resulted in the surrender of the Soviet Union? Absolutely not. Stalin and his government would have burned Moscow to the ground and fled east. The geography was against Hitler; and he should have known that. Let me explain...

In order to have maximum effectiveness Hitler (as you rightly point out) needed to concentrate his forces. But by doing so, he left infinite avenues of escape for Stalin, and many places in which Stalin could eventually regroup to fight again.

If Hitler then spread out his forces to sieze the countryside and deprive Stalin of a place to hide, he would be spreading his forces too thin, as the Russian countryside is simply too vast. So Hitler would have lost eventually no matter which course he followed. His enemy was too numerous, and the terrain too vast. Hitler's supply lines could not withstand the strain.

Of course, Hitler was counting on a quick campaign like the one against France. He should have known better; but he was an idiot -- thank God.

Cheers, mate.

Answer 2

No - - - - Hitler was an idiot, he had no strategic sense. His entire war plan was folly (fortunately enough). And Soviet Russia was tough & tenacious - - - so what if Moscow fell, even if The Nazi s had taken the CIty and burnt it to the ground, plowing the ground under with salt, the Soviet Goverment would have relocated to Siberia and carried on the war from there. Stalin was a cockroach (sorry cockroaches), he would simply scurry away and fight another day.

And even if Barbarrosa was launched earlier, the calender still marches on, there wtill would have been a Winter and The German Army had no winter gear, they failed to invent anti-freeze and other items needed to wage war in sub zero weather. Here is kicker largely ignorred - - - The Nazi's did not have the right horses. In an age touted as 'the mechanical age,' horses & oxen were still used to haul guns and other equipment and German Horses could not stand the cold, they died by the hundreds while Russian horses hauled guns & other stuff. And the Russians used Oxen, something the Germans never figured out.

One final note - - - Hitler screwed uo from the very beginning. After conquering Poland in September 1939 Hitler bumngled by launching an attack against the West in Spring of 1940. Despite Britain & France declaring War against Germany, they didn't do all that much until the attack. Despite the non-agression pact, which was later ignored anyhow, IF Hitler had attacked Soviet Russia in 1940 it is quite possible that France & Britain would have done nothing. In fact if France had done nothing the French Communist would have begun rioting and it is likely that France would have invited Hitler to help restore law & order.

Anyhow - - - an attack in 1940 might have succeeded but eventually Hitler's stupidity would have tripped him up.


Peace.....

Answer 3

Nope. Not in two fronts. The sleeping Rissian bear is a gargantuan KODIAK! Russia is too big and Jerry will have to spread his line too thinly.

If the superior German technology was made to bear against the allies earlier, Germany could've secured fortress Europe. Also, Hitler too much in over his head. If they got rid of him, who knows...

Sealion and Barbarrosa is what Midway was for the Japs, I think.

Answer 4

He would have captured Moscow, but this would not have caused Russia to surrender. They would still have had their massive force at Kiev 'in being' and ready to counterattack the southern flank.

Barbarossa was completely futile because the Soviet Union had many hundreds of thousands more troops available than even the most pessimistic German estimates considered.

Answer 5

I think so. My understanding is that the German Army General Staff wanted Hitler to go straight for Moscow but Hitler, fancying himself as a great strategist, insisted on a three-pronged attack which involved assaults on Leningrad and Kiev, in the Ukraine, too.

Answer 6

That's possible. I always wondered if the Germans would have been successful if Hitler would have allowed his generals to retreat in force when they wanted to. They could have retreated and fought another day when the Russians were advancing. Instead Hitler insisted that they stay in place and fight to the death, so a huge German army was lost due to Der Fuhrers stupidity.

Answer 7

maybe because greman foreces were much more stronger and bigger than russians and had also the luftwaffe which was the german airforce. But at the same time russia is a very cold place and maybe germany would have suffered tremedous losses and could've benn short in emunitions and ffoo because of the long way to germany

Answer 8

No... to harsh a climate and the Russians got the brek in a few key battles


M

Answer 9

No. The Russians were too strong, and would have prevailed in any event.

Answer 10

You wana be a Monday morning quarterback?

What about the other fronts?You said entire force

THINK BEFORE YOU ASK AN ASININE QUESTION