2007-09-19 19:34:55 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
Stalin's first reaction to the German attack on Moscow was to deny the truth and to search for scapegoats for the Soviet defeats.Once he realized the danger to the capital he came close to hysteria. On Oct. 13, he ordered the evacuation of the Communist party, the General Staff and various civil government offices from Moscow to Kuibyshev ( now Samara), leaving only a limited number of officials behind. The evacuation caused panic among the Muscovite's. From Oct. 16 to Oct. 17, much of the civilian population tried to flee, mobbing all the trains and roads out of the city. Stalin also had some of the munition factories moved to the Ural mountains region. Despite everything Stalin decided to remain in the capital and try to calm the fear and pandemonium. It worked, the Soviet army stopped the German advance and in Dec. launched a counter-offensive that changed the momentum of the war.
2007-09-20 03:01:39 · answer #1 · answered by Louie O 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For a considerable time, Stalin refused to believe or even accept reports that the Luftwaffe and Wermacht were attacking along the Eastern Front.
One of the serious errors in judgement - in addition to a brutal tyrant's paranoia - was that Uncle Joe was also the chief of intelligence and declared the information that the non-aggression treaty had been broken as lies and propaganda by enemies of the revolution.
The History Channel has a wealth of information on the politics of the Second World War for you as well.
2007-09-20 02:52:49 · answer #2 · answered by ZepherGeist 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He was concerned that his withdrawal would take the heart out of the defense. Russian forces were collapsing badly in the early stages. He did not want to contribute to panic and defeatism by moving to a safer location. It was a propaganda move (or 'non-move'), and Stalin was a master of this. His orders were to stand and fight to the death for every foot of Russian soil. It would have looked very bad for him to run after giving such orders.
2007-09-20 02:56:21 · answer #3 · answered by Spreedog 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Stalin debated the question with his top generals and advisers in October 1941. The discussion reached an impasse.
Stalin called in his housekeeper, a peasant woman, and put the question to her.
'Moscow is our mother,' she said. 'We must defend her.'
The question was settled.
2007-09-20 13:51:30 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
obviously he didnt want to appear to be afraid of hitler and the nazis. and maybe he hated them so much that he could not be afraid of them. while most officials and war-making factories were moved out, he stayed to boost morale of his troops and russian people.
he did not even cancel annual parade commemorating bolshevik revolutionary victory despite on-going german offensive and russian troops that joined the parade went straight to the fighting at the front.
the russian people labored and dug miles of ditches and put up tank-barriers. it was described as such a super human effort that could not be duplicated by the western countries.
that hitler and his nazi generals grossly under estimated the capabilities of the russian army and the russian people is considered one of primary reasons why operation barbarossa failed.
2007-09-20 04:42:03 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
to bolster the Bolshevic defence. People could look up and say "see there, Stalin has not lost his nerve." That spirit of *****sk spread throughout the ranks.
2007-09-20 09:56:48 · answer #6 · answered by Its not me Its u 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
He was back...
2007-09-20 03:56:22 · answer #7 · answered by Cossak 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋