Originally posted by S2
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So what stopped the Germans and why? It could be argued that Hitler's overweening focus on protecting Baltic ore shipments from Sweden was the impetus behind a Leningrad seizure. Equally, it can be argued that his desire to secure the lower Donbas region for economic reasons compelled his diversion of German armor forces south. If correct, either or both would suggest this preoccupation was the product of a siege mentality incapable of conceiving a strategic decapitation. In effect, Hitler was reconciled to a long war with the Soviet Union and conceded the strategic opportunity to attain incremental gain-and was only partially successful doing so.
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