Thread: Worst decision in WW2

Why are you under the assumption that just because the Wehrmacht could have reached Moscow that it means that they could have won the war?

Originally Posted by Trajan

The decision to shift the attack front of the 2nd Panzer Army very basically gave the Red Army a lot of time to prepare for the battle of moscow and to prepare. Then Guderian's dismissal was also idiotic of Hitler.

It also secured Army Group Center's southern flank. Without shifting the second Panzer Army south, those Soviet Armies could have come north, and completely destroyed Army Group Center (which had next to nothing defending its southern flank). Overall, a wise decision by Hitler. Gudarian was an excellent Panzer commander, however he was fixated on Moscow at the expense of the big picture.

Honestly, Germany's failure in Russia was not military, but political. More than enough minorities (and Russians too) were happy to welcome the Germans... until the SS started trying to prove to them that the Germans were worse than Stalin. Had Germany behaved in Russia the way it did in Western Europe... personally I think that is the only way it could have won. Failure to wage a political war inside Russia was Hitler's biggest error.

Originally Posted by lwarmonger

It also secured Army Group Center's southern flank. Without shifting the second Panzer Army south, those Soviet Armies could have come north, and completely destroyed Army Group Center (which had next to nothing defending its southern flank). Overall, a wise decision by Hitler. Gudarian was an excellent Panzer commander, however he was fixated on Moscow at the expense of the big picture.

Honestly, Germany's failure in Russia was not military, but political. More than enough minorities (and Russians too) were happy to welcome the Germans... until the SS started trying to prove to them that the Germans were worse than Stalin. Had Germany behaved in Russia the way it did in Western Europe... personally I think that is the only way it could have won. Failure to wage a political war inside Russia was Hitler's biggest error.

True, it 'secured the flank', but the Soviet southern armies were being hard pressed by AGS as it was, so it would not have been a simple matter for the Russians to turn and push into AGC's flank while still engaged by AGS.

BTW, the effect of Moscow falling would have been psychological as well as material. There's no strong reason to believe that Moscow falling in Sep-Oct '41 would have been an 'instant' victory for Germany. However, there was considerable industry in and around Moscow. It was also a major communication centre, and it's loss would have made it much more difficult for the Russians to organize and supply a defensive line east of it, as well as a later counterattack. I do not believe it's entirely accurate to say that Guderian was 'fixated' on Moscow. He strongly believed that was the next logical step in the campaign. When he failed to convince Hitler, he turned south with great energy and effectiveness. After the southern 'diversion', he effectively participated in the final attack on Moscow. Guderian was the one who wanted to call off the attack and pull back to a defensible line. It was Hitler who insisted that the attack continue, and 'fired' Guderian when Guderian refused to do so. I believe it would be more accurate to state that Hitler was the one who 'fixated' on geographic objectives. First, the Ukraine, then Moscow and later the Caucasus and Stalingrad.

I agree that the brutal treatment of the various peoples of the Soviet Union, rather than trying to enlist their aid, was a key to Germany's defeat. However, Germany was very much defeated militarily. Their policy of brutality certainly did shift support (back) to Stalin's regime, and thereby helped to make that regime militarily strong enough to defeat Germany.