Information about World War II

[Dr_Woland]

>> and the German attack took them unawares and by surprise? <<

I'm not sure if this is "right", but it is certainly the usual theory given. Stalin was holding the (secret) Molotov-Ribbentropf Pact at the time, and believed that the Germans would honour their word in this "non-aggression" treaty. Consequently, he did not make any preparations for the possibility of attack by the Reich.

It's said that when he received news that the German army had crossed the USSR border, instead of acting, he went on a chaotic drinking-binge for 3 days, unable to believe the mistake he had made - and for three critical days, decisions were made without him, or not taken at all.

The Molotov-Ribbentropf Pact - although widely known in the West - was only admitted-to officially by the USSR in the Gorbachev era, nearly 40 years later, when the USSR officially apologised to the Baltic States for what happened as a result.

Dr W.

Greetings Michael B.
I wonder if you have any information on the Battles near Voronez on the Don. I am an American who was born in Hungary. The Second
Hungarian Army was destroyed in and around
Voronez. The time table corresponds with the
armored battles in and around Kursk. Very little information is available on this. Any help you can provide will be greatly appreciated.
Good Luck.

[oca]

Dear Mr. Ungaro:

May I assist you with some information regarding the battle where the Hungarian, Romanian and Italian armies were deployed?

"The enemy (Russians) have suffered enormous losses in men an materiel" said Hitler, and because of this the battle that covered a movement from Kursk on the Don to Voronezh was effected by the German Army Group "South" who moved down river to meet with the German 6th Army, and on and on and on. This was a sound battle plan, but Hitler repeatedly departed from the original plan, whose results are well known to historians and where the Hungarians lost a a great deal (including the Romanian and Italian armies). The report on this battle is very substantial, if you want me to, I can write-up a summary and e-mail it to you.

Greetings OCA,
I would greatly appreciate it. My E-mail address is: heibill@aol.com
Thank you in advance.

[rodneymackinnon]

Harish, I'm no WWII scholar, but I do think US & UK books are more than a little biased of course. We did play a pivotal role in the European Theater, but I remember reading something about how the Russian Army killed almost ten times as many Germans as the Allies combined. This fact is rarely mentioned in our history books. Hitler's biggest mistake was tangling with the Bear at the wrong time.

[harish]

Greetings,
Stalins defeat of Hitler on the Don flank was strikingly similar to his victory against General Denikin by exploitng his weak flanks along the don.
your reactions,
harish

[oca]

Harishi:

Just a little note to your posting:

Stalin nor Hitler ever participated personally in any action in the Don front. You may like to rephrase your posting, to clear things a bit.