re: #61 kirkspencer

I disagree to the cause of the better officers and enlisted men. I think the Great Purge, particularly of the army, was more significant. Removing (and in most cases killing) 80% of officers of colonel and above and almost half of those under that rank only a few years before Germany left the army leaderless and paranoid. It’s worth recalling the Great Purge of the army was only a small part of the 1936-1938 Great Purge.

The fanatics took over and got rid of those who had disagreed with them, leaving them vulnerable.

German enlisted quality was much better than the Red Army, due to better education and training. As for officers, you have a point. But don’t just say “the fanatics”. The Great Purge was Stalin’s idea, and was designed to consolidate his own power.