Guns froze. The Germans did not have the logictical capabilikty to move both arms and clothing as needed by the troops. I do not yet know if any historian had addressed this. Tere is not doubt that it was a key factor. Leave a Reply Cancel reply. Armee mit Flugzeug Junkers Ju 52 auf verschneitem Feldflugplatz stehend; PK 501: Credit/Provider: Bundesarchiv: Short title: Bild 101I-003-3445-33 Very little, however, reahed thectroops in time. In addition the Soviets until early December were on the defensive, in many cases able to utilize prepared defensive positions which offered cover from both the Germans and the elements. The Germans had planned on a quick summer campaign. Author Editor Posted on November 27, May 4, Categories 1941 Tags infantry. The nutrition is admittedly limited, but compared with that of all other European nations it is still sufficient. 444 74.

The snow blew almost horizontally in blizzards that some- times lasted all day long, with the wind piercing our faces with a thousand needles. Report reached Propaganda Minister Goebbels who promoted a a national collection of winter clothing (August 1941). Contingency planning for Barabarossa not achieving its goals would have been looked on as a lack of commitment to the enterprise. 226.] While the Red Army was used to supress the occupied countries and there was widespread rape and looting, the Soviets never committed the attrocities rourinely committed by the Germans. Of course the most basic aspect of any military operation is contengency planning. Hitler never asked OKW if an invasion of the Soviet Union was feasible. The photographs here show a grouping of an SS Schütze in the field Russia in September 1941. Also not explained was the extent of the Red Army offensive before Moscow and the fact that the Germans were retreating on all fronts. The cold numbed and deadened the human body from the feet up until the whole body was an aching mass of misery. We could move again, but we were freezing because we still do not have winter clothing." Blockings and cut-off lows were frequent, particularly during January and February 1942. All of this was difficult to assess. Neither side would give the other any quarter and German soldiers feared more than anything falling into Russian hands. The Russians on the otherhand were prepared for winter weather and had tactics and equipment for it. The Russians of course also suffered in the cold. This seems almost unbelieveable. As the Red Army advanced, however, the hideous, auful truth emerged. The cold was, quite simply, a killer; we were all in danger of freezing to death.… also with some stories from 1945 (75 years ago) until September … Nor wre there logistical preparations to ship winter clothing and equipment rapidly to the front. The Wehrmacht was totally unprepared for the arrival of the Russian winter, even a normal winter. Commanders who asked for winter gear in the fall were first ignored and then reprimanded.
Both the Germans and Soviets relied on horses as draft animals. It was not that the Germans did not have stocks winter clothing. Hitler was gambling on that success and everthing was thrown into that gamble. 769.] The answer can only be traced back to the Reich Chancellery. The winter of 1941–42 is known as the coldest European winter of the 20th Century. Goebbels, Josef. Yet even in November there was no effort to provide the troops winter clothing. Cette baisse est due en partie à la mise en garnison dans les centres d'approvisionnement, mais aussi aux maladies, aux désertions et aux pertes subies dans diverses actions mineures qui causèrent des milliers de pertes. The winter of 1941–42 is known as the coldest European winter of the 20th Century. For information about how to add references, see Aspects of the Nazi-Soviet warfare during winter 1941 - 1942

How could the Germans made such a castrophic blunder. In addition to making general organizational and tactical changes, the Soviets paid more attention to winter clothing, equipment, and training including that of the ski troops - in marked contrast to their future opponents. Post 3:24 AM - May 13 #1 2020-05-13T03:24.

An additional problem was the animals. Barbarossa was premissed on victory before the Winter set in. In some cases the Germans killed civilians as reprisals to guerilla actiins. À Un certain nombre de facteurs doivent être pris en ligne de compte. Each man fought the cold alone, pitting his determination and will against the bitter winter.In mid November the German offensive on Moscow had resumed when the ground had hardened sufficiently for Army Group Centre to move again.