CMBB v CMAK

[Mad Russian]

About sources:
Yes, Chuikov was producing fairy tales on certain occasions, both for propaganda and self-esteem. And he was publicly rebuked on one occasion after special commission was called to check his statements. You should know, what I am speacking about.

Yes, Manshtein was also producing myths on various occasions. I almost laughed for tears, reading his sel-esteem boosting tales related for, ex. to Sevastopol siege, when he was describing Soviet "forts" and heroics of German infantry, crossing the bay in boats under heavy Russian fire.

Yes, Zhukov was also making occasional false statements in his book. His conversation about absence of AP rounds for KVs was referred to a single occasion, when he was replying to one of the local reports. Please refer to your source, stating that from Baltics to Black sea Russian tank units, equipped with T-34s and KV-1s had problems with supply of AP rounds.

As for tanks, I prefer to read books, referring to official reports of engineers and officers, responsible for comparative testing and analysis of related first-eye reports from the front. Things look very different, than in general memoirs. And one should also remember that tank is not only gun and armor.

What self propoganda value and self esteem value is gained by admitting that the enemy has better capabilities than you do?

The only one I know if is the one played over and over.....The Russians were bigger, better, badder but we still beat them.

Biographical sources are interesting to say the least. At times you have to apply the common sense factor. You have to ask yourself, does that make sense? You have to be careful using that too often. What makes no sense today, often, made perfect sense back then. In addition, they were inventing armored warfare at the spur of the moment, while we have the benefit of hindsight.

It is a good idea to cross reference what is in the biographies with other sources. BUT when those match more than one source they cease to be fairy tales and folk history. They then become facts and actual history.

So, when a general like Zhukov mentions that there were instances of KV's not having AP rounds you immediately dismiss that statement as a local supply issue. While I see it as a supporting statement made by other researchers about critical ammunition shortages.

My main source of Soviet Armor, of all kinds, are the books written by Steven Zaloga. I have several written by him and since his source materials were the Soviet archives I see no reason to discount his facts and figures.

Good Hunting.

MR