Question for VM re alt scenarios

[SuperIke]

Very interesting thread. I personally think that while probably not being perfect, Volcano Man's scenarios are very well-balanced and based on solid and well-established assumptions. The points von Mellenthin has made have been confirmed and validated by a lot of other people that cannot all be accused of being "pro-German". I think it is an historical reality that from June 1941 to to mid-1943, the average German soldier was better trained and the operational doctrine of the German army did favor personal initiative and leadership especially among NCOs. This was not as emphasized in Soviet doctrine, and the stiffening role of the political commissars also insured stricter discipline and esprit de corps at the expense of initiative and creativity. But of course, those are general facts that were proven wrong in some cases and in some units.

After Kursk, in late 1943 and especially in 1944, there were less and less well-trained and experienced NCOs in the Wehrmacht and Germany was hitting a demographic limit in its capacity in raising young and fresh recruits. This was simply the reflect of the toll a 4-year war was starting to have on the quality and level of the recruits of the Wehrmacht at that time. The level of losses inflicted on the German on the Eastern front (especially at Kursk and in the attrition battles leading to the Dnepr) certainly diminished the quality of the average German soldier, NCO and officer to a point where the best Soviet units were certainly as best or even better than the best German units. Although the Soviets did suffer from higher casualties than the Germans all that time, a larger demographic pool, increased war experience and much better availability of simple and reliable material and hardware allowed them to bridge the gap and become a match to any other army at that time.