The Competition & Teaser Thread

[76mm]

Several books (such as von Mellenthin’s “Panzer Battles”) make the observation that the Red Army lacked individualism which is characteristic of western armies. This lack of individualism produced an almost automaton adherence to doctrine without any creativity whatsoever at the tactical level.
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Finally, it is said that even in 1944 the German soldier knew and felt that his unit was superior to his Russian counterpart. However, German divisions were like tiny stones in the midst of a vast ocean of endless Red Army troops. It should be noted that Russian troop quality, as a whole, was indeed improving gradually from 1942 to 1944, but this is inherently reflected in the fact that the number of Guards divisions were increasing as these divisions proved themselves and the organizational changes that improved over time (more artillery, air superiority etc). Records show that German units could stand their own ground even when outnumbered 6:1 but when Russian units are given high quality (B) this becomes impossible.

I see...so the basis for giving most Sov units D morale is that "several [German-biased] books" and (German) "records" show that even in 1944 the Red Army was automatons incapable of attacking at less than 7:1 odds? Oddly enough, reading Sov sources gives a distinctly different impression...

The individual fighter in the Red Army was, either intentionally or not, submerged into the “crowd” or “herd”. To that end, there is no real justification for Red Army units to be of sporadic quality levels between B and E but, rather, a standard average quality of C and D for combat units and varying quality levels ranging from excellent to terrible for individual HQ, based on their ability.

I find this statement rather strange, another reference to the inferior Sov "herd"...I would think that the soldiers in all armies (at least since Troy) are "submerged into the crowd", rather than running about as individual heroes, and yet German units can have distinctive quality ratings and Russian units cannot.

Frankly, this approach (I've refrained from calling it a "bias") is a significant turn off for me. I guess the Sov defenders in Stalingrad would also get C and D ratings, since you know, they are militarily incompetent automatons?