The Competition & Teaser Thread

[76mm]

As for those in Stalingrad, what choice did they have? Fight the Germans or be shot by the NKVD?

So the Russians only fought in Stalingrad because of NKVD machine guns at their backs? I guess we'll have to disagree on that one. And as far as I know most of the "blocking detachments" in Stalingrad (other than the ones guarding the ferry landings) ended up being used as front line troops, and yet the defenders didn't surrender to the Germans.

I wouldn't have any problem with a conclusion that generally German units were better than Sov units, and the more so the earlier in the war. But I have to disagree with the justifications used (to paraphrase: "A German general said so, so it must be true...") and particular conclusions reached (the Russian army was composed of indistinguishable, thoughtless automatons). David, what sort of evidence would it take to revise Sov moral ratings? Several books by Sov generals and some accounts from some Sov soldiers, as have been cited for the Germans?

I guess it is amusing that the Sovs actually considered the Germans to be thoughtless automatons--for instance firing their artillery barrages at the same time day after day, or following other routines which make no sense in the middle of the war.