Comments on: A Neglected but Significant Anniversary

By: Space Nookie

Space Nookie — Mon, 20 May 2013 21:51:31 +0000

See Soviet offensive plans controversy for a better article that doesn’t appeal to consensus.

What is controversial about Suvorov is that he claims Stalin intended to attack on July 6, and that consequently Hitler’s June 22 invasion was justifiable as a preemptive strike. He makes other claims with a stronger factual basis, and it does leave you wondering why, exactly, Stalin had built such a powerful (on paper) army if it wasn’t for defensive purposes.

Organizations miss deadlines all the time; it’s very plausible that Stalin could have wanted to attack on July 2 and the Red Army would be unready on June 22. I don’t find that a persuasive counter argument.

By: Isegoria

Isegoria — Mon, 20 May 2013 16:46:23 +0000

The consensus, for what it's worth, seems to be that Suvorov overstates Stalin's ability to launch an attack in 1941. That said, I have trouble imagining Stalin simply standing by as Germany wore itself down on the Western Front. The Allies would practically demand his entry, after all.

By: Space Nookie

Space Nookie — Mon, 20 May 2013 15:37:54 +0000

There is a 1987 book, Icebreaker, by Viktor Suvorov, that goes into great detail about Stalin's preparations for an attack on western Europe. Suvorov argues that Stalin intended for France and Germany to exhaust themselves in mutual combat — after which he would intervene. I find that a lot more plausible than the standard narrative where Stalin is basically neutral and disinterested until Hitler attacks him.

By: Isegoria

Isegoria — Mon, 20 May 2013 03:00:30 +0000

If the French and British forces held out against the initial German offensive, couldn’t we expect the Russians to open up the Eastern Front?

By: Erich Schwarz

Erich Schwarz — Mon, 20 May 2013 02:05:46 +0000

"I’m not sure why there would have been no Communist takeover of Eastern Europe..." If France and Britain had managed to turn the tide of the war before Hitler invaded the USSR, then the final borders of Soviet control would have looked like this rather than this. That's why.