Stalingrad should have been the first objective. The Volga was going to be the new dividing line between German and Russia. On August 23 in Stalingrad, in military strength was almost nil, the 10th NKVD Division was the strongest unit in overall manpower, but it had no organic Anti-tank or Artillery elements. In addition, the Russian high command had predicted and prepared for the German forces to strike 100 miles north of the city. I think the German first major loss (Historically, called a victory) was the 6-8 weeks reducing the Kiev pocket in 1941, again another successful operation that in the later half of the battle goes against the basic principals of blitzkrieg. When you play the game Chess, you play for Checkmate not for just Check. Those weeks, time and assets should have been direct against the pending campaign for Moscow. Russ
Well in my opinion the Red Army encirclement at Stalingrad; happen because the German lines sat stagnant for about 70 days, which go against the basic principals of blitzkrieg.
Responses