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Operation Bagration

Discussion in 'Eastern Europe February 1943 to End of War' started by Epsillon, Nov 2, 2007.

  1. Epsillon

    Epsillon Member

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    I still haven't gotten to writing the actual essay I'm too lazzy lol.

    And if you guys are talking about how the Germans could have escaped, they couldnt escape, they lost the battle from the start because of the vast soviet superiority in numbers, 3:1 in men, tanks 10:1, fighters 58:1! And this is ignoring the concentration of Soviet forces. However, Stavka's genius tactical superiority and German weaknesses cant be ignored.

    The Germans could have saved many of their own lives. Hitler's Fester Platz denied the German troops in fortified cities to retreat back in time even though that was their only logical solution. Hitler because of his wishful thinking ignored the German intelligence prior to the battle.

    Soviet preparations are too big to discuss in here but the main things they accomplished which illustrate the lessons they learned throughout the battle are

    Training
    Reconaisance
    Giving freedom to front commanders to ensure a rapidly moving plan
    Organizing the steamroller to take exploit German weaknesses
    Deception
    Ingenious tacticalplans

    This shows how organized and prepared the soviet Marshals were at the end of the war, not Stalin, by now he gave freedom to his marshals. They outsmareted the German OKH and a known German Field Marshal: Paulus who could do nothing because of the soviet preperations.
     
  2. Sloniksp

    Sloniksp Ставка

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    Lets also not forget about the Partisan units which amounted to 140,000 men behind German lines. ;)
     
  3. Epsillon

    Epsillon Member

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    The partisan attacks were met by heavy german anti partisans and also were not coordinated with the opening day of battle.
     
  4. Sloniksp

    Sloniksp Ставка

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    Yes you are correct. In one operation the Germans claimed 7,000 partisans dead. The Soviet Air force sent in planes to thwart of the German attacks and had some success but were too few and scattered to have the intended effect. The Germans launched their partisan attacks against villages as well in an effort to carve out possible escape routes.

    Overall the Partisan units stayed intact and remained loyal to the cause.
     
  5. Epsillon

    Epsillon Member

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    They were not succesful though. German engineers quilkyl repaired their railroads and communications if the attacks were on the 19th like planned then they would have been effective.
     

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