Allies vs Russians

IIRC the first factories capable of manufacturing sheet aluminium in USSR were completed in 1944 and active in 1945... That said it was not until the late 40's that Russian Aluminium was available in sufficient quantity that one could recognise her by seeing the figures as an industrial superpower... Needless to say aluminium production was sparse in 45' so yes, fighter production would rely mostly upon an amalgamation of steel and wood, such as was present in most WW2 Russian fighters. Nevertheless we may draw the comparison that the USA also outsrtipped Germany in Aluminium production yet the war went on for 4 more years with help from all allied nations.

Whereas Russia's had not changed a bit

As we have discussed before, it is accepted that lend lease provided 10% of total industrial output... It was significant, but thats not to say Russian industry was a joke, it still far outsrtipped Germany's and it still would remain the world #2 for many decades to come... It really is wonderous why the Soviet army did not go into decline then and there when LL stopped arriving instead it became the largest military force in the world, in terms of numbers, production and exported goods...

Not really... Russia's industrial output far outsrtipped Germany's, especially in 1945 when the relocation of factories to the Urals was complete. Logistically would it not take longer time and more resources to overwhelm them? The Red Army in Berlin was well supplied, achieving what the Germans had failed to do, maintaining a supply line across Eastern Europe. Whenever the Soviets were in danger of stretching their lines, they halted and reconsolidated their positions, as was done at the river Oder before the takeover of Berlin. The Germans preffered to let their dwindling supplies catch up to them.

Unlike the Germans the Russians never outran their supply lines... That is why logically, they would take longer to defeat... (not to mention industrial capacity)

 

A couple of points you are missing re: the VVS and Lend-Lease...

by 1944-45, all the new Soviet planes (including new versions of current planes) were all-aluminium, rather than wood & steel. This resulted in an improved generation of fighters, ensuring that the VVS kept abrest of everybody else in terms of performance (as obviously all nations were continuously producing newer/better planes).

Lend-Lease made up 10% of Soviet Inducstry, but included almost all of their aluminium (Lend-Lease tended to be made up of stuff the Soviets were scarce in, rather than just general stuff).

Take away the aluminium, and the Soviets can't build any more new planes until their own factories can make more Aluminium (ie: in a few years time).

So, back to the old wood/steel designs, which are now a full developmental 'step' behind the Western Allies, and therefore less competative.


Not saying that this will cause a 'we'll win it in a month' scenario, but it will give a big advantage to the Western Allies.

And before it comes up, the VVS was rarely - if ever - that far behind the Luftwaffe.

 

welcome everybody,

I heared that however Red Army was great in numbers it did not have many of basic and neccessary equipment e.g trucks. The industry also was devastated, and humen losses heavy. I think that the main advantage of Russians in the Eastern Front was a space. Germans had to divide their armies into smaller groups.

You cannot also underestimate the fact that Russians in 1945 were in Central Europe also perceived as invadors, If US Army attacted Stalin forces it would be supported for all nations of Central Europe, including Ukraine