hitler never issued the no retreat order
hitler never issued the no retreat order
What do you guys think would have happened in the east if hitler allowed his troops to retreat when necessary? Would it have had a decisive impact on the campaign?
In winter 1941 the no-retreat order was right - the Germans fought for survival in every town and village against the Soviet counteroffensive, and thus saved themselves from the kind of disaster which destroyed Napoleon's Grand Army in 1812.
Later on Hitler often refused his generals permission to straighten the line, which would have given him a larger reserve to seal off Soviet breakthroughs. This led to a more rapid Soviet victory than would otherwise have been the case.
So theoretically in this situation, the Allies might have reached Berlin before the Soviets.
Later on Hitler often refused his generals permission to straighten the line, which would have given him a larger reserve to seal off Soviet breakthroughs. This led to a more rapid Soviet victory than would otherwise have been the case.
So theoretically in this situation, the Allies might have reached Berlin before the Soviets.
Ironic that the "beginning" of the breakdown of the army's command structure should be an order issued by Hitler, yet opposed by most senior officers, that is historically viewed as the correct decision.
How many senior officers lost their commands withing a few months of this order? The damage done was incredible.
How many senior officers lost their commands withing a few months of this order? The damage done was incredible.
Hitler never issued the no retreat order
I don't think it would have made a difference to the battle of
Stalingrad. The Germans could only retreat a few miles per
day in the heavy snow.
German Intelligence should have alerted Hitler earlier that he
was walking into a trap. Zhukov massed hundreds of thousands
of men and material around Stalingrad - cleverly done during
the night. There was no way the German panzers could have
resisted such huge numbers of soldiers in the heavy snow.
Stalingrad. The Germans could only retreat a few miles per
day in the heavy snow.
German Intelligence should have alerted Hitler earlier that he
was walking into a trap. Zhukov massed hundreds of thousands
of men and material around Stalingrad - cleverly done during
the night. There was no way the German panzers could have
resisted such huge numbers of soldiers in the heavy snow.