How far do you agree that the USSR’s victory in the Second ...



Reasons for Soviet victory in WW2

Here are 6 possible paragraphs for an essay on this topic (Note: These paragraphs will need adjusting and reordering depending on the question asked)

1. Pragmatic decisions taken by Stalin (Stalin’s leadership)

• Stalin’s appeal to the Soviet peoples sense of nationalism motivated the Russian people more readily than an appeal to save communism (Stalin declared that Russia was involved in the ‘Great Patriotic War’)

• Relaxing the persecution of the Orthodox church by allowing the re opening of Churches for the first time since 1917 helped Stalin to win the support of the Clergy who preached that Russia was engaged in a ‘holy war’ against Germany. This help boost Russian morale during the war.

• Stalin’s insistence that the Communist party leadership remain in Moscow in 1941 when Moscow seemed on the brink on German capture further stiffened the resolve of the German people.

2. War economy (and advantages of Soviet war economy compared to the German one)

• The sheer economic might of Russia which was being directed towards war throughout the 1930s and especially during the 3rd FYP was fundamental to Russian success. This is in contrast to Hitler’s insistence that German living standards must be maintained at all cost which reduced the military potential of the German economy.

• By 1943 Russia was out producing Germany in weapons, tanks and planes which meant they could outgun the enemy. Russian troops could be resupplied much more quickly and more fully than the Germans could match.

• Russia had also relocated key industries to the east where they would be able to carry on producing out of reach of Germany.

• The central control of the Russian economy through GOSPLAN made it an easy transition to a war economy which could prioritise the production of military goods.

3. German military mistakes

• Hitler’s decision to invade at the end of June 1941 gave the German army only a few weeks of summer to fight before weather made fighting difficult.

• In addition splitting the German forces into 3 separate prongs rather than focus on attacking Moscow where the Russian government could have been overthrown was a major mistake.

• Hitler’s interference with military decisions made matters worse. By forbidding a German retreat from Stalingrad the Germans lost the entire 6th army.

4. Lend Lease (Allied economic help)

• Russian army benefitted from allied economic aid available under the lend lease agreement.

• For example American made trucks and railway engines enabled the red army to be supplied over long distances and vast quantities of Spam provided much of the soldier’s calorie intake. Khrushchev later commented that the red army could not have survived without it

• These goods were sold to Russia at a fraction of their real cost. (Lend lease provided 95% of the trains by which Soviet forces were able to travel.

• Lend lease was of enormous importance because it compensated for the deficiencies of the Russian economy and in doing so aided Russian victory.

5. Role of Soviet people on home front

• Without the huge sacrifice of the Russian people on the home front victory would not have been possible.

• 7 day weeks became in the norm with shifts of 12- 18 hours per day.

• NKVD enforced strict discipline in factories. Punishments were severe for not working hard enough or lateness.

• Women formed that majority of the workforce during the war

• A vast new army of Gulag labourers was mobilised through mass arrests to supply the country with food and raw materials

6. Soviet military leadership.

• In a change of policy, Stalin released 1000s of officers including generals who had been imprisoned during the purges. Their expertise was vital. Stalin gave his army officers control over decision making in marked contrast to Hitler’s interference in battlefield decisions.

• Marshal Zhukov was perhaps the most important military commander on any front in WW2 and was involved in all of the key battles on the eastern front.

• Furthermore Tsarist era army practices were reintroduced including better rationing for army officers

• Russian Soldiers were forbidden to retreat.

• 11 million medals for bravery awarded to Soviet troops – helped maintain morale of ordinary Russian soldiers.

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