What specific military tactics does Stalin suggest the Soviets use to defeat Hitler?

1 Answer
Aug 29, 2016

Not one step back and scorched earth were two tactics.

Explanation:

The German attack on the Soviet Union on June 22nd took Stalin by surprise even though his spies had given him specific details.

As a result the Germans inflicted massive losses on Soviet forces weakened by Stalin's purges in the 1930's. Within months they had advance towards Moscow and encircled Leningrad. They had also captured the Ukraine and were advancing towards the oilfields in the Caucasus.

How did Stalin react? What were his tactics? It was a war of annihilation and Stalin's tactics reflected this.

Not One Step back meant that positions had to be held at all costs. Most commanding officers who had suffered defeats as the Germans advanced were shot and replaced. Political commissars enforced the tactic that there should be no retreat from the Germans.

However Stalin realised that tactical retreats were necessary. Unlike Hitler he listened to his generals Therefore anything of material value to the Germans was destroyed. This was the Scorched Earth policy.

Stalin also moved entire factories East beyond the Urals and out of the reach of the Germans. This allowed the Soviets to produce military hardware such as tanks and planes at a pace which the Germans could not match.