Why could the Soviet Union withstand the onslaught of Blitzkrieg? What factors helped the Soviets stave off defeat?
1 Answer
A combination of factors.
Explanation:
Firstly, Hitler was confident of a quick victory so the German army was not equipped with winter clothing. This took a terrible toll.
Secondly the sheer expanse of the Soviet Union played a role. The Germans felt that no matter how far they advanced they were still faced with an endless horizon.
Stalin listened, eventually, to his generals such as Zhukov, Hitler didn't. he saw himself as a brilliant commander and constantly interfered and changed his mind. Examples were refusing to let the 6th Army break out at Stalingrad, splitting his forces in the South thus weakening them, and delaying decisions for example at Kursk in 1943.
Contrary to Hitler's perceptions of the Soviets they proved to be a far more formidable enemy than he though they would be. This was seen in the 3 year siege at Leningrad and the battle for Stalingrad.
Having said this one has to remember that victory was gained at an enormous cost in terms of human life and suffering
