Why did the Germans stretch themselves too thin?

[krrish]

Hitler had signed the non-aggression pact with Russia before the beginning of the war & I think it was a good step taken by him.But the foolish thing he made by violating the pact & attacked Russia.Hitler's intention of attacking Russia was to capture the mines & oil fields.But Germany was defeated at Stalingrad.

If Hitler wouldn't violated the pact, I think, the result of the war will completely be reversed.

[Spitfire XIV-E]

It was a certainty that it would happen. The Molotov/Ribbentrop pact was an act of convenience and both the Germans & Russians knew it. Stalin shot himself in the foot with the purges of the 1930's. With most high ranking officers in command either executed or imprisoned because Stalin was absolutely paranoid that someone might challenge his authority. Indeed he never really trusted anyone right up until his death in 1953. Look at what he did to Zhukov at the end of the war. His best commander in WW2 and because he (Stalin) felt threatened by him he was sent off to Siberia to some forgotten command where he remained until Kruschev came to power.

It was in "Mein Kampf" that Hitler had prophesised the attack on Russia. It was in Russia that the German people would find "Lebensraum" or Living Space to fulfill their roll in the world. It was only a matter of when the Germans would attack. Stalin had hoped that it wouldn't be until the Red Army was thoroughly re-organised after the disastrous purges. But because of the speed in which the Blitzkrieg attacks in Western Europe had been achieved, The Red Army was far from ready to face the onslaught in June 1941 when Operation Barbarossa was launched. And it was touch & go whether they would be able to defend Moscow in the winter of 1941/42. Only the movement of specially equipped troops from the Far East front saved the situation. Because the 2 ideologies were so far apart it was always the case that one would win and one would lose. A sort of "This town aint big enough for the both of us" scenario. The Nazis despised the communist regime in the USSR and Hitler made no secret of it.

[Stalin]

Originally Posted by Spitfire XIV-E

It was a certainty that it would happen. The Molotov/Ribbentrop pact was an act of convenience and both the Germans & Russians knew it. Stalin shot himself in the foot with the purges of the 1930's. With most high ranking officers in command either executed or imprisoned because Stalin was absolutely paranoid that someone might challenge his authority. Indeed he never really trusted anyone right up until his death in 1953. Look at what he did to Zhukov at the end of the war. His best commander in WW2 and because he (Stalin) felt threatened by him he was sent off to Siberia to some forgotten command where he remained until Kruschev came to power.

It was in "Mein Kampf" that Hitler had prophesised the attack on Russia. It was in Russia that the German people would find "Lebensraum" or Living Space to fulfill their roll in the world. It was only a matter of when the Germans would attack. Stalin had hoped that it wouldn't be until the Red Army was thoroughly re-organised after the disastrous purges. But because of the speed in which the Blitzkrieg attacks in Western Europe had been achieved, The Red Army was far from ready to face the onslaught in June 1941 when Operation Barbarossa was launched. And it was touch & go whether they would be able to defend Moscow in the winter of 1941/42. Only the movement of specially equipped troops from the Far East front saved the situation. Because the 2 ideologies were so far apart it was always the case that one would win and one would lose. A sort of "This town aint big enough for the both of us" scenario. The Nazis despised the communist regime in the USSR and Hitler made no secret of it.

Very nice way of explaining an issue Spitfire, good post.