OON September 12, Bob Rivers berates Jonathan Saunders for giving credit to Russia for its contribution in the defeat of Germany. One might not like Russia but, its effect on World War Two was massive.

Had Hitler not invaded Russia, I think that we would have been in dire trouble. The German army that became tied up in Russia would have been lined up against us across the channel, making one wonder if it would ever have been possible to assemble an army and provide the transport to move it into Europe. In addition, Germany had developed long range guns, flying bombs and ballistic missiles, all capable of pounding Britain.

Hitler had assumed that the battle for Russia would be over quickly, and not later than the autumn, basing his assessment of the Russian army’s by its performance in Finland.

Although Russia and Germany had a peace treaty, it’s clear that the Russians didn’t trust the Germans because they moved their factories to the east and started a programme to build up their military capability.

Hitler was so sure of the invincibility of his army that, in the middle of the war, he was prepared to help out Mussolini with his problems in the Balkans. Hitler’s problems really started when the Russians decided to hold the line at Stalingrad, something which dragged the war in Russia into the winter and, with no winter clothing, the Germans were in a difficult position.

Come the spring Hitler moved more divisions to the Russian front to complete the takeover but, in the meantime, Russia had assembled thousands of armoured vehicles to confront the Germans, including tanks superior to those of both Britain and the US. In the event the German army had to retreat, with a great part of it being surrounded. Attempts by Hitler to drop supplies by air met with opposition from fighters, and there was nothing wrong with Soviet fighters. Pictures of thousands of German troops being led into captivity were memorable. The rest of course is history.

Derrick Holt, Fortnam Close, Headington

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