There were many proponents to a defensive strategy in Russia within the High Command, most notably Guderian.
He advocated withdrawing behind, and fortifying a line along the Dnieper River, to Narva. This would have preserved the forces, and supply.
His “Mobile Reserve” strategy would have put the Armored Divisions in the East on rail cars, ready to move to wherever a threat presented itself, while the Mech Divisions would be the local reserve, holding any breakthrough until the heavier divisions arrived.
Hitler rejected it. There was just too much pressure to secure the oil in the Caucuses, and the nickel/iron/coal in the Russian Southwest (Rostov to Donetsk). Speer and the Industrialists pushed hard for this.
Had Guderian’s plan been followed, it may have preserved significant forces, because Stalingrad and Kursk wouldn’t have happened. The 1943 Italian campaign could have turned out very differently, had two more Air fleets, and several Mech/Armored divisions been available.
Could it have changed to eventual outcome of the war? Probably not, as resources were always the Achilles heel of Germany. But it could have kept the Finns in the game a lot longer, and extended the war until more nukes were ready.
Hitler would have been dead in another 12-18 months anyway, if reports of his health are to be believed. What would be the end result after that is anybody’s guess.
Good comments, thanks for the insight..
Never heard about this. What were Hitler's health issues?