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To: tom h
But within days the Soviets mounted their first winter offensive, on the outskirts of Moscow,

FYI, The Russian Winter offensive began prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor.

107 posted on 06/08/2014 10:51:24 AM PDT by fso301
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To: fso301
There you go, I had to spend an hour researching my facts because I hate getting it wrong ... [chuckle]

Correct, the Soviet counteroffensive started on Dec 5, 1941, two days before Pearl Harbor. History books note that it was completely ineffective for two days and largely ineffective for a number of days. Hitler signed Directive 39 on Dec 8th ordering the cessation of offensive operations. On December 11, Germany declared war on the USA and the USA, in turn, declared war on Germany.

The Soviet counteroffensive began to gather steam during this time. Some of Hitler's generals (Halder and Von Kluge) interpreted Directive 39, and perhaps because of the theoretical dicussion with Hitler about America as an enemy, that a general withdrawal to more defensible lines was warranted and provided the order.

On or around Dec 19, Hitler caught word about the withdrawal and forbade it. No doubt his fury was worsened by the reversal of Germany fortunes in the cold Soviet winter.

So I concede the point, albeit a minor point at that. It was the combination of delayed success in the Soviet counteroffensive, combined with the countermanding of his officers' orders, that hardened Hitler's mind about doing the reasonable and militarily correct thing.

142 posted on 06/08/2014 5:03:02 PM PDT by tom h
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