That was a very interesting conversation I bet ........was a once in a lifetime chance, I would have more question than I can count for him.

Most definately! Awesome to speak to someone who actually fought throught that and survived. The closest I've gotten is playing Call of Duty!

Yeah I'm fascinated by the Eastern Front too. I doubt we'll see a war ever fought quite like that again. Most people in the west have no conception of what a titanic struggle it truly was. The Russians are the only people it's claimed that know the meaning of 'total war' and I can believe it.

I believe most Germans by May 1945 could also claim to know the meaning of 'total war'.

Oh yes most definately, that front was not just a war between two nations but ideologies. And I have much respect for Red Army.....even though I study more on the german side, but to try and I mean try hard to understand what happen on the Eastern front you have to look at both sides, hence why I have been reading more Russian Literature on the subject, plus learning russian hehe.

I think it's almost impossible to defeat Russia/USSR in a war, they have so many people and the huge terrible front with the Russian winter, and what are you going to do when the army gets to the ural-mountains?.
perhaps china, europe and USA together.

The way to defeat Russia was exactly how the U.S. did it. Isolate them economically and politically, and let them tear themselves apart from within. Of course, that takes time and weak Soviet leadership, luxuries Hitler didn't have. Incidentally, doesn't it strike you as odd that Hitler and Stalin didn't get along? I mean, these guys were like peas in a pod. And if they HAD allied... hoo boy. Who's familiar with the ideological differences which kept that from happening? I'm sure not.

It doesn't strike me odd at all Jamoni. Both of them were among the most powerful leaders in the world. Demi-gods if I may. Are there two alpha males in a lion pride? Theres not a chance of it. Their egos must have been tremendous.

That would have been monumental. A war betwixt the economically and technologically superior United States of America allied with spirit of Great Britain, against the maniacal Germans who would fight till utterly destroyed, allied with the sheer numbers of Russia. That would make a good book.

Originally Posted by Jamoni

Who's familiar with the ideological differences which kept that from happening? I'm sure not.

Nationalism and communism, Hitler and his nationialistic pals rose to power in Germany during the late 20's by preaching against communism and the stab in the back theory which in their minds was the reason the Germans lost WW1. These two ideologies hated each other and this contributed to hatred that the war on the eastern front was fought with. Hitler had his eyes on eastern europe and russia even in the infant days of the Nazi's.

Stalingrad, and the russian campaign is what really did the Germans in. It crippled their Military resources. Russia's best defense, the winter.

The winter is tough but I think that the vastness of country is what does about everyone in. The front at it largest from the baltic to the caucasus was something in the range of 3,000 km that is a insane front to try and maintain.

Well, that and General Mud. Lightning War is hard to do without roads. Interesting points about Stalin vs. Hitler. Are there any good books that cover the conflict between them?