The criticism of the 1941 invasion focuses on dependence on trains that the Soviet side could remove, leaving German forces reliant on horses. A comparison with Napoleon questions how much the underlying transport problem had changed. Celebrated operational victories are set against weaknesses in logistics and the ability to sustain a war. The condition of Germany's opponents is also part of the criticism: some successes came against forces described as weaker, unprepared, or poorly informed. This is a critical interpretation of the institution's reputation, without a systematic comparison of every general staff.
Notable Point · 4:09:06-4:11:43
The German General Staff's logistics blind spot
Dependence on rail transport and horses during the 1941 invasion forms part of a critique of the German General Staff's reputation.