Stalin's purges removed many experienced Red Army officers before the army faced Germany in the Second World War. Replacing experience with political reliability weakened its senior leadership at the start of the fighting. An opponent gains when a state destroys its own officer corps. Political paranoia therefore damaged battlefield readiness and contributed to the Red Army's early wartime difficulties.
Notable Point · 3:45:07-3:45:47
Stalin's purges and Red Army readiness in 1941
Stalin's purges weakened the Red Army's experienced leadership before its fighting against Germany.