Re: Winter War study
Probably they wouldīve done a lot better, as they couldīve used the full power of their mechanized and motorized forces, that were restricted to a few roads in winter. However the tactics and morale of the Red Army wouldīve remained the same. Even during the Continuation War regular russian units were severly handicapped only by the presence of finnish and Karelian forests and feared to venture out to patrol and establish small bases to cut finnish flanking manouvers.
As for preparedness and kit, Iīd say yes. Just before the war AT weapons were on the purchase list, as were artillery ammunition and personal equipment. However the winter saved the day, as when the finns were cold, the poor russians, some units taken from Southern Soviet Union, were even colder. But the grand-political scheme dictated Stalinīs decision to invade during winter, as German pressure and the russian need to close the Baltic sea, using Estonian and Finnish 12in coastal artillery batteries, was the main reason for the wintery invasion.
Fun fact #2: Just before the war, finns bought many thousands of light artillery shells from Sweden, only to find out that they were one millimeter too large (76mm vs 75mm) for the finnish guns.. think that in a cold winter night.
|