re: WWII buffs: let's talk about Germany's biggest strategic blunder

quote:

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Germany should have captured the oil in the south rather than marching to Moscow/Stalingrad

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I've heard for a while that Stalingrad had little to no strategic value to the Germans. That was just a massive ego trip for Hitler because the city was named after Stalin.

If I'm not mistaken the Soviets were perceived as weak because of their struggles in their war against Finland, especially in comparison to Germany's swift victory in Poland. As far as Germany was concerned they were going to roll over Russia, which they did for a time. But going for Stalingrad was the big blunder.

I agree with some other posters though.

Not being able to subdue Britain and then invading Russia put Germany on a lot of fronts at once. Also, weren't the forces that came in and whipped out the German forces at Stalingrad from the East? But Japan and Russia signed a neutrality act that allowed Russia to free up some sources to come hit Germany.

Given the Soviet struggle in Finland and the ongoing amenity between the Soviets and Japan I'm sure attacking Russia didn't seem like such an unconquerable task.