Comments by "Aleksa Žunjić" (@aleksazunjic9672) on ""They're defending Stalingrad like dogs!" BATTLESTORM STALINGRAD E26" video.

@FatCharlieTheArchangel Because Rzhev battles were actually bloodier and with more casualties than Stalingrad. And that goes for both sides. Due to front not moving much, both sides tended to "forget" them after the war. But Germans were at times near breaking point there . And with center part of the front broken all advances into the South would not matter much.
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@TheImperatorKnight COVID-19 delta or something else ?
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Urban terrain, you cannot concentrate whole division in a city block, especially with enemy skilled into infiltrating into rear areas. In urban areas certain landmarks and buildings had to be captured and held to control parts of the city.
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@Shinji72 Well, actually no. Had front at Rzhev collapsed it had potential to be Bagration two years earlier than it happened , cause Germans there lacked motorization for infantry divisions. They could have shortened the line, but I guess Soviets would attack elsewhere in that region. Moving 11th Army to the North was actually lucky move. They were planned for offensive against Leningrad but in reality stopped big Soviet offensive (Sinyavino offensive)
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@eze8970 Well, Soviets always attempted enveloping operations, even in late 1941 ( winter counter-attack) . They also squandered lots of tanks around Rzhev. Have they somehow managed to break the front, they would certainly attempt encirclement with cavalry-mechanized groups. I must remind you that Soviets already created Demyansk pocket in 1941, and Germans were hard pressed to supply them. If the large part of AG Center was surrounded, there were simply no way to supply them, i.e. they would have to surrender eventually, just like in Stalingrad few months later. Also AG Center is on a shortest route to Berlin. After Rzhev Soviets would certainly aim for Smolensk, major transport hub. With Smolensk in their hands, lots of German units would have logistic problems, no matter what happens in the South.
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@eze8970 Note that only few months after Rzhev battles in summer of 1942 Soviets did pull out Uranus, Little Saturn and huge advance across practically whole southern part of the front. Attempting double envelopment an deep operations was standard Soviet doctrine even before the war. Around Stalingrad Soviets simply identified weaker sectors (Romanians) and exploited them to punch trough frontline. Germans units surrounded were undermanned but actually had plenty of supplies (that is why they held out so long) . Had Soviets managed to do so around Rzhev, similar situation would develop. Large German units would be encircled and eventually destroyed. Smolensk would certainly fall, and German counter-attacks would stop offensive somewhere in Belorussia. Huge problem for the Germans would be that with Belorussia endangered they could not hope to keep their gains in the South. So, to capture oil you need to defend in the Center .
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