How did Barbarossa not succeed, I mean it certainly wasn't completely successful but the operation captures thousands of square miles and destroyed much of the Soviet military.
If you mean could Barbarossa defeat the Soviets though. Then no. It was simply too big not to fail. The operation logistically could have defeated the USSR. It just wasn't happening. In fact if we reran Barbarossa a thousand times than the majority would see the Soviets do much better than OTL.
Is there any possible way in which Hitler's Operation Barbarossa could have been successful? If so, how?
That wouldn't work. The previous winter had been unusually wet, causing the rivers to flood and everything to turn to mud for longer than usual. Because of the poor infrastructure of the area the roads were largely unpaved and thus turned to mud, while the railroads were of a different gauge than those of the Germans. The Germans themselves didn't think that an attack could happen before mid-May, and even then the overly long muddy season and logistics issues makes it uncertain if it would have been wise to launch Barbarossa much before they did.The simplest and easiest POD is to have Yugoslavia join the Axis on 27.3.1941 as per OTL and Germany immediately provide "security" to assist this, probably one Division, This may see them stay a nominal probably non participatory Axis country much like Bulgaria. Then resist Mussolini's squeals re Greece-he can stew in his own juices.
Invade the USSR on about the 18th April, two months before OTL. That extra time may well be the charm in terms of getting to Moscow or taking SPB on the bounce.
The easiest way is for Stalin to lose it and start shooting the Soviet leadership and causing a total collapse, a la The Anglo-American Nazi War. Barring that the Germans have too much going against them, particularly in terms of logistics.
That wouldn't work. The previous winter had been unusually wet, causing the rivers to flood and everything to turn to mud for longer than usual. Because of the poor infrastructure of the area the roads were largely unpaved and thus turned to mud, while the railroads were of a different gauge than those of the Germans. The Germans themselves didn't think that an attack could happen before mid-May, and even then the overly long muddy season and logistics issues makes it uncertain if it would have been wise to launch Barbarossa much before they did.
For reference this is what a Russian road during the biannual muddy season looks like:
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The whole year was a weird one climate wise. First there was the aforementioned spring muddy season, but the autumn muddy season was exceptionally muddy, and finally the winter of 1941-1942 was one of, if not the, coldest of the 20th century (the temperature in much of Western Russia at the time was regularly between -20 and -30 degrees Celcius).These are some very good points. I was unaware the previous season had been so wet. I think a month of preparation extra than otl and a start in late May could even make a difference. Each week of good weather gained will assist the German forces greatly. It's enough to make an unlikely Scenario more likely that's for sure. And, as you say, getting that much closer may well cause Stalin to lose it.
Ps: some Russian secondary roads are that bad now in the rainy spring and autumn seasons. Trust me, I've been stuck on them.
The simplest and easiest POD is to have Yugoslavia join the Axis on 27.3.1941 as per OTL and Germany immediately provide "security" to assist this, probably one Division, This may see them stay a nominal probably non participatory Axis country much like Bulgaria. Then resist Mussolini's squeals re Greece-he can stew in his own juices.
Invade the USSR on about the 18th April, two months before OTL. That extra time may well be the charm in terms of getting to Moscow or taking SPB on the bounce.
Stalin somehow convinces himself the German won't attack, and ignores intelligence to the contrary.
The Germans however can not believe that Stalin won't see the attack coming. So they prepare for a long war, including campaigning thru the Winter, and winning over the local population ("There will be plenty of time for Germanization after we have smashed the USSR").
Barbarossa begins in 1941, with German attacks from Eastern Europe, and from Turkey towards the Caucasus, including bombing raids on the Baku oil fields.
Do you have a link to this fanfic, please?Look at Calbear's timeline,it's where they succeeded.
https://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=211950Do you have a link to this fanfic, please?
Look at Calbear's timeline,it's where they succeeded.