Effects of Finnish Ski Troops used in the Battle of Moscow

[GuildedAgeNostalgia]

DISCLAIMER: This is not a discussion on can Germany win the war. This is a discussion on the tactical situation in the Battle of Moscow.

1) In the early winter of 1941, the German army attempted to take the Soviet capital of Moscow. Due to weather conditions, well entrenched Soviets, and poor logistics, the German advance grounded to a halt.

2) One of the most successful set of units implemented on the Eastern Front of WW2 were Finnish Ski Troops. During both the Winter War and Continuation War, Finland used Ski Troops in maneuver, surround, and destroy Entrenched or advancing Soviet units.

3) My question is, if Mannerheim can be persuaded to temporarily lend them, what would be the effects of having say 10,000 Finnish Ski Troops fight with the Germans during the Battle of Moscow?

- Would they be used to flank Moscow and attack the rear, or used for infiltration tactics?
- Would they be used as a division or as individual regiments and companies throughout the front?
- How would the Soviets react to this on a tactical level?
- Would this implementation be enough to cause Moscow to fall?

 

[Post]

You´d have to know you need them several weeks in advance, they´re going to teleport themselves to Moscow. So if you want them there in december, you got to start planning in oktober.
The attack on Moscow was logistically constrained, so getting them there, means something else doesn´t get there.

Besides that, I doubt that 10,000 men would tip the scale.

 

[nbcman]

Completely different situation. The Finnish troops during the Winter War were familiar with the local terrain, had higher mobility due to forested terrain, and were defending their homeland while the Soviets were road bound and unfamiliar with the terrain. The Finns would have none of these advantages if they were trying to advance around Moscow.

 

[Sol Zagato]

DISCLAIMER: This is not a discussion on can Germany win the war. This is a discussion on the tactical situation in the Battle of Moscow.

1) In the early winter of 1941, the German army attempted to take the Soviet capital of Moscow. Due to weather conditions, well entrenched Soviets, and poor logistics, the German advance grounded to a halt.

2) One of the most successful set of units implemented on the Eastern Front of WW2 were Finnish Ski Troops. During both the Winter War and Continuation War, Finland used Ski Troops in maneuver, surround, and destroy Entrenched or advancing Soviet units.

3) My question is, if Mannerheim can be persuaded to temporarily lend them, what would be the effects of having say 10,000 Finnish Ski Troops fight with the Germans during the Battle of Moscow?

- Would they be used to flank Moscow and attack the rear, or used for infiltration tactics?
- Would they be used as a division or as individual regiments and companies throughout the front?
- How would the Soviets react to this on a tactical level?
- Would this implementation be enough to cause Moscow to fall?

Ski troops were particularly effective in areas of Finland with discontinuous front. This allowed them to surround and destroy road-bound Soviet columns deep in the woods.

Moscow was more dense, to put it mildly. Tossed into the frontal meatgrinder? Marginally more effective and mobile, but they're light troops. They'll get used up to no great strategic effect.

Ski troops would best be used on the Germans' open flanks (for example, near the Valdai hills or Kholm), perhaps blunting Soviet soviet counteroffensives there.

After Dec. 5th, they would be a good 'firefighting unit', going wherever German units weren't coping. Once the bite-and-hold strategy is implemented by the Germans, they'd be an important unit for cleaning up overextended or cut off Soviet units.

Their winter tactics, equipment and survival skills may see improvised imitation among German units.


EDIT: TULA
With perfect hindsight, they would be with Guderian in the second half of October, to take Tula. Yes, there was mud, but snow too. The scattered, disorganized units defending the approaches to Tula would be just that much less effective with a snow-mobile unit opposing them. This could result in seizure of Tula before effective strength is moved there. There's your clear strategic-level effect.

With Tula taken, there goes its industrial production (long run effect) and the southern flank is much more threatening AND solidly anchored. Guderian may not get so overextended, and realistic encirclement possibilities appear. Tula is still on the wrong side of the Oka from Moscow, and many miles further away compared to other German forces.

I'd guess Moscow still doesn't fall on average, but the Germans are likely to have a much nicer winter. Don't tell them that though, they'll still think it's hell.

 

[Karelian]

You'd need a different Finnish Government and Chief in Command for this to happen. And the Finns would still be just as out of supply as the Germans were in OTL.