Germans take Moscow, Stalingrad, and Leningrad

After a recent game of Hearts of Iron 4 as the Soviet Union, this question came to my mind.

What if the Germans took the 3 afformentioned cities during 1941-1942? I do think that this is not enough to have a Soviet defeat. How longer would the Eastern Front have lasted?
 
What if the Germans took the 3 afformentioned cities during 1941-1942? I do think that this is not enough to have a Soviet defeat. How longer would the Eastern Front have lasted?
It depends on whether Uncle Joe's paranoia leads to another purge of his officers (like AANW). If he purges, the Germans win.
 
Possibly, leaning towards yes, it would defeat the Soviets. The losses of those three cities would both be a material and morale loss not to be underestimated. It takes the darkest days of the German invasion and makes them even darker, to the point where some sort of beggar's peace may be more appealing than continuing to fight the war. Alternately, if the Soviets managed to hemorrhage even more forces and supplies in losing those cities, they may simply lose the ability to meaningfully resist the German advance.
 

Deleted member 1487

If the Germans could take and hold the first and last city in 1941 then Stalingrad in 1942 the USSR is effectively finished as a resisting power. They would have lost huge population, industrial, and transportation centers, as well as resource areas, plus in the case of Leningrad Murmansk would likely fall very soon after, which means a lot of LL is cut in 1941-42. I think then the Allies cut bait on LL and let the Soviets suffer their fate, hording resources for themselves. Japan probably even gets in in 1942 to secure their border with the USSR after Stalingrad falls, while Stalin probably goes into purge mode and is either removed himself or collapses the ability for the military to operate. Bad, bad news though no matter what.
 
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