In WWII, what if Russia/USSR at start of war used the same railway gauge as western Europe? I recently saw a television program that said that in Operation Barbarossa, inability to use Russia's railways at once, proved crucial.
Rail gauge difference is overplayed by the underinformed.
Although labour intensive relaying track is a simple undertaking, 20-25km a day done easily. And before re-gauging the Germans used captured Soviet rolling stock ...
The truth is that the Germans simply fucked up their logistics.
