The Stalin line.

Prior to 1939 the Soviet-Polish border was reasonably well fortified, more along the lines of field fortifications rather than the Maginot Line. Stalin moved the great bulk of the Red Army forward of this line with his invasion of eastern Poland in 1939, and here they stayed. They were then encircled by foot infantry and panzers in the very first stages of Barbarossa.

WI only garrison/covering forces were left in Poland by June 1941, and the bulk of the Red army was back behind the Stalin line? The great bulk of the Red Army would have perhaps a week before the Wehrmacht overran the Polish occupation garrison and reached their fortified lines. Would that be enough time for the Soviet leadership to put the Red Army on alert? How would the Germans go about attacking an alert Red Army in fortified position some 300 miles beyond their start line?
 
As for all 'Red Army has chance to pull itself together'' scenarios, one has to take into account that Stalin was very shocked by this even though his agents had been talling him for months that the Germans were readying for an attacking, even giving him the exact date. Because of this, he basically did nothing for a week, and this gave the Wehrmacht time to go through and capture the Red Army, as many things were stalled by his doing nothing.
 
This may actually make things turn out easier for the Wehrmacht, as they are even more unopposed then before. I'm not sure how long it would delay them, but expect a quick victory to ensue...though if you tweak a few favourable circumstances you could easily have it in the Red Army's favour.
 
I'm not so much relying on the Red Army to be competent, just out of reach of the hardest German punch. This punch wouldn't connect if the Soviet forces were mostly in Soviet territory, it's too far for the Germans to reach easily.
 
I think this may be quite beneficial for the Soviets. Time is money, especially in the Soviet's case if the Germans are delayed. But I'm not expecting it to make a big difference in the total of things, maybe a few days lost for the Germans. I wouldn't imagine at this stage Soviet's are unable to provide a coherent defence or mount any useful counter attacks so they are pretty much wiped away by the German juggernaut.
 
One problem is that Russia was rebuilding the Line along the border in Poland.
Most of weapons and supplies had been forwarded, and were in transit between the two lines.
Never heard anything about whether this was planning or just luck on the German side.

My understanding is the Stalin line was designed to hold up a advancing Army long enuff for Russia to Mobilize.
 
The other question to consider, is why were there stationed so far forward in the first place?
I'm sure I've read of penal battalions being activated, and casheried officers being brought back to command them.
The German-Soviet Pact may have given the Germans raw materials even until the very last train, but although German tried to interest Russia in the British Empire e.g. India, Russia was more interested in Eastern Europe - from Finland to Turkey.
A German v Soviet War was inevetable, the only question was who would start it and when!?
 
It may make a slight difference, probably in the Red Army's favour, but in all likelihood, the Wermacht will get pretty close to Moscow before being ground to a halt. They may be stopped a bit sooner, thanks to the extra men, but i reckon they'll still get deep into Russia. After this point, the allies will eventually win. It may be sooner, if more of the red army is intact, but it will still take a long time.

Geordie
 
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