WI: Stalin hadn't purged the Red Army

WI if Stalin hadn't purged many of his higher officers prior to the war? Would it have made Soviet resistance against Barbarossa stronger?
 
On the other hand, he would probably have some outdated or incompetent officers still around as well.

If there is a higher overall quality to the soviet officer corps, the question is whether or not this significantly changes the course of the winter war (bad officers hurt, but so did a lot of other things). If so, then the red army may be more successful (or less, depending on who is running things), which is where the changes start multiplying. If it procedes similarly to OTL, then events happen parallel to our history until Barbarossa.

One idle thought... If stalin isnt purging the army, then who is he going after instead?
 
Tuchachevsky

Alone is a big POD. He was an early proponent of armored forces. The Sovs may well have had an edge in 'blitzkrieg' warfare before he was liquidated.
 
Well, he would have a lot of bad officers, but bad and outdated generals are better than colonels with no idea what to do.

There could be a smaller overtime purge during the war in this case when competent officers stay on while lame officers get the boot when they fail.
 
Interesting. However, given Stalin's lackluster performance in the early days of Barbarossa, would a stronger army get any ideas about replacing him? Beria would have to go as well, of course. Maybe even bring down the NKVD!
 
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