Hitler's Panzers East

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How close did Germany come to winning World War II? R.H.S. Stolfi presents a dramatic reinterpretation of Hitler's strategy during the conflict, challenging the notion that he operated under a "blitzkrieg" mentality from 1939 to 1941. Instead, Stolfi argues that Hitler approached the war with a conservative mindset, focusing on a circumscribed strategy to push back Allied siege lines. This perspective explains his decisions, such as the fixation on Leningrad and the critical choice in summer 1941 to divert Army Group Center into Ukraine, despite having the opportunity to capture Moscow and secure victory. The German Army, unaware of Hitler's siege orientation, planned aggressive blitz campaigns that initially led to significant victories against Allied forces, culminating in the campaign against the Soviet Union. By August 1941, Army Group Center possessed the strength to defeat the Soviet forces and advance towards Moscow, which could have guaranteed a German victory. However, Hitler's order to shift focus southward for resource security in Ukraine resulted in a lost opportunity for a swift triumph. This radical reinterpretation prompts a reevaluation of the war, emphasizing how close Germany was to a decisive victory long before the United States entered the conflict.