General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: HaHA Oliver STONE dropped the bomb on BROKAW on Morning Scabs [View all]LanternWaste
(37,748 posts)Troops killed is one of three (according to Von Clasuwitz) indicators of a country's ability to forestall defeat or find victory
If a nation state does not require a large naval presence (in this case, the Soviet Union), it would be absurd to claim a premise from that country's naval casualties or lack of casualties,
And, as the Soviet Union built approximately aircraft in a a ratio of 2/3 vis-a-vis the U.S., and doing so with close to 45% of its industrial capacity gone, and began both ground and offensive air operations well before Torch (all of which may be found in paul Kennedy's Rise and Fall of the Great Powers), all things being equal, it seems safe to conclude that the Soviet army had already beat the German army, though neither one realized it at the time.
And before we get too melodramatic, I don't have an agenda-- I merely attempt to look objectively at the numbers. Kennedy's book is fantastic for this, showing each countries arms productions, GDP, GNP, absolute dollars, etc. relative to each other, relative to the specific situation, and relative to the overall contribution to the allies eventual victory.
But I do understand that we often tell people who don't agree with our premise that "you don't get" for better self-validation of our own premises.