D-Day 1943

[McHrozni]

According to Wikipedia, the USSR had over 8 million casualties. This was over 10 times the amount suffered by the Americans and British combined. (Although I'm not sure how many of those casualties happened prior to Germany's attack.)

Well, Soviets suffered almost 3.2 million irrecoverable casualties in the first 5 months of the war, more than a quarter of the total 12 million killed, missing or captured.

McHrozni

 

[Tolls]

I wasn't thinking so much in terms of "How many Germans did the Russians kill (vs. the Americans/British/etc.)... I was thinking more in terms of "How many of their own men did the Russians sacrifice as compared to the Americans/British/etc. in order to end the war.

According to Wikipedia, the USSR had over 8 million casualties. This was over 10 times the amount suffered by the Americans and British combined. (Although I'm not sure how many of those casualties happened prior to Germany's attack.)

It sounds like a lot... but they might not have had so many losses had been smarter with their military (not purging experienced commanders, not sending troops in unequipped, etc.)

Oh yes, and it's those figures certain people like to point to to show how much more effort the Soviets put in than the WAllies. But, as you show, that's a bit disingenuous, as all it really shows is how poorly the Soviet soldiers were led, especially in those first few months of the war.

That's why I was curious about the flip side of that, comparing combat deaths (or some similar stat) of the Axis by front. Indeed, just to make it clear, it probably ought to be from 1939, not 1941. I don't think the balance would be quite as clear cut as is usually portrayed.

 

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Even with trained crews the results weren't guaranteed. Look at Omaha Beach where the DD tanks were all launched too far from shore (with the result that nearly all of them foundered in the channel).

I can guarantee that me getting that sucker alongside a pier without terrifying the passengers was not guaranteed.