ABSTRACT
Over the course of three symposia, we have investigated how the Red Army eventually solved its basic offensive problems during the RussoGerman war, problems which became readily apparent during the first two years. Central among those many problems was that of developing a capability for achieving operational success in offensive operations. That meant, in essence, Soviet creation of a mobile armored and mechanized force, new combat techniques to govern the operations of that force, and command and control systems which would enable that force to develop tactical success into operational and, hence, strategic success. This process progressed from its first tentative steps in late 1942 into a major Soviet capability in 1945. Now we shall look at the problems the Soviets encountered when they attempted to develop the capability for conducting deep operational maneuver, problems which, as we shall see, were woefully apparent to all parties in 1941.
