ABSTRACT

War struck the Soviet Union suddenly, like a breaking storm of unexpected severity. Many saw the storm clouds, in particular the Soviet military leaders who commanded divisions, corps, and armies on the western border, as well as those in the higher commands who remained attuned to the military situation in Europe. While they recognized the ominous storm warnings, the political leadership denied the portents to the very moment the storm broke. Paralyzed by an inability to act, the military were the first to pay the price for the blindness of their political leaders. 1