ABSTRACT
Anglo-American estimates before the start of the Soviet-German war underestimated the actual peacetime munitions output. The defeat seemed more probable to the Americans than the British and therefore the British by now had acquired a more realistic perception of Soviet war potential. It is hardly necessary to point out that Red Army's military efficiency was very inferior compared to the capabilities of the German Wehrmacht during first months period of the war. This inferiority was of course a reality for the other armed forces that faced the Germans at the beginning of the war in Europe and North Africa. The poor performance of the Armoured Forces during the beginning of the war could be attributed to the low level of tactical proficiency and training among officers, which in turn resulted in problems of control, command and inter-arms coordination. The lack of experience in armoured warfare, especially compared to Germany's Panzer troops, was a contributing factor.
