ABSTRACT
The late 1930s Great Terror purges gave signals to the outside world that was interpreted as weakness, both in general and with respect to the armed forces in particular. This was a very important part of the assessments, regardless of the actual impact on Soviet strength. The greatest underestimation was of course the general idea that the Soviet regime and the system would collapse when confronted with a first class military power. Most sectors of the Soviet economy and society was seen as weak and inadequate for a war of any significant size and duration. The only thing that the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) had going for her was size and numbers, and perhaps a general defence preparedness, even though these advantages was not enough. A more obvious, and probably more important aspect, is the factual circumstances surrounding the USSR and the conduct of its regime.
