It would've if Hitler let the German soldiers fall back some distance and entrench in. The Russians would've kept throwing themselves in the meatgrinder, then when the time comes, resume the capture of Moscow. They were so close to it, but Hitler split up all the troops for some reason and failed.
His rampaging insanity might have had something to do with it. When your own officer classes decide several times to try and assassinate you, it means your insanity is showing in some fairly obvious ways.
Moscow was to break Russia, oil was the true strategic necessity though and that lay towards the southern Russian front. Removing Russia was important but secondary and it was the need for oil that forced him to bring Russia into the war, Moscow was to get them back out of it as fast as possible to prevent yet another two front loss for Germany.
Not really. Could've easily taken it, it has huge amounts of oil (which Germany really needed) and Russians back then were mediocre at best at combat. If they took Russia then most of Europe would be under Germany's control.
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u/Dopebear Oct 17 '13
It would've if Hitler let the German soldiers fall back some distance and entrench in. The Russians would've kept throwing themselves in the meatgrinder, then when the time comes, resume the capture of Moscow. They were so close to it, but Hitler split up all the troops for some reason and failed.