James Holland

Or was it just luck?

No, I don't think so.

I mean, I think what's happened is you've had the Soviet purges of the second half of the 1930s where they've, you know, they have executed or imprisoned 22,500 officers of which, you know, three out of five marshals, you know, God knows how many

Army commanders, et cetera, et cetera.

So you've completely decapitated the Red Army in terms of its command structure.

So you've completely decapitated the Red Army in terms of its command structure.

So you've completely decapitated the Red Army in terms of its command structure.

So you've completely decapitated the Red Army in terms of its command structure.

Well, there was a lot of experience.

Well, there was a lot of experience. There's a lot of experience there.

Well, there was a lot of experience. There's a lot of experience there.

Well, there was a lot of experience. There's a lot of experience there.

There's a lot of experience there.

Yeah. And they're the first people to kind of adapt, you know, create airborne troops, for example. So, yes, I think there is an argument to say that. But the decapitation is absolutely brutal. If you've decapitated an army, you've then got to put new guys in charge. And someone who looks on paper like a half-decent peacetime commander might not be a very good wartime commander.

Yeah. And they're the first people to kind of adapt, you know, create airborne troops, for example. So, yes, I think there is an argument to say that. But the decapitation is absolutely brutal. If you've decapitated an army, you've then got to put new guys in charge. And someone who looks on paper like a half-decent peacetime commander might not be a very good wartime commander.

Yeah. And they're the first people to kind of adapt, you know, create airborne troops, for example. So, yes, I think there is an argument to say that. But the decapitation is absolutely brutal. If you've decapitated an army, you've then got to put new guys in charge. And someone who looks on paper like a half-decent peacetime commander might not be a very good wartime commander.

Yeah.

And they're the first people to kind of adapt, you know, create airborne troops, for example.

So, yes, I think there is an argument to say that.

But the decapitation is absolutely brutal.