Historically speaking, Russian soldiers had it pretty bad and were expected forage off the land for most of their calories. The dudes who had it the worst by far were the Japanese.
American and German troops, on the flip side, were supplied quite well and never really had to worry about their next meals.
Historically speaking, Russian soldiers had it pretty bad and were expected forage off the land for most of their calories. The dudes who had it the worst by far were the Japanese.
American and German troops, on the flip side, were supplied quite well and never really had to worry about their next meals.
Thats an odd thought.
It's understandable to think a small, economically dependant nation like japan running out of supplies in a war, but germany, being factors smaller than russia, having better troop supplies is a bit bass ackwards, isn't it?
I know russia isn't exactly all farmlands and stockpiles, but i would think one of the tangible strategic advantages of being a large nation is being able to make spares.
It's understandable to think a small, economically dependant nation like japan running out of supplies in a war, but germany, being factors smaller than russia, having better troop supplies is a bit bass ackwards, isn't it?
I know russia isn't exactly all farmlands and stockpiles, but i would think one of the tangible strategic advantages of being a large nation is being able to make spares.
the Soviet Union had been having famines for at least a decade by this point. Lack of food is why Russia didn't enjoy the post-war population boom other countries did (that and losing something like 75 percent of men aged 18-30)
It's understandable to think a small, economically dependant nation like japan running out of supplies in a war, but germany, being factors smaller than russia, having better troop supplies is a bit bass ackwards, isn't it?
I know russia isn't exactly all farmlands and stockpiles, but i would think one of the tangible strategic advantages of being a large nation is being able to make spares.
Losing most of your breadbasket and having to relocate people to establish new farms is going to cause difficulties.
Losing most of your breadbasket and having to relocate people to establish new farms is going to cause difficulties.
Plus deciding that environment is more important than genetics and eating the years good crops instead of seeding them... and communistic incompetence... I wouldn't doubt that the Russian soldiers tried something like this image at least once somewhere during WWII.
Germans tend to have his eagle, Soviets have stars.
Germans have beer, Soviets have vodka
Germans have K98, Soviets have Mosin
(I am still conflicted on which is better. Historically Germans preferred their captured Mosins but every Mosin I have encountered was crap, while every K98 were great.)
Yes. Girls with stars on hats are "soviet", to be exact. Other two blondies are german.
Saladofstones said:
Germans have caps, Soviets have ushankas.
Germans tend to have his eagle, Soviets have stars.
79248cm/s said:
Germans have beer, Soviets have vodka
Germans have K98, Soviets have Mosin
(I am still conflicted on which is better. Historically Germans preferred their captured Mosins but every Mosin I have encountered was crap, while every K98 were great.)
Historically speaking, Russian soldiers had it pretty bad and were expected forage off the land for most of their calories.
Well, you're right in case of 1941 to spring 1942, not so much for later periods. Food rations were a bit poor, but enough for soldiers to remain combat-capable. That doesn't mean the rations were satisfying, though. Sometimes Soviet soldiers captured or even hijacked German field kitchens. With introduction of Land-Lease food situation improved, and most of our veterans will tell you some warm words about canned food from America.
Mind you, unofficial foraging teams were and are normal for Russian/Soviet troops out in the field. It's always nice to add some berries, herbs or mushrooms to military rations.
(I am still conflicted on which is better. Historically Germans preferred their captured Mosins but every Mosin I have encountered was crap, while every K98 were great.)
Because Mosin was treated like cheap disposal crap for disposal frontline soldiers, while K98k receved all love required. At least Mosin's bolt was reliable enough to shoot and not to blow up in hands without proper maintenance (if it ever had any maintenance). When treated well - it could be marksman grade rifle.
Also, some time ago I've read on some forum post of american shooter. At the time, he owned Mosin old enough that it's wooden furniture was broken, but old parts was in usable condition. He only changed furniture and did well maintenance. With it he claim that his rifle reached 1-something MOA, while other Mosin rifles (without proper treatment) got 2+ MOA. Still, that shooter noted that people tend to abuse rifle's reliability and rifle respond in drastical reduce of accuracy.
For a moment there I thought it was the christmas day truce 1914
Well ,there is a true story in the book ‘The Rzhev Meat-Grinder: Memoir of a Soviet Soldier’.The author said that one of his comrade was a good singer during this battle.The singer always sing beautiful songs in the trench at night.Both sides will stop fighting and enjoy his music.One day the singer got sick ,German soldier sneak near the Soviet's trench and send the singer a harmonica with a piece of paper"Hope you be OK".——but both sides have no chance to listen the singer's song with harmonica,because he was killed by a Nazi sniper few days later.
Well ,there is a true story in the book ‘The Rzhev Meat-Grinder: Memoir of a Soviet Soldier’.The author said that one of his comrade was a good singer during this battle.The singer always sing beautiful songs in the trench at night.Both sides will stop fighting and enjoy his music.One day the singer got sick ,German soldier sneak near the Soviet's trench and send the singer a harmonica with a piece of paper"Hope you be OK".——but both sides have no chance to listen the singer's song with harmonica,because he was killed by a Nazi sniper few days later.
(I am still conflicted on which is better. Historically Germans preferred their captured Mosins but every Mosin I have encountered was crap, while every K98 were great.)
Also depends on the Mosin, considering they were made by a lot of different folks. The Finnish M39 is the holy grail of Mosins.
