[Gotthard Heinrici]

The defeat of Nazi Germany was an Allied effort pure and simple. It was only through the efforts of ALL Allied Nations that the Third Reich was brought to its knees.

It is true to point out that the majority of German Land Forces were deployed in the east. I believe Spidge published a most excellent chart in which it stated that at least 80% of the Wehrmacht were deployed in the East from 1941 and this figure never dropped. I have always maintained that the Wehrmacht was bled white in the East and I still stick by that assertion. HOWEVER this argument does not end here. It is far too simplistic. The Germans were not just ground down by superior land forces. Whilst the Russians were facing down the land army, the Allies waged a massive war in the Air with two consequences; the first being the eradication of the Luftwaffe as a credible force, the second was the destruction of the Industries needed by the Third Reich to continue the war. Devotees of the Ostfront would do well to remember that the Wehrmacht was fighting with dwindling fuel supplies and reduced supplies of weapons and ammunition. And this was solely due to the Allied Strategic Air Offensive. Also it should be pointed out that at no time did Russia face Germany alone as Britain did in 1940. For a full year Britain had no allies. Russian supporters should also remember the effect that the German invasion had on their industry and that the strategic destruction of the German war amchine was crucial to victory.

Western advocates should also be aware that in terms of sheer numbers the Eastern Front dwarves every other front. The North African theater ( in terms of numbers) was a sideshow compared to the East and whilst the western advocates may point to Operation Overlord as being a major victory (which it was) at the same time the Russians destroyed Army Group Center (Germany's biggest Army Group in the East), over 56 divisions in total, obliterated. So everyone can point to their fair contributions made but in reality the US, The Commonwealth and the Russians all have a right to sit astride the Victory pantheon and lest anyone still doubts me let me put this question to you, Could your country have faced the Germans alone and won??? I am pretty sure the answer is no.