[mainepatsfan]

Might have gotten Barbarossa on the way a LITTLE sooner, but the troops and equipment would have been fresh.

Now I've read accounts that maintain Hitler's diversion into the Balkans really didn't impact the time table of Barbarossa all that much due to the wet weather that spring which would have forced a postponement irregardless. Your thoughts?

[PzLdr]

As far as the time schedule, Operations PUNISHMENT and MARITA had a minimal effect, maybe two weeks. The same Russian mud one sees on the film clips about the operations leading up to the attack and counterattack on Moscow occurs in the Spring. resulting in seasonal pauses between cold weather and warm weather operations. The Spring rains and mud were pretty bad in ‘41, and the Germans had to wait for the roads to firm up and dry up before they jumped. So the attack wasn't off schedule by much, or because of the Balkans.

What was effected was the equipment and troops from AG South, both of which were worn down and in need of rest and repair; neither of which they got.