[caver]

I believe this was already known. Stalin’s purges of the military was what hurt the Soviet Union. Stalin is the one that almost lost the war.

[VOA]

I believe this was already known. Stalin’s purges of the
military was what hurt the Soviet Union. Stalin is the one that
almost lost the war.

That is my (very inexpert) understanding.
I remember being aghast at a documentary about Stalin's pre-WWII
purge of the Soviet officer corps. (or corpse, so Obama can understand
if he's lurking!).

I hope I don't mis-remember too significantly, but I think the
documentary claimed that no army, in war or peace, suffered as
great a loss of officers as the Soviet military thanks to Stalin.

Additionally, my understanding is that when outlaying Soviet military
units called Moscow with desparate reports that they were being
attacked by German/Nazi forces; Moscow replied "you must be
out of your minds!".

Stalin did all he could to lose that war!