[fso301]

On or around Dec 19, Hitler caught word about the withdrawal and forbade it. No doubt his fury was worsened by the reversal of Germany fortunes in the cold Soviet winter.

I don't have a strong sense one way or the other but I have read German commander(s) grudgingly admit that Hitler's order to hold out at all cost prevented a bad situation from becoming an unmitigated disaster.

[henkster]

You know my rule(henkster’s Law) for alternative history scenarios, particularly in regard to the Germans in World War 2. The alternate scenario isn’t valid if it involves Hitler not being Hitler and the Germans not being the Germans.

A cursory reading of the comments on this thread disclosed many violations of henkster’s Law.