“It certainly didn’t help that Stalin wiped out a good chunk of his own officer corps just prior to WWII.”
The Finnish and Polish invasions exposed the “Political Kommisars” command system for the ineffective nightmare it was.
The Soviet Army was just returning to a Military-trained officer-led command system when the Germans invaded.
Perhaps the most valuable lesson learned of all. I doubt politically correct transgender Majors and Colonels are bad ass enough to lead troops and win.