Questions about Soviet offensive plans controversy
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What did Viktor Suvorov claim about Stalin's plans in 1941?
Viktor Suvorov claimed that Joseph Stalin planned to launch an attack against Nazi Germany in the summer of 1941. He argued that the entire Red Army was mobilized for an offensive strike scheduled for Sunday, the 6th of July 1941.
When did the Soviet Union sign the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact with Nazi Germany?
The Soviet Union signed the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact with Nazi Germany on the 23rd of August 1939. A secret protocol within the agreement divided Eastern Europe into spheres of influence.
How many divisions did Germany and the Soviet Union have on the 22nd of June 1941?
A table comparing opposing forces on the 22nd of June 1941 shows Germany had 128 divisions against 174 Soviet divisions. Personnel numbers stood at 3,459 thousand for Germany versus 3,289 thousand for the Soviet Union.
Who are the main historians who rejected Viktor Suvorov's Icebreaker thesis?
Noted critics of Suvorov's work include Israeli historian Gabriel Gorodetsky and American military historian David Glantz. Russian military historians Makhmut Gareev and Lev Bezymensky also challenged his claims.
What evidence did Suvorov use to argue that the Red Army was preparing an offensive?
Suvorov pointed to specific evidence regarding maps issued to soldiers which were strictly local and could not be used elsewhere than in the intended operational area. Units received maps of Germany and German-occupied territory instead of their own land while phrasebooks included questions about SA offices which existed only inside German borders.