soc.history.war.world-war-ii

> How did the Germans - particularly the senior officers - the early successes
> of Barbarossa? While I'm sure they publicly crowed that these successes were
> inevitable given German superiority, how did they react privately?

It was always seen as a terribly big gamble.

I remember listening to an interview with a German officer recalling
this part of the war. What he claimed was the size of the Soviet war
machine was frightening to him. He reported that it was obviously so
much bigger then they expected. He related that he was worried as he
felt that such an enormous army could eventually overwhelm them.

Others were concerned as they saw that the Soviet war equipment was much
better then they imagined.


> Were they
> much surprised at the huge successes of the early months?

They actually expected more. Barbarossa was always behind schedule.


> Also, if they were suprised, to what did they attribute this success in
> their own minds?

Some racial superiority as you say but mainly bad Soviet generalship.
What was worring to the German officers at this time was they noticed
that the Soviet generalship was improving!