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Stumbling Colossus: The Red Army on the Eve of World War An Interview with Author, David Glantz

ConsimWorld.COM is honored to have this opportunity to speak withColonel Glantz, author of STUMBLING COLOSSUS, our October Book of the Month Selection.

ConsimWorld: Colonel Glantz. Thank you for giving us this opportunity to speak with you briefly today.

Glantz: My pleasure.

ConsimWorld: As you know, your recent work is our "Book of the Month" selection. Based on the combat records and evidence you drew upon to publish "STUMBLING COLOSSUS," were there any particular surprises uncovered or previously known points that took on greater significance that underscored the ill-state of preparedness of the Red Army?

Glantz: I was most surprised (and pleased) by the candor expressed by commanders at every level as they pondered the appalling state of their forces before and during the early stages of the war. There is considerable pathos in the fact that they know (in theory) what they must do, but in practice they simply cannot do it. My research also confirmed that there is no period of the war, however remote, that cannot be studied and analyzed.

ConsimWorld: Was it more of a matter of the Red Army being close to losing the war in Summer of '41 due to their unprepared state, or more a case of the German Wehrmacht being close to winning based on their strategy?

Glantz: The lamentable Soviet state of preparedness (to large a force to train and equip effectively) and sheer ineptitude at mid- and- high command levels almost spelled doom for the Red Army in 1941. The Wehrmacht's strategy was equally fatally flawed. Hitler and his generals planned for and conducted a western European war in the East. The Germans performed brilliantly at the tactical and lower operational levels (as they did for much of the war), but their strategy had no real aim and the means were clearly inadequate for the ill-defined ends. Having gone too far in 1941 and failed, they repeated the error in 1942 and 1943 with inevitably fatal results. The generals generally concurred and only after war's end did they seek to disassociated themselves from Hitler's failed strategy.

ConsimWorld: Is it correct that you are refuting Viktor Suvorov's controversial thesis that Stalin was planning a preemptive strike against Germany?

Glantz: I am indeed refuting Suvorov's thesis. There is enough new about the war to write about without having to invent new theories, especially one that absolves Germany of guilt for the war and inflames historical passions in a most uncertain age.

ConsimWorld: Of all the publications you have worked on covering the Russo-German conflict, which particular work stands out in your mind - and why?

Glantz: The favorite of my own works to date is Soviet Military Deception in War (Frank Cass), because in writing it I learned how immensely complex the war actually was. Specifically, I learned that to treat such a topic properly one must examine the entire war from the Arctic to the Black Seas. To do otherwise would mean missing something.

ConsimWorld: Regarding the Russo-German Conflict, what would you consider the single greatest work published on the campaign authored by someone other than yourself, and why?

Glantz: The finest works of the German-Soviet War are Ziemke's two volumes, Seaton's major work, and John Erickson's two volumes (The Road to Stalingrad and The Road to Berlin), and especially the latter's work. John exploited Khrushchevian glasnost to gain access to hitherto unavailable archival materials. His two books are massive stream-of-consciousness efforts whose imposing contents will likely never be matched. They are also hard to read and must be studied. When Titans Clashed was meant to undate John's efforts and add what was new in terms of scholarship -- not to replace his work.

ConsimWorld: It is no great secret that our members are historical gaming enthusiasts, some of whom you may have met at ORIGINS. Have you ever delved into historical boardgaming, or do you have any impression of this means of studying history through simulation (I believe you got a look at GMT Games' BARBAROSSA operational level game designed by Vance von Borries)?

Glantz: Having long ignored and perhaps ever scorned "gamers," I have a newborn respect for their efforts. First, while much of the academic community has eschewed the study of war (and ultimately will probably be victimized in the future for their shortsightedness), war-gamers and military enthusiast have filled the gap. They and their demands are keeping alive the study of and interest in (understanding) war. I am also impressed by the attention to detail and accuracy many of the "gamers" display. While most intellectuals and thinkers are now interested only in the simple (like checkers), gamers are preserving and encouraging detail and depth (and hence, knowledge), as would a chess player. Having said all of this, I myself have not had time to play any of the games. In a sense, however, I am doing so by my painstaking work to reconstruct known, forgotten, or deliberately covered-up military operations.

ConsimWorld: How can our members contact you to find out about any special studies and maps you may be selling directly?

Glantz: Members of your group can contact me at Rzhev@aol.com (my wife preserves my time by managing my e-mail). She sends out copies of those desktop publications that I am marketing.

ConsimWorld: What are your future plans?

Glantz: I have ceased my desktop efforts for this year, both because I must return to my work on books and because I am not sure it is worth the efforts in terms of time spent. This fall I am beginning work on my next work, a study of the forgotten and covered up Soviet attempt to destroy German Army Group Center in February-March 1943, an operation whose failure drastically increases the importance of von Manstein's February-March 1943 counterstroke. Then I am going to work on the failed Soviet Belorussian offensive of November 1943, and the Soviet attempt to invade Rumania in May 1944 (Called by the Germans Targul-Frumos). I have the Russian archival materials for all three books, but need to find the time to write them. Further in the wings are major reassessments of the Battles of Moscow and Stalingrad. The maps are done, but the books will take some time. In the meantime. Operation Mars will come out in spring 1999 and Kursk in fall 1999, both by the University Press of Kansas. The History Book Club has already contracted for the former, which is in galleys.

ConsimWorld: Colonel Glantz, we thank you for your time. Our members are well aware of your monumental contributions to the study of the German-Soviet War, and I imagine if they haven't picked up your latest work yet, they will now. We hope to visit with you again.

Glantz: It's been a pleasure. Thank you for giving me this opportunity and promoting my book.

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Copyright © 1999-2002. ConsimWorld.COM. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited. Web Masters are encouraged to link directly to this page, this URL is not subject to change. For general site information: kranz@consimworld.com

Copyright © 1999-2002. ConsimWorld.COM. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited. Web Masters are encouraged to link directly to this page, this URL is not subject to change. For general site information: kranz@consimworld.com

Copyright © 1999-2002. ConsimWorld.COM. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited. Web Masters are encouraged to link directly to this page, this URL is not subject to change. For general site information: kranz@consimworld.com

Copyright © 1999, 2000 ConsimWorld.COM. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited. Web Masters are encouraged to link directly to this page, this URL is not subject to change. For general site information: kranz@consimworld.com