Originally Posted by von Rundstedt

Well thats the comment of the century, but the Heer got to Stalingrad in late 1942 at least 16 months after the intial invasion and you are talking about the winter of 42/43 not 41/42, not the original aim of the Marckes plan to reach the A-A Line within 12 weeks or so, no whatever you do the fact is that the Germans dramatically over estimated their capabilities, as pointed out, it is one thing to fight in western Europe with paved roads and available road maps, but it is another to fight in the Soviets Union where a goat track is considered a major highway, and no maps of the area.

What the Germans did achieve was remarkable, but to defeat the Soviets they need at least 3 times the men and equipment and an unlimited amount of fuel to do it, that they neve had and a huge amount of good luck and leadership.