How did USSR draft 34 million soldiers during WWII?

I did read an account of a unit that arrived during TYPHOON with 10 percent of the unit (I think it was a rifle division) lacking weapons. But I think that was an anomaly - I shouldn't say that the Hollywood version never happened (it was a very big war), just that the human-wave stuff and the lines of "You take rifle! You take bullets!" wasn't too representative, especially after the crisis around Moscow was resolved.

As you say, movies generally have to be good for mass consumption, and most movies that claim some basis in fact don't actually fabricate, they just distort.

Cheers,
Jon

 

The Soviets conscripted every able-bodies person, from older men to teen-agers to women. They also used people from surrounding territories in Asia, as well as freeing prisoners, etc. The Soviets were down to their last legs in terms to reserves, I've read that in multiple places and I believe Stalin said something along those lines in 1945. In contrast, a study in the USA at the break-out of war stated we had 25 million men of age and physically fit to serve, but our strategy was to keep at least 10 million of those men home in war-time industry, as economics and industry were major parts of our offensive aresenal, just as much as soldiers. We also didn't moblize total African-American manpower due to the policies of the times. Soviet population was apx. 190 million-200 million. US population was 130 million. It wasn't that much of a population difference. If America's back was really up against the wall, they would have thrown many millions more men into active fighting service if need be. I'm pointing that out because I've read many forums and articles stating that the Soviets had a decided numbers advantage and unlimited reserves, they were the main reason for victory, etc. I'm not downplaying the importance of Russia during the war, but it wasn't that one-sided. They also set up their divisions differently, with less numbers per division and many of their divisions weren't complete by the end.

 

The Soviets were not down to their last legs in terms to reserves : already at the end of 1944