Figure 1.--Here Soviet girls assemble sub-machine guns in an unidentified factory during 1943. Although the Germans had a substantially larger industrial caoacity and wasc undamaged in the early ophase of the Ostkrieh, the Soviets managed to out priduce the Germans in many imprtant weapons systems.

Soviet armamets production was not just changed in quantatative terms as the fctories were moved east and reopened. Stalin had significantly expanded Soviet indistry, but Germany had a massive superiority in heavy industry such as steel production. This should have allowed Germany to significantly exceed Soviet production. But the Soviets manged to out produce the Germans in certain areas such as tank production. one reason was the efficent American designed plants. Also verry important was steps to rationalize Soviet war production. Production of obsolete weapons was terminated and that of more effective weapons like the T-34 tank expanded. Here the Soviets had a huge advantage. Soviet industry identified priority weapon and foused on standarizing them and producing them in huge numbers. The Germans kerpt changing designs, some times with very minor alterations. Thec Soviets also relizing that weapons had a short shellife. A tank might only bsurvive a few months in battle. Thus it was not woth building with material and refinement sas if it was to last several years. The Germans with their tradition of fun craftmanship never adjusted production accordingly. The Soviets had only one active front--the Ostkrieg. Thus Soviet war industries could be focused on the needs of the Ostkrieg. The Germans in contrast not only had the Ostkriegto contend with, but the War in the West which required a wide range of weaponry beyond the demands of the Ostkrieg. Soviet artillery was of unifomaly a high standard. The major problem at first was a shortage of amunition and the lact of motor vehiclws to move the artillery. Theu used horses which was was a slow way process. The Americans solced both problems. The shipped amunition and provided trucks which could be used to move the artillery. While the Red Air Force was devestated at the onset of Barbarossa because of obsolete planes and Stalin's refusal to permit defensive preparation. New planes like the Yak fighters (Yak 1, 7, and 9s) and the IL-2 Stormovek were high quality planes that in capable hands could and did taken on the Luftwaffe. These planes were also produced in enormous numbers. Again, Lend-Lease shipments from America provided materials in short supply. More than 37,000 Yaks were produced by the Russians, more than any other fighter in the War. This was only slightly higher than the 34,000 Me-109s built. As the Allied air assualt on Germany intensified in 1943 and the Luftwaffe had to pull back to defend German cities, the Germans also began losing their advantage in the air that they had during Barbarossa. A major contrubution to the rationalization of Soviet industry was American Lend Lease. The Americans filled in major holes in Soviet arms production, sych as communicatiion ewquipment.

Created: 5:50 AM 9/24/2023
Last updated: 5:50 AM 9/24/2023