Part 7/11:
Why Did the Reinforcement Disparity Occur?
Multiple factors contributed to the underfunding of Army Group B:
Poor Staff Work and Command Decisions: The German general staff, especially figures like Halder, failed to prioritize the southern front adequately. The decisions taken reflected a strategic bias toward the eastern and northern sectors, often at the expense of the south.
Strategic Overreach: Operation Blau’s ambitious scale stretched supply lines thin. Fuel shortages and logistical bottlenecks caused severe delays and shortages, forcing higher command to reallocate divisions and resources elsewhere.