Soviets pushed the Germans back to regain their own border, and didn't push very far. The Americans helped push back the entire European theater, and met the Soviets at Berlin. Who covered more ground? Maybe the soviets just sucked badly at fighting? They were on home turf in the Russian winter after all. How did the Soviet Union do later in other theaters? Not very damned well, that's how they did. If not for American ingenuity, the European theater would've been a loss. The soviets were never very intelligent in their tactics, which is why the had such a high number of people that went into battle haphazardly, to die, for "mother Russia".
There are accounts of eye witnesses claiming that they were throwing t-34s in the face of 2-3 Panthers, and the Panthers were destroying the t-34s in the hundreds. They would corner a few tanks, and then ride them into the ground with Soviet casualties and t-34s until the Panther crews ran out of ammo. That's why the Soviets had a high body count, they were stupid. It's also why so many t-34s were produced. They were using them as bullet stops for Panthers, thereby sending their own soldiers to the grave. Yea, they really helped.
Again the defending Panther changed his position. After an hour, the second Panther returned from being resupplied and took up his defensive position. The enemy hadn’t given up their attempt to enter the city. During the afternoon, the enemy with an infantry battalion supported by four SU assault guns, under cover of the tall corn fields, tried twice to break in from the southeast. But, both attacks were completely repulsed by the two defending Panthers. All four SU assault guns that took part in both of these attacks were shot up. Two Panthers defending the city from the south and southeast had broke up two tank and two infantry attacks. The enemy suffered the loss of eleven tanks and very heavy losses of men.
source
This account came from, "Combat and Experience Report on the Action near Wilkowischken from 9 to 11 August 1944 by Oberfeldwebel Heinz Bergmann of the 4. Kompanie/Panzer-Regiment 26".
edit on 24-10-2011 by Evolutionsend because: (no reason given)
