OPERATION BLAU:

The ugliness and brutality of war favors no side better than the other.  In reading about Operation Blau, it talked about Hitler’s relentless control of his commanders.  He felt that his judgment was far superior to his commanders, who he controlled on all issues.  It was nothing for him to strip a commander of his rank and throw him in prison if he felt that he was weakening in command.  While we know that Hitler was this way, it is interesting to note that other leaders also acted in the same way.  An example of this was when Stalin issued Order 227, which called for the immediate execution of anyone in the troops who failed in the line of duty.  Another interesting point about Operation Blau was that for everything Hitler threw at the Russians, they were able to throw back.  He had highly intelligent and professional military commanders, but he failed to allow them the freedom to command their troops.  He was commander-in-chief.  No one else, just him.