Larry Linderman
On Thursday, March 13, at 1 p.m., SaddleBrooke resident Paul Belanger will give a talk on Hitler’s biggest mistake: the invasion of the Soviet Union on June 6, 1941. Many historians believe that had Hitler listened to his generals and didn’t commit Germany to a futile invasion over an enormous front requiring long supply lines, Germany could have won the war.
From the speaker: Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union, began the largest and most costly campaign in military history. Its failure was a key turning point of the second world war. The operation was planned as a blitzkrieg to win Germany its “Lebensraum” in the east, and the Summer of 1941 is well known for the German army’s unprecedented victories and advances. Yet the German blitzkrieg depended almost entirely upon the motorized panzer groups, particularly those of Army Group Center. Many historians have focused on the winter as ending the ill-fated drive on Moscow. However, long before the first autumn rains brought movement to a halt, in fact, as early as the Summer of 1941, it was evident that Barbarossa was unavoidably doomed to failure. Hitler should have been made aware of the axiom which says, “Amateurs study tactics while professionals study logistics.”
Paul is from Arizona, having graduated from San Manuel High School where he met his bride of 53 years, Roxanne, also from Arizona. After a stint in the Marines as both an aviator and infantry officer, he returned to San Manuel where he worked on both the surface and underground of the Magma Copper Mine as a supervisor. He joined the federal government in 1978, becoming a mine inspector and special investigator in a number of locations throughout the United States while remaining in the Army Reserves. In 2003 his unit was called to active duty for service in Iraq where he served as the Battalion Command Sergeant Major. He remained on active duty until his retirement in 2011, serving as a Brigade and Division Command Sergeant Major, making multiple overseas trips to both Iraq and Afghanistan. His military decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, as well as two Bronze Stars and numerous other awards. After his retirement from the Army, he returned to California where he returned to federal service, finally retiring in 2017. In 2018 Paul and Roxanne decided to return to the area they always called “home,” moving to SaddleBrooke. Paul is a graduate of Marshall University and holds a Master’s in Military History from American Public University where he specialized in World War II.
Put it on your calendar: World War II Roundtable, Thursday, March 13, at 1 p.m. in the DesertView Theater.
The Roundtable does not charge its members dues, and all are welcome.