Spent the early part of today at a mahoosive car boot sale in the north west. Maybe 15-20% with masks on and most of them with the masks under the chin. Perhaps a small sign of the kicking the govt will get if we don’t open up on the 21st.
Sold loads of stuff and had very nice chats with lots of nice people.
One thing I don't understand is people who wear masks but not properly.
'Why bother' comes to mind. Although I sometimes 'half' wear one before entering a shop, and pull it up properly when I actually go in. What is amusing is wearing a mask to sign in at my nearest pub, then removing it when I sit down at a table with friends.
Spent the early part of today at a mahoosive car boot sale in the north west. Maybe 15-20% with masks on and most of them with the masks under the chin. Perhaps a small sign of the kicking the govt will get if we don’t open up on the 21st.
Sold loads of stuff and had very nice chats with lots of nice people.
One thing I don't understand is people who wear masks but not properly.
To be fair lots of people wear masks around their necks if they are outside - say walking between shops etc - and only pull them up when they go inside. Seems perfectly sensible to me.
Spent the early part of today at a mahoosive car boot sale in the north west. Maybe 15-20% with masks on and most of them with the masks under the chin. Perhaps a small sign of the kicking the govt will get if we don’t open up on the 21st.
Sold loads of stuff and had very nice chats with lots of nice people.
One thing I don't understand is people who wear masks but not properly.
'Why bother' comes to mind. Although I sometimes 'half' wear one before entering a shop, and pull it up properly when I actually go in. What is amusing is wearing a mask to sign in at my nearest pub, then removing it when I sit down at a table with friends.
I think this is the bit I don’t understand. Is 5here any evidence around the masks on while moving around? I doubt it. I think it’s pointless. You can either go and sit inside a pub, or you can’t, but scrap the mask element.
My view is that the performance of the British Army was adequate in WW2, after late 1942. It only really excelled with exceptional commanders, like Slim, who had the humility to learn lessons, picked their divisional commanders with care and applied specific and appropriate tactics.
That said the Wehrmacht was extremely good - it was innovative, well led at the junior level, fanatically motivated, and armed with high firepower combat weaponry, which is why the Western Allies needed such overwhelming force to beat them - usually based on choking off their logistics, mass artillery, aerial bombardment and painful reduction of pockets.
It looks to me that the Conservatives have a ceiling of under 40% in Batley & Spen.
Now you might mention the 12.2% who voted for the Heavy Wollens in 2019.
But are the people who voted for a no hope protest party in a general election really going to switch to a governing party in a byelection ?
Well the BXP voters in Hartlepool did you might say.
But those Hartlepool BXP voters were voting for the party they thought could win in 2019 whereas the Heavy Wollen voters were deliberately making a protest vote during a general election.
I think that Labour should be favourites.
I'm leaning to Labour here too.
Re the Woollens, that's a hardcore racist vote, so whilst all votes count one, and all parties need votes, you'd have to ask yourself some hard questions if that bloc moves en masse to a party that you lead, are a member of, or support.
What evidence is there that the Woolens are racists? Or that they're people who view UKIP as too soft?
I see this accusation bandied about a lot - especially by those on the left - but I've not seen any evidence of it.
These are people who abandoned UKIP when UKIP marched to racist policies post-referendum, and their website doesn't mention race at all.
Abandoning UKIP when UKIP is going outright racist is a good thing not a bad one in my eyes.
UKIP always was racist Philip. If I remember correctly you admitted voting for them. You voted for a party that we knew and you knew was overtly racist. It's founder, Alan Sked, has said on a number of times that Farage, the man that reshaped UKIP in his own image was a racist. Even the Daily Mail reported it.
In general, I think Barbarossa was hare-brained, and the High Command bear as much responsibility as Hitler. Red Army capabilities were grossly underestimated, Russian weather conditions were hand-waved, and logistical issues ignored. One can’t overstate the importance of logistics.
I've read they believed that western Russia had a similar road network to western Europe.
Whereas they believed that minor roads in Britain were nothing more than dirt-tracks.
The German high command seemed to have been surprisingly ignorant of many things.
They also didn’t realise that Russia had different railway gauges to their own.
I'm pretty sure the Germans know the USSR had different gage or railway, that's why they had created engineering battalions especial to change the gage as the Germans advanced.
however they did dramatically underestimate the time and effort that would be needed,
The battalions that were crated to do this job, where not maned by the 'cream of the crop' and where not well equipped, and not helped when it was requested that they also tern single tracked in to double tracks, at the same time.
In general, I think Barbarossa was hare-brained, and the High Command bear as much responsibility as Hitler. Red Army capabilities were grossly underestimated, Russian weather conditions were hand-waved, and logistical issues ignored. One can’t overstate the importance of logistics.
Lots of "something will turn up". The logistics experts in the German High Command mathematically proved what was going to happen - the response was "live off the land". Which helped kick off the Wehrmacht record of war crimes in the East, with looting, murder etc....
For a long time after the war, NATO indulged self-serving arguments from ex-Wehrmacht generals that they’d have beaten the Soviets if it wasn’t for that idiot Hitler. Alan Clark was probably the first historian to skewer those arguments.
It was pretty unusual for an anti-communist historian to give high praise to the Red Army in the 1960’s.
I don't see a way how the Wehrmacht could have beaten Soviet Russia.
It was just too big whilst being just as tough and ruthless as they were, if not more so.
Looks like a CDU/CSU and Green coalition then most likely, that would come to 47% combined and no other likely grouping has the numbers.
CDU/CSU and FDP is only on 38%, less than Green, SPD and Linke on 45% which is in turn less than CDU/CSU, FDP and AfD on 50% but of course the CDU will not work with the AfD anyway.
There is an outside chance of a Green, SPD and FDP deal which would be on 51% but hard to see the FDP working with the Greens.
Had an interesting chat with a senior London NHS person last night, he said that the current rate of vaccination, especially first doses, is rate limited by demand in most of the country. They're weighing up whether they should switch up opening hours to prefer evenings and weekends for under 40s who are struggling to get those spots right now while weekday daytime appointments are going unused. He said we have got vaccine availability in London to double first doses but not enough evening appointments to do it.
Mrs Stodge and I received our second vaccinations at Excel on Friday. It wasn't busy - a lot of couples going in to be vaccinated together (how romantic) but capacity certainly not an issue. Indeed, one of the volunteers said the venue was being closed "in the next fortnight" with a new vaccination centre at Stratford.
This suggests a change in approach as you suggest to a vaccination offering more suited to the "busy young" so more evening and weekend appointments (sorry, hospitality industry, if your key demographic is briefly absent).
No side effects from a second dose of AZ - here's me thinking it contained a secret chemical additive to make you vote Conservative - so thanks very much Boris, you really are the greatest Prime Minister this country has ever had.
I think I might go and have a lie down.
Great news.
One of the Nightingale hospitals was supposed to be located at the Excel. The NEC was another.
This is what I don't like about the media. They were talking endlessly about the Nightingale hospitals at one point, but I have no idea what happened to them. They just forget about particular stories.
They weren't needed, fortunately.
They were just a publicity stunt to make people feel safer. We had no staff for them.
In general, I think Barbarossa was hare-brained, and the High Command bear as much responsibility as Hitler. Red Army capabilities were grossly underestimated, Russian weather conditions were hand-waved, and logistical issues ignored. One can’t overstate the importance of logistics.
Lots of "something will turn up". The logistics experts in the German High Command mathematically proved what was going to happen - the response was "live off the land". Which helped kick off the Wehrmacht record of war crimes in the East, with looting, murder etc....
For a long time after the war, NATO indulged self-serving arguments from ex-Wehrmacht generals that they’d have beaten the Soviets if it wasn’t for that idiot Hitler. Alan Clark was probably the first historian to skewer those arguments.
It was pretty unusual for an anti-communist historian to give high praise to the Red Army in the 1960’s.
I don't see a way how the Wehrmacht could have beaten Soviet Russia.
It was just too big whilst being just as tough and ruthless as they were, if not more so.
They had beaten Czarist Russia a generation earlier.
Matt Singh @MattSingh_ Lib Dems briefing that their internal polling has Con 45.5 LD 35.1 in Chesham and Amersham…..
Would be a swing of 9.5% from the Tories to the LDs since 2019 if true but the Tories would still hold on there unless the LDs are really able to squeeze the Labour and Green vote to near zero before polling day
In general, I think Barbarossa was hare-brained, and the High Command bear as much responsibility as Hitler. Red Army capabilities were grossly underestimated, Russian weather conditions were hand-waved, and logistical issues ignored. One can’t overstate the importance of logistics.
Lots of "something will turn up". The logistics experts in the German High Command mathematically proved what was going to happen - the response was "live off the land". Which helped kick off the Wehrmacht record of war crimes in the East, with looting, murder etc....
For a long time after the war, NATO indulged self-serving arguments from ex-Wehrmacht generals that they’d have beaten the Soviets if it wasn’t for that idiot Hitler. Alan Clark was probably the first historian to skewer those arguments.
It was pretty unusual for an anti-communist historian to give high praise to the Red Army in the 1960’s.
I don't see a way how the Wehrmacht could have beaten Soviet Russia.
It was just too big whilst being just as tough and ruthless as they were, if not more so.
They had beaten Czarist Russia a generation earlier.
Careful. 'G**********' is a trigger word for some on this site.
Looks like a CDU/CSU and Green coalition then most likely, that would come to 47% combined and no other likely grouping has the numbers.
CDU/CSU and FDP is only on 38%, less than Green, SPD and Linke on 45% which is in turn less than CDU/CSU, FDP and AfD on 50% but of course the CDU will not work with the AfD anyway.
There is an outside chance of a Green, SPD and FDP deal which would be on 51% but hard to see the FDP working with the Greens.
I don't clime any significant knowledge on German political affairs, but would not a green led coalition with SPD and LINKE on 45% be one of if not the most credible possibility's?
Matt Singh @MattSingh_ Lib Dems briefing that their internal polling has Con 45.5 LD 35.1 in Chesham and Amersham…..
Would be a swing of 9.5% from the Tories to the LDs since 2019 if true but the Tories would still hold on there unless the LDs are really able to squeeze the Labour and Green vote to near zero before polling day
Interesting that those figures have the combined LD/ Tory vote share virtually unchanged. So no evidence of squeezing as of yet. Which would of course change should it be seen to be close.
Looks like a CDU/CSU and Green coalition then most likely, that would come to 47% combined and no other likely grouping has the numbers.
CDU/CSU and FDP is only on 38%, less than Green, SPD and Linke on 45% which is in turn less than CDU/CSU, FDP and AfD on 50% but of course the CDU will not work with the AfD anyway.
There is an outside chance of a Green, SPD and FDP deal which would be on 51% but hard to see the FDP working with the Greens.
I don't clime any significant knowledge on German political affairs, but would not a green led coalition with SPD and LINKE on 45% be one of if not the most credible possibility's?
Unlikely as it would not have a majority on those numbers and could be outvoted by the CDU/CSU and FDP and AfD
Looks like a CDU/CSU and Green coalition then most likely, that would come to 47% combined and no other likely grouping has the numbers.
CDU/CSU and FDP is only on 38%, less than Green, SPD and Linke on 45% which is in turn less than CDU/CSU, FDP and AfD on 50% but of course the CDU will not work with the AfD anyway.
There is an outside chance of a Green, SPD and FDP deal which would be on 51% but hard to see the FDP working with the Greens.
I don't clime any significant knowledge on German political affairs, but would not a green led coalition with SPD and LINKE on 45% be one of if not the most credible possibility's?
Linke are shunned as much as the AfD as I understand it.
Matt Singh @MattSingh_ Lib Dems briefing that their internal polling has Con 45.5 LD 35.1 in Chesham and Amersham…..
Would be a swing of 9.5% from the Tories to the LDs since 2019 if true but the Tories would still hold on there unless the LDs are really able to squeeze the Labour and Green vote to near zero before polling day
Interesting that those figures have the combined LD/ Tory vote share virtually unchanged. So no evidence of squeezing as of yet. Which would of course change should it be seen to be close.
The reports says 60% of Labour and Green voters in the seat are prepared to vote tactically and some may already be doing so, of course some Tory voters could have gone ReformUK rather than LD as there was no Brexit Party candidate in the seat in 2019 but there is a ReformUK candidate in the by election
Looks like a CDU/CSU and Green coalition then most likely, that would come to 47% combined and no other likely grouping has the numbers.
CDU/CSU and FDP is only on 38%, less than Green, SPD and Linke on 45% which is in turn less than CDU/CSU, FDP and AfD on 50% but of course the CDU will not work with the AfD anyway.
There is an outside chance of a Green, SPD and FDP deal which would be on 51% but hard to see the FDP working with the Greens.
I don't clime any significant knowledge on German political affairs, but would not a green led coalition with SPD and LINKE on 45% be one of if not the most credible possibility's?
It could. But the SPD are not keen on continuing to get kicked as junior coalition partners. They weren't last time, but felt there was no other credible option. On those figures, this time there is.
Had an interesting chat with a senior London NHS person last night, he said that the current rate of vaccination, especially first doses, is rate limited by demand in most of the country. They're weighing up whether they should switch up opening hours to prefer evenings and weekends for under 40s who are struggling to get those spots right now while weekday daytime appointments are going unused. He said we have got vaccine availability in London to double first doses but not enough evening appointments to do it.
Why not just follow the US model and: (a) allow anyone to book appointments, as everyone benefits when anyone is jabbed, and (b) allow pharmacies to distribute too, so that there are additional routes to market?
Yep - we must be close to just throwing open the bookings surely?
Perhaps. But bureaucrats like control (or at least the illusion of control) and control through vaccine availability is a new and exciting way of exerting dominion over people who are your masters (if the servants in civil means anything).
Spent the early part of today at a mahoosive car boot sale in the north west. Maybe 15-20% with masks on and most of them with the masks under the chin. Perhaps a small sign of the kicking the govt will get if we don’t open up on the 21st.
Sold loads of stuff and had very nice chats with lots of nice people.
One thing I don't understand is people who wear masks but not properly.
'Why bother' comes to mind. Although I sometimes 'half' wear one before entering a shop, and pull it up properly when I actually go in. What is amusing is wearing a mask to sign in at my nearest pub, then removing it when I sit down at a table with friends.
I think this is the bit I don’t understand. Is 5here any evidence around the masks on while moving around? I doubt it. I think it’s pointless. You can either go and sit inside a pub, or you can’t, but scrap the mask element.
It’s just all a par with there having been little or no updating of thinking, or at least updating of public information on thinking of Covid spread over the course of the last 12 months. I’ve been in pubs over the past couple of weeks that remain obsessive about hand washing, and cleaning of surfaces, but give little or no thought to opening windows and or maximising flow of fresh air/ventilation.
In general, I think Barbarossa was hare-brained, and the High Command bear as much responsibility as Hitler. Red Army capabilities were grossly underestimated, Russian weather conditions were hand-waved, and logistical issues ignored. One can’t overstate the importance of logistics.
I've read they believed that western Russia had a similar road network to western Europe.
Whereas they believed that minor roads in Britain were nothing more than dirt-tracks.
The German high command seemed to have been surprisingly ignorant of many things.
They also didn’t realise that Russia had different railway gauges to their own.
Since there was substantial trade between Germany and the USSR, a lot of it by rail, right up to Barbarossa, that would be..er..surprising.
Looks like a CDU/CSU and Green coalition then most likely, that would come to 47% combined and no other likely grouping has the numbers.
CDU/CSU and FDP is only on 38%, less than Green, SPD and Linke on 45% which is in turn less than CDU/CSU, FDP and AfD on 50% but of course the CDU will not work with the AfD anyway.
There is an outside chance of a Green, SPD and FDP deal which would be on 51% but hard to see the FDP working with the Greens.
I don't clime any significant knowledge on German political affairs, but would not a green led coalition with SPD and LINKE on 45% be one of if not the most credible possibility's?
Linke are shunned as much as the AfD as I understand it.
Not strictly true. They are in government in 3 of the Lander, and lead one of them. However, it is true that them being in government would not go down well in most of the old West Germany.
In general, I think Barbarossa was hare-brained, and the High Command bear as much responsibility as Hitler. Red Army capabilities were grossly underestimated, Russian weather conditions were hand-waved, and logistical issues ignored. One can’t overstate the importance of logistics.
Lots of "something will turn up". The logistics experts in the German High Command mathematically proved what was going to happen - the response was "live off the land". Which helped kick off the Wehrmacht record of war crimes in the East, with looting, murder etc....
For a long time after the war, NATO indulged self-serving arguments from ex-Wehrmacht generals that they’d have beaten the Soviets if it wasn’t for that idiot Hitler. Alan Clark was probably the first historian to skewer those arguments.
It was pretty unusual for an anti-communist historian to give high praise to the Red Army in the 1960’s.
I don't see a way how the Wehrmacht could have beaten Soviet Russia.
It was just too big whilst being just as tough and ruthless as they were, if not more so.
They had beaten Czarist Russia a generation earlier.
Yes, but that was to defeat a military threat to East Prussia.
In general, I think Barbarossa was hare-brained, and the High Command bear as much responsibility as Hitler. Red Army capabilities were grossly underestimated, Russian weather conditions were hand-waved, and logistical issues ignored. One can’t overstate the importance of logistics.
Lots of "something will turn up". The logistics experts in the German High Command mathematically proved what was going to happen - the response was "live off the land". Which helped kick off the Wehrmacht record of war crimes in the East, with looting, murder etc....
For a long time after the war, NATO indulged self-serving arguments from ex-Wehrmacht generals that they’d have beaten the Soviets if it wasn’t for that idiot Hitler. Alan Clark was probably the first historian to skewer those arguments.
It was pretty unusual for an anti-communist historian to give high praise to the Red Army in the 1960’s.
I don't see a way how the Wehrmacht could have beaten Soviet Russia.
It was just too big whilst being just as tough and ruthless as they were, if not more so.
They had beaten Czarist Russia a generation earlier.
Yes, but that was to defeat a military threat to East Prussia.
Matt Singh @MattSingh_ Lib Dems briefing that their internal polling has Con 45.5 LD 35.1 in Chesham and Amersham…..
Would be a swing of 9.5% from the Tories to the LDs since 2019 if true but the Tories would still hold on there unless the LDs are really able to squeeze the Labour and Green vote to near zero before polling day
Interesting that those figures have the combined LD/ Tory vote share virtually unchanged. So no evidence of squeezing as of yet. Which would of course change should it be seen to be close.
The reports says 60% of Labour and Green voters in the seat are prepared to vote tactically and some may already be doing so, of course some Tory voters could have gone ReformUK rather than LD as there was no Brexit Party candidate in the seat in 2019 but there is a ReformUK candidate in the by election
I think there is just a significant proportion of the “progressive”(anti-Tory) vote that will still just not vote Lib Dem under any circumstances.
Incidentally I don’t know why people keep ramping Reform as if they are just waiting for some Tory backsliding on the Road Map to suddenly pick up a sizeable protest vote. It may be true, but there is I think nothing in what we have seen so far to suggest that this is remotely likely. If they couldn’t make even a marginal dent in the London Elections (which should have been ripe for “protest vote” beneficiaries, then where is their supposed support going to come from?
Just been vaccinated at London Bridge. Moderna. Feel delighted for it. Hope no side effects hit before the 1 hour cycle to my friend's (he doesn't mind putting me up an extra night if I'm done in).
Even better, my wife who is a little under 30 came with me with an eye on getting hers at the same time if possible and is being done as I type.
Great news, my wife got her text yesterday and she's 29. Going to the Islington business centre tomorrow which my friend said was a Moderna centre. He also advised both of us to cancel our current second dose bookings about two weeks after and rebook as it will allow us to rebook with a 6-8 week gap after the first dose rather than 12 weeks. So might be something worth doing as well.
I simply found an available site and rebooked so that my second shot was given 8.5 weeks after the first. Yesterday and very busy, I’m pleased to say.
There are the dictates coming from the Department of Health and the reality on the ground. What the DoH might usefully do is work out a way of giving vaccinated status to the people on the Novovax trial. They are in limbo (as was my wife until a couple of days ago - on the 2 dose Janssen trial but no way of evidencing that she’d been vaccinated). Not a way of rewarding the people who’ve actually done something for wider society.
In general, I think Barbarossa was hare-brained, and the High Command bear as much responsibility as Hitler. Red Army capabilities were grossly underestimated, Russian weather conditions were hand-waved, and logistical issues ignored. One can’t overstate the importance of logistics.
Lots of "something will turn up". The logistics experts in the German High Command mathematically proved what was going to happen - the response was "live off the land". Which helped kick off the Wehrmacht record of war crimes in the East, with looting, murder etc....
For a long time after the war, NATO indulged self-serving arguments from ex-Wehrmacht generals that they’d have beaten the Soviets if it wasn’t for that idiot Hitler. Alan Clark was probably the first historian to skewer those arguments.
It was pretty unusual for an anti-communist historian to give high praise to the Red Army in the 1960’s.
I don't see a way how the Wehrmacht could have beaten Soviet Russia.
It was just too big whilst being just as tough and ruthless as they were, if not more so.
Didn't the Finns give the Red Army a bloody nose in the winter war ('39-40), preventing them from just taking over their whole country? I think the Germans thought they could get to a point where Stalin could be persuaded to accept a negotiated peace rather than having the aim of conquering the whole country.
In general, I think Barbarossa was hare-brained, and the High Command bear as much responsibility as Hitler. Red Army capabilities were grossly underestimated, Russian weather conditions were hand-waved, and logistical issues ignored. One can’t overstate the importance of logistics.
Lots of "something will turn up". The logistics experts in the German High Command mathematically proved what was going to happen - the response was "live off the land". Which helped kick off the Wehrmacht record of war crimes in the East, with looting, murder etc....
For a long time after the war, NATO indulged self-serving arguments from ex-Wehrmacht generals that they’d have beaten the Soviets if it wasn’t for that idiot Hitler. Alan Clark was probably the first historian to skewer those arguments.
It was pretty unusual for an anti-communist historian to give high praise to the Red Army in the 1960’s.
I don't see a way how the Wehrmacht could have beaten Soviet Russia.
It was just too big whilst being just as tough and ruthless as they were, if not more so.
Didn't the Finns give the Red Army a bloody nose in the winter war ('39-40), preventing them from just taking over their whole country? I think the Germans thought they could get to a point where Stalin could be persuaded to accept a negotiated peace rather than having the aim of conquering the whole country.
They would have done well to read their Tolstoy...
Matt Singh @MattSingh_ Lib Dems briefing that their internal polling has Con 45.5 LD 35.1 in Chesham and Amersham…..
Would be a swing of 9.5% from the Tories to the LDs since 2019 if true but the Tories would still hold on there unless the LDs are really able to squeeze the Labour and Green vote to near zero before polling day
Interesting that those figures have the combined LD/ Tory vote share virtually unchanged. So no evidence of squeezing as of yet. Which would of course change should it be seen to be close.
The reports says 60% of Labour and Green voters in the seat are prepared to vote tactically and some may already be doing so, of course some Tory voters could have gone ReformUK rather than LD as there was no Brexit Party candidate in the seat in 2019 but there is a ReformUK candidate in the by election
Reform got 2.4% in the London Assembly constituency vote, and 1.6% in the “South West” constituency which probably best approximates A&C.
So if LD polling is correct, there’s about 15% of Lab and Green vote for them to squeeze.
It’s mathematically do-able but I’m not sure we’ve seen that level of tactical voting before in this country.
In general, I think Barbarossa was hare-brained, and the High Command bear as much responsibility as Hitler. Red Army capabilities were grossly underestimated, Russian weather conditions were hand-waved, and logistical issues ignored. One can’t overstate the importance of logistics.
I've read they believed that western Russia had a similar road network to western Europe.
Whereas they believed that minor roads in Britain were nothing more than dirt-tracks.
The German high command seemed to have been surprisingly ignorant of many things.
They also didn’t realise that Russia had different railway gauges to their own.
Since there was substantial trade between Germany and the USSR, a lot of it by rail, right up to Barbarossa, that would be..er..surprising.
Even more so given that most of the career soldiers in the Wehrmacht (certainly those over the age of 40) had trained in Russia under the Treaties of Rapallo (1922) and Berlin (1926).
In general, I think Barbarossa was hare-brained, and the High Command bear as much responsibility as Hitler. Red Army capabilities were grossly underestimated, Russian weather conditions were hand-waved, and logistical issues ignored. One can’t overstate the importance of logistics.
I've read they believed that western Russia had a similar road network to western Europe.
Whereas they believed that minor roads in Britain were nothing more than dirt-tracks.
The German high command seemed to have been surprisingly ignorant of many things.
They also didn’t realise that Russia had different railway gauges to their own.
Since there was substantial trade between Germany and the USSR, a lot of it by rail, right up to Barbarossa, that would be..er..surprising.
Even more so given that most of the career soldiers in the Wehrmacht (certainly those over the age of 40) had trained in Russia under the Treaties of Rapallo (1922) and Berlin (1926).
And had occupied Russian territory during WW1 and had had to re-guage the railways there.
In general, I think Barbarossa was hare-brained, and the High Command bear as much responsibility as Hitler. Red Army capabilities were grossly underestimated, Russian weather conditions were hand-waved, and logistical issues ignored. One can’t overstate the importance of logistics.
I've read they believed that western Russia had a similar road network to western Europe.
Whereas they believed that minor roads in Britain were nothing more than dirt-tracks.
The German high command seemed to have been surprisingly ignorant of many things.
They also didn’t realise that Russia had different railway gauges to their own.
Since there was substantial trade between Germany and the USSR, a lot of it by rail, right up to Barbarossa, that would be..er..surprising.
Even more so given that most of the career soldiers in the Wehrmacht (certainly those over the age of 40) had trained in Russia under the Treaties of Rapallo (1922) and Berlin (1926).
And had occupied Russian territory during WW1 and had had to re-guage the railways there.
Yes, making it to within 100 miles of Petrograd in March 1918.
Looks like a CDU/CSU and Green coalition then most likely, that would come to 47% combined and no other likely grouping has the numbers.
CDU/CSU and FDP is only on 38%, less than Green, SPD and Linke on 45% which is in turn less than CDU/CSU, FDP and AfD on 50% but of course the CDU will not work with the AfD anyway.
There is an outside chance of a Green, SPD and FDP deal which would be on 51% but hard to see the FDP working with the Greens.
I don't clime any significant knowledge on German political affairs, but would not a green led coalition with SPD and LINKE on 45% be one of if not the most credible possibility's?
Linke are shunned as much as the AfD as I understand it.
What do they think of Mutti tying Germany to Putin's apron strings for the next 30-50 years?
Comments
What is amusing is wearing a mask to sign in at my nearest pub, then removing it when I sit down at a table with friends.
That said the Wehrmacht was extremely good - it was innovative, well led at the junior level, fanatically motivated, and armed with high firepower combat weaponry, which is why the Western Allies needed such overwhelming force to beat them - usually based on choking off their logistics, mass artillery, aerial bombardment and painful reduction of pockets.
BXP as a protest vote and only as a protest vote to get rid of May.
And only because there were no anti immigration etc messaging they had. If there had been I would have spoilt my ballot probably.
Also only because a vote for them was a vote to SACK Farage etc.
however they did dramatically underestimate the time and effort that would be needed,
The battalions that were crated to do this job, where not maned by the 'cream of the crop' and where not well equipped, and not helped when it was requested that they also tern single tracked in to double tracks, at the same time.
It was just too big whilst being just as tough and ruthless as they were, if not more so.
Matt Singh
@MattSingh_
Lib Dems briefing that their internal polling has Con 45.5 LD 35.1 in Chesham and Amersham…..
CDU/CSU and FDP is only on 38%, less than Green, SPD and Linke on 45% which is in turn less than CDU/CSU, FDP and AfD on 50% but of course the CDU will not work with the AfD anyway.
There is an outside chance of a Green, SPD and FDP deal which would be on 51% but hard to see the FDP working with the Greens.
So no evidence of squeezing as of yet.
Which would of course change should it be seen to be close.
On those figures, this time there is.
However, it is true that them being in government would not go down well in most of the old West Germany.
They weren't seeking all out conquest.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Brest-Litovsk
Incidentally I don’t know why people keep ramping Reform as if they are just waiting for some Tory backsliding on the Road Map to suddenly pick up a sizeable protest vote. It may be true, but there is I think nothing in what we have seen so far to suggest that this is remotely likely. If they couldn’t make even a marginal dent in the London Elections (which should have been ripe for “protest vote” beneficiaries, then where is their supposed support going to come from?
There are the dictates coming from the Department of Health and the reality on the ground. What the DoH might usefully do is work out a way of giving vaccinated status to the people on the Novovax trial. They are in limbo (as was my wife until a couple of days ago - on the 2 dose Janssen trial but no way of evidencing that she’d been vaccinated). Not a way of rewarding the people who’ve actually done something for wider society.
So if LD polling is correct, there’s about 15% of Lab and Green vote for them to squeeze.
It’s mathematically do-able but I’m not sure we’ve seen that level of tactical voting before in this country.