Talk:Battle of Smolensk (1941)

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[edit] soviet POV

This article seems to draw conclusions about the battle that follow the line of Soviet propaganda. The claim that the Soviet attacks, particularily the Yelnya offensive, had a significant material impact on the German offensive, as opposed to purely a moral boost to the Soviet side, is debatable. A good case can be made that the Soviet losses due to the unrelenting attacks made subsequent German offensives, i.e. operation Typhoon, easier than would have been the case if the Soviets had conserved their forces and built stronger defensive positions. Madmax

It seems pretty clear that the stub describes the Smolensk offensive almost exclusively in Soviet terms. The most glaring example being the description of the battle as a part of the "Great Patriotic War". While that topic surely deserves an article, and perhaps even a reference in this one, it should not be presented, as it is, as historical fact. Great Patriotic War should clearly be changed to World War II and more information on the German end of things should be included.