Weapons
Artillery played a significant role in the outcome of the battle. Derived as a lesson from their struggles in World War I, the Soviet Union meticulously acquired more artillery than most other countries. When the Germans attacked, the Red Army had an inventory of 9,200 guns (field and heavy) and an arsenal of 67,000 tubes. In addition to the mass-produced convenience of their weaponry, Soviet guns often were more effective and had a longer firing range. On the other hand, the Soviets paid little effort to evolving their anti-tank guns which was uncommon at the time. This was compensated for by superior tactics; nearly every German tank loss was brought by fire from towed field guns in 1941 and 1942. Germany’s artillery surpassed that of the Soviet Union in only one area. The Germans had guns with calibers up to 150 mm, whereas only 30 percent of the Soviets’ guns were larger than 100 mm. This meant that German gunners had an easier time with supporting their advance because their range was much wider than their opposition’s range.