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There are several theories on why Stalin should have reacted so slowly to the invasion. Some have speculated that Stalin was so shocked by the invasion and the betrayal by Hitler that he went into a state of shock. Some believe that such was his despair that Stalin retreated away from the world unable to face the magnitude of his mistake and the consequences of his error in trusting Hitler. He had assumed that Hitler would abide by the terms of the non-aggression pact of 1939. Some historians have even suggested that Stalin suffered some kind of nervous breakdown. Another, less popular theory is that Stalin deliberately withdrew from the scene, in order to see if anyone tried to oust him from power. When he saw that no one was about to challenge his authority he decided to take control of the situation<ref> Bellamy, Chris, Absolute War: Soviet Russia in the Second World War. New York: Alfred A. Knopf & Random House.2007), p. 53</ref?.

However, within weeks Stalin manage to recover from the shock and called for reinforcements. Although German troops had made huge advances into the heartlands of the Soviet Union and the rest of the government had been evacuated from Moscow, Stalin remained in the Kremlin and begun to take control of the country’s ailing military infrastructure. As German troops approached the Soviet capital of Moscow, Stalin directed a devastating defensive policy, destroying any supplies or infrastructure that might benefit the enemy. Fresh competent USSR military commanders loyal to Stalin were allowed to take control of important strategic positions and military divisions<ref> Bellamy, p. 117</ref>. This scorched earth tactic was to deny the Germans key supplies. This was particularly the case as the German supply lines had become extended and they men at the front did not receive the supplies that the need. The policy of destroying the infrastructure and anything else that could be utilized by the Germans was to cause immense suffering for the Soviet Civilian population, however, it crucially slowed down the German advance. Stalin's policy made have contributed to the failure of the Germany army to take Moscow in the early winter of 1941<ref> Bellamy, p.112</ref>.