Having a high death toll in itself is not a sign of good leadership or self sacrifice.
It’s a sign that some bugger is ordering someone else to put themselves in danger on pain of being shot if they don’t.
And the idea that Russians had to be forced at gunpoint to defend their country is so ludicrous and offensive I have no words.
See for example sources like: https://www.hf.uio.no/ilos/english/research/news-and-events/...
Stalin purged as many of his experienced officers as possible during the 1930s because he saw them as a threat.
Many show trials were filmed and you can watch them if you wish.
The yes men Stalin replaced them with made a lot of stupid decisions.
As a consequence a lot of people died unnecessarily.
If they’d have refused to follow stupid orders the alternative were death or gulag if the were lucky.
Sheer numbers and simple bravery are what got the Russian people through the war.