Why did Hitler’s decisions weaken Germany’s defenses on the Eastern Front in 1945?

In 1945, Hitler’s strategic decisions severely weakened Germany’s defenses on the Eastern Front by prioritizing the Western Front and enforcing rigid, impractical military policies.12

Key factors included:

• Resource Diversion: Hitler consistently prioritized the war in the West, even as the Red Army posed an existential threat. He committed Germany’s last battleworthy reserves to the Battle of the Bulge and later insisted on using remaining forces to drive the Western Allies back across the Rhine, rather than reinforcing the Eastern Front to hold off the Soviets.12
• Inflexible Command: Hitler forbade retreats, ordering armies to hold tactically hopeless positions. This prevented commanders from maneuvering effectively against the numerically superior Soviet forces.1
• Command Interference: Hitler replaced experienced commanders who advocated for shifting forces eastward, such as replacing Heinz Guderian as chief of the general staff in March 1945.12
• Scorched Earth Policy: Hitler’s "Nero Decree" ordered the destruction of German infrastructure to create a "desert" in the path of the Allies, further undermining the nation's capacity to sustain any organized defense.2