argumate:

In contrast to the German belief in subordinate initiative, Red Army leaders had learned that any show of independent judgment was hazardous to their personal health.

the other contrast was the overall directive coming down from the German leadership was crazy (invade Russia) whilst the Russian leadership’s goals were much more reasonable (stop those rascally Germans).

The famed German emphasis on subordinate initiative was basically how they reconciled “The Prussian Army is the archetypally modern, competent military” with “The Prussian Army is the central structuring institution of a highly stratified society”, so if your commanding officer has his position by virtue of his place in the social hierarchy but is not particularly talented you can sub in general Army Doctrine points for his Leadership score