When Germany invaded the Soviet Union in 1941 the gamble was on a short and devastating campaign. Hitler intended destroying Soviet forces within four months, thus avoiding the merciless Russian winter, but the gamble failed, and the Germans found themselves in a winter for which they were completely unprepared. While many Soviet forces also suffered from poor supply, in time they recovered and the invaders found themselves fighting increasingly well clothed and well-equipped troops, including many from the Siberian front, well trained and equipped for winter warfare.