Explanation: In the lead-up to WW2, two Soviet officers dominated the preparations for the war simply by having Stalin's ear.
One was a cavalry officer who thought that horses were still relevant as a fighting arm (below), one was an artillery officer who only believed in tube artillery and that submachineguns were worthless (above).
This was obviously good and far-sighted on their part, and caused no consequences for the Soviet Union when the Nazis invaded.