There's been a great debate on whether or not it was a good decision for Germany to invade the USSR during the WWII. Most agree that attacking the Soviets was a bad decision for the following reasons:
-consumed enormous amounts of manpower and resources (well over 60%)
-a fight that could not be won
-Russia is too large in size, industrial strength, and manpower
Attacking the USSR not only prevented Germany from gaining an upper-hand against Great Britain (and the U.S.) in North Africa, Atlantic, and later Italy and France, but it also led to Germany's defeat; the Russians were the ones who entered Berlin and ended the war.
The other side of the argument is that invading Russia in 1941 was Germany's best chances of winning. Had Germany attacked Russia in let's say 1942, 1943, or even 1944, Germany could have faced a much stronger and better-prepared Soviet military. While Germany and Japan fought Great Britain and the US, Stalin may have prepared for military expansion. Stalin may have attacked Manchuria, Finland, and ultimately Germany. This wouldn't mean that the Russians would be in the same superior situation as they were historically in 1944 or 1945 (Overwhelming Germany in the East), but it may have meant that Germany could not to launch attacks as fast or as devastating as Operation Barbarossa and Operation Case Blue. Also remember that if Soviet Union had begun a military expansion it would have lacked the extra machinery, weapons, and supplies that came from Great Britain and the U.S. (aircraft, trucks, and even combat boots).
I agree entirely that Hitler's reasons for invaded the USSR in 1941 were terrible: providing the German people with more living space and driving away the Russian "sub-humans" into exile in Siberia. I also agree that attacking Russia prevented Germany from easily defeating the British in North Africa and was the main cause as to why they lost the war.
Despite all of this, I disagree that defeating Russia was impossible. If Germany didn't do terrible blunders on the Eastern Front (such as Stalingrad), they could have defeated Russia. Victory in the Eastern Front would give Germany the necessary strength to overwhelm the British and Americans and achieve victory in at least the European continent.
Here are some of the ways that I believe Germany could have defeated the USSR:
-If they never attacked the Balkans
--This would have given Germany enough time to take Moscow before the Russian winter
-If Germany only focused on Moscow
--Instead of attacking the Ukraine and/or the Baltic States with (Army Group North and South), German forces completely focused on driving towards Moscow (Army Group Center is more that half of all forces). The complete destruction of Russian forces near Kiev would have never occurred.
-If Hitler didn't enforce Nazi cruelty
--The Russian people hated the harsh communist regime under Stalin. When the Germans attacked, many thought of them as their saviors. However, when the Germans began enforcing Nazi cruelty, almost all Russians sided with Stalin. The war quickly became a merciless war between two sides that hated each other. Russians fought the Germans not because they cared for their government but because they hated the Nazis and wanted to protect their motherland.
--Without any motivation, the Russian military in 1942 and 1943 may have been the same as in 1941.
-If Germany halted Operation Barbarossa and waited until 1942 to attack Moscow
--Instead of stretching out its forces to only be met by a Russian counter-offensive, Germany halts its advances eastward in the Fall of 1941 (Oct-Nov), rearm and resupply, and launch a new and fresh campaign in 1942 towards Moscow.
--German forces would also be better prepared to fight against any possible Russian counter-offensive (such as the one during the Battle of Moscow).
-If Germany properly equipped itself for the Russian winter weather
--Not just clothing for troops but also proper all-terrain and all-condition equipment and gear for vehicles/machinery (tanks, art. pieces, aircraft, etc...)
-If during Operation Case Blue, German forces entirely ignored Stalingrad and the surrounding region and instead raced southward to the Russian oil refineries deep within the Caucasus fields, such as Baku.
-More intense aerial attacks on the Russian oil refineries (Baku in particular) by the Luftwaffe
--Extra oil for Germany? Probably not. However, Germany would dramatically affect Russia's oil supply. Without oil, Russia has no fuel and therefore cannot fight (this was seen in late 1944 and 1945 for Germany).
Most of these "what if" scenarios focus on Moscow. Did Germany need to secure Moscow to guarantee the defeat of the USSR or would the Russians just relocate? Would Germany continue facing a very powerful enemy or just the remains of a shattered government?
If the Germany never attacked Kiev in Operation Barbarossa, could the ill-prepared Russians outflank the German forces?
Did Germany need to combine some of these "what-if" scenarios to achieve victory?
Was a victory still possible in 1942? Could Germany even reach Baku had the ignored Stalingrad? Could Italian and German forces hold off a Russian attack on Rostov?
Here is where you guys come in. How do you think Germany could have defeated Russia? Many of you will tell me that it victory wasn't possible. I'm okay with those kinds of responses, but I'm more interested in "how" instead of "if". I'm also hoping to receive thoroughly written responses that are backed-up in some shape or form, not just the broad one-phrased responses.
-consumed enormous amounts of manpower and resources (well over 60%)
-a fight that could not be won
-Russia is too large in size, industrial strength, and manpower
Attacking the USSR not only prevented Germany from gaining an upper-hand against Great Britain (and the U.S.) in North Africa, Atlantic, and later Italy and France, but it also led to Germany's defeat; the Russians were the ones who entered Berlin and ended the war.
The other side of the argument is that invading Russia in 1941 was Germany's best chances of winning. Had Germany attacked Russia in let's say 1942, 1943, or even 1944, Germany could have faced a much stronger and better-prepared Soviet military. While Germany and Japan fought Great Britain and the US, Stalin may have prepared for military expansion. Stalin may have attacked Manchuria, Finland, and ultimately Germany. This wouldn't mean that the Russians would be in the same superior situation as they were historically in 1944 or 1945 (Overwhelming Germany in the East), but it may have meant that Germany could not to launch attacks as fast or as devastating as Operation Barbarossa and Operation Case Blue. Also remember that if Soviet Union had begun a military expansion it would have lacked the extra machinery, weapons, and supplies that came from Great Britain and the U.S. (aircraft, trucks, and even combat boots).
I agree entirely that Hitler's reasons for invaded the USSR in 1941 were terrible: providing the German people with more living space and driving away the Russian "sub-humans" into exile in Siberia. I also agree that attacking Russia prevented Germany from easily defeating the British in North Africa and was the main cause as to why they lost the war.
Despite all of this, I disagree that defeating Russia was impossible. If Germany didn't do terrible blunders on the Eastern Front (such as Stalingrad), they could have defeated Russia. Victory in the Eastern Front would give Germany the necessary strength to overwhelm the British and Americans and achieve victory in at least the European continent.
Here are some of the ways that I believe Germany could have defeated the USSR:
-If they never attacked the Balkans
--This would have given Germany enough time to take Moscow before the Russian winter
-If Germany only focused on Moscow
--Instead of attacking the Ukraine and/or the Baltic States with (Army Group North and South), German forces completely focused on driving towards Moscow (Army Group Center is more that half of all forces). The complete destruction of Russian forces near Kiev would have never occurred.
-If Hitler didn't enforce Nazi cruelty
--The Russian people hated the harsh communist regime under Stalin. When the Germans attacked, many thought of them as their saviors. However, when the Germans began enforcing Nazi cruelty, almost all Russians sided with Stalin. The war quickly became a merciless war between two sides that hated each other. Russians fought the Germans not because they cared for their government but because they hated the Nazis and wanted to protect their motherland.
--Without any motivation, the Russian military in 1942 and 1943 may have been the same as in 1941.
-If Germany halted Operation Barbarossa and waited until 1942 to attack Moscow
--Instead of stretching out its forces to only be met by a Russian counter-offensive, Germany halts its advances eastward in the Fall of 1941 (Oct-Nov), rearm and resupply, and launch a new and fresh campaign in 1942 towards Moscow.
--German forces would also be better prepared to fight against any possible Russian counter-offensive (such as the one during the Battle of Moscow).
-If Germany properly equipped itself for the Russian winter weather
--Not just clothing for troops but also proper all-terrain and all-condition equipment and gear for vehicles/machinery (tanks, art. pieces, aircraft, etc...)
-If during Operation Case Blue, German forces entirely ignored Stalingrad and the surrounding region and instead raced southward to the Russian oil refineries deep within the Caucasus fields, such as Baku.
-More intense aerial attacks on the Russian oil refineries (Baku in particular) by the Luftwaffe
--Extra oil for Germany? Probably not. However, Germany would dramatically affect Russia's oil supply. Without oil, Russia has no fuel and therefore cannot fight (this was seen in late 1944 and 1945 for Germany).
Most of these "what if" scenarios focus on Moscow. Did Germany need to secure Moscow to guarantee the defeat of the USSR or would the Russians just relocate? Would Germany continue facing a very powerful enemy or just the remains of a shattered government?
If the Germany never attacked Kiev in Operation Barbarossa, could the ill-prepared Russians outflank the German forces?
Did Germany need to combine some of these "what-if" scenarios to achieve victory?
Was a victory still possible in 1942? Could Germany even reach Baku had the ignored Stalingrad? Could Italian and German forces hold off a Russian attack on Rostov?
Here is where you guys come in. How do you think Germany could have defeated Russia? Many of you will tell me that it victory wasn't possible. I'm okay with those kinds of responses, but I'm more interested in "how" instead of "if". I'm also hoping to receive thoroughly written responses that are backed-up in some shape or form, not just the broad one-phrased responses.