Red Army had many tanks and planes, but Soviet soldiers were unsufficiently trained, wireless communication even between companies was very poor, and between platoons such communication did not existed at all. So, successful German defence was very possible. After stopping of Soviet offensive Werhmacht could begin its own assault against Soviet territory. Main plus of such situation for the USSR is normally working economy (without evacuation) in the first weeks or even months of war, but main minus is image of the Soviet aggressor, danger for Western civilization and so on. With such image, obtaining of American lend-lease could be very hard work for the Soviet diplomats.
WI Stalin had invaded Europe in june 1941 pre-empting the Germans operation barbarossa? Would the Germans be able to mount any kind of successful defence or would their assembled army and luftwffe units be encircled by the Red armys armoured divisions?
why would they do that? RA was in process of complete reorganisation. Old stuff being phased out and not produced any more, new stuff coming in and not much of it. Winter war showed how incompetent RA officers were. Stalin was no fool, he knew SU wasn't capable of offensive actions in 1941.
Exactly, which probably also explains much of Stalin's caution in 1941. But by mid 1942 he would have had 500+ Divisions with plenty of modern equipment and with all ranks filled.
We have earlier discussed what Stalin would have done then. Some say his caution was in-born, and that he never would have attempted anything like an offensive. I say we should stop guessing what people will/would do, but focus on what they can/could do.
Regards
Steffen Redbeard