Good question, WW2 will end historically, but the extent of Soviet power will be decided by Stalin's sucessor instead....
relations with the western world and the soviet union complety frost over.
Agreed. The Russians will immediately assume that Churchill and Roosevelt had Stalin murdered.
It doesn't matter. Hitler won't accept it.That could be dangerous. What if the Soviets decided to go for a separate peace with Germany. It's not like the West wouldn't be able to eventually beat Hitler on their own at this point, but how many more lives would a separate USSR/ German agreement cost the allies??
It doesn't matter. Hitler won't accept it.
You are right.As much as Stalin was a vile jackass to put it lightly, he was responsible for Soviet victory in the Second World War and kept stability with iron handed rule. I don't know the exact details of this conference, but I'd assume the Soviets would destabilize without their leader in the deadly situation that the WW2 was, and that there would be fewer strategic Soviet victories so much as just bogging the Germans down and leading a more defensive campaign. Which could lead to a separate peace between Germany and Russia, and yadda, yadda, yadda.
You are right.
Soviet rulers will struggle each other and sabotage each other decisions. So less offensives.
BUT - no separate peace. USSR crushed Hitler twice in two main battles - Stalingrad and Kursk (last hope of nazi) and feel healthy and strong.
Hilter don't fear Britain and USA - 80% or more of his armies (and best) was at Eastern front.
And because main question of conference was second front - there will be no second front or it will appear year later - when Soviet Army will take all Eastern Europe and most of Germany.
So - we will know "Allies meets on Rhine" or "Allies meets at Paris" ;-) ;-) ;-)
So in western favour don't kill Stalin ;-)
They had to settle questions of second front. Without clear USSR position (no Stalin and struggle of his successor for next 6 monthes-1 year) Allies wouldn't start second front or it would be weak Italian crawling.Why wouldn't there be a second front? I can't see the WAllies giving up their piece of the pie.
On the other hand without a second front East Germany could be a hellhole for the Soviets. Sure the USSR had all the manpower they needed for taking Eastern Europe. But what will happen when they enter the Fatherland and the Germans can focus on only one front?
So your think WAllies better suited for capturing of German Fatherland ? ;-)
USSR had all the manpower they needed for taking Eastern Europe AND Germany to Rhine.
We can say that between Nazi and WAllies was no "separate peace" but was understanding to stand against Soviets and surrender to WAllies.
They had to settle questions of second front. Without clear USSR position (no Stalin and struggle of his successor for next 6 monthes-1 year) Allies wouldn't start second front or it would be weak Italian crawling.