Deleted member 1487
But it wasn't, it never was. Soviet demands were for entry into the Axis, not demands to in return for not invading.No one said it was. But if the choice was either Soviet aggrandizement in the Balkans or war with the USSR, then appeasement was the necessary option.
Not really, the US didn't express an opinion about that, they just didn't want the Brits to lose the war in the sense of being occupied. Who is to say Stalin would honor a pact to fight the US either?In order to avoid war with the US Germany needed to get out of France. In case of war with the US, the closer Germany's relations with the SU, the better.
In terms of Churchill losing an election - how long do you propose that British voters would be willing put up with England Alone?
UK voters didn't have a say in wartime; they weren't allowed a vote until after WW2 in Europe ended. Unless they are rioting in the streets in every city there is no reason that Britain would stop 'going it alone'. The issue would be solvency. How long could they afford to fight? With LL it is until it runs out.
The US public was never in favor of declaring war on Germany until after the Japanese attacked PH. Even then Roosevelt waited for Germany to DoW the US first. So it is hard to see how the USSR's active participation would even come up and how it would really help other than potentially making an invasion of Europe impossible for the British and US...assuming Hitler was fine with Soviet troops crawling all over Germany and occupied Europe. Stalin also never offered LL, only goods for payment; IOTL he sent stuff on credit anticipating payment was shortly forthcoming...when it wasn't then he stopped cutting off those goods for fear of invasion in 1941. In 1940 he was much more bold about playing hardball:So long as the US does not declare war on Germany then you are correct. But, if the USA did declare war on Germany, then at virtually any cost Germany would need the SU at war with the USA. Failing that, a massive Lend Lease of Evil.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazi–Soviet_economic_relations_(1934–41)#Delivery_suspension