You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly. You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
alternatehistory.com
Taken from the Axis History Forum: http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=136058
Originally Posted by Thomas G
"
It would be a good decision to attack when the German divisions are fighting in France. It is true that the Red Army of 1940 had flawed doctrines and it had suffered losses in the Winter War but with sheer numbers it could easily overrun Poland and East Prussia before Germans could transfer major forces to the East. The German offensive in France would fail and Germany would inevitably collapse in a two-front war.
Why should Stalin wait? I cannot think of any good arguments to support his historical decision.
Was Stalin unwilling to dishonor the treaty? He had no honor and the pact with Nazi Germany was very unpopular in the world. The Wehrmacht also benefited from the Soviet-German trade and time more than the Red Army. France was knocked out of the war.
The likely outcome would be that Germany is divided to French, British and Soviet occupation zones in 1941 and the Soviets are much stronger during the Cold War as tens of millions of Soviet citizens have not died. "