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CouldWorldWarIIhavebeenwonwithouttheUnited
Picknewpeopleandtopicstofollowandseethe
States? bestanswersonQuora.
CouldtheallieshavewonthewariftheUnitedStateshad'tsteppedin?
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OfallthemilitaryconflictstheUnitedStateshasbeen
engagedinsinceWorldWarII,whichcanbe
SeshadriKumar,RenaissanceMan
considered"justwars"?
WrittenJun11,2014
Well,define"allies"withouttheUS.Themain"allies,"asthetermisunderstoodinthe CouldWorldWarIIhavebeenwonwithouttheSoviet
contextofWWII,weretheUS,GreatBritain,andRussia.TheFrenchrepublicinexile Union?
andthePolishrepublicinexilecouldalsobeconsideredpartofthe"allies,"butreally,it WhatwouldhavehappenediftheUnitedStateswas
boileddowntothesethree.So,minustheUS,yourquestioncomesdownto"couldBritain involvedinbothWorldWarIandWorldWarIIfrom
andtheSovietUnionhaveprevailedovertheGermansinWWII?"Abetterway,Ithink,to thebeginning?
askthequestion,then,is"CouldGermanyhavebeendefeatedinWWIIwithoutthe
Howwouldtheworldbetodayifwe(theUnited
Americans?"
States)havelostthewarswewonandwonthewars
welost?
AndtheanswerisYES,theGermanscouldhavebeendefeatedinEurope
withoutAmericanhelp. IftheU.S.hadmergedwithCanadaandMexicointo
theU.S.N.A,ortheUnitedStatesofNorthAmerica,in
ThereisanotherquestioninWWIIthatofthePacificfrontandtheJapanese.Ithinkitis WorldWarII,howmightthewarhave...
elementarytoconcludethatitwastheAmericanswhodefeatedtheJapaneseandthereby CouldtheUnitedStateshavewontheWarof
endedtheJapaneseoccupationofeastAsiaandsoutheastAsia.Idon'tthinkthereisany Independencewithoutmilitaryandfinancialsupport
doubtaboutthat.Britainhadbeenconclusivelydefeated,andJapanwasknockingon fromFrance?
India'sdoor.HadMidwaynothappened,IthinktheJapanesecouldhavewelltakenover
WouldtheEuropeanUnionhavebeenformedwithout
allofAsia.
WorldWarII?
ButwithregardtothePacificfront,thequestion"withouttheUnitedStates?"isreally WouldithavebeenbetterfortheworldiftheUnited
pointless.TheUSdidnothaveachoice,itwasthrustintothewarbythePearlHarbor StateshadbrokenupaftertheCivilWar?
attack.Arelatedquestionyoucouldaskonthatfront,beforeIcomebacktoEurope,is
HowdecisivewastheUnitedStatesinWorldWarII?
whethertheUScouldhaveavoidedPearlHarbor.Ibelievetheycouldhave.PearlHarbor
wasaJapanesereactiontoaUSeconomicblockadeofJapan,whichisessentiallyacold WhatwouldthepopulationoftheUnitedStatesbeif
war.Blockadinganationislikedeclaringwar,andJapanwastryingtoprotectitsstrategic somanymen,attheheightoftheirreproductive
interestsbyattackingtheUS.So,inthatcontext,Iwouldsay,yes,theUScouldhave years,hadnotbeenlostduringtheCivi...
stayedoutoftheJapaneseconflictbynotimposingablockadeandnotrespondingtothe MoreRelatedQuestions
JapaneseconquestofManchuria,inwhichcasePearlHarborwouldnothavehappened
either,andinthatcasethevictorofWWIIinthePacificwouldclearlyhavebeenJapan. QuestionStats
ButcomingbacktoEurope.CouldtheGermanshavebeendefeatedwithoutAmerica?I 131Followers
haveaddressedthisquestionwhileansweringarelatedquestionrecently,andwillabstract
235,100Views
someimportantpointsfromthathere:SeshadriKumar'sanswertoWhatwereWinston
LastAskedSep25
Churchill'scontributionstoWorldWarII?
Edits
TheAmericans'contributiontotheEuropeantheaterofwarwere:
1.HelpingGreatBritainsurviveviatheLendLeaseact
2.HelpingtheSovietswiththeLendLeaseactandprovidingthemwithjeeps,trucks,
food,aircraft,andlocomotives,whichallowedtheSovietstofocusontankproductionand
defeattheGermans
3.InvadingItalyandGermanyinpartnershipwiththeBritishthroughOperationTorch
(NorthAfricanlandings)andOperationOverlord(Normandylandings),whicheventually
ledtotheconquestofwesternEurope.
HelpingBritainsurvivewasthemostimportantcontribution,withoutwhichBritainwould
havecollapsedorbecomeavassalofGermany.WithoutAmericanaid,Britainwouldlikely
havebeenfinished.AndwithoutBritain,probablyneitherTorchnorOverlordwouldhave
happened.
ThehelptotheSovietswasalsoveryimportant,asitprovidedthemthethingstheyneeded
forveryfastadvanceswhentheywerepursuingtheGermansin1943and1944thelarge
numberofjeepsandtrucks(32%oftheSovietarmy'struckswereStudebakersandDodges
andtheyhadmanyWillysjeepsseereferenceprovidedincommentbelow)allowedthe
SovietarmytomovefastandinflictbodyblowsontheretreatingGermansbeforethey
couldregroup.
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ButwithoutAmericanhelptotheRussians,andwithouttheBritishAmericaninvasionof
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NormandyandSicily,wouldGermanyhavebeendefeated?
Ibelievetheywouldhavebeen.AsIhavesaidintheotherquoraanswerIquotedabove,
"MyconclusionisthatGermanywouldstillhavelostthewar.Itwouldnothavehappened
in1945maybeitwouldhavetakenanother3years.Idon'tthinkHitlercouldEVERhave
defeatedtheSoviets.Theneedtohavetofightonasecondfrontinthewestdidweaken
HitlerandhastenedthedemiseoftheThirdReichhowever,Germanyhadreceivedso
manybodyblowsevenbeforeTorchandNormandythatitsdefeatwasassuredatSoviet
Hands.OperationTorch,thelandingsinNorthAfrica,happenedinOctober1943
however,theGermanmarcheastwardwasforeverstoppedatKurskearlierthatyear,in
August1943(seeBattleofKursk ).AfterKursk,theGermanswereinconstantretreat.
NormandyhappenedinJune1944however,thesuccessofNormandy,whichmerely
establishedabeachheadinNorthernFranceforalliedforcestolandandinvadethe
continent,wasmassivelyeclipsed(thoughmuchlessreportedinthewesternpress)bythe
muchmoresuccessfulOperationBagration(OperationBagration ),whichcommenced
onJune22(threeyearsfromthestartoftheGermanSovietconflictin1941)andendedon
August19,resultinginthedeathsof1.5millionGermans,thedestructionofanentireArmy
Group(ArmyGroupCenter),thelossofabout17armydivisions,andtheliberationof
Belarus.
SomyconclusionisthathadAmericaandBritainnotinvadedGermanruledEurope
throughTorchandOverlord,theRussianswouldstillhavewon.Thedifferenceisthatthe
mapofEuropewouldhavelookedverydifferentafterthewar.Insteadofademocratic
westernEuropeandacommunisteasternEurope,thewholeofEuropewouldhavebeen
paintedred,andprobablyanotherfewmillionSovietswouldhavediedfighting.
CouldRussiahavedefeatedtheGermanswithoutthesubstantialassistanceoftheUSin
termsofjeeps,trucks,food,andthelike?Iaverthatitcouldhave,butitwouldhave
doubtlesstakenthemlonger.TheSovietsprovedevenin1941thattheycoulddefeatthe
Germans,withnoalliedaid,whentheycausedamillioncasualtiestotheGermanarmies
infrontofMoscow(aidedbyGeneralWinter),soIbelievetheycouldhavesinglehandedly
defeatedtheGermansintime.Insteadofthewarendingin1945,maybeitwouldhave
takentheSovietsuntil1950tofinishthewarontheirowntermsbyconqueringthewhole
ofcontinentalEurope."
Itwouldhavetakenlongerbecausetheywouldnothavehadtheadvantageofspeed
whichthejeepsandtrucksgavethem,andthebattleswiththeGermanswouldhavebeen
longerandbloodier,buttherewasreallynoquestionthatthemanufacturingcapacityof
theRussianswascontinuallyincreasingandthemanufacturingcapacityoftheGermans
wascontinuallydecreasingsointime,theSovietswouldhavebeenabletomaybeby
1945beenabletogettheirownproductiontoahighenoughleveltobeableto
manufactureenoughtrucksandjeepsoftheirowntofinallydefeattheGermansby1950.
Itwouldhavebeenabattleofattrition,butonethattheSovietswouldhavewon.
72kViewsViewUpvotes
YoshitomoMoriwaki,Almostfanaticalmilitaryhistoryenthusiast.
WrittenJun21,2014
Somuchoftheseanswersjustsay,"itwouldhavehappened"or,"itwouldn'thave
happened."
WhatdidUSAdoinWW2againstGermany?
1.FunneledlargequantitiesofresourcesandweaponstoUKandUSSR.
2.EngageddirectlyinlargescalecombatwithGermany.
Ithinkitfairlyobvious,althoughnotnecessarilywidelyknown,thatUSSRwaswellonit's
waytodefeatingGermanybeforeanymajordirectmilitaryinvolvementbyUKandUSA.
Thatleavestheimpactoflendlease.ForthemostpartUSSRdidn'tfeelthatourweapons
andtanksmademuchofadifference.Andthisassertionontheirpartisfair,the%of
theirtotaltanksUSAdeliveredisrelativelysmall,andmoreimportantlytheycameafter
USSRhadalreadyputGermanyonthedefensive.
ThemostsignificantcontributionUSAmadetotheSovietwareffortinWW2wasinthe
formoftrucks.USAdelivered500,000truckstoUSSR.That's32%oftheirtotalsupply
transportcapacitycomingfromUSA.Withoutthosetrucksthesuccessandvelocityofthe
Sovietoffensivesfrom1944onwouldhavebeenfurtherconstrainedbyinsufficient
logisticalsupport.
SoifUSAneitherfoughtnordeliveredgoods(trucksinparticular.)Itisnotunreasonable
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toimaginetheGermanshavingjustenoughtimeandadditionalforces(duetonosecond
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frontmaterializing)toadequatelydefendtheirhomeland.
ThisisnotawinningscenarioforGermany,itissimplyavoidingcompletedestruction.
WhichwouldlikelyhaveresultedinafarworsesituationforGermanytoday.It'sprobably
fairtocallitanalliedvictory,butUSSRwouldhavebeenleftveryweak.Whichwould
possiblyhavebeseenpositivelyfrommanypointsofview.
19.5kViewsViewUpvotes
OzgurZeren,AuthoratViaPopuli.com
WrittenMar23
Aquicklookatthestrategicsetup,relativewarproductionandtechnologylevelof
countriesseemtosuggestthatWw2couldhavebeenwonwithoutUnitedStates.Butit
wouldalsotakelongerandcostmorelossoflives.
Wehaveafewmajorfactors:
1UShelpwithLendLeasetoallies.
2UStakingonJapanandpreventingthemfromattackinganyoneelse.
3USasthemajorpartoflandingsinNorthernAfrica,ItalyandEurope.
..........
Whenweanalyzethese,aquickconclusioncomesasdescribedbelow:
1UShelpinLendLeasetoUSSRandBritainwasconsiderable.Butwemustalso
notethatLendLeasestartedwithoutUSjoiningthewar,onFDR'sinitiative,anditwould
bethereuntiltheendofthewarevenifUSdidnotjointhewar.
SoLendLeaseshouldnothavebeenafactorinthisanalysis.Butforthesakeofafull
spectrumanalysis,letsassumethatLendLeasewastiedtoUSjoiningthewar,andifUS
didnotjoin,therewouldbenoLendLease.
LendLeaseforUSSRwasimportantinnoncombatequipmentradios,trucksand
similar.USstartedthewarwithequipmentrathersubparforEuropeanfront(Tanks,
Aircraftespecially),andwhenfirstbatchesofthesesuppliesarrivedinUSSR,theywere
alreadyunusableinthemainfrontexceptafewitemsandtheywereinsmallnumbers.
Theywererapidlyobsoletedandwererelegatedtobacklineduties(reserve,regionalback
linedefense,training)towards1943duetospeedoftechnologicaladvancementonboth
sides.Howevernoncombataidliketrucks,radiosareanimportantfactor.Thesefreedup
Sovietresourcestoconcentrateoncombatvehicleproduction.
IfweconsiderLendLeaseneverhappened,theseresourceswouldneedtobespentby
USSR,andhencehamperwarmachineryproduction.Butwhenwelookattheproduction
numbers,wenoticethatSovietwarproductionwasmultiplesaheadofGermanand
Japanesewarproduction.Thisnaturallymeansthatthoughlackofsuchsupplieslike
radiosandvehiclesliketruckswouldbedetrimental,theywouldnothavebeencritical.
Japanisaspecialcasewhichmaybeweshouldn'tevenconsiderinregardtowar
production.Japanwasfartoobehindinwarproduction,technologyinrespecttoother
combatants.Theirheaviesttankwouldpassinbetweenalightandmediumtankin
Europeanfront,andevenatthattheywerequite,quitefewinnumbertobeafactor.Their
aircraftcarriersaremostlyconvertedfromcivilianshipsduringinterwaryears.Theydid
nothavetheimportantcriticalresources,mineralsneededforwarproduction,hampering
theiralreadytechnologicallybackwardequipment.Japanesestaffknewthis,hencethe
planforwaragainstUSwasaquickstrikewhichwouldcrippleadecentamountofUS
Navyandthereforehopefullyforceaquick,favorablepeace.
HowbehindJapanwasinregardtowarproductionandtechnology,weseein1939in
KhalkinGol,whereZhukovhaddevastatedasizableJapanesearmyduringthecourseof
~4months.
Attheendofthewar,thedisparagewasfargreaterSovietsranoveralltheelitecrack
troopsJapanesecrammedintoManchuriaandtrustedquitealot,andtheyranoverthem
injustonemonth.ThiswasthefinalblowtoJapanesewareffortandbrokethecamel's
back,bytheway.
2UStakingonJapanandpreventingthemfromattackinganyoneelseisan
importantcontribution,butespeciallyinthelightof#1,itdoesn'tseemtobecritical.
IfZhukovwasabletodestroyaveteranJapanesearmyin~4monthsinKhalkinGol,they
couldeasilyholdthemoffwithlessdivisionsandresources.Especiallyconsideringthatthe
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routefromNWChina/KoreatoSovietheartlandpassesthroughneverendingCentral
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Asiansteppes.Siberia,isnotevenanoptiontoconsider.
JapanwouldhavetocrossthousandsofkilometersofcentralAsiansteppesinwhichthey
wouldbehavingtofaceSovietarmoredbriga...(more)
Upvote 139 Downvote Comments 8+
KhalidElhassan,EclecticRabbitHole,WritingConsultant
WrittenMar24
Itwouldhavebeenmoredifficult,andtakenlonger,butyes,thealliescouldhavebeatthe
AxisiftheUShadnotsteppedin.
MostoftheheavyliftingagainstGermanyduringWW2wasdonebytheSoviets4outof
every5GermanskilledinthewardiedontheEasternFront,andtheSovietswerewellon
theirwaytowinningthewarontheirownbeforeUSaidarrivedinmeaningfulquantities,
andbeforetheUSdominatedWesternAllieslandedinFrancein1944.IftheUSand
WesternAllieshadnotlandedinFrance,thewarwouldhaveendedwiththeRedArmy
overrunningallofEurope.
MuchinkisdedicatedtotheroleofAmericanLendLease.Itcertainlyhelped,butitwas
notessential.ItshouldbenotedthatLendLeaseequipmentdidnotbeginarrivingin
largequantitiesintheUSSRuntillate1943.Indeed,thebulkofitdidnotreachtheSoviets
until19441945.Bythen,theSovietshadsomesignificantaccomplishmentsundertheir
beltsandwerewellontheirwaytowinningthewar.Accomplishmentsowedtonobody
else'sassistance:
BeatbacktheGermansintheBattleofMoscow(December,1941)
WontheBattleofStalingrad(winter,19421943)
WontheBattleofKursk(July,1943)
LiberatedtheUkraineandreachedtheBalkansandPoland(winter,19431944)
DestroyedtheGermanArmyGroupCenterinOperationBagrationbeforetheUSand
WesternAllieshadbrokenoutoftheNormandyBeaches(June,1944)
KurskwasthelastGermanstrategicoffensiveontheEasternFront.Fromthatpointon,
GermanywascontinuallyonthedefensiveandinasteadyretreatthatendedinBerlin2
yearslater.AndthatpointhadbeenreachedbytheSoviets,largelyontheirown.
AmericanLendLeasecertainlyhelpedspeeduptheRedArmy'sadvance,andthesecond
frontin1944helpeddivertsignificantGermanforcesawayfromtheEasternFront.Butby
1943andtheRedArmy'svictoryintheBattleofKursk,thebroadoutlineofthewarhad
alreadybeendefined,andGermanywaswellonthewaytowardslosingthewar.
Attheendoftheday,4outof5GermanswhodiedinthewardiedontheEasternFront.
Wouldthatextra5thGermankilledbytheWesternAllieshavemadeadifferenceif
thrownontheEasternFront?Itispossible,butcertainlynotinevitable.Itisjustas
possiblethathewouldhavesimplybecomeadditionalgristforthatinsatiablemill.
ItshouldalsobenotedthattheUSSRwasnotevenamajorrecipientofLendLease.the
Britishgot3timesasmuchLendLeaseasdidtheUSSR,eventhoughtheircontributionto
winningthewarwassignificantlysmallerthanthatoftheSoviets.LendLease
4.6kViewsViewUpvotes
AndyLeeChaisiri,learnedhistoryfromfolksallovertheworld
UpdatedJun21,2014UpvotedbyAlCarroll,Professor,Historian,Author,Fulbright
Scholar
SovietRussiawasthemostvitalelementinwinningorlosingWorldWarII
SovietshaltedtheadvanceofJapaninAsia,SovietshaltedtheadvanceofGermanyin
Europe.SovietsinflictedgreatercasualtiesupontheAxisthananyoneelse,aswellas
sufferingthemost.NobodyelsehadagreaterstakeinWWIIthanthem.
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Ifitweren'tforthesacrificeofthesebraveladswe'dbewritingonQuorainGERMAN!*
*Thinkaboutanyothertimeyou'veheardaphraselikethat
65.4kViewsViewUpvotes
AdrianBeale
WrittenJun9,2014
MyanswerassumesthattheJapanesedon'tthreatenthepacific,andthattheUSAisstill
heavilybackingtheallieseconomically.
Yes.TheUSAandUSSRputoutsomanytanks,theendofthewarinEuropewasalmosta
foregoneconclusion.Howeveritwouldhavetakenlonger,andbeenmoreofaprotracted
battle.
AssumingtheUSAwascompletelyabsent(fromtheworld)andnothingstoodwhereit
existed,theJapanesewouldhavetakenovermostofthepacificislandsandafairchunkof
ChinaandRussia.TheBritishwouldneverhavewoninAfricawithouttheShermanand
Grant/Leetanks(althoughwhoknows,maybeknowingtheycouldn'tbuyanallies'tank
mighthavemeanttheytookdevelopmentandtestingmoreseriously.Asaresult,Germany
wouldhavehadtheLibyanoilfieldsandtanksliketheTigerwouldn'thavebeensucha
colossalmistake(Mostwereknockedoutbybreakdown,orrunningoutoffuel).
8.7kViewsViewUpvotes
JasonLimanjaya
WrittenJun19,2014
ItisunthinkabletopresumethatUnitedStateswouldstayoutofthewarafterJapan
assaultedPearlHarbour,consideringRoosevelt'sAdministrationantiFascismbias.Well,if
theydid,hereiswhatIimaginewouldroughlyhappeninPacificandEuropeanTheatres
ofthewar.
1.PacificTheatre
USAagreesonanonaggressiontreatywithJapanafterPearlHarbour,whichmeansUS
hastoreducetheirnavalpowersignificantlyfromHawaii,Guametc.Withthedeclineof
BritishnavyafterthesinkingofPrinceofWalesandRepulseandthedemolitionofDutch
navy,onlyANZACstandsinJapan'swaytobreachtoAustraliaandNewZealand.
SinceJapan'smainlandisnowfarfrombombardmentandthemuchneedednatural
resourcesinMalayaandDutchEastIndieshavebeensecured,thereisnothingthatharms
Japanesemilitaryindustrytoproducemorebattleshipsandsubmarinestoprotectthe
southeastarchipelagofromANZAC.JapanwouldnotlikelyinvadeAustraliasincetheir
armyhasalreadybeenstretchedtodefendOccupiedChina,butwouldmostlikelyisolateit
untilANZACsurrenders.
AnotheroptionwouldbeinvasionofIndia,whichismuchmoredifficultconsidering
strongBritishpresenceintheMiddleEast.However,theGermanscouldhelponlyifthe
developmentsintheEuropeanTheatrefavorthem.
2.EuropeanTheatre
Intheoriginaltimeline,rightbeforetheUSenteredthewar,UKwaswinningtheBattleof
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Britain.However,atthesametime,theGermansareenjoyingsuccesseswiththeirUboats
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sinkingmassivetonnagesofBritishships,threateningtostarvetheBritishIsles.Without
USaidandpreferentialtrade,UKwouldsooncollapseintoaneconomicchaosasallthe
nearestportsnearthemareunderGermans'control.Churchill'sgovernmentwouldbe
underimmensepressuretochangetheirstanceortheywouldbeoverthrownbyanother
factionwhoaremoreamicabletowardsHitler.ThegoodnewsisHitlerhasalways
consideredanallianceorpeacefulcoexistencewithacooperativeBritain.Itisunlikely
thathewouldinvadeBritishIslesatthemomentwithhisarmystrainedinRussiaandhis
navyinferiortoBritishnavy,buthecouldexpectnoimmediatethreatfromthewestashe
embarksonhisSovietwar.
USSRwouldhavetosolelydependontheirUralindustrywithoutUSLendLeaseAid,
whichalsoincludetrucksandammunitionintheoriginaltimeline.WithWehrmacht's
thrusttowardsLeningradandMoscowhaltedintheendof1941,theGermanswouldlikely
followthesimilaroptionofattackingStalingradandwithoutUSbacking,theGermans
havelargerchanceofwinningthishellishbattle.
AtthesametimeinNorthernAfrica,HitlercouldsendmorereinforcementsforRommel
fromFrance,knowingthatUKwouldnotinvadeanyway.Itisknownthatthedecisive
factorthatcontributedtoRommel'sdefeatinElAlameinwasthathisarmywas
outnumberedbyMontgomery's.Hence,inthistimeline,thereisalsoagreaterchancethat
RommelwouldfendofftheBritishfromEgypt.WithoutAlexandria,theBritishnavyin
theMediterraneanwouldbesignificantlyweakenedeveniftheymanagetorelocateto
SyriaorCyprus.Also,noUSthreatfromwesternnorthAfricameanstheGermanscould
leavetheItalianstoprotectthemselvesinLibya,leavingtheGermansfreeto...
...continuetheirattacktotheMiddleEast.Yes,ifGermansdefeattheSovietsinStalingrad,
CaucasusoilfieldwouldbeHitler'sandallhellbreaksloose.Ideally,Rommelcouldlinkup
withPaulustoenforcetheBritishoutoftheMiddleEast.Indiaisnowstuckbetweenthe
GermansinthewestandtheJapaneseintheeast.Goodluck,BritishEmpire.
3.Conclusion
Ishallnotwritebeyondthispointsinceitwouldbemuchmorewishfulthinking.Inthis
timeline,by1943,theBritishEmpireisontheedgeoftotalcollapse.ThewarinRussiais
stillgoingstrongandcausingmanydeathsonbothsides.ThereisnoguaranteeStalin
wouldsuccumbandMoscoworLeningradwouldfall.Hitler'swarindustryincentral
EuropeandhisRomanianoilfieldaresafefromairassault,butthestrainonGerman
manpowerwouldultimatelyshow.Itisverylikelytherewillbeastalematewithlarge
territorialgainfortheGermanside.ItisbadnewsfortheSlavicpopulationlivingthere.
JapanwouldstillcontinuefightingChiangKaiShek'sChinaandMaoZedong's
CommunistPartyontwofront,depletingmostoftheirresourcesthere.However,they
wouldsoonbethemasterofthePacific,whileANZACstaunchlyfightagainstnaval
isolationandtheBritishconcentrateontheirdefenceofIndiaagainstpossibleattackfrom
Burma.
Thefuturelooksverygrimforthefreeworld.
11.7kViewsViewUpvotes
AmitMeltzer,OldguyfromIsrael,curiousaboutmanythings.
WrittenFeb23
Therearesomemarvelousdetailedanswersherethatanalyzethenetorsumcontribution
oftheU.S.toWWII.iwishtoposeaslightlydifferentview.
Thewarhappenedasweknowit.Ifyouwishtochangetheeventsbytakingoutamajor
contenderintheconflict,trylookingatitfromastrategicpointofview.
Sure,theSovietUnioncouldprobablyhadheldonevenwithoutthewarmaterialsand
fighton.TheBritishEmpirehadvastlylargerresourcesthanGermany,andcouldgoon
fighting.Intheend,thewarwouldhavedraggedonfor35moreyearsinEuropebutthe
endwouldprobablybethesame.
ThereasoninmyviewistheabjectfailureoftheAxis(tripartitealliance)toformulateand
followajointstrategy.ThroughoutthewarGermany,ItalyandJapanactedmorelikea
gangofegocentrichooligans,eachpursuingitsowngoalsandgettingoneinthewayof
theother.Theyneveronceworkedtoacommongoal.
ithasbeenarguedextensivelythatItalywasamajorcontributortothefailureof
BarbarossatocaptureMoscowandperhapspressureStalinintoacompromiseorachieve
hisremoval.BydelayingBarbarossafor6weeksinspring41'andlaterforcingGermanyto
divertmoretroopstoshoreupthesecondaryLibyanfront,Italyrobbedtimeandresources
fromGermanyandultimatelycausedthe41'campaigntofallshortofitsgoals.Iknowall
thecounterargumentsputtingtheblameonHilter'svacillations,I'mjustpointingoutthat
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therewasnojointstrategyhere.
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Japanwasmuchworse,theypracticallybroughttheAmericansintotheconflictand
sealedthedoomofAxisalliancetofail.Whattheyshouldhavedonewasworkwith
GermanyandattacktheUSSRfromManchuriainthefallof41'insteadofoptingforthe
Pacificgamble.
HadJapanattackedtheUSSRinconcertwithGermany,delayingtheirconquestofsouth
eastAsia,theUSSRcouldverywellbetakenoutofthewarifnotcompletelydefeated.The
JapanesecouldgetmanyofthescarceresourcestheylackedfromBakuandothersitesin
USSRthatwouldcomeunderthecontroloftheAxis.
Moreimportantly,bydelayingPearlHarborTheU.S.wouldbekeptoutofthewaruntil
theUSSRisreduced.Thatisastrategicconcentrationofforcethatneverhappened.
ThefolliesoftheAxisallianceensuredtheformationofacounteralliancethatcouldbot
bedefeatedbyanyforceonearth.EvenhadtheU.S.joinedthewarAFTERtheUSSRwas
takenoutofit,thechancesforacompleteAllyvictorylookalotmoreiffyandthemost
likelyoutcomewouldhavebeensomesortofstalemate.
Tosumitup,therightquestioninmyviewisnot"whatiftheU.S.wasn'tinthewar"but
rather"whatiftheU.S.cameintothewartoolate".
OncelastquestionIwouldlovegetfeedbackonis"IfHitlerdidn'tdeclarewarontheU.S.
onDec.111941,wouldtheU.S.havegottenintotheEuropeanwaratall?"
2kViewsViewUpvotes
JakubHandl
UpdatedMar25
Iamnotsure.
USmilitaryinfluenceonEuropeanbattlefieldwasn'tthatbigsince80%ofGermansoldiers
foughtanddiedontheEasternfrontagainsttheUSSR.
HowevertheUSinfluencewasstillbig.USAsoldtheUSSReverythingforvanstocans
filledwithmeat.DoyouknowthefamousKatyusharocketlauncher ?Manyofthetrucks
thatthisweaponsusedweretheAmericanStudebakerUS6 .Andthisisonlyoneofthe
examples.
USAalsohelpedBritaintostayafloatin1940and1941eventhoughtheywerewellpaidfor
it.
AmericanbombersalsomadethelifeofaverageGermanswereunpleasantandtheDDay
invasionwhicheasedtheGermanpressureontheUSSRwouldn'tbepossiblewithoutthe
UShelp.
ButthegreatestproblemwouldcausepossibleJapaneseattackontheUSSRsinceJapan
wouldn'thaveproblemswiththeUS.
SoIthinkthatiftheAllieswonthevictorywouldcostevenmoremenandresourcesthan
inourtimelineandtheWW2wouldendinthelate1940sratherinthemid1940s.
1.2kViewsViewUpvotes
KevinBrowne
WrittenSep26
Itdependshowyoudefinewin.ImperialJapanwouldnothavebeenchallengedinthe
PacificorIndianOceansbyanyotherpowerasidefromtheUS.TheRoyalNavycould
eventuallyhavefacedtheIJNoneventermshadithadnoothercommitments,butmost
ofitwasneededtoprotecttheHomeislandsandtopreventtheuboatsfromstarving
themout.WhileStalinmightsomedayhavebecomeinterestedinseizingManchuria,he
carednotawhitforChinaortheanyoftheothercountriesdominatedbyJapan.
MostoftheanswershavecorrectlynotedthattheSovietRedArmydestroyedmostofthe
GermanWehrmacht4outofevery5GermansoldierskilledwerekilledbytheRedArmy,
hundredsofWehrmachtandAxisdivisionsdestroyed,etc.However,Ithinkthosewho
arguethattheRedArmywouldeventuallyhaveconqueredEasternEuropeandGermany
anyway,ignoreordiscountseveralcriticalcontributionsmadebytheUSintheEuropeand
MediterraneanTheaters.IbelievetheRedArmywouldhaveatmuchgreatercost
ejectedtheGermansfromallprewarUSSRterritoryandlikelytakeneasternPolandand
muchoftheBalkans,butthetwosideswouldeventuallyhavefoughtthemselvesoutand
settledonanarmistice.
Myreasoning:
1.USinvolvementtransformedtheUKwareffortfromaperipheralannoyanceintoa
directthreatthattheGermanHighCommandfeltcompelledtoconfront.Withoutthe
USArmy,theUKwouldliterallyneverhavebeenabletoreturntotheContinentthey
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justcouldnotfieldenoughdivisionsorbuildenoughlandingcraftortanks.Even
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combiningUSandUKdivisions,itwasalwaysariskypropositiontolandforcesina
placewhereGermanscouldmobilizearesponseusingraillinks:Salerno,Anzio,
Normandyeachinvolvedaracetopushenoughmenandmaterialintothebeach
headbeforetheGermansrelocatedenoughdivisionstosmashedit.WithUSforces
addedtoBritishforces,theGermanshadtocommit5075divisionsintheWestthat
weresorelyneededagainsttheUSSR.
2.TheRAFlearnedin193941thatitcouldnotmountasustainedairoffensiveagainst
Germanindustryormilitarytargetsindaylight.Eventually,itwouldmountvery
effectivenight/areabombingoperationsthatwouldrazemostGermancitiestothe
ground,butthatconsumedbetweenaquarterandathirdoftheentireBritishwar
effort.WithoutAmericanfactoriesandshipyardsproducingthecargoships,escort
vessels,patrolplanes,andsoon,itsunlikelytheUKcouldhavemadesuchan
extremecommitmenttoitsbomberoffensive.
3.TheRAF/USAAFCombinedBomberOffensiveagainstGermanwasacriticalfactor
enablingRedArmvictoryintheEast.ItblindedWehrmachtarmiesfacingtheRed
Armyfrom1943on,strippeditofitscoverinearly1944,andthenimmobilizeditfrom
mid1944untiltheendofthewar.Whilemuchhardanddeadlyfightinghadtobe
done,theRedArmywasabletofaceamuchdifferentWehrmachtintheircounter
offensivethantheyhadfacedin194142.
a.RAFnightbombingfrom194043forcedanenormousdiversionofNaziGerman
strengthawayfromtheEasttodefendtheReich.Over1millionmenwere
devotedtobomberdetection,interception,andantiaircraftdefensebymid1943.
Nearly11,000oftheformidable88mmgunsweredevotedtoAAdefense,along
withwelloverhalfofthelightAAguns(20mmand37mm).Hadevenafraction
ofthisfirepowerbeenavailabletoGermanfielddivisionsforATandAApurposes,
RedArmylosseswouldhavebeenfarhighereventhantheywere.
b.TheadditionofUSAAFdaylightbombingforcedtheredeploymentofmost
LuftwaffefightersawayfromtheEast.Startinginspring1943,80%ofGerman
fightersweredeployedinGermany,France,andtheLowCountriestoopposethe
WesternAllies.TheimpactwasconsiderableontheGermanarmywhichhadto
thispointalmostalwaysfoughtwithairsuperiority.Theirabilitytogather
operational/strategicintelligence,andtheirabilitytomasktheirown
deployments,wereseverelycurtailednotethenumberoftimestheywere
surprisedbymassiveSovietoffensivesfrom1943on.
c.TheintroductionoftheP51Mustanglongrangeescortfighterinearly1944not
onlyallowedmorebomberstoreachandaccuratelybombtargets,italsoallowed
theUSAAFtodestroytheGermanLuftwaffefighterforce.InFebMarApr1944,
Germanslost8001000fighterspermonth,andlostcontroloftheairovertheir
owncountry.AlliedfighterscouldrangeoverGermanterritory,shootingup
airfields,bridges,railyards,andwhateverelsetheychose.Fromthispoint,the
RedArmyAirForcescouldalsorangeatwilloverthefrontknowingtheydnever
seemorethanahandfuloffighters,oftenwithpoorlytrainedandinexperienced
pilotsatthestick.
d.Finally,beginninginlatesummer1944,theRAFandUSAAFbeganacampaign
ofsustained,precisionbombingofGermansyntheticoilplants.Theresultswere
dramatic,withproductionbeingcutby90%fromSeptemberthroughDecember
1944.WhencombinedwiththeRedArmyoffensiveintoRomania,theRomanian
coupanddefectiontotheAllies,andtheresultantlossofthePloestioilfields,the
GermanArmywassuddenlyreducedtothespeedofmarchingmenandhorse
drawncarts.
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AndreiBotu,historyenthusiast
WrittenMar16
Ithinkmyanswerwillbemuchlessclearcutthanmostoftheotheranswershere.IfI
assumenointerventionatallfromUSinWWII,iwouldbehardpressedtopickthe
winnerofWWII.
ThefirstbighelptheAmericansgavetotheallieswastheleaselendactthatmanyhave
mentionedhere.ButwhilefortheRussiansitmadelifeabiteasierthankstotheJeepsand
Studebakertruckssentthatway,fortheBritishitmeantthedifferencebetweenstayingin
thewarandsuingforpeace.ThebattleoftheAtlanticwasinfullswingin19401941and
alltheBritishsupplieswerecomingfromtheUS.TheKriegsmarinewassuffocatingthe
BritishbydestroyingenoughmerchantshipstomakethesupplyingoftheBritishIslands
unfeasible.ThissituationwouldnothavechangedintimetosavetheBritishwithoutthe
USTownclassdestroyersthatbecameBritishovernight,withouttheCatalinaandB24
planesusedforreconnaissance,andwithouttheUSmanufacturingalotofcounter
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measures(manyinventedbytheBritishwhotransferredtheintellectualrightstothe
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Americans)iseriouslydoubtthattheBritishwouldhavelastedinto1942.
WiththeBritishmuchharderpressedforresourcesthantheyactuallywere,their
campaignsintoNorthAfricawouldhavebeenmuchshorterlived.Alsotherewouldhave
beennoOperationTorch,noPattonandtheAxiswouldhavebeenincontroloftheoil
wellsinIran,Iraq,BahrainandKuwaitbymid1942.Soinsteadofwastinglotsandlotsof
fuelfightinginNorthAfricaanddependingonRomanianoilfromPloestiforalotoftheir
oilneeds,theywouldhavehadanentireextraarmycorps,maybeunderRommel's
commandforinvadingRussia.Theywouldhavealsohadanextra16milliontonesoffuel
productionayear,whichismorethandoubletheRomanianproduction.Oneofthe
biggestproblemsfortheGermansthroughtheentirewarwasthelackoffuel.In1942one
ofthemaintargetsinRussiaweretheoilfieldsintheCaucasus.TheentirearmygroupA
wentthatwaytogetherwitha6000strongTechnicalOilBrigadeattachedtoit.Army
groupBwasinitiallysenttoprovideflanksupportforGroupAbeforegettingembroiledin
Stalingrad.TheentireGermanoilsupplyforoperationswasfor60days.Afterthatsupply
problemswouldhavestarted.AlsocapturingfueldidnothingbecausetheRussianshad
dieselengineswhiletheGermantankshadgasolineenginesin42.
IwouldarguethatStalingradwouldnothavehappenedthewayitdidiftheGermans
werenotdesperateforfuelandfortheCaucasusoilfields.Plusthathavinganarmycorps
comingfromtheSouthofCaucasuswouldhavespedupalottheoilfieldcapturing
processgettingmuchfartherthantheydidandmostlikelyactuallyreachingBaiku.What
thiswouldhavemeantwasthatatsomepointin1942agoodpartofArmyGroupAwould
havebeenavailabletobedivertedtowardsStalingrad,mostlikelycomingfromatotally
differentanglethanArmyGroupBandwithadecentchancetocuttheSovietsupplylines
tothecity.Alsowithmoreoilavailableandmoreresourcesavailablewithoutthesecond
frontintheWest,theLuftwaffe'sairliftmighthavesucceededoratleastdonemuchbetter
thantheydid.
IfKurskwouldhavestillhappened,itcouldhavetakenmuchlongerwithouttheinvasion
ofSicily.MoretopofthelineTigerswouldhavebeenavailable.Soeventhatbattlemight
haveendeddifferently.
AnotherbigissueforthetheGermanswastheheavyhitstheirindustrialbasetookbecause
ofBritishandAmericanbombingcampaigns.WithoutthemtheGermanindustrycould
havechurnedoutmuchlargernumbersofheavytanksandadvancedfighterplanes.And
asstrongastheRedArmywas,theGermanshadthecapacitytobeatthemthroughtheir
technologicaladvances.AmuchlongerwarwithlargernumbersofthelatewarGerman
technologyconcentratedonasinglefrontmakemewonderwherethewarwouldhave
went,evenifStalingradandKurskstillhappened.AndwithouttheAlliedbombingof
PloestiandwiththeMiddleEastoilwellintheirhands,aswellaswithmoreCaucasusoil
productionintheirhands,theywouldnothavesufferedtheintensefuelshortagesthat
plaguestheentireGermanarmytowardsfrom1943onward.
Andthisassessmentdoesn'teventakeintoconsiderationthepossibilitythattheGermans
wouldhavebeenmorefreetoredevelopindustryinFranceandmaybeevenBritain
increasingalottheirproductioncapacity.Inshort,ireallythinkthatthedangerofmostof
theworldspeakingGermannowwouldhavebeenmuchgreaterthanmanyassume.
1.4kViewsViewUpvotes
LesRobinson,Director,EnablingChange
WrittenJun25,2014
Notquite.By1944theSovietswerewellontracktodestroyNaziGermany,althoughUS
materialmadeagreatcontributiontotheirsuccess,especially20,000oddtrucks.Inthe
summerof1944,afewweeksaftertheNormandyinvasion,theSovietslaunchedOperation
BagratianthatdestroyedthreeGermanarmiesandrecapturedmostofBelorussiaandeast
Poland.ThatwasreallytheendforGermany.TherapidAlliedrecaptureofFranceandthe
lowcountrieswasreallyallaboutdenyingthemtotheSoviets.
ThePacificWarisadifferentmatter.WithouttheUS,Australiawouldhavefallenand
therewasnootherforcecapableofshiftingthemoutofSouthEastAsia,eveniftheSoviets
haddefeatedtheminManchuria.
So,withouttheUS,thewholeofEuropewouldhavebeenpartoftheSovietempire,and
JapanwouldhaveruledtheEastunopposed.Averydifferentscenario!
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BillyWilson,itsbeenmypassionandhobbytoresearchandstudyhistory
andwarfare
UpdatedDec5,2015
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WellmyanswermightbealittlebiasedsinceIamanAmericanbutI'veresearchedand
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studiedextensivelyaboutWorldWar2anditspersonallyahobbyofminebuthere'smy
answer,TheAnswerisnotheAllieswould'vebeenunabletodefeattheAxisinworldwar2
here'swhythisisthemostlikelyoutcome.(I'dLiketoAddthisisawhatiftypescenariofor
somereasonsomepeoplemistakethisforbeingtherealityofwhatactuallyhappened).
FirstlyLookatwhydidNaziGermanyAllywithJapan
1.HitlersgoalwasalwaystoattacktheU.S.S.RbutinordertodefeattheRussiansand
theyresuperioramountofmanpowertheyneededthecapabilitytoformasecondfront
againsttheU.S.S.RwhichtheJapanesewascapableofopening.
2.WithU.S.S.RfacingtheGermansintheWestandJapaneseintheEasttheywould've
facedtwofrontsandwould'vebeenforcedtosurrenderitwould'vetakealongertimein
ordertohappenbutbothfrontswould'vecrushedandsappedthey'remanpower.
WithoutUnitedStatesinvolvementinWorldWarTwo
EUROPE
BritainandFrenchGovernmentinExile
WithoutFDRandcongresscreatingthelendleaseact,Britainwould'vebeenstarvedinto
submissionandtheconstantsuppliestoarm,equipandprovidevolunteerPilotstheRAF
would'veeventuallylostthebattleoverBritain,becausetheywouldn'tbeenabletoreplace
thelossesithadagainsttheLuftwaffe,withvictoryintheskies,itwould'veopenedthe
pathforanavalinvasionoftheBritishIsles,eventhoughtheBritishhadasuperiorNavy,
ittoowould'vebeenriddleddowntononexistence,alsotheywould'venothaveaccessto
thenumerousshipsthatwe'reNearlygivenforfree(exchangedforbasingrightsinBritish
NavalPortsforasetamountofyears)totheBritishalsotheAmmunition,Equipmentand
suppliesthatweresuppliedtothem,thenwithoutNavalorAirDominanceintheEnglish
Channel,Britainwould'vefallenaswouldtheFrenchGovernmentinexileaswouldmany
othergovernmentsinexilewould'vefallenaswellsincetheywerebasedinBritain,and
withouttheFGE,therewould'vebeenlessresistancetoGermanruleinnorthernFrance
andhavelesscapabilitytoresisttheGermans.ThetwooptionswiththefallofBritainone
theBritishgovernmentmovestoCanadaortoIndiaandcontinuestoputupminimal
resistanceoroptiontwoisturnedintoapuppetregimelikeVichyFranceofferingno
resistance.
Italy
SincetheUntiedStatesdidn'tenterthewartherewouldn'tbeenainvasionofSicilyorof
theItalianMainland,withthatinplaceItalywouldhelpedhuntdowntheremnantsofthe
BritishNavytoextinction,andsincetherewasn'tasecondfrontorthirdfrontinEurope,it
would'vebeenabletohelpsupplyandassisttheGermanwareffortinRussia.
Germany
WithwinningtheBattleoverBritainandsecuringtheBritishIsles,andthefalloftheFGE
itcouldthenfocusitsfullforceoftheGermanWarMachineinRussiawithminimalneed
toprovideforcestoitsoccupiedterritoriesandfordefenseagainstpotentialinvasionfrom
BritainhavingsecureditfrontsinwesternEuropeandinNorthAfricaandFreshOil
SuppliescominginfromthemiddleeastitcouldputitsfullmightagainsttheU.S.S.R,
sinceBritainhasfallenandtheUnitedStatesdidnotjointhewaritsManufacturingbase
would'vebeenleftunmolestedbyAlliedAirRaidsenablingitsupplyitsforcestomax
capacitywithlittlethreatwithcontinuedsupplies,Oilsuppliesfromthemiddleeastand
assistancefromitsalliesItaly,Hungary,Romania,AntiCommunistRussians,itwould
easilydestroyedtheU.S.S.RWareffortandwouldn'tbeendefeatedatLeningrador
Stalingradandwould'vepushedintotheUralMountainsandsincetherewaslittletonone
assaultsbyseaorairfromthewestanditsIndustrialCapacityleftunmolestedandintact,
itwould'vebeenableto...(more)
AdamSmith
WrittenDec11,2015
Theeasyanswerisno.ThemorecomplicatedansweristhatGermanywasonthepathto
losingEuropebeforeAmericaninterventioninthattheater,butJapanwasonthepathto
completecontrolofAsia.
Germany'smistakewasnotfinishingoffBritainbeforegoingaftertheSoviets.Timinghas
tobeperfecttosustainsupplylinesallthewaytoMoscowintimetosurvivewinter.
Napoleongotclosetoo,butwarisn'thorseshoes.Itwasn'tjustAmericansuppliesthat
helpedtheEuropeaneffort.ThousandsofAmericansfoughtintheRAFbeforetheUS
declaredwaronGermanyandItaly.So,wehelpedBritainandtheUSSRhangonjustlong
enoughtosurvivetheinitialGermanattack.Theyprobablywould'verepelledthemafew
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yearslateranyway.
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There'snoquestionJapanwasclosertodominationofAsiathanGermanywastocontrol
ofEurope.IftheUShadn'tstoppedthat,theJapanesemaywellhavecreatedalegitimate
twofrontwarfortheSovietsandpavedthewayforasecondGermaninvasionofthe
USSR.
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GabrielChan,wellread
WrittenJul1,2014
WWIIwaswonby:
Sovietmanpower
Britishintelligence
Americanindustrialcapacity
Withoutlendlease,akaUncleSamgivingawayfreemilitaryhardware,theBritishandthe
Sovietswouldnothavebeenabletocounterattack.Lendleasehelpedbridgethegapuntil
Sovietindustrialcomplexcompleteditspivottoawareconomy.
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MichaelLedlow
WrittenMar27,2015
Ipersonallydon'tthinkGermanywouldhavebeendefeatedbytheSovietUnionif
Americanwithheldthelendleasematerials.Maybe,eventually,Russiawouldhave
regainedit'sabilitytoproduceandfightfromanewcapital.Maybe.But,withoutlend
lease,RussiawouldhavelostMoscow,StalingradandLeningrad.AmericawasRussia's
onlyallythathadtheinfrastructureandresourcestoshoreupit'scrumblingdefense
againsttheWehrmacht.
TheSovietshadahugearmy,buttheycouldn'tproperlybefed,clothed,transportedor
armed.
SovietWeaponsLossesin1941(TheFirstSixMonthsOfTheWar)
72%ofallTanks.
34%ofallCombatAircraft.
56%ofallSmallarmsandMachineguns.
69%ofallAntiTankguns.
59%ofallFieldgunsandMortars.
TakeitfromGeneralGeorgyZhukov(interviewofZhukovbyKonstantinSimonov):
"ItisnowsaidthattheAlliesneverhelpedus...However,onecannotdenythatthe
Americansgaveussomuchmaterial,withoutwhichwecouldnothaveformedour
reservesandcouldnothavecontinuedthewar...wehadnoexplosivesandpowder.
Therewasnonetoequipriflebullets.TheAmericansactuallycametoourassistancewith
powderandexplosives.Andhowmuchsheetsteeldidtheygiveus.Wereallycouldnot
havequicklyputrightourproductionoftanksiftheAmericanshadnothelpedwithsteel."
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JeremyMorren,AmateurHistorian
WrittenFeb13
Well,asmentionedalready,youhavetodefinetheUnitedState'srole.FDRwasincharge
beforePearlHarbourAmericanNavalwereunderorderstofireatUBoatsonsight.
Whatthatmeansis,whiletheywerenotatwar,theywereshooting.Thatbeingsaid,the
US'sroleboileddownto2things:
1.IndustrialPower
2.SeeminglyUnlimitedManpower
Let'sexplainthem.
1.IndustrialPower:TheUShadthelargestfactorypotentialintheworldbecause
therewasnobodybombingorattackingit.LendLeasesavedBritainandtheSoviet
Unionsimply,neithercouldproducethemilitarymaterialstheyneeded.LendLease
allowedthemtoconcentrateonfightingandnotlogisticsandgavethemfactories
theydidn'thave.
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2.SeeminglyUnlimitedManpower:ThenumberofSoldierstheAmericanshadbythe
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War'sendwasstaggering.ThecrewofanEssexcarrier(themainAmericancarrier
duringthewar)wasabout2600.AndtheAmericanshad26,repeat,26carriersin
operationattheendofthewar.Thatis,forthosewhocannotbebotheredtodothe
math,67,600menservingonCARRIERSALONE.Thatisalotofmen,considering
thatthosemenareonlystokers(engineroomhands),signallers,etc.Theactual
numberofpilotswasprobably2or300(justguessing).Sothosepeoplewereonly
SUPPORTtheyweren'tactuallyfighting.DuringtheNormandylandings,
MontomerywasinchargeoftheBritish.Hewasextremelycareful,neverstarting
uselessattacks.ThismeantthattheBritishavoidedcasualties(forthem,therewere
notunlimitedAmericanboyswaitingtobeenlisted),butsloweddowntheiradvance
acrossFrance.TheAmericans,underBradleyandPatton,couldmovemorefreely,
andcouldaffordapitchedbattle.IfSoldiersdied,theycouldreplacethem.Ifthey
werewounded,theycouldaffordtosendthemhome.TheB17hadacrewof10,
whiletheLancasterhadacrewof7.AndtheBritishbombedatnight,whereitwasa
bitmoredifficultforthemtobeshotdown.TheAmericansloststaggeringamountsof
BombersoverEuropeasfarastheywereconcerned,therewerealwaysmoremen
thatcouldbetrainedasaircrew.So,tosumup,theAmericanscouldraiseenormous
armiesANDequipthem(Seeabove).
AsImentionedbefore,AmericanandGermanywereinashootingwarBEFOREPearl
Harbour.Thus,youcouldalmostsaythattheirinterventionwasinevitable,soonerof
later.However,WWIIcouldhavebeenwonwithouttheAmericans.Here'swhy.
1.TheGermansusedBlitzkrieg.Thatisalightningquickwar,overasfastaspossible.
Theirentirewarmachinecouldnotlastformorethan2or3monthsatpeak.Israel
thoughtthesamethe6daywarwaswhattheyhadenvisaged.Francesuitedthe
GermansfinebutwhenBritainheldout,theyhadaproblem.Theycouldn'tgoon
fightingawarofAttritionindefinitely.AndtheBattleofBritianwasfoughtbefore
LendLeasesotheBritishcouldholdout.
2.AssumingtheGermanshadmanagedtolandinBritain,therewastheHomeGuard.
Anddon'tthinktheywereabunchofOldMen.Theywerealmostallformersoldiers.
Intoday'sworldwearenotsoldiers.50yearsago,wewere.I'mfightingnow,Daddy
foughtinWWI,andGrandpafoughtintheBoerWar.Almosteveryablebodiedman
inBritianhadsomebriefmilitaryexperience(witnessthedraft).Letmeputinatrue
storyhere.SomeAmericansoldierswereguardingabaseinBritianafterthewar.
TheybettheHomeGuardtheycouldn'tcaptureit.Thebetwason.Thenextdaya
firetruckdroveup,sirenblaring,lightsflashing,yellingattheguardtoopenthegate.
Theguard,despitenotknowingofanyfire,didashewasrequested.TheHome
GuarddroveonintheFiretruckandcapturedthekeybuilding.Mission
accomplished.Sotheyweren'tabunchofpretenders.Theywereanarmy.Ifthe
Germanshadlanded,theywouldhavehadtofight.Don'tforgetthat.Theywerenot
wellequipped,butintheeventofsomelandingstheBritishwouldhavefoundsome
riflessomewhere.TheywouldhavestolenthemfromtheAmericanarsenalif
necessary...Iwouldn'tputitpastMI6.
3.AnavaloperationfromFranceisnotaseasyasitsounds.Theywouldhavehadto
usebargestheyfoundonthecoastofFranceandtheotheroccupiedcountries.Well,
duh.Well,that'saproblemsincetheyobviouslywouldnotbedesignedformilitary
use.TheAlliedamphibiouslandingsusedlandingcraftdesignedforthepurpose.
TheGermanswouldhavehadtousewhattheycouldfind.Thatmeansthelanding
wouldhavebeensomewhatdifferenttoNormandythesoldierswouldhavebeen
ratherexposed.Toshipproperlandingcraftoutwouldhavemeanteitherstarting
theinvasionfromGermany(whichwouldhavebeenanimpossiblylongtripforthe
soldierstheshorttripacrosstheEnglishchannelcausedmanyalliedsoldierstoget
seasick)orshippingthelandingcrafttoFrance.Thelatterwouldhaveexposedthem
totheRoyalNavyandRAFastheyjourneyedthere.Thismeansthatanyoperation
theGermanstriedwouldnothavemeasureduptotheGermanstandardsofquality
andefficiency.
4.TheBritishmanagedtoevacuate350,000menoutofaningloriousretreatin1940.
WhiletheFrencharmyutterlydisintegrated,theBritishheldtogetherandgotout.
WitnessthedifferencetheBritishcouldhandlearetreatandnotbreaktheline.
Thus,fightinginBritianwouldhavebeenaproperwar,andnotaretreatlikethe
FrenchhadtoParis.
TheRAF'sheroicholdoutintheBattleofBritianisproofthattheBritsweredeterminedto
seethethingthrough.Everylastmanwouldhavediedratherthansurrenderat900year
empiretoa10yearoldupstartReich.NowfortheRussians.
1.OperationBarbarossafailedbecauseofHitler'sstupidity.InsightofMoscow,he
turnedtoKievanddecidedtotakeMoscowlater.And,aswesaw,hefailedtotakeit
later(i.e.duringtheWinter)
2.Then,in1941,theGermansfailedagaininStalingrad.Andthatwasbecausethey
shouldhaveretreatedlongbeforeWinter.Anyfoolcouldsee,fromthefightthatthe
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Germanscouldn'twinit.StalinwasobsessedwithitsowasHitler.AndStalinwon
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the6thArmysurrendered.
3.TheRedArmywasevenmoreakintoacolumnofantsthantheAmericans.They
enlistedanyonewhocouldholdagunliterally.Andtheystartedattackswithout
thoughtsforcasualties.Afterthewar,insomeareas,80%ofmalesbornin1923were
dead.TheSovietsputwinningfirst,livesafterwards.
4.HitlertoldtheWehrmachttoregardtheRussiansassubhuman.However,alsowith
nofood,sufferingthesameintolerablecoldwithhardlyanyclothing,justlikethe
Germans,theRussianswerestillfighting.Infact,theGermansstartedtoregardthe
Russiansoldiernotassubhuman,butassuperhuman.
5.TheSovietsranasuccessfulscorchedearthpolicytheydestroyedortookwiththem
alltheirtrainssotheGermanscouldn'tusethemandtheGerman'srailwaysranona
differentGauge,sotheentireRussianrailwaywasuselesstothem.TheSoviets
packedupentirefactoriesandshippedthemEastward,wheretheywereunpacked
andproductionresumed!
Aswecanseehere,theRussiansalsohadanidomitablespirit.
Tofinallysumup,neithertheSovietsnortheBritishweregoingtogiveup.Anyobserver
wouldhavesaid,inApril1940,thatGreatBritainwasgoingtofallandOperationSeaLion
wasgoingtobeasuccess.Hewouldhavebeenwrongonbothcounts.Theonlyproblem
facingbothBritishandRussianswas$$.AcrucialpartofLendLeasewasthatthe
RussiansandtheBritishwereallowedtowaituntilafterthewartopayitoffacrucial
pointsincetheBritish,atleast,werealmostbankruptwhentheAmericanscamein
properlyafterPearlHarbour.
NB:TheJapaneseattackedtheAmericansatPearlHarbour,thusbringingthemintothe
war.WithoutJapaneseaggression,Americawouldnothavebeeninthewar.Thismeans
thatthishypotheticalbattlewouldhavebeenfoughtwithouttheJapanese,sincethey
couldn'thavestartedanythinginthePacificwithouttheAmericanscomingin.Theyknew
this,andsotriedtodestroyPearlHarbour.Asaconsequence,Iassumedthishypothetical
WWIIwouldhavebeenfoughtinEuropealone,andcompletelyignoredthePacific.
1.2kViewsViewUpvotes
UmaPriyadarsi,CuriousaboutEverything.
WrittenJun9,2014
Ihavealreadywrittensomeanswersregardingthisquestionintheseplaces:
UmaPriyadarsi'sanswertoWorldWarII:WouldtheAllieshavedefeatedtheAxisin
WWIIwithouttheinterventionoftheUnitedStates?
UmaPriyadarsi'sanswertoWouldtheSovietUnionhaveconqueredNaziGermany
withouteconomicaidfromtheUSA?
3.2kViewsViewUpvotes
JimWayne,Itaughthistoryandsocialstudiesformorethanhalfofmy
career.
WrittenSep17
ManypeopletendtoforgettheWorldpartofWorldWarII.
Yes,theAllieswithouttheUScouldhavedefeatedNaziGermany.Mostofthatwouldhave
beendone,asitwasdone,byforcesfromtheUSSR.ItisverylikelythatallofEurope
exceptperhapstheUKandIrelandwouldhavebecomesatellitesoftheUSSR.Lacking
suppliesfromtheUSthroughLendLease,itwouldprobablyhavetakenmuchlonger,but
thefailureoftheAxistodefeattheUSSRdecisivelyin1941meantthattheSovietswould
havetimetomasstheirgreatforcesandeventuallydefeattheGermans.
If,however,theJapanesehadnotattackedPearlHarbor,itisverylikelythattheJapanese
couldnothavebeendefeatedbytheiropponents:
TheUSSRwouldnothaveenteredthewaragainstJapan.DefeatingGermanywithout
USlogisticsupportwouldhaverequiredallitsefforts.
Chinawasalreadystaggering.IftheJapanesehadbypassedthePhilippinesand
takenIndochinaandtheDutchEastIndies,Japanwouldhavesecuredtheoiland
otherresourcestheyneededtokeeptheirmilitarymachinerunning.
IftheyhadavoidedattackingBritishpossessionswhentheyavoidedattackingPearl
HarborandthePhilippines,theJapanesewouldhavefoundthattheironlymajor
enemywasChina,whichwasinthethroesofcivilwar.TheChineseCommunists
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underMaowouldhavegottenfarlesssupportfromtheUSSR.Itislikelythatallor
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mostofChinawouldhavefallenunderJapanesesuzerainty.
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KartikKolachina
WrittenJan22
Toughandreallyinterestingquestion.
LetmestartbyexplainingtheEuropeansituation.FromJune1941tothe1944June
NormandyInvasion,almost4years,theSovietUnionwasthesoleoppositiontoNazi
GermanyonMainlandEurope.ItwascrucialthatBritainsurvivedtheBattleofBritainbut
theyhadalreadyleftMainlandEurope.Inmyopinion,mostofthecreditfordefeating
GermanymustgototheSoviets.Theypaidtheultimatesacrificeinlife,infrastructureand
land,farmorethananyoftheotherAllies.27milliondead,ashockingamountof
infrastructureandthemostpopulatedpartsoftheUnionwaslosttoGermany.
Thewarwentthroughmanyphases.Firstthe1941Germanassaultwhenitlookedquite
possibletheSovietUnionwouldcollapseandMainlandEuropewouldbelost.Secondthe
defenceofMoscowandLeningradinwinter1941.ThiswasthefirstreversaltheNazis
facedanditlookedfarlesslikelytheywoulddefeattheSovietsafterthispoint.December
1941wasactuallythemonthafterwhichtheNaziscouldnolongerwinthewar.Thisdoes
notmeantheywouldlosebutvictorywasoutofreach.ReasonforthisistheSovietreversal
andNazisdeclaringwaronAmerica.
1942wastheSovietsholdingonafteranotherBrutalassaultthroughtheSouth.Stalingrad
isthenextturningpointbecausethedefeattheremeanttheNaziswouldnowcertainly
losethewar.End1943and1944wasthephaseinwhichtheNaziswerenowretreating.
Normandywascrucialinopeninga2ndfrontbutinmyopinionjustensuredtheNazis
wouldlosefaster.TheSovietsreachedBerlinfirstandwouldhaveliberatedtheentire
WesternEuropeeventually.Itwouldmeantmanymoredeathsandalongerwarbutthey
wouldhavedefinitelydefeatedthem.
SoIbelievetheotherAlliesincludingAmericadidnotcontributeanywhereclosetoas
muchastheSovietstotheEuropeanfight.However,thereareotherarenastoconsider.
NorthAfricaandGreecewasimportanttodivertGermantroopsfromtheEasternfront
butagainIdonotconsiderthatcampaignasgroundbreaking.Germansuccesstherewas
heavilydowntotheamazingtacticsofErwinRommel,theDesertFox.
ThePacifictheaterismoreimportant.IfAmericahadnotoccupiedJapanthere,Ibelieve
theJapanesewouldhaveeventuallyattackedtheSovietUnionwhichwouldmeana2
frontwarforthem.Atwofrontwarwouldhavebeenextremelytoughtohandleinmy
opinion.InDecember1941andfortheGermanretreat,Stalinorderedentireformationsof
troopsstationedintheEasttocomewestusingtheTransSiberianRailway.Hedidthis
onlyafterbeingabsolutelyconvincedthatJapanwouldnotattack.andJapanwouldnot
attackbecauseitwasalreadyhandlingtheUS.IpersonallythinkthattheSovietswould
notsurviveatwofrontwar.Alreadytheirresourcesandproductionwasstretchedbare
thinandatsomepoint,theywouldrunoutofcannonfoddertroopstofight2enemies.
SoAmericawasneededtowinthewarasawholebutnottheEuropeantheaterassuch.
AlsojusthavingAmericaonthiersideboostedtheAlliesmassively.Lendleasewasalso
crucial.
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KevinBone,SonHusbandFatherGrandfatherandtryingtolearn
everythingIcanto...
WrittenJul5,2014
YESBytheAXISpowers.AnyotherscenarioisNOregardlessofyourpatrioticfervoror
nationality.Americansoldiershelpedwinthewarfortheallies.Americanmanufacturing
wonthewar.TheincrediblybraveandvaliantRussiansoldiers(andyoumustinclude
theirwomen,theywereAWESOME!)wereessentialtodefeatingtheNazis,buttheyhad
nomorematerielle,anditwasthedeliveryoffood,weapons,ammunitionand
transportationthatthesebraveandobedientwereabletostoptheNazisandthendrive
themback.Thefamous"deaceandahalf"wasturnedintoeverythingfromarmored
vehicles,trooptransports,mobileheadquartersandbasictransportation.TheRussians
werethefirstonestoturnthemintoamphibiousvehiclesandcannibalizethemfor
whateverwasneededandtheydisplayedamazinggeniusintheircreativity.
Libertyshipsneveroutsmartedoroutmaneuveredthewolfpacks,theUSAjustproduced
themfasterthantheycouldbesunk.TheShermantank(called"Ronsons"bytheNazis
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'Alwayslightsonthefirstshot'")neveroutshotoroutrananyGermantank,butnumbers
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andstrategydidthetrick.ThentherearetheaircraftinWorldWarII,bothinthePacific
andinEuropeitwasdominationintheairthatmadeitimpossiblefortheAXISpowersto
regroupandcounterattackorprotecttheirhomeland,theirresourcesandtheirsupply
lines.TheONLYdefenseagainstweaponsliketheV2wastokillthembeforetheygottothe
launchers.
Intheend,allsidestriedtousethestrategyor"bombthembeatthemstarvetheminto
submission".ThishasNEVERworked(thinkAlamo).Bullets,bombsandmissilesthat
landonciviliansjustmakethemmoredeterminedtofighttothelastdropofblood.Thatis
truewhetherthebombcomesfromavengeanceweapon,aB17orB29oraUAVfiringa
HellfireSpecialK.
ThishugemanufacturingeconomyiswhatallowedtheUSAtodominatetheworldafter
1946.TheUSAdidn'tsomuchwinthewar,aswinthepeaceafterWorldWarII.
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JohnPileggi,Retainerofallsortsofuselesstriviaaboutsports,history&
business.htt...
WrittenJun24,2014
Ibelieveanyansweris,tostatetheobvious,veryspeculative.TheRussiansboreahuge
bruntofthedefeatoftheGermanmilitary.WithouttheUS,thathavetakeyearsand
manyliveslongerthenitdid.Wars,likemostthings,canbewonandlostbyalarge
numberofvariablesandthemoretimeHitlerandhishenchmenhad,thegreatertheodds
ofsomeunusualor(forthem)luckyevent.
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JonathanTobias
WrittenJun20,2014
Itdependsonhowyoudefine"WorldWarII."IfyoulimitittoGermanaggression,then
yes,theSovietUnionwascertainlythemostimportantpowerinbringingittoanend.This
stillleavesunansweredwhethereventhatparticularaggressioncouldhavebeenstopped
withouttheassistanceoftheUnitedStates.IamfairlypositivethatStalinhimself,who
demandedtheWesternincursionintoFrance(whichcouldnothaveoccurredwithoutthe
US),wouldhaveansweredthisquestionintheaffirmative.
Moreimportantly,WWIIreallymustbedefinedinabroaderfashion,toincludethe
JapaneseaggressionandthesmallerItaloFascistaggression.TheSovietUnionlimitedthe
JapaneseincursionintoAsiatoalimitedagree,containingonlythenorth,butitwasreally
theUS,alongwiththeBritishCommonwealth,thatdidthevastmajorityoffighting.Plus,
theAmericanandEnglishinvasionofItalyopenedupacriticalvulnerabilityinGermany's
southernflankthatsiphonedoffforcesthatwereneededintheEastandtheWest.
Finally,IthinkthatWWIIshouldalsobebroadenedtoincludeSovietaggressionandthe
beginningoftheColdWar.ThisfactwasneverabsentfromthethinkingofRooseveltand
Churchillandtheotherwarplanners.Everythingsaidandplannedeventhefriendly
gestureswasconditionedbythesamefearthatmobilized(sowrongly)thefascistic
conflagrationsofHitlerandMussolini.Ibelievethateverythingthathappenedafterthe
BattleoftheBulgeinEuropewasreallydonewiththeultimateaimofSovietcontainment.
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PaulIrving
UpdatedMar27,2015
TheanswerswhichstressthecontributionoftheUSSRmissthepoint.They'retryingto
answeradifferentquestion.Thequestionisn't"WhocontributedmosttowinningWW2?".
Andcasualtiesdonotdenoteeffectiveness.Francesufferedaboutthesamenumberof
militarycasualtiesintheETOastheUSA,&moredeathsoverallduringthewarthanthe
USA,butevendeGaullewouldhavebeenhardpressedtoclaimthatithadthesame
impact.
IthinkthatiftheUSAhadstayedoutofthewar(whichincludesnotfightingJapanwe'd
havetoassumethatJapanchosethenorthernoption&attackedtheUSSRinsteadof
goingsouth),thereisagoodchancethatGermany&Japantogetherwouldhavedefeated
theUSSR.
TheJapaneseattackwouldhavecuttheUSSRofffromsuppliesviathePacific(Soviet
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shipssailedbetweenVladivostok&foreignportsuntilAugust1945,deliveringUSfood&
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otheressentialsupplies,unmolestedbytheJapanese),&tieddownverylargenumbersof
Soviettroops,whichwouldthereforehavebeenunabletofighttheGermans.
WithoutUSforces,theUKcouldnothaveinvadedtheEuropeanmainland,norseriously
threatenedaninvasion.Italywouldnothavebeenknockedoutofthewarin1943byan
Alliedinvasion.Asothershavesaid,Germanywouldhaveneededfarfewertroopsinthe
West,enablingittothrowmoreagainstaRedArmyweakenedbytheneedtoholdoffthe
Japanese,&lackingUSaid.TheUSSRwouldhavehadthousandsfewertanks,thousands
feweraircraft,radiosetc.,itwouldhavelackedtheUStruckswhichprovidedmuchofthe
transportofthefrontlinearmies,&beenabletomakefarlessforitself(e.g.explosives)
becauseitwouldn'thavehadthevastquantitiesofstrategicmaterials,machinetools,
railwaywagons,etc.shippedtoitfromtheUSA.
TheUSSRwouldhavefacednearlythefullstrengthofaLuftwaffewhichinreallifewas
destroyedbythewesternAllies.TheRedArmykeptmostoftheWehrmachtbusy,butit
didn'thavetoworryaboutmostoftheLuftwaffe,becausethatwasdesperatelytryingto
fendofftheUSAAF&RAF,whichbetweentheminflictedfargreaterlossesonthe
Luftwaffethanitlostontheeasternfront.TheRAFalonecouldnothavedonethat.
WithouttheUSA,theLuftwaffewouldhaveruledtheskiesoftheeast.
NotethattheWesternAllieswouldalsohavestrugglediftheyhadtofightGermany&
JapanwhiletheUSSR(presumablybecauseofnoBarbarossa)wasneutral.
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DavidWhite
WrittenJun22,2014
No,Idon'tthinkitcould.BUT,don'tmisinterpretthistomeantheUSAwasthelead
partner.Withoutthemtheallieswouldhavebeenunderstrength,butwithouttheother
alliestheAmericanscouldn'thavewoneither.Itwasacollaboration.TheSovietsdidthe
worstofthefighting,theUKprovidedavitallandbasefromwhichtoinvadeEuropeand
openawesternfront,resistancemovementsonthemainlandtieddownresourcesthat
couldhavegoneelsewhere,andtheUSprovidedvitalresources,bothintermsofmenand
materiel.
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ShawnLu,Realityandimaginationblurinmyvision.Orsomethingelse
edgy.
WrittenFeb28,2015
Veryunlikely.TheUnitedStatesmaynothavebeenthecountrywiththemostmanpower,
butitsfirepowerwasimmense.MostoftheAllieshadmuchoftheirsuppliesfromtheUS
duringtheirmostcriticaltimes,fromBritaintotheSovietUnion.TheUnitedStates
providedagiganticnavalarm,andthecarriersinthePacificwerecrucialtotyingdown
Japanfromengagingothercountries.TheUSservedasanenormous"arsenalof
democracy,"andwasinstrumentalintheAllies'finalvictory.ThemainwaragainstJapan,
anislandnationuntouchablebyanyoftheotherAlliesduetoitsnavy,wasfoughtand
wonmainlybytheUS.
Thatbeingsaid,everyonehadtheirroletoplay.Britainwasaforwardbaseforthe
WesternFront.TheSovietUnionendedupdoingalotoffighting,andlosingthemost
people.
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FrancisMakov
WrittenMar27
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USSRhadthehighestcontributioninthewest,withtheUSbeingthemaincontributorin
theeast.
However,itneverisreallyjustthosetwo.TheBritishstandingfirmagainsttheGermans
madetheEuropeanfrontwhatitwas.TheyalsohaddetachmentsoutintheirSouthEast
AsiancoloniesalongwithAustralianandNewZealandforces(alsounderBritishrule,but
theyweremoreautonomous).Don'tforgettheChineseeither,astheyhadbeenfighting
theIJAsince1937.
TheUShadnearimmunityfromoutsideattacksandvastresourcescertainlykeptBritain
inthefightandwouldprovidethemanpowertomakeEuropeacertainty.Ournavyalso
prevailedintheendagainsttheJapanese(stillhadsomehelp).TheUSSRhadeven
greateramountsofmanpowerthattheythrewintothefightaswellasenoughresourcesto
pumpouttheequipmenttheyneeded.
IfyouputeitherjusttheUSorUSSRagainstbothAxispowersatonce,theywouldof
courselose.It'sareasonwhyalliancesexistinthefirstplace.
RecentlyIreceiveaprepaidVISAgiftcard!Saveoncandles,lotionsandotherproducts!
BathandBodyWorksGiftCard
Don'tmissthisopportunity!:)
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BarryHampe,Iread.
WrittenJun9,2014
Yes,butthequestionis,"Bywhom?"
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ThepreviousanswerersseemtoignoretheArcticconvoysthatsuppliedtheSovietsfrom
Britain(Churchillnotedthatthemostprizedequipmentwasboots!)Theanswerreferring
totheBritishdefeatbyJapancompletelyignorestheultimatevictoryovertheJapanese
wroughtbyBillSlim,formanythesinglemosteffectivegeneralonanysideinthewar.
SlimcommandedAmericantroopstoo,butonlybecausetheywerethere.TheUSledallies
fightinginthePacificalsorequiredtheuseofAustraliannavalbases.Weshouldn'tforget
thecontributionsoftheAnzacsandtheCanadianstoocometothat,intheultimate
victory.
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FredStahl,Historybuffandhavefamilythatwasthere
WrittenJan25
Yes...here'swhy.
ThebattleofStalingradandthewinteroffensivestoppedGermany.ThebattleofKursk
wasthedeathknelloftheWehrmacht.GameovertheGermansneverrecoveredfrom
this,.....period!Lendleasewasminimaltononexistentatthisstageinthewar.Germany
wasbackonit'sheelslongbeforetheUShadmajorchipsinthegame.
SowhydidJapaninvadeChina...resources.DidJapanconquerChina...no.DidAmerica
landtroopsinChina(enmass)nonever.WhenJapanneededresourcesitwentafterthe
Indies...easytargets....notChinaorIndia.Japanwouldhaveneverbeenabletobreak
ChinaandIndia,yetalonehaveenoughtroopstooccupythem.Sillynotion.The
Japanesehadmanpowerissuesjustholdingwhattheyhad.Hellsomemembersofthe
JapanesemilitarywantedtoabandonthePhilippinesbecauseitwascostingthemmore
thatwhattheywerelootingfromher.TakingoutChinaandIndiawouldhavebledJapan
white,throwintheRussiansandendofstory.
LittleknownfactisZhukovgothisfirstcombatexperienceinmobilewarfareagainstthe
Japanese.AfterwhichtheJapaneseneverwantedtoinvadeRussia(notaneasytarget).
NobodycanconquerAsia...notevenRussiainitsprime.
SoinsummationpokingtheRussianBearwasasbadastheJapanesewakingthe
sleepingGiant.
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JoshHill
WrittenMar24
Ithinkit'sveryunlikely.AccordingtoChurchill,theBritishcouldhaveheldoutonlyafew
monthslonger.AndStalinmadeitclearthattheSovietscouldnothaveachievedwhatthey
didwithoutAmericanproduction.
FreedoftheneedtofighttheBritish,theGermanscouldhaveallocatedalmostalloftheir
manpowerandthefullindustrialmightofEuropetowardstheendofdefeatingthe
Soviets.TheGermanswouldinadditionhavehadaccesstotherawmaterials,inparticular
petroleum,thattheyneededtofueltheirwareffort.
Withtheirbreadbasketgoneandtheeffectivelossofmuchoftheirpopulationand
industry,theRussianadvantagewasinitiallyadesperatelyslimoneevenwithBritishand
thenAmericanmaterialaid,Britishcontroloftheseasandoilsupplies,andAlliedstrategic
bombing.Atsomepoint,theSovietsrebuilttheirindustrytothepointatwhichtheycould
havedonethejobontheirown,albeititwouldhavetakenlongerandcostmorelives.But
therewasasignificantperiodduringwhichtheirprospectswerediceyindeed.
469Views
ShannonMann
WrittenJun21,2014
IfyouareaskinghowcouldWWIIchanged?Toturnitaround,couldtheUShavetaken
onGermanywithoutGreatBritainandRussia?
TheNazismadeasignificantmistakeinnotfinishingGreatBritain.Theyfeltthatopening
upthesecondfrontwasnecessarytokeeptheGermanpeoplefightingthepeoplewould
nothavewantedtotakeonSovietRussiaafterwinningawarwithGreatBritain.They
wereprobablyright.
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WithnoanchorinEurope,theUSwouldlikelyhavegivenintoNazidemandstorecognize
theirtakingsasdone,andRussiawouldn'thavethesupportitneeded,anditwouldhave
lostallthelandnearestEurope.EuropewouldhavelargelybecomeGerman.
But,thatdidn'thappen.TheyDIDattackRussiabeforefinishingEngland,andwehave
theoutcomethehistorybookssay.SpecifyingwhethertheUSwasimportantornotmisses
theothersidesofthings.Theycouldn'thavetakenGermanywithoutRussianandBritish
help.TheAtlanticwouldhavemadethatveryverydifficult.
1.5kViews
JiShen
WrittenJan26
IpartiallyagreedwithMr.AdamSmith'sanswerofthePacificpart.ButIhighlydoubtthe
NaziwouldinevitablyfailtheirwarinEuropeifJapanwouldhavewontheEastand
SoutheastAsia.
SomyanswerisNo.WithoutUS,JapanwouldhavecontrolledAsia,andGermanyhada
bigchancetoatleastmaintainwhattheyalreadygotatthemidtimeofwar(Before1943
InRealLife/IRL).
Japanhadaveryreasonablestrategy:unlikesimpleminded,hotheaded,landgreed,
lunaticlymaniacNaziswhothoughttheywerelivinginmedieval,Japaneseknewthey
couldneverfullycontrolthewholeAsia.sotheywouldjustgrantindependencetothose
formercolonies,andbythisway,makingthosenewnationsinJapan'sfavor(thesocalled
NeoImperialisminJapaneseversion).ThiswascalledToaShinChitsujo,a"neworderin
EastAsia",inwhichthefreedindependAsiancountrieswithouttheirbrutalgreedyold
schoolEuropecolonialismmasters,andJapanasthegoodwhiteknight/samurai(sounds
familiar,cowboys?).AndJapandidgrantindependencetoIndonesia,in1944.
(FYI,Indonesianhadto'regain'theirindependencefromfullyarmedDutchcolonistarmy
(whoarmedwithsubmachineguns,tanksandcombatplanesmadeinUSA,whichwere
LentLeasedtothemtofightNaziinEurope,toregaintheirfreedomandindependence),
AFTERtheworldwarII,throughamorebrutalanduglywar.Alsohappenedin
Malaya(nowMalaysia)andIndochina(nowVietnam).Andfarmorepeoplewerekilledin
those"limiteddistrictlittlewars"thanintheWW2,byJapanese.)
Backtotopic,ifJapan'sstrategysucceeded(remembertheycontrolledthewhole
SoutheastAsiajustinmonthsIRL),theradicalIndianIndependenceMovementwould
certainlyallythemselveswithJapan(theyalsodidIRL),andBritaingotahighlychanceto
losetheDiamondontheCrown.Thiswasnotonlymeaningthelostofmostvaluable
resourcestheyneededtofightNazi,butalsomeaningtheIJN(ImperialJapaneseNavy)
wouldhavegotafootholdnearSuezCanal,ifnotgrabbeditalready(FYI,backthen,
BritisharmywasnotonlyfightingNaziinnorthAfrica,butalsofightingaantirevolution
warinnowArabarea,likeIraq.SeeAngloIraqiwar).Thiswouldbetheendoftheole'
Empire,andlonglivethenewone.WithoutthehelpfromUS,Britishwouldhavehung
Churchillandhiscabinet,electOswaldMosleyastheirnewultimateKing(orFuhrer),and
cryforapeacetreatywithJapanandNazi,byanyconditions.Orstarvedtodeathwith
theirhonor,intheironseaoftypeIsubmarineswhichwerecoveredbycloudofZeros,
withtheirwholehomefleetwentintodavyjones'lockerbynumerousNellsandBettys(just
likewhathappenedonPrinceofWalesandRepulse),whenLondonandDoverand
CardiffwerebeingbombedintoashesbyYamatoandcombinedfleet.
TheRussiawouldbethenext.TheNazi'sbiggestmistakeinRussiawastheirstupidracism
toSlavpeople.WhentheyfirstinvadedRussia,theywerecelebratedasliberatorwho
defeatedtheevilStalinism,onlywhentheSSbutcherscomingin,thenlocalpeoplerealized
theystillcouldhavelivedinbeautifulghettosratherthandiedinthosedisgustingdeath
camps.ButJapan,whohadatotallydifferentviewofideology(atleasttheJapanese
politiciansalwaystalkingabouthowtobea"kinderruler"infareast,andactuallyitwas
notadifficultthingtodocomparedtotheoldrulers),withthesupportofthenewly
formed"NewOrder"insoutheastAsia,wouldconquertheEasternRussiawithoutmuch
trouble.TheonlyproblemwouldbeNazi,ifHitler'sonlyleftball(orright?)gotachill
aboutthisRisingSunEmpire,hemightstopthewarwiththeole'palStalin,andletthe
RedArmyturningbacktoJapan,atleasttotrytheirbesttostopJapan'saggressively
advance.
Andnomatteryouacceptornot,althoughwasnukedthe****outanddisarmedtill
today,Japan'sstrategyisatleastpartiallysucceeded,theyreshapedmodernAsia.(and
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KieraFreeman
WrittenThu
Actuallythisextremelywrong,withoutthewesternallies,particularlytheAmericans,the
warisunwinnable.StalinevensaidtoTheAmericans.Iquoteahistorianonthismatter.
Onthewholethefollowingconclusioncanbedrawn:thatwithouttheseWestern
shipmentsunderLendLeasetheSovietUnionnotonlywouldnothavebeenabletowin
theGreatPatrioticWar,itwouldnothavebeenableeventoopposetheGermaninvaders,
sinceitcouldnotitselfproducesufficientquantitiesofarmsandmilitaryequipmentor
adequatesuppliesoffuelandammunition.TheSovietauthoritieswerewellawareofthis
dependencyonLendLease.Thus,StalintoldHarryHopkins[FDRsemissarytoMoscow
inJuly1941]thattheU.S.S.R.couldnotmatchGermanysmightasanoccupierofEurope
anditsresources.
FurthermoreevenNikitaKhrushchevadmittedthis
IwouldliketoexpressmycandidopinionaboutStalinsviewsonwhethertheRedArmy
andtheSovietUnioncouldhavecopedwithNaziGermanyandsurvivedthewarwithout
aidfromtheUnitedStatesandBritain.First,IwouldliketotellaboutsomeremarksStalin
madeandrepeatedseveraltimeswhenwewerediscussingfreelyamongourselves.He
statedbluntlythatiftheUnitedStateshadnothelpedus,wewouldnothavewonthewar.
IfwehadhadtofightNaziGermanyoneonone,wecouldnothavestoodupagainst
Germanyspressure,andwewouldhavelostthewar.Nooneeverdiscussedthissubject
officially,andIdontthinkStalinleftanywrittenevidenceofhisopinion,butIwillstate
herethatseveraltimesinconversationswithmehenotedthattheseweretheactual
circumstances.Henevermadeaspecialpointofholdingaconversationonthesubject,but
whenwewereengagedinsomekindofrelaxedconversation,goingoverinternational
questionsofthepastandpresent,andwhenwewouldreturntothesubjectofthepathwe
hadtraveledduringthewar,thatiswhathesaid.WhenIlistenedtohisremarks,Iwas
fullyinagreementwithhim,andtodayIamevenmoreso.
TheflawisreferencingStalingrad.Yousee,Stalingradwouldn'thaveoccurredifthe
AmericanswerenottyingupAfricaKoreainAfricaandTunisia.Hencesomeofthe
absolutebestdivisionsintheGermanarmywereengagedinAfrica.Thereisnowaythat
anencirclementcouldoccurwiththemenofthatarmyguardingthe6tharmysflank.
Evenifyouwanttobeexceptionallygenerousandsaythatencirclementcould
occur(impossible),theencirclementcouldbebroken.Furthermorethecaucusoilfields
wouldbetakencuttingoffover80percentoftheoilsupplyfortheSovietUnion.Onthe
otherhandinoneyeartheGermanscouldrebuildthedestroyedoilfieldsandwagewar
foralonglongtime.Inotherwords,thecriticaltitanicturningpointofStalingradwould
notoccur,infact,theoppositewouldoccur,thesovietswouldbeleftwithouttheoil
resourcestowageanorganizedandmechanizedwaragainsttheGermanarmy.Taking
Moscowwouldbeamatterofformalityatthispoint.
It'ssortofbutterflyeffectstuff,butallthismustbebasedonthefactthatStalingradwasa
veryveryclosebattleanditcouldhavebeendisastroustoRussianstoloosemostoftheir
fuelsupplies.
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KeithPatton,Ihavebeenageologistfor35years,workinginboththe
petroleumandenvir...
WrittenOct2
No.IftheUShadremainedtrulyneutral.The"allies"wouldhavefallenlikealeadballoon.
Britainwasontheropesin1941.NearlyallheroilcamefromtheUS.In1942hernavyhad
abouttwomonthsofoilforoperations.HadnotthecombinedeffortsintheAtlantic
defeatedtheUBoatmenaceshewouldhavebeenfinished.ThatisiftheUShadnot
providedanyformofLendLeaseandtrulystayedneutral.
TheUSSRwouldhavehadtoproduceinonewayortheother,themountainofaid
providedbytheUS.Thatincludedover250,0006x6trucks,tanks,planes,andother
materialsfromfoodtolocomotives,communicationswire,andeverythingelseaarmy
needs.RecallthattheGermanshadoverrunmanyindustrialareasandthatthose
remainingweremovedtoSiberiawheretheyhadtoberebuilt.Allthiswasinthefaceof
lossesinmanpowerin41and42inthemillionsofmenandtensofthousandsoftanksand
artillery.Wheredidallthereplacementscomefromallofasuddenwhilefactorieswere
beingrelocated?
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TakeawayallLendLeaseandindustrialcapacitythatwasusedfortanksandplanes
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wouldhavehadtobeensiphonedofftomakeotherthings,reducingoverallproductionfor
weapons.Itisplainarithmetic.
AddintheAirWarintheWestthatexertedpressureontheLuftwaffeandrequired
withdrawalofthebulkoftheGermanairforcesfromtheeast.Addthedozensofdivisions
thatwereusedandlostinNorthAfrica,SicilyandItalyandeventuallyFrance.Noneof
theselandingswouldhavebeenpossiblewithouttheshippingbuiltinUSshipyards.Soin
effect,Britainwouldhavebeenpowerlesstodoanythingthingbutstageoperationslike
Dieppe,andtheoneinNorwaythatwerelimitedandonlysucceededingettinghighly
trainedtroopskilledandshipssunk.
WithouttheinfluxofUSmadetanks,NorthAfricawouldhavebeenlost.Therewouldnot
havebeenanElAlamein.GermanyandItalywouldhavecapturedAlexandria,cutthe
SuezandpossiblypersuadedTurkeytoenterthewarontheAxisside.Thiswouldhave
allowedadoublepincerintotheCaucasusdeprivingtheUSSRoftheiroilreserves.
TheUKgaveoccupationofIcelandtotheUSbecausetheywerestretchedtoothin.Whatif
theGermanshadsucceededinoccupyingIcelandandbasedaircrafttheretofurther
engageUKshipping?
WithouttheUSAustraliawouldhavefallenoratleastbeenpartiallyoccupied.When
MacArthurarrivedfromManila,theAussieswerepreparingtoabandonnorthern
Australiaandoccupythe"BrisbaneLine"adefensivelinejustnorthofBrisbaneallowing
JapanCarteBlanchinNewGuinea,andNorthernAustralia.Ifthishadoccurredthere
wouldhavebeennomoreAnzacTroopsinEuropeforpoliticalreasonsandpossiblya
separatepeacewithJapansinceAustraliaandNewZealandwouldhavebeencutofffrom
aid,remembertheUSwasneutral.
1.7kViewsViewUpvotes
AntonyMaanum
WrittenSep24,2014
Incontrasttothemajorityofanswershere,Iwilltakethestanceofansweringthequestion
asitwasaskedandspeaktowards"WorldWarII"andnotsimplythewarinEurope.
Atthebeginningofthewar,ImperialJapanhadarguablythemostpowerfulnavyinthe
world.Lookingpastpuretonnage,theirNavy(mostspecificallytheiraircraftcarriersand
accompanyingMitsubishiA6MZerofighterplanes)wastechnologicallysuperiortoother
navies.WithouttheU.S.involved,theyhadrelativelynorivaltoface,lessafewRoyalNavy
shipsusedbyANZAC.Historyhasshownusthatnavaldominationleadstoextremeworld
powerifnothegemony.Additionally,iftheUSArmyistakenoutoftheequation,the
JapaneseArmywasthe3rdlargestarmyinthewaraftertheUSSRandGermany,
respectively.
Thewarintheeastisrarelyreflecteduponwhencomparedtothewarinthewest.The
samecouldbesaidaboutImperialJapanwhencomparedtotheNazislikelybecausethe
NazisatrocitiesandbrutalexpansioneffortsoutshonethoseoftheJapanese.However,it
shouldnotbediscountedthatImperialJapanwasabelieverinSocialDarwinism,believed
intheirsuperiorityoverallpeopleandwantedsovereigntyover(atleast)allAsianpeoples.
Perhapsmostimportantly,theywereNaziGermany'sally.Furthermore,theirproximityto
RussiaandrecentwarringhistorywiththemshowsthatfurtherexpansionintoEurasia
wouldlikelyhavecontinuedifunchecked.Lastly,theyattackedandoccupiedlandsowned
bytheBritish,French,DutchandothersandwereinfactatdeclaredwarwithWestern
Powersaswell,justlessdirectlyengaged.(wewilljustassumethattheUSdidnotreactto
theoccupationofthePhilippinesandotherUSownedterritoriesforthepurposeofthe
question)
WiththesefactsthatwehaveofImperialJapanduringWWII,itissafetoassumethat
theywouldhavebecomeoneofthelargestEmpiresintheworld.Theywouldhave
continuedtoexpandaswellasbefreeduptoassisttheotherAxispowerstheywereallied
with.Morespecifically,JapancouldofferassistancewiththeiroldfoeRussiatoeasethe
relentlessattackonGermanybytheRedArmythateventuallywonthewarinEurope.
Witheveryothertruepowerintheworlddestroyingtheirresourcesfightingeachotherin
Europe,Japanwouldhavebeenabletotakeoverasmuchoftherestoftheworldwith
limitsonlycominginthenumberofpeopletheyhadtoholdthoseoccupations.
Iwouldanswer"no",thealliescouldnothavewonforthesemajorreasons:
1:TheUSwasintegralinthedefeatingGermany'sstrangleholdonEuropeandthe
fortificationoftheAtlanticWall.WithouttheUS,Ddaywouldnothavehappenedfor
severalreasons(soldiers,supplies,resources)
2:SansDDay,theGermanswouldhavehadmanymoreresourcestofighttheRedArmy
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11/21/2016 CouldWorldWarIIhavebeenwonwithouttheUnitedStates?Quora
3:WithouttheU.S.takingonthemosttechnologicallyadvancednavyand3rdlargest
AskorSearchQuora AskQuestion Read Answer Notifications Aditya
Armyintheworld,theJapanesewouldhavebeenabletodestroyorstealglobalresources
andattackbothBritainandtheUSSRondifferentfrontsthusunbalancingtheadvantage
theAllieshadovertheAxispowers
1.7kViewsViewUpvotes
MichaelA.Comberiate,130sovereignstatesallcontinentsbothPoles,
manyothercountriesfor50yrs
WrittenAug2,2015
IhavetoagreewithMrWeidneronthesecomments.TheUSAprovidedtheunique
economicpowertorespondtoall
thelossesofequipmentandsupplies.Thisallowedacontinuousassaultontheenemieson
allfrontswhichdrainedtheirresourcesandeventuallystoppedthemfromanyquick
victory.FurthermorethetechnologicaledgeofGermanyenabledthemtocomeupwith
innovativeadvancesinweaponrythatcreateduniqueadvantagesoneveryfront.Their
inabilitytogetmanyoftheseinnovationsintomassproductionwastheresultoflosingAir
SuperioritytothecombinationofBritishandUSforcesfightingtogetherfrombasesinthe
UK.IftheGermanshadmoretimetheysurelywouldhavehadthefirstAtomicbombsand
usedthemimmediatelytoshutdowntheUSSRandtheUK.Theywouldhavesettledfora
temporarystabilityintheworldundertheirruleandeventuallyturnedontheUSAand
Japanoncetheirdeliverysystemwasuptothechallenge.WewerefortunatethatPearl
HarborallowedFDRtoRallytheUSAintoanactiveroleinthiswarbeforetheUKfelland
Australiacollapsed.IoftenwonderwhyHitlerfelthehadtoattacktheUSSRasearlyas
hedid(Perhapstheoilfields?)whenhisalliancewiththemattheinitialattackonPoland
madeitclearthattogethertheycouldoverwhelmmainlandEurope.Oncehehadsecured
thatanddeclaredatemporarypeace,histechnologiescoulddeveloptowheretheyhad
atomicbombsandmissilestodeliverthem.Thenthisworldwouldsurelyhavebeena
differentplacetoday.
864ViewsViewUpvotes
NelsonLewis,Producerandmediapersonality
WrittenJul11,2014
Duetomypersonalbias,I'minclinedtosaythatitwastheAmericanswhowonWorld
WarII.Andifitweren'tfortheUS,itwouldhavetakenalotmoretobeatJapan.Butif
youaskaRussianwhowonWorldWarII(orastheyrefertoit:"TheGreatPatriotic
War"),they'llundeniablysayitwastheSovietUnion.80percentofGermany'sdeathsin
WorldWarIIoccurredatthehandoftheSoviets,andwhileAmericanswerefightingon
distantshoresinEuropeandthePacific,WorldWarIIwasoccurringinthebackyardof
theSovietUnion,soitwasalotmorepersonaltothem.
WhiletheSovietUnionwasn'tterriblyorganized,luckyforthem,Russiaisnearly
impossibletoconquer(theonlypeopletohaveeverdonesowastheMongols,whoonly
succeededbecauseRussiaasacountrydidn'texistatthattime).OncetheSovietsgottheir
acttogetherafteracoupleyears,theylaunchedadevastatingcounterattackagainstthe
Nazis,goingallthewaytoBerlin.TheSovietswereresponsiblefor4outof5German
deathsinWorldWarII.
1kViewsViewUpvotes
RogerPierson,SystemsEngineerGDAISLittoralCombatShipprogram
9yrNavyVet.AmateurP...
WrittenJun9,2014
Well,IthinkthisquotefromWinstonChurchillonhowhefeltwhentheU.S.joinedthe
warprettymuchsumsitup:
TohavetheUnitedStatesatoursidewastomethegreatestjoy.Nowat
thisverymomentIknewtheUnitedStateswasinthewar,uptotheneck
andintothedeath.Sowehadwonafterall!Hitlersfatewassealed.
Mussolinisfatewassealed.AsfortheJapanese,theywouldbegroundto
powder.
WinstonChurchill
2.2kViewsViewUpvotes
MichaelLeBlanc
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11/21/2016 CouldWorldWarIIhavebeenwonwithouttheUnitedStates?Quora
WrittenJun20,2014
AskorSearchQuora AskQuestion Read Answer Notifications Aditya
Yes,therearescenarioswherethealliescouldhavewon.Manyhavegivenamplereasons,
butIwouldliketoproposeonewhereGermanycouldhaveprevailed:ifthetrunk
containingtheplansforthecavitymagnetronandotheradvancedtechnologythatBritain
haddevelopedwhichwasplacedonashipinSeptember1940fordeliverytotheUSwas
sunkalongtheway,renderingtheUSunabletomanufacturedeviceswhichusedthese
technologies,BritainwouldhavebeenstarvedintosubmissionbytheUBoatthreat.Giving
GermanyaccesstoMiddleEastoil.ThisdevelopmentwouldhavelefttheSovietUnionto
fightonitsowninatwofrontwaragainsttheAxis(includingJapan).
1.1kViewsViewUpvotes
DougMcCarthy
WrittenMar24,2015
AlmosteveryanswerhereseemstoforgetthebiggestformofhelpthattheUSgavethe
Soviets.TheAirWar!IsaythatifHitlerlethisGeneralrunthewarandthealliesdidn't
bombGermanyfromtheair,thegermanswouldhavebeatentheSovietsoratleast
staslematedthemholdingontomostterritorythattheyconquered.
Thinkaboutthis.Almost2millionGermansoldiersfoughttheAlliedbombersonthehome
front.Inlate19434570%ofgermanaircraftwereprotectingGermanyorinthewestand
notfightingontheRussianfront.Andremember,thefactisthegermanfightersmade
mincemeatoftheRussianaircraft(eventheirmodernla5,yak9stuff).HowmanyFlak88
or128mmgunshadto"stayhome"andshootatUSaircraftinsteadofshootingatT34's
andhowmuchammodidtheyuseupthatcouldhavebeenusedontheRussianfront.
Howmuchmoreoil/gaswouldthegermanshavehadifitwasn'tforourbombersvirtually
destroyingtheirproductionafterthebeginningof1944.Allofthesethingswereamajor
factorintheSovietsbeingabletobeatbackthegermansasquickastheydid.Beingfair,
youcouldsaythesamethinggoingtheotherway.IftheRussianswerenotfightingthen
couldhavetheUSbeatenGermanywithoutthem???
790ViewsViewUpvotes
WalterMacedo,IjustknowthatIdontknowanything.ButIdontgiveup.
WrittenMay28,2015
Inmyopinion,probablynot.Inthemodernwarofthe20thCentury,armynumber
counts,butmaynotbedecisive.Mobilitycountsmore.Besidesthat,inalongtermwar,
technologyisamongthemostimportantissues,andatthattimeGermanyhadapocketful
ofnewadvancedtechnologiesthatwouldeasilystopanyarmyprovidedtheyhadtimeto
developthem:fromjetpropulsiontoinvisibleairplanesandeventheatomicbomb(ina
longtermresearchprocess).ThesenseofemergencyofatwofrontwarmadeHitlerforget
aboutanytechnologythatwouldtakemorethanacoupleofyearstodevelopand
fortunatelyveryfewofthoseinventionsbecameeffectivebeforetheendofthewar.
IamquitesurethatwithouttheUnitedStatesthesituationwouldbecompletelydifferent.
ItisverylikelythatthetwofrontwarwouldbefoughtnotbyGermanybutbytheSoviet
Union.AndIamsayingthatbecausewithoutanyhelpfromtheUnitedStatesandwitha
BritishEmpirestrugglingtokeepthemselvesalive,MaoTzeThongandChiangKayCheck
wouldbeslowlyasphyxiatedandtheJapaneseexpansionismwouldsoonerorlatergo
North,preventingtheSovietUnionthedeploymentofitsAsiandivisionsagainstHitleror
atleastpartofit.
Ontheotherhand,intheAfricanfront,Montgomerywouldneverhaveafresharmyand
evenwithRommelsBrancaleonedivisions,hewouldbeabletoreachAlexandriaandgo
allthewaytoSaudiArabia,andconsequentlytheMiddleEastandthePloestioilfields
wouldkeepHitlersarmymovingforever.
Inthisscenario,andconsideringHitlersobstinatewarofannihilationagainst
communismandtheSlavssubhumans,thiswarwouldlastverylong.Probablylonger
thanStalinslifeandasfarasIcanseetherewasnootherdictatoravailableamongSoviet
LeadershipthatwouldbeastenaciousandobstinateasStalin,andafterhimasettlement
underrushconditionswouldguaranteetheGermanlebensrauminRussiansteps.
Inconclusion,theAmericaninterventiononSecondWorldWarwasdecisivenotonlyby
theunlimitedsupplyprovidedbyhimtohisallies,butalsobythechangingofthepaceof
thewar,forcingHitlertoabandonhisresourcesoflongtermtechnologyinventionsthat
couldbringhimbacktohisfeet.ThatisthescenarioIseeiftheUnitedStatesdidnotget
involvedintheEuropeanWar.
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Thisisarehashofseveraldiscussionspostedpreviously.IsubmittheanswerasNO.Lets
lookattheStrategicsituationinEurope.BritainstoodaloneintheWesttheironlyactivity
ofnotewasinN.AfricaandtheNightBombingcampaign.NorthAfricawouldhave
eventuallybeenlosttoGermany.Why?BecauseeventuallyHitlerwouldhavesentthe
ArmyGrouphesenttocountertheAmericanLandingsinMoroccotoassisttheAfrica
CorpsandBritain,alreadystretchedwouldhavebeenstretchedtothebreakingpointand
beyond.WithouttheUSinthePacific,BritainwouldhavelostBurmacompletelyand
JapanwouldhavethreatenedIndia,andmightpossiblyhavepluckedtheBritishColonial
Jewelfromhergrasp.
Now,BritainwashavingtheUSbuildshipsandplanesforher,and90%ofthetanksused
aElAlameinwereAmericanShermansandGrants.TheywerealsoflyingUSP40sand
P38s.TheUSwassendingBritainfuelandAvgasfromitsrefineriesbackhome.Notsure
howmuchoilBritainwasgettingfromtheMiddleEastorFarEast,Iexpectmostofitwas
fromtheUS.
TheSovietswererichinmen,butnotmuchelse.TheyflewUSplanesanddrovealotof
UStanksuntiltheirindustrialplantswererelocatedbehindtheUralsoutofreachofthe
Germans.InthemeantimetheUSsentthemjustabouteverythingtheyneededtokeep
fighting,boots,food,wire,railroadlocomotives,tanks,planes,guns,andover500,000
trucks.ImentionthatspecificallybecauseiftheRussianshadhadtomaketheirown
trucks,howmanylesstankscouldtheyhaveproduced.Anythingtheyhadtomake
themselveswouldhavedetractedfromtheirproductionofotherthings,liketanksand
artillerywhichtheyproducedinmountainsinordertoreplacethelossestheysuffered.If
theUShadnotbeenfightinginthePacific,Stalinwouldnothavebeenabletoreleasehis
FarEastArmiestoreplacelossesinthewest.
WithouttheUSairwarintheWest,theLuftwaffewouldhaveretainedairsupremacyin
theEastwhichwouldhaveseverelydegradedSovietsuccessesafterStalingrad.Stalingrad
wasnottheend.TheGermanswagedoffensivewarafterthat.Withouthavingtofighton
threefronts,(France,ItalyandRussia)itislikelytheGermanscouldhaveeventuallybled
theSovietswhite.StudiesprovethattheAverageGermanLandserhadthreetimesthe
combateffectivenessthantheaverageIvan.Thatmeansbasedoncombatcasualty
statisticsonbothoffensiveanddefense,oneGermanwasworththreeRussians.Sothe
numberswereagainsttheRussians.
WithoutUSshipbuilding,theBritswouldhavebeenfacedwiththesamedilemmathatthe
Russiansfaced,whattowemake?TheBritscouldneverhavemadeenoughlandingcraft
tolaunchaninvasionofItalyorSicilyandcouldneverhaveinvadedFrancealone.Sothe
GermanscouldhavefocusedonRussia,andaftertakingEgyptcouldhavethreatenedthe
CaucusoilfieldsthroughTurkey.ThelossoftheSuezcanalwouldhavecuttheBritsoff
fromIndiaandtheirothercoloniesintheEast.AustraliaandNewZealandwouldhave
stopsendingtroopstoEuropeinordertodefendthemselvesfromtheadvancingJapanese
whowouldhaveseizedallofPapuaNewGuineaandtheSolomonIslands.Britainwould
havehadtowithdrawitsCarriersfromtheEastentirelyinthefaceofoverwhelming
JapaneseNavalforces.
ShornofheroverseascoloniesBritainwouldhavehadtocometoterms,likeitornot,
since,shewasgoingbankruptfightingthewar.Germanyontheotherhandwasusingthe
industrialmightofherconqueredterritories,France,Austria,Poland,Czechoslovakiaetc
andwascoaxingafairnumberofrecruitsfromthoselandsaswelltoaddtoherarmed
forces.Iftheycouldhavecontinuedtoholdthelinetotheeast,itwouldhaveprevented
RussiafromaddingPolesandUkrainianstoherforcesastheydidlaterinthewar.
EventuallyRussiawouldhaverunoutofmen,sincetheSTAVKAseemednottocarehow
manymenitspentinfruitlessattacks.Estimatesrunashighas100,000menwere
executedbyCommissarsbehindRussianlinesfordesertionorlackofenoughpatriotic
fervor.
Withoutthemassivestrategicbombingcampaignthatwaswagedfrom1940to45,
Germanywouldhavebeenfreetopursueherwonderweapons,andwouldhavehadjet
fightersoverRussia,couldhaveemployedherVweaponsagainstBritainandlaterthe
Soviets,andherwarproductionwouldhavecontinuedunimpeded.
So,allthosethingstakentogetherItislikelytheGermanscouldhaveprevailedwithoutUS
participationinthewar.WithoutUSwarproductionwhichinmanycaseswasgreater
thanalltheenemyproductioncombined,thebalancewouldhavebeentiltedbacktoone
morefavorabletotheGermans.
423ViewsViewUpvotes
DennisWeidner,AmateurhistorianwithahugeWorldWarIIsite.
WrittenSep25,2014
https://www.quora.com/CouldWorldWarIIhavebeenwonwithouttheUnitedStates 24/37
11/21/2016 CouldWorldWarIIhavebeenwonwithouttheUnitedStates?Quora
Yesitcouldhavebeen.TheSovietsmighthavedefeatedtheNAZIswithoutus,although
AskorSearchQuora AskQuestion Read Answer Notifications Aditya
thatisnotacertainty.AnditwouldhavebeenatafargreatercosttotheSovietsthanthe
25millionpeopletheylostintheWar.
Theimportantpoint.however,isthattheWarwasnotjustlaunchedbyHitler.Itwas
launchedbyHitlerandhisallyStalin.BothinvadedPoland(September1939).Thusboth
wereaggressornationsthathadtobestopped.
WhatAmericadidwasto1)guaranteedthedefeatofNAZIGermany,2)endtheWarin
Europemorequicklythenpossible,savingmillionsofSovietandotherlives,3)prevented
JapanfromjoiningtheNAZIassaultontheSovietUnion,4)defeatedJapan,and5)
preventedtheSovietUnionfromoverrunningWesternEurope.
Inaddictiontotheseenormousaccomplishments,AmericaaftertheWar,turnedthe
horrendousNAZIandmilitaristJapanregimesintopeacelovingdemocracies.Noonein
194041couldhaveenvisionedsuchanachievement.
885ViewsViewUpvotes
MartinHansen
WrittenSep23
TheUSAdidnotstepin,itwaspulledinthroughtheJapaneseattackonPearlHarbour
andthenGermanysdeclarationofwar.HadGermanynotdeclaredwarthenitisunlikely
thattheUSAwouldhaveenteredtheEuropeanwar,justastheUSSRdidnotenterthe
Pacificwaruntillate1945.ThiswouldhavestrainedrelationsbetweenBritainandtheUSA
aswithouttheUSAhelpinginEuropeitwouldhavebeenabigaskforBritaintohelpthe
USAinthePacific.SomaybeDDaywouldhavebeenanallBritish/Canadian/Australian
affairandtheliberationofEuropewouldhavebeenwithouttheUSA.
196Views
BrunoTaTa
WrittenMar8,2015
Can'tsayforsure,butitwouldhavebeenmorelikelytolapseintoStalemate.
1.Britainhadzeroabilitytoprojectenoughforceontothecontinenttoposemuchofa
threattoGermany,allowingamuchsmallerGarrisoninFrancebyGermany.Theseforces
andresourceswouldhavebeenavailablefortheEasternFront.
2.NorthAfricamaywellhavestalematedin1942withnoUSinvasionofN.Africa.
3.BritishairpoweralonecouldnothavedonethedamagetotheGermanyeconomythe
combinedairoffensivedid.MoreheavyAAunitsandmanpowercouldhavebeenspared
forEasternFrontuse(88mmAAgunsmakegreatantitankweapons).MoreGermanday
fighterscouldhavebeenmadeavailableforeasternfrontuse,andtheywouldhave
sufferedlessattritionoverGermany,whichdenudedthemoftrainedpilots.
4.ThelackofUSseapowerintheAtlanticandconvoyprotectionmayhavetippedthe
balancethere.Ordelayedalliedvictory.
5.SovietarmiesreliedonmassiveUSlendleasesupply,notasmuchtanksandairplanes
asthingsliketrucksandradios,pluseconomicresources.Ahugeproportionoftheir
transportthatallowedthemtomechanizelargeforceswas,bythemidpointofthewar,US
supplied.Theradiosallowedthemtobettercoordinatedeepoffensivesandtacticalunits.
TheUSprovidedalargeproportionofthesteelusedintheUSSRtoproduceweapons.
Alsooil.ThiscapacityhadbeengreatlyreducedbyGermanoccupation.Withoutthese,
themobileoffensivecapacityoftheUSSRwouldhavebeenreduced,possiblytowherethey
werenotabletowinvictoriesagainstreinforcedGermanyarmies.Theywouldhavebeen
moreofaninfantryarmythantheywereby1944.
6.JapanwouldhavebeendominantinthePacificw/oUSparticipation.TheBritishwere
prettymuchforcedallthewaybacktoIndia.Theylackedairpowerandcarrierstodo
muchthere.ChinareceivedUSaidthatkepttheminthewar.
7.NoUSandtheirsubmarineandnavalforceswouldhaveallowedJapantofully
exploittheirconqueredoilresourcesinIndonesia.Wesankmuchofitbeforeitreached
thehomeislandsforuse.AninvasionofAustralia,thoughunlikely,mighthavebeen
tried.
8.MostUKtanksby1944wereofUSorigin.Theywouldhavehadfewertanksw/othe
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US,furtherreducingthepossibilityofasuccessfulinvasionofFrance.Also,manylanding
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craftwereUSbuilt.AswerethetransportsneededtosupplyGB.
802ViewsViewUpvotes
JackMenendez,WannabeWriter,ComputerScience,Soccer,Rock
Climbing,Mathematics,Chemist...
WrittenJun22,2014
IgnoringJapan,theanswerhingesonwhethertheSovietUnionwouldhaveprevailed
withoutthewarintheWest,inNorthAfrica,Italy,andeventuallytheNormandyinvasion.
TheSovietUnionwouldhavelostinmyopinionbecausethebombingbythealliesandthe
diversionofGermany'sresourceswouldnothavehappened.Itspossiblethatearlyon
BritainwouldhavesurrenderedwithouttheUShelp.
ConsiderthattheUSdirectlysuppliedtheRedArmywithenormousamountsofmaterial
includingweapons.
Nobombingwouldmeanplentyoffuelandmanufacturing.Germanywouldhaveruled
theskywithjets.TheGermanarmywouldnotsufferfromconstantammunitionshortages.
PanthertankproductionwouldhavebeenmorerobustandHitlerwouldhavecommitted
farmoremanpower.ItalywouldstillbeaviablepartnerandGermanywouldhaveoiland
otherrawmaterialsfromN.Africa.
Thiswouldbeadifferentworld.
890ViewsViewUpvotes
DonPurvis
WrittenJul8,2014
Idon'tthinktheAlliescouldhavewonwithouttheUS.FranceandPolandweregone.
Britainwasonthevergeofcollapse.JapanhadChinaandwouldhavemovedtothe
SovietUnion.IfitwasnotfortheUS,itwouldhavebeentheSovietUnionfightingontwo
frontsratherthanGermany.AndthatisignoringItaly.
TheUSdidn'tjustwininthePacificwhichneutralizedJapan.TheyfoughtGermanyand
Italy.TheyalsoprovidedequipmenttoourAllieswhichwasvitallyimportanttotheSoviet
Union.
WhiletheSovietUnionshowedtheGermansthedangerofexpandingtoofast,Germany
couldhaveeasilydonethesametotheSovietUnionbyfallingbackandforcingthemto
recaptureterritory.ButthatonlyworksiftheGermanswerenotfightingontwofronts.
IftheSovietUnionhadbeenfightingtwofronts,theycertainlywouldnothavebeenableto
gettheirsuppliesinplace.
Mostimportantly,iftheUShadgotteninvolvedearlier,Germanywouldhavelostmuch
sooner.IfJapanhadnotdrawnusinuntiltheSovietUnionwasfinished,wemightallbe
speakingGerman.
932ViewsViewUpvotes
RobertJ.Kolker
WrittenJun9,2014
Yes.ItmighthavebeenwonbyGermany.
HoweveritispossiblethatGermanycouldhavelost,evenwithouttheU.S.inthewar.
HitlerscrewedupthecampaignagainsttheSovietUnionquitethoroughly.IftheRussians
couldhaveproducedtheT34withoutU.S.aidthenitispossiblethatRussiacouldhave
emergevictorious.
Itisreallyveryiffy.NeithersidehadalockonvictorygiventheabsenceoftheU.S.inthe
war.
Onethingforsure.TheU.S.wouldhavehadtodealwiththeaftermathofthewar
regardlessofwhowon.IfGermanywonwewouldhavehadaColdWarwithGermany.
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StasGurovoy
AskorSearchQuora
WrittenMay11,2015 AskQuestion Read Answer Notifications Aditya
Theanswerwasn'tclearbeforethebattleofStalingrad.AfterUSSRwontheStalingrad
battleitwasclearthatthesovietsareabouttotakeovertheEuropebystorm.Thisisthe
firstreasonwhytheallieshadtostepin.
Ifyoudoubtonthatcheckthestatistics:
60divisionsofGermanarmywerefightingagainstthealliesinthewestand200divisions
ofGermanarmywerefightingagainsttheUSSR.InfactUSSRdestroyer8timesmore
Germansoldiersthanallofthealliesalltogether.
ManypeoplesaythatthealliessuppliedtheUSSRwitheverythingnecessary,buttotell
youthetruth,Stalin'spoliticswereheartlessandhewouldchoosehispeopletodie
starvinginordertowinthiswar.Soifitwouldtakethewholenationtodieatwarhe
wouldgoforit.
Finally,i'dsayundoubtedlyUSSRwouldwinthiswaraloneifitwasnecessary
847ViewsViewUpvotes
IanMarshall
WrittenJun21,2014
ImyopinionNO.
withoutthematerialsuppliedbytheUStobothUKandRussiaBOTHwouldhave
collapsed.
asitwas,itwasafairlycloserunthing.IthinkallthepostsabouthowUK+Russiacould
simplyhavefoughton,thatitwouldjusthavelastedlongerorbeenharder,arewishful
thinking.
(acoupleoftheposts,abouthowRussiacouldhavebeatenGermanyallbyitself,arepure
fantasy.)
thegermansalmostwonthebattleofBritainandtheAtlanticwarasis,andmuchofthe
alliespunchingpowerthereaftercamefromUSweapons.theRussianswerepushedallthe
waytoMoscow,evenwiththeheavysupportofUSsupplies.
withouttheUSholdingdowntheJapaneseintheeast,theJapanesecouldhavedevoted
moreresourcestohelpingthegermansviainvading/pressuringRussiainthefareast.and
remember,itwastheintelligencethattheJapanesedidn'tplantoattackthatallowedthe
RussianstotransferkeycrackunitstotheEuropeantheatrethatreallyhelpedswingthe
balancethere.
further,theUKandRussiaweregivenanimmensemoraleboostbyknowingthattheUS
arsenal/manufacturing/supplieswerebehindthemANDthatIFtheycouldholdonlong
enough,theneventuallythenumericalsuperioritycouldbebroughttobear.withoutthis
knowledge/hope,itbecomesmuchhardertofighton,especiallyforUK,whocouldhave
likelysuedforpeacewellintothewar.
withoutAmericanmaterial/supplies/resources,BOTHRussiaandUKcollapse.
1.1kViewsViewUpvotes
DavoHilti
WrittenDec18,2015
Itdependswhatyoumeanby"steppedin".
TheAlliescouldnothavewonWW2withoutLendLease.
TheAmericanmilitarycontributionwasactiallyquiteminimal.
Intermofactualfighting,theRussiansinflicted80%ofGermanlosses.TheUnited
Kingdominflictedstrategicallysignificantlossestooespeciallythenightbombing
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campaign.
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TheUS8thAirForceinflictedstrategicallysignificantlossesontheReich,butevenso,the
SovietssupportedbyLendLeasewouldstillhaveoverrunGermanyin1945.
AmericasgreatestcontributiontoAlliedvictorywastrucks,shoes,food,locomotivesand
rails,andmachinetools.
JustlookatcasualtyfiguresforWW2.AfewhundredthousandAmericancasualties
comparetotensofmillionsofGermanandRussianlosses.
TheJapanese?Theyneverhadachancefromthebeginning.Theirmanufacturingbase
wastoolow.
HadtheJapaneseattackedtheSovietUnioninsteadoftheUS,itstillwouldhavemadeno
difference.TheJapscouldnotmanufacturetanksorsubmachineguns.Theycouldnot
fighttheRedArmy.
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MichaelKirk
WrittenJun13,2014
HadtheUSAnotenteredWWII,IseeastrongpossibilitythatallofEurope,withthe
exceptionoftheUK,couldhavebecomeaunifiedtotalitarianstate.Whetheritwould
havebeenCommunistorNazicontrolled,andhowlongsucha"Reich"or"SovietUnion"
mighthaveenduredwewillthankfullyneverknow.
1.2kViewsViewUpvotes
StuartBintner
WrittenJul3,2014
InEurope,theSecondWorldWarwaswonontheEasternFrontparticularlyStalingrad
in1942.Theshapeofthefinalsettlementswouldlikelyhavebeendifferentwithoutthe
U.S.ThedefeatofGermany,however,wasassured.
InthePacific,theU.S.becameJapan'smainadversaryafterPearlHarbor,sothewar
wouldhavebeenquitedifferentwithoutAmericaninvolvement.Wewillneverknowhow
theChinesewouldhavefaredwithouttheU.S.Forthatmatter,wewillneverknowhow
overextendedtheJapanesewouldhaveallowedthemselvestobecome,
513Views
JaimeJaime
WrittenMay9,2015
SeshardiKumargotonepointwrong.TheU.S.didnotblockadeJapanbeforeitentered
WWII."Blockade"JapanmeanspreventingaccesstoandfromJapan.Iftherehadbeen
ablockade,itwouldhaverequiredahugefleettosurroundJapanandstopanyshipsfrom
comingorgoing.TheU.S.didnothavesuchafleetbeforeWWII,butitdidlateinWWII.
TheU.Sdidhavean"embargo"onJapanbeforeitenteredWWII,whichmeansitdidnot
tradecertainmaterialswithJapan,inparticular:scrapmetalandoil.Ablockadeisan
actofwar,andembargoisnot.
674ViewsViewUpvotes
ChaoSui
WrittenJun21,2014
ifinaviewofjust10years,thewinnermaybejapanandgermany.butforalongdistance,
forexample20years,inasiachinesewillbeatjapaneseandineuroperussanwillbeat
German,thatissure.
1.1kViewsViewUpvotes
HarryLa
WrittenJun12,2014
EnglandwouldhavefoughtonaloneanditseemsunlikelythatGermanywouldhavebeen
abletoinvadewithoutairsuperiority.TheprobabilityisthatGermanywouldhavebeen
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unabletokeepitsgripontheoccupiedcountriesandsomesortofstalematewouldhave
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AmericaonlyjoinedthewarwhenAmericawasthreatenedandthehelpthatit"gave"was
givenataverydearprice.Englandlostanempireandthisseemstohaveledtoaperiodof
Americanworlddomination.
TheanswertotheoriginalquestionisthatGermanyintheformoffascismwould
eventuallyhavelost.
818ViewsViewUpvotes
SeanThornton
WrittenMar4,2015
No!
WithoutLendLeasetheUKwouldhavecollapsedbeforetheendofthe2dyearofthe
Germanattack.
HitlerwithhissuccessassuredintheUK,wouldhavedriventhrutheBritsinEgypt,siezed
theCanalandallowedhimtosecureasupplyofoilwithoutinvadingtheSovietUnion.
WithFortressEuropasecured,NorthAfricanolongercontested,theMedaGermanpond,
andasupplyofoilassured,oldMadAdolphisnolongerunderanypressuretoattack
Stalingrad.InsteadofafailedanddelayedOperationBarbarrosa,heisallowedtorefitand
resupplyhisArmywithGOODwintercoldweathergearandwaitayearortwotoassault
Moscow.ThenturnsouthandsiezetheWheatBeltofGeorgia.
JoeStalinretreatstoSiberiawhereMarshalGeorgyZhukovstandsUncleJoeaganistthe
wall,shotsthebastardandsuesforpeace.
525ViewsViewUpvotes
PeterLombardo
WrittenJun20,2014
TheonlywaytheAllieswinthiswariswiththemightoftheAmericanmilitaryindustrial
ComplexandourabilityatthetimetoholdtheSovietsatbayfromrollingoverallof
EuropeafterthefallofGermany.OnlytheUScouldhavedefeatedtheJapaneseand
stoppedthemfromrunningcompletelyoverallofthePacificandSouthPacific.Intime,
withouttheUSintervention,nodoubt,theRussianscrushtheGermansbutnotcontentto
stopthere,withouttheUSAparticipation,theRussianswouldhavedominatedallof
WesternEuropetoo....asitwas,evenwiththeUSAinvolved,theytook,byforce,allof
EasternEurope......soIbelievewithouttheUSAinvolvement,Russiawouldhavecontrolof
Europe,JapancontroloftheFarEast,andtheUSinfluencewouldhavebeenrestrictedto
theNorthAmericanContinent.Lookingattheworldtoday,Iseethatitallmayhavebeen
invainanyway......theNewSovietsaremakingheadwayintocontrollingEasternandmost
likelyWesternEurope,theMuslimswillfightitoutintheMiddleEastandChinawill
controltheFarEast.....theUSAisindecline,justasithappenedtotheGreeks,Romans,
Dutch,SpanishandmorerecentlytheBritish..........ourcurrentpolicieswillleadtomore
isolationismanddeclineandeventuallyirrelevance.
646ViewsViewUpvotes
SteveBlack,SodthecoldI'mofftoIndiaandAustraliaforseveralweeks,
backforXmasday
WrittenJun24,2014
No.Weneededthefinancialaidasmuchifnotmorethanthemilitaryaid.Itwouldhave
beenamuchlongerwarbutwithRussiawewouldhavewon.
IalsobelievethatmilitarilyRussiawasmoreimportantthantheUSA.
2.8kViewsViewUpvotes
Anonymous
WrittenJun20,2014
ThoughyoucannotreallysaythatUSistheonlyreasonwhyWorldWarIIhasbeenwon
byAllies,youcoulddefinitelysaythatitisamainreason.IndirectlyUSwasresponsiblein
givingtheSovietUnionamuchneededpushintheOperationBarbarossa.When
Whermacht(GermanNaziarmy)almostconqueredthenorthandsouthpart,Aboutto
reachMoscowincentralregion(Around200milesaway),Stalinwasleftwonderingand
exploringtheoptionstostoptheGermanoffensive.Hewasquiteluckythatoneastern
frontJapan'sImperialarmygaveatemporaryreliefbyconcentratingonattackingpearl
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harbor(WhichultimatelybecamethemainreasonforUSentryintowar)
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Also,noonecouldforgetthecontributionofUSarmyduringtheDDaylandings&
Normandyepisode
Sayingthis,IwouldsayUSSRisthemainreasonwhyAllieswonthesecondworldwar.
Themanpowerlossesthatithadtobearforthecauseareastonishing.Iremember
readingsomewhere(GuesswhilereadingthebookonStalingradbynotedhistorian
AnthonyBeevor)thatduringOperationBarbarossa,aGermanofficerquoting
"Wehaveneverseensuchahugenumberofdeadbodieslyingacrossusintheinitial
daysofwar.Though,ononehand,itwasexcitingtoseethemassivevictories
everywhere,everysoldierhadafearaboutthesizeofRedarmy.Theyjustkeptcoming.
34monthsintothewar,everyoneintheunitcanfeeltherestlessnessandfatigue"
PS:Imighthavemisquotedit,Idon'trememberexactlines,buttheythemeaningisthe
same.Also,dofeelfreetocorrectmeifIamwrongwithmylogic/factsanywhere
746ViewsViewUpvotes
BelhaSsen
WrittenJun9,2014
Thebigmistakewasdoneby*hitler*atthemomentwhenhedecidedtomakewarto
U.S.S.R.
U.S.A...wastheonlybeneficiarycountryfromthiswar:Byincreasingitsresourceson
sellingarmstothecountriesinwar..
Andalsobygivinga*credit*tomanycountriesinordertorebuilttheirinfrastructureand
tosurpassitseconomicscrises..
733ViewsViewUpvotes
Answersthatneedimprovement
JamesSlate
WrittenAug18
Definewin.
IfyoudefinewinbyTheSovietUnionbeingabletodefenditselfthenyes
3Views
TerryCritchley
WrittenJan16
No,WWIIcouldnothavebeenwonwithouttheUSinvolvement.Ispeakasonewhowas
fedbyUSpowderedfoodduringthewar.
3Views
MurthyKottamasu
WrittenSep25
No
1View
RobinRaj
WrittenSep11,2014
NoUnitedstatesreallyplayedakeyroleinWorldWarII,withoutthemitcouldnothave
beenwon,howeverthecontributionsofBritish,BritishIndians,NorthAfricans,
Norwegians,FreeFrecnh,Canadians,Australians,Russians,etc.canalsonotberuledout.
163Views
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KarthikeyanT,Aspaceandhistoryenthusiastwholovestoreadandlearn.
WrittenDec31,2015
Yes.Eventhoughamericadidanamazingjobandturnedthetideofbattlewhileinvading
Franceandendingthewarwithnukes,Russiaactuallygaveaheavierblowontheeastern
frontandthatiswhatstartedthedownfallofHitler.EvenifGermanywasvictoriousinthe
west,theirdefeatinthehandsofthegiantUSSRwasinevitable.
3ViewsViewUpvotes
LTSpiceman
WrittenMar2,2015
Yes,DavidGlantzsaysthattheUSSRwouldhavedefeatedGermanyallalone,butwould
havetaken18moremonths
110Views
Answerscollapsedbydownvotes
RakeshWarier,Historyenthusiast.
WrittenJun9,2014
WithoutUSA'smilitary,possibly.
WithoutUSA'sresources,mostlikelyNO.
IfUSAwentcompletelyneutralandtreatedbothAlliesandAxispowers,equally
definitelyNO
1.7kViewsViewUpvotes
JohnSimon,Me?Justoneof7billionridealongsinthevehicleknownas"Earth".
WrittenJun9,2014
Wewillneverknow.
732ViewsViewUpvotes
CharlesFletcher,Justanotherhistorygeek.
WrittenJul27,2015
IfyoumeanwithoutanyassistancefromtheUSatalltheanswerisno.
IfyoumeanwithmaterialassistancesuchasprovidedbyLendLease,theanswerismaybe.
WithnoaidfromtheUSBritainwouldhavebeenoutofthewarin1941,theUSSRin1941
or1942.
45ViewsViewUpvotes
ZhenlinAn
WrittenFeb2,2015
Historycan'tbechanged.
Especiallywar.EveryPartofawarcanbevital.Everyfator,evenlittletobeseen,may
becomethethelaststraw.Toomanyuncertainfatorsmadeit.Andwhenyouchangeoneof
them,itmayhaveachainreaction.Butterflyeffects.
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ItissaidthatthebattleoftheMidway,tosomeextend,ischangedbythetimewhenthe
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Japanesereloadedthebombs.Wecan'tsayittotallywrong.
Butanysinglefactorshouldn'texplainthewhole.Therealwaysaresomethingweneglect.
Asonecan'tpredictaccuratelytheresultinthefuture,italsohardtopredicttheresultofa
warchangedpartly.Andanytryingislimited.
375Views
JimmyNguyen
WrittenJul8,2014
No,theallieswerefalling,theyneededtheUS,theyprovidedtheresourcesthewasneeded
356ViewsViewUpvotes
MartinSimons,ApplicationProgrammerIdonot,normally,conversewithAnonymous.If
you...
WrittenJun10,2014
Probably,butIdoubttheEnglishandFrenchcouldhaveeffectivelyopenedatrueWestern
frontearlyenoughtomakeadifference,therebyprobablyleavinganantagonizedRussia
incontrolofnearlyeverythingHitlerhadmanagedtotake,anddoubt,beingincontrolof
thatmuchterritory,thatIdoubttheywouldhavemadeanyconcessionstothewestin
regardstothestatusofthoselands.
482Views
JubahHarshaw
WrittenOct29,2014
Someonewouldhavewon.Itissubjectofgreatdebatewhichsideitwouldhavebeen.
Britainmightnothavesurvivedwithoutthe"LendLease"program.
Germanywouldhavestillgottenit'sbuttwhippedbytheSovietUnionbuttheSoviets
wouldnothavethematerialneededtoreachbeyondit'sborders.
JapanmightormightnothavedefeatedChinabutwouldhavebeencapableofreaching
Australia.
120ViewsViewUpvotes
IreneColthurst,Americanisolationist,ClayiteWhig
UpdatedSep24,2014
Almostcertainly.WhichmakesonewonderwhyEuropeanscaredsomuchabout
includingtheUS.
149Views
AyhanBilgili
WrittenMar24
Otherswrotelengthyandfullofinformationanswers.
Ijustwanttoshowmysupport:
Yes,itwouldbewonwithoutUS.SovietswereadvancingalreadywhenUSenteredthewar.
Onelessonfortoday:
USisthecleverone.Waits,Waits,Waitsandmakesthemoveattherightmoment.
Todayitisdoingthesame.Doesn'tcareaboutSyria,Iraqetc.justwaitingforEUand
Russiatosortouttheissues.SeemswhenEUisabouttodissolve,USwillmakethemove
again.TobethesaviorofWesternvaluesonceagain.
205Views
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UsmanQazi,Keenlyinterestedinhowbygonehistoryisevokedinthepresent. AskQuestion Read Answer Notifications Aditya
WrittenJun9,2014
Warsareunpredictable.BringingintheUnitedStatesonone'ssidedoesn'tguaranteea
victory.,Itdidn'thelpSouthVietnam..
864ViewsViewUpvotes
ZamMu
WrittenOct3
no.USSRdidthehardwork,USpaidforit.Allotheralliedcountriesjustwerejusttrying
tosurvive.UKbasicallyuselessafterretreatedfromFrance.
10Views
AilieBeaudryFrew,5yearshistoryuniversitylovehistory
WrittenJun11,2014
The'Allies'withoutthem.
272Views
DavePetersen
WrittenJan27
WithoutUSsoldiersmaybe.ButcertainlynotwithouttheequipmentthatAmericasentto
BritainandRussia.AlistingofsomeofthesuppliesthattheUSsenttoRussiawas
profoundlyepic.Whenyoureadoneminorlittlelineitemof1500railroadlocomotives,
youonlythenbegintoappreciatethebiblicalofsupport.
7Views
WillRobinson
WrittenJun22,2014
WorldWarIImostdefinitelycouldhavebeenwonwithouttheUnitedStates,since
1.TheUSdidnotentertheconflictmilitarilyuntilverylateinthegame
2.AlargepercentageofGermany'sfinancialbackingactuallycamefromproFascist
Americanbusinesses
341Views
HaydenGreenwood
WrittenJun14
ThesecondworldwarcouldhaveeasilybeenwonwithouttheUS.
InEurope.
Sealion:
TheLuftwaffewasdefeatedbytheRAF,thankstoradartechnologyandthesuperior
commandandcontrolsystemsonthesideoftheRAF.Withoutairsuperiority,any
invasionwouldbeseriouslyhampered.
TheGermanscouldntdefeattheRoyalNavysoanyattemptedinvasionwouldhavebeen
interceptedanddestroyedbytheRoyalNavy.Ifnotatthebeginningoftheinvasion,the
RNwouldhavecomeinandcutofftheGermanforcesfromtheirsupplies.
Montgomery,incommandoftheSouthEast,wheretheinvasionwouldhavecome,had
thebestpossibleplanforanypotentialinvasion.Strongmobilereservesthatwouldmove
andconcentrateontheGermansfoothold.Nottomentionhewasamastertrainerof
menandgreatformorale.
Anyinvasionwouldneedaportortwotoprovideenoughsuppliesandtroops.The
Germanshadnomulberyyharbours.TtheBritishwouldhavejustblownuptheports
beforetheygotanywherenearthemandthencrushedtheGermanswhiletheywere
strugglingwithpoorsuppliescominginfromthebeach.
StarvingBritainOut:
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TheUBoatswerearealproblematfirstbuteventually,theBrtishdevelopedcounter
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measureswhichmadeUBoatsincreasinglyuseless.
NorthAfrica:
TheRoyalNavyhadcompletesupremacyoftheMedastheItalianNavywasuselessafter
ahalfheartedattempttostoptheBritish.ThisallowedNorthAfricanforcesfreedomof
supply.
WhenMontgomeryarrived,Rommelsforceswerealreadyontheendofaterriblesupply
situation,allshittingthemselvestodeathwithdysenteryandthequalityoftroopsseverly
reducedafteryearsoffighting.
MontgomerystoppedhandingRommelvictoriesbylauchingpointlessattackswith
demoralisedtroopsinpiecemeal.HechoseinsteadtoleatRommelbanghisheadoffthe
AlAmeindefenses.Afterthat,TheAfrikaCorpeswasdone.
BritainalsobroketheEnigmacodesonewwhatRommelintended.
SiciclywasasgoodascapturesaswasItaly.Itwasntamatterofifbutamatterofwhen.
ThePacific:
TheJapanesewouldnthavedaredtobegintheirexpansioninthePacific,ofEuropean
andUSterritories,withoutfirstdisablingthePacificFleetatPearlHarbour.Therefore
therewouldbenowarinthePacificwithoutUSinvolvment.
WiththeUSintheWar,theJapanesehadnochance.Iwontgointodetailbutthe
reasonscanbesummerisedasthis:
1UShadsuperiormanufacturingcapabilities.
2Japanesehadseverelyinflexibilecommandandcontrolsystem.
3Japanspreadthemselvesouttoothinthroughgreed.
4Japanhadapoorconceptoflogistics.
5USbrokeJapanesemilitarycodes.
Whatiwouldliketonothoweveristhatthe14thcommonwealtharmyunderSlim,
defeated2fullJapanesearmiesandtieddownmoretroops.
Russia
Imnotevengonnawastemytimeexplainingwhythiswasaninevitablevictory.
1.6kViewsViewUpvotes
WaltTreat,Personwhofillsoutboxesaskingforyouroccupationonwebsites
WrittenJun26,2014
SHORTANSWER
Yes,butitwouldn'tbepretty.
LONGANSWER
WorldWarTwocouldhavebeenwonbytheSovietUnioninEuropealone.Aworldwhere
thishappened,however,wouldinevitablybeworseduetotheunimaginablehorrorof
StalinrulingoverEurope.
However,itishardtoimaginetheSovietUnion,Britainoranyothercountrysuccessfully
invadingJapan.OnlyAmerica,withitsnuclearscientists,wascapableofdefeatingthe
EmpireofJapan.Remember,EinsteinandFermididnotfleetotheSovietUnion.
SovietEuropeandstillthereImperialJapanwouldprobablybebetterthanNazis
everywhere,buttheworldwouldstillbeworsethanitistoday.
108Views
KellyPhillips
WrittenFeb6,2015
Whatmakesyouthinkitwas"won"?RussiastartedthewarbyinvadingFinland,Estonia,
Latvia,andLithuaniabuteverybodyonlyremembersPolandwhichwasinvadedby
GermanyandRussia.EnglanddeclaredwaronGermanybutnotRussiabecausetheyhad
atreatywithPolandbutitdidnotstipulatetheywouldonlydeclarewarifGermany
invaded,whichtheyonlydidbecauseitwastheonlywaytothrowtheRussiansoutofthe
aforementionedcountries.ThewholethingwasatrapbecausetheGermanshadexpelled
theinternationalbanksandrescuedthemselvesfromtheeconomicdestitutionbrought
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aboutbytheTreatyofVersailles.Thewinnerswritethehistorybooksandtheyneversay
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185Views
CharlesSmith
WrittenJul8,2014
Yes.TheRussianswerealreadywinningbecausetheywerefiveyearsaheadofthe
Germansinpreparationforit.WetheUSA,andothersgotinvolvedto
preventtheUSSRfromowningallofEuropeafterGermanywasdestroyed,
resultingintheexterminationofChristianityandit'sslavesystem,and
turningtheVaticanintoaparkinglot.WW2wasbutacounterattackagainstthe
BolshevikrevolutionandanefforttoreturnpoliticalpoweroverallofEuropetothe
Vatican,resurrectingtheoldHolyRomanCatholicEmpireunderanotheraristocracythat
HitlercalledAryans....andserfdomforall...
89Views
CarlosZetina,CEOofWeareCynics
WrittenFeb8
Yes.RussiahadtheEuropeancampaignintheirpocket.Thechinesewerelosingverybad
intheirwaragainstthejapanese.Thejapaneseattackedamericabecauseoftheir
interferenceintheirwarofconquestinChina.IguessyoucansaytheAmericansdefeated
theJapaneseinthepacificcampaign.
ManypeoplebelievethatAmericawasthebiggestcontributioninwinningthewar.
AmericadidnothingofimportanceintheEuropeancampaignuntil1944whenThewest
sawtheprogresstherussiansweredoing,AmericahadtodosomethingtostopRussia
fromtakingallofEurope.
AmericawaschargedbyHitlerininstigatingthewar.TheAmericanswereworkingin
conjunctionwiththeRoyalNavyinhuntingsubmarinesandGermanBattleshipsinthe
pacific,thisisagainstinternationallaw,andanindirectdeclarationofwar.lookupthe
GermanshipAcuna,AmericaalsoparticipatedinthedestructionofTheGrafSpree.
AmericaalongwiththeBritishaidedthechineseincontinuingthewaragainstJapan.
2.4kViewsViewUpvotes
StephenMann,readabouthistory
WrittenJun21,2014
Nobecause,althoughHitlerwasaterriblegeneral,theJapanesealsohadanatomic
weaponbytheendofWWII.TheyhaddevelopeditinKorea.Theyalsohadajetbythen
and"miracleweapons"theyhadbuiltintheirmountaincaves(dugbyprisonlabor):
rocketplanesgyrocoptersetc.Withit,theJapanesemighthaveattackedtheUSSR.They
alsohadfivemillionsoldiersinthehomeland.TheywouldhavethusdefeatedChinaand
attackedfromthesouth,cuttingoffeastSiberia...
HitlerwassoincompetentthattheJapanesewereeasilymoreofathreatthanthe
Germans.Withtheirnavyprotectingtheirwesternflank,theycouldhavefieldedahuge
invasionofEurasia.TheJapanesefailedbecausetheydidn'tguardtheirmerchantships.
Theyonlythoughtaboutwinningseabattles.Thus,AmericadidtothemwhatHitlertried
toBritaintheywerestarved.IfweeliminatetheUSA,thenJapanwouldhavebecomethe
strongestnationintheworldandeasilyabletostopthehumanwaveattacksoftheSoviets
withtheirtroops...
Also,theywouldhavebuiltmoreandbetterplanesandtanksandeventuallyhave
dominatedthewar...
330Views
Answerscollapsedbymoderation
Anonymous
WrittenJun27,2014
Probablyyes.
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AmericanindustrialreservesandfinancialreserveswereasimportanttotheAllies
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winningWW2asBritishindustrialandfinancialreservesweretotheearlierAllies
winningWW1.InfactintheNapoleonicwar,asinWW1andinWW2,themoneyand
equipmentdeliveredbyBritain/theUSwasfarmoreimportantthanthenumbersoftheir
actualbootsontheground
LetusconsiderafewnegativeimpactsoftheAmericansjoiningthewar.
1.ThebattleoftheAtlantic,wellonthewaytobeingwonin1941,wasalmost
lostin1942and1943.Uptothreequartersofshippinglostduringthewar
wasbecauseofthelossoftheAmerican'safezone'intheWesternAtlantic
andparticularlythesecond"HappyHours"fortheUboatsthediversionof
USNavyvesselstothePacific,andthelatterwithdrawalofescortcarriersto
invadeNorthAfrica.Avery,verygoodargumentcanbemadethatthisalonecaused
manyextramilitarylossesfortheAllies,andslowedtheirresurgenceby....wellbythe
numberofshiploadsthatwouldhavegotthroughwithoutthosehorrendouslosses.Itis
nojoketosuggestthatastillneutralUS,guaranteeingtheWesternAtlantic,and
puttingalltheresourcesneededforreplacementshippingintotanksandaircraftand
landingcraft,wouldhavegreatlyimprovedthefightingpositionofthemanymillionsof
underresourcedAlliedtroopsfightingwithinadequatesupplies.Neteffectonthe
lengthofthewar...incalculable.
2.TheequipmentlosttoAmericanentryhadaterribleeffectonAllied
fightingresourcesforyears.BythisIliterallymeanthattheAlliesparticularly
Britain,butalsoRussiaandChinaandmanyothersliketheNetherlandsEastIndieshad
commissioned,andsometimespaidfor,thedevelopmentandproductionofvastquantities
ofequipmentneededforwinningthewar:muchofwhichwasthensyphonedinto
Americantrainingprogramsforrecruitswhowouldnotbeavailableforseveralyears.
Someofthesethings,rangingfromshipsandtankstoplanesandguns,were
supposedtocomeonlinein1942,butdidnotgetintoactionlargescaleuntil
1944.ThethingthateventuallygavetheSovietsthemaneuverabilitytodrivetheGermans
backwastensofthousandsofAmericantrucks.Theyweresupposedtostartarrivingin
1942,butbetweenAmericanrequirements,andshippinglosses,theyactuallystarted
arrivinginnumbersin1944.Neteffectonthelengthofthewar...vast.
3.Roosevelt1:InvasionNorthAfrica.Possiblyalsoausefulmilitary
exercisetopracticeamphibiouswarfare,butitwashardlyvital.Butenormous
resourceshadtobewastedonitfortworeasons.First,becauseRooseveltneededAmerican
troopsinactionsomewherein'Europe'byelectiontime.Second,becauseAmericantroops
desperatelyneededexposuretorealcombatintheeasiestpossibleenvironmenttocounter
Marshall'sfantasythathisnewconscriptswerereadytofaceGermanveterans.Would
Montgomeryand8tharmyhavepushedtheAxisoutofLibyaanyfaster?No.Would
GermanyhaveinvadedTunisiawithoutsuchprovocation?Unlikely.Wouldithavemadea
longtermdifferenceiftheyhadanyway?Probablynot.Themostdamagingpartofthe
wholeoperationwasstrippingallthenewescortcarriersandvastnumbersofnavalescorts
awayfromshippingroutesforseveralmoremonthsleadingto:A)greatlyincreased
shippinglosses,andB)anotherhugeslowdowninwhencounterattacksinEuropecould
begin.Neteffectonlengthofthewaralmostcertainlynegative.
4.Roosevelt2:UnconditionalSurrender!!Whatanidiotpoliticianwilldoforagood
soundbite.ThisstatementcostthelivesofmoreWesternAlliedsoldiersthananyother
pieceofstupiditysincePresident'sWilsonandClemencau'swillfuldestructionofany
prospectofaworkableWW1peacesettlement.GermansoldiersintherubbleoftheRuhr
preferredtodiethantobeshippedtoCanadianforestsandAmericanmines(yesreally
Goebbelswasthatgood),whileJapaneseresistancewentonendlesslybecausethis
seemedtothreatenthesacredEmperor.Longtermeffectonthelengthofthewar...
absolutelyindescribable.
HavingdefinitivelystatedthatAmericaninvolvementanddecisionsmadethe
warlonger(andtherearemanyotherexamples,buttheyamounttonit
pickingandcouldhavebeencommittedbynonAmericans...theabove
couldn't),isstillnotnecessarilygoingtoprovethatleavingtheAmerican
forcesoutofthewarwouldhavemadeitshorter.
Putsimply,wouldthecontinuedsecurityoftheWesternAtlantic,duetocontinued
AmericanneutralityhavegivenBritaintheextraflexibilityneededtowinintheIndian
Ocean?
Given
optionA:thatifJapanhadattackedBritainandtheNetherlandsandNOTtheUSinthe
EasttheJapanesewouldhavehadtokeepaconstantguardagainstthestillvastAmerican
navalpresenceinthePacific/Philippines,or
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B:theunlikelypossibilitythathadAmericabackeddownandsurrenderedafterPearl
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Harbor,aguardagainsttheireverincreasingWestcoastnavywouldhavestillbeen
somewhatdesirablefortheJapanese
Source.:rethinkinghistory
Thanks:)
1kViewsViewUpvotes Answerneedsattribution
Answersthathaveanunverifiedauthor
QuoraUser
WrittenJun12,2014
IntheEuropeantheater,America'smilitarycontributionsmadethewarshorterby
allowingthealliestoopenaseparatefront.Theeconomicandmaterielcontributions
howeverwereessential.HadHitlerbidedhistime,embargoedtheUKandbeenless
aggressiveinattackingtheUSSR,itpossiblethewarcouldhavereachedapointof
stalemateandGermanycouldhavenegotiatedpeacewithitsnewborders(i.e.Franceto
Poland)LikelytheUSSRwouldhavebeenabletofightbackandwinoveralongerperiod
oftimeduetoamassivepopulationsuperiorityovertheAxisandlargerreservesofraw
materialsincludingoil.HoweverStalinwasapragmatistandmayhaveagreedtostatus
quoantebellumgivensomeconcessionsinPoland,Hungary,Czechoslovakia,and
especiallyintheBalkans.
InthePacific,there'snowayJapanwouldhavebeenstoppedwithoutUSintervention.
There'salsonowaythatEmpirecouldhavelastedlong,asJapanwasalreadybankrupting
itselfandcouldnothavecontrolledthatmuchterritoryandthatmanypeoplewithits
limitationsonrawmaterials(OILOILOIL)andpopulation.
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