I always felt Hitler gets a bad rap for the June attack. How was he to know that Japan would attack the USA in December?
Given Pearl Harbor happening in December, then sure, optimal play would obviously not be to assault the USSR. You got to bunker down in Europe and make peaceful noises.
But if Japan doesn’t attack the USA and bring them into the war, you want to fight Stalin NOW, before he becomes strong. Russia has watched your work in France avidly, and they have seen their own struggles in Finland, Poland. They know their vulnerability, and are working to patch it. If you give too much time you won’t be able to beat them anymore.
Once Japan throws the game with Pearl Harbor the rest is just tactics, and while there are better lines than those pursued historically there are none (barring nukes) that let Germany lick the Earth.
I always felt Hitler gets a bad rap for the June attack. How was he to know that Japan would attack the USA in December?
Given Pearl Harbor happening in December, then sure, optimal play would obviously not be to assault the USSR. You got to bunker down in Europe and make peaceful noises.
But if Japan doesn’t attack the USA and bring them into the war, you want to fight Stalin NOW, before he becomes strong. Russia has watched your work in France avidly, and they have seen their own struggles in Finland, Poland. They know their vulnerability, and are working to patch it. If you give too much time you won’t be able to beat them anymore.
Once Japan throws the game with Pearl Harbor the rest is just tactics, and while there are better lines than those pursued historically there are none (barring nukes) that let Germany lick the Earth.