If I have the location of the Soviet atomic weapons development facilities I bomb them with conventional weapons and I destroy the Soviet Air Force and Navy with my Air Force. If I don’t have these locations I start flying American planes over the Soviet Union to look for them, and when I find them I bomb them. I tell the American people that Stalin has a plan to develop atomic weapons and then use them against us. I get Curtis LeMay, Patton, and MacArthur to say that the long-term survival of the United States requires that we eliminate Soviet atomic weapons development and that anyone who opposes such preemptive action is a communist. I let Stalin know that if he launches an invasion of Western Europe my top priority will be to drop an atomic weapon on him.
You try. Don’t forget that Russia is really really big, all you have is prop bombers with no in-air refueling (and no good airbases nearby) and Russia has competent and well-practiced AA. Can your bombers even reach the middle of Kazakhstan?
I destroy the Soviet Air Force
No, you don’t. From which airbases? Russia has LOTS of airplanes and is capable of producing lots more quickly.
and Navy
That, sure. No one cares (did Russia even have a Navy at that time?)
I start flying American planes over the Soviet Union to look for them
They all get shot down. It’s 1940s, you don’t have a U-2 or anything like that.
I let Stalin know that if he launches an invasion of Western Europe my top priority will be to drop an atomic weapon on him.
Stalin replies that you have just declared war on him, of course it’s your top priority. He accelerates the development of atomic weapons. Clearly it’s necessary for his own safety (and in the meantime he moves to a country house. Somewhere in Siberia? Central Asia? an underground shelter in the Urals? all of the above? maybe? you don’t know).
Stalin invades Western Europe and invites you to nuke Paris.
OK, accepting your assumption that I can’t bomb Russian atomic weapons development facilities, my first step is to build air bases in Finland, West Germany, China, and Japan so that I have the ability to strike anyplace in the Soviet Union. If this still isn’t enough, I prioritize developing long-range bombers.
If Stalin invades Western Europe I use my Air Force to destroy his logistical support and follow Patton’s advice of reactivating as much of the German army as possible under American command. I use atomic weapons against Soviet targets if this would significantly harm Soviet logistics and industrial capacity. I think, given my air superiority, that I am able to hold off the Soviets and put a massive strain on their industrial capacity.
my first step is to build air bases in Finland, West Germany, China, and Japan
You forgot about the invasion part :-) It will be hard for you to build airbases in the the Finnish Soviet Socialist Republic (or in the German Soviet Socialist Republic). Japan you have, but China might be a bit difficult—they have a civil war going on and someone by the name of Mao seems to be winning.
I prioritize developing long-range bombers
Sure, that’s what Truman did as well. You get B-52s in early-to-mid 50s, but that’s too late. The Russian have nukes by that time.
If Stalin invades Western Europe I use my Air Force to destroy his logistical support and follow Patton’s advice of reactivating as much of the German army as possible under American command.
You’re being a bit too optimistic, I think. You assume the natural superiority of the US Air Force, but it didn’t exist in the 1940s. Russia produced about 40,000 aircraft in the single year of 1944 and their planes don’t need to cross the Atlantic. And why would the Germans fight for you?
I think, given my air superiority, that I am able to hold off the Soviets and put a massive strain on their industrial capacity.
I have my doubts, but not that it matters. So you hold off the Soviets in Western Europe. Stalemate.
But the clock is ticking. If you do not conquer Russia (see “land war in Asia”) by 1949, you lose. Can you?
If I have the location of the Soviet atomic weapons development facilities I bomb them with conventional weapons and I destroy the Soviet Air Force and Navy with my Air Force. If I don’t have these locations I start flying American planes over the Soviet Union to look for them, and when I find them I bomb them. I tell the American people that Stalin has a plan to develop atomic weapons and then use them against us. I get Curtis LeMay, Patton, and MacArthur to say that the long-term survival of the United States requires that we eliminate Soviet atomic weapons development and that anyone who opposes such preemptive action is a communist. I let Stalin know that if he launches an invasion of Western Europe my top priority will be to drop an atomic weapon on him.
Your move, Stalin.
You try. Don’t forget that Russia is really really big, all you have is prop bombers with no in-air refueling (and no good airbases nearby) and Russia has competent and well-practiced AA. Can your bombers even reach the middle of Kazakhstan?
No, you don’t. From which airbases? Russia has LOTS of airplanes and is capable of producing lots more quickly.
That, sure. No one cares (did Russia even have a Navy at that time?)
They all get shot down. It’s 1940s, you don’t have a U-2 or anything like that.
Stalin replies that you have just declared war on him, of course it’s your top priority. He accelerates the development of atomic weapons. Clearly it’s necessary for his own safety (and in the meantime he moves to a country house. Somewhere in Siberia? Central Asia? an underground shelter in the Urals? all of the above? maybe? you don’t know).
Stalin invades Western Europe and invites you to nuke Paris.
Back to you :-)
OK, accepting your assumption that I can’t bomb Russian atomic weapons development facilities, my first step is to build air bases in Finland, West Germany, China, and Japan so that I have the ability to strike anyplace in the Soviet Union. If this still isn’t enough, I prioritize developing long-range bombers.
If Stalin invades Western Europe I use my Air Force to destroy his logistical support and follow Patton’s advice of reactivating as much of the German army as possible under American command. I use atomic weapons against Soviet targets if this would significantly harm Soviet logistics and industrial capacity. I think, given my air superiority, that I am able to hold off the Soviets and put a massive strain on their industrial capacity.
You forgot about the invasion part :-) It will be hard for you to build airbases in the the Finnish Soviet Socialist Republic (or in the German Soviet Socialist Republic). Japan you have, but China might be a bit difficult—they have a civil war going on and someone by the name of Mao seems to be winning.
Sure, that’s what Truman did as well. You get B-52s in early-to-mid 50s, but that’s too late. The Russian have nukes by that time.
You’re being a bit too optimistic, I think. You assume the natural superiority of the US Air Force, but it didn’t exist in the 1940s. Russia produced about 40,000 aircraft in the single year of 1944 and their planes don’t need to cross the Atlantic. And why would the Germans fight for you?
I have my doubts, but not that it matters. So you hold off the Soviets in Western Europe. Stalemate.
But the clock is ticking. If you do not conquer Russia (see “land war in Asia”) by 1949, you lose. Can you?