A simple google search as to why people think the Axis lost WWII (or, Germany specifically) is that Hitler invaded the USSR, and that the USSR, alone, pushed Hitler's forces back from Moscow and then proceeded to take Berlin. I am not arguing, however, that the D-Day invasion is where all the Germans died and US troops is why Germany lost--not at all. I am merely arguing that the USSR alone would have lost, and needed support from the Western democracies to emerge victorious.
First, lets talk about why Hitler decided to invade the Soviet Union. Indeed, internet forums everywhere say this decision is the reason Hitler lost. Hitler at the time had defeated all of the western allies (except the UK). France and Poland, gone. Belgium and the Netherlands, defeated. Not only was the USSR really the largest threat to Germany at the time, but also the last major obstacle Hitler would need to overcome to control all of mainland Europe. Germany's industry was beginning to strain, as it has been supplying the German war machine. The Nazi's had been receiving supplies--especially oil--from Russia for a long time, but it was not enough. Therefore, Germany had two options. (1) Invade Russia, take the oilfields, take Moscow, and end the USSR's eastern threat and gain very important supplies, or (2) Give Rommel supplies and men, take Egypt and take the UK's provinces in the Middle East. Both would likely lead to a surrender of a country, if successful. Also, both would lead to oil. It was logical to defeat Russia first. They were the largest enemy, and to quickly defeat them instead of giving them time to prepare would be the superior choice [1].
Now lets discuss a bit how the Western democracies led to an axis defeat. Russia was very important to the war effort, there is no doubt about that. Without her manpower, the US would likely have been unsuccessful in defeating Germany. However, Russia would not have been victorious if it were not for the British and American aid. In the very beginning of the German invasion, the UK was very key in supplying the USSR. Between 1941 and 1945, 5,000 English Hurricane fighters were sent to the USSR, along with 4,000 aircraft, 5,000 tanks, 5,000 anti tank guns, 15 million boots (cant have a counter offensive without footwear!), and 4 million tonnes of war supplies (including food and medical supplies). The United States almost entirely provided the Russian jeep force (remember, without a significant jeep force, Russia would likely have been encircled as they were at the beginning of Operation Barbarossa and lost), supplying 400,000 jeeps and 7,000 tanks. The US also provided 1.75 million tonnes of food, 12,000 armored vehicles, and 11,400 aircraft [2]. Research reveals that British tanks present near Moscow--had Germany won this battle they likely would have won the war--was around 30-40%. By July 1942, the Soviet Union had 13,500 tanks in service, 16% of them imported, and half of the imports from the United Kingdom. The Soviet defense air force on January 1st, 1942 has about 1,470 fighters, 15% of these planes were British Hurricanes or Tomahawks. Although this English Lend-Lease program may have not turned the tide (it's possible that the Russians would have won), the fast is that the program "made a crucial difference" [3]. To summarize how the Lend-Lease saved Russia--and possibly Europe from an Evil German Nazi Regime--can be summarized by this:
Look, I know without Russia the allies would have lost. But seriously, the Russians were not alone--if they were, they would have lost. Germany was 20 miles within Moscow, had troops not been placed in the West (due to a fear of English and American invasions), those troops would have marched into Moscow the same way they did to Paris. Stalin himself even said, "Without American production the United Nations [the Allies] could never have won the war."[2] Soviet manpower, England delaying Barbarossa (Greece), threats of western invasion, American supplies, America essentially singlehandedly taking on Japan (preventing Japan invading Siberia), and many other reasons. I see it extremely unlikely that Russia won alone, but I see it likely that the American and English supplies were life savers. Even assuming the UK surrendered, the US stays neutral, and Germany was eventually pushed back, Germany would have easily held out longer. And possibly, long enough to obtain Nuclear weapons, leading to a mass slaughter of Russian lives. Who won WWII? It was a combined effort--but one thing almost everyone can agree upon: it was a good thing Germany lost.
1. Wright, Andrew. "Military History Online - Was Hitler Right to Invade Russia in 1941?" Military History Online - Was Hitler Right to Invade Russia in 1941?, 26 Aug. 2007. Web. 09 June 2014. <http://www.militaryhistoryonline.com/wwii/articles/invadingrussia.aspx>.
2. "Lend-Lease." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lend-Lease#US_deliveries_to_the_USSR>.
3. Hill, Alexander. "Did Russia Really Go It Alone? How Lend-Lease Helped the Soviets Defeat the Germans." History Net. Weider History, 12 July 2008. Web. 09 June 2014. <http://www.historynet.com/did-russia-really-go-it-alone-how-lend-lease-helped-the-soviets-defeat-the-germans.htm>.
4. Parrish, Michael. "Russia's Life-Saver: Lend-Lease Aid to the U.S.S.R. in World War II (Book Review)." History Net. Weider History, 12 June 2006. Web. 09 June 2014. <http://www.historynet.com/russias-life-saver-lend-lease-aid-to-the-ussr-in-world-war-ii-book-review.htm>.
First, lets talk about why Hitler decided to invade the Soviet Union. Indeed, internet forums everywhere say this decision is the reason Hitler lost. Hitler at the time had defeated all of the western allies (except the UK). France and Poland, gone. Belgium and the Netherlands, defeated. Not only was the USSR really the largest threat to Germany at the time, but also the last major obstacle Hitler would need to overcome to control all of mainland Europe. Germany's industry was beginning to strain, as it has been supplying the German war machine. The Nazi's had been receiving supplies--especially oil--from Russia for a long time, but it was not enough. Therefore, Germany had two options. (1) Invade Russia, take the oilfields, take Moscow, and end the USSR's eastern threat and gain very important supplies, or (2) Give Rommel supplies and men, take Egypt and take the UK's provinces in the Middle East. Both would likely lead to a surrender of a country, if successful. Also, both would lead to oil. It was logical to defeat Russia first. They were the largest enemy, and to quickly defeat them instead of giving them time to prepare would be the superior choice [1].
Now lets discuss a bit how the Western democracies led to an axis defeat. Russia was very important to the war effort, there is no doubt about that. Without her manpower, the US would likely have been unsuccessful in defeating Germany. However, Russia would not have been victorious if it were not for the British and American aid. In the very beginning of the German invasion, the UK was very key in supplying the USSR. Between 1941 and 1945, 5,000 English Hurricane fighters were sent to the USSR, along with 4,000 aircraft, 5,000 tanks, 5,000 anti tank guns, 15 million boots (cant have a counter offensive without footwear!), and 4 million tonnes of war supplies (including food and medical supplies). The United States almost entirely provided the Russian jeep force (remember, without a significant jeep force, Russia would likely have been encircled as they were at the beginning of Operation Barbarossa and lost), supplying 400,000 jeeps and 7,000 tanks. The US also provided 1.75 million tonnes of food, 12,000 armored vehicles, and 11,400 aircraft [2]. Research reveals that British tanks present near Moscow--had Germany won this battle they likely would have won the war--was around 30-40%. By July 1942, the Soviet Union had 13,500 tanks in service, 16% of them imported, and half of the imports from the United Kingdom. The Soviet defense air force on January 1st, 1942 has about 1,470 fighters, 15% of these planes were British Hurricanes or Tomahawks. Although this English Lend-Lease program may have not turned the tide (it's possible that the Russians would have won), the fast is that the program "made a crucial difference" [3]. To summarize how the Lend-Lease saved Russia--and possibly Europe from an Evil German Nazi Regime--can be summarized by this:
Lend-Lease provided vital help for the Soviet Union when the country was in desperate straits and made a significant contribution to the final victory ... The victory over Nazi Germany was achieved through the economic power of the United States and the lives of millions of Soviets [4].
Look, I know without Russia the allies would have lost. But seriously, the Russians were not alone--if they were, they would have lost. Germany was 20 miles within Moscow, had troops not been placed in the West (due to a fear of English and American invasions), those troops would have marched into Moscow the same way they did to Paris. Stalin himself even said, "Without American production the United Nations [the Allies] could never have won the war."[2] Soviet manpower, England delaying Barbarossa (Greece), threats of western invasion, American supplies, America essentially singlehandedly taking on Japan (preventing Japan invading Siberia), and many other reasons. I see it extremely unlikely that Russia won alone, but I see it likely that the American and English supplies were life savers. Even assuming the UK surrendered, the US stays neutral, and Germany was eventually pushed back, Germany would have easily held out longer. And possibly, long enough to obtain Nuclear weapons, leading to a mass slaughter of Russian lives. Who won WWII? It was a combined effort--but one thing almost everyone can agree upon: it was a good thing Germany lost.
1. Wright, Andrew. "Military History Online - Was Hitler Right to Invade Russia in 1941?" Military History Online - Was Hitler Right to Invade Russia in 1941?, 26 Aug. 2007. Web. 09 June 2014. <http://www.militaryhistoryonline.com/wwii/articles/invadingrussia.aspx>.
2. "Lend-Lease." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lend-Lease#US_deliveries_to_the_USSR>.
3. Hill, Alexander. "Did Russia Really Go It Alone? How Lend-Lease Helped the Soviets Defeat the Germans." History Net. Weider History, 12 July 2008. Web. 09 June 2014. <http://www.historynet.com/did-russia-really-go-it-alone-how-lend-lease-helped-the-soviets-defeat-the-germans.htm>.
4. Parrish, Michael. "Russia's Life-Saver: Lend-Lease Aid to the U.S.S.R. in World War II (Book Review)." History Net. Weider History, 12 June 2006. Web. 09 June 2014. <http://www.historynet.com/russias-life-saver-lend-lease-aid-to-the-ussr-in-world-war-ii-book-review.htm>.
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