Why was the Soviet Union important in WW2?

The Soviet Union in World War II is the story of several wars. When World War II started, the Soviet Union was effectively an ally of Nazi Germany in a relatively conventional European interstate war. Although the Germans did most of the fighting in Poland, the Soviet Union occupied the eastern part.

What if Russia was never invaded in WW2?

So what would have happened if Hitler had not invaded Russia? A more likely possibility is that Hitler could have chosen to move south instead of east. With most of Western Europe under his control after the summer of 1940, and Eastern Europe either subdued or allied with Germany, Hitler had a choice by mid-1941.

Would the Allies have won WW2 without Soviet Union?

So could the Allies have won the war without Russia? Well, had Germany never invaded the Soviet Union, the answer is yes, they almost certainly would have done – eventually.

Why did Germany attack the USSR in WW2?

Germany’s main reason for starting WW2 was to gain territory in the East, and that entailed attacking the USSR. Lebensraum and the destruction of the communists is what the whole thing was about. Hitler did not want a war with the West – he was stunned when the invasion of Poland resulted in Britain and France declaring war on Germany]

What if the Soviet Union had remained neutral during WW2?

With the Soviet Union remaining neutral (and continuing to ship resources to Germany under the Nazi–Soviet Pact,) Germany would have been able to concentrate the Luftwaffe in the Mediterranean. German aircraft mauled the Royal Navy in 1941–42, even while supporting the campaign in Russia.

What countries did the Soviet Union Annex after WW2?

Germany invaded Poland on 1 September 1939 starting World War II, Stalin waited until September 17th before launching his own invasion of Poland. Part of the Karelia and Salla regions of Finland were annexed by the Soviet Union after the Winter War. This was followed by Soviet annexations of Estonia, Latvia,…

What were the long term effects of WW2 on the Soviet Union?

Aftermath and damages. Even though it won the conflict, the war had a profound and devastating long-term effect in the Soviet Union. The financial burden was catastrophic: by one estimate, the Soviet Union spent $192 billion. The US lend-lease around $11 billion in supplies to the Soviet Union during the war.