Why Russia didn't invade the rest of Europe
From: Scott Siebold <gamers@a...>
Date: Mon, 03 Jun 2002 01:27:47 -0500
Subject: Why Russia didn't invade the rest of Europe
Everyone seems to have forgotten some stuff that I am sure Stalin
considered:
Five million German POW's who would probably fight on the allied
side if Germany was being overrun by Russia. With captured German
equipment being used to supply them, company and battalion size units
could be in use in one to two weeks and brigade and Division size units
in 30 to 60 days.
About 5 million French ex POW's would probably fight on the allied
side. These units had already started to form and could start to be
added
to the front in days. With a continuous supply of replacement units
being
added on a regular basis.
If the allies go over to the defensive against Japan at least half of
all forces
in the Pacific could be released to fight Russia. If terms were reached
with
Japan this would go up to about 80% of the Pacific forces. When the B29s
are released then goodby the Caucus Oil fields and the relocated
armament
factories on the other side of the Ural mountains (little to no flak
protection
and not enough high altitiude fighters).
Using only the escort carriers (CVE) in the Atlantic at least 20
(approx.
600 aircraft) could be operating in the Baltic sea in 15 days. Up to
300
carriers of all types (10,000+ aircraft) could be operating in the
Baltic Sea
in 120 days. It might be a bit hard to get supplies through (or exist
within)
150 miles of the coast.
The battlefield (Germany) which has been twice baked (once by the air
offensive and once by a bunch of armies overrunning it) would not give
the Russians many supplies and so everything would have to come from
Russia (which isn't in much better shape).
My guess is that Stalin would be hanging in red square far short of the
Russian army even getting to the French boarder much less Paris.