If Japan Had Attacked the Soviet Union




View Poll Results :Would the Axis destroy the Soviet Union and take control of Europe?
Yes, eventually the Red Army would be destroyed. 17 47.22%
No, the Red Army would still push the Axis out. 19 52.78%
Voters: 36. You may not vote on this poll

 
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August 16th, 2004  
MosquitoMan
 
 

Topic: If Japan Had Attacked the Soviet Union


What do you think would happen if Japan and Germany had simultaneously attacked the Soviet Union, instead of Japan attacking America? Germany from the west and Japan from the south. Would America have joined the war if it wasn't attacked?

I don't think the Red Army would have been able to protect itself from two fronts. Japan would take the oil fields south of Stalingrad. Thus extending the reach of the Japanese and German troops in the Soviet Union. Together, the two Axis Powers would push the Soviet Union back until they had no army left. Great Britain would be the only country against the Axis in Europe. I think America would join the war eventually, but by that time they would pretty much be fighting the war alone. And at some point a treaty would be signed.
August 16th, 2004  
GuyontheRight
 
If the Japanese did not attack Pearl, then yes I think the Soviet Union would have capitulated.
August 17th, 2004  
Mark Conley
 
 
im sorry...buts lets get realistic...

the japanese would have had to stretch a battle and a supply line across the great wilderness and then the ural mountains. I think they would have been very stretched to do this...as they also was imbroiled in a neck deep war with china.

The environment of siberia is one of the harshest known...and i dont believe that the japanese soldier was eqquipped to deal with it.

My belief is that the Soviets would have stopped them..and used them for slave labor after the first battle.

just my opinion
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August 17th, 2004  
GuyontheRight
 
My belief is that the Soviets would have stopped them..and used them for slave labor after the first battle.

Of course the Japanese would have been stopped, but that would of allowed the Germans to break free.
August 17th, 2004  
IrishWizard
 
I honestly am not sure but I voted that the Ruskies would of pushed them back. When you think about it, your talking about 2 nations with great size populations(of course Russian having more) but also, they both fight to the LAST man. Japan surrendered the least amount of forces out of all countrys during WWII, and the Russians would just send man after man into the line to die for the motherland. Its just like saying the Russians invading Japan, 2 different land types, both hard ass soldiers. Its at the toss of a hat really.
August 17th, 2004  
GuyontheRight
 
Im no expert when it comes to the stuff Russia had going over in the far east, but was there a real large oppurtunity for the Japanese Navy to play a role over there? I mean, the Navy was the crown jewl of the Imperial Empire...
August 17th, 2004  
Doppleganger
 
 
Japan doesn't need to go anywhere near Stalingrad, Moscow or anywhere else in order to help the Germans. Just the possible threat of a Japanese excursion into Siberia might have possibly changed the outcome of Barbarossa. History tells us that Zhukov arrived with 25 fresh Siberian divisions that aided in the defence of Moscow and the resulting Soviet counterattack. That probably wouldn't have happened..

There's no way of telling what would have happened for sure, but without those Siberian divisions coming to Moscow's aid the Wehrmacht would not have been pushed back as far as it was and may have even been able to conduct a limited siege of Moscow. Certainly in the spring of '42 the Wehrmacht would be much further forward than it was historically and this may have persuaded Hitler to go all out for Moscow as his generals wanted instead of adopting Fall Blau.

Importantly also, the Soviets would not have achieved their first strategic victory over the Wehrmacht with all the morale boosting benefits such a victory would bring. The Wehrmacht would still have its aura of invincibilty and Stalin's position would be that much weaker as a result.

For the record the Imperial Japanese Army were not equipped for fighting in harsh winter terrain and likely would have had their asses handed to them by the same Siberian divisions that saved Moscow.
August 17th, 2004  
GuyontheRight
 
Yea, Zhukov had already whipped the Japanese in Manchuria, and he would of done it again. But like you said, as long as his forces wern't at Moscow, the Germans may have been able to walk in.
August 19th, 2004  
yurry
 
Firstly:

Mosuito: How the hell could Japan attack south of the caucasus?!? Rommel was in a far better position to do so but he didn't have a chance

Secondly:

Japan if it would not attack Pearl Harbour would run out of oil in a few months due to the US embargo. Infact the very reason for Pearl Harbour taking place on December 7th was that a month from that Japan could no longer strike due to oil shortages.

Thirdly:

Japans army proved inferior (when not fighting on islands and in any way close to the sea) to any other foe. They couldn't defeat China in 14 years of war!!! Also every skirmish that historicaly took place in Manchuria betwen Jap and SU went decicevely to the Soviets. One must not also forget the campagin in Manchuria in 1945 when in a matter of days the Red Army overran the Kwangtung army and occupied teritory the size of Western Europe (the Soviet forces numbered soume 1.500.000 vs. the Japanese strenght of 1.000.000).

As for the SU being streched on two fronts IMO it could hold as even after transfering reserves to the west they kept 400.000 men in the far east. I think it would take MUCH longer than historicly but eventualy the SU would prevail as Japan would fall (in the mainland at least) followed by a transfer of all available troops to the west wich would already be battle-hardened in contrast to 1941!

And it would also be important that China would get a direct route for suplies after the Burma road got cut-off! Imagine 1000 T-34 appering in China against the flimsy Japanese tanks!!!
August 19th, 2004  
Uncle_Sam
 
 
Let's not forget that Stalin was pledging for help from Western Allies
If Japan attacked USSR instead of USA, than Reds would be completely wiped of the planet! 'Cause USA woudn't be there on 6th June '44 to save Soviet asses