Would he have done so if the Germans did not invade the Soviet Union? I think there were plans due to the danger the Germans represented to SU but I don't think Stalin would have attacked and initiated the war.
Personally I think he wouldn't as my estimation of Stalin is that he was cautious and wouldn't start a war as dangerous as that might had been, and a war with Nazi Germany would have very negative consequences even if won. If the red army recovered from the bad situation it was after Stalin's purges at a later date, Stalin would probably be even less in favor of attacking Germany when his army is powerful enough to limit Germany's threat to him. (When the army was seemingly weak but in truth Russia could not be defeated even then, I don't think at 1941 Stalin could invade Germany, and later I don't think he would have to and if the Germans had reservations before at launching Barbarossa perharps at a later date with a better regrouped and prepared Soviet Union, not only the generals but perhaps even the likes of Hitler might not have have agreed with Barbarossa.
Of course if we switched the leaders and put Hitler in the place of Stalin as leader of the Soviet Union (but he is not an Austrian/ sees himself as German but he does have the same pro risks personality), I think he would have attacked Germany eventually, but I don't see Stalin doing so. But I would like to hear some other opinions.
Personally I think he wouldn't as my estimation of Stalin is that he was cautious and wouldn't start a war as dangerous as that might had been, and a war with Nazi Germany would have very negative consequences even if won. If the red army recovered from the bad situation it was after Stalin's purges at a later date, Stalin would probably be even less in favor of attacking Germany when his army is powerful enough to limit Germany's threat to him. (When the army was seemingly weak but in truth Russia could not be defeated even then, I don't think at 1941 Stalin could invade Germany, and later I don't think he would have to and if the Germans had reservations before at launching Barbarossa perharps at a later date with a better regrouped and prepared Soviet Union, not only the generals but perhaps even the likes of Hitler might not have have agreed with Barbarossa.
Of course if we switched the leaders and put Hitler in the place of Stalin as leader of the Soviet Union (but he is not an Austrian/ sees himself as German but he does have the same pro risks personality), I think he would have attacked Germany eventually, but I don't see Stalin doing so. But I would like to hear some other opinions.
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