Operation Barbarossa - who knows ?

[Schwerpunkt]

This is a very interesting topic, even though it is argued constantly and in some cases with great anger and bitterness.

In my opinion, the Soviets were not planning an immediate "action" against Germany. But I also think that there is a clear sense that at some point Stalin would engage Germany. Just as some propose the above situation as a justification for German action, so to do others use this situation to show the Soviets as victims. Soviet aggression makes them just as culpable in the war as was Germany. The invasions of Finland, Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia and Poland. The atrocities committed by the Russians in these areas are no less startling than German ones. And they were just as coldly calculated - at political leaders, police, military, academics - showing that they intended to stay without opposition.

A conflict at some level was inevitable, for ideological reasons (on both sides). Both Stalin and Hitler used each other. It was a matter of Hitler knowing he had to act faster than Stalin had to act. Supplies of war essential materials (nickel, copper, aluminum and even grain) was one major factor as Germany could not sustain on it's own. Soviet "sphere" building in Hungary and other states was an indirect threat to the German sphere of influence. The fear of US intervention growing more likely as the war continued. These greatly added to the German sense of urgency in dealing with the Soviets.

I may have strayed off of the topic somewhat, but I think that troop disposition is a moot point, when it is meant to show blame and/or who was the most aggressive...