If the Nazis took out Moscow, that could have very well been the end of Stalin. He certainly had enough enemies in the Red Army, and some optimistic Politburo member could have made their move.
optimistic should be “opportunistic.”
~If the Nazis took out Moscow, that could have very well been the end of Stalin. He certainly had enough enemies in the Red Army, and some optimistic Politburo member could have made their move.~
True, but Stalin’s demise wouldn’t mean that the survivors must be cooperative with the Germans.
Not to mention that Moscow was occupied more than once in history and every time Russian troops marched into an occupiers’ capitals shortly after.