I have a question for you, and I don’t think it violates Henkster’s Law. It’s not a “what if?” it’s a “did we?”
We’ll call it the George C. Patton Question:
Did we have sufficient power, even without using the A-bombs that were about ready, to kick the Russians back beyond the Crimea and Ukraine if we wanted to?
The Russians had millions of men on the line, and a gazillion tanks, I know, but we had one incredible blooded, veteran force, at its full capabilities. In my opinion it was the most powerful military force in history, bar none. And our country wasn’t even close to fully mobilized. We could have done a whole lot more if we would have had to.
Not that our leaders would have, if for no other reason than a reasonable fear that the Soviets might join forces with Japan in Asia, and extend the war indefinitely.
But could we have done it?
I’ll tell you right up front that I believe we could have kicked their tails in that short window of time before they got The Bomb.
If I remember right, Patton thought so too. And he wanted to do it.
RE: Patton’s question.
My snap judgement is no we could not with the forces at hand.
While I believe that the US had the Soviets outclassed in the air the Red Army would have outclassed the US Army in armor. M4 Shermans would not have matched up well with the T-34s and JS-2s and 3s of the Russians. I would have to give a slight edge to the Russians in artillery as well. Quantity has a quality all to itself.
While the US would have an edge on the Soviets regards logistics the Soviets would have the advantage of falling back on their homeland.
My 2 cents for what it is worth.
Regards
alfa6 ;>}