The ensuing attack on the morning of June 22, 1941, was the largest military confrontation in human history, creating a front line that extended 1,000 miles (1,600 km) from north to south (practically the distance from Seattle to Los Angeles). At the outset, the operation involved three million Axis soldiers (across 117 army divisions), 3,580 tanks, 7,184 artillery guns, 1,830 planes, and 750,000 horses. In defense, the Russians amassed 132 army divisions, including 34 armoured divisions.
**
Take out England first. Consolidate Europe.
Napoleon also erred invading Russia.
Had Hitler continued to deal with Stalin he could have cut up Eastern Europe and remained in power another 20 years.
Stalin would have attacked around 1943. He was just trying to buy time to build up the Red Army.