[hinckley buzzard]

May very well have been true. Hitler's primary objective in the war to the West, besides humiliating France, was to secure his rear for Barbarossa, the all-out onslaught to the East. If he could have achieved that security without expending his forces, he would have. At least for the time being.

[Olog-hai]

He would have been back warring with the west anyhow, and with renewed vigor if he had actually secured his eastern front. He laid claim to the orb, scepter, crown and imperial sword of the Holy Roman Empire, remember, and he was not going to let the traditional territory of that empire go free if he could help it.

[Vigilanteman]

I'm not so sure considering his actions toward the end of the war. The last three (relatively) well-equipped new armies that the German war machine was able to crank out in the fall of 1944 were sent to the western front for what was to become the Battle of the Bulge offensive, not to the east.

Then when the Battle of Berlin was nearing its final conclusion, Hitler told his staff that a takeover by the Soviets was far preferable to a takeover by the Americans and Brits because Soviet style Communism was far closer to his ideal brand of national socialism.

[luvbach1]

At least for the time being.

Re Hitler, I'm glad you added that last line. Giving him Russia (the USSR) would have been the ultimate in appeasement and it wouldn't have worked either.

[dfwgator]

The US entry into the war ruined Hitler’s plan, or should I specifically say, Hitler’s Declaration of War on the US.

Britain was neutralized, if not defeated. But foolishly, Hitler thought the Japs would help him against Russia as a quid pro quo for Germany declaring war on the US.

[cradle of freedom]

Leibenstrum—breathing room. Didn’t they want to expand to the east?