I’m not sold on Germany beating Russia that quickly, I think it would have dragged on for years, perhaps Germany controlling most of the European part, but still facing big problems from partisans behind the lines, that tied them up. It would allow the Brits time to recoup their losses, and still with most of their Empire intact, and of course America would have been fully war-prepared, and most likely with the Nazis dealing with revolts throughout their occupied territories, I just don’t see the Nazis prevailing long-term, even without our involvement.
“I just don’t see the Nazis prevailing long-term, even without our involvement.”
I think the original question was just the Germans and the Soviets fighting it out; with no one else involved. In a war between those two countries, in the early 1940s; Germany would have won.
Remember, between September, 1939 and June, 1941, Germany suffered no land defeats in Europe at all. Hell, in 1939 France had the largest army in Europe; but a year later Germany defeated France in just six weeks! Poland, being invaded by BOTH Germany and the USSR in 1939, held out ALONE longer than France did in 1940 fighting only an invasion by Germany; and France had British forces fighting alongside it!
In 1939, 1940, and 1941, NO ONE, alone, could have defeated Germany in Europe. Only Britain could have put up much of a fight, and at that it would not have defeated Germany. Britain in WWII could only have won by not losing. That is exactly the position Ukraine is in today: It has no chance of defeating Russia, much less conquering it. But, Ukraine wins by not losing.