It was under Eisenhower design for the Soviet Union to take Berlin because the US had to deal with taking out Japan by itself. The US supplied the Russians with trucks for transports that helped the Soviet Union push back the Germans after a bad blunder by Hitler not to take Moscow right away after they had ST Petersburg under siege. Hitler halted the Moscow campaign when the Russians where disorganized and on the verge of Moscow being capture. But Hitler wanted to seize the oil fields in the Caucasus in the south that the German south army was having trouble in, Hitler halted the central army and sent them south and by time he secured the Caucasus, winter hit and they were stopped 10 miles outside of Moscow and the tide turned after the winter and Stalin regrouped, Plus trying to take Stalingrad (Vouhgard today) was stupid in the spring campaign of 1943 after they where stopped outside of Moscow.
The Americans in 1942 with the British open up a second front in North Africa and after d Day open a up a third front causing resources being pulled from the Eastern Front and leaving less to hold on after the Russian regroup to defend a 1.500 mile front with 3 mil Germans vs 6 mil Russians.
Yes the Russians won the European theater. Because they faced 3/4 of the Germans force. But if only one front, IMO the Germans take Moscow in the spring after they where bogged down.
The Russian attack and defeat of the Kwantung Army in Manchuria played a major part in Japanese surrender. The Caucasus oilfields supplied at least 70% of the Soviets oil supply during the war, so Hitler made a another by attacking Moscow. After the Battle of Kursk the Russians were going to win, the biggest contribution the allies give to the Russians was strategic bombing of Germany in WWII. The Germans had send most of their fighters to defend their homeland, so the Russians were basically unopposed during later stages of WWII. 80% of German military casualties occurred on the Eastern Front.
The Russians attack Japan in Manchuria after being pressured by Truman after Germany felled too open up a second front in the Pacific theater. That was a little too late as we paid a big price in the island hopping campaign with no help to force Japan into a corner.
The Russians prior to operation Barbarossa had troops in the Manchuria. But no major battles took place and Stalin was allowed to use those troops in a recall back to help give him a over whelming number on troop strength in 43-44 to push back the Germans.
But other factors play in like weak Italy drawing resources away and after D Day that stopped the Germans.
My main point is in 42 if Hitler takes Moscow, the leadership is disrupted and he could of then in the spring of 43 send parts of the Nothernn and Central armies to help out the southern army to clean up the Caucasus in the summer of 43.
Stalin had troops in Eastern Siberia before the German invasion of the Soviet Union. He had those troops stationed their in case of an Japanese attacked. This was a major blunder by Stalin. The Japanese didn't have a mechanized army, and Siberia is one of the most harshest places on Earth. The Soviets didn't need to station troops in Siberia; the Siberian terrain would've a stopped the Japanese in case of invasion.
The Kwantung Army was one of the most prestigious units and commands in the Japanese military. When the Soviets defeated the Japanese in Manchuria that shocked the Japanese leadership. And considering the casualties sustained in Operation Downfall would dwarf all of island hopping campaigns combined. The Russians did their part in the Pacific.
Russia knows we want send conventional forces, its just to dangerous. There's a reason the Cold War never went hot. Russia's conventional military capabilities dwarf the capabilities of our recent adversaries.
The threat of nuclear escalation and Mutually Assured Destruction was the primary reason it never went hot. If it were just a conventional war, NATO would've kicked the shit out of the Warsaw Pact circa 1980's. Even back then, the U.S. and it's allies were much more advanced. Ask the 4th largest military in the world in 1991.
Like that limp dick Romney would suddenly grow man parts??? He'd do a W and go on vacation.
While I think there are more than a few reasons why the U.S. (foreign policy) is a joke
(Remembering all the boos Ron Paul got during the debates when he said the same)