Originally posted by Zhukov
With respect to the timing for Operation Barbarossa, at first Hitler had desired a fall of '40 campaign in another example of his..........
It's interesting, isn't it, that a man as universally hated as Hitler was turned out to be his own worst enemy. He doomed himself with his actions, yet he really had no choice, being the person he was.
As you mentioned earlier, had he shown the Soviet people a glimmer of hope, they would have gladly joined him in ousting their tormentor, Stalin. But Hitler, being who he was, couldn't do that. He didn't give a rat's ass about them- targeted them for slave labor and/or extermination. When the people saw that they were fighting for their lives, and not some bankrupt political ideology, it became a different matter.
It could also be argued that Hitler's declaration of war on the US was a huge blunder. He did it in the vain hope that his ally, Japan, would reciprocate by declaring war on the Soviet Union. This would have given the Soviet Union Hitler's problem-a two-front war. In reality, though, that probably didn't loom large. The US had been a belligerent participant in the war since it's onset in every sense except "official declaration".
I guess we've wandered off topic a bit. You mentioned something earlier about a WWII chatroom. Wouldn't dream of asking you to do my work for me, but could you steer me in the right direction?
Thanks. I enjoy jawing with you.