“A half dead Werhmacht is a match for the 3/4 dead Red Army.” Err, never. Germany succeeded some in some defensive battle, but in 1944, the Red Army had definitively the upper hand both in men and material.
The battle of Budapest would show your assertion a little bit exaggerated (24 hours to re-take what took 10 days for the German to take).
“lend-lease ended I suppose there would be significant pain for Stalin too...”, Not any more, as the help in logistic was not as vital in 1944 than in 1941-1942.
“The Soviets stumbled to the line in 1945 with manpower bled out and desperate for resources”
?. Did you read about the Siege of Berlin? What the Soviets were able to deploy in order to take Berlin before the 1st of May?
“A rested Allied bloc would find the challenge and provocation of Soviets in Mittel Europe irresistable, and a victorious German regime (either Nazi or Military junta) more so.”
Do you means that the Allies who had difficulties to win against mostly 2nd Rank German Division in France would have won in engaging the Red Army who defeated the most successful and most dangerous German Troops at the pick of the German Power, helped by numerous allies and well supplied?
I doubt that the Sherman would have many chances against the T 34/85, a JSU or KV 85. I have no doubt about the Allies soldiers’ courage, but I do think they were no match for the Red Army soldiers.
Then, in case of war between USSR and others Allies (and which ones?) what about the inevitable sabotage on the rear by the Communist Parties in France or Italy…
Would Tito’s Yugoslavia allowed the Red Army to cross then to attack Italy? And provide naval bases and Airfields?
“Patton might've got to spit on the Kremlin...the USAAF would've got him there.”: Oh. How? What the German didn’t succeeded to do in attacking by surprise a completely demoralised army (thanks to Stalin’s purges) with a mostly obsolete material and no capable Generals the Western Allies, some really fresh in the fight, speaking different languages and with less man power and lesser material would do? Yeah, right.
The Allies had one Patton. The Russian have Zhukov, Rokosovsky, Koniev, Vatutine, etc. What was a general under supervision in the Western Allies was what was at the Head of the Red Army.
The Allies would have been crushed (Red Army: 41.600 artillery pieces just for Berlin!!!!).
Facing this kind of fire power, the US and Allies would have difficulties to sustain the front. Then they would have to face not 2nd hand formations, by the elite of the Red Army, Red Guards and their superior material…
The Allies tanks out-numbered the German on the Western Front but this wouldn't be possible on the new eastern front. So, the only tanks able to face the KV, T 34 or JS would be the German tanks, which can’t be produced in mass. Even if the US decided to change their production chain from Sherman to Tiger or Panther, time would run out fast.
I suspect that Patton would have been thrown in the Atlantic and Europe would have been all under Communism rule for quite a long time…
You over-estimated the Air Power...
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