Better question might be-- what if Hitler had focused that first year's offensive and taken Moscow, decapitating the Russian state?

Russia was very weak when she was attacked and came very close to collapsing. Her vast resources did not ENSURE her victory, they BARELY saved her from defeat.

..

If the Japanese had either caught our carriers in Pearl or won the battle of Midway, we probably would have sued for peace.

It would have set them up for future victories which could have undermined our will to pursue the war.

One thing's for sure-- we would've had to start from Australia in 1944, instead of already being half-way up Asian Islands. It would have taken alot longer at least, and they possibly could have held us off to a negotiated peace.

DA