4 What ifs

[discovery1]

If the West didn't react then Hitler would have attacked the West nonetheless. Poland was the bufferzone vs. Russia. The idea is not to alarm the USSR, hence the non-aggression pact ( I can't exactly remember when this was signed).

Why? Hitler viewed the west as equals more or less. Indeed, din't he think that Gb was a natural ally of the 3rd Reich? And about not alarming the Reds, both knew that a showdown between the two was inevitable. The expansionistic nature of Communism and Hitler's dreams of living space would see to that. Parts of Poland I believe were to serve as a buffer so that the war wouldn't be fought one Russian soil. Not that it helped.

2 What if the allies had declared war on Russia instead of Germany?

Then no way do I see Hitler attacking the west. Ever. He would certainly join them in a Western Crusade against the Reds. The only way I think this could have happened is if the west actually did send troops to Finland(the French did threaten to do this didn't they?)

3 What if the allies had declared war on both ?

I suppose that the Reds and the Germans would have not gone to war with each other as soon. Then again, if the Russians are busy trying to conquer India or the Middle East then I guess Hitler would have na eaier time in Russia.

4 What if the allies other than Russia of course had listened to Patton and attacked Russia after the defeat of Germany?

I don't know. I'm pretty sure russian tanks were better than Western ones. But I think that the western Airforces were stronger. I guess that eventually the Allies win, even if they don't use nukes. America's economy will see to that. But still I don't see communism being slain. I think that the best the west could achieve would be to free the ethic groups in western USSR(Ukrain and Baltic states). Russia proper still red though.

[fret]

Indeed, din't he think that Gb was a natural ally of the 3rd Reich? .

Yes.

He was concerned that should he invade and conquer Britain, he wouldnt be able to cope with the administration of the British Empire.

He wanted to rule the world alongside them, but if they wouldnt accept his terms, he would take them anyway.

Something along those lines.

[English assassin]

4 What if the allies other than Russia of course had listened to Patton and attacked Russia after the defeat of Germany?

Until recently I thought that this could only end one way, namely with the Russians triumphant. I fact I understand that in terms of manpower at least the Russians were at close to full stretch by 1945, so possibly the west would have had a chance to push them back to at least the Polish-Russian border. (which, there or thereabouts, is where any sensible person stops, IMHO.) Certainly as I recall the figures the US (with a bit of help from the other allies) could have out produced even the Russians in terms of materiel.

However I also understand that the US forces in particular absolutely did NOT want to hang around in Europe a moment longer than they had to, and indeed that even demobilising in an orderly way was quite difficult. Therefore I think there would be a very real chance that the soliders would simply have refused to follow Patton et al. (This is not intended as a shot against American troops. They had been out of the States for maybe two years, and the war they signed up to fight was over. Its hardly surprising they wanted to go home. Bear in mind too that they had been told Uncle Joe and Ivan were their staunch allies fighting against Nazism. Quite hard to turn that round to Uncle Joe the enemy of the USA overnight.)

[ShadesPanther]

Hitler didn't want war to start in 1939. IIRC he assured his generals and Admirals the war would begin in 1945 against the western Allies (they were particularly worried about the British navy)