Quote Originally Posted by LegioXXXUlpiaVictrix
The US seemed to have a majority against taking part in the war in 1940. It's probably obvious already in 1940 that the Japanese were going to aim east for US sooner or later, so breaking off connections with the Japanese would probably be necessary if war with the US were to be avoided for Germany. However, it's unclear if even that would have kept US out of the war, especially if Germany had been successful in North Africa, the Middle east and eventually started to seriously threaten Britain by such important (for resource and supply) successes. If North Africa is lost by the British the US would have to send their entire help to Britain if they would join in the war, because a direct landing from such a long sea transport wouldn't be feasible. They would send a strong fleet along with the land troops. The situation would be that of D-Day, only the German forces would have been pretty well supplied and possibly have more strength available to repel the attacks. It's possible that if the Japanese connections were broken and Japan would be successful enough, the US would choose a "Japan first" strategy and perhaps not declare war with Germany initially, or maybe not at all. It would give a 2-3 or maybe 5 year period for finishing the fight with Britain after seizing North Africa.
Another solution to avoid war entirely is to convince the Japanese Empire to join in the assault on the Soviet Union ... it would prevent the Siberian troops from reaching Moscow in time to save the city, as they would be tied up with the Japanese and Manchurian forces in the Far East. Siberia and it's oil would go a long way to aid the Japanese economy relieve itself from dependence on outside sources, and it would ease the German assault on Russia.

Ideally, Operation Barbarossa should have four fronts, one from the Caucaus (Italy and the Afrika Korps), Finland (which would tie up northern troops), the Far East (Japan's attack on Vladivostok) and Poland (where the heaviest strike would come from). It is however imperative that the Ribbentrop plan be accepted, the one where local nations are promised freedom from the Soviet regime. That move would give us some 2,000,000 soldiers ... or more. It is also important to keep those soldiers on the East Front (rather than send them to France, as Hitler did, an event that ended in mass surrenders, especially on D-day).

A prolonged war with the Soviet Union heavily favours the Soviets. Speed is where Germany has the advantage. Rather wait for a year and strike at spring, than strike when there is insufficent time to complete the invasion.