The good thing is that Putin is not the raving, insane madman that Hitler was.

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19. ok, my one-liner was a simplification.

right, hitler would never have nakedly exposed the eastern front but committing *all* troops to the west. of course he would have left a defensive contingent, and dug in for that matter.

the war would have been very different, but people act as if attacking russia was a pure loss and idiotic move on hitler's part. people forget that he conquered quite a bit of land for a good long while, and was able to make use of the resources there during that time.

those resources helped keep the entire war effort going. i don't think the western front would have played out much better for hitler without the resources of the east.

nevermind that russia would steadily have gotten stronger and stronger in the absence of war against germany and with access to those same resources. long term, russia would then have been even more formidable.

hitler striking then was probably his best move, at least it made more sense than waiting.
japan used the same logic in attacking pearl harbor. that was their last best chance, strategically speaking. they may have awakened a sleeping giant, but we had already begun to stir.