In early June 1941, Stalin is informed by reliable sources that Germany plans to invade inside of a month. He is shocked because it is a trusted source and knows the Soviet forces can not prevail. Only extensive surrendering of land to Nazi Germany will forestall Hitler and give the Soviet's time to rearm. In a move that shocked and surprised the Germans he offers them a transfer of the Ukraine, Crimea, Belarus and the Baltic states to Germany. He also includes a transfer of Bessarabia back to Romania and a restoration of the newly acquired Finnish territory back to Finland along with Karelia and the Kola peninsula. If the Germans agree all factories producing vital war equipment are to be dismantled and shipped east along with the Soviet Union going to a war economy. Would Hitler agree to the increase of land without attacking the Soviet Union? Would this by Stalin the time needed to prepare the Soviet forces?
New Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
- Thread starter Musketeer513
- Start date
After the recent pugers Stalin might be secure if he showed the rest of the Politburo his information.
SsgtC
Banned
Not a chance. That, combined with the purges, will show just how terrible of a leader Stalin is and even his gutted and cowed politboro will overthrow him. Likely with many, if not most, of the purged Red Army and Red Air Force officers restored to their commands
Like @calvinhobbesliker says, Stalin would be assassinated.
If this somehow went through, though, Hitler would take it. Sure, why not, free territory while disrupting Soviet production! Then he'd gear up to invade the rump Soviet Union at some future point, just like he gobbled up the rest of Czechoslovakia after Munich.
If this somehow went through, though, Hitler would take it. Sure, why not, free territory while disrupting Soviet production! Then he'd gear up to invade the rump Soviet Union at some future point, just like he gobbled up the rest of Czechoslovakia after Munich.
I could see Stalin be willing to give up Buknovia, bits of Galacia (the oil around Lemberg), maybe even Courland, Viborg in Finland. Change the terms of economic exchanges in Germany's favor. A new agreement based on new realities. After the fall of Athens in April 41, Germany presses for a new agreement in May 41.
Hardly worth making the Soviets mad though.
Hardly worth making the Soviets mad though.