Why did Stalin want the United States and Britain to launch a second front in the west?
1 Answer
To lift the pressure on the Soviet Union from the Germans and their allies.
Explanation:
The Nazi invasion of the Soviet Unions Operation Barbarossa on June 22nd 1941 was one of the biggest military operations in history. The invasion was not only military but also ideological and racial.
Hitler's policy of Lebensraum and his anti-semitism and general meant this was a war fought with no mercy. Losses were massive, an estimated 27 million Russians lost their lives, most of them civilians. As a consequence the pressure on the Soviet Union was immense as they were absorbing virtually on their own the power of the German military along with their Italian, Romanian and Hungarian allies.
Army Group North attacked Leningrad , Group Centre, Moscow and Group South Stalingrad.. Until the allies landed in Sicily and then in Southern France and Normandy the Soviet Union was Hitler's only real foe in Mainland Europe.
As a consequenceStalin constantly put pressure on the West from 1941 until 43-44 to open up a second front.
He was also suspicious of the West, seeing a reluctance on their part to commit forces as a way of targeting communism.
