Question 1

If Hitler had not invaded Russia, could it have gained enough force to overpower Allied troops? Could they have had victory against the Allies?

Accepted Answer

It's impossible to say for sure what would have happened. Like any other moment in history, changing it would have had unforeseeable consequences.

However, some facts remain. Germany devoted the majority of it's military to Operation Barbarossa, the campaign against Russia, and most of the German casualties in the war occurred on the Russian front. The Russian won the war for us.

If Germany had instead attacked Britain with their full might, they may well have been able to hold on to the territory they had indefinitely, if they didn't manage to destroy Britain outright. On the other hand, the US was backing up Britain with a lend lease program. If Britain had looked likely to fall, the US may have stepped in to prevent it, even if the attack on Pearl Harbor hadn't happened. Once the US entered the war, Germany would have been facing Britain and the US in a naval war where the allies had both supremacy and the economic advantage. Because of this, the war could have been forced to a standstill, and US and British forces might have tried to take Europe back from Germany.

Like I said, it's impossible to say for sure. The Russian theater cost Germany the war, but the US and Britain by themselves may have been too formidable for the German war machine to handle.

Question 2

At 3:36 Sal mentions bombings in Rome. As a city with many ancient structures, when the allied bombing of Rome began for the purpose of pushing back the occupying Axis soldiers, did Rome lose any of her ancient structures or cultural assets as a result of the bombing or conflict there?  Thank you very much!

Accepted Answer

The main targets of the Allied bombing of Rome were freight yards, steel works, and airports.  The Basilica of St. Lawrence (Basilica di San Lorenzo fuori le Mura) was bombed and partially destroyed.  It was rebuilt in 1948.

Question 3

How many troops did the Allies have? How were they able to battle in so many places at the same time (such as America fighting with the Japanese but helping invade France at the same time)? Or was it that both were spread thin, but the Axis were weaker? I'm somewhat confused.

Accepted Answer

During the war, some 16,112,566 Americans served in the United States Armed Forces. These troops fought along with 70+ million other allied troops*. Only a few hundred thousand of these fought in the Pacific Theater. Armed with this knowledge you should be able to imagine how so many battles were fought in so many places at one time. Hope this helps.
*The Nazis only had 13.6 million troops and the Japanese only had 6,095,000. Even added together, it's a small enemy force compared to the allies and it surprises me that the war took so long.

Question 4

If the Soviet Union was on the side of the Germans, Italians, and Japanese would they win World War 2?

Accepted Answer

Well the Soviet Union, which had one of the greatest armies at the time if had been with the Germans, Italians, and Japanese, probably would have had a much higher chance of winning the war, though the other countries may have somehow won, so it is truly impossible to know the outcome of the war in that scenario.

Question 5

what was the role of Spain and Portugal in world war 2?

Accepted Answer

Portugal was a neutral nation during World War II, and Spain was believed to be one also. However, Spain supplied materials and military support to the Axis Powers because of the strong assistance they received during the Spanish Civil War. The main part of Spain's involvement was through their volunteers, who fought on both sides. Portugal mainly exported goods to the Allies, the Axis Powers, as well as other neutral nations. Hope this helps!

Question 6

have any of the axis powers actually set foot on US soil during ww2

Accepted Answer

If the Philippines, a US colony, was considered "US Soil", then the Japanese were all over it.
If Guam, another US colony, was considered "US Soil", then the Japanese were all over that, too.
If Alaska, a US Territory, is to be considered "US Soil", then the Japanese took and held the islands of Kiska and Attu, in the Aleutian chain.

Question 7

Did the Soviet Union engage in the Pacific Theater or did they only fight in the European Theater?

Accepted Answer

The Soviet Union did invade Japan at the very end of the war, between the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings. They gained lots of ground quickly, as the Japanese accounted more for a US invasion of their territories from the sea than a Soviet invasion from the land. This contributed to the decision to surrender.

Question 8

What's the status on the Catholic Church (specifically the Vatican/Vatican City) at this point considering all the turmoil in Italy with the bombings in Rome and the deposition of Benito Mussolini. Are they considered neutral?

Accepted Answer

Mussolini made a pact with the Vatican city that they would remain neutral in politics, but in return recognize Italy. So yes, they were neutral and never bombed. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPHRIjI3hXs 
This video explains the vatican's situation

Question 9

Did Spain just stay out of it?

Accepted Answer

Yep, they stayed neutral throughout the war. The new Spanish leader Francisco Franco thought it would be too much for the war-exhausted Spain to jump into another war, so he prioritized recovery first. But there were some Spanish volunteers that fought in the German military.

Question 10

why did Canada lose during the Dieppe raid?

Accepted Answer

Dieppe was really a test for whether the Allies could take and hold a harbour in France. The knowledge was vital for the planning of D-Day (in a later video). Having decided after Dieppe, that capturing a decent harbour was too hard, the Allies built a mobile harbour ("Mulberry") and took that to D-Day instead. If you ever get to go to that part of France, there are still a few bits of that mobile harbour to see.
So although quite a lot of Canadians died at Dieppe, it saved many more troops later on at D-Day.
The war cemetery in Dieppe is above the town, and last time I looked, was reasonably well signposted. As well as the Dieppe dead, there are a few others there, like pilots and the like shot down at other times.

Course: AP®︎/College US History > Unit 7

1943 Axis losing in Europe

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