Who played the largest role in defeating Nazi Germany (WW 2)?

[Moooooo]

Just curious...

[Rob]

That's a tough call between the US and the Soviet Union. I have to go with the USSR, though. They engaged the Germans on the Eastern Front, forcing Hitler to concentrate the bulk of his forces there. This enabled the Americans and British to penetrate Western Europe, which would have been extremely difficult (if not impossible) otherwise.

[Moooooo]

Ill admit Im not the biggest history buff.

Ive heard some people say the Soviet Union was soley responsible for breaking Germany's back on Feb 2, 1943, and the United States basically swept up the left over scraps.

Is this true?

[Erc]

The USSR, most definitely.

Whether they could have done it by themselves without Lend-Lease...that's a point up for debate.

Although if the Brits had gotten knocked out of the war in Fall 1940, the Nazis probably would have beaten Russia the next year...as they wouldn't have to deal with the Balkan distractions.

[TheWildCard]

You can't just discard the little countries who played a role. Greece by holding off Italy forced the Nazis to aid their fellow axis allie. I believe there were other instances where they had to help the Italians.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

The Soviets played the largest role, largely because they had the most to lose of the big three Allies if they lost.  Could Germany have been defeated by the Western Allies alone? Yes, but continental Europe would be the site of hundreds of Hiroshima-style peace memorials.

[minionofmidas]

The Yugoslav resistance.

No, just kidding (although they were very important). Soviet Union. Plus Lend-Lease.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

USSR of course

[TheWildCard]

You can't just discard the little countries who played a role. Greece by holding off Italy forced the Nazis to aid their fellow axis allie. I believe there were other instances where they had to help the Italians.

I should add I'm not saying they played the biggest part. I really don't think you can say any side contributed more to the allies victory than the others. It was a complete team effort.

[ATFFL]

The USSR could not have lasted as long as it did without massive, massive US aid.  WIthout US food, raw materials, radios, rubber and many other essentials the Soviets would have never been able to use the manpower they did and still be able to give them any food, guns, tanks, or trucks.  The US provided all their new rolling stock (railroad) and their trucks to move supplies.  So even if they did produce any supplies, they could not have gotten them to where they were going.

If you want to talk purely in combat, yes, the Soviets did the most.  But the Soviets would not have been in those fights without the US meeting almost all of their logistical needs.

[minionofmidas]

Yeah yeah, those lendlease chewing gums...

[TX_1824]

I would have to say the USSR. Hitler's foolish invasion of the Soviet Union and the amount of resources spent in a failed attempt to capture Stalingrad in 1942-43 almost guaranteed the colapse of the Third Reich.

[Hitchabrut]

US, USSR was just there to absorb Hitler's blows, weakening him, although they were really trying to survive, not weaken Hitler.

[PBrunsel]

The U.S. If it wasn't for the US the Brits would be speaking German right now.

 
 
 

[dazzleman]

In terms of lives, the Soviet Union.
In terms of money and material, the United States.
In terms of courage and will at a critical time, Great Britain.

The loss of any one of these three contributions probably would have meant the loss of the war to the Nazis.  It's impossible to say which is the greatest contribution.

[Redefeatbush04]

The Soviet Union's winter

[MAS117]

Without the US in the war, Hitler could have concentrated more on the USSR, and possible could have successfully invaded England.

[Erc]

Without the US in the war, Hitler could have concentrated more on the USSR, and possible could have successfully invaded England.

*cough*

Germany declared war on the U.S. on December 10, 1941.

Germany reached the high-water point in Russia on December 5, 1941.


You can make that case for Britain, but not for the US.


In any event, to answer the original question..."Who played the largest role in defeating Nazi Germany?"

The obvious, and correct, answer is Hitler himself.

[ATFFL]

Without the US in the war, Hitler could have concentrated more on the USSR, and possible could have successfully invaded England.

*cough*

Germany declared war on the U.S. on December 10, 1941.

Germany reached the high-water point in Russia on December 5, 1941.


You can make that case for Britain, but not for the US.


In any event, to answer the original question..."Who played the largest role in defeating Nazi Germany?"

The obvious, and correct, answer is Hitler himself.

Actually, you jus tmade the case for the US.  THe US entered the war right after Germany reached its peak.  Once the US was in the war, things went downhill for Hitler.

[Erc]

Without the US in the war, Hitler could have concentrated more on the USSR, and possible could have successfully invaded England.

*cough*

Germany declared war on the U.S. on December 10, 1941.

Germany reached the high-water point in Russia on December 5, 1941.


You can make that case for Britain, but not for the US.


In any event, to answer the original question..."Who played the largest role in defeating Nazi Germany?"

The obvious, and correct, answer is Hitler himself.

Actually, you jus tmade the case for the US.  THe US entered the war right after Germany reached its peak.  Once the US was in the war, things went downhill for Hitler.

I knew someone would try to make that point.

Let me clarify what I said.

Germany reached the apex of its power on December 5, 1941, when they were 10 miles from the outskirts of Moscow.  On December 6, the Russians counterattacked, drove them away from Moscow...and at that point it was essentially over for the Germans.  No US involved.

Besides, the US wasn't actually involved on the ground until November 1942...

[??????????]

The Soviet Union's winter

Bingo. The german uniforms weren't designed for the bitter cold that ensued during that winter.

[minionofmidas]

In terms of lives, the Soviet Union.
In terms of money and material, the United States.
In terms of courage and will at a critical time, Great Britain.

The loss of any one of these three contributions probably would have meant the loss of the war to the Nazis.  It's impossible to say which is the greatest contribution.

In terms of lives, in absolute figures the Soviet Union. As a proportion, the Serbs, actually.
In terms of money and material, in absolute terms, the US. In terms of proportion to industrial ability etc, definitely the USSR (of the major combatants)
In terms of courage and will at a critical time, Great Britain 1940 and the USSR 1941/2 basically tie.