USSR Joins Axis Powers

[Vosem]

It really was a question of whether Stalin or Hitler backstabbed the other first; I recall I read somewhere that Stalin was planning an attack for the summer of 1942 and was unexpectedly preempted. Honestly, there's too much distrust and ambition there for it to last more than a few years (which is how long it did in reality; 1939-1941). If it does last (because of, most likely, some violent regime change in Germany), over the long run Germany will become an economic puppet of the Soviets. Difficult to tell how that leads; if the Sovs really, seriously decide to back Germany against an attack by the Western Allies I do think the war would continue way longer, but still, in the very long run (like, the 1950s) a conventional war between US+UK and Axis+Soviets would end with a US+UK victory. The really scary thing is that, considering how the US and Soviets ramped up their nuclear production in the early 1950s (and assuming on a war footing that could happen a bit earlier), there's a legitimate risk such a war could end with a limited nuclear exchange. (The war with Japan might actually end with a faster Allied victory though, if Anglo-American forces aren't active on the Continent and Lend-Lease obviously isn't happening at all). The 'US' would 'win' such an exchange in the sense of being the only 'Great Power' left standing and mostly intact, but the world as a whole would certainly lose. On the other hand, I doubt anti-Hitlerian (Soviet-backed is probably what you want for this scenario) coup in Germany against Hitler would consider continuing the Holocaust; it would be seen as a waste of resources, though official discrimination could -- probably would -- well continue. (There were rumors in 1953 that Stalin was planning to exile Soviet Jews to Birobidzhan -- that unfortunate scheme could actually take place, and on a much grander scale, in this timeline.) But this is all wanton, vague speculation.