[Felix The Assassin]

Well if we start @ 1 Sep 39 we see the Wehrmacht running a blitzkrieg through Poland, total control, use of resouces, and the last resistance failing 6 Oct 39. Do not forget about the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact, which puts Soviet forces invading Poland from the East middle of September.

This brings France and UK into the treaty bound agreement. Which they basically sat on their laurals beleiving this to be a phony war.

The winter war is very important, because this puts Soviet forces invading Finland November of 39.

September of 40 brings us to the Tripartite Pact, where the 3 name themselves as the Axis. Soviet Russia is still non-agressive towards Germany under the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact.

April of 40 brings us to Operation Weserbung, which is the German invasion of Denmark and Norway, by June Germans have control. May has France and the low countries are invaded. All kinds of mishaps, evacuations etc. Bottom line, Germany is again victorious.

Still in June of 1940 the Soviet Union occupied Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia, and annexed Bessarabia and Northern Bukovina from Romania.

Now it gets a little tricky. We are now faced with the assualt titled Battle of Britan, which was a long and drwan out failure. But, also, Italy invades Greece, but cannot hold the counter attack. First victory by the aliies.

Also, President Roosevelt is chomping at the bit to enter, but is or thinks he is not supported by the American people.

1941 brings the politics to Yugo, then the coup, then the invasion and fall of Yugo, by the Germans. Hitler is faced with a tactical decision, and makes a devastating Airborne raid into Crete which devastates the Allies, and secures the Southern flank, while renforcing the axis Italians there.

Also 1941 brings us to what could be considered the biggest mistake of the war. Operation Barbarossa. This operation brings the full weight and bearing of the German Axis into the mainland of Russia. Why? Why? Why? Anyhow, Russia does not take to kindly to this and moves from the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact, to what is known as The Eastern Front, aka the Great Patriotic War. Remember Russia is in the mist of full battle with Finland, and is not only caught off-guard, but by surprise.

7 December 1941, irregardless of what the real intelligence was, was made to be, or what was released to public knowledge, Japan launced an assualt against the US at Pearl Harbor. What was thought to be the entire 7th fleet at port was only enough war ships to create enough public outcry to allow President Roosevelt to invoke the war powers and declare war against Japan. But the final twist goes back to Europe. Hitler declares war against the US on 11 Dec 1941. This was not an obligation, it was more of a hope, or a prayer, that Japan would provide support and launch an attack against the Soviets. As we know, Japan did not attack, fearful of what they failed to do at Pearl, they went into preperation for the insuing battle of the Pacific. But, more importantly, this decision also allowed President Roosevelt to declare war on Germany unchallenged in Congress.

1942 brings us The battle of Stalingrad which brought urban warfare to the front, and now the Germans are the ones mired. Probably the real turning point of the war.

1943 brings us to the 'Mother of all tank battles' the Battle of Kursk! The first Soviet counter attack, or aka: Counter-Offensive, as they drove, then routed the Germans.

1944 brings us to D-day, minor axis surrenders, Soviet-Finland armistice, and the Ardennes offensive, where movies make heros out of warriors. And TV becomes a brotherhood for shows, Battle of the Bulge, is the true grit of a soldier fighting to maintain, and one who is fighting to keep his country. The Germans retreat back into Germany.

1945 Brings us to bear. The Red Army is on the move, all the way into Berlin in fact, and the Allies are preparing for the meeting and the Yalta conference.

Also, with the surrender of Germany, the Soviets declare war on Japan, and invaded Manchuria as their part in Operation August Storm. After Tokoyo was firebombed, and Japan did not surrender, the US went to phase two, and dropped "Little Boy" on Hiroshima, still Japan did not yield, that brings us to the "Fat Man" and Nagasaki.

So, in essence, the probable answer is yes!
But, more importanly, WHY did Hitler sucker punch Stalin?