Would Stalin have attacked Germany in 1941/42

This is probably the best-known and most discussed what-if of WW2, but as far as I can see, there has not been a thread in here so far...

Guess Hitler forbears from inraiding Russia, will Stalin take the offensive and attack Germany sooner or later?

 

If I recall correctly Stalin did have plans for "possible" attack 1942-43, but the main idea I believe is to let Germany and England/allies fight each other and weaken each other so that Stalin could easily enter the central Europe.

If German forces remained intact I don´t think Stalin would attack.

 

There's actually no evidence that Stalin had such agressive intentions towards Germany. However, marshal Timoshenko and general Zhúkov were already planning a pre-emptive attack on Germany for summer 1942.

In this case, I think the Red Army would have got a very bloody nose and would have been driven back to Poland until eventually, the Red Army would have grown stronger and more experienced and would have crushed the Wehrmacht ending the war in 1944, 45 maybe, but without the bloodshed of fighting in Soviet territory.

 

Then how would the Red Army gain experience prior to 1944 if there was to be no protracted war before?

 

By invading Germany in 42 and being defeated severely and driven back during the first year…

 

Even though, KV-1 and T-34 in good order are a terriying fighting force...

 

Oh, you mean like the great experience gained and lessons learned during the Polish Invasion and the Winter War?

 

Actually Za,

like I´ve mentioned a while back Stalin had a conference on the Red Army mishaps after Winter War and I think several of the changes did help to beat the Germans back in 1941. Of course Hitler decided to attack USSR after Red Army´s poor form in the Winter War but it did help Stalin to make several changes as well.

Don´t think the invasion of Poland by Red Army taught Stalin much. Then again the Polish troops were mostly fighting Germand forces, I think?

 

Yes, Russian losses were not significant. I think some 2000 soldiers.

 

I've only read a little about the war in the east, but one of the books I've read did mention this plan. However the plan appears not to have pre-emptive in the proper sense of the word, but a plan for an immediate counter offensive if the SU was attacked. Has anyone got anymore details

 

Keep in mind, the German army in WW2 was one of the best defensive armies in history. And a German Army, fighing on its home turf, that soon in the war, could yeild some tremendous casualties on the russians

 

There's no doubt that the Red Army would have suffered some grave disasters in the beginning, but afrter some time the balance would have favoured them.