1940, 22 June
Britain is now alone in its battle with Hitler's Germany.
Winning is not an option.
Churchill is fighting for survival.
1941, 22 June
Germany invades Russia.
Britain is no longer alone in the struggle
against Hitler. The Fuhrer has bet on
Stalin's quick collapse. Intelligence fed him
what he wanted to hear. His generals fought him
over how to win the war.
France gave him the confidence needed to make
this fatal error.
1941, 7 December
Game changer. America is at war.
Hitler declares war on the U.S.
Churchill is exultant. The globe's two
industrial giants are suddenly his allies.
Britain will be on the winning side.
1941, winter
The Nazis come up just short of Moscow,
a spent force. Add Leningrad and Baku to
Hitler's objectives. None of them achieved.
German forces ravaged the country and, still,
they couldn't deliver the knock-out blow.
1942, winter
Germany's best army in Russia is destroyed.
There is no recovery from this one. Hitler's chance
at victory in Russia has passed.
1943, November
The tide had turned. The Big Three were comfortable
talking of their plans as victors. Churchill stood as the
lone advocate of France's restoration to great power status.
He resisted Germany's dismemberment and fought
Stalin's draconian demands for reparations.
Stalin called this Churchill's "soft peace".
In fact it was the Prime Minister's attempt at restoring
the Balance of Power to continental Europe.
Equilibrium between competing powers helps prevent
acts of war. In this instance the Soviet Union was
the clear dominant power of Europe. With war's end
came the realization that Germany, France and Italy
were all vulnerable to Communist rule.
Only U.S. forces in Europe could provide a
credible defense to the Red Army.
1944, 6 June
Allies gain a second front on continental Europe.
For Hitler, the end is in sight.
1945, February
Roosevelt was weeks from death.
It was an exhausting journey from Washington
to this Russian resort along the Black Sea.
Roosevelt talked about principles and providing
global peace through harmony and good will.
Stalin didn't concern himself with the wistful
musings of this worn-out old man.
Stalin already had what he wanted.
His army occupied all of Eastern Europe.
Each of these countries quickly became ruled
by leaders who were Kremlin friendly.
Here was Moscow's protective barrier.
Here would be Russia's reward.
* * * * *
© Tom Taylor
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