Quote:
Originally Posted by Louis Cyphre
After the liberation of France the Allies were confident that it was only a matter of time until Germany was defeated. The US transferred troops to the Pacific theatre to support the war effort there.
The German army put up more resistance than expected and progress stalled. This resulted in Stalin being in a position of strength during the Yalta conference and being able to dictate terms.
Was the better option to keep the troops in Europe until Germany surrenders?
What would postwar Europe have looked like if the Allies take Berlin before The Red Army sets foot on German soil?
I don't think the US transferred divisions out of Europe after the recapture of France. Their divisions were all rather heavily engaged. In fact they transferred quite a few fresh divisions in. The 12th, 13th, 14th, 16th and 20th Armored Divisions only have the battle honor 'Germany' except for the 13th ('Ardennes, Germany') and the 14th ('France, Germany'). The 42nd Infantry Division has 'Schweinfurt, Munich, Dachau (Germany)'. The 44th Infantry Division has 'Saar, Ulm (Germany), Danube River.' The 63rd Infantry has 'Bavaria (Germany), Danube River'. The 65th Infantry, 'Saarlauteren, Regensburg (Germany), Danube River.' The 69th Infantry, 'Germany'. The 70th, 'Saarbrucken, Moselle River (Germany).' The 71st, 'Harz Mountains (Germany)'. The 75th, 'Ardennes, Westphalia (Germany).' The 76th, 'Luxembourg, Germany'. The 78th, 'Aachen, Roer River, Ruhr (Germany).' The 84th, 'Ardennes, Hanover (Germany).' The 86th, 'Dachau, Ingolstadt (Germany).' The 87th, 'Ardennes, Germany, Czechoslovakian border.' The 97th, 'Germany'. The 98th, 'Ardennes, Remagen Bridgehead (Germany).' The 102nd, 'Siegfried Line, Ruhr, Munchen-Gladbach (Germany).' The 103rd, 'Stuttgart (Germany), Austria.' The 104th, 'Rhine Crossing, Cologne, Ruhr (Germany).' The 106th, 'St Vith (Ardennes), Germany.' It looks as though the US actually poured very large numbers of fresh troops into Europe after the successful campaign in Normandy. It was purely a US political decision to let the Soviets take Berlin and a large bite of eastern Germany, in the mistaken belief that those nice progressive Soviets would hold free elections -- a decision they soon came to regret.