Political Differences

Narrator's post:

Even until 1942, the US, UK and USSR were divided politically despite the threats they faced on their borders. Stalin was constantly suspicious of US and UK intentions to launch a Second Front, believing that they were delaying any possible launch in order to let Nazi Germany weaken the USSR with its invasion Operation Barbarossa, in spite of the fact that the USA was sending her “Lend- Lease” supplies since late 1941. As a result of such attempts the USA was suffering severe losses in the Atlantic as a result of the U-Boat menace by 1942. Officials on the Soviet side did little to provide any assistance required by the US and UK, while public opinion in the US was also slow in coming to terms about providing aid to the USSR, as only till February 1942 would 84% of Americans back the provision of aid to the Soviets. Likewise, though they had closer relations than with the USSR, the UK and the US were still in the process of working out their war aims and a common strategy to defeat the Axis powers, while also having to reach out to the USSR. Unanswered questions at the start of 1942 remained, such as how a combined command structure could be formed? who were suitable candidates to be appointed to various positions? Who could liaise and coordinate between the different sides? Furthermore, from top to bottom, officials of all sides tasked to work together had a certain level of distain and dissatisfaction, and at the top Stalin, Roosevelt and Churchill in particular were defensive of their own national interests right at the start, and only over time would such issues be smoothened out.