to E. nigma’s great capsule, might come back ’round to Midway; has Hitler won Stalingrad, the way to the Caucasus and oil was open; to lose Stalingrad could very well have been the end for Stalin and Russia’s war.

As it was, for a time, in late ’42, the 6 month long battle (ending in very early ’43) was almost in German hands (indeed at one point Hitler calle ‘victory’). The Red army was hanging on by the skin of its teeth. What made the difference was the arrival of Siberian troops from the far east, arriving by rail and feeding straight across the Volga into the firing line.

Why were these Siberian divisions so late to arrive? They had been held for defense against Japan, just in case Japan gained a quick win (or a truce) against the anglo navies, and turned to help ally Hitler. What had allowed Stalin to finally train these units west to Stalingrad? The Battle of Midway.