What was Russia's involvement in World War 2?

Answer 1

Soviet Union contributed to the defeat of Nazi Germany more than any other country, in fact, more than all other countries combined.

According to estimates, USSR destroyed 75-80% of living forces of the Wermacht and even higher percentage of armored forcec. Operation Bagration alone destroyed as much German forces as allies (USA and Britain) destroyed throughout the war. In fact, without Bagration, allied landing would not be possible, because Hitler had to draw all his elite armored units from western front to eastern, to stop the Russians, who were virtually on a rampage.

Answer 2

Russia was involved with a war against Finland just before WW2. Molotov & Ribbentrop drew up a Non-aggression Pact with Germany to ensure the destruction of Poland. Russia also invaded Latvia, Lithuania & Estonia. This is in 1939. In the Summer of 1941 Hitler launches Operation Barbarossa, the huge invasion of Russia. many, many are captured and imprisoned by the Nazis, and the attacks roll on & on. Leningrad in the north (Now St Petersburg) is besieged, Moscow is defended desperately and Stalingrad, in the south, is reached. In the snows of December 1942 the German 6th army is surrounded and captured. The Russians now start the long, long road to Berlin. the death toll has been horrendous, the war in the east was a very different conflict than against, say, the British. Principally commanded by Marshal Zhukov, ably supported by Koniev & Rokossovsky, the Russians begin to get the upper hand against the Germans & their (largely unwilling) allies. Much equipment was given to Russia by Britain & the US, but the Russians develop one of the best tanks of WW2, the T34: Slowly but surely the Germans are pushed back, Hitlers demands that there is to be no retreat are futile. The Russians eventually retake Eastern Europe and meet with the US on the River Elbe in Germany in May 1945. There is then much distrust between the Russians & the forces from the West. It is the start of the Cold War.