re: How big a role did Russia play in WWII?

Hitler believed that they could conquer the reds in about 3 months. He believed that once you kicked the door in the Soviet Union would crumble like a house of cards. Th Germans had several huge issues such as logistics (they advanced about 800 miles and their supply chain collapsed or was severely lacking- btw this was predicted before the invasion but no one in high command told Hitler, fuel (HUGE problem for Germany- reason that Hitler sent part of the German army into the Caucus regions), lack of mechanized units- much of German army advanced using horse drawn wagons, etc., the rail system was different in Russia (width of tracks) and this played a huge role- rail width had to be changed or supplies had to be transported vast distances, overall vastness of Russia - the entire eastern front was massive/thousands of miles, Hitler later stated that they had vastly underestimated the available manpower Stalin had available and the number of Soviet tanks, Russian weather- rain caused mud and that delayed the advance before winter- everyone knows about the Russia winter

The German- Russian alliance signed before the war was a farce. Both sides knew it and they hated each other. Hitler hated communism. Stalin signed it hoping it would give him.time to get ready for the inevitable- German invasion. BTW: both sides believed that the other would invade first.

Why is this in the politics board?

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Both sides knew it and they hated each other. Hitler hated communism

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He also detested Capitilism.

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France played a big role . . .

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One of the largest and best equiped Army in the world and it took a month to defeat them.

Russia made it hard enough for Germany that everyone else was able to clean it up.

Japan did nothing to help it's "ally" Germany. If they had done just enough to hold Russia's forces in the Far East they wouldn't have been available to move west and help defend Moscow.

Winter AND the Siberian troops showing up is what stopped Hitler.

They played a critical part, we could not have beaten Germany without them, at least that's what FDR's advisers were saying at the time.

Memorandum for the President's Special Assistant Harry Hopkins, Washington, D.C., 10 August 1943:

In War II Russia occupies a dominant position and is the decisive factor looking toward the defeat of the Axis in Europe. While in Sicily the forces of Great Britain and the United States are being opposed by 2 German divisions, the Russian front is receiving attention of approximately 200 German divisions. Whenever the Allies open a second front on the Continent, it will be decidedly a secondary front to that of Russia; theirs will continue to be the main effort. Without Russia in the war, the Axis cannot be defeated in Europe, and the position of the United Nations becomes precarious. Similarly, Russia’s post-war position in Europe will be a dominant one. With Germany crushed, there is no power in Europe to oppose her tremendous military forces.[115]

The Russians destroyed around 200 of the best German divisions...let that sink in. I don't believe we ever faced more than 6 on the Western front.
It was because of our development of the Atomic Bomb, Russia's awareness of it, and our demonstrated willingness to use it (See Hiroshima, Nagasaki) that the Red Army stopped after just taking Berlin.

Hitler thought that the war in the West was just about over or at least contained for the moment. If he could knock out the USSR in three months (no two front war) and then turn his attention to Britain. Hitler thought that with a potential British ally (USSR) (Britain actually warned Stalin of an impending German invasion before it happened- Stalin did not trust the British) out that they would potentially negotiate a peace. If the British didn't negotiate a peace he could then turn his full resources on them. Hitler never really wanted to fight Britain and he actually viewed them in a more favorable manner (as opposed to France and the USSR). He was willing to leave Britain alone (and let her keep its empire) as long as he was allowed free reign in Europe. When Churchill consolidated his power by getting rid of the anti-war/appeasement/non-hostile to Germany figures (and there were several in Britain and they were powerful) there was no way Britain would negotiate a peace. I believe that later Churchill kept arguing to delay the D Day invasion and/or proposing other invasion plans so that the Germans and Soviets would devastate each other.

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My favorite piece of obscure Russian WWII history is their tanks. The philosophy was numbers, not quality.

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Our tanks were about as bad.
The Germans compared then to a famous cigarette lighter. Something like, guaranteed to light up on first strike.
Our torpedoes were also defective. The most successful submarine skipper in the Pacific was killed by his own torpedo which malfunctioned and circled around and sank the Submarine.