Q&A · 2:34:26-2:36:32

Could a shorter war prevent the USSR or World War II?

A successful Gallipoli and earlier peace could strengthen Russia enough to avert a Bolshevik victory, but later European conflict remains contingent.

Question

Would shortening World War I by a year prevent the USSR or World War II?

Short answer

It might prevent a Bolshevik takeover by improving Russia's position, but World War II still depends on Germany, the peace settlement, economics, treaties, and later political movements.

Notes

A successful Gallipoli could reopen Black Sea supply routes and make Constantinople a conspicuous Russian prize. Food, supplies, and victory might buy the tsarist regime time or lead to a Menshevik rather than Bolshevik revolution. Whether World War II follows depends on Germany's peace terms, economic recovery, naval treaties, and the later rise of dictators. This is a plausible Russian divergence, with no confident basis for assuming that all later war disappears.