Fact check: Why did Russia plan on attacking Germany preceding Germany's preemptive offensive against Russia during World War II?

1. Summary of the results

The question assumes Russia (Soviet Union) had definitive plans to attack Germany, but historical evidence presents a more complex picture. The majority of historians reject the notion that Stalin planned to attack Nazi Germany in 1941 ^[1]. While some military preparations could be interpreted as potentially offensive, including maps of German territories and Zhukov's proposal for a potential strike ^[1], most scholars argue there is insufficient concrete evidence to prove Stalin intended a preemptive attack ^[1].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several crucial contextual elements are missing from the original question:

• Defensive vs. Offensive Posture: The BBC explicitly states that evidence shows the Soviet Union maintained a defensive posture in 1941, with Stalin actively trying to avoid war ^[2].
• Hitler's Motivations: Operation Barbarossa was initiated by Germany primarily to acquire territory and resources, with concerns about potential Soviet threats to German oil supplies ^[3].
• Historical Precedents: Both sides had previously engaged in false flag operations to justify invasions:
• Nazi Germany used the Gleiwitz incident to justify invading Poland ^[4]
• The Soviet Union had shelled Mainila village to justify invading Finland ^[5]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The question contains several problematic assumptions:

• Loaded Premise: The question presumes Russia's offensive intentions as fact, when this remains a highly debated historical topic ^[1].
• Beneficiaries of this Narrative:
• This narrative primarily benefits those seeking to justify Germany's invasion as defensive
• Historian Viktor Suvorov gained prominence by promoting this controversial thesis, though most historians reject it ^{[1] [1]}
• Stalin's Actual Position: Evidence suggests Stalin was actually surprised by the German invasion and believed his military was not prepared for conflict with German forces ^{[1] [2]}, contradicting the premise of the question.