Why wan Stalin so keen on a second front opening up? (WW2)?

Answer 1

Basically, because he wanted help in fighting Germany, and this was constant from June 22 1941 until the second front did open up on June 6, 1944. But as the fortunes of war turned in the East, so did Stalin's level of desperation for the second front to be opened.
In 1941 and until November of 1942, the Soviet Union was in significant danger of being knocked out of the war, and during this period they were pretty much on their own against not only Germany, but Finland, Hungary, and Romania as well. At this time, the lack of a real second front was very suspicious to Stalin, who had no appreciation of how unprepared the US and Britain were to get involved in Europe at that time. After November of 42, when the tide turned at Stalingrad, there was no longer any danger of Germany winning in the East, but the Soviets were pushing Germany back slowly, Stalin still wanted a second front to take the pressure off his armies, but was a bit more calm. In part this was because they were no longer in danger of losing, and also because by this time, lend lease supplies were arriving in great enough quantity to help the Red Army.
Stalins attitude again changed in July of 1943, with the victory at Kursk. Stalin realized after Kursk that the Soviet Union was going to defeat Germany with or without a second front, and became pretty ambivilant about it.
When the second front became a reality with the D-day landings, Stalin was oficially happy, but privately he realized it was a mixed blessing for him. It did mean a faster end to the war with fewer Soviet casualties. But it also meant that the war would end with the Soviets meeting up with the Americans in Central Europe, not with them reaching the English Channel in France. And it's hard to imagine that Stalin wouldn't gladly have traded more of his soldiers lives for total dominance of Europe.

Answer 2

Stalin wanted a second front opened up during WWII because his army was outmanned, outgunned, and outpositioned by the advancing German Sixth Army.

Stalin knew that his forces had to make a last stand at Stalingrad, or that Moscow would certainly fall. This led to a battle that cost both sides a combined 1.5 million lives. When British and American forces invaded North Africa, it forced the Nazis to focus on two areas, and split their resources.

As General Rommel was pushed back across North Africa and the Allies were able to invade Italy, and finally Normandy, a lot of pressure was taken off Russia and they were able to sweep through Eastern Europe and, eventually, Berlin.

Answer 3

Noone was really sure why Josef Stalin wanted another front. But considering that he did kill millions of people for no reason and he was a cruel and tyrannical (even a word?) dictator, he may have just been plain nuts.

However, if you looked at this from his perspective, opening a second front may have let him push back the germans from getting into the USSR and it may have gained him more land if he marched through it to battle the Axis forces.

Answer 4

Stalin wanted a second front opened up to relieve his forces from carrying on a severe burden of battling the Nazis. Another reason was his designs on Poland and the rest of Eastern Europe could be brought under Communist influence. With a second front being created he could get his revenge on Hitler who stabbed him in the back with Operation Barbarossa with greater ease with a two front war on Germany.

Answer 5

Without U.S. support on another front the Germans would have bested the Russians. The Soviet army was badly managed and could not compete with the Germans without the help of the U.S. Stalin knew this.

Answer 6

Having to defend 2 fronts has always been the downfall of all invaders of Russia. Their efforts and supplies are having to be shared. It was the downfall of Napoleon and the Germans in WWI.