ABSTRACT
In 1940, Hitler was at the height of his powers. Almost all of Europe from the North Cape to the Bay of Biscay was in his hands. Hitler correctly assumed that the British hoped for increased support from America, but was incorrect in suggesting that they might also be counting on a dramatic change of course by the Soviet Union. On 3 July 1940 Halder ordered plans to be drawn up for an offensive against the Soviet Union 'to force them to accept the leading role of Germany in Europe'. With the help of the Italian Government, Germany forced the Romanians and Hungarians to reach an agreement on the bitterly disputed question of Transylvania. Economic considerations played an important part in the early planning stages for 'Barbarossa'. The Americans, like everyone else with the possible exception of Stalin, were convinced that Hitler would attack the Soviet Union and were determined to give the Russians every possible assistance in their struggle.
