Board Thread:Timeline Discussions/@comment-7431988-20130903205525/@comment-4206034-20131006134415

Its all about the strategic location. Alaska is on the North American mainland. The Soviets could use it to invade Canada and then attack the American West Coast from the north. It would be a disaster for the Americans.

On the other hand, if America does well in the Pacific, they could launch an invasion of Siberia and Kamchatka and draw critical enemy forces from the European front.