About Stalin’s motive.
A wacky proposal.
I think it possible Stalin’s motive was nothing but Stalin, by which I mean he was both paranoid and crazy, recognized that he and Hitler (whom he’d admired at one point) were as ruthless strongmen two of a kind and if Hitler could really die then maybe so too could Stalin.
Maybe Stalin simply needed to believe Hitler survived.
A million ordinary Germans dying or ten million ordinary Soviets dying meant nothing, they were all things to be cast aside (and they were cast aside) and not important like Stalin doubtless saw himself. The only thing separating Der Wanker muttering about how the Geman people didn’t deserve him and they should all suffer when he’s gone and Stalin doing the same in some Russian stronghold really just comes down to a bit of bad winter weather.
“... A million ordinary Germans dying or ten million ordinary Soviets dying meant nothing, they were all things to be cast aside ...”