Ways Germany could have won WWII

[Felch]

Originally posted by gsmoove23
Was the Mid East a major producer of oil at that point? I thought that came later.

Mesopotamia has been recognized as a major oil source by the British for most of the century. They campaigned there in WWI to secure the oil deposits. They didn't realize how much was there, but they knew there was a good deal there.

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by Kontiki
I read an interesting article by John Keegan in the book What if? He speculates that if Hitler pressed south through Turkey into the Levant and onto the ME oil supplies in 1941 rather than launching Barbarossa, he may have won the war.

And leave supply lines vunerable to Soviet forces? Oh my.

[Dauphin]

If Germany didn't invade Poland, but got the USSR to do so under the impression that it would be a joint action then it could have got interesting. Add into that the invasion of Finland and you have a situation where the USSR may have been seen by the Allies as the greater threat.

[JCG]

IIRC, Japan attacked the Soviets yes, but a couple of years before 1941.
And well, surely they would have gotten their butts kicked a second time, but that would mean diverting a fair number of SU forces, resources and time from the main front. If done correctly, it would be a nicely sprung trap.

And Germany could well have won WWII, IF it had taken care of its enemies one at a time.

I know Hitler didn't really want to mess with the British, but letting them off the hook so easily after the BoB (ie: not giving the African theatre and elsewhere the necessary importance) proved to be a big mistake.

Germany could also had delayed the attack on the Soviet Union for a couple of years. A confrontation was apparently inevitable, in all fairness, but preferrably later than sooner. And without the British to contend with by then, all the better.

Declaring war against the U.S. was also out of the question, a thankless act of "solidarity" with the Japanese that secured Germany's total defeat. Once the U.S. was in the war, there was no way to "win", and chances for a settlement in the West went down the drain once "unconditional surrender" came into play.

[korn469]

oh yea, one other very very important thing

change the codes from time to time, don't put so much trust in their enigma machines

[mrmitchell]

If Hitler hadn't been such a hothead demanding to have his sweaty palms all over control of virtually all the troops in Europe (especially more to the end of the war), then they would have had a much better chance.

BTW: I know Poly rules say no personal insults, but is it okay to insult a dead ruthless dictator? Just wondering. I think I read somewhere even the Germans don't like saying he was their leader for 12 years. Of course, just wondering

[Dr. Nick]

He should have stuck with the airfields, as the luftwaffe savvys recommended.

[The Andy-Man]

Under the circumstances German Coulnd never have won, for Britasin and the USSR alone could have bashed the germans, it was just a matter of time. (probably nearer 1950).

Alternativly, Hitler could have allied with Birtain and the USA against the USSR, a situation that was very plausible, and even desireable by the UK/US (anti commi feeling).

[Edan]

Originally posted by The Andy-Man
Under the circumstances German Coulnd never have won, for Britasin and the USSR alone could have bashed the germans, it was just a matter of time. (probably nearer 1950).

Unless Germany had gotten the bomb by then.

[Kontiki]

Originally posted by Urban Ranger


And leave supply lines vunerable to Soviet forces? Oh my.

I doubt they would be that vulnerable. It wouldn't have taken even a quarter of the forces to take the ME that were thrown against the SU in 1941. Turkey had no modern weapons, there were 35,000 French troops in Syria and only 7 British divisions in the whole ME (including Egypt).

[Dr. Nick]

for Britasin and the USSR alone could have bashed the germans

[Ned]

1) Keep the USSR out of the war until the war with the UK/US is resolved.
2) Invest heavily in airpower including long range bombers that can take on anything in the Atlantic and bomb British factories and fleet anchorages into dust.
3) Move to jet fighters and bombers sooner.
4) Develop the atom bomb ASAP - but do not use it - just demonstrate it.
5) Build a hugh landing craft fleet, invade England when it is complete. Probably ready by '43.
6) With England out of the war, take over her Empire.
7) Invade the USSR - June 1944. And as noted here, be friendly to the conquered peoples until the Russians are defeated.
8) Assist Japan to defeat China.
9) Combined Axis invasion of the US through Mexico, circa 1950.

[Sava]

There is no way Germany would have held out against Russia and America... the only way would have been to hold on to conquered continental Europe, work out a truce with America... slowly build up a huge force while working on projects like the Jet Engine and an Atom Bomb, and take out Russia.

Even if Germany could take Russia, America would have built an atomic bomb by then and a cold war would have taken place.

If I were in Hitler's position I would have:
A.) Not attacked Russia right away
B.) Taken over Britain
C.) Built up a large mechanized force and then Blitzkrieg Russia
D.) Meet landlocked Japan by heading East
E.) Secure continental Asia
F.) Focus on America

But unfortunately, I don't see how this would be possible. Even if Germany got the A-bomb first, you wouldn't be able to mobilize enough troops to occupy North America. Your only hope would be to nuke the US into submission and destroy their industrial capacity. Russia could be taken much easier if you pushed through to Moscow and then to the industrial areas to the East, stopping their tank production before they are able to stop your advance and push you back (Stalingrad).

[Drake Tungsten]

Meet landlocked Japan by heading East

"Landlocked Japan"?

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by Ned
1) Keep the USSR out of the war until the war with the UK/US is resolved.

Stalin would strike on his own.

Originally posted by Ned
2) Invest heavily in airpower including long range bombers that can take on anything in the Atlantic and bomb British factoriess and fleet anchorages into dust.

Can't do that without fighter escorts.

Originally posted by Ned
3) Move to jet fighters and bombers sooner.

How will it help?

Originally posted by Ned
4) Develop the atom bomb ASAP - but do not use it - just demonstrate it.

German plans were repeatedly thwarted by Special Forces actions.

Originally posted by Ned
5) Build a hugh landing craft fleet, invade England when it is complete. Probably ready by '43.

You only have limited resources. How could you do all these at the same time?

Originally posted by Ned
7) Invade the USSR - June 1944. And as noted here, be friendly to the conquered peoples until the Russias are defeated.

So you expect Stalin to twist his thumbs all this time?

Originally posted by Ned
8) Assist Japan to defeat China.

How is this possible without magic?