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What If? A Revisionist History of WWII
By Jim "Twitch" TittleArticle Type: Revisionist History (Fiction)
Article Date: September 07, 2001
Might Not Have Happened
True, there must be considered a huge amount of facets concerning politics, economics, social issues and much more. Viewing the concept only from the German angle of superior technology development without any counter "what ifs?" from a positive Allied viewpoint, I offer a simple barrage of outlandish, implausible possibilities not to be taken too seriously so don't be offended. So curl up and have a laugh as COMBATSIM's history goes sci-fi.
Let's say a more rational Hitler (that's an oxymoron if I ever heard it) had really planned for European domination in the mid thirties. With the already blossoming scientific, technological and industrial potential that existed in Germany let's say he and his generals collaborated with Speer to pump up all types of scientific research and development along with increased industrial output.
1935-1940
Like a wolf hiding in the shadows Germany, quietly built up her resources and material to wage a long war. At the same time in the isolationist U.S. a very strong anti-involvement sentiment grew to consume the country. The Russian colossus, even with its divergent philosophies settled differences with Germany since it had plenty of things to keep it busy within its borders among its hundred-plus ethnic groups wrangling with communism. Stalin would reckon with Germany later, he thought, after control of Russia was accomplished. The Japanese non-aggression pact with the Soviets went as history reflects.
Mussolini was not taken seriously as an ally of the Third Riech and left to his own devices allowing England to focus on Italy. Great Britain and France were the only western countries, with Poland in the east, which had real objections with the German flexing of muscle. Well so what? Germany had yet to do anything overt.
German academia was encouraged to develop scientific theory to tangible fact backed by a growing techno-industrial complex. Rational strategic planners were actually listened to by the Fuhrer.
Besides building an army of men, long-range bombers were developed along with continued missile technology. The Wehrmacht had its armor numbers increasing monthly and Dönitz was receiving U-boats as fast as they could be produced.
1941-1943
By now, late 1941, Germany needed to exploit its neighbors for more resources and the war with Poland commenced. All else fell into place for Germany as it actually did in 1939-40 with a few exceptions. With an overwhelming military force facing them, France, Holland and Belgium fell more quickly and instead of allowing the Dunkirk escape the panzers pushed on and a now stronger Luftwaffe was able to own the skies over the Channel. U-boats ringed the British Isles and earlier, saner planning forecast an invasion backed up by an amphibious assault fleet built and launched from the Baltic in a cloak of secrecy.
Now huge four-engine bombers attacked England along with the V-1 AND V-2 rockets in 1942. Even though England was winding up and wiping up the Italians, her forces and economy was paper-thin. The U.S. decided it was not her problem. America was still in a depression and could not afford to send many free goods to a foreign country. Unknown at the time, she would be attacked in mid-1943 by a much stronger Japan. Stalin was observing and busy putting down anti-communist forces secretly fueled by Germany. Massive German currency counterfeiting was affecting the Russian economy as well.
With the destruction of several cities and the invasion by Germany, the British government was left the option to sue for peace headed by its peaceful Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain. That defiant Winston Churchill had been killed in the bombing of London. It was a good treaty since it allowed Britain to remain independent and without German occupation. Hitler was benevolent since he'd always liked the Brits. Besides, this Speer fellow was talking about a European Cooperative Economic Alliance that would benefit England and provide the protection of the vast German military machine. SS divisions were subjugating Italy at that moment.
An incursion to Scandinavia diverted few German forces. No matter, since jet fighters were replacing propeller driven ones by late 1943 and the first jet bombers were flying.
Should I Buy Park Place Or Not?
1944 AND ON
The riches of Africa lay at Hitler's feet when the U.S. entered conflict with Japan. The regular parade of vessels and planes to Japan brought them from Germany the latest war technology while the Americans struggled to compete. Though the U.S. would ultimately stop Japan it wouldn't be until late 1949 and with the help of the Soviets at that. American shipbuilding had moved to the west coast due to the huge numbers of U-boats sinking vast amounts of tonnage as soon as it was launched in the Atlantic.
Germany launched small Blitzkriegs on resource rich Africa against forces equipped with WWI level weaponry and assimilating populations ancient Roman style-join the Empire or die!. In Argentina German-supplied early war equipment filled out the inventory. Outdated Bf 109s, FW 190s and assorted twin-engine bombers along with Panther tanks and a steady stream of this new German assault rifle bolstered Argentina's forces. V-1s were being manufactured locally and all this hardware was employed on the South American continent.
The U.S. turned its attention there with full force. Carrier groups arrived to begin the assault but the vastness of the area was deterring. Now the vast human resources of Africa filled the German armies and it was a simple matter to send a million man force to assist Argentina. Six million anti-communist Russians filled the ranks of the Wehrmacht now (3 million actually did).
With the coming of 1949 arrived the culmination of Germany's atomic research. The V-8 rocket vengeance weapon (A-19) began delivering small yield nuclear bombs to the east coast of the U.S. along with long-range bombers mounting a mixture of prop and jet engines. Swept wing jet fighters and medium-range jet bombers flew at 650 mph in the skies of Europe.
With the South American situation worsening Hitler decided to use nuclear weapons against the American forces that had gained more than a toehold on the continent with the new Type LXVI atomic powered U-boats with A-7 short-range nuclear missiles from the Antarctic base. Gotha Go 449s jet bombers swept through the American Front deploying biological weapons. The aircraft carrier Heidelberg, armed with the new German assault helicopters, would attack and destroy the Panama Canal.
With the American withdrawal in 1950 from South America only Russia remained a thorn in Hitler's side. The Soviet army was making ground westward but was thwarted by heavy German forces. The newly developed 88mm tactical nuclear artillery went into use all along the Russian Front as American men and material joined the Soviets there. Otto Skorzeny's team of commandos killed Stalin in Moscow using a hyper-speed explosive round from a rifle at a range of two kilometers. American President, Omar Bradley was assassinated by an American anti-war underground group the day that the first satellite was launched into space from Peenemünde by Werner von Braun's space exploration division.
Germany's Russian-manned army had begun its landings in Canada as the Afrika Corps, filled with native African conscripts, came ashore in Mexico. For isolated America it was now only a matter of time.
Hitler at the Capitol Building in DC?!
Not that it would have, could have or should have happened that way, it's just a wild projection of German techno-capabilities that thankfully never reached fruition. It's time for my medication now.
Sources
- Bullock, Alan
Hitler- A Study In Tyranny
Bantam Books, NY, 1961
- Deustch, Harold & Showalter, Dennis
What If?
Emperor's Press, Chicago, 1997
- Fleming, Peter
Operation Sea Lion
Ace Books, Inc., NY, 1956
