I wonder how much of a meat grinder Gibraltar has been turned into by now? This will also make Torch rather more…impossible. Do we see ‘42 Sledgehammer? Or ‘42 Norway and ‘43 Roundup?
I’m enjoying this, and while I am certainly glad we didn’t drop the atomic bomb IOTL, there really isn’t much China can do about it. The far bigger problem is that this will set a precedent for future conflicts.
What ground forces could Britain commit? Britain’s 3 heavy divisions formed the linchpin of NATO’s defense of Northern Germany. No way are those getting withdrawn except as part of a UK withdrawal from NATO.
The forced that retook the Falklands won’t be remotely sufficient for Hong Kong. Any...
I actually think they might just get away with it. Sure, the West could economically cripple China at the time, but then again the US counted on China as a counterweight to the Soviet Union.
Let’s also remember that the US deployed the 6th, 8th, and 10th Armies, the entire 6 division USMC, plus Bill Slim’s 14th Army and the majority of the ANZACs. All of the above was more than sufficient to defeat Japan up to including invading Japan.
What prevents the IJN from creating another overly complex plan, continuing to suffer from an intelligence disadvantage and suffering Midway 2.0?
At the very least, 4 US CVs aren’t going down without inflicting at least equivalent losses and gutting IJN airpower, and it’s quite unlikely IMO...
It’s possible the Americans may have accepted a British overall commander if Britain agreed for a 1942 invasion of France. Even as late as 1943 Britain had the preponderance of ground forces available.
Not saying France ‘42 would have been a good idea, of course.
Besides Marshall, Ike and Devers the only American I can think of might be McNair. Brooke and Alexander also had the seniority but there was zero chance of a British commander.
Not sure about Greenland other than Coast Guard and some USAAF patrol aircraft and security forces, but I do know 1st Marine Brigade was on Iceland until sometime in 1942.
Nothing much changes for NATO, as their conventional forces were on a defensive posture and numerically weaker anyway, but this will have massive economic implications for the USSR.
The problem is one of escalation as well as assumptions. Consider this:
The US uses a tac nuke to destroy a Soviet bridgehead over the Weser, with the assumption that this will demonstrate resolve.
The Soviets then hit HQ British I Corps to send the message this won’t be tolerated.
The Brits...
Another problem with Alexander is that 15th Army Group was a British theater command. What British officer was qualified for theater command if you move Alexander?
Regardless of how “reasonable” Goering’s offer might be, THE cornerstone of British foreign policy for centuries was to prevent a single power from dominating the Continent at all costs.
What’s the POD in British politics?
The US should definitely demand independence for the Balkans as well as a US-monitored plebiscite in Ukraine. And if the Soviets don’t like it, the US could always add Western Alaska, capital Vladivostok, to the list.