Interesting paper 11/18/2005 3:02:42 AM
US military types in a 2002 research paper into SEALOWE....
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They have interesting side angle to consider for this whole 'alternative history' scenario we're throwing around here.
1st : Hitler missed opertunity to bring other countries into combined alliance by failing to get Mussoline into full court press on the RN in the Med prior to Sealion in order to draw off critical RN assets.
2nd : Franco Spain -Hitler dialogue. If he wanted britain badly enough he could have cut a deal. Hitler missed a chance to include Franco which would have controlled western med so Italian navy could contribute directly to Sea Lion [you want our help in N Africa, help us in the channel].Relative to the cost of continued western front warfare for years, the tributes to Franco would have been really good economy.
3rd ; Hitler missed a critial opertunity to strong arm Vichy France into Nazi use of their surface fleet...all those BB/CC/destroyers could have helped immensly.Knowing the animosity many french have towards the brits, its not inconcievable to see some French, Italian and German warships acting together.
That kind of severe shift in the battle calculus is exactly the kind of war winning manuever that only politics and a strong leader can supply. Not unlike Hitler-Stalin pact prior to Poland. How many prewar analysis saw that one comming? It could have rewriten the history books.
Perhaps if Hitler had stuck to more of that level of warfare than mircomanaging the armed forces , Germany could have won the European aspect of the war.
How would a combined German French Italian Navy power be able to fend off USA involvment in the European war? |