Post-Norway 1940

Well, as France falls, a few things are different. Great Britain still has one ally in Europe. One whose resistance will make life much harder for the German u-boats, the surface fleet being no longer a factor. By using some of it's own currency and selling/leasing part of it's vast merchant marine, Norway quickly acquires the means to expand its six brigades back to divisions as a first step, acquiring @200 aircraft(fighters), and a few destroyers and/or subs. I assume an eclectic collection, from England, the US, USSR, Sweden, etc.

The British now have an excellant naval base in Trondheim, along with a corps of three divisions with about 300 war planes(two-thirds fighters).

The need to supply this forces an increase in British military production, in effect advancing the buildup by about a month, but also reducing the British contingent in France(elsewhere?).

The rest of summer 1940 proceeds as it did, through the Battle of Britain, except that the British enjoy their peaceful haven of Scotland to rotate pilots for rest.

However, some of the French contingent in Norway, in particular three demi-brigades of the Foreign legion, having won their fight, come over to De Gaulle. This, in effect, gives him a brigade from the start, along with about two squadrons of fighters. As a result, most of France's colonies outside North Africa are crumbling by the beginning of 1941.

Dakar came within an inch of surrender, so it's not hard to assume another few thousand troops making the difference.

By summer of 1941 the Free French own all French colonies outside North Africa and Indochina, and have managed to begin a trickle of arms production, leaving them with about four brigades and some air force squadrons(still overwhelmingly fighters). The Free French fleet has a single heavy cruiser, two light cruisers, and about six destroyers, plus some subs.

Britain is now slightly stronger than it was, and the u-boats are somewhat less effective, as Barbarossa begins. As a result, forces in Egypt are strengthened further than they were, Rommel is somewhat less effective overall, and Hitler has serious questions about continuing a fight for the Italian colony of Libya, at least while the USSR stands.

For one thing, De Gaulle now has a small but respectable force and Hitler is more concerned as to some provocation sending all of North Africa and the French Fleet over to De Gaulle.

OH! Operation Catapult at Mers-Al-Kebir went as scheduled, probably a major mistake as the French were more likely to come over in the history.

In addition the British are holding an incredible number of French ships from Dakar, Alexandria, and England itself. As the Germans invade Russia, the collapse of the Nazi/Soviet arrangement causes the French communists to stir and De Gaulle's recruitment to grow(a mixed blessing at best). But it is the US involvment that really stirs the pot!

By January 1942, De Gaulle is stunned to learn that, by stripping his small reserves and with British help, he can immediately field two full divisions and two additional brigades. There is talk of a full corps of five divisions by 1943, at least one of them armored. Crewmen coming over have effectively returned more ships to service, including another heavy cruiser and two lights. Most importantly, Admiral Godfroy, French commander at Alexandria, brings his force including two battleships over to the Allied side.

De Gaulle is now a larger force and Hitler is becoming very concerned. He could probably project a powerful force to Africa, but how long would it hold in the face of Allied naval strength? And how much does he want to move while the war in the East continues?

Where to from here?
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Meanwhile, in April of 1942 Admiral Godfroy and his reinforced squadron(two battleships, five heavy and light cruisers) race off to help Fearless Leader in the new and improved Battle of the Java Sea...
 
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