Assuming the Spanish Nationalists never revolt against the Communists, or they are wiped out before starting a full-blown civil war, how does this affect WWII as we know it in Europe?
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If there was no Spanish Civil War, how would it affect WWII?
- Thread starter Colonel Levnekov
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iddt3
Donor
I think you have your history a bit backwards... It was the Nationalists who revolted against the democratically elected Popular Front government, not the other way around.
Germany doesn't have a testing ground for its aircraft and tactics. Maybe the Luftwaffe doesn't get obsessed with dive bombing. No different aircraft, but very different assumptions.
As idd3t mentions, you have the events backwards.
The easiest way, for this to happen (while still have the Popular Front win) is to disperse the Generals more, and have the government keep track of them better. If there are only minor revolts quickly smashed, the African Legion will not be able to reach mainland Spain. Game over for the traitors.
It may very well be enough to keep France from falling during a later WW2 as the lack of experience will be quite damaging for the Germans. The rifts between the right and left in France will also be smaller, and a Vichy situation is less likely than IOTL.
Orville_third
Banned
Here's one thing that would affect both sides. One of the people who served with the PF was a Canadian doctor named Norman Bethune. He managed to improvise a bloodmobile to bring blood closer to the front lines. This would have significant implications for all sides in the future WWII.
Even of we won't consider the lessons Germany learned from the Civil War, Spain without the generals staging a revolt against the socialist democratically elected government, Spain would remain a left leaning anti-fascist country. Which means it won't be able to stay out of WWII, just by playing buddie to the Führer. Either it will be invaded in the Blitzkrieg just after France, or it will on its own declare war on Germany and rush to France's aid as soon as the first tanks cross the Belgian border. (After all, it will be pretty sure that if it won't stop Germany on the outskirts of Paris. It will have to stop them on the outskirts of Barcelona.) What the effect of what is basically a gun-toting militia will be against the Führers bombers and tanks is debatable, but even by its existence an axis Spain might fundamentally alter the timeline of the Blitzkrieg and subsequent Battle of Britain.
From the top of mg head: No partition of France in a militarized North and more or less self-governing Vichy South. Having to conquer Spain first would delay the Battle of Britain, or at least delay Seelöwe.When Spain is conquered, full German access to the Atlantic, no 'neutral' place in Europe to flee to eccept for Switserland and may be Portugal (if this one isn't conquered just as well). A fierce battle over Gibraltar and access to the Mediterranean and Africa... And probably some other effects I can't think of right now.
From the top of mg head: No partition of France in a militarized North and more or less self-governing Vichy South. Having to conquer Spain first would delay the Battle of Britain, or at least delay Seelöwe.When Spain is conquered, full German access to the Atlantic, no 'neutral' place in Europe to flee to eccept for Switserland and may be Portugal (if this one isn't conquered just as well). A fierce battle over Gibraltar and access to the Mediterranean and Africa... And probably some other effects I can't think of right now.
Why couldn't Spain stay out? The Pyrenees aren't a natural barrier that can just be ignored.
How exactly is Germany supposed to send tanks and, more importantly, supply trucks and horses through this?
How exactly is Germany supposed to send tanks and, more importantly, supply trucks and horses through this?
I think you also have to ask as to why the war never started.
Perhaps the government has the support of the king, whom may not have abdicated. Even if we were to blank out one or two key figures, the war would have started. Such as Franco.
Before the king abdicated in otml, Franco was a patriot and would have followed the king, no matter the government type. It was when the king left that he resented him. Still, that is only one general out of the picture to start a civil war. What would be the reasons to stop the others, especially José Sanjurjo.
Perhaps the government has the support of the king, whom may not have abdicated. Even if we were to blank out one or two key figures, the war would have started. Such as Franco.
Before the king abdicated in otml, Franco was a patriot and would have followed the king, no matter the government type. It was when the king left that he resented him. Still, that is only one general out of the picture to start a civil war. What would be the reasons to stop the others, especially José Sanjurjo.
The far right vehemently attacked the left whenever they could. Action Francaise find out of shipments of weaponry and criticized the government as belligerent and disturbing the peace.
Within the Popular Front, the Civil War was the single largest point of conflict between the radicals and the socialists and it dissolving in 1938 didn't really help stabilize the country.
Deleted member 1487
Interest in dive bombing predated the SCW, but it didn't become the solution to the accuracy problem until combat experience demonstrated the problems with current bombsights for level bombing.