German invasion of America, 1898 (ish)

[Parry1021]

Hi I'm new and this is my first time posting a thread. Just thought I'll get that out of the way.

What if German went ahead with their plans to invade America at the turn of century. The plan involed shelling Boston and securing New York as a landing site.

Please no comment on the Nazis, this is Imperial Germany, Nazis have nothing to do with this.

More info on the plan can be found here, http://europeanhistory.about.com/lib.../aa050902a.htm

[eliphas8]

Im going to have to bring up the most obvious flaw with this plan, the German navy does not have the capability to invade the US. It has always been the biggest flaw with their military too they just dont have a good navy at all. If they attempt it this is going to spark World War I early too.

[Grimm Reaper]

France will be so very happy to have the United States as an active ally while Germany loses 100,000+ men and the navy.

[President Lenin]

This makes Sealion look plausible.

[hairysamarian]

Originally Posted by Parry1021

Hi I'm new and this is my first time posting a thread. Just thought I'll get that out of the way.

What if German went ahead with their plans to invade America at the turn of century. The plan involed shelling Boston and securing New York as a landing site.

Please no comment on the Nazis, this is Imperial Germany, Nazis have nothing to do with this.

More info on the plan can be found here, http://europeanhistory.about.com/lib.../aa050902a.htm

By 1898, the United States had a significant navy and would not have been twiddling their thumbs while an Imperial fleet steamed up to within gun range of New York (or any other US city). I've heard of this "plan" before, but involves wishful thinking to the point of delusion on the part of the Kaiser. If execution was seriously intended, one wonders how the Kaiser intended to keep whatever got ashore (if anything did) supplied.

[CandyDragon]

No chance it would have happened... not only would they be suiciding an entire army into the heart of a massive nation with a fairly large population, they would be basically giving nearly every nation in Europe cause to hate them. It would never be feasible, nor accomplished were it feasible.

[Ravenclaw83]

Read Robert Conroy's 1901 and you see what happens.

[Grimm Reaper]

Unfortunately in 1901 the actual German fleet was much smaller than presented it as in the book.

[Detlef]

Originally Posted by Parry1021

Hi I'm new and this is my first time posting a thread. Just thought I'll get that out of the way.

What if German went ahead with their plans to invade America at the turn of century. The plan involed shelling Boston and securing New York as a landing site.

Please no comment on the Nazis, this is Imperial Germany, Nazis have nothing to do with this.

More info on the plan can be found here, http://europeanhistory.about.com/lib.../aa050902a.htm

Well, generally speaking each Great Power had a war plan involving another Great Power. Back in 1898 both the British Empire and the USA were probably more worried about each others plans?

A German invasion back then seems to be pretty unlikely.
Given the size of the German navy back then (and their range) and the more immediate danger of France.

Frankly, it looks more like a staff exercise done in the late 1800s.
Sorry to say it.
You know, the kind of plans how could we do if everything else went our way?
No half-way sane Imperial German general would have supported it.

Or to say it in other words:
1. The German navy in 1898 was totally unable to support an invasion of the USA. In 1898 they were barely able to defend to coasts of Germany.
2. The Imperial German army in 1898 was interested in the French, Russian and British army (in Europe). The USA was a somewhat removed exotic country. Sending divisions, corps or armies to North America while the real enemy waits in the West (France) and East (Russia) seems pretty unlikely to me...

[TyranicusMaximus]

Douglas discussed German sealift capability before.

[Superwes]

That's a really dumb plan. This is even worse than the unmentionable sea mammal. Seriously...wtf?

[Gen_Patton]

hmm... I think the Royal Navy may just get in the way. And why would Germany do such a thing?

[David S Poepoe]

The Imperial German Army gets initially bogged down in the lines at Ellis Island but eventually break thru and make a thrust deep into Wisconsin and Minnesota. Finding themselves amid so much land the Army Groups eventually lose touch with each other and intermarry with the local population.

[Gen_Patton]

Originally Posted by David S Poepoe

The Imperial German Army gets initially bogged down in the lines at Ellis Island but eventually break thru and make a thrust deep into Wisconsin and Minnesota. Finding themselves amid so much land the Army Groups eventually lose touch with each other and intermarry with the local population.

The chance of the Imperial German Navy even reaching American shores is improbable. The minute they declare war on America, Britain and France will in some way attempt to help the Americans (even if discreetly). Preventing the Germans from using the Channel is the best bet as they will never have enough coal to get around England and then to America.

Chances are even better that the Kaiser is declared insane and dethroned. They go about looking for a Kaiser who isn't insane.

[Superwes]

Originally Posted by Gen_Patton

Chances are even better that the Kaiser is declared insane and dethroned. They go about looking for a Kaiser who isn't insane.

Then maybe WWI is avoided? Or at least delayed for a while

[tonsofun]

Even if German troops get to America. What is left to defend Germany?

[rmanoj]

Even if we assume the Germans somehow manage to land in the USA, how are they going to supply such a huge (and it would have to be huge) army from across the Atlantic?

[SPJ]

Originally Posted by rmanoj

Even if we assume the Germans somehow manage to land in the USA, how are they going to supply such a huge (and it would have to be huge) army from across the Atlantic?

Do like Sherman and live off the land perhaps? There are there to take over and destroy after all.

[RamscoopRaider]

Originally Posted by SPJ

Do like Sherman and live off the land perhaps? There are there to take over and destroy after all.

And where will they get 7.92mm mauser ammunition, or 77mm Field gun ammunition

Modern armies have a far harder supply issues than more primitive ones

[SPJ]

Originally Posted by RamscoopRaider

And where will they get 7.92mm mauser ammunition, or 77mm Field gun ammunition

Modern armies have a far harder supply issues than more primitive ones

True. I was thinking of supplies along the lines of food, clothing, and medical supplies when I commented. I had forgotten about ammunition.