Every little 1% improvement in British performance, and corresponding deterioration in German performance, will soon mount up. The Germans and the Japanese, were very lucky in the first years of their involvement in the war. It would have only taken a few small changes to total derail their respective performances. The replacement of Rommel with a general who obeys his orders looks initially to be to the Germans advantage. However Rommel did at least keep the British on their toes and managed to divert from other areas of much needed supplies. As we are seeing the British and now able to take a more balanced approach to events. The move of Montgomery to the Far East is going to be a major headache for the Japanese, and others.
He will no doubt cause no end of outraged correspondence to both the War Office and Colonial Office, as he upsets numorus people. Gone will be the normal sleepy ways and layed back attitudes, of gin fizzes on the veranda at sundown. A lot of the older dugouts are going to find that their nice cushy posting is over, while the younger and fitter, are introduced to the delights of jungle bashing. The civil administration is also going to get a kick in the pants. The attitude of don't do anything, as it might frighten the natives, is going to come up against Monties intransigence. Defensive lines will get built, preparations made to defend the airstrips will be put in place, and beach defenses constructed. And when/if the Japanese invade the GOC, is a man who has a total grip on the battle and the troops under him. Things will be very different this time around and hopefully the Japanese will fail big time.
RR.
