While acknowledging the Germans are desperately short of fuel themselves, under the circumstances, would the Entente forces siphon off (literally and figuratively) what they could from damaged and captured vehicles?
In theory yes, in practice it's a drop in the bucket. In 1940 the Panzers apparently refuelled from captured petrol stations, here that isn't an option. The amount of fuel within the German economy is simply grossly inadequate.
How are the Dutch and British navies acting in concert with the Dutch Army as it moves up the coast? And does Helgioland need to fall?
Of course. As you well know it's completely impossible to invade Germany without first capturing Heligoland.
, by this time I would expect the French to swap out
Force X with the
Force de Raid (Battleships
Strasbourg and
Dunkerque, light cruisers
Montcalm, Gloire, and
George Leygues, and three divisions of
Le Fantasque-class heavy destroyers), giving the French a fast modern squadron to patrol in the South China Sea. (As an aside, in June 1940 the French decided to build a major naval base at Cam Ranh Bay, to be completed in 1944. More information can be found at
https://clausuchronia.wordpress.com/tag/baie-de-cam-ranh/)
If the Force de Raid head to the far east, they would go to Singapore not Indochina. The grand strategy is essentially that the South China Sea is a giant mousetrap - lots of friendly air, radar and submarine cover, and the Japanese have to go into it to fight the Entente fleets. Putting any significant modern forces into Indochina is asking for them to be sunk in detail against locally superior forces in a surprise attack. That just isn't possible in Singapore.
I actually think we could be heading towards a Japanese Civil War, depending on how the likely final phases of the war in China plays out.
Like the Army .vs. Navy rugby match on steroids?
Is there *any* chance that a Japanese-USSR alliance could come into existance?
The Japanese might think so. Stalin is building a spur off the trans-Siberian explicitly designed to support an invasion of Manchuria, so may have other ideas.
Partition, I think, may still happen. At least, I don't recall seeing anything happening that would change Jinnah's mind regarding the necessity of the exercise.
Jinnah is a bit player ITTL - his big chance came when Congress boycotted the existing consultative parts of the British government of India, and he could move in and take over. Here, Congress came back quickly enough that they're still dominant, and a shorter war also means that the British are less reliant on Muslim Indian soldiers: the Indian army has a much higher profile among the UK populace because they're fighting in France and now Germany, but in sheer numbers they're much smaller than OTL, simply because they couldn't train up enough in time.
Well I think cat is already out of bag here. French military airplane landed on Slovak military airport with top ranking Czechoslovak politician aboard.
Allowing this Slovak army basically committed itself towards allies. With or without Tiso’s approval. Seems you are not totally decided about Tiso so I think it is more likely without Tiso’s approval. He waited too long and Army - maybe under Gen. Catlos command? - took decission int its own hands. Once Osusky landed on Tri Duby he is there not to negotiate, he is there to coordinate, maybe even give backing to Slovak army from political side.
Tiso waited too long, but they Army isn't exactly in control - the French told him Osusky was coming, and that he had their backing. Their choices now are essentially to do what he tells them to, or to throw in their hand with the Germans - which refusing to let his aircraft land, shooting it down, arresting him on arrival, etc. would have been taken as by the French. They waited too long too, and now they really have very little option but to do what they're told and hope that things pan out OK.
They're likely to get the current generation of armor as the French and British reequip with what's under development right now
Not immediately - the British and French are going to want to cut spending after the war, and the land forces are going to be first on the chopping block. The equipment they have now is clearly good enough, so there won't be any new kit for a few years until it starts wearing out.
For the Entente, Hungary's DOW is useful in the short term, but the question is how much do they get post war. The Author hasn't indicated if there were promises given
None were. This is Hungary trying to get bargaining chips for the expected postwar peace conference.
Furthermore, the RN/MN will be operating under friendly MPA cover so they should have a very good idea when/where the Japanese are and can elect to offer battle in conditions most advantageous to the RN/MN (moonless night Swordfish strikes?)
Not to mention the submarine pickets.
Is MacArthur still the big Kahuna? I would assume so.
As OTL, he's currently retired from the US Army and employed by the Philippine armed forces.
Question for pdf. What is the current US policy in regards to the Japanese war in China? Has the French ability to keep the Japanese out of Indochina so far ITTL caused the US to stay neutral or just slowed down the pace at which the US increased its pressure against Japan?
Neutral, but very unfriendly - the Japanese can still buy things, but they aren't on the Christmas Card List.
Japans attitude towards Radar is whats going to sink them.
The Japanese have started sending radar to sea with good results...