alternatehistory.com
2 May 1945 - Strategic situation for the U.S and allied Armies
3 May 1945, Pentagon, Washington D.C, United States of America
Well, thought General of the Army George Marshall Jnr, now the fat was in the fire. It was a hell of a way for the Navy to win it's argument against the invasion of Japan. There would be no Operation Downfall now, no Olympic or Coronet. Instead it would be the Navy's plan that was adopted, a plan that involved the total isolation of Japan, which would be subdued by a combination of bombing and aerial mining, effectively starving the country, now largely helpless outside of China, into submission. Even the Manhattan Project, if it came to fruition, would likely now not be directed at Japan as originally planned but instead in the European theater of operations. The new urgency of the situation had seen him personally contact Nichols to be assured that the weapon was still on track for early July 1945 and after that point at least one weapon per month would be available, sometimes two.
With the Russians attacking all along the common front, it was now a matter of trying to hold onto what part of Europe that had been liberated so far. With Hitler dead and the Wehrmacht shattered, even the Germans were no longer a concern. The Russians would be fresh after only commencing their latest offensives in early April. In many sectors they were still being held up by the Germans, who were streaming West to surrender and still providing resistance to the Russians.
The U.S Army had substantial forces in Europe. To the South Devers 6th Army Group consisted of 10 Infantry and 2 Armoured Divisions, as well as 9 French Infantry Divisions and 6 Armoured. Bradley's 12th Army Group was the most under pressure. It had another 36 Infantry and 12 Armoured Divisions. Montgomery's 21st Army Group has 13 Infantry and 11 Armoured Divisions. In all 99 Divisions or equivalent.
On the Italian and Austrian border was Marc Clark's 15th Allied Army Group consisting of 6 Infantry and one Armoured Division, one Brazilian and five weak Italian Divisions and one South African Armoured Division, as well as 10 British Infantry and 4 British Armoured Divisions. In all 28 more Divisions.
These were not the only forces in Europe, however. The 13th Airborne and 66th and 106th Infantry were in reserve or in France. he British had a Infantry and an Armoured Division in the Middle East and two Divisions in the U.K, both under-strength. The British had two Divisions in Greece. France had 8 Infantry and one Armoured Division in France. In all, it was 145 Divisions in Europe.
Now that there would be no invasion of Japan, it was the Pacific that extra manpower would have to come from. The Borneo operation could be cancelled, freeing two Australian Divisions, likewise the cutting edge of the Navy, the three Marine Divisions that had finished the Iwo Jima invasion. The 98th Infantry. These were Divisions that could be moved immediately or close to it. More than six would likely have to be found, however.
Then there was the vexed questions of the Germans. Whether to rearm and field German units, a conundrum with the French in particular in the field, as well as Polish units.
Well, thought General of the Army George Marshall Jnr, now the fat was in the fire. It was a hell of a way for the Navy to win it's argument against the invasion of Japan. There would be no Operation Downfall now, no Olympic or Coronet. Instead it would be the Navy's plan that was adopted, a plan that involved the total isolation of Japan, which would be subdued by a combination of bombing and aerial mining, effectively starving the country, now largely helpless outside of China, into submission. Even the Manhattan Project, if it came to fruition, would likely now not be directed at Japan as originally planned but instead in the European theater of operations. The new urgency of the situation had seen him personally contact Nichols to be assured that the weapon was still on track for early July 1945 and after that point at least one weapon per month would be available, sometimes two.
With the Russians attacking all along the common front, it was now a matter of trying to hold onto what part of Europe that had been liberated so far. With Hitler dead and the Wehrmacht shattered, even the Germans were no longer a concern. The Russians would be fresh after only commencing their latest offensives in early April. In many sectors they were still being held up by the Germans, who were streaming West to surrender and still providing resistance to the Russians.
The U.S Army had substantial forces in Europe. To the South Devers 6th Army Group consisted of 10 Infantry and 2 Armoured Divisions, as well as 9 French Infantry Divisions and 6 Armoured. Bradley's 12th Army Group was the most under pressure. It had another 36 Infantry and 12 Armoured Divisions. Montgomery's 21st Army Group has 13 Infantry and 11 Armoured Divisions. In all 99 Divisions or equivalent.
On the Italian and Austrian border was Marc Clark's 15th Allied Army Group consisting of 6 Infantry and one Armoured Division, one Brazilian and five weak Italian Divisions and one South African Armoured Division, as well as 10 British Infantry and 4 British Armoured Divisions. In all 28 more Divisions.
These were not the only forces in Europe, however. The 13th Airborne and 66th and 106th Infantry were in reserve or in France. he British had a Infantry and an Armoured Division in the Middle East and two Divisions in the U.K, both under-strength. The British had two Divisions in Greece. France had 8 Infantry and one Armoured Division in France. In all, it was 145 Divisions in Europe.
Now that there would be no invasion of Japan, it was the Pacific that extra manpower would have to come from. The Borneo operation could be cancelled, freeing two Australian Divisions, likewise the cutting edge of the Navy, the three Marine Divisions that had finished the Iwo Jima invasion. The 98th Infantry. These were Divisions that could be moved immediately or close to it. More than six would likely have to be found, however.
Then there was the vexed questions of the Germans. Whether to rearm and field German units, a conundrum with the French in particular in the field, as well as Polish units.
- johnboy
- Word Count: 550