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  1. Is peace possible between Germany and allies ww2

    I don't see how it could happen but I was willing to vote yes anyways because I would just point out that this choice falls and always did fall squarely within German control. They started the war by invading Poland. They chose to invade France. They chose to carry on the war against England...

  2. How much faster would World War 2 end without Pearl Harbor and sinking of Force Z?

    People put too much stock in inevitability. A sane Japan, or even one willing to take some alternative risks, could well have avoided war with the U.S. entirely or at least for many years. Then it's just a European war, which might be a little shorter if the U.S. devotes all its effort there, or...

  3. Germans had full knowledge of USSR military capabilities

    As usual, the professional advocates a boring solution. Where's the flash and pizzazz, man? :) In more seriousness, I suppose the counterargument that won the day must have been that Germany didn't have the industrial capacity to risk going toe-to-toe against everybody in a long, drawn-out war...

  4. Germans had full knowledge of USSR military capabilities

    Great - thanks for that confirmation. I was just thinking 1917 to 1941 is about 25 years so if you're in the senior echelons of the officer corps when Barbarossa launches, you must have been at the junior end right smack in the middle of World War I. On the other hand, the fact that Hitler let...

  5. Germans had full knowledge of USSR military capabilities

    Yep it's a fair bet some of the top brass in 1941 was actually part of the invasion of Russia the first time around, so it's literally a matter of "let's do that thing we did that time, again." I don't know their personal biographies well enough to identify which ones unfortunately.

  6. Germans had full knowledge of USSR military capabilities

    I will grant you that 162 million versus 180 million is clearly a greater range of uncertainty that we're used to with a census, but plainly no one could take away from that that the true number was, say, more like 100 million. Surely the correct approach to figures that are likely inflated is...

  7. Germans had full knowledge of USSR military capabilities

    I don't know how to make that happen. I mean, on the one hand, it's basically a question of what if the Germans had perfect foreknowledge of what would happen when they attacked. Then I guess they would not have attacked. On the other hand, surely the objective characteristics of the Soviet...

  8. Force Z delayed

    I don't know why I didn't think of this until I read your post but then the light bulb went off and I realized the Tennant of ship command is the same as the Tennant at Dunkirk and the Tennant in Normandy. Geez, what a career.

  9. WI: Maginot Line covers the Ardennes?

    Therein lies the part I do not understand. The purpose of the Maginot Line was to make a head-on push into France either impossible or very, very slow. Consequently, the Germans would either have to break through so slowly that the French had ample time to rush in reinforcements, or, and this is...

  10. WI: Maginot Line covers the Ardennes?

    Okay, I will admit, that was hyperbole I should not have stooped to. But my point is, this really should have been the easiest sector to defend, and none of the complaints usually lodged against the French for having unimaginative leadership, slow response times, antiquated tactics, or what...

  11. WI: Maginot Line covers the Ardennes?

    Right which is kind of the point that I think people find easy to miss in these threads. The Maginot Line worked. It forced the Germans to pin their hopes for success on a sector that was very hard to advance through and incredibly easy to defend. This was the whole point of the Line. And then...

  12. WI: Maginot Line covers the Ardennes?

    Google some pictures of the traffic jam in the Ardennes in 1940. Frankly expanding the Wall would be a waste of money. Just ask yourself what the likely consequences would be of turning loose a couple companies of men with chainsaws. Granted I am not a professional soldier, but I am not...

  13. WI - Canada refuses “Big Soda’s“ recycling plan?

    I'm ashamed to say I never actually noticed this in my numerous trips to PEI over my life. Yes, I noticed the larger number of glass bottled drinks, but I assumed this was just one more tourist gimmick. Fascinating. Worth noting that civilized and sophisticated provinces, so not the one you...

  14. Operation Sea Lion (1974 Sandhurst Wargame)

    Oh yeah. I forgot about the carriers. Thanks! So the British laid down in one year considerably more capital ships than Nazi Germany built, period.

  15. Operation Sea Lion (1974 Sandhurst Wargame)

    I can't speak for sloreck obviously but I think, and this was the point I was trying to make too, that even if we can look back in retrospect and see that Sea Lion was a fool's errand, no sane leader is going to deliberately entice a foreign power to invade his country just because he's...

  16. Operation Sea Lion (1974 Sandhurst Wargame)

    As much of a cinch as it sounds, I can't imagine anyone actually advocating that Britain try to let Germany invade somehow so as to sucker them into defeat. Both as a general principle and because in summer 1940 there's more than a bit of panic in the air. Germany has somehow cracked the secret...

  17. Effects of SA using nukes on Black cities?

    If I understand it right, the bombs were going to be South Africa's security in the event the Cold War expanded into Africa in a more serious military way. Given the residual contamination issues and the very large blast size, it's difficult to imagine any country willingly using nukes simply...

  18. Operation Sea Lion (1974 Sandhurst Wargame)

    My guess is not but only because I am assuming more than enough of the fleet would carry on and obliterate the German fleet that the few who turned back, assuming any did, wouldn't ruin the operation. And then afterwards, given the political atmosphere, I think the higher-ups would be focused...

  19. Operation Sea Lion (1974 Sandhurst Wargame)

    Aw, but mom... I guess this means people aren't going to be allowed to research my very reasonable "hop the Solent" and "zerg rush the Thames" strategies for me either but they are war winners I assure you. Well said. Although I try to learn a couple new and actually informative things every...

  20. Operation Sea Lion (1974 Sandhurst Wargame)

    Hm, fair point. In order to Sea Lion the Isle of Wight, it may be necessary to invade Great Britain too, at least temporarily. Now what to call this secondary raid.... Need a good code-name.... I know this looks superficially sensible but Glenn has already demonstrated to us conclusively that...
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