To judge by the people writing the scenarios when it declared war on Germany and the USSR. There's only "America wins" without indicating that it's a war between anyone else with the USA *against* those two dictatorships. Just the mighty USA against Nazi Germany and the USSR without any concept of how the USA gets across the Pond to start with.
Right - so let's try this:
POD: May 1941: Hitler, infuriated by Hess's desertion, falls into a rage, has a heart attack and dies in front the General Staff.
In Germany, the military - with the jump on the SS because Hitler croaked right in front of them - moves quickly to secure power. Hitler's death is hidden for six hours while Goering is presented with faked evidence that the SS had der Fuhrer killed. Himmler is arrested, as are Bormann and a few others. Heydrich is allowed to succeed Himmler in an SS that is thought to be firmly subordinated to the military.
Goering is the figurehead, but the generals hold the power. Heydrich plays along for now. Barbarossa is cancelled, and the Germans focus on consolidating their position. Speer is put in charge of the economy, and quickly reports that it is unsustainable over the long run. Peace feelers to Britain are rejected by Churchill.
North Africa is reinforced, but the Germans realize that Suez is a longshot given British naval strength and Libya's port capacity. Still, with no Russia, it is the active front in the war, and given more attention.
On Dec 7, the Japanese raid Pearl Harbor. America enters the war, but not against the European Axis. Buttlerflies cause even worse British losses in the initial Japanese sweep. The shock of Singapore, a British naval defeat off Ceylon and a German offensive towards Alexandria cause Churchill's government to fall. The replacement government of Halifax agrees to a cease-fire (though not peace) with Germany. America and Britain do cooperate against Japan. Japan's navy is gone by late 1943.
Meanwhile, the Soviets have not been idle. Persia is occupied in 1942 under the pretext of a communist revolution against the Shah. Britain and America protest, but can do nothing beyond reinforcing India. The Iraqis look for protection from the USSR from Germany. Soviet troops also build up in Siberia.
In early 1944, two events occur that change the world. The US lands in China, and, after defeating the Japanese garrison, come into almost immediate conflict with the Soviet-supplied Chinese Communists. When the US takes Shanghai, the Soviets storm Manchuria. Both the US and Soviets lavishly supply their Chinese proxies, who in turn draw both deeper into China. An over-agressive Soviet commander moves against a Nationalist infantry corps, only to discover a US infantry division attached to that corps. A pitched battle between US and Soviet troops leads to war between the USA and USSR on April 22, 1944.
Meanwhile, Heydrich makes his move. On May 5th, the SS takes back control of Germany from the OKW. Pitched battles are fought; the result of which are lots of dead German generals and Heydrich as Fuehrer. He immediately implements his plans. Germany forces rush the border and attack the USSR - liebenstraum was Hitler's dream, and the best way to make sure the army doesn't challenge the SS is to make it fight the Red Army.
Also on May 5th, the Germans launch their navy (free to roam the Atlantic with a quiet Britain) at Norway. The Norwegian government - under Quisling - is considered too weak to resist a Soviet advance from Lapland. Two mountain divisions are being moved to Narvik to secure the north. The German task force blunders into another, smaller task force. That task force is a USN force hunting Soviet submarines. Both sides open fire, and Heydrich declares war.
OK - how's that as a starting point?
Mike Turcotte