A different WWII...

I was originally going to start some writing project, yet, I found that the scenario is too poorely fleshed out to work (I don't like plotholes, really), therefore I would love some advice/help. The inspiration for this was essentially making a realistic version of the war featured in C&C: Red Alert (ie, without chrono spheres and all that ASB stuff). I hope the stuff below will not sound too ASBish or Soviet-wankish. :D

Thus, I what I wanted there is a timeline in which the Nazis never got to power in Germany (that runs trouble though since I have little idea of what Germany would have looked else). The POD would probably be around 1918/19, with Germany being somewhat less burdened by the Treaty of Versailles, meaning as a result it's economy during the 1920s is going to be a bit less strained. However, as the great Depression hits, it nonetheless struggles. While the Nazis never manage to come to power, 1930's Germany is still governed by a right-wing government under Franz von Papen, which re-establishes monarchy and puts the elderly Wilhelm II. back on the throne. Germany however fails to remilitarize itself and remains a weak entity with essentially the same problems continuing as during the Weimar period.

What I'm uncertain about is how the Spanish civil war fared without intervention by the Nazis. Ideal would be that some Communist government (alert, plothole) would come to power which would subsequently stay neutral in WWII just like Franco's spain did in OTL.

The lead-up to the different WWII is the Winter War with Finland in 1939, in which leads to a similar disaster as in OTL. However, Stalin learns from the failure and prepares to restructure his forces. Still, it is only after the Winter War that some of the European powers realize about Stalin's ambitions and the danger that the Soviet Union poses. Germany is finally allowed to re-arm herself, obviously far too late.

In June 1941 the Soviet Union attacks Poland. The reason for this is that Stalin wants to deal with the "unfinished business" of the Polish-Soviet War of 1919-1921. France, Germany and the UK declare war on the Soviet Union. However, the Soviets manage to take down Poland within about a month and begin invading the Baltic countries and East Prussia. In late August 1941, Königsberg falls to the Soviet Union.

Germany proves to be weak and ill-prepared, and in early October of 1941, the Soviet Union takes Berlin..,

(need to continue later, what do you think so far? Should I move this to the ASB thread? :D )
 
I think it far more likely that Wilhelm's son, Crown Prince Wilhelm, would be made Kaiser instead of Wilhelm himself. Willy carries alot of baggage around with him and restoring him to the throne would probably set Britain and France on edge - or they may not really care.
 
The lead-up to the different WWII is the Winter War with Finland in 1939, in which leads to a similar disaster as in OTL. However, Stalin learns from the failure and prepares to restructure his forces. Still, it is only after the Winter War that some of the European powers realize about Stalin's ambitions and the danger that the Soviet Union poses. Germany is finally allowed to re-arm herself, obviously far too late.

No general war in Europe, no Winter war against Finland.
 
What do you suggest then, Soviet invasion in Poland in 1939? Then again, I'm not sure the Soviet Union would have been ready in 1939 for this.

They managed well enough in concert with the Nazis, however, I suspect they'd have a harder (though not impossible) job of overcoming the Poles. That said, if they won they'd have a battle hardened army facing Europe.
 
Thus, I what I wanted there is a timeline in which the Nazis never got to power in Germany (that runs trouble though since I have little idea of what Germany would have looked else).

Look at the thread "The Weimar Republic survives". Basically it is a world in which Lettow-Vorbeck wasn't discredited by he Kapp Putsch (is it the name?) and his NVDP won the elections of 1932. In the following years Germany rebuilts and makes many of Hitler's projects (occupation of the Rhineland, Austrian annexation, war with Poland over Danzig) but remains friendly to Britain and France so there isn't a WW2.

1930's Germany is still governed by a right-wing government under Franz von Papen, which re-establishes monarchy and puts the elderly Wilhelm II. back on the throne.

As the other post said Wilhelm is too discredited by the defeat of WW1. The monarchy, however, is still supported by many Germans. The crowning of Wilhelm's son or even Wilhelm's brother would be more likely if a monarchist party takes the Reichstag.

What I'm uncertain about is how the Spanish civil war fared without intervention by the Nazis. Ideal would be that some Communist government (alert, plothole) would come to power which would subsequently stay neutral in WWII just like Franco's spain did in OTL.

Without the nazis the Republicans have more chances to win. Not only there isn't Condor Legion, Germany is probably going to enforce the non-intervention policy instead of testing war tactics in Spanish soil. As Italy is alone in this way it can be pressed enough to end its intervention in Spain, also. In the end the situation of the Republic during the war isn't as bad as OTL, so there is less involvement of the Soviet Union and therefore the communists don't gain any sizeable power. Moreover, I don't think that the Western powers would be as tolerant with an eventual communist Spain as they were with the fascist one. They even prefered the fascist one instead of the just left-wing, but democratic option... :rolleyes: Nah, the coalition government of 1936 is probably your best chance of a neutral Spain in this scenario.
 
What do you suggest then, Soviet invasion in Poland in 1939? Then again, I'm not sure the Soviet Union would have been ready in 1939 for this.

Take a look at shattered world, for something similar.
http://theshatteredworld.blogspot.com/

If you can remove the purges, the Soviet Union would have been significantly stronger in every way. They had the knowledge and equipment for something like Blitzkrieg, and a potentially huge army in 1939, if they had been preparing for it. If a war had begun by their attack, assume that the 5 year plan leading up to it, would have prepared them properly.

I think a no-Stalin timeline would have more likely led to this.
 
Butterfly the Nazis entire? There's a thread here (which I now can't find:mad:) suggesting Leonard Wood as Pres, with Charles Dawes SecTreas who would prevent the '29 Crash (or keep it from turning into a crisis). This would prevent the worldwide panic, & butterfly the Nazis...
 
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