AHC: Get the US into WW2 as quickly as possible

With a PoD no earlier than 1934, create a scenario in which the US plausibly joins the Allied side significantly earlier than OTL.

Bonus points if it's 1939.
 
World War II starts on September 1, 1939. A German U-Boat sinks an American flagged vessel on September 2. The United States declares war on Germany on Sept. 3.
 

iddt3

Donor
Well Hitler COULD just declare war on the US in 1939 for some perceived American slight.
 
WI the US had been involved in some military fiasco (I think the Finland war helped convince the Nazis that the USSR was more vulnerable than in reality)

Perhaps some incident with some armed group from Mexico or in the Phillipines,

Hitler gives ultimatum, no supplies of any kind to UK or Frace or it is war.
 

BlondieBC

Banned
World War II starts on September 1, 1939. A German U-Boat sinks an American flagged vessel on September 2. The United States declares war on Germany on Sept. 3.

Agreed.


Whilst this might set off war right there and then, why would a German U-Boat be so stupid?

Mistake. Fog of War. And it could be a USA warship, say the USS Texas is traveling from Norway to the USA when a U-boat mistakes it for a Royal Navy BB. This may contradict the standing orders at the time, but make the POD include different U-boat orders. With an American warship sunk in international waters, FDR can get a very easy war declaration.
 
Mistake. Fog of War. And it could be a USA warship, say the USS Texas is traveling from Norway to the USA when a U-boat mistakes it for a Royal Navy BB. This may contradict the standing orders at the time, but make the POD include different U-boat orders. With an American warship sunk in international waters, FDR can get a very easy war declaration.

The Texas was later on though, one of my personal favourites for PoD's like this.
 
I think you need massive unrestricted submarine off the American coast. One or two ships is not going to do it. Remember the Germans sank a US destroyer and there was not a declaration of war
 
In a previous TL I described an accidental sinking of the Staten Island Ferry, but I don't think you have to go that far. It would help if German subs went into American harbors.
 

Cook

Banned
The passing of the Lend-Lease Act on 11 March 1941 was seen by many in the Nazi administration as tantamount to a declaration of war by the United States. Hitler, in his ranting diatribes to his inner circle said that Roosevelt ‘and his Jewish financiers’ had given him grounds for war. The American decision in late March to repair British warships in American ports and the occupation of Greenland in April 1941 (Greenland was Danish territory and Denmark was by then a protectorate of the Reich.) were all clearly aggressive acts that, combined with the commenced massive build-up of the American military made it clear (at least to Hitler) that America intended to enter the war. Given the circumstances, it is actually surprising that Hitler didn’t follow his instincts and declare a pre-emptive war on the United States before had their anti-submarine defences better prepared.

That he again did not declare war when US forces replaced the British forces occupying Iceland, in clear collusion and putting American forces within the European war zone, is even more extraordinary.


You might have to deal with the significant pro-fascist population.
There was never a significant pro-fascist population in America. There were a few like Henry Ford who were, but were always they very careful to term it as anti-war to appeal to the wider public. Being anti-war and pro-fascist are very different.
 
If you the German declaration of war comes in the spring of 1941, that moves up Operation Torch six months or so. Anyone ready to talk about the consequences of this TL?
 
Will the Japanese return the favor of OTL and declare war on the US? Or will they consider the US too distracted to interfere and invade Indonesia, etc. without bothering to clear the US forces from the Phillipines?

Bruce
 
Mistake. Fog of War. And it could be a USA warship, say the USS Texas is traveling from Norway to the USA when a U-boat mistakes it for a Royal Navy BB.

I could buy something like that. I could easily see a scenario where a German submarine is lying in wait one night off the approaches to the English Channel. The sonar operatpr picks up the sound of propellers. The captain looks through the periscope sees the outline of a big liner. He turns to attack thinking that perhaps its the Queen Mary, but instead torpedoes and sinks an American liner evacuating American tourists, businessmen and embassy staff from Europe.
 

BlondieBC

Banned
I could buy something like that. I could easily see a scenario where a German submarine is lying in wait one night off the approaches to the English Channel. The sonar operatpr picks up the sound of propellers. The captain looks through the periscope sees the outline of a big liner. He turns to attack thinking that perhaps its the Queen Mary, but instead torpedoes and sinks an American liner evacuating American tourists, businessmen and embassy staff from Europe.

I like the embassy staff, that is a nice, nice touch.
 
Will the Japanese return the favor of OTL and declare war on the US? Or will they consider the US too distracted to interfere and invade Indonesia, etc. without bothering to clear the US forces from the Phillipines?

Bruce

I would assume that Japan would not go to war until Tojo takes power.So I see the Japanese attack still coming on December 7, 1941. t What is different is that the US military, already at war, is prepared for the attack.
 
I would assume that Japan would not go to war until Tojo takes power.So I see the Japanese attack still coming on December 7, 1941. t What is different is that the US military, already at war, is prepared for the attack.

Well, yes, it would be. Do you think the Japanese are so stupid that they will not be aware of that? :confused:

Bruce
 
I would assume that Japan would not go to war until Tojo takes power.So I see the Japanese attack still coming on December 7, 1941. t What is different is that the US military, already at war, is prepared for the attack.

The timing of the attack is quite likely butterflied. It had more to do with the US oil embargo than Tojo, OTL. ITTL, a joint Axis DoW might happen...
 
Top