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Let's suppose Hitler believes that Stalin plans to build up for an offensive into Western Europe, and lets suppose this is true. Maybe not 1941, maybe not even 1943, but "some day" and within Stalin's lifetime.

Hitler comes to believe that ultimately, allowing the Soviets to build up and attack first is the better strategy. It not only helps him legitimize the Nazi claim that communist bolshevism is a threat to Europe by having an actually manifest invasion, but he will have shorter supply lines, more time to build up force and infrastructure, and the ability to focus on dealing with the issue of Britain. In his mind, if the Soviets attack, more Europeans would be willing to support his cause in the defense.

Could Hitler pull this off? In my thoughts he could either focus on intensifying the campaign against Britain, or lax it in favor of keeping the US out of the war by avoiding granting any US president a Causus Belli from a submarine strike on an American ship. Without US involvement Hitler, could assume that Britain could never attack his Germany on its own, no matter how many bombers or commando raids they send.

If Nazi Germany does survive until Stalin decides to attack, suppose Hitler allows his generals more autonomy for dynamic defense with withdrawals and counter attacks and has much more faith in them. The goal is to draw out defense long enough for sympathy to grow around the world, particularly in the US and Britain. Could it work?
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