Americans & British switch positions in France

How might the Allied campaign in Normandy have gone if the American and British forces had been in different positions in France? I mean if the Americans had been in the Northern Section & the British in the South?

I know we wouldn't have Patton's blitzkrieg across France. This is because his forces would have been trying to take Antwerp (which took the British/Canadian forces some time to do). Could Patton have done it quicker? Would Montgomery be taking his sweet time crossing France?
 
I know we wouldn't have Patton's blitzkrieg across France. This is because his forces would have been trying to take Antwerp (which took the British/Canadian forces some time to do). Could Patton have done it quicker? Would Montgomery be taking his sweet time crossing France?

Interesting question. I think eventually it would have come down to who got the fuel right? The Germans always made the comment about how the Brits were more efficient fighters and especially hellacious defenders while acknowledging that the Americans seemed to grasp mobile warfare much better or quickly. So perhaps it could be argued that Patton might have been more aggressive about pushing through faster, crossing the Rhine, and making some kind of bid for Berlin eventually. The biggest thing that comes to my mind is that there would have been no Market Garden as OTL.

My imagination runs wild with thoughts of a fast hard push straight toward the Rhine, crossing around the Ruhr fork (Say Durisburg). Bradley sends Patton (with Simpson) and strong elements hard south straight into the flank of any units along the Rhine's eastern bank. A large part of the Ruhr industrial region, the cities of Cologne and Dusseldorf, and large numbers of confused and scrambling troops are captured (or essentially encircled) before the Allied troops are temporary stopped around Frankfurt and the Main to consolidate. Only a matter of time before the Germans are forced out of Strasburg and the British cross and push to Stuttgart. Meanwhile in the North, Hodges is sent north to successfully flank or liberate as much territory in and around Holland as possible. While both sides rush to adjust to the sudden realignment of the entire Western front, there are talks within the allies concerning a massive airdrop behind the Elbe once forces get within proximity of Hamburg or the River.


Okay ... sorry got carried away. Without a Market Garden would the overall strategy change with an American North?
 
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Dure

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God Patton wasting all those young Americans attacking Caen frontally! You could end up with death tolls of truely Soviet proportions. He might start as the northern field commander but he would be replaced as soon as the death toll began to climb.

Which probably leaves Montgomery to break-out through far larger numbers of German troops and a weakened northern flank. I think he is up to it but it will be through low risk set-peice battles and massive use of air support.

The real nightmare would be if Patton has been so profligate of troops and they are so demoralised that his replacement cannot hold the inevitable German counter attack, they drive the Americans either into the sea or back onto the British and Canadians. Will they fold or hold? It is unlikely to go that badly, the USA has a lot of troops to lose after all but it is not clear cut.

An excellent scenario if you want the Western front driven back into the sea or the Soviets to over-run the whole of Germany.
 
God Patton wasting all those young Americans attacking Caen frontally!

Hmmm ... this I can see. Not sure if 'speed' in the long run might actually have saved lives by the end of the war though. Something to think about.



they drive the Americans either into the sea or back onto the British and Canadians. Will they fold or hold? It is unlikely to go that badly, the USA has a lot of troops to lose after all but it is not clear cut.

Hmmm ... this I cannot see. Seems a bit fantastical. Even in the worst possible situation on the ground, any German advance or offensive is going to be absolutely annihilated, chewd up, and burned by allied air power. Unless they plan on the German army carrying out such a sweeping offensive walking on the ground I'm not sure anything this cataclysmic is likely.

I think I was assuming the OP was speaking of positions along the front after a successful landing and Normandy breakout. I'm not positive but it seems you interpreted it as more during or immediately following the landings.
 
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