The disparity in resources was so great in WW2, that it is hard to make a case that the Axis could have won.
This thread will try to give the Axis - 1. lucky breaks, 2. better production choices, 3. more intelligent geopolitical strategy, and 4. more lucky breaks.
So......
1. The Germans capture the British Army in 1940 - no Dunkirk
2. Italy stays out of the war until its merchant fleet has returned to home waters,
3. Italy and Germany cooperate from day 1 in the Med,
4. No one breaks German or Japanese codes,
5. Germany puts more resources into developing jet fighters and conventional long range bombers - no attempt to develop rockets or jet bombers,
6. Spain enters the war on the Axis side,
7. Italy, with German assistance, takes Malta as soon as it enters the war,
8. There is no attack on USSR until the Med is cleared,
9. In 1940, FDR gets ill, Farley gets the Democratic nomination and Taft is elected President,
10. In the UK Halifax is selected over Churchill in 1940,
11. By mid- 1941 the Axis takes Gibraltar, the Suez Canal and pushes into the Middle East where it develops a new source of oil,
12. Japan attacks British and Dutch colonies in the Far East but not the USA. Japan takes Ceylon in early 1942 and offers India independence. Japan's theme is anti-colonialism offering Malaya and Indonesia independence after a 10 year transition period.
13. Japan does not build super battleships but builds more and better planes and carriers. It uses its veteran pilots to train new pilots.
14. In Spring 1942, Halifax negotiates a treaty with the Axis under which the UK keeps the colonies it still holds and under certain terms may reclaim Singapore, Hong Kong, etc. after a period of 5 years.
15. In Spring 1942, all 3 Axis powers attack the USSR. The US and UK stay neutral and do not supply the USSR.
16. A Russian government in exile is formed and national groups representing the Ukraine, the Baltic states, etc. are created as governments in exile. Upon occupation, these groups assist in controlling the territory and exploiting resources.
An interesting exercise would be to evaluate how important each of these changes would be to the end result.
This thread will try to give the Axis - 1. lucky breaks, 2. better production choices, 3. more intelligent geopolitical strategy, and 4. more lucky breaks.
So......
1. The Germans capture the British Army in 1940 - no Dunkirk
2. Italy stays out of the war until its merchant fleet has returned to home waters,
3. Italy and Germany cooperate from day 1 in the Med,
4. No one breaks German or Japanese codes,
5. Germany puts more resources into developing jet fighters and conventional long range bombers - no attempt to develop rockets or jet bombers,
6. Spain enters the war on the Axis side,
7. Italy, with German assistance, takes Malta as soon as it enters the war,
8. There is no attack on USSR until the Med is cleared,
9. In 1940, FDR gets ill, Farley gets the Democratic nomination and Taft is elected President,
10. In the UK Halifax is selected over Churchill in 1940,
11. By mid- 1941 the Axis takes Gibraltar, the Suez Canal and pushes into the Middle East where it develops a new source of oil,
12. Japan attacks British and Dutch colonies in the Far East but not the USA. Japan takes Ceylon in early 1942 and offers India independence. Japan's theme is anti-colonialism offering Malaya and Indonesia independence after a 10 year transition period.
13. Japan does not build super battleships but builds more and better planes and carriers. It uses its veteran pilots to train new pilots.
14. In Spring 1942, Halifax negotiates a treaty with the Axis under which the UK keeps the colonies it still holds and under certain terms may reclaim Singapore, Hong Kong, etc. after a period of 5 years.
15. In Spring 1942, all 3 Axis powers attack the USSR. The US and UK stay neutral and do not supply the USSR.
16. A Russian government in exile is formed and national groups representing the Ukraine, the Baltic states, etc. are created as governments in exile. Upon occupation, these groups assist in controlling the territory and exploiting resources.
An interesting exercise would be to evaluate how important each of these changes would be to the end result.