alternatehistory.com

A few months ago I did a thread https://www.alternatehistory.com/fo...-goring-improve-the-german-war-effort.399279/ on the premise of some improvements in the German war effort which could follow Hitler dying in early 1942 to be succeeded by Goring. The relevant possibilities were that he would agree to reinforce Operation Paukenschlag with submarines which were held back by Hitler in OTL, setting back the Anglo-American war effort by some months as discussed here https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/paukenschlag-reinforced.370756/, authorize prioritizing taking Leningrad over Sevastopol (which was going to surrender soon anyway) which would be a major blow to the USSR and free hundreds of thousands of badly needed Axis troops as discussed here https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/operation-nordlicht-instead-of-störfang.398497/, and would stick to the plan for Case Blue, taking Stalingrad before its defenses could be reinforced as discussed in threads such as this one https://www.alternatehistory.com/fo...nzer-not-diverted-to-the-don-crossing.400058/. The Soviet high command, it seems, might very well have responded to such setbacks with a hasty counteroffensive which would fail badly as a result of the 6th Army not being tied down fighting in Stalingrad, pushing the USSR into collapse and forcing Stalin or whoever to seek terms which would turn a rump USSR into an Axis vassal state.

In this scenario, Army Group North is transferred to France, to make completely sure a successful 1943 landing is out of the question and Army Group Center is kept as an occupation force/general reserve. With German prestige at new highs following the defeat of the Soviet Union, Goring negotiates an agreement with the Turkish government to allow German troops to pass through Turkey, similar to the previous Turkish offer back in 1941 when Hitler was attempting to aid the pro-Axis regime which had temporarily taken over Iraq. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German–Turkish_Non-Aggression_Pact The British 10th Army at this time consisted of five infantry divisions, an armored division, and a motorized brigade. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenth_Army_(United_Kingdom) It is improbable, to say the least, that such a force could have withstood Army Group South. Any thoughts? (other than the usual "doesn't matter" while ignoring the points raised)
Top