This is more of putting some thoughts to writing than TL or WI proposition, but merely to create discussion here's something to chew about.
How about more of a combined arms rather than Army-centric approach on Barbarossa?
A navalistic approach to Barbarossa would inevitably have Leningrad area as the primary goal for campaign season no.1. Elimination of Leningrad would eliminate any naval threat (bar from long range aerial minelaying) from the Baltic and thus create a safe haven for Axis trade and submarine training.
But even more significantly, use of Leningrad as supply route would bring great benefits for any subsequent operations. Captured Leningrad could be used as supply location for additional operations towards Moscow, which is just some 600km's distant with excellent rail and road connections.
Additionally, by using canal transportation another access route (Volga-Baltic waterway) is possible.
Second front where navalistic approach could be used is naturally the Black Sea. Although, on paper, Soviet superiority was overwhelming in practice this could be somewhat negated via better quality of German naval units and additionally by the use of German anti-shipping air power. German units were reinforced in OTL between 1942-1944 via Dardanelles (with civilian ships refitted with weapons in the Black Sea) and via Danube (small units only). These units could have well been prepared in advance to be used during 1941 campaign season to permit more rapid advance in Southern front by using Black Sea as transportation route and additionally by utilizing the forces involved in amphibious landings and raids.
So, in sum, I think a naval approach for Barbarossa would have included as targets for campaign season no. 1:
1.) Capture of Leningrad
2.) Advance in the Black Sea region perhaps to Rostov area
Thoughts?
How about more of a combined arms rather than Army-centric approach on Barbarossa?
A navalistic approach to Barbarossa would inevitably have Leningrad area as the primary goal for campaign season no.1. Elimination of Leningrad would eliminate any naval threat (bar from long range aerial minelaying) from the Baltic and thus create a safe haven for Axis trade and submarine training.
But even more significantly, use of Leningrad as supply route would bring great benefits for any subsequent operations. Captured Leningrad could be used as supply location for additional operations towards Moscow, which is just some 600km's distant with excellent rail and road connections.
Additionally, by using canal transportation another access route (Volga-Baltic waterway) is possible.
Second front where navalistic approach could be used is naturally the Black Sea. Although, on paper, Soviet superiority was overwhelming in practice this could be somewhat negated via better quality of German naval units and additionally by the use of German anti-shipping air power. German units were reinforced in OTL between 1942-1944 via Dardanelles (with civilian ships refitted with weapons in the Black Sea) and via Danube (small units only). These units could have well been prepared in advance to be used during 1941 campaign season to permit more rapid advance in Southern front by using Black Sea as transportation route and additionally by utilizing the forces involved in amphibious landings and raids.
So, in sum, I think a naval approach for Barbarossa would have included as targets for campaign season no. 1:
1.) Capture of Leningrad
2.) Advance in the Black Sea region perhaps to Rostov area
Thoughts?