CHALLENGE: "Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!"

You're right
The obvious answer is ...
The Zeppelin-Launcher Zeppelin ! :D




Apart from jokes: during the Great War and a good share of WW2 Zeppelins were able to reach much more altitude than heavier-than-air craft, and they were virtually unreachable up there.
Only problem is that they had to fly lower to be effective in bombing (such as the submarines, only the other way round).
Also, not having to rely on fuel to remain airborn, it could in principle be a very long-range craft
 
Zeppelins, at least modern ones, show a lot of promise as transports.

Maybe use them in that capacity in your fictional wartime?
 
I forgot!!!

One aspect of the attack that was not known until much later was the German use of two-man mini submarines to infiltrate the harbor. One unfortunate crew managed to run their sub aground outside the harbor entrance due to a navigational error. The name of that unlucky boat?

wait for it...

Seelöwe! :D
 
One aspect of the attack that was not known until much later was the German use of two-man mini submarines to infiltrate the harbor. One unfortunate crew managed to run their sub aground outside the harbor entrance due to a navigational error. The name of that unlucky boat?

wait for it...

Seelöwe! :D

Pfft the seelowe had about as much chance of succeeding in its mission as rhine barge would at crossing the channel. :D
 
Something surprises me, namely the target of Pearl Harbor. If Germany somehow would decide to attack the USA, why not doing it in the Atlantic? Germany had lots more forces and capabilities closer to their home in the Atlantic erea.

If the war was expected to have the most decisive results in the Pacific, and be largely a stand-off in the Atlantic, it would definitely make sense to start with Pearl Harbor. Germany could also inflict much more decisive damage on Pearl Harbor that it could to the East Coast (with conventional weapons). Hit the ships, planes, and harbor correctly, and you've temporarily crippled the Americans in the Pacific. Strike with even ten times that strength at the Eastern Seaboard, and you're a drop in the bucket. Not to mention that given ship traffic across the Atlantic a surprise attack would be limited to submarines or ICBMs.

I think Grey Wolf has the right of it.

German victory doesn't return the colonies occupied by Japan. With Africa dominated by the Europeans, who are in turn mostly under the shadow of Germany, and South America closer to the US and Britain (read: neutral), Asia would be the natural region for which the Powers could compete.

Germany would probably have pressured the British into pressuring the Australians into returning Germany's South Pacific colonies, and would likely have "friendly ports" in Indochina and other French colonies. That wouldn't be much of a base from which to start a general war, or even to retake its colonies from Japan. But China is a natural ally that could solve all that. Assuming the Germans involve themselves in a Sino-Japanese War, they could sweep up their lost atolls, likely lay hands on Taiwan as well, and have in China a real set of Pacific bases to work from.

Say....

No Zimmerman Telegram. American entry into the war is delayed by 10 months. By late 1918, Germans aren't pressured enough to launch operation Michael as an attack instead of a counterattack. The Entente politically has to make an offensive given Deutsch successes in Russia. When they push, the Germans wait for the assault to peter out, and then counterattack the new, unprepared defenses.

Operation Michael sweeps past Entente lines, then Entente rear defenses, then Paris. The war is over. Britain negotiates to keep France and Belgium intact - really don't want Germans at the mouth of the Seine. As such, Germany regains its colonies in Africa and adds Equatorial Africa from France, the Congo from Belgium, Cabinda from Portugal (oh no!), and Zanzibar from Britain.

In Europe Deutschland annexes the Baltic Duchies, French Lorraine, and Luxembourg, and dominates or influences everything from France to the Crimea. Austria-Hungary becomes Austria-Hungary-Poland and, after a brief political struggle, Austria-Hungary-Poland-Jugoslavia. Hungary remains mostly intact by finally granting rights to its minorities. The Ottoman border extends to the Caucasus Mountains. Their nominal position in Egypt and Cyprus becomes real, but the British retain the Suez, some bases, and the Sudan. Bulgaria gobbles up Macedonia. Italy switches sides again and is rewarded with Denmark-sized slices of Somalia and the Sahara. Only in Asia and the North Pacific is Germany thwarted by Japan. It even opts for bases in Indochina over annexation, rather than risk the Japanese grabbing that, too.

A prolonged period of economic instability follows - booms, busts, and a prolonged recession in the early 1930s. The British turn inwards and begin discussing Federalization of the Empire. America indulges in Germano-phobia and isolationism. The latter wins out during the 1935-1936 Chinese war, leaving the American Phillipines and Hawaii threatened by China and the German Pacific. The war end with a British-mediated cease-fire that leaves Japan in Korea and no-one satisfied. Mussolini (it's possible) participates, lusting for glory, and gets a few islands. If he's really lucky one is Okinawa.

Germany has netted itself Chinese friendship and a true colonial empire, but in the process isolated themselves from all but their closest allies. The British and Dominions cool, while the Soviets and Americans become overtly hostile. The latter begin to rapidly expand their militaries. The Russians are in Sinkiang and supporting communists in north and central China. The Americans are laying frames for an enormous fleet and supplying the Japanese in Korea with tanks.

It's clear a ruinous war is looming, but neither the US nor USSR are stronger yet in the conflict zones. Nor are the two allied. Waiting would weaken their position or even allow their enemies to establish an alliance, but a Short Victorious War [TM] against one power.... Well, that would firm everything up.

So. They could fight a massive land war against Russia, which would rekindle the awful memories of the last war and beg the question of just how friendly or neutral the rest of Europe really is. Or.

German forces strike in force at the Phillipines, Guam, and Pearl Harbor.

If they can just cripple the American fleet, they can wrap up the West Pacific and overrun Korea before it can be properly replaced. Then the Americans will be stuck, bigger navy or no, and the Russians will be cowed. Mein gott, you guys, what could go wrong?!?
 
2. Capacity - an aircraft carrier can load a lot of planes, a zeppelin? Not so much. The facilities require a lot of space and manpower and it's simply not practical to waste so much stuff on a potentially vulnerable platform.

3. Landing - launching aircraft isn't that big of a problem, recovering them is. IIRC, the system was a hook and winch design where the aircraft would attach itself to the hook, then be brought in from the bottom. It failed miserably as crashes were common even during trials, let alone later on. A proposal was made to make a really, really big zeppelin and put a runway on top and essentially turn the thing into a flying copy of a seagoing aircraft carrier, but I think the whole project was abandoned before anyone tried to make it.
Maybe Not.

solar-landing-field-cover.jpg
 
Yesterday, December 7th, 1941...

... a date which will live in infamy - the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the German Empire.

The United States was at peace with that nation, and, at the solicitation of Germany, was still in conversation with its government and its Emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific.

At the same time German air squadrons had commenced bombing in the American island of Oahu, the German Ambassador to the United States and his colleague delivered to our Secretary of State a formal reply to a recent American message. And, while this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no threat or hint of war or of armed attack.

It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Germany's far eastern ports makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago. During the intervening time the German Government has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian Islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. I regret to tell you that very many American lives have been lost. In addition, American ships have been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu.

Yesterday the German Government also launched an attack against Malaya.
Last night German forces attacked Batavia.
Last night German forces attacked Guam.
Last night German forces attacked the Philippine Islands.
Last night the Germans attacked Wake Island.
And this morning the Germans attacked Midway Island.

Germany has therefore undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific area. The facts of yesterday and today speak for themselves. The people of the United States have already formed their opinions and well understand the implications to the very life and safety of our nation.

As Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense, that always will our whole nation remember the character of the onslaught against us.

No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people, in their righteous might, will win through to absolute victory.

I believe that I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost but will make it very certain that this form of treachery shall never again endanger us.

Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory and our interests are in grave danger.

With confidence in our armed forces, with the unbounding determination of our people, we will gain the inevitable triumph. So help us God.

I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Germany on Sunday, December 7th, 1941, a state of war has existed between the United States and the German Empire.

Franklin D. Roosevelt - December 8, 1941
 
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