Dumbest strategic decision that each country participating in WWII could have made, but didn't?

[Deleted member 97083]

What's the most self-defeating strategy (in terms of military posturing and administration rather than morality/ideology) that each of the countries participating in World War Two could have attempted, but didn't? However, it should still be something that they could have plausibly tried, even if it was doomed to failure, it must be something they would actually consider doing.

For example, Operation Pike would have been a terrible idea for Britain, luckily that idea was scrapped.

 

[TRH]

For Japan, an Anami-led Kyujo Coup.

 

[Tsargrad_or_Bust]

What's the most self-defeating strategy (in terms of military posturing and administration rather than morality/ideology) that each of the countries participating in World War Two could have attempted, but didn't? However, it should still be something that they could have plausibly tried, even if it was doomed to failure, it must be something they would actually consider doing.

For example, Operation Pike would have been a terrible idea for Britain, luckily that idea was scrapped.

Would Operation Catherine qualify? It seems to me like it would have ended badly for both the UK and Churchill. The man apparently didn't learn much from Gallipoli.

 

[Citycat]

Operation Unthinkable, a.k.a. World War III.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Unthinkable

 

[ObssesedNuker]

Doesn't quite make the criteria, as there is no evidence the Soviets considered carrying it out, but Zhukov's pre-emptive strike plan filed on May 15th, 1941 could charitably be called a death ride for 150 divisions had it ever been attempted in '41.

 

[ajdb0614]

Obligatory mention of the Unmentionable Sea Mammal

 

[Miss Construction]

War plan orange?

 

[CaliGuy]

What's the most self-defeating strategy (in terms of military posturing and administration rather than morality/ideology) that each of the countries participating in World War Two could have attempted, but didn't? However, it should still be something that they could have plausibly tried, even if it was doomed to failure, it must be something they would actually consider doing.

For example, Operation Pike would have been a terrible idea for Britain, luckily that idea was scrapped.

What about invading France through Switzerland on Nazi Germany's part? After all, Nazi Germany would face one hell of a fight from the Swiss and thus possibly become ripe meat for British and French forces.

 

[Archibald]

France leaving the Ardennes forrest ill-defended on behalf that tanks... oh merde, it happened OTL. Forget it.

France seeing bombers as offensive weapons while fighters are defensive weapons, so per lack of money and to not irritate Germany they made fighters a priority... oh merde, it happened OTL. Forget it.

Seriously, France time in WWII is so short, bar operation pike, I don't know...

I know. Vichy France bombs the shit of Gibraltar from North Africa. They had the ships and aircrafts to do it.

 

[steamboy]

What about invading France through Switzerland on Nazi Germany's part? After all, Nazi Germany would face one hell of a fight from the Swiss and thus possibly become ripe meat for British and French forces.

At the time the Swiss defences were not all that extensive, and the population isn't all yodeling John Rambo's waiting to spring into action rifle in one hand, pike in the other.

But nor are they this golden oldie either

If the Germans had invaded Switzerland it would have been over rather quickly.

 

[CaliGuy]

At the time the Swiss defences were not all that extensive, and the population isn't all yodeling John Rambo's waiting to spring into action rifle in one hand, pike in the other.

But nor are they this golden oldie either

If the Germans had invaded Switzerland it would have been over rather quickly.

Don't the Swiss have a lot of guns, though?

 

[steamboy]

Don't the Swiss have a lot of guns, though?

There's a big difference between an armed military and folks with guns. I'm not sure about the Swiss back then, but now days gun ownership in Switzerland is very high, but ammo is tightly controlled. But i've no idea what the armed status of the swiss population was back then.

But the thing is even if they are well meaning ametures, against a professional force like the Germans in WW2, using tactics that no one had ever seen before, I think it could well have been painful, but not dilibating for the Germans.

 

[Donald Reaver]

The U.S. deciding to go Japan first.

 

[Karelian]

Finnish HQ sends the bulk of Finnish field army to an all-out assault against Leningrad in summer 1941.

 

[Deleted member 97083]

Doesn't quite make the criteria, as there is no evidence the Soviets considered carried it out, but Zhukov's pre-emptive strike plan filed on May 15th, 1941 could charitably be called a death ride for 150 divisions had it ever been attempted in '41.

Wouldn't that still be less Soviet divisions lost than IOTL?

 

[Miss Construction]

Italy decides to stick with the Axis after 1943?

 

[hwyl]

For Finland not to seek armistice with the Soviet Union in August 1944.

(An additional alternative which is maybe be less universally supported, but Finland not joining Barbarossa - I believe we would have nevertheless become participants but in very chaotic and damaging circumstances not under our own control.)

 

[Deleted member 1487]

Its actually pretty hard to do this for Germany because they pretty much made some of the worst decisions and lost as a result. Maybe invading Turkey in 1943?

 

[dandan_noodles]

Germany could have tried invading right over the Belgian plain, or straight through the Maginot Line.

Mao could have tried actually fighting the Japanese, instead of letting the Nationalists do all the heavy lifting.

 

[BlondieBC]

War plan orange?

War Plan Orange, as written in operational orders, would not have run that badly. It was well accepted in the navy we lacked the fuel, parts, and other supplies for a drive to the PI to rescue Bataan. For example, we had just enough fuel to go to Truk, fight for 24 hours, and sail back to Pearl. Well, if we took the straightest route.

So the orders were much more modest. We need a better defense of Pearl Harbor to have it executed, but it would not have worked that badly. We would have sent two BB to the Samoa area for up to 6 months. You could easily have a carrier as a scout with the ships. Probably does not do much, but who knows, maybe they fight a battle or two and win. Maybe slow down Japanese operations around Rabual either by direct operation or threat of operation. From this location, they would be available to assist the Dutch East Indies, if that decision was made. Or based out of an Australian port. A fleet in being down there with some capital ships has some merit. You also get some raiding such as OTL Enterprise activity on the edges of the Marshall Islands. We basically build up at Pearl. Then when we are strong enough we drive with what IOTL is the Central Pacific strategy minus the SW strategy which probably makes the war 6 months shorter than OTL.

War Plan Orange was not dumb once it was adjusted for actual resources available. And War Plan Orange (1939) had the fleet based in California, where it is easier to train and supply, so we don't have that issue with Pearl. Pearl was to be heavily fortified forward Naval Base.