From the Panay War timeline:
http://www.changingthetimes.net/samples/darkvalley/panay_war.htm
Granted, the Panay War is a wildly implausible dystopia. However, I do find the concept somewhat interesting- was there any chance France would have switched sides earlier on?
The French want a very large AngloSaxon force sent to help hold the Somme. The Brits have no army to send as the BEF has come out but the equipment is still piled up in Antwerp and Amsterdam awaiting shipment. Ditto for the two French armies. There are large depots of American equipment in Eire but America has no alliance with France. America feels no gratitude for the French leaving them to fight Japan for two years and then basically surrendering Indochina without a fight. America remembers all too well how the French repudiated their WWI debt. America wants solid collateral before bailing France out again. France notes that no such collateral was asked of Britain, Scandinavia or Belgium (actually untrue but as its all being done very quietly it does appear that way). US is simply more simpatico to its English cousins and little countries they can dominate. Basically while the Battle of Belgium rages the French and AngloSaxons have another cat fight. Net effect is that the French ask Hitler for an armistice BEFORE the breach of the Somme line and the fall of Paris, while they still have a functional army.
Hitler says yes. Will not advance further but French army to retire below the Loire – large war indemnity, surrender of war material, transit rights through French ports, etc. AngloSaxons enraged. French equally so but in reverse.
...
Provocations between Anglos and French escalate in same period. French impede Brit withdrawl from now neutral France. British impede French transit through UK. Anglos ignore French civil administration in occupied NE France. Brits try to seize French ships in Alexandria and UK. France and the AngloSaxons are at war. French attack Nigeria, Gold Coast. Seize Gambia. Sierre Leone only held with American support from Liberia. Dutchess of Windsor’s Own West Indian Home Guard airlifted in – island militia with shotguns and ‘privately donated’ US deer rifles led by multiracial West Indian notables and US bluebloods with their retinues of loyal retainers…
Basic African stalemate: French have numbers and quality on the ground but no easy way to reinforce. From Algiers to the front is 1000+ miles of nothing. Brits and Americans have little on the ground but have the ports, airfields and US baby carriers. Anything within air range of the coast is a walkover.
Vichy joins Pact of Steel. Brit Mid East endangered by French in Syria, Italians in Libya.
http://www.changingthetimes.net/samples/darkvalley/panay_war.htm
Granted, the Panay War is a wildly implausible dystopia. However, I do find the concept somewhat interesting- was there any chance France would have switched sides earlier on?