Germany Defeated Early (WW2)

I recall it being mentioned at one point that had the British and French acted against Germany as the bulk of German forces were in Poland, they could have pushed into Germany early on and ended the war somewhat quickly.

Yes, there was the Siegfried line, but Germany didn't have too many reserves to defend the home country, the troops in the west were pretty fresh recruits, and focused British and French assault on Germany could have overwhelmed the defenses before German troops could be moved to stop them. If the French and British take the Ruhr before Germany can

What if this had occurred and the WAllies defeated Germany by 1941/1942?
 
There are several scenarios where Germany collapses 1941-42. Some plausible some not. The French had studied German economics closely and had based their planning on Germany reaching its tipping point in latter 1942, or perhaps early 1943 under the pessimistic scenario.

The large wild card in this is the USSR. If the Soviet leadership is confident, then they may also attack Germany in the expectation of taking direct control of all of Poland and the eastern German states. If circumstances prevent Soviet leaders from choosing this option, then central Europe will have a very different character post war.
 
IMO Stalin moving West in 1940-41 has a pretty good chance to see conflict with the Allies. After all, in this timeline he's not exactly "Ol' Joe" or anything. He's blatantly an opportunist who stabbed an Allies member in the back.
 
IMO Stalin moving West in 1940-41 has a pretty good chance to see conflict with the Allies. After all, in this timeline he's not exactly "Ol' Joe" or anything. He's blatantly an opportunist who stabbed an Allies member in the back.
Which is different from the Western Allies stabbing Poland in the back how?
 
Which is different from the Western Allies stabbing Poland in the back how?

The fact that their main reason for going to war with Germany is at least theoretically to defend Poland? Going to be awwwwfullly awkward selling the war as a victory to the voters if the guy you went to war over is now the "Polish Autonomous Region" of the USSR.
 
The fact that their main reason for going to war with Germany is at least theoretically to defend Poland? Going to be awwwwfullly awkward selling the war as a victory to the voters if the guy you went to war over is now the "Polish Autonomous Region" of the USSR.

Odds are guy you went to war over is going to be the Polish People's Republic rather than the Polish Autonomous Region.
 
I really only see two occasions where Germany could have been defeated early:

The Czechs do not play ball in Munich.
This is not a bad scenario. The Czech fortifications were rather impressive (called the Eastern Maginot line) and the Czech army was not small either (and well-armed at that).

If Germany gets bogged down in Czech country-side, the opportunity is there fore France/Britain to get it over with.
However, it would require somebody else at the helm in both France and Britain,

The Polish campaign
Was Germany stretched in 1939? IMHO yes they were.
Could it all have ended there? again, Yes.
BUT: it would require somebody else at the helm in both France and Britain

Remember as well, Hitler had wanted to invade France in November 1939. OKW were not so keen on it.

It is a fascinating thought. Logistics would not be in place (on either side). BEF not in place (it was a fear of Brooke that hostilities would open in winter).
Complete surprise.

Nobody really knows where it would go.

That, however, is an off-shoot on early defeat.
 
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