A couple of months ago I posed a what if about The Netherlands in WWI. Now I decided to ask the opposite question (well at least some kind of opposite):
What if Nazi-Germany decided not to invade The Netherlands on 10 may 1940.
The Netherlands was neutral during the first world war and hoped to stay neutral during world war 2. according to the wikipedia article about the invasion (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Netherlands) a lot of Germans where against the idea of invading the Netherlands. What if Hitler decided not to invade the Netherlands (He could easily invade it anyway when they had defeated France, UK and Russia).
I doubt that not invading The Netherlands would have a major impact on the start of the war. France and Belgium would probably still be defeated. Because of the units that where used in the Netherlands perhaps a bit earlier, but i doubt it would be much. Goring said he wanted to used Dutch airfields against Britain. That isn't possible, but i don't think it would have a major impact on the war.
The thing that is most interesting is Japan and the Dutch East Indies. Would Japan still invade them if The Netherlands is neutral? If they do how would Germany react? Quickly invade the Netherlands before it can join the allies? Condemn the Japanese invasion?
So what do you think? I agree that it may be a bit unlikely for Germany not to invade the Netherlands, but certainly not impossible.
What if Nazi-Germany decided not to invade The Netherlands on 10 may 1940.
The Netherlands was neutral during the first world war and hoped to stay neutral during world war 2. according to the wikipedia article about the invasion (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Netherlands) a lot of Germans where against the idea of invading the Netherlands. What if Hitler decided not to invade the Netherlands (He could easily invade it anyway when they had defeated France, UK and Russia).
I doubt that not invading The Netherlands would have a major impact on the start of the war. France and Belgium would probably still be defeated. Because of the units that where used in the Netherlands perhaps a bit earlier, but i doubt it would be much. Goring said he wanted to used Dutch airfields against Britain. That isn't possible, but i don't think it would have a major impact on the war.
The thing that is most interesting is Japan and the Dutch East Indies. Would Japan still invade them if The Netherlands is neutral? If they do how would Germany react? Quickly invade the Netherlands before it can join the allies? Condemn the Japanese invasion?
So what do you think? I agree that it may be a bit unlikely for Germany not to invade the Netherlands, but certainly not impossible.