Germany invades Low Countries - 12 November 1939

This was the original plan, I believe.

The original plan of Hitler and the German High Command
was to capture the North Sea coast and force Britain/France
to come to peace terms.

In OTL there was a plane carrying all the secret plans which crash
landed in Belgium forcing the Germans back to the drawing board.
 
I thought Hitler invaded the Low Countries anyway. Britain conspicuously failed to surrender. It may mean closer ties between Belgium and France after yet another show of German aggression so painfully close to their borders, which will have implications in the battle of France (a better coordinated defence.)

If you mean that he adopts the original invasion plan (a Shlieffen-esque slog through Belgium and the Netherlands), then the jury's out. The Western Allies may be able to halt him. It will be bloody, but the French and British have enough of an advantage of tanks and artillery, as well as their defences in Belgium, to compensate for their doctrinal flaws.
 
I thought Hitler invaded the Low Countries anyway. Britain conspicuously failed to surrender. It may mean closer ties between Belgium and France after yet another show of German aggression so painfully close to their borders, which will have implications in the battle of France (a better coordinated defence.)

If you mean that he adopts the original invasion plan (a Shlieffen-esque slog through Belgium and the Netherlands), then the jury's out. The Western Allies may be able to halt him. It will be bloody, but the French and British have enough of an advantage of tanks and artillery, as well as their defences in Belgium, to compensate for their doctrinal flaws.

No.

I mean a limited offense to capture all of Netherlands and most of Belgium.
Not necessarily with the goal of invading France.

I dont think the Germans had many Panzer IVs in 1939 so a blitzkreig type operation might be problematic.
 
Britan and France would come to the aid of Belgium. I don't think there is much they can do for the Netherlands. What happens next.
 
Well, I'm not an expert, but the German Army was still refitting and recovering from the Polish campaign-it would need to rearm and refit. In addition:

http://climate-ocean.com/02_11-Dateien/02_11.html

The winter in 1939 was one of the coldest in living memory.

I'm not saying that the Germans couldn't capture a significant chunk of the Low Countries, but the Western Allies would be able to stop them in Belgium.
 
I can see a stalemate on the Western front. I see submarine warfare bringing the US into the war. The three allies crush and occupy Germany.
 
A stalemate would ultimately result in an Allied victory as the Germans run out of resources (Stalin may decide to stop trading) and ammunition.
 
I have always been fascinated by the original plan.

The German generals nearly had kittens when they got that plan presented.

It was totally impossible for many reasons:

1) German army not ready after Poland. a lot of things had to be re-supplied and strategy ironed out

2) Weather: Northern Europe in November is not exactly the best of times to invade anything

3) More weather: 1939 was COLD

4) Schlieffen plan was the only realistic plan in 1939.

5) Ardennes (If Manstein even would have thought of it) was totally impassable in winter and especially in 1939 November

So, not much going for it, BUT

On the "pro" side
1) BEF not in place.

2) Totally un-expected, so surpise is surely on the side of Germany

3) It has to be invasion of France as well, not just Belgium and Holland

However, it is not the best plan in this world.

If the conflict really will be between France and Germany (BEF can be ignored to some extent in November 1939) then it is more a matter of strategy and tactics and blitzkrieg" rather than slogging match.

How will France hold up in 1939? Will Germany have the chance to do Schlieffen at all? even in 1939. German army was not particular mechanised, it was "foot and hooves".

Would Germany have had to do something about the Maginot-line in this scenario? good guess. The forts around Paris?

Ivan
 
The Germans doing this would play straight into the Allies hands, their plans were based on the Germans coming through Belgium. The allies would then advance to the Dyle river to meet it. This would also mean the Germans going head to head with the strongest of the French armies.
This would probably lead to a World War One style war of attrition, which in the end would lead to an Allied victory.
 
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