Hitler Procrastanates

Reading the latest episode of Dr. Strangelove´s masterpiece, reminded me of something I read in the book The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich. It was a quote from Hitler. He said words to the effect that invading the Soviet Union will be easier in 1940 than in 1960. Meaning I better get around to doing this thing I have wanted to do for long time, soon. What if, he decided that it would be easier after I defeat Britain. After Pearl Harbor, he decides that I can wait, a few years, until I have defeated the U.S. So what happens next ?
 
That would require changing his personality to a point many things would be butterflied. His real goal was to destroy the USSR: if he could have done so before dealing with France and Britain, he would have; a point explored in the very awesome Shattered world.


http://theshatteredworld.blogspot.com/

I was thinking he get a more realistic idea of the costs of conquering the Soviet Union and decides to wait a few years until I can focus the whole German military on the task. How that happens I don´t know.
 
I was thinking he get a more realistic idea of the costs of conquering the Soviet Union and decides to wait a few years until I can focus the whole German military on the task. How that happens I don´t know.
I think that after a point around 1941, every year of delay (especially if there is still some sort of war ongoing in the west) brings the soviet union closer to (and eventually past) germany. And if Hitler doesnt strike, sooner or later Stalin will strike west.
 
I think that after a point around 1941, every year of delay (especially if there is still some sort of war ongoing in the west) brings the soviet union closer to (and eventually past) germany. And if Hitler doesnt strike, sooner or later Stalin will strike west.

WHat if someone sane convinces him to wait for the Bomb?

Makes a "generous" peace with France and the UK in exchange for France's colonies while going full bore on the nuke programe?

With the goal of opening Barbarossa with a widespread nuclear bombardment of Soviet cities. say 1950?
 
I think that after a point around 1941, every year of delay (especially if there is still some sort of war ongoing in the west) brings the soviet union closer to (and eventually past) germany. And if Hitler doesnt strike, sooner or later Stalin will strike west.

This scenario isn't as far-fetched as some are making it out to be. Stalin turned out to be preparing for a very modern war, but that wasn't obvious in 1940. Remember, he was very good at keeping secrets. And the Winter War made the Germans view the Red Army as a miserably commanded rabble, with or without heavy tanks.

I can well imagine a situation in which Hitler saw himself as a new Bismarck, and having clobbered the French and broken out of the Versailles encirclement, deemed it best to consolidate his gains and get his conquests, puppets and allies on the same track for a generation before gearing up for another war. Especially if he thought Germany was on the road to developing wonder weapons, nukes or otherwise.
 
His procrastination only works if he manages to keep peace in the West. Perhaps Chamberlain never makes his pledge, perhaps the phoney stays phony, until France drops out, leaving Britain alone. If he has peace in the West and if he waits until Stalin attacks (and Stalin will attack), then he might get the official seal of approproval for his role as the defender of the Western civilization against the Red Slavic Peril. Of course, given that he's burned his bridges thoroughly in the West by 1939, I don't see this happening, but this is his only chance. The longer he waits, stronger Stalin gets, until Stalin flattens his puny Reich with neverending column after column of tanks, and flight after flight of fighters and bombers. All the while Britain and the US jump on him from the West (he had no chance of taking down Britain, not with the US helping out materially.)
 
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