Imperial German invasion of the USA

Oh my gosh, I never knew about this. The word that the Germans were making an ill-advised invasion of the continental United States would have been the happiest and most exciting day of Theodore Roosevelt’s life.
 
Seems suicidal. Additionally the German navy was designed to operate at short range in the north sea vs the British and would definitely face problems in Operations so far from their home bases
 
Their army was far better than the US Army, but the US Navy by 1900 was a solid match for the Imperial Navy. If we assume Britain is pissed enough at the US for whatever reason to stay neutral in the conflict, then Germany will do some serious damage before they bog down and are swarmed by the hastily reformed US Army. Their supply lines are mauled by the US Navy, which is laying down destroyers and light cruisers like nothing else. Give it 1-2 years, and Germany will sue for peace and lose its Pacific colonial empire to the US as a result of the end of the land operations (aimed at Virginia and New England) in utter defeat and probably a solid naval battle or two or three which sink some battleships in clear American victory.

If we assume a one-on-one fight, this isn't one Germany wants to fight. It could trigger a very bad scenario where toward the end (when they've sent a ton of men to POW camps and a ton of sailors and their warships to the bottom of the Atlantic), France declares war and the US completely backs them in this (perhaps for profit in the aftermath) and sends an expeditionary force of their now-experienced Army to Europe. Germany has minimal at best gains to make and utter disaster at worst to face here. It's one thing to intend to fight the US on the high seas and contest colonies and maybe shell some cities for reparations (like Italy came up with). It's another thing to try and mount an invasion of the US, a place where a hell of a lot of people have guns and which can hammer out more guns and arm/train/supply conscripts in a few months to simply overwhelm your beachhead in patriotic fervor, let alone what happens when the officers and higher ranks get a hold on things (like at the end of World War I) and the sheer US industrial capacity to supply this force when needed. And such a beachhead can't be supplied well, when the US already has a solid amount of battleships (too battleship heavy in some respects, granted) and the shipbuilding capacity to hammer out the rest of a navy, one which could match the Royal Navy, in a few years if needed (and matching the Imperial German Navy is far easier).
 
Unless Germany can establish a major base of operations in Mexico, its impossible. They simply cannot supply whatever forces they land and the USA is BIG.
 
Only if in an Alliance with Britain and France and Russias neutrality guaranteed. Not even a highly successful invasion of CONUS would be worth it, if it leaves Germany itself at risk.
 
Unless Germany can establish a major base of operations in Mexico, its impossible. They simply cannot supply whatever forces they land and the USA is BIG.

That's even worse, since the US can just destabilise Mexico plus allows the Rio Grande as a buffer zone for the US to put an army. German logistics are now even worse since they have to pass the relatively narrow straits in the Caribbean and go further to supply their army in the Mexico. And once they cross the Rio Grande, they are very far away from any target of any importance. Texas oil is distant, as is any ports on the Gulf Coast. If they split their forces and attack the East Coast (Virginia and New England) as their plan called for AND attack Texas through Mexico, they're even more screwed since the US Navy will defeat their fleet in detail and leave their army stranded.

Of course, they could hit New Mexico, Arizona, or California too through Mexico, but once again, the US can arm Mexican rebels (including even the Yaqui Indians), and there's little of value in those states along the border. Making a base in Mexico just means the US is going for regime change there, if it's blatantly hostile (so we don't have so much an invasion of the US but the US invading Mexico to force out the Germans). If not, then we have Venezuela again and probably the Kaiserreich will stand down. If that doesn't happen, the US is going to buff both Navy and Army in preparation for what might come.

What is CONUS?

Continental US
 

BooNZ

Banned
Only if in an Alliance with Britain and France and Russias neutrality guaranteed. Not even a highly successful invasion of CONUS would be worth it, if it leaves Germany itself at risk.
Yes, you're more likely to be able to sell tickets if it was Anglo-German team v USA.

The Royal navy could handily suppress US naval assets in the Atlantic, while Canada represents a more viable kickoff point to secure more industrialised centres in the North and along the eastern coast. Not sure how the old continent forces would progress inland across such a massive continental front - not for the squeamish I suspect. I'm not sure what the motivation or end game might be - does the South rise again?
 
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