I would disagree with that, Germany being in a better state, in terms of bodies yes but with the Western Allies doing better, Germany's resource crunch is as acute and getting worse faster. Nothing is letting them get access to resources they did not have in OTL but on the Western Front, they appear to be losing the Naval and Air wars at a quicker rate. On the Eastern Front, they have lost less men but that actually makes the logistics problems worse, so its probably a wash ( more men and guns , less fuel/food and possibly ammunition )
Keynes' Cruisers Volume 2
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I would disagree with that, Germany being in a better state, in terms of bodies yes but with the Western Allies doing better, Germany's resource crunch is as acute and getting worse faster. Nothing is letting them get access to resources they did not have in OTL but on the Western Front, they appear to be losing the Naval and Air wars at a quicker rate. On the Eastern Front, they have lost less men but that actually makes the logistics problems worse, so its probably a wash ( more men and guns , less fuel/food and possibly ammunition )
The Air war is likely to be worse for Germany - the Battle of the Atlantic - if not already won is likely to be won sooner than May 43 and this all means that far more 'stuff' is reaching the UK at far less overall cost - and with Tirpitz sunk Jan 42 in TTL the Arctic convoys are far less threatened. I do not think that PQ17 even gets a mention?
Did/does Stalin let the captured Poles leave or have they been forced into the Red Army?
That all depends on if Sikorsky still dies ITTL. Maybe there’s no reason for him to be in Gibraltar, so that plane flight doesn’t occur like OTL.
Now that’s a big butterfly, especially if the WAllies end the war in or close to Poland.
formion
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They are not politically reliant and while in 1942 USSR had millions of men, their need for Lend-Lease was paramount. Judging by the lack of a specific mention by the author, I would guess that the release of Polish POWs was the same or similar to OTL.
I'm inclined to believe that the king is marginalized even further, probably all the way to the British putting him aside, even in OTL only Churchill and the increasing trouble with the communists stoppped this from happening and a referendum agreed for after liberation. Both for government and the resistance proximity of free Crete is bound to have effects, I mentioned earlier that spiriting away Sofoulis to Crete to lead the government seems logical and so is going forth with the proposals to have Theodore Pangalos escape to lead the free Greek army.
Sarafis TTL is at this point leading Venizelist resistance units in Thessaly probably, I doubt ELAS attacked him as in OTL or if they did that the operation had permanent results. At the very least both he and Psarros went to the mountains from months to a year ahead with aid coming in a more ready fashion from Crete.
I'll stick to my post from here on the Greeks https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/keynes-cruisers.388788/page-408#post-16922067 I'd expect a third division is doable in the first half of 1943 with manpower from the Dodecanese and Crete and further escapees from the mainland. Perhaps expand the armoured brigade into an armoured division to keep manpower needs down?
formion
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I'd second Lascaris' post. Indeed, if 50,000 Greek escaped in 1941 to Crete there is more than enough manpower for 3 divisions. Added to these, will be the Evros Brigade of about 2,300 men that escaped though Turkey in OTL and the various volunteers from Greek expat communities. IOTL just the Greek community in Egypt provided a whole battalion of volunteers. The liberated Dodecanese can provide manpower for another regiment (3 battalions). Escapees from Greece could use the old Greek submarines that were better utilized in unloading rifles and sten guns in mainland and loading volunteers, especially officers, artillery specialists etc. After all, the greek coastline hosts thousands of small coves, difficult to patrol, as WW2 showed.
Lastly, the OTL plans called for the formation of 3 local territorial battalions in Crete of a total 3,150 men from older classes. IOTL there was little time and equipment to be spared for them. ITTL they can be formed and utilized in the defence of the island.
So, in general, lascaris's assessment of the doability of a 3rd Greek division is absolutely correct. An armored one offers both political and operational advantages as well.
So one thing I'm wondering concerning US forces in Europe ITTL.
Due to the multitude of butterflies that have occured, will Lieutenant General Frank Maxwell Andrews be able to avoid the plane crash in Iceland on May 3rd, 1943 that killed him, Brigadier General Charles M Barth, the plane crew and a number of Andrews' staff?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Maxwell_Andrews#Death
He was originally given command of all US forces throughout the European theater at the Casablanca Conference in January 1943, but his untimely death is what ultimately resulted in Eisenhower getting the job in the end.
While we're on the subject of plane crashes, any possibilities of butterflies with regards to the July 1943 B-24 crash in Gibraltar that killed Polish General and Prime Minister Władysław Sikorski ? His death along with that of several other key Polish officers was a major blow to the Polish government in exile.
If the Polish government in exile in Britain can avoid this tragedy, and given the Soviets doing somewhat worse ITTL, perhaps they could get the Soviets to release other Polish forces within the Soviet Union. Even after Anders Army was released from the Soviet Union and transferred to the west, there where still enough Polish POWs and exiled Poles in the Soviet Union that the Soviets where able to form a field army of Polish forces on the Eastern Front.
I could still see some Poles either being kept in Soviet custody and possibly killed, or otherwise supporting the Soviets, but if the US and British can get even another brigade or two worth of Poles away from Stalin, it couldn't hurt. Most of them would still probably never be able to return to Poland after the war if the country is swallowed up by the Soviet advance, but if the western Allies can get an extra 10 or 20 thousands Poles in their hands, that's less that the Soviets can use going into the Cold War.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Polish_Army_(1944–1945)#Organization
Due to the multitude of butterflies that have occured, will Lieutenant General Frank Maxwell Andrews be able to avoid the plane crash in Iceland on May 3rd, 1943 that killed him, Brigadier General Charles M Barth, the plane crew and a number of Andrews' staff?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Maxwell_Andrews#Death
He was originally given command of all US forces throughout the European theater at the Casablanca Conference in January 1943, but his untimely death is what ultimately resulted in Eisenhower getting the job in the end.
While we're on the subject of plane crashes, any possibilities of butterflies with regards to the July 1943 B-24 crash in Gibraltar that killed Polish General and Prime Minister Władysław Sikorski ? His death along with that of several other key Polish officers was a major blow to the Polish government in exile.
If the Polish government in exile in Britain can avoid this tragedy, and given the Soviets doing somewhat worse ITTL, perhaps they could get the Soviets to release other Polish forces within the Soviet Union. Even after Anders Army was released from the Soviet Union and transferred to the west, there where still enough Polish POWs and exiled Poles in the Soviet Union that the Soviets where able to form a field army of Polish forces on the Eastern Front.
I could still see some Poles either being kept in Soviet custody and possibly killed, or otherwise supporting the Soviets, but if the US and British can get even another brigade or two worth of Poles away from Stalin, it couldn't hurt. Most of them would still probably never be able to return to Poland after the war if the country is swallowed up by the Soviet advance, but if the western Allies can get an extra 10 or 20 thousands Poles in their hands, that's less that the Soviets can use going into the Cold War.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Polish_Army_(1944–1945)#Organization
Demobilization of child soldiers in the Potterverse...Congratulations on your new house, and what is the short story?
The-play-which-shall-not-be-named* does at least make some effort to address how potentially messed up at least the play universe's version of some of the Gryffindor child-soldiers might be even two decades on. Not that it goes in for deep and meaningful analysis, but it does at least acknowledge that there should be issues.
* If you insist on specific identification:
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.
Yeah, being in combat from age 11 to 17 should be a life assumption forming event.
In the Play that should not be named, I am shocked at Hermione being the Minister of Magic for three reasons:
1) She is young
2) The Wizarding World is mostly at peace and she would be another MoM that comes out of the combat arm of the MoM after Shacklebolt
3) she is a bit too ruthless for a peacetime ministry ( as a single combat warrior/ commando she gets shit done, as someone who has to win the peace, I am scared of her decision hierarchy. )
Story 1872
Moscow, January 18, 1943
The most recent train from Vladivostok slowed. Workers tucked their caps and their scarves tight while pulling wool and fur gloves over their fingers. The cold wind blew. It penetrated their clothes like the stare of a desperate woman could penetrate their souls. Eighty cars needed to be unloaded. Twenty were packed full of rubber and aluminum. The aircraft plant at MAPO would eat the entire material load in a few days producing flying tanks. Other cars had powdered milk and canned pork and beans. Infantrymen would get the meat while children were allocated the milk. More cars had radios and jeeps and highly refined aviation gasoline. Somehow the supply to America was staying open as Japan would not interfere with the Soviet flagged, American built freighters carrying the bounty of the American west coast to the Eastern Front.
The most recent train from Vladivostok slowed. Workers tucked their caps and their scarves tight while pulling wool and fur gloves over their fingers. The cold wind blew. It penetrated their clothes like the stare of a desperate woman could penetrate their souls. Eighty cars needed to be unloaded. Twenty were packed full of rubber and aluminum. The aircraft plant at MAPO would eat the entire material load in a few days producing flying tanks. Other cars had powdered milk and canned pork and beans. Infantrymen would get the meat while children were allocated the milk. More cars had radios and jeeps and highly refined aviation gasoline. Somehow the supply to America was staying open as Japan would not interfere with the Soviet flagged, American built freighters carrying the bounty of the American west coast to the Eastern Front.
Story 1873
Near Ithaca, Greece January 18, 1943
The Greek submarine Triton broke through the waves. Within seconds, look-outs were scrambling for a perch. A minute later, two rubber dinghies were being inflated. Within fifteen minutes, six commandos were in each boat. Each man was heavily laden with weapons and gear. Crates were placed in between the three pairs of paddlers. Soon they were heading ashore to rendezvous with other scouts and saboteurs. A seaplane patrol base would soon be visited and mischief would be wreaked. Until then Triton would descend under the sea until rescues were needed.
The Greek submarine Triton broke through the waves. Within seconds, look-outs were scrambling for a perch. A minute later, two rubber dinghies were being inflated. Within fifteen minutes, six commandos were in each boat. Each man was heavily laden with weapons and gear. Crates were placed in between the three pairs of paddlers. Soon they were heading ashore to rendezvous with other scouts and saboteurs. A seaplane patrol base would soon be visited and mischief would be wreaked. Until then Triton would descend under the sea until rescues were needed.
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