Nazis Win: What happens to the German Armed Forces

I see the Waffen-SS growing and perhaps being somewhat better equipped man for man then the HEER but not replacing it. I can't see it having it's own separate air force or navy, although if the HEER has some aviation units (helicopters etc) the SS will have them too. I can't see a victorious Nazi military with the Luftwaffe having ground formations other than security troops (the equivalent of USAF security forces or the RAF regiment), and control of anti-aircraft forces except those organic to the ground forces. The Kriegsmarine is unlikely to see any significant changes other than those produced by technology. The key there will be what happens when aircraft carriers are in commission, and also when helicopters go to see. Will all aviation be under Goering/Luftwaffe (we know how well that worked for the RN aviation)? Will everything at sea be Kriegsmarine, but land based maritime patrol and attack Luftwaffe (like RAF Coastal Command), or will there be a full spectrum naval aviation like the USN? IMHO the RN/RAF divide is most likely.

Since some people here are suggesting the Waffen-SS would evolve into something similar to OTL Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, I would like to point out that the IRGC has its own air force and navy. Granted, they don't have combat aircraft (just helicopters, jet trainers, transports, and utility aircraft), and their navy mainly consists of fast attack boats, but they have such forces nonetheless. The Waffen-SS would probably be similar. Its air force would be similar in composition to army aviation, while its navy would consist of attack vessels and perhaps patrol vessels for coastal defense.

The Luftwaffe might retain control of the Fallschirmjäger since they're airborne troops and would be lifted into battle on Luftwaffe transports. But I could see the Heer taking control of them after Göring dies.

Regarding naval aviation, I also think a scenario like the OTL Royal Navy and Royal Air Force is most likely: the Kriegsmarine controls sea-based air assets, while the Luftwaffe controls land-based air assets. Göring might try to keep control of naval aviation, but as with the Fallschirmjäger, after he dies then those forces will be transferred to the appropriate branches of the Wehrmacht.

Since the missile program and the nascent nuclear program were more under army control than anything the odds are long range missiles and nuclear weapons would be under army control. I expect the SS will attempt, probably successfully, to be the key link in the nuclear control chain with an SS officer at least involved in nuclear release at all levels, if not physical security alone or with army personnel for nukes.

I think Nazi Germany would deploy a nuclear triad, with each branch of the Wehrmacht assigned a particular leg of the triad. The Heer would control the land-based missiles, everything from ICBMs to tactical missiles. The Kriegsmarine would deploy sea-based ballistic and cruise missiles from submarines and surface ships. The Luftwaffe would have a prized fleet of nuclear-capable bomber aircraft. Each branch would also deploy tactical nukes: nuclear artillery, landmines, and MLRS systems for the Heer; nuclear torpedoes and depth charges for the Kriegsmarine; and nuclear gravity bombs and tactical air-to-ground missiles for the Luftwaffe. The Wehrmacht may even deploy nuclear-armed SAMs and air-to-air missiles. I wouldn't be surprised to see them develop suitcase nukes for use by the Brandenburgers and other special forces units on the battlefield.

The SS would absolutely demand a say in the nuclear authorization process. For example, SS officers would be assigned to the crews of ballistic missile submarines, just like how political officers on OTL Soviet Navy submarines had to give approval for the use of nuclear weapons in addition to the captain.
 
I see the Waffen-SS growing and perhaps being somewhat better equipped man for man then the HEER but not replacing it. I can't see it having it's own separate air force or navy, although if the HEER has some aviation units (helicopters etc) the SS will have them too. I can't see a victorious Nazi military with the Luftwaffe having ground formations other than security troops (the equivalent of USAF security forces or the RAF regiment), and control of anti-aircraft forces except those organic to the ground forces.

Not if Goering is alive. If he is, he'll never relinquish control of the paratroopers, and he'll lobby Hitler for his "armored paratrooper" division - unless that already exists, in which case he's not going to disband it.
 
Not if Goering is alive. If he is, he'll never relinquish control of the paratroopers, and he'll lobby Hitler for his "armored paratrooper" division - unless that already exists, in which case he's not going to disband it.
Considering the man was grossly overweight and had serious drug issues, I'd say he won't live long even if the Nazis win, meaning said "armored paratrooper" division is probably disbanded after he has an overdose or heart attack.
 
Considering the man was grossly overweight and had serious drug issues, I'd say he won't live long even if the Nazis win, meaning said "armored paratrooper" division is probably disbanded after he has an overdose or heart attack.

Exactly the reason why I wrote "if" he's alive. Yes.
 
So, what do you think is more realistic in a Nazi Victory scenario: The Waffen-SS replacing the Heer as the German army or the Waffen-SS becoming a Revolutionary Guard-esque force?
 
So, what do you think is more realistic in a Nazi Victory scenario: The Waffen-SS replacing the Heer as the German army or the Waffen-SS becoming a Revolutionary Guard-esque force?
Either way the Reich's main land combat force would become extremely indoctrinated and fanatical (comparable to the IJA) once it starts to fill up with generations of soldiers who know nothing but National Socialism and were raised in the Hitler Youth.

It would be Nazified in every sense of the word.
 
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Either way the Reich's main land combat force would become extremely indoctrinated and fanatical (comparable to the IJA) once it starts to fill up with generations of soldiers who know nothing but National Socialism and were raised in the Hitler Youth.

It would be Nazified in every sense of the word.
So a post-war Nazi military would combine the politicization of the People's Liberation Army (PLA troops to this day still swear that they promise to follow the leadership of the Communist Party and said oath places the Communist Party ahead of their people and country) and the fanaticism of the Imperial Japanese Army.
 
I also think the SS would grow more and more corrupt and eat a large percentage of the economy IOTL the SS already had companies and if you look at the IRGC in our timeline you can see their hands in almost all parts or the economy. Think given the comparatively weak NSDAP, after Hitler dies the SS will become the most powerful organization in the country and the kingmaker for the succession.
 
So, is it correct to say a thoroughly Nazified army would combine the politicization of the People's Liberation Army with the fanaticism of the Imperial Japanese Army?
 
So, is it correct to say a thoroughly Nazified army would combine the politicization of the People's Liberation Army with the fanaticism of the Imperial Japanese Army?

Depends on how civilian economy does. In theory, Soviet Red Army of 1991 was composed of fanatics who knew nothing but how to defend Socialist Fatherland and Communist Party like their fathers, grandfathers and great-grandfathers. However, in practice...

So, if we go with "Nazi Soviet Union" trope in few decades it's a corrupt dictatorship, if we go with "Nazi China" trope I'd be really worried... Then there is, of course "Nazis unable to survive beyond Hitler" trope, but I find it unlikely to believe since OTL Soviet Union outlived Stalin and PRC outlived Mao with idiocies comparable to Nazi Germany.
 
I'm curious what the overall strategy for Nazi Germany would be during a hypothetical World War III. Assuming the Nazis control continental Europe from Iberia to the Urals and the British Isles are still free of their influence, and with the United States on the other side of the Atlantic, how would the Nazis wage war against the West? If they wanted to conquer the British Isles, they would have to resort to amphibious and airborne invasions - just like Operation Sealion. They would have to neutralize the Royal Navy and the U.S. Navy, and they would have to interdict the supply lines between North America and the British Isles. Looking at the long term, how would the Nazis militarily defeat the United States? A military invasion of the continental United States is unfeasible, and a full-scale nuclear attack would lead to retaliatory nuclear strikes on the Reich (although I presume the Nazis would try to develop anti-ballistic missile defenses, but those are not going to stop every incoming missile).

I feel that the most likely WW3 strategy for Nazis would aim to neutralize Britain, both trough a blockade and an amphibious invasion. That would significantly weaken the conventional threat against Germany. It's entirely different question how feasible these aims would be but that seems something they would most likely pour significant resources in.

So, if we go with "Nazi Soviet Union" trope in few decades it's a corrupt dictatorship, if we go with "Nazi China" trope I'd be really worried... Then there is, of course "Nazis unable to survive beyond Hitler" trope, but I find it unlikely to believe since OTL Soviet Union outlived Stalin and PRC outlived Mao with idiocies comparable to Nazi Germany.

Adding to this, reading history and following current events have led me to believe that even increasingly dysfunctional and badly led regimes can last surprisingly long periods in right conditions.
 
I feel that the most likely WW3 strategy for Nazis would aim to neutralize Britain, both trough a blockade and an amphibious invasion. That would significantly weaken the conventional threat against Germany. It's entirely different question how feasible these aims would be but that seems something they would most likely pour significant resources in.

OTOH, Britain would probably construct a significant independent nuclear deterrent as soon as possible. I would believe that economic realities would lead into nuclear-heavy defense in order to minimize spending and also allowing construction of intervention forces to fight in the peripheries, such as Middle East etc.
 
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