Towelie
Banned
It has been stated that the invasions of Greece and Yugoslavia in 1941 were meant to clear any threats to the Axis assault on the Soviet Union. However, Germany could still invade over the whole front without those two countries being taken, and Bulgaria and Romania, as well as Hungary, were still in their orbit.
A British aligned Yugoslavia (which is what would have happened if the Germans did not invade to put their guys back in charge) does not mean that the Yugoslav Army would be marching on Vienna or fucking with the Italians. The Germans had a conception of long term vs short term goals, as seen from their decision not to attack Switzerland who they saw as being part of the German Reich naturally. The Yugoslavs were not going to declare war on Germany or its allies.
If Germany went ahead with the attack in May of 1941 or even April, would it have gone better for them? I know that weather was a concern, and that muddy roads would hurt them, but if the Germans are able to get to Smolensk with an open path east in July of 1941 rather than September, they might have been able to take Moscow. Perhaps even Leningrad could have fallen had they convinced the Finns to help out a bit more.
I simply don't see the urgency regarding neutralizing Yugoslavia. Greece was a hard front for the Italians, but in the greater struggle against Judeo-Bolshevism, and considering Germany was already helping against Britain in Libya, I don't think Italy was in much position to protest for not helping.
A British aligned Yugoslavia (which is what would have happened if the Germans did not invade to put their guys back in charge) does not mean that the Yugoslav Army would be marching on Vienna or fucking with the Italians. The Germans had a conception of long term vs short term goals, as seen from their decision not to attack Switzerland who they saw as being part of the German Reich naturally. The Yugoslavs were not going to declare war on Germany or its allies.
If Germany went ahead with the attack in May of 1941 or even April, would it have gone better for them? I know that weather was a concern, and that muddy roads would hurt them, but if the Germans are able to get to Smolensk with an open path east in July of 1941 rather than September, they might have been able to take Moscow. Perhaps even Leningrad could have fallen had they convinced the Finns to help out a bit more.
I simply don't see the urgency regarding neutralizing Yugoslavia. Greece was a hard front for the Italians, but in the greater struggle against Judeo-Bolshevism, and considering Germany was already helping against Britain in Libya, I don't think Italy was in much position to protest for not helping.