PC: More Powerful Axis Spain = Succesful Barbarossa

Lusitania

Donor
A neutral Spain does look much more useful. As a conduit Spain was only gradually shut down by the blockade system. & tho the US entry into the war pretty much shut off the tap there was still a trickle into the summer of 1944. If Spain becomes a Axis ally only a few blockade runners can bring material from the Americas or Asia to Spanish ports.

France was also a 'nuetral' from July 1940, functioning as a conduit until November 1942. Turkey was another, tho less useful than Spain. Bulgaria, Sweden, Switzerland, were very minor conduits for Italy and Germany to obtain items from outside Europe.
It was the Wolfram mined in Portugal and Spain that kept the German war machine running but both countries knew it (as well as Britain) that if Germany was cut off from it completely they would be forced to send their troops into the Iberian Peninsula so the British put up with the Portuguese and Spain selling limited quantities to Germany.
 
It was the Wolfram mined in Portugal and Spain that kept the German war machine running but both countries knew it (as well as Britain) that if Germany was cut off from it completely they would be forced to send their troops into the Iberian Peninsula so the British put up with the Portuguese and Spain selling limited quantities to Germany.

Some of that is outlined in 'Lisboa.The City of Light'. A brief history of Portugal in WWII. The author notes how the British sweetened Portuguese friendship by trying to outbid the Germans for every kilo of Wolfram. The Brits backed by US banks could afford to do that. The Germans had limited cash, looted gold bullion and currency only lasted so long. Another historian of the era remarked on how the skyrocketing price became a incentive to steal the ore and resell it to either side, and for smugglers. A certain amount of 'Spanish' Tungsten ore came across the border in late night transport through the hills, or more commonly aboard rail wagons with false shipping documents. Efforts to secure the stuff resulted in bribed guards.

Another lucrative income source for the Portuguese was renting hotel or apartment space to the wealthier refugees. Few had visas for the US of other nations, so several hundred thousand wealthy and not so wealthy cooled their heels in Lisboas accommodations.
 

Anchises

Banned
Lets assume Spain Cıvıl War has ended one year earlier and Nationalists able to captured Spanish Gold.
After fall of France, Spain starts to prepare for joining war and after fall of Crete Spain joins Axis.
Now with more powerful Spain could Reich won Barbarossa? By 1940 Spain's population 26 milion. Even if Spain provides extra one milion soldiers for Reich, how would it impact battle of Stalingrad? Could Reich have invaded Moscow?

What could work but would need other PODs (and is fairly ASBish imho):

Churchill is NOT prime minister.

The BEF is mostly encircled and captured ITTL. Instead of the BoB Germany immediately starts pursuing an aggressive strategy in the Med.

The Wehrmacht is actually reduced in size, Hitler (he had plans like this IOTL) sends home the skilled workers (Facharbeiter) and strenghtens the German industry.

Franco suddenly becomes a huge gambler and decides to attack Gibraltar, hoping that Spanish entry might force Britain to enter serious peace negotiations.

Gibraltar, Malta, Crete etc. are captured leading to relatively (compared to OTL) stable supply lines.

The Afrikakorps has some stunning initial successes, hostile Japanese moves and rebellions in the Middle East convince the political class in GB that they have to secure a peace with Germany.

But again, fairly ASBish.
 
Top