Plausibility Check: The Allies invade the Balkans and not Italy

Churchill reportedly wanted it. But is it possible?

Had it happened, I'm pretty sure Southeastern Europe (including Romania) would be spared from "communist" rule. Then again, I think it's safe to say Poland would have still ended up as a communist nation, along with more of Germany (East + South), potentially Austria, and maybe North Italy.
 
It's certainly possible.

And a rather good idea if you'd rather have a Communist Germany (and possibly France and Benelux) than a Communist Romania and Bulgaria.
 
It's certainly possible.

And a rather good idea if you'd rather have a Communist Germany (and possibly France and Benelux) than a Communist Romania and Bulgaria.

France would have been a no-go anyway because of Normandy, Belgium was too close to a major ally to be allowed in Soviet hands, but the Netherlands is certainly possible. I'd still say Germany would be split, but the Soviets would grab more land.
 

Deleted member 1487

No they needed Sicily to open up the Mediterranean to shipping and they were already in talks with the Italians to get them to switch sides, so it made far more sense to go into Italy; the US never wanted to bother with the Balkans, which is why they refused to join in the Aegean Campaign with the British, which turned into a disaster for them:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dodecanese_Campaign
 
Hmm

Churchill reportedly wanted it. But is it possible?

Had it happened, I'm pretty sure Southeastern Europe (including Romania) would be spared from "communist" rule. Then again, I think it's safe to say Poland would have still ended up as a communist nation, along with more of Germany (East + South), potentially Austria, and maybe North Italy.
Probably not possible without either 'doing' southern Italy first, or the British, dominion allies and Greeks holding onto Crete in 1941. Unless/until the Germans start pulling out, you need to hold somewhere close to the Balkan peninsula to put airfields to cover your invasion fleets...
 
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