It is July 2, 1941, news of Germany’s invasion of the Soviet Union has thus far been promising, the Soviet resistance proved to be no match for the German war machine. This day however, Germany would receive shocking, some would say horrible news, the Fuhrer, Adolph Hitler was discovered dead in his bed of an apparent aneurism. Shortly after this gruesome discovery, Goring is able to present himself as the next iron man of Germany, something that neither Goebbels and Himmler are very keen on, but for now they both bide their time.
Unlike OTL where the German’s treated the Russian’s horribly, Goring had a different plan for Russia. Goring was a Wilhelmine Imperialists, wanting to restore Germany’s borders to pre-1914, and regain the pre-Great War overseas Empire, which set him apart from Hitler and Himmler who wanted living space for the German people. Russian and Ukrainian citizens were treated as fair as to be expected during times of war, and were enlisted to help the Reich by exposing Bolsheviks, Jews and other so called undesirables to local commands. Shortly before the Battle of Moscow commenced, Goring enlisted the aide of Grand Duke Boris Vladimirovich, the grandson of Tsar Alexander II and cousin to Tsar Nicholas II. In a ceremony in Kiev, Grand Duke Boris was crowned Tsar Boris I of the Second Russian Empire, captured Russian soldiers were given the option of swearing an allegiance to the new Tsar, in what Goring and Boris called the war of liberation. Germany was now presenting itself as liberators of Russia from the Godless, brutal, and oppressive Stalinist Bolshevik regime.
The tactics of the Wehrmacht changed in Russia, after the fall of Kiev, the German army was given two priority targets, Leningrad and Moscow, the fate of these two cities could mean the war, and Goring was determined not to fail. With their new objectives, the Wehrmacht was able to reach Moscow in late September, before the Soviet defenses were completed. Paranoid as ever Stalin assumed command of the Red Army personally, no soldier or officer was allowed to do anything without his approval. Meanwhile, the rest of the politburo had escaped to the city of Kuybyshev to continue the fight in case the German’s were able to take the city. Stalin’s paranoia caused many officers and troops to desert and join the ranks of the Tsar’s Liberation Army, further weakening the defenses of Moscow. When the battle was joined, the German’s advanced into the city after a month long siege, and proclaimed victory over the Bolshevik’s. Stalin himself was killed in an attempt to flee the city ahead of the approaching German’s.
News reached Leningrad and Kuybyshev of Stalin’s death, and the near annihilation of the defenders of Moscow. Molotov believed himself to be Stalin’s true successor, a claim challenged by others in the Politburo, and the Soviet government was further paralyzed by infighting. The one thing the Politburo could however agree on is to retreat out of the reach of the Wehrmacht, the Soviet capital was relocated to Novosibirsk in Siberia.
News of Stalin’s death, Moscow’s fall and the apparent cowardice of the Politburo shook the Red Army to its core, where as hundreds of thousands swore an allegiance to defend Mother Russia from the invading army, others deserted or joined the Liberation Army. Leningrad fell into Civil War between those remained opposed to the Nazi’s and their puppet Tsar, and those who believed the Tsar a better alternative to the Stalinists. The Tsarists eventually gained the support of the Finnish Army, and the Wehrmacht, ending the conflict in Leningrad, which was promptly rechristened Petrograd by the victorious Tsar Boris I. The second Empire moved its capital from Kiev to Petrograd, with Boris I taking up residence in the Winter Palace.
On December 7, 1941 the war truly became global when the Empire of Japan launched a surprise attack on the US Naval base at Pearl Harbor. Goring however realized the last thing Germany needed right now was a war with the United States, there was still plenty of fight left in Great Britain, and the remnants of the Red Army near the Volga were still more than a threat. Instead of foolishly declaring war on the US, Goring condemned Japan’s attack as cowardly and unprovoked, and offered Germany’s assistance to the United States in searching for survivors amidst the wreckage, an offer promptly refused by President Roosevelt.
Goring turned his focus to new allies in Europe, in particularly Spain, France and Turkey, surely these nations would have to rally to his cause, what force could possibly stand up to Germany with these nations at their side, and all three had much to gain. Francisco Franco who had been reluctant to join the German’s in their war effort began changing his tune when the German Army conquered Leningrad, Turkey was having the idea of a Pan-Turkish Empire tossed in its direction, and France could keep its Empire, its pride and dignity, however the old fool Petain was stubbornly clinging to French neutrality. If these nations were to join his cause then Britain would have to capitulate and accept Germany’s terms.
Winston Churchill hoped to twist Roosevelt’s arm to have the US President declare war on Germany. Roosevelt sympathized greatly with Churchill and the United Kingdom’s fight for freedom, but had already tested those waters and knew he could not get approval for a pre-emptive declaration of war while the country was still reeling from Pearl Harbor. The US vowed to continue its friendship and lend-lease support for Great Britain, and its allies in exile.
As spring of 1942 approached, Britain continued to fight on, and for the most part alone, the Campaign in North Africa became much more complicated when Spain declared war on Britain in May. The United Kingdom responded with an invasion of Morocco to keep the Gibraltar Straights open. Royal Marines quickly occupied the Canary Islands and the Royal Navy had encircled the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean. Whispers began circulating in London of the possibility of an armistice with Germany, and the return of Germany’s African colonies. However these were offset when, after months of making promises, begging, black mailing and bribing, Franklin Roosevelt managed to convince Congress to issue a declaration of war against Germany in June of 1942. After years of fighting alone, the United Kingdom finally had a powerful foreign ally, capable of turning the tide of the war. However, Congress would only approve the war with Germany if priority was given to the Pacific War against Japan.
During the spring of 1942, the United States had thrust its entire economical, military, and industrial prowess at the Empire of Japan. The US military now numbered well more than 1,000,000 strong and was constantly growing, however green they proved to be in the field of battle. The United States defeated Japan in a much needed victory at the Battle of Midway, boosting morale at home and in the military, making way for Congress to approve the war against Germany.
American troops began arriving in North Africa and Great Britain in late July and by the years end would make a large impact in the war against Germany. The United States entry in the war however proved to be the undoing of Hermann Goring, Heinrich Himmler and Joseph Goebbels both accused Goring of failing to finish off Britain, and for betraying the ideals and reason in which Germany had set in going to war with the Soviet Union to begin with. Goring was arrested on trumped up charges of conspiracy of betraying the fatherland, incompetence and willingness to lead Germany to ruin for personal gain and ambition by the SS, he was tried for treason and executed in a military court martial that lasted less than a week. Himmler used his SS connections to claim the role of Fuhrer for himself, and claimed to be leading Germany to the vision that Hitler had originally planned for it.
With the near annihilation of the Red Army remnants at Stalingrad in July 1942, British Special Forces parachuted into the Caucasus oil fields, setting them ablaze to prevent the oil from being used by Germany. An outraged Himmler then demanded Turkey allow him access through its territory to attack Iraq. Turkey, which had months earlier balked at the idea of joining Germany as an ally refused the demand, Himmler promptly declared war with German and Bulgarian forces invading Thrace and capturing the Byzantine and Ottoman capital of Istanbul without much of a fight. Germany then crossed the Straights into Anatolia with plans of sacking Ankara, and setting up a puppet regime not dissimilar from the one in France. By November, Ankara was under German occupation, and a National Republic, friendly to the Third Reich replaced the Kemalist Republic.
Turkish and German troops began an invasion of Northern Iraq, drawing vital troops the British needed to emerge victorious from North Africa to the Middle East, and threatening the British occupation of Iran. Many American’s began questioning the wisdom of Roosevelt to enter the campaign against Germany when the war was so obviously lost. In the November elections, the GOP won control of the Senate, and narrowly missed winning the House of Representatives as well. American’s were becoming more vocal in their protests against the war with Germany, while the nation was fighting Japan, a nation that actually attacked first.
As 1943 loomed ahead, the allies appeared to be hanging on by a thread against the seemingly unstoppable forces of Nazi Germany and its allies. In the Pacific things looked more promising, the United States had began a successful island hopping campaign, and was steadily driving the Japanese back to the home islands.
*********************Authors Note***************************
We can debate of whom Hitler’s heir to Germany would have been if something were to happen, some would argue Himmler, others Goebbels, and others would say Goring. For the sake of the timeline let’s say Goring wins the power struggle, at least at first.
I also know there are going to be those who scream ASB, and will try to point out every single little flaw or anything they see that makes the TL unlikely. These people are morons. Okay does any of us here know for sure what would happen? How people react to something one day does not mean they will react that way another day. It is also the fact we are here to tell stories, something to entertain ourselves with, and to entertain others. Even the greatest stories, movies and drama's have its mistakes, and its unlikely events, but still we accept them because they are fun, and remember because something is unlikely (like say 13 colonies defeating the mightiest empire on earth to be given its independence only to become the next Superpower in a short 170 years) doesn't mean it is ASB. Some people seem to think everything is ASB unless they write it because in their mind they are the know all end all authority on alternate history. Well if these people like ASB so much let them go there and wait.
Other than that enjoy! Comments are welcome, and if you must criticize do so in a constructive manner. ASB comments will be ignored.