The Artic Fox : Rommel goes to Finland.

[Axeman]

Basically I plan on turning this thread, after input from various members, into an AH.

Basically I plan on having a few analogues to Rommel's campaign in Egypt and Libya, but mostly original and new stuff.

The idea is this :

France falls like OTL, but for whatever reason Italy stays neutral, no bailing Italy out of the Balkans and North Africa.

Finland shows a less impressive performance during the winter war, or Soviets get lucky, which is probably easier, OR they heed Mannerhiem's warnings and cave to the Soviets. We could have a situation were some generals refuse to retreat from Finnish territory while others in the civilian government demand a withdrawal, allowing for a Soviet cakewalk.

Finland is not seen as a well trained and motivated army, but any successes it had were more attributed with knowing the terrain and having skis. However the Soviets are neither seen as incompotent and now lack a catalyst for swift reforms.

Germany has to prop up Finland *in its eyes* with some forces, it did OTL, but the contingent could be much greater, this contingent will be led by none other then Erwin Rommel.

Thoughts?
Comments?
Criticisms?
Suggestions?

I will also try to keep any story I do decide to write limited in scale to Finland, Keralia, and the Baltics with only a vague idea of the rest of the world.

 

[Urban fox]

I'm unsure, Rommel fought in Italy in WW1 so has some idea of fighting in rugged landscape, but his skills in open manoeuvre offensive warfare wont be useful in Finland.

Now it may help to stiffen spines in Finland and prevent them seeking peace with the Soviets once Germany starts to lose, but I dont see the German-Finnish forces taking Leningrad for example.

Britain has a free hand now to build and strike anywhere Germany is weak, the Yugoslavs/Serbs are very pro-Russian and need to be watched. As will Italy, II Duce wasnt shy when it came to backstabs.

Dont see the Red Army stopping reforms, the Winter War will show some serious flaws in leadership etc, no matter how badly the Finns do.

 

[Monty Burns]

Dont see the Red Army stopping reforms, the Winter War will show some serious flaws in leadership etc, no matter how badly the Finns do.

Given that obviously Fionland survives and hence teh Soveit Union was defeated you're absolutely right.

Another serious problem is that the German strategy assumed the Soviets to be weak because of their poor performance in the winter war. Without that poor performance, German strategy shouldn't assume a quick and easy Blitzkrieg, which would alter Barbarossa completely. Just to give an example, the Germans might actually prepare for warfare during winter assuming that they couldn#t finish off the Russians within a single year...

 

[I Blame Communism]

Dont see the Red Army stopping reforms, the Winter War will show some serious flaws in leadership etc, no matter how badly the Finns do.

To complement the point, the "Liberation March" into the Kresy had shown the need for reform, too.

 

[Axeman]

So perhaps the best idea is that Finland gives up without a fight and surrenders territory to Russia, in exchange for pacifying Russia for the time being, Finland is given ample German air and military support.