This is inspired by the 'Anzio - was it necessary' thread.
Rommel did not want to see a drawn-out campaign in Italy, but rather a retreat to the Alps.
Kesselring opposed this, claiming that he could stall Allied forces for months on end and zap them of their strength which otherwise would have been available for Overlord (or an earlier version of Overlord).
Kesselring was also concerned about leaving air fields too close to the Vaterland.
Brooke wanted to have as many German troops 'locked up' in Italy as possible. The transportation across the Alps was a bit more difficult than any East-West movement in Germany and any North-South in France.
A strategic trap. Italy was not supposed to be an end in itself.
So, the big question WHAT IF:
Salerno goes in as planned.
September 1943:
1) Mussolini is out of the picture anyway.
2) Hitler planned on the retreat from Italy if things went bad. No diluting forces in the East (Kursk)
3) Everything out of Italy: defensive line -> Alps only
4) Rommel and Kesselring are now available for something else
Consequences:
1) No strategic trap in Italy
2) Hitler can build up his strategic reserve
3) Kursk might be even more bloody, but probably with the same result?
4) Allied air forces can now reach everything in Germany etc. UNLESS Germany wrecks it all on the way out.
Other options?
Ivan
Rommel did not want to see a drawn-out campaign in Italy, but rather a retreat to the Alps.
Kesselring opposed this, claiming that he could stall Allied forces for months on end and zap them of their strength which otherwise would have been available for Overlord (or an earlier version of Overlord).
Kesselring was also concerned about leaving air fields too close to the Vaterland.
Brooke wanted to have as many German troops 'locked up' in Italy as possible. The transportation across the Alps was a bit more difficult than any East-West movement in Germany and any North-South in France.
A strategic trap. Italy was not supposed to be an end in itself.
So, the big question WHAT IF:
Salerno goes in as planned.
September 1943:
1) Mussolini is out of the picture anyway.
2) Hitler planned on the retreat from Italy if things went bad. No diluting forces in the East (Kursk)
3) Everything out of Italy: defensive line -> Alps only
4) Rommel and Kesselring are now available for something else
Consequences:
1) No strategic trap in Italy
2) Hitler can build up his strategic reserve
3) Kursk might be even more bloody, but probably with the same result?
4) Allied air forces can now reach everything in Germany etc. UNLESS Germany wrecks it all on the way out.
Other options?
Ivan