What about technology/industry/finance etc?
As to the North Africa offensive, I doubt the French would have have the armour or the organisation in place for anything more than a spoiling offensive, but then if the Italians are surprised by a simultaneous attack from East and West there could well be a collapse in coordination, perhaps landings on coastal roads etc to this end. Although I think that what with the chaos of the big move I think that the offensive would begin and end later than July-August.
Another thing that occurs is the mechanics of Lend Lease. Unlike in FFO where France gets the lion's share of LL and Britain gets a much better deal economically, Britain and France are one nation ITTL.
In FFO the French attack on Libya occurs from mid July onwards, which is pretty much the same timescale as mine expect a that here the attack starts a week later relative to FFO.
There was a great deal of military infrastructures available in Tunisia precisely with that kind of offensive in mind. Tanks were available in Tunisia as well albeit not in massive quantities but more than enough to be an effective opposition to the M39/11 the Italians had.
Delaying the attack until September or even October does not make sense since it gives a window for the Italians to send reinforcements to Libya. There also the propaganda value of France being on the offensive while still fighting on in mainland France at work.
Lend Lease is still far away at the moment, but cash and carry with Franco-British gold used as payment carries one especially as France ordered significant numbers of planes from US manufacturers.
I can still see the Exiled French forces getting the most of the American Equipment, but the initial Cash and Carry aid will come from the combined Franco-British treasury. What then, happens to Britain and France's business assets in South American and the US ITTL?
Do they sell at firesale prices as per OTL?
Do they hold on to them as per FFO?
Do they sell them at a higher price?
Since the situation is not do desperate they hold on to them.
France naturally gets most of the 4 Pipers in the DD for B aggreement, but since The Union has more West Indian posessions than Britain alone, do you think it's reasonable to suggest that the Americans would be willing to settle for a 50 year lease rather than 99 on the bases in this region (I need an Expert on French Naval bases to see if the Americans would gain an increase in the number of bases sufficient to justify a shorter lease).
Geographically the French West Indies do not offer anything which the British West Indies can't offer, so expect things to stay the same.
Similarly with the obsolescent US merchant tonnage that historically glutted British repair yards and halted heavy warship production for a crucual 6 months might be averted or ameliaorated with access to French colonial ports. Since Britain has more breathing space and we can assume a less costly Battle of Britain (The Luftwaffe takes heavier losses over France ITTL and starts later right?), there might not be the panic reaction that prompted the UK to runs its industry into the ground and therefore there might be a greater investment in modernisation and some of the promising industrial and military projects might not be cancelled or stalled as per OTL.
P.S. What happened in Operation Gullotine with the Italian fleet, didn't the French have some dive bombers serving on the Bearn?
The UK will not run its industry to the ground at least not as much as OTL. Research and technology is indeed an area where efforts will be pooled very early on especially in cryptography, radar, aeronautics and the biggie nuclear knowledge. I intend this common research effort to yield more results than OTL and ideally for such results to lay the ground for the post-war "Franco-British Miracle". A jet age starting in the early 1950s instead of the late 1950s is a strong desire of mine I must say.
Since you seems to know a fair bit in this subject, I would be grateful for any sources you may have, especially books and articles as I might be able to get them though the University of Bath library.
Atlantic Friend said:
The industry, now - that's the real problem. You have little industry in 1940 Algeria, and little infrastructure to support it. Which also means a much smaller trained workforce as well. In this respect, France would be dependent on Britain - but its engineers and scientists would also be a welcome addition to Britain's research effort. It could be one of the first practical aspects of the unions, pooling research/production resources.
If France fights on from Northern Algeria, chances are the rest of the colonies follow suit - even if Germany set up a puppet regime in Metropolitan France. So France wouldn't have much in terms of industry, but it could contribute to its Allies' production by shipping ores, rubber, etc.
Thence the reason why I mentionned in chapter 4 the evacuation of technical and scientific personnel to Britain instead of Algeria as in FFO. In FFO, steelworks and ordnance factories are built in Algeria coming online during late 1942 and 1943. Nothing of the sort will happen here as it simply does not make sense. Efforts will nevertheless be made to increase the agricultural output of French Northern Africa and to improve the transport infrastructure. A Casablanca-Cairo railway is on the cards in order to release shipping to other duties, but it won't come online until late 1942 at best.
I am a fan of your Crossfire TL by the way, I started to read it on the paradox forum when it first started. It seems appropriate for Colonel La Rocque to play a role in this TL too, as he is the kind of politician which would have gained preeminence in this scenario. Any suggestions? Do you think that he would have stayed in France or moved over to Algeria?
.
