The War of 1940

My first attempt at a proper timeline, any thoughts/criticisms gratefully accepted.

The War of 1940.

From the speaches of Neville Chamberlain.


"How horrible, fantastic it is that we should be digging trenches and trying on gas-masks here because of a quarrel in a far away country between people of whom we know nothing. I am myself a man of peace from the depths of my soul."

"...the settlement of the Czechoslovakian problem, which has now been achieved is, in my view, only the prelude to a larger settlement in which all Europe may find peace. This morning I had another talk with the German Chancellor, Herr Goerring, and here is the paper which bears his name upon it as well as mine (waves paper to the crowd - receiving loud cheers and "Hear Hears"). Some of you, perhaps, have already heard what it contains but I would just like to read it to you ...".

"His action shows convincingly that there is no chance of expecting that this man will ever give up his practice of using force to gain his will. He can only be stopped by force, and we and the peoples of France and the German Reich are today in fulfillment of our obligations going to the aid of Finland who is so bravely resisting this wicked and unprovoked attack upon her people. We have a clear conscience, we have done all that any country could do to establish peace, but a situation in which no word given by the Soviet ruler could be trusted, and no people or country could feel itself safe, had become intolerable. And now that we have resolved to finish it, I know that you will all play your parts with calmness and courage."
 
"The supposedly sudden death of Herr Hitler came as a shock to many in the German Reich, but close observation of moves within the party in the months leading up to his demise would have shown his failing health. The appointment of Goering as Chancellor was widely seen at the time as a way of trying to legitamise the regime, with President and Chancellor again seperate bodies, but all real power remaining in the hands of the Fuheur. However it cemented Goerings power base within the state, and the affable Goering was a much more acceptable figure to eastablishment figures within and without Germany. With Hitlers death from a massive heart-atack in November 1938 rivals for the leadership such as the boorish Ribbentropp and the failed chicken farmer Himmler may have had followings within the party but neither could be acceptable to the armed forces as a whole.
Hitlers legacy was a greatly increased German state and a renewed German pride. He is remembered today as a national hero, a german Attaturk. However liek his Turkish equivalent there were darker sides to his 5 years in power..."

From Modern Europe a Primer
 
Within the months following Hitlers death a reshufle of ministers took place, Ribbentrop was replaced by the man he himself had only recently taken over from Baron von Neurath, a much more acceptable face for the Reich, and crucially for the British a man they could do business with in comparison to Ribbentropp, a man whos attitude toward Britian has been described as being that of a spurned lover. Moves toward the control of the Reich Police were to prove more difficult, true control would require the Himmler/Heydrich access to be destroyed, to this end Goering had certain records pertining to Heydrichs family tree retrieved. At this point it was too early to make a direct move against either but it appears he had planned long in advance to deal with threats from this quarter. Other cabinet members included a recalled Franz von Pappen as Minister of the interior. Although still firmly of the right the new cabiet had a lesser ideological bent than may have been supposed. There are two possible reasons for this firstly neither Pappen or Neurath whilst compotent ministers could create a power base to challenge his leadership, and secondly their return reassured industry and the militray that the new leader was not planning any revolutionar moves.
By the early days of 1939 Germany had a new cabinet , and increasingly over the next 6 months better relationships with the west. Two shadows loomed massively on the horizon however, the Polish corridor and a USSR which viewed the status quo changes with trepidation.
 
Interesting. Jumps about a bit too much maybe.

A bit of a Nazi dream, a common front against the Bolsheviks IMO.

Also, what about Hess in the power struggle, he was Deputy Führer.
 
Yup Hitler dies shortly after the Munich crisis, he's never been that sturdy and his health gradually gets worse. Hess was never a serious contender for the leadership, he was seen as a bit of a plank. The absence of Hitler has led to the Munich agreement not being torn up as in our time and better relationships with the west. And without the victories Hitler had against Poland and the West any successor is going to be that much more cautious and willing to compromise with the old German establishment. As we'll see there are still many in the West who are disgusted by the regime, and certain British politicaians are going to finish this timeline with very different reputations to ours.
 
The early months of 1939 saw Neville Chamberlain gaining unprecedented popularity throughout the UK, a war many feared had been averted and the noises coming from the reich seemed more concilitary than ever before, both the holidays with pay act and the factories act were popular pieces of Legislation and it seemed that if war could be postponed or put off forever then Chamberlains governemnt could continue to reform the nation. Both Pensions and health insurance had white papers prepared to massivley increase their scope and the governement in general seemed markedly forward looking for a Conservative party. It was at this time that Chamberlains preffered useage of Unionist gained an upsurge in use.
There was of course criticism from within and without, Churchill continued to wave his sabre in the commons but was generally booed down, and Chamberlains increasingly amicable working relationship with the irish leader de Valera also drew stiinging criticism from the increasingly shrill Churchill.
Rearmament continued apace, despite the seeming thaw with Germany it seemed logical to rearm at as fast a pace as possible, the central irony of Chamberlains premieship that a military rearmed to fight Germany ended up defending her.
 
Re Hess, post the Nurmeburg Laws he was increasingly outmaovered by all other rivals. Although on paper number 3 in the Reich in reality his main attribute was loyalty to Hitler, with him out of the way I don't think even Hess would see himself as a replacement. He's either going to switch his allegiance to another leader, quietly fade away or be a useful figurehead for someone smarter but more low profile, say a Heydrich?
 
Re: Hess that sounds plausible, worth a mention in the TL though.

Re. De Valera. The only thing that is going to lead to an amicable relationship with him is the no-strings-attached handing over of Northern Ireland to Éire IMO. He was a notoriously obdurate man and IIRC deeply opposed to any form of cooperation with Britain until, as he saw it, justice was done and the whole of Ireland was free.

I don't want to sound negative here. Just some things to think about. :)
 
In April 1939 Herr Goring Chancellor of Germany made a state visit to London to consolidate the improved relations post Munich. Despite hostility from sections of the press, parliament and the public the British heirarchy had much to be pleased with. Ribbentrops corrosive effect on relations betwen the 2 countries had been removed, and the fact that the new German leaders visit was to London rather than Rome was seen as significant. Goring reiterated that his government wanted peace, and that the military had had to expand to defend German borders from the communist menace both within and without. Significantly he refused a requested meeting with Sir Oswald Mosley, apparently fully aware of the negative effect it would have on relations with the UK. The fat jolly figure of the Chancellor was oddly reassuring to the british psyche, and i some areas of the press he was painted as a teutonic cousin tp John Bull,the visit was at the time seen as a qualified success. On dark note crept in when the Prime Minister raised the issue of treatment of the Jewish minority within the Reich, Gorings response was that it was a massive propoganda campaign from enemies of the Reich and that new laws had been required to stop eastern and communist influence on the countries health. It was later noted that goring was suprised by even as weak a challenge as this, and that this would later effect his thinking on the "jewish question".
 
I understand that Chamberlain was one of the only British politicians Dev was even vaguely civil about, certainly he was suprisingly nice about him on his resignation. I'll check up on that and if neccessary change it, howeve I am pretty sure that Churchill was unhappy about talks between the two.
Edit:
From wikipedia (so usual ? on truth) on Chamberlians resignation "I would like to testify that you did more than any former British Statesman to make a true friendship between the peoples of our two countries possible, and, if the task has not been completed, that it has not been for want of goodwill on your part."
 
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