alternatehistory.com

My Nazi short story was science fiction
but the politics within it was an interesting eye-opener
the potential role in a victorious Third Reich of Gehlen
and the untouchable quality to both Hess and Kammler
for different reasons

Rivalries between the leadership will ensure some are dead by the 1950s
just as Gregor Strasser and Roehm are dead

Age will also ensure that some are retired
or have been pensioned off to sinecures

failures and victories will ensure other falls and rises
the execution of those responsible for failure
the elevation of those covered in glory by victory

Hitler's health is an interesting matter
he would be mid 60s by the mid 50s
it might depend on how many failures there have been
for in victories he would rise above medication

The SS is a confusing one
the Waffen SS especially
since by the mid 1950s many of the active ranks will be young
twenties-thirties and filled largely by people history barely knows
even if Barkmann can get a seat

The Luftwaffe is similar
with pilots too young to have been around in the 1940s
except for senior pilots
for larger aircraft
on special missions

One could look at roles for the sons of Nazis
a role for Wolf Rudiger Hess for example
or Goebbels' son, Himmler's daughter, Bormann's kids, Speer's kids
even Rommel's

Nazi Germany had an ever-evolving politico-military (paramilitary) structure
Nothing ever remained the same for long
The organisation of the SS is both typical and vital in this
Himmler organised it perfectly logically
then set about undermining his own organisation to get things done
promote his favourites, and have bodies under his personal control

Much duplication exists both within and across organisations
but this is not open to rationalisation
since rationalisation never lasts in Nazi Germany

Duplication is Hitler's way of playing off one bunch against another
He intends the cream to rise to the top
for competition to provide perfection
and above all rivalry to be a race to prove loyalty
to him

He can be both deeply involved and remotely disinterested
at the same time
even on the same project

war gives opportunities for people to rise
to break out of their station
and take on greater powers
Speer, Bormann, Kesselring, Doenitz are all prime examples of this
but in a different history things may go less well for all or some
whilst going better for others

The Luftwaffe is a chaotic mess
Udet kills himself because of it
Goering is shamed but drugs and power still boost his self respect
Who would be the saviour of the Luftwaffe?
Milch, Jeschoneck, Galland?

Rommel rose from nowhere much to become a legend
bypassing many others who would have liked the chance
A different war, with different fronts and different opportunities
could see different people rise
or the same people rise more
Maybe von Arnim would be a hero, or Paulus
maybe Bismarck would live up to having a famous name
or Mackensen achieve even more and rival his famed father

Are deaths from natural causes writ in stone?
Wolfram von Richtofen's brain tumour?
Walther Schellenberg's liver disease?

The size of the Nazi realm also dictates the openings for little tyrants
or even for greater ones if Ostland is achieved
these would play a subplot to the Reich
new fiefdoms with new battles and new rivalries
and maybe different balances of power than in Berlin

Positive thoughts on this?

Best Regards
Grey Wolf
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