What if British and US troops never leave France after '45. That is, what if they suddenly annex it.

Status
Not open for further replies.
What if British and US troops never leave France after '45. That is, what if they suddenly annex France.
There is a way for the first part to happen. If they all die and get interred in a French military cemetary.
However, the second part would be politically impossible.
Neither country have even half a reason to do so, and doing so would make sure you get Hundred Years War part 3, with the Soviets supporting the French Communists in this endeavour.
 

GarethC

Donor
Why on earth would a Conservative government want to annex France? They and their ideological antecedents have been at war with the French for over six hundred years, and the whole point of conservatism is an aversion to change.
 
Why on earth would a Conservative government want to annex France? They and their ideological antecedents have been at war with the French for over six hundred years, and the whole point of conservatism is an aversion to change.
yeah this could only possibly happen if there had been a communist revolution in France, and only long enough to install another government. Of course if that had happened good luck in preventing France becoming a part of the USSR.
 
How do both of them annex it at once? And this goes against every Anglophonic country (not counting some of th oTsrio national leaders in Canada) to lessen the amount of French people they had. Also, just googled Canada language. They have French above English despite it being the minority language, as well as F being after E in the alphabet.
 
Why they would do that? Churchill wasn't smartes man on the Earth but he wasn't fully idiot. It would just cause such resitanse that Americans and Brits can't stand with that. And Commies would have perfect propaganda weapon. Probably rest of Europe east from Rhein fall to Communism.
 

GarethC

Donor
How do both of them annex it at once?
Britain says that George VI is king of quite a lot of it already, and they are just picking up where they left off.

The Americans grab the rest.

Looking at the strategic value of the seized lands, I think it's an even split. The British get Bordeaux, Cognac, Armagnac; the Americans only get Bourgogne and Champagne, but at least also collect the industrial north heartland, the Mediterranean coast, and Paris.

Additionally, if the British can hook up a dynamo to the mortal remains of Arthur Wellesley, they will be able to power most of their national electrical grid from him, as that's how fast he would be spinning in his grave.
 
Why they would do that? Churchill wasn't smartes man on the Earth but he wasn't fully idiot. It would just cause such resitanse that Americans and Brits can't stand with that. And Commies would have perfect propaganda weapon. Probably rest of Europe east from Rhein fall to Communism.
Make that all of Europe East of Brest. The USUK will have all of France going after them, including the Free French forces they themselves armed.
 
yeah this could only possibly happen if there had been a communist revolution in France, and only long enough to install another government. Of course if that had happened good luck in preventing France becoming a part of the USSR.

My first thought. DeGualle is never able to create a strong Free French government & that effort dissolves into squabbling ineffective factions. The only effective group standing in 1945 are the Communists and they become dominated by a radical Stalinist faction. Civil war erupts after France is liberated. lacking any competent of effective non communist group the Allies have to fight a civil war in their LOC as well as the Germans. To secure the LOC, put down the nazis, and deal with a probably hostile USSR/Red Army its necessary to impose a Allied occupation administration on a chaotic France.

Eventually a capable non communist government will emerge, but it could take five years or more. Meawhile the US and Commonwealth armies effectively have annexed France This leaves the colonies unsecured as well. Local governors can hold down some, but others are liable to have successful independence revolts 1945-46.
 

cpip

Gone Fishin'
My first thought. DeGualle is never able to create a strong Free French government & that effort dissolves into squabbling ineffective factions. The only effective group standing in 1945 are the Communists and they become dominated by a radical Stalinist faction. Civil war erupts after France is liberated. lacking any competent of effective non communist group the Allies have to fight a civil war in their LOC as well as the Germans. To secure the LOC, put down the nazis, and deal with a probably hostile USSR/Red Army its necessary to impose a Allied occupation administration on a chaotic France.

Eventually a capable non communist government will emerge, but it could take five years or more. Meawhile the US and Commonwealth armies effectively have annexed France This leaves the colonies unsecured as well. Local governors can hold down some, but others are liable to have successful independence revolts 1945-46.

Well, that's the closest I think anyone could get to meeting the question. Presumably, by 1950 at the latest, France too has set up a new government and the Allied government has withdrawn, though (a) there may well be more NATO military bases in France and (b) France likely will have their own Red Army Faction-type insurgency throughout the period.

It would make for a very different Europe.
 

CalBear

Moderator
Donor
Monthly Donor
Since you have already been set on the beach for a week, I'll just close these rather than take action.
 
Top
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top