What If Hitler Was Captured by the Soviets in 1943?

[pattersonautobody]

The often posited post-war preference for a defensive war in mid-'43 relies on the assumption that the Germans retained an operational superiority they rather manifestly did not have by mid-'43. If the Germans withdraw to the Panther-Wotan Line months ahead of time, then that means the Soviets have that many additional more months to crack it, not to mention additional manpower resources from both lack of casualties and recovery of territory as well as the ability to begin restoration of Eastern Ukraines mines and industries further ahead of time. That's not going to lead to the Soviet advance slowing or the Axis minor allies being in the war longer...

In any case, the idea that there was a widespread preference for a defensive stand amongst the German generals in mid-'43 is ahistoric. The primary debate amongst them even at the time was not whether to defend or attack, but where to attack.

The Soviets literally steamrolled the Germans from Kursk to Berlin. Standing up and fighting was mostly a waste of time. Only logistics slowed the Soviets down. I honestly think that the USSR would have not made it to the DNieper any faster or slower without Kursk. THey were facing a collapsing house of cards. So, logistics would prevent a crossing from the Dnieper despite a German withdrawal. THe difference is the Germans would actually have some sort of defense behind it and with the relocation of forces, may be able to do more in Italy than OTL.

 

[Gar48]

The "resistance" officers (von Treskow, etc) will likely try to take advantage of the chaos and make a move at the least.

Actually this is a good point. With Hitler dead, we may see other German generals joining the conspiracy as they believe their personal oaths to the Fuhrer are now over.

However we could also see the SS becoming even more paranoid than OTL and crack down on "enemies" of the Reich even harder