After Nazi Germany signed a non-aggression pact with the Soviet Union, the British and the French were understandably frightened of this alliance, especially since the Soviets were now funneling the Wehrmacht with resources such as oil.
With this in mind, they drew up plans to deal with the Soviet Union by bombing Soviet oil fields in Azerbaijan, which would've crippled the Soviet oil industry and cut off the Nazis from receiving any more oil. This plan was called Operation Pike. According to the report by General Gamelin submitted to the French Prime Minister on 22 February 1940, an oil shortage would cripple the Red Army and Soviet Air Force, as well as Soviet collective farm machinery, causing possible widespread famine and even the collapse of the Soviet Union,
Preparations were made such as the transfer to the Middle East Command of aircraft from both France and Britain to be outfitted with incendiary bombs. They concluded that several installations at Baku and Batum were vulnerable to an air attack.
However, this plan never went into effect because France was invaded by the Nazis in May 1940 and conquered in June.
What if in between September 1939 and May 1940, the British and French went through with this operation?
With this in mind, they drew up plans to deal with the Soviet Union by bombing Soviet oil fields in Azerbaijan, which would've crippled the Soviet oil industry and cut off the Nazis from receiving any more oil. This plan was called Operation Pike. According to the report by General Gamelin submitted to the French Prime Minister on 22 February 1940, an oil shortage would cripple the Red Army and Soviet Air Force, as well as Soviet collective farm machinery, causing possible widespread famine and even the collapse of the Soviet Union,
Preparations were made such as the transfer to the Middle East Command of aircraft from both France and Britain to be outfitted with incendiary bombs. They concluded that several installations at Baku and Batum were vulnerable to an air attack.
However, this plan never went into effect because France was invaded by the Nazis in May 1940 and conquered in June.
What if in between September 1939 and May 1940, the British and French went through with this operation?
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