alternatehistory.com

Just came to me as I work away at my dissertation. I'm well aware that Hitler rejected the SA's call for merging them with the Reichswehr and building a new army and structure for a reason, but what if, say because he becomes too uncomfortable with their reactionary conservatism, Hitler decides to radically reconstruct the army along Nazi lines, as well as the Navy and air force? Say, some time in the mid-thirties, 1935ish. So Hitler is Führer by then, and 'that oath' has been taken (IIRC?).

Do we get a Red Army-like situation where a new force is built from the ground up (with new people at its head, which is the key here), just without the advantage of being born out of a civil war that gives everyone lots of experience? Or is this simply unfeasible for the basic reason that Hitler will just wake up to find the end of a Gewehr 98 staring him in the face?

If a new force was built, what would it look like in makeup and command structure? The OTL SS? What on earth would a Nazi navy look like?
Top