Using the superpower of 20/20 hindsight, which year do you think gave Germany the best shot at winning WW2 and achieving it's all of the regimes strategic goals. (Lebensraum, Continental Hegemony, economic aurtarky, etc)
Why?
Why?
Earlier than 38 then the German Army and Airforce are not nearly powerful enough even with their advantage of 'Auftragstaktik'
After 1940 France will be well on the way to being fully modernised and by May 41 the British BEF will be 3+ times the size of the force that fought in the OTL battle of France in 1940 and both forces will have many many more tanks than May 1940
The Airforces again will be much larger and many of the French aircraft just coming into srvice before the fall of France such as the Dewoitine D.520 would be in service in large numbers as well as US Planes such as P40s and P36s
Also both the British and French will have had an extra year or so of training by 1941
IMO Germany managed to declare war during an 18 month period where the German Armed forces had become stronger than those of the British and French.
I dont think that there was a beter time than Late 1939 / early 1940.
Also Russia poses a problem for Germany - to early and Russia still has an effective Officer Corps - too late and the Red Army has also sufficinetly recovered from the purges.
Anyway Germany could've jumped through said window earlier in 39?
Like July or June?
Gives them enough time to beat Poland and then turnaround for a French Invasion by the Fall.
I agree that 1939 was their best bet, but you're right that there might have been benefit to going earlier in the year. However, I think German readiness goes into question with every month you move to the left.
One good point about doing the French invasion in the Fall is that Dunkirk might have happened at a dicier time, meaning less troops escape.
Additionally, if they're done with France by Christmas, then maybe Barbarossa launches earlier, meaning they can get farther before being stopped by bad weather.