alternatehistory.com

I haven't been posting here for a very long time, but I just got what I thought is a pretty good idea. What if, in June 1944, instead of landing in France, the Allies conduct an invasion of Denmark and Northern Germany? Here is my battle plan.

1) American/British heavy bombers bomb Hamburg to hurt communications with Denmark and Schleswig-Holstein.

2) P-38 and Mosquito aircraft bomb the four bridges spanning the Kiel Canal, which cuts across Schleswig-Holstein and links the North Sea to the Baltic Sea.

3) Paratroopers in C-47s and/or C-54s land along the northern side of the Kiel Canal, forming a line of defense along the waterway.

4) More paratroopers land at various points on mainland Denmark or whatever it's called.

5) Less than a day after the first paratroop drops, ships begin to land at the various small ports in western Schleswig-Holstein with troops, supplies, and tanks.

6) Aircraft carriers join the fight a few days later and naval, air, and land forces begin a Blitzkrieg-like invasion of Denmark.

This will cut off Norway from Germany. Norway will probably not be invaded, by the separation of it from Germany will protect Allied-Soviet convoys and reduce German access to the sea.

7) Allied forces finish off Denmark and northern Schleswig-Holstein, hopefully by the end of June, still with the Kiel Canal as the southern border of attack.

Heligoland may be invaded at this point.

8) Allied forces push south into Germany, with Hamburg captured sometime in late July.

9) Allied forces begin moving towards Berlin. Berlin would hopefully be captured by Christmas 1944. The war could end 6 months sooner than it did. The Cold War would have been easier for the Allies since they would have all of Germany. Germany would never have to have been cut in half.

The biggest problem with this plan is the possibility of U-boats cutting off American supply lines to Denmark. This would necessitate additional resources being diverted to fight submarines. However, the benefits probably outweigh the problems of this campaign.

Any thoughts? Comments? Suggestions? Questions?
Top