WI: America Only Fights World War II in the Pacific?

Depends, do you count the Lend Lease, that was a lifesaver for Russia and England. Also, when Japan is defeated, does the US go after Germany? And is there collaboration in regards to research between the US and its allies? Does the Navy protect convoys in the Atlantic? These questions need to be clarified.
 
Non-starter. Japan went to war in the first place in order to take over the colonies of European countries to alleviate the pressure of the American embargoes. Fighting the US for no reason, without even making an attempt to achieve their stated war aims, is just suicide.
 
Given the way the War in the Atlantic was unfolding, without major divergences in how the Second World War is carried out early on, I don't see how the United States and Germany are kept from coming to blows. I can certainly see a delay in the United States inserting itself into the European theater, but not its total exclusion.
 

Anaxagoras

Banned
I don't find this scenario all that plausible. But in the spirit of the OP, I would say that the divergence of resources and the logistical realities would mean that Japan would be defeated at least a year earlier than was the case IOTL, if not more.
 
your possible point of divergence in the Paney Incident, but something more serious or costly in American lives. That is 1937, so it predates World War II, but as such a war would almost certainly still be going on in 1939, you could thus have a World War II in the Pacific between the Americans and Japanese without the European colonial powers being involved.

Once the Germans start conquering Europe than I can't see the Americans ignoring the vital strategic necessity of dealing with Nazi Germany.
 
your possible point of divergence in the Paney Incident, but something more serious or costly in American lives. That is 1937, so it predates World War II, but as such a war would almost certainly still be going on in 1939, you could thus have a World War II in the Pacific between the Americans and Japanese without the European colonial powers being involved.

Once the Germans start conquering Europe than I can't see the Americans ignoring the vital strategic necessity of dealing with Nazi Germany.

Since a earlier Pacific war accelerates US military mobilization, at least in several critical sectors, I'd see it actually bringing earlier & stronger US participation in a European war
 
Since a earlier Pacific war accelerates US military mobilization, at least in several critical sectors, I'd see it actually bringing earlier & stronger US participation in a European war

most definitely an America fully armed and fighting would make things interesting in Europe to say the least...
 

NoMommsen

Donor
... let's assume :
The USS Pany gets destroyed on 11th dec. 1937 completly as well as the three oilers and the two british gunboats with her, perhaps let one of the gunboats barly survive it. Only one or two dozen of people survive.

As OTL these few get rescued 2 days later at the onset of the Nanking massacre, becoming known to the world maybe already beginning/middle of january 1938.

US and the rest of the world are embarressed. US, Britain and France freeze all japanese assets within their reach and declare an embargo against Japan by maybe end of january/beginning february.

Attempts to downplay the incident by Japan are countered by the now full coverage of what happened in Nanking. Thinking of what caused the snaish-american war Japan sees the US now as a mayor and more acute threat, than the USSR. They start negotiations with Stalin about the mongolian-mandschurian border, comming to a quick solution, means granting the mongolians their 15 km strip on the east bank of the Chalchin Gol.

By may 1938 not only Japan manages to upgrade their oil-deliveries from Indonesia (as OTL only much earlier), but the USN sends parts of their pacific fleet as well as troops to the Phillipines, blowing the dust from their "war plan orange" and its revisions. Japanese thinking now switch to "southern strategy" in a hurry.
Some more naval "incidents" with freighters carrying goods (weapons) to china with US, french as well british ships my occur or have already occurred.

With an outbrake of war pending in the pacific the "Sudeten-crisis" is dealt with even quicker in favor for the nazis, France and Britain much more concerned about Japan atm.

Crazy and "implausible" as the japanese were (as proved by their attack at Pearl Harbor) they start war in decembre 1938/january 1939 with an bombarding of USN ships in Manila and invasion of the Phillipines as well as Guam, taking the US by surprise.
Maybe they also stage invasions on french Indochine as well as british malaya.

World war II starts in the pacific.

If Hitler then starts his war in europe (without DOW against US, Britain or France, being pissed of Japans dealing with Stalin maybe even offering assistance against Japan, at least condolencing for the losses of allied people in the far east) ... don't know how the pacific theatre would change french and british reactions ...
Let's assume they got the guts to take on this as well :

Couldn't it be, that the US says :
why care for europe, we have our own war in the pacific and all resource have to go there. Britain, France see to yourself to manage with germany, that politely adressed our losses there.
 
The problem NoMommsen with your time line is that a southern strategy must involve GB/DEI/FIC or you don't get the oil and other goodies...

Once you are cobelligerents US and European powers will start to help each other massively and this will rub off to helping GB/FR in Europe (and persuading Italy/German generals that joining Japan might be stupid !)

Also a December 1938/january 1939 start date hurts the IJN massively in comparison to USN/RN/MN, it just doesn't have the ships (due to building less by earlier date/more old ships in rebuilding/much less loses to RN/MN) to win this mainly navel war and with the European powers the USN could operate north from Singapore and not require its massive unbuilt fleet chain it needed to wait for in OTL.

Don't you likely get a massive battleship battle in the south china sea to relive the Philippines ?
Battle of Lubang anybody with IJN destroyed as it tries to prevent the relief of the Philippines ?

With the W allies all fighting together they will end up working under some form of LL/US loans/subsidy so the rearmament for Europe will end up much more effective as a result and the Germans might realise that fighting west would be unwinnable ?
 

NoMommsen

Donor
The problem NoMommsen with your time line is that a southern strategy must involve GB/DEI/FIC or you don't get the oil and other goodies...
About GB I would fully agree with you.

About FIC ... yes, should be planned for by japan too, but perhaps on a later stage. As long as not directly attacking France may stay out of the fighting. Then perhaps go for it after the Phillipines and Malaya have been secured, what would be after the first attack and landing mainly a war on the ground.

About DEI ... trying to exploit traditional dutch neutrality but keep on buying every ounce of oil and rubber they got ... and leave it for later ... ?

(and persuading Italy/German generals that joining Japan might be stupid !)
Absolutly agree with you on that, esp. since Japan would have "betrayed" Antikomintern-Pakt.:D


About all the other things you said :
I have to commit, that I am quite a noob on south-east asia as a whole and esp. on the development of military air-, naval- und landpower in that region.

Was just a "quick shot" for making the OP possible (perhaps).


With the W allies all fighting together they will end up working under some form of LL/US loans/subsidy so the rearmament for Europe will end up much more effective as a result and the Germans might realise that fighting west would be unwinnable ?
Probably (most likely) true on terms of reason ... beside germany was lead by an often very unreasonable mad man.

However, GB and maybe France also tied up in a pacific war before the full occupation of Czechia and the polish campaign or at least the polish campaign ... could perhaps butterfly something there ;)

But I think that's perhaps not what the OP asked for. ... perhaps ?
 
About FIC ... yes, should be planned for by japan too, but perhaps on a later stage. As long as not directly attacking France may stay out of the fighting. Then perhaps go for it after the Phillipines and Malaya have been secured, what would be after the first attack and landing mainly a war on the ground.

The main problem is then distance with no FIC you are limited to no land based air power to invade Malaya (and long trips to get next wave and supplies and no excuses to be that far south so no surprise...) Without land air (and earlier date) Malaya becomes very navy focused and RN is still much bigger in 38/39 (as is USN) the IJN cant afford to simply trade ships and men in a attritional battle at the end of a long supply line.

About DEI ... trying to exploit traditional dutch neutrality but keep on buying every ounce of oil and rubber they got ... and leave it for later ... ?
The problem is how do they trade past RN CA/CL/DDs ? not to mention that a lot of it is joint GB owned or shipped to start with.. (Anglo Dutch Shell etc)

About all the other things you said :
I have to commit, that I am quite a noob on south-east asia as a whole and esp. on the development of military air-, naval- und landpower in that region.

Small things like in 1938 IJN only had 3 CVs (+2CVLs) and 9 BBs and even then many of them are in rebuilds v just RN/USN 4(+3)/5(+1) CV(CVL) and 15/15 BBs. With far less distraction from European ships as they have yet to finish.

Probably (most likely) true on terms of reason ... beside germany was lead by an often very unreasonable mad man.

However, GB and maybe France also tied up in a pacific war before the full occupation of Czechia and the polish campaign or at least the polish campaign ... could perhaps butterfly something there ;)

Not sure the forces you need in Far east are always going to be second rate v Europe so any build up will make France/GB much stronger in 1939/1940 France IMO.
 
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