WI: Edward VIII didn't marry Wallis Simpson

I believe that if Edward VIII was the king in WWII he would have probably supported the Nazis, and the UK with Ireland will help Nazi Germany to conquer all of Europe.

First, the annexation of Austria and the Sudetenland would go without any interruption from the UK, and so the conquering of Poland, Benelux and France.

Without the resistance of the UK Operation Barbarossa would've gone more well for the Germans, because there wouldn't be any need in operation Marita and the Balkan would be fully in their control (maybe not Yugoslavia, but the British could've handled that).

A Nazi Europe, with the UK support could've happen, so we need to thanks Wallis Simpson for being the woman she is, because she prevented a Axis victory in Europe.
 
First off, welcome to the board!

However, you severely overestimate the power of the British crown to affect the foreign policy of the United Kingdom.
 
You severely overestimate the power of the British crown to affect the foreign policy of the United Kingdom.

This.
I think people also overstate the OMG THE KING WAS A NAZI!!!111!!1! trope. He sympathised in the early days, mainly on an anti-communist thing I think, but after Poland nobody was under any illusions about what the deal with Hitler was.
 

Nestor

Banned
I didn't say that, i just said that in a history line where Edward VIII is helping Nazi Germany, that's the way i believe WWII would go.

He would never help the Nazis, if he tried he would be forced to abdicate.
 
In case no one noticed. A 20th century British king had no power except influence. Edward VIII could be as Nazi as he liked but it wouldn't alter policy one jot.
 

TinyTartar

Banned
Simply put, the crown would get over it and go along with what Parliament decided. Even if they were pro Nazi, its not going to last.
 
True. King hadn't any power on 20th century. Government wouldn't have even let him speak to media if they couldn't be sure if he says something pro-nazi things. So Edward VIII wouldn't have much affect to WW2. United Kingdom is war against Germany say king whatever. And if the king supports openly Germans government can even pressure abdication.
 
..... United Kingdom is war against Germany say king whatever. And if the king supports openly Germans government can even pressure abdication.
I would have thought more likely he gets hit by a Luftwaffe bomb in the blitz, well officially as least....

(not advocating conspiracy theories, but this will end up as one of the big ones of the 20th century IMO it has all the right elements, Royalty, NAZIS and the Establishment...:p)
 
While the role of the monarch is strictly limited, there would be the effect of perhaps five years prior to 1939 of Edward being very chummy with the Nazis. This will certainly have an effect on the English public. How this would spill over in to foreign policy/political action is unclear but it will have some effect. Another possibility is that when Chamberlain goes (assuming same scenario as OTL), the King calls Halifax in and persuades him to become PM rather than Churchill which could lead to consequences. let's assume for the moment that Dunkirk happens as OTL or maybe a little worse for the UK - at that time the Germans, who have even more affinity for the UK due to friendship with Edward and many members of his clique who are more openly pro-Nazi, makes a peace offer to the UK which is also sent to Edward who pushes for it to be accepted. Basically a no harm no foul peace, Germany asks nothing from the UK, prisoners go home etc.

Britain actually aiding the Nazis against USSR, unlikely but if Germany can trade freely, no war with UK...
 
This.
I think people also overstate the OMG THE KING WAS A NAZI!!!111!!1! trope. He sympathised in the early days, mainly on an anti-communist thing I think, but after Poland nobody was under any illusions about what the deal with Hitler was.

And iirc, as late as 1938 Churchill was on record as saying that if Britain ever got into the mess that Weimar Germany did, he would hope for a Hitler to get things sorted out. Such attitudes were common until very late in the day. After 1939, of course, a lot of people developed selective amnesia about their former views, and no doubt King Edward would have been one of them.
 
And iirc, as late as 1938 Churchill was on record as saying that if Britain ever got into the mess that Weimar Germany did, he would hope for a Hitler to get things sorted out. Such attitudes were common until very late in the day. After 1939, of course, a lot of people developed selective amnesia about their former views, and no doubt King Edward would have been one of them.
There is also the possibility that he'd do something similarly stupid to falling in love with Wallis Simpson (who was apparently sleeping with a car dealer at the same time as Edward - and the Government knew this, which is one of the reasons they pushed so hard against his marrying her and remaining King).
 
Like teaching his nieces to heil?
I had something rather stupider in mind, actually - at the time the Nazi salute didn't have the creepy connotations it later acquired. Unless he was doing so in wartime, which would almost be stupid enough for him to get shuffled out to one side.
 
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