Ok, so this idea is an outgrowth of OTL; in 1935, Germany actually did license technology from the Akagi to use in building the Graf Zeppelin, as well as naval aviation technology designed to convert numerous planes including the Bf-109, Ju-87, and Fi-167 for carrier operations. Basically, what if the Reich has an outbreak of common sense and realizes they actually have no idea what they're doing and agrees to just license produce one or two carriers in Germany to build expertise, as well as a training and support agreement? I'm thinking the Soryu class, though perhaps an earlier one like the Akagi if the Japanese aren't willing to part with their most modern one. This honestly probably would have cost less than what they did IOTL; the Graf Zeppelin was designed as a 34,000 ton warship and they completed 70% of it, while the Soryu was 19,000 tons, and just using an existing design probably would have saved a lot on R&D. They also designed and produced the Fi-167 and had the carrier versions of the Bf-109 and Ju-87 (designated the Bf-109T and the Ju-87C respectively) in production before the Graf Zeppelin was canceled and they stopped, so the aircraft are basically there.
There is no chance that this wins Germany the war, but is there a way they could go in this direction?
There is no chance that this wins Germany the war, but is there a way they could go in this direction?