What would happen if Adolf Hitler was overthrown in 1938/39 as a result of the Munich crisis. Let's say that the main perpetrators would be the military, possibly through Admiral Wilhelm Canaris. What would it take for the military to act against Hitler. What would Germany's future look like with Austria and most of the former Czechoslovakia under their control but without Hitler to worry about. Might Goring take power if the Western Allies go to war over Czechoslovakia? Will there be a World War II led by the military?
WI: Hitler Overthrown In 1938/39
- Thread starter Noravea
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- canaris hitler world war ii
It is most likely Goring will become Fuhrer. There might be a power struggle between him and Himmler and perhaps people like Ludwig Beck. But, the SS had things pretty much under control i'd say so any outright coup would be dealt with accordingly. Hitler overthrown doesn't get rid of the Nazis.
If germany would go to war over Czechoslovaia there were several people who wanted to do a coup, kill Hitler and keep the damage as minimal as possible.
People like Canaris and Ludwig Beck may have been againts Hitler, but they were still fascists. The nazis will stay in power.
It this point though, Germany was already on its way to war. They couldn't sustain their economy without war, all industry was focussing on it. In order to avert another crisis the Nazis will go to war, which was mandatory for the nazi ideology to be proven right, the expansion of the German reich, their superiority over the rest of Europe and the world. How that war will go is wild guessing for me.
If germany would go to war over Czechoslovaia there were several people who wanted to do a coup, kill Hitler and keep the damage as minimal as possible.
People like Canaris and Ludwig Beck may have been againts Hitler, but they were still fascists. The nazis will stay in power.
It this point though, Germany was already on its way to war. They couldn't sustain their economy without war, all industry was focussing on it. In order to avert another crisis the Nazis will go to war, which was mandatory for the nazi ideology to be proven right, the expansion of the German reich, their superiority over the rest of Europe and the world. How that war will go is wild guessing for me.
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Wasn't Goering more "sane" than Hitler? I mean IIRC he was more for alliance with Poland. It would interesting seeing Poland, Germany and rest of Axis at war with Soviet Union instead of Allies.
The SS had not a lot of power in 1938. While they controlled most of the federal police and the leadership of state police, the middle management was rather angered by the house cleaning the SS was doing.
Regarding actual military strength the SS had only one division with 28.000 men in 1938. For comparison the Wehrmacht had 35 divisions at the time with better training and equipment.
The Beck conspircacy would be able to take power, but they would need somebody like Göring as a figure head to appease the party.
If Hitler is gone there is no one left except for Himmler who is really interested in a war.
People like Canaris and Ludwig Beck may have been againts Hitler, but they were still fascists. The nazis will stay in power.[/QUOTE]
Canaris and Beck both included social democrats and liberals in their conspiracies and planed to involve them in a new government.
Not entirely true. The German industry didn't switch over to full wartime production until 1941. And without Czechoslovakia they will have to refocus production anyway.
With Hitler removed and the Generals around Beck taking over there will be no one in the reach of power who believes that they could win a war against the French or British. Göring was against a war, as were Keitel, Mannstein, Guderian, Beck, Canaris, Oster and von Pappen.
Not because they were peace loving, but because they believed they couldn't win it yet.
You would see a more reasonable rearment strategy like during the Weimar era. Germany would try to be ready for another war by the 1940s.