What if Hitler, instead of invading, says he will keep them independent provided they allow certain amount of resources to go through their ports like in WWI or Sweden in WWII?
While this won't be decisive, it could help alleviate supply issues and thus make the war longer.
Hitler and the Nazis did see the Dutch as Aryans (like they did the Swedes) so a Swedish-like relationship is possible, so long as the initial invasion of France is still effective in making a quick French surrender (main question of this WI). Even if there are more casualties, would it be possible/likely to have the same vicotry without the invasion of the Netherlands?
The main issue brought up in past similar threads, is that without the attack on the Netherlands, than Fall Gelb looks like Schlieffen 2.0. Would the additional paratroopers and aircraft be enough to reduce this redundancy?
Also, could the allies be even more lulled by this repetition? Or would the simple reality of distance mean that the French could retreat back quick enough once they realized their mistake in the Ardennes?
Would we see a later Yugoslav-style campaign with the Netherlands as Hitler needs to "mop-up"? Or would Churchill or the allies consider invading a neutral Holland to go to Germany?
Thoughts?
While this won't be decisive, it could help alleviate supply issues and thus make the war longer.
Hitler and the Nazis did see the Dutch as Aryans (like they did the Swedes) so a Swedish-like relationship is possible, so long as the initial invasion of France is still effective in making a quick French surrender (main question of this WI). Even if there are more casualties, would it be possible/likely to have the same vicotry without the invasion of the Netherlands?
The main issue brought up in past similar threads, is that without the attack on the Netherlands, than Fall Gelb looks like Schlieffen 2.0. Would the additional paratroopers and aircraft be enough to reduce this redundancy?
Also, could the allies be even more lulled by this repetition? Or would the simple reality of distance mean that the French could retreat back quick enough once they realized their mistake in the Ardennes?
Would we see a later Yugoslav-style campaign with the Netherlands as Hitler needs to "mop-up"? Or would Churchill or the allies consider invading a neutral Holland to go to Germany?
Thoughts?