WI: The Nazis commit multiple regicides during WW2

[NedStark]

Let's say ITTL they kill numerous monarches and their relatives in Western Europe (Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark) either intentionally (e.g. execution) or accidentally (e.g. shooting/bombing).

On top of that, they also manage to bomb the British Royal Family during TTL Battle of Britain (and then openly celebrate this event).

What would happen next?

(Assume that the OTL crimes of the Nazis would still occur ITTL)

 

[Colonel Zoidberg]

They’d look like even bigger assholes than OTL, which is saying something since they’re monumental assholes already. That and there would be a few restored monarchies and more republics, and most likely there would be not a whole lot of practical change.

Also, the drummer for Metallica wouldn’t be a knight.

 

[Yankeewolf]

There's a reason this didn't happen in OTL. Because its stupid and needlessly antagonizes the occupied population, especially if they're Germanic and thus a population block that you want to keep on side.

 

[Aghasverov]

I'll echo the previous comments in saying that the Nazis would be highly unlikely to do this... however, there were several dethroned monarchs, of the various Kingdoms, Duchies, etc of the old German Empire, who were either tacitly or actively anti-Nazi. A few of those could've been killed off, with few repercussions (particularly after July 1944), but technically wouldn't be considered a regicide I suppose...
Several were imprisoned...

 

[Father Maryland]

Honestly if during the Italian a t tempt to Switch sides the Germans openly off the Italian King ( while some of the other in the line of successes/ one or more of his Kids make it to allied controlled territory that might end up building enough popular sui⁷⁷⅞⁶pport for the Italian Monarchy to survive the post war Referendum. Might also swing some of the Italian troops that were on the Fence more firmly in the period where the Italians tried to switch sides.

 

[Clandango]

Might not work with the Italian one. Apparently the Royals May have left the capital and waited until they were safe before actually switching sides, leaving their own government a bit off balance and unprepared for when the Germans then swept in. We can have all the killings and such be in secret, right? Just lock them up with the other former heads of state and government. Though say goodbye to collaboration from a good deal of the civil service. The Nazis are going to need to bring inntheir own troops to police Denmark and run everything.

 

[ChadMachine999]

Perhapse Royal families mkae monitary donations to resistence groups, and the Nazis find out. This could cause them to kill Royals. After finding out about this, some racial theorists argue that aristocrats are crypto-Jews.

 

[Polish Eagle]

What about the Hapsburgs? IOTL, Otto was sentenced to death, and his less-important cousins spent much of the war in camps. One archduke, Karl Albrecht, declared Polish nationality and spent the war in a labor camp. WI Otto is captured during the fall of France in 1940, and the Nazis cull every Hapsburg they get their hands on?

 

[Lalli]

Why nazis would begin kill royal families in first place? It would be pointless and stupid even for nazis. It would make conquered population even lesser sympahtic with nazis and even Prussian nobility and former German royals bwould begin suspect nazis. Expect early Operation Valkyrie.

And would nazis even be able to kill all monarchs? Many royal families were evacuated before Germans captured theri capital. I think that only Danish and Belgian royal families were on hands of Germans if you don't count foruer German royals.

And if it is clear that nazis hate royals as much as Jews, British royal family would be evacuated from London ASAP.. And if Danish royal family is killed already after occupation of Denmark, other royal families would are quickly evacuated fucking far from Germany. And probably at this point there would be strong opposition against nazi regime.

 

[czareason]

The Nazis would now also be a group that tried to destroy European traditions. Franco and even Mussolini would condemn them. Monarchism would rebound post war. In the years of 1945, and 1989-92, there would be several royal restorations. 1945 would be the Western European ones, while 1989-92 would be the Eastern European ones.

 

[Resurgam]

I struggle to see what the Nazis would gain from what would be the equivalent of knocking down the Statue of Liberty or St. Paul's for some European societies.

 

[Fatt Shea]

Let's say ITTL they kill numerous monarches and their relatives in Western Europe (Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark) either intentionally (e.g. execution) or accidentally (e.g. shooting/bombing).

On top of that, they also manage to bomb the British Royal Family during TTL Battle of Britain (and then openly celebrate this event).

What would happen next?

(Assume that the OTL crimes of the Nazis would still occur ITTL)

Monarchism will be more popular in Europe, maybe the Bulgarian, Romanian or Portuguese monarchs could be restored

 

[Major Major]

The Führer didn't think much of the monarchs:

That Kirdorf was too pessimistic in his assessment of our people is shown by the fact that the ex-monarchs and the members of the former ruling houses have been completely forgotten by the nation even during their lifetime. Who cares a rap, for instance, for Rupprecht of Bavaria! Kingship posessses but little wisdom, and the boundary between the throne and the mad-house is a slender one.

If we can succeed in getting rid of the King of Belgium by giving him a pension of half a million or so and thus ensuring for him a gilded exile, I for one shall be heartily thankful. In Holland, thank goodness, things are much easier, for in Prince von Lippe-Biesterfeld we have an absolute imbecile oaf on the throne. When, before his marriage, he came to pay me a farewell visit, he cringed and scraped like a gigolo. A couple of days later he declared in the Dutch press that in his heart he had always felt himself a Dutchman!

The late Prince Consort of Queen Wilhelmina was also a typical royal idiot. He even had the impertinence to approach me, shortly after our assumption of power, for a loan of seven and a half million guilders, in return for his assurance that he would then do all in his power to increase German influence in Holland!

-- Hitler's Table Talk, 24th July, 1942​

 

[A Piece of History]

I'll echo the previous comments in saying that the Nazis would be highly unlikely to do this... however, there were several dethroned monarchs, of the various Kingdoms, Duchies, etc of the old German Empire, who were either tacitly or actively anti-Nazi. A few of those could've been killed off, with few repercussions (particularly after July 1944), but technically wouldn't be considered a regicide I suppose...
Several were imprisoned...

There is a theory that Hitler may've had a hand in the mysterious death of Bulgarian Tsar Boris III, who had been persistently blocking Nazi attempts to exterminate Bulgaria's Jews. I say 'theory' because it was suspected he had been poisoned, but the Bulgarian royal family refused any kind of autopsy.

 

[NedStark]

Monarchism will be more popular in Europe, maybe the Bulgarian, Romanian or Portuguese monarchs could be restored

Re Bulgaria and Romania, the USSR says hello.

 

[HJ Tulp]

The Germans accidentally killing the Dutch Royal family is easy to see, given that the German paratroopers landing around The Hague in 1940 did so with the intend of capturing them. Things could turn really ugly really fast if they are a bit more - but not totally - successful.

 

[Sarthak]

Re Bulgaria and Romania, the USSR says hello.

that's not a foregone conclusion actually. Stalin did contemplate keeping the monarchies as ceremonial heads around but with pro-soviet governments much like Afghanistan at the time which was a monarchy but had a distinct pro-soviet feel to it, with the only addition stalin preferring at the time being an official alliance. With multiple regicides going on, it may be enough to sway Stalin.

 

[Cockroach]

Plausibly, as mentioned above Otto von Habsburg was sentenced to death in absentia. An obvious additional candidate is Rupprecht, Crown Prince of Bavaria who was hostile to the Nazis IOTL. Though, one could argue as they weren't reigning monarchs they don't count.

During the Norwegian campaign there's two occasions when Haakon VII could have been killed by the Germans... April 11 the Germans heavily bombed the town of Nybergsund while the Norwegian king and government were in residence after retreating from Oslo, and then when evacuating aboard HMS Devonshire which passed within 50 miles of S&G while the Germans ships were sinking HMS Glorious...

 

[Fatt Shea]

Re Bulgaria and Romania, the USSR says hello.

I meant after

 

[czareason]

Monarchism will be more popular in Europe, maybe the Bulgarian, Romanian or Portuguese monarchs could be restored

If Germany did this republicanism in the Old world would take a major hit. All of Germany allies would turn on them including Japan. Hitler would need new allies. I could see Germany allying with the USSR, leading Fascist to turn against it. If Japan switches sides, China may switch also. So the war would be mostly Royalist-Fascist Allies v. Republican Socialist Axis. The USA probably stays out of it.