Greenville
Banned
What if the western Allies are able to open a second front along France a year earlier than OTL?
Alternatively, since Greenville has left things pretty open ended, in a better world you would see the North Africa campaign being taken care of much sooner than in our timeline. Now whether that would then translates to an earlier invasion of French North Africa and Italy, missing those out, nullifying them via diplomatic means, invading Sicily but stopping there, or something else who's to say?Had it been achieved in 1942 then the US may very well have pushed for a 1943 cross channel invasion at the expense or degradation of any further adventures in the Med/North Africa.
Can't happen without foregoing the Pacific offensives, which was politically impossible.I believe Greenville is referring to an invasion of France in 1943, in addition to the Italian front.
Can't happen without foregoing the Pacific offensives....
To invade both France and Italy in the same year? Yeah, all of them. 1942 Guadalcanal would probably be the only operation that can happen until France is decided one way or the other.Which Pacific offensives, all of them?
Which Pacific offensives, all of them?
... Germans still had most of their air power. ....
To invade both France and Italy in the same year? Yeah, all of them. 1942 Guadalcanal would probably be the only operation that can happen until France is decided one way or the other.
I appreciate that politically it will be difficult but the US did push for a cross channel invasion in 43 it was Churchill who demurred and instead looked to the extremities!
If the conditions are more 'favourable' by mid 1942 Churchill will find it more difficult to refuse a 1943 Overlord.
To launch an attack on France in 1943 we need to ship more than 1.5 million American troops to Britain (Plus aircraft, tanks, Canadians etc) in less than 18 months. That is an average of about 90,000 per month (historically 20,000 was all that could be sent per month in 1942).
How much was this figure limited by available shipping, how much limited by the War in Atlantic and how much by available trained men?
My instinct says that all three needed to be overcome before a proper build up could start but I have nothing to support that. Any body have any figures to help?
I meant the American public would not tolerate the inaction in the Pacific.I'm okay with that - open up the 2nd front in 1943 and Germany is finished in 1944 - Italy can wait as it cannot oppose the Wallies on its own, can be contained once kicked out of Africa and might very well seek terms even without an Invasion of Sicily and subsequent invasion of mainland Italy!
Once Germany is finished in mid/late 44 - a staggering amount of equipment and manpower can be sent to the Far East - actually earlier than OTL
I appreciate that politically it will be difficult but the US did push for a cross channel invasion in 43 it was Churchill who demurred and instead looked to the extremities!
If the conditions are more 'favourable' by mid 1942 Churchill will find it more difficult to refuse a 1943 Overlord.