World Politics Post-"Unthinkable"-esque scenario?

Suppose, after the defeat of Germany, some sort of WWIII occurs with a Western Allied victory a la Conroy's "Red Inferno: 1945" or some similar situation. With the main opponent to the Western world gone, what is the world situation like in the years to come?

I'm not looking for a PoD so much as ramifications. Nukes may or may not be used.
 
I think it would have a lot of effects

Bad Things:
-no UN
-USA returns to isolationism with no threat abroad (USSR is dead) as well as anger that we got dragged into a third world war with no material gain
-Western Europe even more worn out; colonies still get independence
-no Marshall Plan

Good Things:
-USSR less of a role model, leading to better economic policies in countries like India
-China avoids Mao, saving millions
-no Cold War, so no proxy wars; the CIA will not be overthrowing leaders which makes the world more stable, and no Iranian Revolution

Basically, Europe (East and West) is worse off, Third World is better off, and the USA better in some ways (no Vietnam, less anti-Americanism, less military expenditure) and worse in others (millions more Americans are dead).
 
Last edited:
I think it would have a lot of effects

Bad Things:
-no UN
-USA returns to isolationism with no threat abroad (USSR is dead) as well as anger that we got dragged into a third world war with no material gain
-Western Europe even more worn out; colonies still get independence
-no Marshall Plan

Good Things:
-USSR less of a role model, leading to better economic policies in countries like India
-China avoids Mao, saving millions
-no Cold War, so no proxy wars; the CIA will not be overthrowing leaders which makes the world more stable, and no Iranian Revolution

Basically, Europe (East and West) is worse off, Third World is better off, and the USA better in some ways (no Vietnam, less anti-Americanism, less military expenditure) and worse in others (millions more Americans are dead).

I do not think that Europe would be worse off. It would depend on how long this WWIII would last. Europe would certainly be a battleground and the US would need the support of its allies and former enemies. An argument could be made that there would be even more economic support for Europe so they can afford another war.
I agree however that relatively speaking the third world might be better off but still poorer than Europe/North America.
And a lot would depend on what happens after WWIII in Russia.
With no middle class and no history in democracy, will the aristocrats take over, are the communists still on power, does the whole country collaps in smaller ethnic states waging war against each other? I could even see a return of fascism.
Europe might be busy for a long time to sort this mess out, as it is in their front yard. A stronger EU might be the answer.
 
Last edited:
Big question ... who on the European side would be executing the war?

Britain for definite but would the French join in or would they be more interested in rebuilding their own country. I see the Germans being more inclined to fight and the Poles as it would be their their countries most affected but would an alliance with Germany be acceptable? What of some of the other Eastern European states? How would Italy see things? What of the Skandinavian countries, I see Finland getting it's hands dirty but what of Norway?

Are the soviets capable of maintaining their supply lines once the lend lease trucks stop arriving as a high proportion of their armies were reliant on American supplied transports and I'm not sure they had the productions lines set up to build their own in sufficient numbers at this time?

What of the Middle East and the oil supplies that the Soviets were utilising ... would this be a key battleground, Iran, Iraq and up into the Caucusus?
 
On the german side - I would not count on us. Several reasons

Many POWs in Russian custody
Germans might feel betrayed : we told you for 4 years that we don't want to fight you, we wanted to fight(and did) Communism - first you beat us and now you want that we join YOU to do the thing we did for 4 years WITHOUT YOUR welp - even against your resistance. - Brit/Ami/whatever go home...
Germany is in no shape to wage war with own equipment

There might be some Germans (ex SS) which might join because of ideology or in exchange for a "clean" shirt...

But this would drain the French Legion of much future members (IIRC many ex SS fought in the FFL in Vientnam)
 
Its wrong to Assume the SU is dead .. Su will strtch to the Atlantic coast is the more likely outcome...
Given that the USSR will not have nukes until 1948 at best and the US already has some and can speed up their production more, was running on fumes and American supplies (food, clothing and gas) by 1945 and has bad logistics into the region, they aren't getting past the Rhine without serious handwaving and ignoring logistics problems
 
Part of the question depends a lot how the war starts. If the west attacks the ussr, theres going to be a huge pr problem, in the west, and the soviets will be motivated. If the soviets attack, then its the other way around.

Mind you, neither side was stupid enough to start it, so its hard to tell.

The only realistic way i see that war happening is accidental friendly fire getting out of hand, and escalating. Which probably lets both sides spin it as 'the other guy started it', quite possibly actually believing it.
 
Top