World War 2 all over by Christmas 1940 one way or another

What if all of Fighter Command and Bomber Command were committed to the Battle of France? The one real advantage that the Germans had was in air power. The RAF held back most of its air power in case France fell and Britain was left to fight on. What if the RAF chiefs were overruled and Britain went all-in to stop Germans. Can the UK and France win the war in 1940? Do the Germans still win the Battle of France and Britain is left open to invasion?
 
Bomber Command in 1940 were not equipped with the aircraft to do the job. By far the best of the bunch was the Wellington, meanwhile the Whitney and Hampden did't have the bomb load or legs to do the job.
 
1) if it were over that soon, it wouldn't be a World War. But that's a minor quibble.
2) to get the war over by Christmas 1940, you need an earlier PoD, like no Munich agreement. If the Czechoslovaks we're able to seriously resist the Nazis, cutting down their available Panzers and trained troops, and wrecking the Czechoslovak armaments industry, and if Britain and France and the Soviets declare war, then Germany is toast.
 
Britain is not going to be left open for invasion even if the RAF is wiped from the skies. The real threat to any German invasion force is the Royal Navy, and the Kreigsmarine simply isn't winning that fight.

As for how the British would react to a German-dominated Europe intact but unable to project power... well, that's a whole other discussion.
 
The RAF gutted in France (especially pilots/aircrew now POWs not recovered over the UK), and Dunkirk a disaster, good odds the UK accepts an offer if Hitler actually makes a decent one.
 
1) if it were over that soon, it wouldn't be a World War. But that's a minor quibble.

I'd say a couple of hundred thousand dead is more than a minor quibble. I think the idea is a PoD after 1939. So some major powers at war, a total war. Not all over the world, but not a minor quibble. please.
 
@pdf27 's A Blunted Sickle is a good TL where France holds. By Christmas 1941, the Entente/Allies are heading through Germany at speeds limited primarily by how fast they can get petrol to the front.

Sure, you could beat Germany even faster, if EVERYTHING went right, but not a whole year. Not with a PoD after the German attack on Poland.
Not ASB, I suppose, but astronomically improbable.
 
Top