America in World War II

[joshbaumgartner]

As a historical student of World War II, I pose the following question:

If in Dec 1941, Germany did not declare war on the US, and the US chose to not join the European war and instead focus on Japan after Pearl Harbor (admittedly both huge IFs), would Germany have been defeated? How would the shape of post-war have been changed, either with a negotiated peace, or with a Soviet crushing of Germany?

[Export]

Interesting question!

I think that the USA did NOT have a choice when it came to fighting Germany. Germany would only have to gain control of Britain's coal resources and build an Armistice with Russia (allowing for oil imports). Once that had happened, and Germany had *successfully* installed a puppet government and Monarchy in Britain, the rest of the Commonwealth would've had to make a choice on whether to accept their 'new' King.

Given that that the logical next step from Britain would be to target the massive Commonwealth training facilities in Canada, I think that America would've negotiated some kind of Treaty or land buy. However, I think that America would only defend her interest in the Pacific and leave Japan to the Russians.

But, then with the Germans having that whole 'White Power' bulls**t going on, I don't think it would've taken long before (get ready for it!) a return to slavery in the South, then gradually crimping the North.

Well, there you go. That's what happens when you get a few cups of coffee into me when my imagination gets away from me!

As a sidenote, I had the privledge to visit the war graves in Normandy. It's well worth the trip!

[joshbaumgartner]

Well, there you go. That's what happens when you get a few cups of coffee into me when my imagination gets away from me!


That's where the best ideas come from!

I have a hard time seeing Germany and Russia reaching armistace after 1941. From Hitler's perspective, he already had that and was able to focus 100% on the UK, but chose to launch war with Stalin. I think after the first winter of that war, the blood was so thick, it would be hard to imagine any kind of settlement, at least not on a return to status quo basis. Maybe if one were utterly at the mercy of the other, but then what is the purpose.

As for Britain, there is a lot more left to question there. Certainly the Battle of Britain was a perilous hour, but most accounts are that overall, Britain was stronger after the Battle than before, the inverse of Germany's situation. I guess though it would hinge on exactly how and what support Britain got from a US that was otherwise occupied.

I do agree that German occupation of England would bring the US inexorably into the European side of it. I would just wonder how Germany would go about seizing Britain in 1942 or later.

Given the historical record, it seems that the US didn't have a direct impact on Germany's war situation until 1943 with the invasion of Italy. 1942 N. African operations were more accelerating what was already pretty much a British victory there. The US being at war did of course increase our support to the UK and USSR, and put the US Navy fully at the disposal of the convoy system in the Atlantic. After US ships were fully unrestricted in excort and sub hunting missions, Germany never had any real impact on the shipping effort. So I suppose that would be helpful for Germany to keep the US out of, but afterall, Britain and her Commonwealth were already close to getting the edge in the Battle of the Atlantic by 1942 anyway.

I guess what if's are always hard to judge.

Josh