Post by Diarist on Jan 9, 2017 1:30:36 GMT 1
At then end of 1935 I would like to make a few comments. There a few very noticeable differences to real history, especially in Italy's case, but for Germany, Russia and Japan events are proceeding as normal. The war against Italy could have been fought and could have been won. All of Italy's battleships were in refit, there was a lack of fuel so most of the fleet was in port. They had sent most of the good army and air force to Africa so in my opinion a surprise attack into Piedmont would have worked. That brings me to the second major difference.
Winston was at the helm of the British Armed Forces 5 years ahead of the real world. That is a huge difference. The things he initiated in 1940 are now being started in 1935. His support for the fictitious TRADOC, the third major difference, has given the allied war effort a huge boost and the trench-warfare school has much less influence. Even the cavalry school has been told that armour is not cavalry.
As for France the early alliance with Britain and the victory in the war against Italy has greatly diminished the Popular Front's power and Édouard Daladier is now the Prime Minister and Defence Minister. He has however still inherited the imbalance caused by too much investment in the Maginot Line and a neglected Army and Air Force. Even with a better prepared Britain they will have problems in a France 1940 scenario.
That brings me to Germany. The only real difference is Hitler's second failure in Austria but even without this second failure I believe that Hitler would have been toppled if France had responded vigorously during the Rhineland crisis. We missed a great opportunity there.
What will happen in 1936? An eventful year in real history. The Abyssinian war was still being fought, King George V dies in January and then there is the Middle East and Spain. The alternate 1936 will have its moments too but no final decision has been made yet. You can look forward to the Spitfire and the Mosquito flying also the keels of an early Essex-Class aircraft-carrier being laid in the US and the UK.
Isn't it wonderful to have hindsight...
Finally I wish everybody a Happy New 1936!
Winston was at the helm of the British Armed Forces 5 years ahead of the real world. That is a huge difference. The things he initiated in 1940 are now being started in 1935. His support for the fictitious TRADOC, the third major difference, has given the allied war effort a huge boost and the trench-warfare school has much less influence. Even the cavalry school has been told that armour is not cavalry.
As for France the early alliance with Britain and the victory in the war against Italy has greatly diminished the Popular Front's power and Édouard Daladier is now the Prime Minister and Defence Minister. He has however still inherited the imbalance caused by too much investment in the Maginot Line and a neglected Army and Air Force. Even with a better prepared Britain they will have problems in a France 1940 scenario.
That brings me to Germany. The only real difference is Hitler's second failure in Austria but even without this second failure I believe that Hitler would have been toppled if France had responded vigorously during the Rhineland crisis. We missed a great opportunity there.
What will happen in 1936? An eventful year in real history. The Abyssinian war was still being fought, King George V dies in January and then there is the Middle East and Spain. The alternate 1936 will have its moments too but no final decision has been made yet. You can look forward to the Spitfire and the Mosquito flying also the keels of an early Essex-Class aircraft-carrier being laid in the US and the UK.
Isn't it wonderful to have hindsight...
Finally I wish everybody a Happy New 1936!