Quote:
Originally Posted by plbogen
The British have historically been primarily concerned with keeping their trade in Belgium and the Netherlands (and from there the rest of the continent) open and free. If the German's didn't need to invade France, they wouldn't need to go through the Benelux countries. And the UK wouldn't get as involved either with German focus in the East. The 1939-1940 phony war would have continues until either Churchill was ousted in an election or the British could Muster a landing. Probably in Lower Saxony. Hamburg would be a good place to start since the town was very red and suffered greatly under the Nazis.
|
Churchill did not become Prime Minister until the late Spring of 1940. Neville Chamberlain held that post until the Norway debacle. In April he was physically & mentally exhausted and steped aside at the request of the key leaders of Britian. Churchill quickly won the struggle for leadership and was appointed PM just as things were going down the drain in the west.
In this scenario it is not certain Germany will beat Britian in a invasion of Norway, or that Norway would even become a battlefield in te spring of 1940. So while Chamberlains personal and political strength was fading its not certain Churchill would replace him. There were others who would have had a better shot at the PM were there no crisis.
Quote:
Originally Posted by plbogen
More interestingly, with the French and British firmly in control of North Africa where would the Italians focus their Imperial ambitions? Turkey? Morrocco? Arabia? Or would the Italians still try for the Suez?
|
My best guess is Mussolini might try a shot at a war with Yugoslavia or Greece while the other players were distracted. The Italian military had long prepared for a limited war with Yugoslavia to gain some border territory Italy claimed ect... France and Britian, although not Allies in this scenario would still see keeping the Italian nuetral and quiet as desireable, so they would seperately be pressuring and bribing Italy to keep its army at home and not to sell the Germans anything of military value. Italys best course would be to keep its military at home and sell the Germans all they could for cash. But, that was not Mussolinis style.