Invasion of South America

After Germany seized the French colonies in Africa, WHY didn't they try to invade the pro-Allies south america? This could have led Germany to conquer a relitivly undefended contenant. I think it would have let Germany win WW2. If they would have done this soon after 1940 (before they declared war on America) it would have given them a stragic position next to America. What do you think? Personally I think they could have done this if they would have put Barbrossa aside fore two or three years.

 

Didn´t the Vichy France army take care of the colonies and not the Germans?

I do think that the Germans did not have enough men/personnel to make such big jumps over the oceans to rule such big areas. Besides the Royal Navy was on guard everywhere.

 

Perhaps they realized that FDR would almost certainly invoke the Monroe Doctrine.

 

There is a definite problem with this, because Germany lacked the amphibious landing craft to carry out major landings, which is why the German troops who landed in Narvik 1940, landed in battleships, and destroyers. Germany additionally did not have the Luftwaffe who was focused on Norway and maintaing their newly acquired territory.

 

Hey there SV and welcome to the forums. As inadequate as the US Neutrality Patrol was, it was certainly more powerful en masse then what the Germans could have hoped to muster in an invasion effort with its supplies longs stretched that long. Had the Germans had the type of seagoing capability necessary for an invasion of South America it is my belief that Hitler would have gone after Great Britain in an actual invasion long before South America.

 

The Germans would not have had to invade anything to do alot of damage to the allied war effort. The Graf Spae could have shelled much or all of the Panamal Canal and destroyed the locks. I don't think in the 1939-40 time frame it was defended very well at all. Of course that would have put the US in the war earlier but just by a year, and the armed forces were still weak then.

I think it is an interesting "What if".

 

Ah,hahahahahahahahah.....!!!! The Graf Spee would have been summarly sunk in a attack. Getting close enought to attack the inland lock system (the only real target) requires Graf Spee to close well within not only the modern 16" gun defenses but the older Endicott system and well within range of the 12" and 16" mortar batteries she cannot even fire back at.
As far as the Germans invading South America, they couldn't even muster up a useful seaborne invasion of Crete, England, Malta, etc. How are they going to manage a trans-atlantic invasion of anything?
While I enjoy speculative history, at least try and keep it in the realm of the possible.

 

OK laughing heinia, they said bombing Pearl Harbor was not in the realm of possible either.

By the way you won the last quiz question.

 

Pearl Harbor was a potential target and the US knew it. Hence the heavy coastal defenses, large contengent of aircraft, etc. Just because the US (and the Army in specific) didn't do a particularly good job defending Pearl when the Japanese did strike does not change the fact the US was aware of the possibility.
And, there is a quiz question up. I made it especially obscure just for you

 

Where are these quizes?