It is 1942. You're commander of the Axis. What would you do?

You have maximum military control of Germany, Japan and Italy in the Spring of 1942.*
Knowing what you know today, what would be your orders?
Where would you allocate resources? What projects would you fund? Where would you move troops?

Conditions: No science fiction: Nazy moon bats etc. Also, you must operate within the boundaries of the time. For example if your command is to create 10 aircraft carriers, you must explain where and how you are getting the fuel to do so.

I encourage others to point out what the allies would do to counter such actions.

Your goal is at the very least to form a situation where the Axis can sue for peace on favorable terms.

*All historical events up to the Spring of 1942 are as real history.

 

Surrender or shoot myself.
There ya go , war is over.

 

ugh. I thought you guys enjoyed talking about this stuff.

I was trying to spark discussion on strategies or resource management that could have been more effectively employed at the time.

 

No need for a dull PoW camp, or suicide, when embezzlement's always good.
So much light to heavy corruption in Nazi Germany, pick a nice currency, or Gold - can't go wrong with a bit of Gold - and get yourself & the missus somewhere Neutral - & preferably hot.
Maybe come back and serve in the Bundeswehr when the heat's died down, as long as your hands stayed relatively clean in the East (but hey! NATO feels a bit different about the USSR, so fingers crossed there anyway).


(Oh, and collect lots of military hats before you leave - trust me about the hats, they can be your retirement fund.)

 

Another what if?

Try to convince Stalin that it was all a big misunderstanding, we were just kidding around. Can we be friends again?

 

Allowing the 6th Army to attempt a breakout of Stalingrad. Or just strength the north and south flanks.
I would also have Japan go into the SU from the east.

 

This subject was entertaining the first 10 times it was discussed. You might get a better response from the folks over at www.ww2talk.com they love these "What if? " types of discussions.

 

:lol:

 

I think the 11th time can be just as entertaining.

 

No....generally times 11 through 100 are just met with snickers and ridicule; which, more often than not, results in hurt feelings and lowered self esteem. I would just walk away from this while you still feel good about yourself.

 

I'd rather shoot my supreme commander(and some of his buddies).

 

Well excuse me for posting a What-if question in the what-if section of a World War 2 forum. If that is your attitude why even come here? Most the stuff on here has all been discussed before anyway. >.>

 

I think that statement was said in a tongue in cheek kind of way.

 

With the benefit of hindsight, perhaps the German forces could have halted and signed a deal with Stalin to withdraw back to the Russian border, keeping the Baltic states, Ukraine and Belarus. Stalin might well have signed off on such a deal in the Spring of 42, with German armies rolling across much of Western Russia.

The Pacific? Write it off.

You're back to a one front war with the bulk of your forces ready to counter the western allies.

 

I never read anything tongue cheek I always hear a grumpy voice with comments lol.

I think Germany could have gotten Stalin to come to the table before Russia could turn things around. I'd try to make a deal were su pays so much in fuel each year and we stop our advance.

 

Or simply pay for it with food from the Ukraine.

 

Actually, I disagree.

In this Japan is in a much better position than Germany to make meaningful changes. In the spring of 1942 (March-April) Japan has been at war for less than 6 months and so far has not suffered a serious reverse of irreplaceable loss in battle. There is just enough time to cure herself from "victory disease". Japan had started the war with a somewhat more realistic conception of victory, at least compared to Nazi Germany who expected her enemies to either bow down before them or give up without much of a struggle. They had originally expected something of a long war and needed to get back to that kind of thinking.

First I would keep the Kido Butai (Japan's Carrier Air Fleet) together in a mailed fist and used only as a combined group in any engagement where contact with major enemy units are possible, just not expected. Japan has a advantage here until the new Essex class carriers begin to deploy (1943).

Second I would look to expanding Japan's pilot development program. Pull some veteran pilots out of combat units to help train the next generation and keep as much of a rotation system to prevent burn out of aircrews. In a related area I would rationalize her aircraft production effort. Concentrate on fewer effective types and eliminate the tendency of each service demanding the "perfect" airframe for every job. The Army and Navy producing their own different aircraft's to act as land based fighters is a luxury they can't afford. The aircraft that they are producing need to be upgraded as much as possible in the area of pilot safety (heavier weapons, armor and self sealing fuel tanks), pilots are to hard to replace.

Third I would look to protecting my lines of communication. Look at what Germany is trying to do to Britain and plan on the US attempting the same on Japan. Well protected convoys as soon as possible. I would reverse the favor by retasking Japans submarines to commerce raiding to slow America's drive across the Pacific.

Will not win the war, but bring her closer to a point where the Allies might consider some kind of negotiated peace short of unconditional surrender.

 

Oh sweet simple Belasar......Peace with the US was off the table by supper time on December 7th.

The only logical move for Japan would be to not attack Pearl Harbor and seek neutrality to keep the US from declaring war on the Axis. That would allow the US Lend Lease to not be mired down by the need to build up our own military. The Western Lend Lease Route through Vladivostock would be unmolested. By 1943 B-29s would be flying out of England, Phillipines, and Kiev. The development of the Atom bomb would be accelerated. Berlin and Tokyo would be the target for Fat Man and Little boy. The war is over by June 1944. A power hungry Stalin does not rest on his laurels. Soviet domination of the entire world by 1950.

 

Must agree, Japan had gotten itself in an impossible situation (with a lot of help by FDR) , IMO the last chance for the axis was in late 1941, before PH, a separate peace with the USSR could have forced FDR into either sit the war out, or having to deal with weak support, after US entry the war was militarily unwinnable, and a favourable peace very hard to get.
Only "possible" plan in 1942 is to hope for war weariness to get the USA out of the war, so for Germany settles with Stalin, get rid of the Nazi, (in which order depends from opportunity but a change of leadership is required for the peace offensive" to succeed), send all you can supply to NA, and build and improve U-Boats. For Japan push as historically done, keep the Kido Butai concentrated and organize effective convoys, this will prevent an allied naval counteroffensive until the Essex are ready and by then US internal support may be dwindling due to lack of any significant victory. Britain alone cannot win, while the axis, though unable to invade the British Isles may deal a significant and possibly fatal blow to the empire by diminishing British prestige.

But it's a very small hope, the axis had to win by 1942 or they were lost.