Lets's say Hitler dies in an airplane crash in June 1942, how is the war different?

I've been waiting for someone to ask this. Whoa. That's a good one! Might take some time.....

Hmmmmm i'm no expert on this at all but i figure i'd give it a shot....
First of all it is 1942...and Hermann Goering is Hitlers #2 man presently. Being rather early in the war Goering still holds much power...so thus i think that Goering would take power. I think that at this time the war is going well enough so that a cou would not happen.
From then on whatever military decisions were made they would have been made by him not hitler of course...so some blunders would have been avoided...but new one's could have easily taken place. (Look at how Goering handled the Battle of Britian)
I think that it was early enough in the war that Goerring would have come to power...and being that he had somewhat of the same philosophies as hitler...the war would go on as before.
However i could see people being less loyal to him...and that as soon as things got really bad...I could see him having more enemies and chances on his life...
If he made it as far as when the allies liberate paris...then i could see him surrendering before an attack on Berlin (since he surrendered to the americans) Maybe he would try and make peace with the west.
Other than that i dunno...there is so much to speculate and so many different variables could take place...but an interesting topic to rake the brain with!

I don't believe that Goerring would have taken over had Hitler died. The wehrmacht would have had much to say. Although the National Socialists where very heirarchal in nature, Goerring was too much into his nature preserves and chocolates to win the position of Fuhrer! There would have been much in-fighting, political positioning, and assasinations going on. The war would slow, a peace with the Western powers would have been reached, and Russia would have been put out of the war.

Tiger, I agree with you about Goering not succeeding Hitler, I tend to think that one of the military's more ambitious generals would take over. I also think that with Hitler out of the way Germany might very well have won the war, especially if someone like Navy commander Raeder took control. But they would have to win it before mid 1945. With a prolonged war the Allies would use their A-bomb and finish things off.

Well i thought Goerring was the most logical choice...whoever took over power from Hitler would not have ended the war or at least i DOUBT it...not in 1942...maybe in other years but not in 1942.
If it was someone else the war would have gone differently good or bad. However...Germany would have never defeated Russia. It is possible but doubtful the Germans could have won the war for the atlantic with the US on the scene.
1. think that "someone" would take over and take control of the war.
2. Maybe they would have had more common sense to lay down their arms later in the war.
3. The germans would still have been defeated...time would only be relative.

I have seen the physcological anylsis of Goering he wasn't capable of being a leader, he loved being appreciated by his leaders he was a second in charge and could do nothing more.

some more likely choices are
-Himmler
-Hess (if he was around)
-Keitel
-Most likely a group of German officers, led by someone like General Beck. Including Rommel and the large number of German officers ostracised from Hitlers inner circle would have most likely gained power and had a trimative or something.

------------------
Out side is America!

You're forgetting how much Jolly Herman loved titles and prestige, not to mention that he was probably the second most popular man in nazi Germany. Also, he was at least ex-military, and NOT SS, which I believe would have won him the support of the Wermacht. Remember, this is the same Wermacht that couldn't bring itself to try to rid the country of Hitler until '44 when it was a) WAY obvious that the man's ideas were those of a lunatic, and b) WAY too late to have an effect on Germany's fate. These guys were just not into political activism.
They would most likely have followed whomever the political process put in power, and as of '42, the designated successor was that floating fatman himself!!!
AS for the war...
Russia was already engaged, with no end in sight, as the number of Crazy Ivans available appeared nigh-infinite. No reason to believe that the death of AH would've placated them after word of what the Einsatzgruppen were up to filtered back.
Plus, Uncle Joe wanted his own hunk 'o 'lebensraum' in Europe.
Plus, it was too late to try to befriend all those Ukrainians & Western Russians who would've served the cause of overthrowing communism.
The west is a tougher call, because of the anti-hitler sentiment which appeared to flavor the political stances of Britain & the US. Without a withdrawal from France & at least the pretense of an offer of peace with Russia, I don't see how further Hostilities could be avoided.
I surely DON'T believe that Herman Goering was capable of leading Germany through such a complex series of conundrums (conundra?)
I can't say whether or not he had the sense to let those among the German heirarchy who MIGHT have free reign to try...



------------------
Killjoy

I think if Hitler was killed, I think Von Manstein, or someone like him would have taken over. I dont think there would have been so many murders-Manstein for sure, wouldnt have let it happen. I think he would have found a way to have Himmler disgraced, and possibly-shot!

In 1942, the Third Reich was at it's climax. Hitler led the way to conquer Europe and the Army followed. At this time, I don't think the Army would have placed a replacement. They would have stood aside as Goering, Himmler and Bormann fought it out. It Hitler died after 1943, Then I think the Army would have interceded and forced a replacement of their choosing.

------------------
Tschuss

Perish the thought had Bormann become the next Fuhrer. Germany wouldn't stand still for Bormann to lead the country. I do know, that the higher-ups hated his guts as did Generals and Admirals. He was one of the most hated back stabbers, in Germany. Von Stauffenburg could have been better employed, in a plan to assassinate Bormann.

I dont know if the man was a coward or not but, he certainly was a Weasel.

By 1942, the decisions which lost Germany the war had almost all already been made...
A war without forseeable was in progress with Russia....
The USA was already at war with Germany....
The weapons development ban enacted by Hitler was already robbing Germany of whatever technological edge she possesed at the outset of the war....
Nazi mismanagement of every facet of the Greater German Reich was already rampant...
Getting rid of Hitler would have been merely the first step necessary in a campaign of sweeping reforms which his successors could only HOPE might save Germany from the disastrous defeat which lay ahead... IF they were capable of charting such a course, and I do not believe any of the likely successors to Hitler were remotely capable of doing so.



------------------
Novus Ordo Seclorum

do you think that at this time in the war Hitler had THAT much opposition? At this point the war still wasn't going THAT bad for germany?

As far as opposition against Hitler. Its been printed and on some documentaries, that Hitlers military opposition started before 1938 and most likely from the very beginning.

Then there were several assassination attempts, one missed succeding by Hitler being delayed for some reason, before a planned rally. I don't remember what year that was but i think it was 1-2 yrs before he invaded Poland.