This might be a little off our usual topics, but I hope none of you'll mind terrible much. After some What If discussions on the http://www.alternatehistory.net/discussion/ I started to think about Hermann Göring, his position in The Third Reich and his influence on WW2! As we all know, Hermann Göring played an essential role in bringing Adolf Hitler and the NSDAP to power. Ironically he is also one of two people, Hitler being the other, who indirectly brought about the downfall of the Nazi regime as he mismanaged Lufwaffe, stole everything that wasn’t bolted down, played destructive political games, did drugs and what not…. Now, what would happen if we remove Göring in late 1935, say, december 20th?! It’s late enough to ensure that Hitler is in power and has a relative stable hold on Germany and the Wehrmacht, but not to late for a lot of things to change! Who would lead the Luftwaffe? Who would be Reichs Luftminister? I btw can’t see the two positions going to the same man again. Who would be President of the Richstag? Ministerpresident of Prussia? Take charge of the Four Year plan? What would happen to the Gestapo? Would they still end up as part of the SS with nearly no restrictions on their use of power? My view is that politically and militarily history would more or less run its course up to and most likely including the annexation of Czechoslowakia in the grander scheme of things. Then the Air war would probably change things as Dunkerque, Norway(?) and the following BoB would play out differently - probably in the Germans favour! Any comments or ideas? I have most of a ATL fleshed out, but would like some comments from you Guys! Best regards! - Mr.Bluenote.
Hard to say. Erhard Milch most likely, or maybe Ernst Udet. Or perhaps even Wolfram von Richthofen because of his relations to the "Red Baron" ( not very likely though, he was a bit too young in 1935 ). The mismanagement of the Luftwaffe wouldn´t have been so grave with Milch at the controls, but one has to remember that it was a common sentiment in Germany well into the war that this was going to be a short war. You can´t blame Göring for the failure of developing replacements to their combat aircraft before they became obsolete. Neither was he the only one who didn´t see any need for long range bombers.
I have the idea that Wever would become new head of the Luftwaffe, as Göring's death just might butterfly his death away, and Milch would lead the civilian part of the German aviation bureaucracy. I sometimes find these WI's very enlightening as one have to look at a given time frame or people from other angles than usual. Did the German actually have the resources to build a balanced air force? Or would the lack of Der Dickes political power force the Luftwaffe into some serious cost cutting? How would the political environment of The Third Reich change with Göring being dead and all? I'm taking the liberty of posting part I of my little ATL here, and I hope you guys will give it a look and make some comments! Best regards! - B.
The Death of Göring and the Victory of the Luftwaffe, part I I can’t complain I’ve made myself a name I have watched the cities riot I have seen nations fall And I have denied my God While you misled us all - Pretty Maids, Snake in Eden. I can’t complain I’ve made myself a name And all I really want is five minuttes of fame Some material wealth and a life in good health Cos all I really care about is myself! - Claw Finger, Pay the Bill. The Luftwaffe – German Air Force - was officialley formed in May of 1935, eventhough it had existed in some form more or less since being banned by the Versailles Treaty as first Freikorps air formations, then later glider plane pirvate clubs and finally as part of a secret setup in the Soviet Union. However, with the enactment of the Law for the Reconstruction of the National Defense Forces, Luftwaffe was officially born together with a standing German army - Heer - and a navy - Kriegsmarine. Hitler’s close ally and stout supporter, WWI fighter ace, Hermann Göring was the mastermind behind the new air force and also served as its head as well as Minister of the civilian Reichsluftfahrtministerium - Reichs Air Ministry. Göring’s influence secured the Luftwaffe massive political backing and lots of resources in its early days. In late 1935, only some six months after being appointed the Commander-in-Chief of the Luftwaffe, Hermann Göring, who also served as President of the Reichstag and Prime Minister of Prussia, died as a result of the injuries sustained in a tragic trafic accident, where an Opel lorry carrying pigs for slaughter rammed Göring’s Mercedes. The German Führer, Adolf Hitler, spoke at Göring‘s funeral: “In this sad hour it is very hard for me to think of a man whose deeds speak louder and more impressively than words can do. When we received the terrible news of the misfortune, to which our dear old comrade, General Göring, had fallen victim, many million Germans had the same feeling of emptiness which always occurs when an irreplaceable man is taken from his fellow men! However, the whole German nation knows that the death of this man means an irreplaceable loss for us. It is not only the creative personality which was taken from us, but it is also the loyal man and unforgettable comrade, whose departure touches us so deeply!” Göring’s funeral was as lawish as the dead man’s own lifestyle had been and a testemony to the skills of the organizer, Albert Speer. The fledgling Luftwaffe’s Chef der Generalstabes der Luftwaffe - Chief of Staff - Walther Wever, an extremely capable and innovative officer, who once had served in the Heer and as Ludendorff’s adjutant in the Great War, was soon anounced as the new Oberbefehlshaber der Luftwaffe - head of the Luftwaffe. Blomberg once said he lost a future C-in-C of the Army when Generalleutnant - Lt.General - Wever began his new career in the Luftwaffe. General der Luftwaffe - Air General - Albert Kesselring became the new Chief of Staff, while the able administrator, Erhard Milch, became Reichsminister der Luftfahrt – Air Minster- and thus in charge of the civilan side of the German aviation bureaucracy, the Luftwaffe Air Ministry, and amongst other things responsible for air craft production and design. Wever and Milch respectively cleaned out their two intertwined organizations and was responsible for organizing the rapid build-up of the aircraft industry and training of pilots. Wever, Milch and their advisors soon begun to build a truly modern and balanced air force with focus on air supremacy, interdiction, ground support and strategic bombing in the that order. On the political front, men like Himmler, Hess, Goebbels, Bormann, Funk and Schacht fought over the remains of the deceased Göring’s political domain. Walther Funk, as Chief Plenipotentiary for Economics, and Hjalmar Schact, as Minister of Economics, President of the Reichsbank and General Plenipotentiary for the War Economy, emerged with near total control over the German economy, while Hess became President of the Reichstag, Joseph Goebbels got to be Prime Minister of Prussia, while Heinrich Himmler was made chief of all German police and security forces and Martin Bormann, the Reichsleiter of the NSDAP and Rudolf Hess’ private secretary, got the Four Year Plan office, which in itself was now subsequent to Hjamar Schacht. Together with Wilhelm Frick, the Minister of the Interior, Goebbles and Himmler would enact the infamous Nurenberg Laws and other anti-semitic laws that in the end would lead to the system of concentration camps which claimed nearly 3 million lives as the inmates worked themselves to death in the service of an ungratefull nation.
Was Goering the only one responsible for the Luftwaffe's flawed tactical doctrine? Perhaps the Battle of Britain would have been a far easier fight had the Germans adopted a more conventional policy (although they would have won with a little more intelligence anyway). Which makes we wonder whether an amphibuous invasion of Great Britain was a good idea...
Hitler tolerated and protected Goering because the man was indispensable to him due to his extremely high IQ. Also - don´t forget Goering´s Forschungsamt, probably the best source of intelligence Germany ever had. Without Goerings advices many of Hitler´s problems would probably have not been solved so expediently. On the other side: IMO Hitler´s political power in 1935 or later was strong enough to get rid of this perverted drug addict, as soon as it became obvious that the man is incompetent as Luftwaffe chief, and lazy. Precisely the fact, that Hitler kept him by his side and tolerated his lifestyle and working habits tells volumes of us how stupid and shrt-sighted Hitler was himself (and whole of his Party machine). The regime was rotten to the core and doomed even before it was born. Could such a man win a great war on two fronts? (however competent his Luftwaffe-chief would have been?) - guess yourselves.
Plus Goring was seen by Hitler to be a man of great charm, who could handle/manipulate foreign journalists etc with ease.
Sure, I almost forgot it. He was a charming man if he wanted. His English was said to be good too. Many foreigners really like him, a big plus in diplomacy. In other words - Goering was irreplaceable. Btw: what diference would it make to have Milch or Richthoffen in his place (besides all the minuses)? Would hitler have saved the 6th army? So what?, even if? There would be some more FW190s? So what? The war would be maybe a month longer. You can list all the minuses and all the cases where Luftwaffe failed. But the main thing is unchanged: Germany was doomed whatever happened to Luftwaffe, Goering or whoever. Germany was too weak and led by a cruel ignoramus. :lol:
Well, maybe the British would have been crushed at Dunkirk, for one. I do not know if Churchill would have asked for peace then... but he might.
He always might have.... The thing is that he loathed NS and Hitler more than he hated the communists. But your point is an excellent one. Again - one particular example, out of the precious few, when the fate of the world was hanging on a straw. Just imagine..... Hitler free to prepare himself for Barbarossa. No bombardments of Ruhr. No BoB. The roles would have been turned: now Churchill is free to relish in the carnage in the east: two greatest armies in the world annihilating one another. Rivers of blood. Churchill free to prepare himself for a future: a decisive intervention when the two giants have all but destroyed one another. Then, Churchill, possibly with a litle help of the "special relationships" enters the scene, armed to the teath, and stabs the rests of a victor of the titanic fight. Fascinating. Bravo, Ricky.
Then - whoever replaced him. It would have solved many problems of the XX century much earlier (though I´m afraid I would not have been born in this scenario). :cry:
he was in charge of the Luftwaffe because he was WW1 hero , umm he wasn't a good commander , and maybe he should have thought of ways to improve his air force instead of filling up on sausage.
Hey Guys! Thanks for the comments! If you're interested, the Alternate Timeline is fleshed out in some detail at: http://www.alternatehistory.net/discuss ... php?t=6901 The first pages are garbled for some reason, but I've begun to repost the ATL from page 3 or 4, I believe. Only reason, I'm posting a link, not the ATL itself, is that this seems like the wrong forum. Once again, thanks for the comments. Best reagds! - Mr.Bluenote.
