Stop me if you have heard this before………..
It is 1936 and Roosevelt is wise to see that with the aggression of Germany and Italy in Europe, and Japan in Asia, that there will come a time when America may need to come to the rescue of Europe once again and to protect her allies in Asia. America has virtually no army or air force to speak, but she does have a world class navy to protect her. America engages in a program to modernize her army and air force and begin to build both to be on a level with her peers in Europe. However, she is not satisfied with her Navy, and a modernization program and aggressive build program also ensues. Through 1937 and 1938, as Japanese atrocities come to light, and Germany becomes more aggressive taking more and more land without firing a shot, the American people slowly realize the same thing, and more money is given the War Department to prepare for what some see as a possibility, and what others see as a certainty.
It is 1939 and Germany has invaded Poland and conquered her quickly. The allies declare war. America is ready for war, but she does not enter……….just yet.
As Germany turns her greedy eyes towards her old nemesis, France, Roosevelt makes the decision………it is WAR in November of 1939!!!!
Germany has an easy time of at first, as the poorly prepared French realize the Maginot line was but a folly and there are only a handful of Brits lending in the defense of France as the Germany army pours through the low countries. America does not have an army to match the numerical superiority or organization of the Wehrmach, but the quality of weapons is equal. As American transports move Army after Army into France, Generals Eisenhower, McArthur, and Patton soon begin to throw a serious monkey wrench in the plans of Hitler in turning a 3 week campaign into a several month affair. Getting aircraft into the theatre proves to be a tougher thing to accomplish. Her airforce has become very modern by 1939 standards, but there is not a good way to get fighters and dive bombers to the front with their limited ranges in 1939. It is June of 1940 before cracks start to form in the defense of France as the Italians have joined the fray, stretching the lines very thin indeed. A combination of air superiority, and the French forces beginning to flee in the face of combat has shown the American generals that France cannot be saved. If France will not fight to save herself, then there is little that can be done. The evacuation of her armies begins as Paris falls to the Germans late June.
The American air forces and ground forces regroup in England as the American and British bombers begin bombing German cities, but at a HEAVY cost……..if only we had a fighter that could fly deeper than the coastal areas of Germany……..
In August of 1940, the invasion of Italy begins on the island of Messina. Many of the Italian forces have been “loaned” to the Germans and have been moved to the Eastern Front or guarding the beaches of France so they are ill prepared to do much to stop the Americans. By the end of 1940, Italy has capitulated and is annexed by America, the German Navy is unable to provide any challenge to the allies, and Japan has declared war on America. Germany, has had to siphon a large portion of her army to guard her southern borders, and cannot use them in the forthcoming attack on Russia.
Japan…….the reason America was preparing for war to begin with. There was no surprise attack, because America had built large numbers of submarines, and upgraded their capabilities. No Japanese ship left port without America knowing about it. By this time, Japan had completely conquered China and was looking for more territory and raw materials. At the commencement of hostilities with Japan, America had already been at war for a year and her military was organized and ready. Her Navy had seen numerous additions and upgrades to existing ships. Nimitz and company massed almost all Naval forces in the Pacific to slug it out with Japan in her home waters. And the winner is………AMERICA!!!!! The Japanese are left with few capitol ships remaining and precious few transports. She is left without the ability to move troops from the Chinese mainland back to the home islands, or to adequately supply the troops there or move raw materials back to the home islands. Nimitz decides to bypass all the outlying Japanese islands, and commences an invasion of the home islands proper. By March of 1941, the Island of Japan is in American hands, the Japanese fleet is destroyed and America begins the liberation of China in conjunction with the British.
Now….if I were playing Germany, with a large American army sitting in the alps on my border, relying on the Vichy French to protect the south of France from invasion, and a large Soviet Army to the East, I would NOT declare war on Russia. However, that is exactly what happens in June of 1941. That is the beginning of the end as America maintains a force in the alps to prevent a German attack, and goes for the end around through Southern France, with the assistance of Republican Spain (yeah, they won the civil war……) who had tied up some number of German troops trying to subdue them.
Bottom line: By the middle of 1942, Japan has been annexed by the USA and Germany is a valuable puppet of the USA in the coming Cold War. The French……..who really cares. The German army was facing American Medium tanks and M3 “Lees” with 70 mm tank armament with their PzKpfw Mk III carrying only a 37mm main gun. They were facing a superior force of Soviet units armed with the T34.
The Cold war has begun in 1942………..ON TO MOSCOW?
It is 1936 and Roosevelt is wise to see that with the aggression of Germany and Italy in Europe, and Japan in Asia, that there will come a time when America may need to come to the rescue of Europe once again and to protect her allies in Asia. America has virtually no army or air force to speak, but she does have a world class navy to protect her. America engages in a program to modernize her army and air force and begin to build both to be on a level with her peers in Europe. However, she is not satisfied with her Navy, and a modernization program and aggressive build program also ensues. Through 1937 and 1938, as Japanese atrocities come to light, and Germany becomes more aggressive taking more and more land without firing a shot, the American people slowly realize the same thing, and more money is given the War Department to prepare for what some see as a possibility, and what others see as a certainty.
It is 1939 and Germany has invaded Poland and conquered her quickly. The allies declare war. America is ready for war, but she does not enter……….just yet.
As Germany turns her greedy eyes towards her old nemesis, France, Roosevelt makes the decision………it is WAR in November of 1939!!!!
Germany has an easy time of at first, as the poorly prepared French realize the Maginot line was but a folly and there are only a handful of Brits lending in the defense of France as the Germany army pours through the low countries. America does not have an army to match the numerical superiority or organization of the Wehrmach, but the quality of weapons is equal. As American transports move Army after Army into France, Generals Eisenhower, McArthur, and Patton soon begin to throw a serious monkey wrench in the plans of Hitler in turning a 3 week campaign into a several month affair. Getting aircraft into the theatre proves to be a tougher thing to accomplish. Her airforce has become very modern by 1939 standards, but there is not a good way to get fighters and dive bombers to the front with their limited ranges in 1939. It is June of 1940 before cracks start to form in the defense of France as the Italians have joined the fray, stretching the lines very thin indeed. A combination of air superiority, and the French forces beginning to flee in the face of combat has shown the American generals that France cannot be saved. If France will not fight to save herself, then there is little that can be done. The evacuation of her armies begins as Paris falls to the Germans late June.
The American air forces and ground forces regroup in England as the American and British bombers begin bombing German cities, but at a HEAVY cost……..if only we had a fighter that could fly deeper than the coastal areas of Germany……..
In August of 1940, the invasion of Italy begins on the island of Messina. Many of the Italian forces have been “loaned” to the Germans and have been moved to the Eastern Front or guarding the beaches of France so they are ill prepared to do much to stop the Americans. By the end of 1940, Italy has capitulated and is annexed by America, the German Navy is unable to provide any challenge to the allies, and Japan has declared war on America. Germany, has had to siphon a large portion of her army to guard her southern borders, and cannot use them in the forthcoming attack on Russia.
Japan…….the reason America was preparing for war to begin with. There was no surprise attack, because America had built large numbers of submarines, and upgraded their capabilities. No Japanese ship left port without America knowing about it. By this time, Japan had completely conquered China and was looking for more territory and raw materials. At the commencement of hostilities with Japan, America had already been at war for a year and her military was organized and ready. Her Navy had seen numerous additions and upgrades to existing ships. Nimitz and company massed almost all Naval forces in the Pacific to slug it out with Japan in her home waters. And the winner is………AMERICA!!!!! The Japanese are left with few capitol ships remaining and precious few transports. She is left without the ability to move troops from the Chinese mainland back to the home islands, or to adequately supply the troops there or move raw materials back to the home islands. Nimitz decides to bypass all the outlying Japanese islands, and commences an invasion of the home islands proper. By March of 1941, the Island of Japan is in American hands, the Japanese fleet is destroyed and America begins the liberation of China in conjunction with the British.
Now….if I were playing Germany, with a large American army sitting in the alps on my border, relying on the Vichy French to protect the south of France from invasion, and a large Soviet Army to the East, I would NOT declare war on Russia. However, that is exactly what happens in June of 1941. That is the beginning of the end as America maintains a force in the alps to prevent a German attack, and goes for the end around through Southern France, with the assistance of Republican Spain (yeah, they won the civil war……) who had tied up some number of German troops trying to subdue them.
Bottom line: By the middle of 1942, Japan has been annexed by the USA and Germany is a valuable puppet of the USA in the coming Cold War. The French……..who really cares. The German army was facing American Medium tanks and M3 “Lees” with 70 mm tank armament with their PzKpfw Mk III carrying only a 37mm main gun. They were facing a superior force of Soviet units armed with the T34.
The Cold war has begun in 1942………..ON TO MOSCOW?
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