---Scenario---
The year in 1945. The Soviets have kicked the bucket, and Germany has Europe in its grip (except Naples, in a stalemate since the initial invasion in '43)
However, the Americans are still strong, and not fully mobilized. Where do the Allies plan to attack? Do they even attack at all?
(They have enough divisions to conduct 2 invasions.) The Germans have 1/2 their army available from the Eastern Front. 1/4th is helping the Japanese. The other 1/4th is in the MidEast.
In the Middle East, the Iranian front is stable. The Germans have overwhelmed the Allied hold on the Crescent (due to a massive push in that area), but the defensive line has now stabilized.
In the Pacific, the Americans are island-hopping, and are preparing to recapture the Philippines.
However, they have a much greater focus on Germany- due to Germany attacking the Americans, rather than the Japanese (don't question it for now).
In Italy, the Allies are holding on the Winter Line, and holding the position comfortably.
The Luftwaffe is still in a defensive role, and the Kregsmarine can only attack shipping.
----
I would assume the dual Normandy-Nimes plan of invading on both ends of France might be tried- though that never happened in OTL because there were only enough troops to support one or the other, not both.
---France---
Logically, the Normandy area is the best area, since once an army can get past the Atlantic Wall and take Chersberg, the Allies have a firm hold on Northern France.
South France is ok, but the invasion would likely travel up the Rhone, making it a bad idea, since the Germans could cut off the narrow corridor (due to the Massif Central), or towards Tolouse. In either case, the many barrier islands and Lagoons would make a better-defended coast more difficult to penetrate.
Valras-Plage looks promising, though.
Dragoon only worked because South France was barely defended due to the Germans' tenuous situation.
An invasion of Rochelle or Royan would likely be met with a less-complete Atlantic Wall than in Normandy. However, It's also quite far from potential Allied staging bases. I don't know how much of an issue this is.
---Italy---
The Winter Line was proving to be a pretty deep stalemate. Technically the Allies could try to push on...
Florence/Tuscany might be a promising site, allowing the Allies to cut off the Axis on the Winter Line. It is, however, also quite fragile- the hilly terrain would slow down an invasion, and the best chance is to quickly move across the Peninsula.
Venice (not Venice itself, realistically to its east or west) might work. It would, however, face the problem of being incredibly deep into Axis territory, and thus, and invasion would be under threat from Axis air bombing, for example.
A direct attack into the Po Valley could capture much of Italian Industry in a single swoop. Though this invasion would be fragile.
---Spain & Portugal---
Technically Neutral countries- however, they weren't exactly on the best terms with the Allies, being technically fascist. An invasion here could see easy early success.
However, they are also quite mountainous. Would the Allies even get to the Pyrannees?
---Yugoslavia&Albania---
I can't find any obvious natural weak points. Allied forces would likely just get bottled up in Zadar in the Galliopi-style scenario, for example. An invasion of Albania is going to have to face going up the Littoral Alps.
The only saving grace is that few Axis troops are stationed in this area. However, without the Eastern Front, that would obviously quickly change.
---Greece---
The Greeks hated the German occupiers. However, if an invasion of mainland Greece was attempted, though guerilla efforts would be much stronger here, it's also a pretty bad place to invade. Most of it is either hilly, or mountainous. Or an Aegean Island. The only reason the Allies did it in our TL is because the Germans had abandoned the area to defend Croatia, and to avoid being cut off by the Russians.
Edirne is probably a better idea for an invasion. Turkey being in the war probably makes things easier, and the Germans directly occupied this zone, instead of giving it to the Bulgarians, because it was a pretty obvious invasion point.
The Bulgarian section is also very flat, compared to the Turkish section.
There's also the possibilty of just doing Gallipoli again. Though that's probably not happening, especially considering how well that went last time. Also, it's a Peninsula.
---Norway---
An invasion here could force Sweden to stop exporting Steel to Germany, and stop the Germans from using Norway as a naval base. However, it wouldn't really have any other realistic strategic objectives... and if the above is even possible is a serious question.
---Low Countries/North Germany/Denmark---
Marshy Terrain would slow any assault. Probably not a good idea, especially considering the barrier islands.
---Murmansk---
Probably not a good idea either, simply due to the fact any invasion would face the natural obstacles of the subarctic environment. And passing by Norway would be... vulnerable to Norwegian shipping attack.
---Levant---
Alexandretta (Syria) was a proposed invasion spot in WW1.
Palestine is another possibility. Invading there would allow the Allies to potentially cut off the Germans in the Suez, encircling them. It would also allow the Allies to regain full control over a major strategic asset.
They could also attack through Iran, into Iraq. Though this would lack any real, strategic goals, except maybe encircling the German Army in Basra, if done correctly.
In summary, the ideas that might work are
1. Normandy
2. Southwestern France?
3. Dragoon?
4. Spain?
5. Florence?
6. Edirne?
7. Alexandretta or Palestine?
What would be the best place to invade in this scenario? (other than the obvious Normandy)
The year in 1945. The Soviets have kicked the bucket, and Germany has Europe in its grip (except Naples, in a stalemate since the initial invasion in '43)
However, the Americans are still strong, and not fully mobilized. Where do the Allies plan to attack? Do they even attack at all?
(They have enough divisions to conduct 2 invasions.) The Germans have 1/2 their army available from the Eastern Front. 1/4th is helping the Japanese. The other 1/4th is in the MidEast.
In the Middle East, the Iranian front is stable. The Germans have overwhelmed the Allied hold on the Crescent (due to a massive push in that area), but the defensive line has now stabilized.
In the Pacific, the Americans are island-hopping, and are preparing to recapture the Philippines.
However, they have a much greater focus on Germany- due to Germany attacking the Americans, rather than the Japanese (don't question it for now).
In Italy, the Allies are holding on the Winter Line, and holding the position comfortably.
The Luftwaffe is still in a defensive role, and the Kregsmarine can only attack shipping.
----
I would assume the dual Normandy-Nimes plan of invading on both ends of France might be tried- though that never happened in OTL because there were only enough troops to support one or the other, not both.
---France---
Logically, the Normandy area is the best area, since once an army can get past the Atlantic Wall and take Chersberg, the Allies have a firm hold on Northern France.
South France is ok, but the invasion would likely travel up the Rhone, making it a bad idea, since the Germans could cut off the narrow corridor (due to the Massif Central), or towards Tolouse. In either case, the many barrier islands and Lagoons would make a better-defended coast more difficult to penetrate.
Valras-Plage looks promising, though.
Dragoon only worked because South France was barely defended due to the Germans' tenuous situation.
An invasion of Rochelle or Royan would likely be met with a less-complete Atlantic Wall than in Normandy. However, It's also quite far from potential Allied staging bases. I don't know how much of an issue this is.
---Italy---
The Winter Line was proving to be a pretty deep stalemate. Technically the Allies could try to push on...
Florence/Tuscany might be a promising site, allowing the Allies to cut off the Axis on the Winter Line. It is, however, also quite fragile- the hilly terrain would slow down an invasion, and the best chance is to quickly move across the Peninsula.
Venice (not Venice itself, realistically to its east or west) might work. It would, however, face the problem of being incredibly deep into Axis territory, and thus, and invasion would be under threat from Axis air bombing, for example.
A direct attack into the Po Valley could capture much of Italian Industry in a single swoop. Though this invasion would be fragile.
---Spain & Portugal---
Technically Neutral countries- however, they weren't exactly on the best terms with the Allies, being technically fascist. An invasion here could see easy early success.
However, they are also quite mountainous. Would the Allies even get to the Pyrannees?
---Yugoslavia&Albania---
I can't find any obvious natural weak points. Allied forces would likely just get bottled up in Zadar in the Galliopi-style scenario, for example. An invasion of Albania is going to have to face going up the Littoral Alps.
The only saving grace is that few Axis troops are stationed in this area. However, without the Eastern Front, that would obviously quickly change.
---Greece---
The Greeks hated the German occupiers. However, if an invasion of mainland Greece was attempted, though guerilla efforts would be much stronger here, it's also a pretty bad place to invade. Most of it is either hilly, or mountainous. Or an Aegean Island. The only reason the Allies did it in our TL is because the Germans had abandoned the area to defend Croatia, and to avoid being cut off by the Russians.
Edirne is probably a better idea for an invasion. Turkey being in the war probably makes things easier, and the Germans directly occupied this zone, instead of giving it to the Bulgarians, because it was a pretty obvious invasion point.
The Bulgarian section is also very flat, compared to the Turkish section.
There's also the possibilty of just doing Gallipoli again. Though that's probably not happening, especially considering how well that went last time. Also, it's a Peninsula.
---Norway---
An invasion here could force Sweden to stop exporting Steel to Germany, and stop the Germans from using Norway as a naval base. However, it wouldn't really have any other realistic strategic objectives... and if the above is even possible is a serious question.
---Low Countries/North Germany/Denmark---
Marshy Terrain would slow any assault. Probably not a good idea, especially considering the barrier islands.
---Murmansk---
Probably not a good idea either, simply due to the fact any invasion would face the natural obstacles of the subarctic environment. And passing by Norway would be... vulnerable to Norwegian shipping attack.
---Levant---
Alexandretta (Syria) was a proposed invasion spot in WW1.
Before the Dardanelles operation was conceived, the British had planned to conduct an amphibious invasion near Alexandretta on the Mediterranean Sea, an idea originally presented by Boghos Nubar in 1914.[33] This plan was developed by the Secretary of State for War, Field Marshal Earl Kitchener to sever the capital from Syria, Palestine and Egypt. Alexandretta was an area with a Christian population and was the strategic centre of the Empire's railway network—its capture would have cut the empire in two. Vice Admiral Sir Richard Peirse, East Indies Station, ordered Captain Frank Larkin of HMS Doris to Alexandretta on 13 December 1914. At the same time, in the same area, the Russian cruiser Askold and the French cruiser Requin were performing similar operations. Kitchener was working on the plan as late as March 1915. This plan was also the beginning of Britain's successful effort to start an Arab Revolt. The Alexandretta landing was abandoned because militarily it would have required more resources than France could allocate and politically France did not want the British operating in their sphere of influence, a position to which Britain had agreed in 1912.[34]
Palestine is another possibility. Invading there would allow the Allies to potentially cut off the Germans in the Suez, encircling them. It would also allow the Allies to regain full control over a major strategic asset.
They could also attack through Iran, into Iraq. Though this would lack any real, strategic goals, except maybe encircling the German Army in Basra, if done correctly.
In summary, the ideas that might work are
1. Normandy
2. Southwestern France?
3. Dragoon?
4. Spain?
5. Florence?
6. Edirne?
7. Alexandretta or Palestine?
What would be the best place to invade in this scenario? (other than the obvious Normandy)
Last edited: