Question of the Day #12
- Thread starter Bootie
- Start date
Z
Zinzan
Guest
Nice Question!
Well short answer:
1. A unified Germany ruled by Soviet Union, occupation of Austria, Yugoslavia, Finland by Russia.
2. Western allies much weaker, at end of war.
3. USA adopts a Pacific century policy for remainder of 20th century.
4. China doesn't go communist straight away but Chinese Civil war continues for much longer (Nationalists backed by much bigger US Forces and supplies.)
5. No European union, France, Italy, Spain etc more socialist than historically.
6. UK Isolated and devastated by costs of war loses colonies/empire in same time - never recovers strength.
Well short answer:
1. A unified Germany ruled by Soviet Union, occupation of Austria, Yugoslavia, Finland by Russia.
2. Western allies much weaker, at end of war.
3. USA adopts a Pacific century policy for remainder of 20th century.
4. China doesn't go communist straight away but Chinese Civil war continues for much longer (Nationalists backed by much bigger US Forces and supplies.)
5. No European union, France, Italy, Spain etc more socialist than historically.
6. UK Isolated and devastated by costs of war loses colonies/empire in same time - never recovers strength.
Yes, I believe nukes would've been dropped on Germany if the war in Europe had lasted longer.
At that point nuclear weapons didn't have the stigma and reputation as doomsday weapons they got later -- they were just thought of as "really big bombs with a really big bang."
The Allied air commanders who were planning firestorm raids at civilians would have had no qualms whatsoever about using nukes in Germany.
(The awful effects of radiation were also pretty much unknown/unappreciated at the time.)
At that point nuclear weapons didn't have the stigma and reputation as doomsday weapons they got later -- they were just thought of as "really big bombs with a really big bang."
The Allied air commanders who were planning firestorm raids at civilians would have had no qualms whatsoever about using nukes in Germany.
(The awful effects of radiation were also pretty much unknown/unappreciated at the time.)
Z
Zinzan
Guest
Personally doubt whether nukes would have been deployed in western Europe, may have found war effectively over before that became necessary.
Pacific First operations would have seen much more strategic bombing of Japan etc. Emphasis on Pacific would have stopped D-Day, best allies could have managed by late '44 would have been limited ops on Italy.
Pacific First operations would have seen much more strategic bombing of Japan etc. Emphasis on Pacific would have stopped D-Day, best allies could have managed by late '44 would have been limited ops on Italy.