What would happen if instead of trying to annex the Sudetenland Hitler had decided to go after the Danzig Corridor instead?
Hitler moves on Poland First
- Thread starter Napoleon IV
- Start date
They Poles may be far more willing to fight him for Danzig than the Czechs were for the Sudetenland. Besides, doesn't he need the industry in the Sudetenland? It would probably be best for him to go for the Sudetenland first then grab Danzig instead of gobbling up the whole of Czechoslovakia. That way he'll have the industry and if a war starts with the Poles the Western Allies may well stay out of it as he won't have broken the Munich Agreement and will still be able to present himself as simply reuniting the German lands (even if he then goes on to conquer Poland).
This. I've always wondered what would have happened if Hitler had at least pretended to only be going for a "reunite all of Germany" policy.
Well you could have a reversal where the Munich talks force Poland to give away Danzig and rights to the corridor, but then the WAllies guarantee Czechoslovak independence. Hitler may or may invade Poland, though the Soviets won't be ready to join in.
In 1939, Hitler demands the Sudetenland, but is refused. Invades, while France and Britain declare war.
Unfortunately for Hitler, Czechoslovakia is much more well defended than Poland. Plus they wouldn't have to deal with the soviets to their east.
The Germans win but take important losses, plus the campaign in slower as it has to pass through fortress-laden mountains. It's possible that France is able to put up a better fight thanks to time delays and increase in confidence from reports of German difficulties.
And avoidance of the Fall of France would completely change the landscape of the war.
In 1939, Hitler demands the Sudetenland, but is refused. Invades, while France and Britain declare war.
Unfortunately for Hitler, Czechoslovakia is much more well defended than Poland. Plus they wouldn't have to deal with the soviets to their east.
The Germans win but take important losses, plus the campaign in slower as it has to pass through fortress-laden mountains. It's possible that France is able to put up a better fight thanks to time delays and increase in confidence from reports of German difficulties.
And avoidance of the Fall of France would completely change the landscape of the war.
He probably fails.
The Reich needs the munition/arms production of the Czechs to complete the TOE (the Czechs used the same rifle caliber ammuntion, 7.92mm, as the Heer as well as a few matching calibers of tank and artillery ammuntion) armor and munitions it needed to pull off Poland. One light panzer, and two regular panzer divisions in the Polish invasion were equipped with Skoda tankette (P-35(t)) and medium tanks (Pz-38(t)).
The Reich needs the munition/arms production of the Czechs to complete the TOE (the Czechs used the same rifle caliber ammuntion, 7.92mm, as the Heer as well as a few matching calibers of tank and artillery ammuntion) armor and munitions it needed to pull off Poland. One light panzer, and two regular panzer divisions in the Polish invasion were equipped with Skoda tankette (P-35(t)) and medium tanks (Pz-38(t)).
Does anyone know of any TLs on Hitler invading Poland instead of Czechoslovakia (but after taking the Sudetenland)? Any TLs in which he gets his war with the USSR without going to war with the Western Allies?
As suggested he might fail in 1939 without the Check munitions, but without the Munich crisis the urgency is somewhat reduced. He might try it in 1940 after the Panzer 3 production kicks in. However, if there is no Soviet pact, is there a Winter war? Will Stalin know he is REALLY not ready for war?
No.
First, the Czech industry was not in the Sudeten. It was in Prague and elsewhere throughout the heartland of Czechslovakia, not in that mountainous border province.
Second, the Czech gold reserves also were in Prague.
You don't get industries and gold by getting the Sudeten; you don't get those by getting Danzig. You only get those by getting the Protectorate.
Might have lasted longer as well, without having the Soviets moving in from behind. Perhaps the Little Entente even kiks in, since the Hungarians who they were created to oppose have not expanded and due to the Poles not having taken a small bit of Polish populated land (I believe the Czecks swiped it from Germany after WWI) and land from the Slovaks, so there might be less bad feelings between the two. The Romanians and Yugoslavs would also have quite large German minorities to be on the lookout for. The Germans (well, quasi-Germans. I don't really see them as a unified group back then) may see widespread expulsions, if need be.
The Czecks might have as well, if not threatened by the French and British.
The Czecks might have as well, if not threatened by the French and British.
Stupid question: Realistically, why were the Allies so insistent upon Danzig's status yet willing to give up tons of Czeckoslovakian land? In retrtospect, it just seems like the Allies thought they bought off Hitler in 1938, and March 1939 proved them wrong.
What if in 1938, Hitler simply demanded Danzig as soon as he saw the Allies caving. Would be impossible to get both under the guise of attaining "peace in our time?"
What if in 1938, Hitler simply demanded Danzig as soon as he saw the Allies caving. Would be impossible to get both under the guise of attaining "peace in our time?"
Nibbling seemed to be the best bet for him. Demand something, get it, let things cool down a bit, make another demand. Rinse, repeat.
Artaxerxes
Banned
Partly because the Allies knew they were in no fit state to fight a war, partly due to the dire state of the military but also because much of France and UK's population wanted nothing to do with yet another meatgrinder killing an entire generation.
Well the other thing was that after the invasion of the rest of Czechoslovakia it was plain that Hitler's signature on a treaty was worthless (actually worse than that)
Why not a guy like Stresemann instead? Hitler was an asshole who bullied his way into getting the land. I'd much rather see someone achieve these things over a longer period of time through proper diplomacy while maintaining decent relations with the British and French.