Originally Posted by I3BrigPvSk

There are two other "what ifs" that can be fun to discuss. What if Hitler didn't attack the Soviet Union? What would Europe be like if he didn't? The Second one is; what if Nazi-Germany didn't declare war on the US

With out the Soviets being involved I doubt that Britain would have had the manpower to recapture the Continent, unless the Pacific War didn't happen freeing up troops and it would probably taken a large number of Indian troops to make up the difference. Yes, highly debatable if the US would have declared war on Germany, (Ignoring the undeclared quasi war going on at sea against the Germans).

Originally Posted by BritinBritain

I knew Stalin was providing quite a lot of raw materials to Germany, but I find it difficult to understand Hitler supplying armament for a battle cruiser, knowing that in the near future they would go to war.

Probably knew the War would start before they could be delivered, same way they were supposed to build Battle Cruisers for the Dutch.

Originally Posted by I3BrigPvSk

There are two other "what ifs" that can be fun to discuss. What if Hitler didn't attack the Soviet Union? What would Europe be like if he didn't? The Second one is; what if Nazi-Germany didn't declare war on the US

Interesting discussion.

I think Hitler would have still invaded Western Europe as he did in 1940. Would Stalin have invaded Poland along with Germany?

If Hitler had not declared war on the US, I believe Britain's situation would have been untenable.

Originally Posted by George

Probably knew the War would start before they could be delivered, same way they were supposed to build Battle Cruisers for the Dutch.

I was totally unaware that Germany was going to build Battle Cruisers for the Dutch. I would have thought the Dutch would have used their own shipyards to build warships. I would have also assumed with Hitlers sabre rattling, the Dutch would have been suspicious of his intentions.

Originally Posted by BritinBritain

I was totally unaware that Germany was going to build Battle Cruisers for the Dutch. I would have thought the Dutch would have used their own shipyards to build warships. I would have also assumed with Hitlers sabre rattling, the Dutch would have been suspicious of his intentions.

Went back to check on that. They were going to be built in Dutch shipyards with German triple 280 mm turrets and most technology with the Dutch doing just the actual shipbuilding. Dutch technical info was WWI era in Capitol ship technology. Originally German power was planned but final plans called for license built Yarrow boilers and Parsons turbine power.

Originally Posted by I3BrigPvSk

There are two other "what ifs" that can be fun to discuss. What if Hitler didn't attack the Soviet Union? What would Europe be like if he didn't? The Second one is; what if Nazi-Germany didn't declare war on the US

The idea that Germany and Russia could avoid conflict is unlikely at best, Mein Kampf was a long rambling diatribe about the Jews and Communists where he lays out his plans for both, from the time he gained a speaking platform he repeated the same themes of living space in the east over and over.

I also doubt that the declaration of war with the US would have changed anything, American servicemen were already being killed in Uboats attacks in the Altantic escorting convoys to Britain, my guess is that once the US became involved in a war Germany was going to be the first target.

Perhaps a better question would be what if Japan hadn't attacked Pearl Harbor but instead focused on British possessions in the Pacific and Indian ocean, would that have kept the US out of the war?

Originally Posted by MontyB

The idea that Germany and Russia could avoid conflict is unlikely at best, Mein Kampf was a long rambling diatribe about the Jews and Communists where he lays out his plans for both, from the time he gained a speaking platform he repeated the same themes of living space in the east over and over.

I also doubt that the declaration of war with the US would have changed anything, American servicemen were already being killed in Uboats attacks in the Altantic escorting convoys to Britain, my guess is that once the US became involved in a war Germany was going to be the first target.

Perhaps a better question would be what if Japan hadn't attacked Pearl Harbor but instead focused on British possessions in the Pacific and Indian ocean, would that have kept the US out of the war?

That Germany and the USSR could avoid war is very possible : US and the USSR also avoided war,although Dulles was claiming of rolling back the Soviets and although the Soviets attacked the US on the same way that Hitler attacked Jews,Slavs and Communists .
War between Germany and the US was unavoidable ,for ideological ,financial and political reasons : the WASPs ruled the US and they would not accept a European continent dominated by Germany, especially a Nazi Germany .
On the last question : no PH : the Japanese opinion was that
a they could not take that risk
b war with Britain only would not give them domination in China and the Pacific :US would still remain there and be stronger than before .

Originally Posted by lljadw

That Germany and the USSR could avoid war is very possible : US and the USSR also avoided war,although Dulles was claiming of rolling back the Soviets and although the Soviets attacked the US on the same way that Hitler attacked Jews,Slavs and Communists .
War between Germany and the US was unavoidable ,for ideological ,financial and political reasons : the WASPs ruled the US and they would not accept a European continent dominated by Germany, especially a Nazi Germany .
On the last question : no PH : the Japanese opinion was that
a they could not take that risk
b war with Britain only would not give them domination in China and the Pacific :US would still remain there and be stronger than before .

The US eventually entering the war was inevitable but had the Axis managed to keep them out long enough to isolate them from Allies interests me.

Originally Posted by MontyB

The US eventually entering the war was inevitable but had the Axis managed to keep them out long enough to isolate them from Allies interests me.

There was no common Axis policy : Japan decided to attack PH, Hitler forbade the U Boats to attack the Atlantic Fleet .

Originally Posted by lljadw

There was no common Axis policy : Japan decided to attack PH, Hitler forbade the U Boats to attack the Atlantic Fleet .

No but again what if there was, would it have made a difference.
The closest to coordination they managed seemed to be that the Germans bailed out the Italians and the Japanese went off on their own tangent and achieved bugger all.