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Made in us
Inspiring Icon Bearer





Colorado Springs, CO

I know that many historians don't really like alternate history, but than many do. I for one fall firmly in the camp of wondering 'what if X had happened' and I enjoy thinking about how the slightest of changes to an outcome can change the entire course of human events.

That said, I was reading a bit on the assassination plot against Hitler. The briefcase bomb that was supposed to kill him during Operation Valkyrie was moved ever so slightly so that he wasn't close enough to it to die when the explosion happened. This is my imaging of a 'What If' scenario where Hitler was actually standing right where he was supposed to be.... (story in spoiler)

Spoiler:
July 20, 1944 12:42 PM

Hitler is dead.

Operation Valkyrie has been a success. Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg and General Olbricht have done what many dreamed about and thought impossible and assassinated the German dictator. Moving quickly, they arrest all pro-Hitler officials and seize full control of the German government, Heer, Luftwaffe and the full reserve army. With the full support of most of the senior military officials, the war-weary German people and the military might of the reserve army in Berlin, the new German consulate takes complete control of the country. Olbricht and Stauffenberg immediately call for a cease-fire and sue the Allies for peace.

The allied forces including the United States, Great Britain and France eagerly accept Germany’s surrender. An armistice is signed in Paris. Sanctions are placed and reparations are discussed. All German military forces are ordered to retreat to pre-war borders and await disarmament. The entire world rejoices at the apparent end of the war in Europe. The entire world, that is, except the Russians.

Russia is enraged by the Germans invasion of the Motherland despite their supposed ‘peaceful’ intentions. They know that this is just a farce to lull the weaker minds into a false sense of security. The line of dead Russian soldiers that stretches to Stalingrad and back again will not be so easily forgotten. No, Russia sees this traitorous act for what it is and it will not stop its advance. Stalin will see Berlin burned to the ground and will exact a toll in blood for every Russian death caused by the German traitors. The allies attempt to change Stalin’s mind, and fail. They do not agree with war against a surrendered enemy, and yet they are not willing to aid the Germans after so many years of horrors and bloodshed. The Germans are given permission to defend their homeland, but they are on their own. The allies leave forces in France and Italy, partially to rebuild, and partially to protect against a German attack, or, considered more likely, a rampaging Russia who sees the peace treaty signed by the allies as a traitorous act.

The only German military force not under their control is Hitler’s elite SS. Still lead by Hitler’s hand-picked fanatical followers, they will not submit to the rule of these usurpers. Senior SS leaders quickly purge their units of pro-consulate sympathizers and assess their situation. Cut off from their supply lines and facing the full might of the German military, the SS knows that its best chance at regaining control of Berlin is to re-ignite the war. They go underground and hide where they can. Heer and Allied convoys are ambushed. Uniforms and equipment, along with fuel and munitions, are stolen. The SS prepares to carry out a guerilla war against two forces that think the fighting is over. The goal, as the SS commanders brief their men, is to force the Allies to march on Berlin, thinking they have been betrayed. It remains to be seen if the German intelligence services can uncover this plot before it’s too late.

The stage is set for the titanic battles as the full might of the German and Russian forces meet on German soil. The SS begins their sporadic assaults on allied and German forces alike along the western front in an effort to rekindle the fires of war. The world holds its breath and watches.


I actually plan to make a small German army for this. It intrigues me to think about what would happen in this situation. What do you guys think?

One of them filthy casuals... 
   
Made in us
Oberleutnant





Alternate histroy really is just a fancy name for fiction. However, that isn't a reason not to play "what-if".

I do think your premise though doesn't seem particularly likely nor entirely "fun" to play, particularly in a FoW type mechanic. At the time of Valkyrie, I think even the most sceptical Allied commanders would have viewed "protecting a surrendered Germany" as the lesser evil to an overtly aggressive Russia demanding a pound of flesh. I certainly believe Britian and the US would have pushed as far into Germany proper in order to be defensively pruduent. From a game play standpoint, it certainly adds more options. I could see a RV/CT Brit force with FV Heer German support.

Otherwise, I just can't see even fanatical SS hit/run troops fighting Soviet hordes being overly fun.







 
   
Made in gb
Buttons Should Be Brass, Not Gold!




Kildare, Ireland

I prefer counter factual history to alternative.

Unless you base on some degree of plausible reality, it becomes little more than a movie script.

Grand if you want that, less use if you want to explore actual possible outcomes of alternate events.

Your scenario strays in two aspect. It assumes the German military will suddenly give up fighting the western Allies and assumes the Allies will accept. Both very unlikely in July 44 especially the latte.


 Strombones wrote:
Battlegroup - Because its tits.
 
   
Made in gb
1st Lieutenant







There was 'operation unthinkable' which was the allies pushing through to the soviets -
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Unthinkable


My FOW Blog
http://breakthroughassault.blogspot.co.uk/

My Eldar project log (26/7/13)
http://www.warseer.com/forums/showthread.php?p=5518969#post5518969

Exiles forum
http://exilesbbleague.phpbb4ever.com/index.php 
   
Made in gb
Dakka Veteran





UK

History is all about chance and the roll of the dice so I have no problem with alternate history.

How about the Germans coming up with an atomic bomb first and using it ? That would create a possible peace.

Obvious scenarios ,failed D-day landings,successful invasion of Britain etc etc.

There are also quite a few companies already modelling alternative history figures like Martian invasion type stuff so cannot see why

FOW stuff would not work

Old warriors die hard

https://themodelwarrior.wordpress.com
 
   
Made in us
Major





Central,ILL. USA

All good especially on the Campaign gaming.We arelooking at playing a LW Norway campaign using fictional history.

Please visit my Blog http://colkrazykennyswargamingblog.blogspot.com/
I play SS in flames of war ,Becuase they are KEWL... 
   
Made in us
Longtime Dakkanaut




Maryland

WWPD's first Global Campaign was a simulated Operation: Sealion, which differed from the real-world plan in that it took place in mid-late 1944. I can't find the fictional timeline, but essentially the Germans win in Africa and manage to fight the Soviets to a standstill, so to knock out Britain they invade across the channel after a big Fallschirmjager drop.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2014/08/13 15:31:00


   
 
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