WWII What-Ifs: Your Favorite or Your Own Creations

[Calbout]

I’ve always been fascinated by alternate history scenarios, especially those centered on World War II. There were so many turning points, from political decisions to key battles, that could have completely changed the course of the war and reshaped the world we know today.
I’d love to hear what you all think are the most interesting “what if” scenarios from WWII. Maybe you’ve read about a scenario that really stuck with you, or perhaps you’ve imagined one yourself. Either way, please share it!

Y'all can discuss scenarios ranging from the interwar years to the end of the war. I can’t wait to see what everyone comes up with!

[Novele Anjou]

My favourite WW2 "what-if" starts way back in the 1800s. What if the crown-prince of England didn't love the Parisian brothels quite so much so by the time of WW1 France and England still weren't on speaking terms, and England decided to join Germany in their invasion of France and Russia. France sues for peace (being unable to win) and WW1 ends with the Great Powers mostly still in tact.

WW2 then eventuates not as a result of communist revolutions sweeping across Europe but rather as a colonial power grab as the Ottomans reach their inevitable collapse and the Japanese war against the USA in the Pacific.
Without the USSR as a threat and the British not abandoning their Imperial claims in the East, Japan's forces are much more concentrated on breaking the US economic blockade and securing the oil fields of Alaska.

[Northern American Union]

I've always been interested in The Man In The High Castle scenario. While it isn't realistic, it really isn't supposed to be. But, that is pretty well known. I want to take a moment to recognize a much lesser-known scenario. It was imagined by Alt-History Hub.

It starts with a world where the weather conditions were slightly off during the last week of May, 1940. Essentially, what would happen if the miracle at Dunkirk wasn't successful. It involves Britain accepting the peace agreements that were so nearly accepted in our timeline. This, of course, results in everything you would expect if the Allies were cut off from Europe.

[Slembana]

My favourite WW2 "what-if" starts way back in the 1800s. What if the crown-prince of England didn't love the Parisian brothels quite so much so by the time of WW1 France and England still weren't on speaking terms, and England decided to join Germany in their invasion of France and Russia. France sues for peace (being unable to win) and WW1 ends with the Great Powers mostly still in tact.

WW2 then eventuates not as a result of communist revolutions sweeping across Europe but rather as a colonial power grab as the Ottomans reach their inevitable collapse and the Japanese war against the USA in the Pacific.
Without the USSR as a threat and the British not abandoning their Imperial claims in the East, Japan's forces are much more concentrated on breaking the US economic blockade and securing the oil fields of Alaska.

Crown Prince of England? England ceased to exist as a sovereign state in 1707, and the heir to the British throne is not called “crown Prince”. About whom are you talking? George IV?

[Ethel mermania]

Hitler gets into Art school and turns out to be a pretty good painter, then makes a decent living at it.

[Slembana]

Hitler gets into Art school and turns out to be a pretty good painter, then makes a decent living at it.

But what if an even worse and more competent dictator takes over Germany in his stead?

[Nilokeras]

My favourite WW2 "what-if" starts way back in the 1800s. What if the crown-prince of England didn't love the Parisian brothels quite so much

... is this supposed to be referring to Edward VII?

so by the time of WW1 France and England still weren't on speaking terms, and England decided to join Germany in their invasion of France and Russia. France sues for peace (being unable to win) and WW1 ends with the Great Powers mostly still in tact.

this is nonsense on several different levels. at the time, the British considered Germany by far the most pressing threat in Europe, and saw France as an important counterweight to German hegemony in Europe.

more directly, Germany, France and the UK all were signatories to the Treaty of London, which guaranteed Belgian independence and neutrality. When the Germans presented their ultimatum to the Belgians demanding passage through to France, then invaded, the UK was *obligated by treaty* to intervene. they could of course have looked the other way, but why would that have been in their interests?

[Slembana]

My favourite WW2 "what-if" starts way back in the 1800s. What if the crown-prince of England didn't love the Parisian brothels quite so much

... is this supposed to be referring to Edward VII?

so by the time of WW1 France and England still weren't on speaking terms, and England decided to join Germany in their invasion of France and Russia. France sues for peace (being unable to win) and WW1 ends with the Great Powers mostly still in tact.

this is nonsense on several different levels. at the time, the British considered Germany by far the most pressing threat in Europe, and saw France as an important counterweight to German hegemony in Europe.

more directly, Germany, France and the UK all were signatories to the Treaty of London, which guaranteed Belgian independence and neutrality. When the Germans presented their ultimatum to the Belgians demanding passage through to France, then invaded, the UK was *obligated by treaty* to intervene. they could of course have looked the other way, but why would that have been in their interests?

I was thinking it might have been referring to Edward as well.

[Adamede]

What if George H. W. Bush got eaten by Japanese soldiers after getting shot down?

[Ethel mermania]

Hitler gets into Art school and turns out to be a pretty good painter, then makes a decent living at it.

But what if an even worse and more competent dictator takes over Germany in his stead?

A more competent dictator doesn't invade Poland or France

[Ethel mermania]

What if George H. W. Bush got eaten by Japanese soldiers after getting shot down?

The Japanese get severe indigestion

[Slembana]

But what if an even worse and more competent dictator takes over Germany in his stead?

A more competent dictator doesn't invade Poland or France

But would he still carry out the Holocaust?

[Ethel mermania]

A more competent dictator doesn't invade Poland or France

But would he still carry out the Holocaust?

Probably not. And even if so less folks die. Remember auschwitz is in Poland.

[Stellar Colonies]

...
more directly, Germany, France and the UK all were signatories to the Treaty of London, which guaranteed Belgian independence and neutrality. When the Germans presented their ultimatum to the Belgians demanding passage through to France, then invaded, the UK was *obligated by treaty* to intervene. they could of course have looked the other way, but why would that have been in their interests?

I'm getting Déjà vu.

[PORTA maritim de indias osidental]

My favourite what if starts in the middle of the 19th century. What if, instead of the Shogunate being overthrown and Japan embarking on a rapid militarisation and industrialisation, Fillmore didn’t send his letter to the archipelago, Meiji didn’t declare himself emperor, and Japan never invaded Korea, had a war with Russia in 1904, or occupied Manchuria, thus leading to no Marco Polo Bridge Incident.

Perhaps China would join the Axis instead? American occupation of China? No communist China? Would American power go unchallenged even in the 21st century? It’s fun to contemplate.

[Gardethuis]

I like the ones where the Treaty of Versailles isn't as harsh on Germany, causing the economy to not be so shit as to give Hitler a reason to rise to power, preying on the fears and prejudices of the German people.

I blame Woodrow Wilson.

[Slembana]

My favourite what if starts in the middle of the 19th century. What if, instead of the Shogunate being overthrown and Japan embarking on a rapid militarisation and industrialisation, Fillmore didn’t send his letter to the archipelago, Meiji didn’t declare himself emperor, and Japan never invaded Korea, had a war with Russia in 1904, or occupied Manchuria, thus leading to no Marco Polo Bridge Incident.

Perhaps China would join the Axis instead? American occupation of China? No communist China? Would American power go unchallenged even in the 21st century? It’s fun to contemplate.

So if Japan stayed isolated? Eventually it’d probably half to open up. It was inevitable methinks.

[PORTA maritim de indias osidental]

My favourite what if starts in the middle of the 19th century. What if, instead of the Shogunate being overthrown and Japan embarking on a rapid militarisation and industrialisation, Fillmore didn’t send his letter to the archipelago, Meiji didn’t declare himself emperor, and Japan never invaded Korea, had a war with Russia in 1904, or occupied Manchuria, thus leading to no Marco Polo Bridge Incident.

Perhaps China would join the Axis instead? American occupation of China? No communist China? Would American power go unchallenged even in the 21st century? It’s fun to contemplate.

So if Japan stayed isolated? Eventually it’d probably half to open up. It was inevitable methinks.

I agree, but maybe if it opened up, er, less militarily?

[NANDAEK]

What if chezchoslovakia, Austria and Poland were actually all round bad countries to start off with (that the allies would hate) for some reason, giving Germany a reason to annex both, still leaving Hitler as a supreme dictator but now the allies cannot justify that many reasons to declare war. It could still happen if Hitler invaded other countries as the man is a greedy bag of shit, or some other crime could happen. Maybe Japan would land the first blow, or Italy, or everything could just be peaceful. Any other ways this could turn out?

[Ethel mermania]

What if chezchoslovakia, Austria and Poland were actually all round bad countries to start off with (that the allies would hate) for some reason, giving Germany a reason to annex both, still leaving Hitler as a supreme dictator but now the allies cannot justify that many reasons to declare war. It could still happen if Hitler invaded other countries as the man is a greedy bag of shit, or some other crime could happen. Maybe Japan would land the first blow, or Italy, or everything could just be peaceful. Any other ways this could turn out?

I was at a party a long time ago and I was chatting with a history professor who said if Hitler died between the annexation of Austria, and the sudetenland he would have gone down as the greatest german chancellor in history.

[Tsardom of Alaska]

My favourite WW2 "what-if" starts way back in the 1800s. What if the crown-prince of England didn't love the Parisian brothels quite so much so by the time of WW1 France and England still weren't on speaking terms, and England decided to join Germany in their invasion of France and Russia. France sues for peace (being unable to win) and WW1 ends with the Great Powers mostly still in tact.

WW2 then eventuates not as a result of communist revolutions sweeping across Europe but rather as a colonial power grab as the Ottomans reach their inevitable collapse and the Japanese war against the USA in the Pacific.
Without the USSR as a threat and the British not abandoning their Imperial claims in the East, Japan's forces are much more concentrated on breaking the US economic blockade and securing the oil fields of Alaska.

I know people have thoroughly dunked on this already, but I’d like to point out that oil wasn’t discovered in Alaska until 1968

*Correction: it was known that there were petroleum reserves in Alaska before then, but it didn’t become commercially viable until 1968 and the discovery of the Prudhoe Bay oil field

[A m e n r i a]

Practically everything I mod into Hearts of Iron. From the possibility of Indonesia becoming an Islamic Republic with Hasyim Asy'ari as our first president (until his very soon after death), us becoming a monarchy under the Hamengkubuwono family with Jogja as our capital, the resurgence of the Gowa sultanate saving the country from Dutch aggression after the Round Table Conference and bringing the entire country under its flag, there's too many to name!

[Tsardom of Alaska]

I like the ones where the Treaty of Versailles isn't as harsh on Germany, causing the economy to not be so shit as to give Hitler a reason to rise to power, preying on the fears and prejudices of the German people.

I blame Woodrow Wilson.

Not defending Wilson (he was a terrible president in other ways) but wasn’t he the one at the peace talks who wanted to be more forgiving of Germany?

[Gardethuis]

I like the ones where the Treaty of Versailles isn't as harsh on Germany, causing the economy to not be so shit as to give Hitler a reason to rise to power, preying on the fears and prejudices of the German people.

I blame Woodrow Wilson.

Not defending Wilson (he was a terrible president in other ways) but wasn’t he the one at the peace talks who wanted to be more forgiving of Germany?

...you know, if it was WW2, he probably would. IIRC, he wasn't even there in our timeline.

[Lusitanic]

Hitler gets into Art school and turns out to be a pretty good painter, then makes a decent living at it.

But what if an even worse and more competent dictator takes over Germany in his stead?

Hitler was competent the reason for his later incompetence was the fact he was basically always on a cocktail of drugs after 1941.