Title: France is Dead Source:
[None] URL Source:[None] Published:Jul 1, 2017 Author:. Post Date:2017-07-01 19:27:39 by Lod Keywords:None Views:244 Comments:22
Was it this easy for Herr Hitler's troops to occupy France?
I would say that Hitler had the last laugh, forcing the French to sign the Armistice in the same rail car the Germans had to sign the Treaty of Versailles at the end of WW I. ;)
No, I haven't a clue; please enlighten us, thanks.
Stalin long had visions of camping out on the English Channel in France.
He knew only one country kept him from doing so, that was Germany.
Hitler admitted to his closest advisors that when he invaded Poland, if France moved into western Germany, "all will be lost". We will have nothing to stop them. Hitler took a huge gamble that the French would never fight and he was right.
Hitler invaded Poland, Stalin waited two weeks to see what the French would do. The French went in and then withdrew, Stalin launched his invasion and took over half of Poland.
Had the cowardly French moved, that version of WWII would not have happened. WWII would have broken out later anyway but the outcome might have been different.
I should have added that the trade in materials macinery and weapons continued until the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact was broken and Hitler began Operation Barbarossa. Hitler received raw materials during that period without which his invasion of Russia might not have been possible.
In regard to the other question, it's been noted that while some of Stalin's generals were eager to strike as far as the English channel, Stalin himself did not harbor such ambitions. Witness to this is the fact that Stalin supoorted the American plan for the Channel invasion as opposed to a Mediterranean assault planned by Churchill.
If you have sources on Stalin's long range goals, Cyni, I'd be most interested in perusing those.
In regard to the other question, it's been noted that while some of Stalin's generals were eager to strike as far as the English channel, Stalin himself did not harbor such ambitions. Witness to this is the fact that Stalin supoorted the American plan for the Channel invasion as opposed to a Mediterranean assault planned by Churchill.
My eyesight is about gone so research is no longer possible.
From memory...On the internet is available a verbatim Swiss newspaper account of a secret speech that Stalin gave to the Politburu in late 1930s, outlining his goal of going to the English Channel by subversion of European governments or by force if necessary.
At that time Stalin had the largest parachute army in the world, over a million men. Such is always an offensive force, not defensive. On the internet are films of mass exercises of such.
As for supporting the American plan for invasion cross Channel by Stalin, it was readily apparent at the time why, and more apparent now.
Churchill wanted to keep Stalin as far EAST as possible and Stalin wanted to keep the Allies as far WEST as possible. Churchill was aware of what Stalin wanted, namely, all of Europe. Looking at a map of Europe at the close of WWII, it is readily apparent WHO WAS NOW IN CONTROL OF MOST OF EUROPE.
Only the death of FDR saved Europe.
After WWII most of western Europe nearly fell into Stalins hands without a fight. All thru internal subversion.
Churchill wanted to keep Stalin as far EAST as possible and Stalin wanted to keep the Allies as far WEST as possible. Churchill was aware of what Stalin wanted, namely, all of Europe. Looking at a map of Europe at the close of WWII, it is readily apparent WHO WAS NOW IN CONTROL OF MOST OF EUROPE.
Only the death of FDR saved Europe.
After WWII most of western Europe nearly fell into Stalins hands without a fight. All thru internal subversion.
You are right about this, Cyni.
FDR was a bum through and through. He abrogated the gold standard and gave us a "banking holiday" that put everyone behind the 8 ball.
Yes, once Hitler was out of the way, many say that Stalin could have achieved it.
USAF intelligence estimated at the time that Soviet tanks could be at the Channel and in the Pyrenees within ten days.
- What Good Is Grand Strategy?: Power and Purpose in American ... https://books.google.com/books?isbn=0801470285 Hal Brands - 2014 - Political Science, p.42