What if Overlord fails?

**snapper** · 07 Feb 13,, 08:29

Say the great Anglo American invasion of France in June 1944 had failed... it's not inconceivable after all. So around July 1-3 Montgomery, still in operational command, is badly mauled and with no main harbours and the artificial 'mulberry' harbours wrecked the reinforcement rate simply isn't enough to support a build up and break out. He decides he has to get as many men back across the Channel as possible and a second Dunkirk occurs.

Hitler then offers an armistice... He will liberate France.

How long before the Anglo Americans can again launch a cross channel attack? 1945? Do they decide to enter the Balkans instead? Accept an armistice and get France? The French would urge an acceptance presumably. The US would Navy would want to get on with the Japanese war and might be inclined to accept.

If the Western allies don't accept the armistice does Hitler have enough time to transfer forces to the Eastern front and stabilise if not defeat the Russian front before another cross channel invasion can be launched?

If Britain and the US do accept the armistice does Hitler win in the East? How far does he go?

**Doktor** · 07 Feb 13,, 09:12

I don't think Hitler would offer France right after his troops repelled the allies from landing in the said France.

Even if he can send ALL of the western troops to the East, I don't believe he could have stopped the Soviets. Even more, it's commonly accepted opinion that failure of Overlord would bring Soviets at least to Rhine.

**snapper** · 07 Feb 13,, 09:58

Hence an Anglo American intervention in the Balkans to stop the Soviet advance to the Atlantic. Hitler never wanted 'lebensraum' in the Balkans or in the West and would trade France and the Balkans for his Eastern colonisation.

**Skywatcher** · 07 Feb 13,, 15:59

We (the U.S.) could just go back home and stock up on nuclear weapons and B-36 bombers.

**Albany Rifles** · 07 Feb 13,, 17:47

Simple.

Once the Germans leave the Allies come back into France and now push to the German frontier with limited battles.

Germany starts the fall on 1944 in the same position....but the Allies are actually stronger and their logistics position is better.

No way in hell that FDR, Churchill, the American people and the people of the Commonwealth were going to the Nazis control central Europe.

War ends in fall of 1945 as a couple of German cities are taken out with atomic bombs 3 & 4.

By 1944 unconditional surrender was the ONLY way out for Germany.