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Old 02-07-06, 07:03 AM   #12
horsa
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I think Hitlers only realistic chance to invade Britain was in the spring of 1941.
This is the option that is so often overlooked.

History records the failure of Hitler’s improvised and half hearted attempt in 1940. It creates the myth that if Britain could resist invasion in 1940 then invasion would be even less likely to succeed in 1941 or 1942 because she had time to build her shattered forces and improve defences.

Germany had superior resources to call on and a war machine that was yet to reach its peak. Without American resources Britain’s position would in relative terms decline over time. A patient and single minded approach to eliminating Britain was far more likely to succeed in 1941 or even 1942.

As we now know Hitler reasoned that in 1941 Britain was of little threat to Germany’s ascendancy and a lightening strike against Russia was intended to quickly “ kick in the soviet door and overpower the whole rotten edifice ”.
By 1942 with the survival of Russia and the entry of American forces, Hitler had got himself into a war of attrition he could not win. Britain was then on the right side of a resources war and strategically important as a springboard for an Anglo-American intervention into Western Europe.

As you point out on another thread, Abraham, Britain’s political position ironically became weaker as America progressively became the much stronger partner.

For Britain, it’s an heroic story but fundamentally a sad one.
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