What if the Nazis won at Stalingrad?
video description
The Germans had huge supply problems.
When Paulus advanced with 6th army, An army group was going into the Caucasus, and that had logistical priority.
As a result Paulus's junior officers often decided to leave units behind for some time to keep momentum going, and they had to rely on Kampfruppen instead of regular formations on the approach to the city.
Also, The 6th army had to establish a defensive perimeter on the south bank of the Don, take Stalingrad, and then move further towards Astrakhan on the Caspian sea, while also setting up defenses along the Wolga.
All of that had to be done with just 120. 000 men on short supply.
Facing him were three Armies of the Stslingrad front, later reinforced by 2 Tank armies.
Soviet units tend to be a little smaller on average, but this still gave the Soviets a logistical and numerical advantage.
You fall into fantasy already in the first minute. There's no way Paulus could have encircled the city, let alone keep the ring tight or clear out the pocket.
Date: 2022-07-15
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Comments and reviews: 9
Steven
If the Germans had successfully seized the Caucasus, they would have been in position to surround the British Desert Army between themselves and Panzerarmee Afrika. This would not only result in the destruction of those Commonwealth forces, but the seizure of Egypt and the Suez Canal. Turkey would openly join the Axis, as would Spain. Many Arabs would as well. The next step would be to win over Iran and push into India from the west, linking up with the Japanese coming in from the east. This would knock both India and China out of the war. Spain would seize control of the Strait of Gibraltar. Malta would become untenable, leaving the Axis in full control of the Mediterranean. Not a good scenario.
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If the Germans had successfully seized the Caucasus, they would have been in position to surround the British Desert Army between themselves and Panzerarmee Afrika. This would not only result in the destruction of those Commonwealth forces, but the seizure of Egypt and the Suez Canal. Turkey would openly join the Axis, as would Spain. Many Arabs would as well. The next step would be to win over Iran and push into India from the west, linking up with the Japanese coming in from the east. This would knock both India and China out of the war. Spain would seize control of the Strait of Gibraltar. Malta would become untenable, leaving the Axis in full control of the Mediterranean. Not a good scenario.
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Chase
Good video but I think that America and the Uk not having a stomach for casualties and thus making peace after a failed D day is unlikely. Much of the Japanese thinking in WW2 essentially relied on the same thinking. That if they could only inflict enough casualties the USA would loose its stomach for war and make peace. It didnt work for the Japanese and I dont believe it would have worked for Germany either. The USA and the UK still controlled the worlds oceans and were quickly gaining a massive supremacy in air power. I think Germany would have faced defeat regardless of the result in the east.
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Good video but I think that America and the Uk not having a stomach for casualties and thus making peace after a failed D day is unlikely. Much of the Japanese thinking in WW2 essentially relied on the same thinking. That if they could only inflict enough casualties the USA would loose its stomach for war and make peace. It didnt work for the Japanese and I dont believe it would have worked for Germany either. The USA and the UK still controlled the worlds oceans and were quickly gaining a massive supremacy in air power. I think Germany would have faced defeat regardless of the result in the east.
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MetaSynForYourSoul
I like the scenario so much im using it as the basis for a short story. Hope you don't mind. Basically an alternate timeline story called American Empire. If you're cool with it I'll definitely let you read it when I'm done. I mean, of course it's gonna be free, not gonna charge anybody to read my inane ramblings. I think that's kinda arrogant for someone like me that just wants their stuff to entertain folks for a half a minute. Not saying that others shouldn't charge, just saying I'm an amateur, and as a guy not getting paid to do it, I would never pretend to be on that level.
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I like the scenario so much im using it as the basis for a short story. Hope you don't mind. Basically an alternate timeline story called American Empire. If you're cool with it I'll definitely let you read it when I'm done. I mean, of course it's gonna be free, not gonna charge anybody to read my inane ramblings. I think that's kinda arrogant for someone like me that just wants their stuff to entertain folks for a half a minute. Not saying that others shouldn't charge, just saying I'm an amateur, and as a guy not getting paid to do it, I would never pretend to be on that level.
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Kai
you missed the fact that the caucus had most of the Soviet oil supply. Like you said with the germans controlling the Volga it would be hard to resupply the region. Losing the region would take most of the soviet oil and give Germany tons of it something that they really needed. With yet another huge defeat of land, men, and resources I think the soviet union may have collapsed. Keep in mind that this was before the Soviets were able to mass-produce war equipment so their economy was still in ruins.
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you missed the fact that the caucus had most of the Soviet oil supply. Like you said with the germans controlling the Volga it would be hard to resupply the region. Losing the region would take most of the soviet oil and give Germany tons of it something that they really needed. With yet another huge defeat of land, men, and resources I think the soviet union may have collapsed. Keep in mind that this was before the Soviets were able to mass-produce war equipment so their economy was still in ruins.
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Cityman
The only way it would have been a huge benefit to Germany would have been if Stalingrad had been completely crushed quickly and without the Wehrmacht suffering any significant casualties - then if the Germans had been able to take the oilfields without the Red Army sabotaging them in their retreat. After that, they might have had a small chance of winning their wars, but only if Hitler had also gained a genius adviser whom he actually deferred to.
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The only way it would have been a huge benefit to Germany would have been if Stalingrad had been completely crushed quickly and without the Wehrmacht suffering any significant casualties - then if the Germans had been able to take the oilfields without the Red Army sabotaging them in their retreat. After that, they might have had a small chance of winning their wars, but only if Hitler had also gained a genius adviser whom he actually deferred to.
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goldreserve
Could the Nazis refine oil in Caucasus and would it make a difference?
Oil fields would have been blown up; 6-12 months to repair. Baku refineries/railroads easy target for partisans and soviet air attack. Soviets would be close to economic collapse but would have local advantage in logistics and manpower. Nazis unable to hold Volga and even more over extended. A nuke on Berlin would end European WW2 in short order.
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Could the Nazis refine oil in Caucasus and would it make a difference?
Oil fields would have been blown up; 6-12 months to repair. Baku refineries/railroads easy target for partisans and soviet air attack. Soviets would be close to economic collapse but would have local advantage in logistics and manpower. Nazis unable to hold Volga and even more over extended. A nuke on Berlin would end European WW2 in short order.
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Joe
Germany would've eventually been nuked by US- however Germany had started working on the idea of nuclear weapons, in fact it was a German scientist, who was first to publish the potentials of nuclear fission technology. However I wouldnt be surprised if Germany was not far behind the US, considering also Operation Paperclip helped the US reap the awards of some of the best German scientists the country had at the time
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Germany would've eventually been nuked by US- however Germany had started working on the idea of nuclear weapons, in fact it was a German scientist, who was first to publish the potentials of nuclear fission technology. However I wouldnt be surprised if Germany was not far behind the US, considering also Operation Paperclip helped the US reap the awards of some of the best German scientists the country had at the time
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Aaron
The loss of Caucasus oil would cripple the Soviet economy. It would take more time for the Germans to fully access it themselves, but even what was a trickle for the Soviets would be an enormous windfall for the German economy.
The Soviets would furiously build up oil production at the Volga bend to compensate, even moreso than OTL, but likely the Germans would crush them before they could rebuild their economy.
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The loss of Caucasus oil would cripple the Soviet economy. It would take more time for the Germans to fully access it themselves, but even what was a trickle for the Soviets would be an enormous windfall for the German economy.
The Soviets would furiously build up oil production at the Volga bend to compensate, even moreso than OTL, but likely the Germans would crush them before they could rebuild their economy.
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Rada
Wow, that's a really drab grey way of looking at the ol' imperial West and its willingness to set a western chess piece (Germany) right. Besides, if they were to invade Italy they would have a second front no matter what. And besides, Germany would bleed dry in a stalemate war in the East. The same could not be said about the USSR, so there really is no way of anyone tolerating the Third Reich in the long run.
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Wow, that's a really drab grey way of looking at the ol' imperial West and its willingness to set a western chess piece (Germany) right. Besides, if they were to invade Italy they would have a second front no matter what. And besides, Germany would bleed dry in a stalemate war in the East. The same could not be said about the USSR, so there really is no way of anyone tolerating the Third Reich in the long run.
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