What sort of 1942/43 European theatre defeat/disaster might cause some sort of collapse in Western Allied morale, and/or else cause the Allied timetable in Western Europe to be slowed or revised by a few months to 1 year. I’m thinking something along the lines of “So the Sicily landings (or whatever) were a big disaster, let’s spend 3-6 months building up our forces before we do anything”.
What sort of 1942/43 European theatre defeat/disaster might cause some sort of collapse in Western Allied morale, and/or else cause the Allied timetable in Western Europe to be slowed or revised by a few months to 1 year. I’m thinking something along the lines of “So the Sicily landings (or whatever) were a big disaster, let’s spend 3-6 months building up our forces before we do anything”.
Successful Sealion.
US has to prepare for invasion of Scotland from Iceland.
I was really thinking of some way the allies can stuff up to slow things down. How about if the Soviets in 41/42 are doing worse and the Western Allies try an early second front which is a failure?Ironically have the Soviets do better at Moscow or Stalingrad. This actually makes the build-up going a bit slower and more focused somewhat more justifiable as there's both less of a pressing necessity for for it as a Second Front and at least at first the "Allied" cause seems to do better while it sets up an ultimate disaster in that the USSR and with it Stalinism get far stronger.
I was really thinking of some way the allies can stuff up to slow things down. How about if the Soviets in 41/42 are doing worse and the Western Allies try an early second front which is a failure?
It was more the Americans than the British who wanted a 1943 'Overlord', and if they're late with 'Torch' then no way does Churchill approve bringing D-Day that far forwards just to please them...1) The allies considered D-Day in 1943, and a 1943 operation could have easily failed.
2) If you just want a few month delay up to D-Day, have the USA delay torch. Not all Generals supported the operation. So if Torch is launched 6 months late, the USA is behind on the time table in the south, but D-Day goes on schedule.
1) The allies considered D-Day in 1943, and a 1943 operation could have easily failed.
2) If you just want a few month delay up to D-Day, have the USA delay torch. Not all Generals supported the operation. So if Torch is launched 6 months late, the USA is behind on the time table in the south, but D-Day goes on schedule.
3) Increase U-boat success. Less supplies = slower operations.
4) Kill the P-51 development program, so the Luftwaffe is beaten a bit slower.
5) Germany build jet fighters sooner, take longer to lose control of airspace.
6) If just want to slow down Sicily, have Patton get fired sooner. Mark Clark tended to be a more cautious commander, so you might slow things down by a few weeks. Really, any major shake up of command staff right before a battle could slow things down, so pick a reason to fire/kill a bunch of Generals. For example, in North Africa in a meeting between Patton and his staff with Monty and his staff, an air raid kills most of them.
Is this for a TL? Did you have something particular in mind?