What If?

[Dac]

Originally posted by fraser83@May 24 2005, 03:21 PM
I am a young film maker from Bournemouth University and am researching historical technological triggers that could have turned the tide of World War II against the British.

In essence, is there one single technological development that could have lead to a ground invasion of the British Isles?

For example, if radar had been invented by the Nazi's and not the British could the Blitz have continued to ravage London for a more prolonged period, and lead to a greater demise in the RAF? Would there have been a snow ball effect?

Any intelligent, or creatively intelligent suggestions would be very greatly appreciated.

Quoted post

What the Germans needed was an understanding of the role technology played in the RAFs' ability to detect aircraft and then guide fighters to interception. Until the Germans' destroyed Fighter Command, no invasion of Britian would have been possible.

[BrianP]

The Germans also lacked a decent landing craft. They would have to had transported troops across the Channel on barges. If they had something similar to the Higgins boat, it would have made a landing a lot easier.

But that is if they get to the landing; they would have to defeat the RAF and RN first.

[Perf]

Lets look at at a deferent angle. What if the germans built aircraft carrier like japan did? after all japan did not have the industrial strengh Germany did. i'm sure they would had been equal to the U.S carriers.........Maybe even better.

[Kiwiwriter]

Originally posted by Perf@Aug 2 2005, 10:35 PM
Lets look at at a deferent angle. What if the germans built aircraft carrier like japan did? after all japan did not have the industrial strengh Germany did. i'm sure they would had been equal to the U.S carriers.........Maybe even better.

Quoted post

Well, the Germans tried. They came pretty close to finishing the Graf Zeppelin, and the Luftwaffe assigned and trained squadrons of Me 109s and Ju 87 dive-bombers to her. They were tailhook-equipped and Luftwaffe crews, but I don't know if they trained on the tailhooks. But Graf Zeppelin and her sisters were never finished. What was needed was the commitment to finishing the carriers, training the airmen, and committing them to action...and developing the doctrine to make use of them.

[angie999]

Originally posted by BrianP@Jul 8 2005, 09:51 PM
The Germans also lacked a decent landing craft. They would have to had transported troops across the Channel on barges. If they had something similar to the Higgins boat, it would have made a landing a lot easier.

Quoted post

I agree that quite clearly the Germans would have been better placed than they were if they had a fleet of purpose built craft.

But if you take the specialist invasion vessels the allies had in 1944 - and there were many different types, not just or even mainly Higgins boats - they were the result of lessons learned from experience in North Africa, Sicily, Italy and the many landings which were taking place in the Pacific. The same applies to tactical lessons and specialist equipment such as AVREs. The Germans of 1940 had not had an opportunity to perfect their seaborne landing techniques.

They could not use Norway as an example to learn from - it was conceptually quite different in scale and method from an invasion of Britain.