Now that I know how atomics work...

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If the Germans had broken out at Stalingrad the Russians would be beaten, the D-Day would probably not occur (and if it did, it would have to take a whole lot more than it did for real) and the Americans would NOT use atomic weapons against Germany, no chance. They would sue for peace. And peace wouldn't come that expensively either. France would get back their coasts and retain basically the map they have today (- Upper Lorraine and Alsace), Grossdeutchland would keep their parts of Chekoslovakia and Poland. the U.S.S.R would be beaten and with it communism. Denmark, Norway, the Benelux countries and the Balkans were just tools in the war, they too would get back their souveregnity, probably with their fascistic goverments in rule though. The Japanesee would still have to surrender to the Americans and give back the territories in Korea and China. The holocaust wouldn't be known of until years later, thus the state of Isreal would not exist. Maybe I should write a "what if" about this... =)

Firstly, yes we would have used atomic weapons against Germany. I don't see why we wouldn't. Because it's in Europe? No, until 1991 we were quite clear we would nuke things in Europe, as were the Soviets, as were the French with their independent deterrent. Additionally, the original atomic bombs were not powerful enough to create the massive ecological damage a modern bomb might cause to the European heartland--and we barely understood the damage such would cause anyway. Then why? Because they're Caucasian? So are Russians.

Secondly, equating a German victory at Stalingrad with German victory in the East is dubious. The Germans were beat in '41 (actually, they were beat when they failed to bring Britain to the bargaining table, but they were really screwed now). Everything afterwards was delaying action.

Thirdly, you're a little late on the "what-if." It's name was "Fatherland."

At the same time, I was very pissed playing as the Soviets the other day when the Amis nuked Axis-occupied Tallinn. I was going to attack America, but then the Germans owned me, because I very obviously suck at 1.06.

 

[mvsnconsolegene]

I'm not sure I'd agree here. Nuclear weapons were known to be powerful but initially they were viewed (by military commanders) as much more than really powerful bombs. Fallout and Radiation were not well understood. Even during the Korean War Army doctrine held that nuclear weapons could be used tactically on the battlefield or to soften up beaches for MacArthurs Marines.

Would the Americans have nuked Paris? Probably not. Berlin? I'm not so sure. If D-Day had failed and the Russian advance west not been as successful... Would we have softened up the Germans? I think Ike would have had a nice list of targets in Nazi-occupied Europe in August 1945.

That's a tough question. I'd like to think not, BUT with Dresden evident in my mind I have a feeling they would have nuked any GERMAN city they wanted to. You are right, not any occupied city because there goes the liberation thing out the window

- MVSN