I love history and have run or helped run two great history forums for the past few years. One of the things I like to do a lot is to ask questions relating to "What If" Scenarios. And then it's also fun to just discuss history in general or also the way history impacts other facets of culture - language, food, technology, fashion, etc. and vice versa. So my mission is to post some of the key things I have written or am writing over time. Thanks for reading. Glad to have you here.

Friday, May 25, 2007

What if Sweden Hadn't Been Neutral in WWII?

Hi Everyone,
Today's discussion topic is...

What if Sweden Hadn't Been Neutral in WWII?

Assume that because of the invasion of Poland, Sweden declares war joining one side or the other.

Sweden has had great leaders for centuries. They have had first rate arms manufacturers and an excellent military. One way or another, Sweden would have made an impact probably greater than any nation other than the great powers.

Which side would Sweden have joined?

Regardless of which side you picked, how would the war have been impacted differently and how would it have played it differently both in the Baltic and also strategically?

Even if the Germans did devote all available resources to invading/capturing Sweden, could they have? And if so, under what circumstances?

Narayan

Was the Treaty of Versailles Fair?

Hi Everyone,
It seems like the Treaty of Versailles of 1919 was more than fair. I never understand what people complain about or how they can begin to claim that Versailles caused WWII other than perhaps by not being harder, which it probably should have been. Maybe I am wrong, but here is what I am thinking...

Compare the Treaty of Versailles to the Treaty of Frankfurt of 1871* after the Franco-Prussian War or Treaty of Brest-Litovsk of 1918** - both of which were engineered by the Germans against countries they beat prior to the Treaty of Versailles.

Compared the fate of Germany at Versailles to the fate of Austria-Hungary or Ottoman Empire at the end of WWI and again, it's fair in that respect as well. Who would even begin to say that Germany didn't get off lightly in comparison?

IIRC, France wanted Germany dismembered like Austria-Hungary and Turkey were. Thanks to President Wilson (and probably with some credit due to Lloyd George), Germany wasn't broken apart or really weakened. Then the US didn't even ratify the Treaty of Versailles. And look at what happened 20 years later. Why would Wilson do this, one must wonder?

And then look at what happened in 1945. Germany was cut into two (four) pieces and occupied. Peace. And now Germany has become a great nation again and, in my mind, one of the leaders of the world not just economically and technologically, but also morally. All this could have been done in 1918-1919 and saved the world another War to End All Wars and saved Germany from the destruction it suffered in the final years of WWII.

Narayan

Welcome!

Hi Everyone,
Welcome to the 5 Star General blog. I love history and have run or helped run two great history forums for the past few years.
One of the things I like to do a lot is to ask questions relating to "What If" Scenarios.
And then it's also fun to just discuss history in general or also the way history impacts other facets of culture - language, food, technology, fashion, etc. and vice versa.
So my mission is to post some of the key things I have written or am writing over time.
Thanks for reading. Glad to have you here. If you have questions, then let me know.
Take care,
Narayan