Alternate history is one of my favorite topics, and I’m curious to hear your thoughts.

  • JubilantJaguar@lemmy.world
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    23 hours ago

    This particular alternative history is uninteresting because its premises mean you have to invent a whole parallel universe. In plain English: it could not have happened and would not have happened, for essentially economic reasons.

    The interesting alternative histories are ones that turn on a single fortuitous event.

    • dfyx@lemmy.helios42.de
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      22 hours ago

      There are several events that might have had the possibility to turn the war:

      • Germany doesn’t attack France at all, concentrating their forces in the east which gives the UK fewer reasons to join the war
      • Japan doesn’t attack Pearl Harbor so the USA don’t join the war (yet)
      • Operation Mincemeat fails and the Axis keeps their troops in Sicily, preventing the Allies from establishing a base in the Mediterranean.
      • Axis spies uncover the plans for D-Day before it happens, Germany bombs the landing boats and thousands of Allied soldiers drown before they can reach land
      • The Manhattan Project fails to produce a working nuclear bomb. Most of Germany and Italy has already fallen but Japan stays strong and can eventually send troops to Europe.
    • DagwoodIII@piefed.social
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      22 hours ago

      You are contradicting yourself.

      Hitler left orders not to be awakened so he slept in on D-Day. Rommel had left his post. Think that wouldn’t have changed things?

      Stalin had dozens of warnings that Hitler planned to invade. What if he’d taken even one seriously?

      What if Hitler had let the Army get the glory at Dunkirk and steamrolled the troops on the beach?

      I can think of dozens of times the course of the War changed by the actions of one person.

        • DagwoodIII@piefed.social
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          21 hours ago

          it could not have happened and would not have happened, for essentially economic reasons.

          The interesting alternative histories are ones that turn on a single fortuitous event.

          You said it couldn’t happen, then said that there are ways it could have happened.

          Also, if you don’t want to be part of the discussion, you are free to stay out. other people are participating and enjoying themselves.

          • JubilantJaguar@lemmy.world
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            21 hours ago

            Also, if you don’t want to be part of the discussion, you are free to stay out. other people are participating and enjoying themselves.

            In future then I’ll try to remember your handy advice and not say anything that might challenge anyone’s views or otherwise spoil your enjoyment. Cheers.