Sorry to not give you salt ...

This sim, as we play it today, has - for the most people - almost nothing to do with the war itself, or the politics.

For me, it's about cool badass machines with props and guns. As you know, we all like badass machines. And we like them even more if they make a lot of sound and kaboom. That's manly. Very manly.

If there was a sim about flying around pregnant mothers in a medical helicopter transport, I would play it. Because it's about badass machines with rotors that make a hell lot of a sound ...

But you are right. We shouldn't forget about the war, and we should think to ourselves from time to time. Almost everyone in Europe has a very own story of the war in his family, and that should not be forgotten. And it should be looked at rather from the standpoint of humanity, than from any of the political standpoints of that time. Because luckily, the political standpoints at that time don't play a significant role anymore.

Well I don't think the Royal Navy would have been a real thread for a German invasion fleet. There would have been no better present for Hitler and the Luftwaffe than having the Home Fleet doing a parade in the Channel. Every German plane which could carry even something similar like a weapon would have been used for the attack on the capital ships...and if they would have used only small vessels...well they wouldn't have been able to do much against an invasion.

We will NEVER know.

You are right as those thinking of the navy are forgetting the Battle of Taranto
where Swordfish biplanes sunk and destroyed several capital ships, the sinking of the HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse, Pearl Harbour, which clearly showed capital ships had become antique.
Things could have gone both ways, luckely they did not.
But we are at a game site and politics should not really be a topic in my opinion.

Historical revisionism... a very tricky subject.

BoB was very important and it could well be described as the first battle that 'saved' western europe for democracy and freedom. Had the BoB been lost and either (a) Britain was successfully invaded or (b) Britain surrendered then the world would probably be a very different place today. I have been a keen stuent of WW2 for as long as I have been able to read. In my opinion the loss of the BoB could have resulted in two plausible scenarios:


(1). BoB is lost: The Luftwaffe does not need to carry out the 'Blitz' nor are german fighter units required in France in any greater numbers. These can be diverted to bolster the attack on the Soviet Union in 1941.

As britain is out of the fight there is no mediteranean/ north african war to speak of and since the Italians don't meet any decent soldiers (i.e. the British) they don't require rescueing by Hitlers armies in in either North Africa or Greece. Again these forces could have joined the invasion of the Soviet Union. In fact, so could a large number of italian and Hungarian soldiers (they also took part in Barbarossa).

June 1941: Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of Russia: By the winter of 1941 they are at the gates of Moscow, however in this alternate history the Germans have more forces and airpower as they are not fighting britain and her commonwealth anywhere and its quite possible that Moscow is overrun. The Soviets retreat to the Urals.

Without britain in the war for use as a base for convoys lend lease to the Soviet Union does not occur. Without this supply of essential equipmment, aircraft etc etc (and trucks... very important!) The Soviets are unable to eject the Germans out of Russia and a stalemate ensures, leaving Germany and Hitler as the masters of Europe from the channel to the Urals.

Without britain as a base, when germany declares war on the USA they do no decide to concentrate on europe first (as they did in reality) but fight Japan alone. Without an island fortress and without the soviets tying down the bulk of the german forces no D-Day takes place and no american soldiers fight in Europe.

As such Europe, the whole of Europe lives under Nazi tyranny for a long time, perhaps even to today. Think what that would have meant for the holocaust for instance.

Alternative alternative

After the invasion of the soviet union, and despite the extra forces available, the Germans do not occupy Moscow. this leads to a long, bitter war as the Soviet Union ejects Germany from their soil. This would most likely take a lot longer than it did historically given the relative peace elsewhere in the german 'empire'.

This fight could have gone two ways: Either both sides find themselves exhausted and the war descends into an uneasy stalemate with borders roughly as they where in early 1941. As such Europe is still run by the Nazis, the holocaust still rolls on and no freedom and democracy for anyone in europe.

Another alternative is that the soviet union continue their advance throughout europe and eventually destroys nazi germany. Its unlikey they would stop at germanys eastern borders and its probable that they would roll all the way to the channel. And perhaps over it.

Again europe would be ruled by a totalitarian regime without any pity or thought to the individuals rights. No freedom for anyone.

There you are, Flashys alternate history of Europe where the RAF does not prevail in the BoB. Revisiting the past and playing what-if is a favorite pastime of historians, amateur and professional alike. Thats just my take on the situation...feel free to disagree!

I am NOT going to enter into the politcal debate re: Nazism and Socialism. This game is a military game and lets leave it at that shall we?


BTW, so you know where im coming from, im British (english), the germans nearly bombed my granny (had they suceeded you would not have the pleasure of my delightful company!) and my local Auxillary air force squadron took part in the battle as part of 12 group (610 County of Chester Sqn).

except Nazism is far left in many aspects..

nice analogy mate, i agree on this one. Couldnt have said it better myself ;)

*GASP* Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa , are you serious? If Germany took over the UK then they take over the world no question. What other country had any Army at the time even capable of defending against German warefare? China? Japan? No way. The Uk ended up being the key launch pad for the eventual downfall of Hitler.

Even though I am German, I doubt that conclusion very much. Germany would have been with Europe already very over stretched, also the States started rather early with their "Manhatten Project". I would say it would have resulted in some European Hiroshimas. As the German leaders at the time where known for making a lot of big blunders, there is no way I would see that it was even vaguely possible to invade either the southern or northern American continent. I think things just would have gotten a step more uglier.

Wasn't it because of the defeat of Germany that the US was able to finalise the project using those top German scientists? or were they well able just using the scientists they 'collected' from Germany during the course of the war?