World War II’s history is filled with well-known battles and strategies, but what about the plans that never saw the light of day? Military commanders and political leaders developed many alternative approaches, some nearly forgotten but considered during the war’s intense moments. Let’s explore ten of these intriguing, little-known plans.
The Mechelen Incident
In 1940, German military planners, wary of a direct assault on France and Britain, devised a plan similar to the failed Schlieffen Plan of 1914. Franz Halder, chief of staff of the Army High Command (OKH), intended this as a demonstration to Hitler of the attack’s futility. However, General Erich von Manstein proposed a daring alternative: using panzer units to strike through the Sedan, cutting off Allied forces in the north.
Fate intervened on January 10, 1940, when two German officers carrying Halder’s plans strayed off course, landing in Mechelen, Belgium. Unable to destroy the documents before capture, the “Mechelen Incident” alerted the Allies to German intentions. This led to the Allies massing troops on the Belgian frontier, inadvertently setting the stage for Germany’s successful Fall Gelb (“Case Yellow”), showcasing how a simple mistake reshaped the war’s trajectory.
The Franco-British Union
As France faced collapse, the Franco-British Union was proposed to bolster the alliance with Britain. Proposed by Arthur Salter and Jean Monnet, it suggested unifying both nations by granting dual citizenship and merging parliaments. This would consolidate resources under a single directive.
While General Charles de Gaulle and Winston Churchill favored this bold move, it faced resistance in France. Marshal Philippe Petain dismissed the union and the proposal was ultimately defeated by a vote of 14 to 10. The rejection led to Petain seeking an armistice with Germany, resulting in the division of France and the rise of Free France under de Gaulle. Had the union succeeded, it might have altered the course of European integration and the future of both nations’ colonial empires.
Battleground: Ireland
In 1940, British and Irish representatives secretly discussed potential cooperation against Germany. Britain offered post-war unity in exchange for using Ireland’s military facilities. Meanwhile, Northern Ireland’s Prime Minister advocated for a British invasion to overthrow the Dublin government and secure needed bases.
Simultaneously, Nazi spies and the IRA plotted “Plan Kathleen,” envisioning 50,000 German soldiers invading Northern Ireland with IRA support. The German Army High Command also considered “Operation Green,” a complete takeover of Ireland. These plans never materialized due to various factors, including the capture of German agents and the infeasibility of airborne assaults. The neutrality of Ireland remained a contentious issue, with both sides recognizing its strategic importance.
The US Invasion Of Brazil
Following Germany’s victory over France, the US grew concerned that Brazil might align with the Axis powers. Brazil’s leader, Getulio Vargas, had a complicated political past, and pro-Fascist elements existed within the Brazilian military. Given Brazil’s strategic location, the US feared German access to West Africa.
“Plan Rubber” was devised, calling for 64,000 US troops to invade Brazil. However, tensions eased when Brazil severed ties with the Axis powers at the Pan-American Conference in 1942. After German submarines sank Brazilian ships, Brazil officially joined the Allies. This avoided a potentially disastrous conflict between the US and Brazil and solidified Allied support in South America.
Beating Germany To Ploesti’s Oil Fields
In 1940, the Soviet Union expanded its borders, positioning the Red Army close to Romania’s Ploesti oil fields, a vital resource for Germany. With Germany occupied on the Western front, the Soviets were in position to strike at any time.
Some historians argue that Stalin hesitated to confront Germany, even though British ambassadors urged action. Had Stalin seized Ploesti, it could have crippled Germany’s war efforts. Hitler later admitted that such a move would have spelled disaster for the Reich. However, some military historians suggest it might have triggered a large-scale Soviet offensive across Europe.
Poland And Turkey In The Axis
Before the war, Germany sought to align with Poland, offering reunification with Danzig and constructing an autobahn to link Germany and East Prussia. This formed the basis of cooperation with the Nazis.
After Czechoslovakia’s dismantling, Poland acquired territory from the Czechs, encouraged by German ministers who promised aid against the Soviet Union. Whether Poland would have fared better siding with Germany remains debatable, considering its wartime suffering. Similarly, Germany tried to sway Turkey to join the Axis, discussing the formation of a Pan-Turanian Republic and inciting Muslim POWs to rebel against Russia. Despite rising pro-Axis sentiment following Operation Barbarossa in 1941, Turkey remained neutral.
The Axis Invasion Of America
Germany envisioned using the Messerschmitt-264, or “Amerika Bomber,” to strike the eastern United States, with a range of 15,000 kilometers (9,320 mi). German scientists also explored using chemical weapons against the US.
Japan planned to attack the Panama Canal using the I-400 submarine, an underwater aircraft carrier. The operation never occurred due to Japan’s surrender, and the I-400 was later found sunk off the coast of Hawaii. These ambitious but ultimately unrealized plans illustrate the Axis powers’ reach and intentions.
The Ricin Bomb
Ricin, derived from castor beans, is a potent poison that disrupts protein synthesis and leads to organ failure and death. During WWII, various nations explored ricin’s potential as a weapon.
Allied scientists at Edgewood Arsenal produced around 1,700 kilograms (3,700 lb) of ricin, known as “Agent W,” and developed “W-bombs.” There is evidence the Allies considered using these bombs against Japan. The deployment of ricin could have drastically impacted Japanese resolve and raised questions about the future of warfare.
War Plan Orange And A Preemptive Strike
“War Plan Orange,” the US doctrine for war with Japan, emphasized stocking and defending key areas in the Philippines until the last man. In the hours between the Pearl Harbor attack and attacks on American bases in the Philippines, General Douglas MacArthur hesitated.
General Lewis Brereton suggested a preemptive strike on Taiwan, but MacArthur delayed. This indecision allowed Japanese aircraft from Taiwan to decimate American planes. MacArthur’s subsequent missteps, like inadequately stocking supplies and misplacing troops, led to significant losses and hardship for American and Filipino forces.
The Morgenthau Plan
In 1944, US Secretary of the Treasury Henry Morgenthau proposed the complete dismantling of Germany, reducing it to an agricultural state. President Franklin D. Roosevelt supported this plan, favoring harsh punishment for Germany.
However, Allied leaders opposed the Morgenthau Plan, and when it was leaked to the American media, public outcry ensued. Nazi Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels used it to galvanize German resistance. Although Roosevelt later distanced himself from the plan, its initial support highlights the punitive sentiments of the time. The plan was partially implemented but later abandoned, especially after Roosevelt’s death in 1945.
+ Operation Goldeneye
Ian Fleming’s Jamaican residence, “Goldeneye,” shares its name with a WWII plan devised by Fleming himself as part of Naval Intelligence. “Operation Goldeneye” was intended to send spies and saboteurs to the Iberian Peninsula if Spain aligned with the Axis powers.
Ultimately, the operation was scrapped as Spain remained neutral. The name, however, lived on, immortalized in Fleming’s James Bond novels, illustrating how wartime experiences influenced his creative work.
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