Posted: 2003-11-30 06:45pm
The way I would probably go about accomplishing the goals I put above is...
Things would start on the diplomatic front, announcing that Germany is pushing for an alliance to defend against the Red threat. Italy would already be in on this move, and other countries in Eastern Europe would be strongly encouraged to join. Feelers would also be extended to America, in the hopes of at least getting them to be positive towards this alliance.
Next, I would have the board of generals begin drafting up plans for a possible invasion of Poland, and start moving the economy into a wartime footing. The development of advanced military hardware would be encouraged with economic incentives. The reasoning for this would be a response to increased Soviet military activity along the eastern frontier of Germany.
While the generals are drafting up their plans, diplomatic pressure is applied to Poland to make them join the anti-Red alliance. Economic incentives are offered to them--credit lines for purchasing fairly recent German hardware, etc. If they do not take the bait, more pressure can be applied. If they do take the bait, it means that Germany will have a friendly buffer state in front of the Red Army, and given time it can be used as a staging grounds for the military. Additionally, and this is the main intended goal, the move should hopefully force Stalin's hand and make him invade Poland.
If Stalin invades Poland first, then the German military forces that have been quietly gathering along the eastern border make their lightning strike into Poland to counter the Red Army, according to the plans laid down by the generals. There will, of course, be time allowed for Poland to attempt to defend itself before we move in; we don't want to look like the agressors, after all.
The German economy is immediately shifted into wartime footing, and after that... well, the idea is to destroy as much of the Red Army as possible in as little time. I suppose the post-Poland ideas can be worked on later.
Things would start on the diplomatic front, announcing that Germany is pushing for an alliance to defend against the Red threat. Italy would already be in on this move, and other countries in Eastern Europe would be strongly encouraged to join. Feelers would also be extended to America, in the hopes of at least getting them to be positive towards this alliance.
Next, I would have the board of generals begin drafting up plans for a possible invasion of Poland, and start moving the economy into a wartime footing. The development of advanced military hardware would be encouraged with economic incentives. The reasoning for this would be a response to increased Soviet military activity along the eastern frontier of Germany.
While the generals are drafting up their plans, diplomatic pressure is applied to Poland to make them join the anti-Red alliance. Economic incentives are offered to them--credit lines for purchasing fairly recent German hardware, etc. If they do not take the bait, more pressure can be applied. If they do take the bait, it means that Germany will have a friendly buffer state in front of the Red Army, and given time it can be used as a staging grounds for the military. Additionally, and this is the main intended goal, the move should hopefully force Stalin's hand and make him invade Poland.
If Stalin invades Poland first, then the German military forces that have been quietly gathering along the eastern border make their lightning strike into Poland to counter the Red Army, according to the plans laid down by the generals. There will, of course, be time allowed for Poland to attempt to defend itself before we move in; we don't want to look like the agressors, after all.
The German economy is immediately shifted into wartime footing, and after that... well, the idea is to destroy as much of the Red Army as possible in as little time. I suppose the post-Poland ideas can be worked on later.