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Axis plans for invasion of the United States during WWII
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The Axis plans for invasion of the United States during WWII were a series of plans for strategic long-range strikes and invasion of United States of America by German and Japanese forces.
German-planned Invasion of the United States
Before the winter of 1941, Germany appeared to be moving toward a swift victory over the Soviet Union. Alfred Rosenberg, Reich Comissaire for Eastern Affairs, was ordered to print the motto "Deutschland Welt Reich" (German World Empire) and Hitler made known his intention of further conquest following victory over Russia. These plans appeared to include an invasion of the United States.
In Autumn of 1940, the attack on the US was fixed for the long-term future. This appears in Luftwaffe documents, one of which dated October 29, 1940 mentions the "extraordinary interest of Mein Führer in the occupation of the Atlantic Islands. In line with this interest...with the cooperation of Spain is the seizure of Gibraltar and Spanish and Portuguese islands, along other operations in the North Atlantic."
In July 1941, the Führer ordered that planning an attack against the United States be continued. Five months later, on December 11, 1941 Germany declared war on the United States.
Armament related to the proposed United States invasion
The Wehrmacht, in planning for the British invasion developed some types of airborne and amphibious tanks and other special heavy armour, later considered for an eventual invasion of America: The Kriegsmarine, ordered the design of some aircraft carriers (Based on Akagi-Type Great Japanese Navy Flag-Carriers):
* Graf Zeppelin Carrier
* Peter Strasser/Deutschland Carrier
* Europa Carrier(Project)
* Potsdam Carrier(Project)
Carrier based aircraft were created for the invasion of Britain and later, America. Such units were intended for equiping the Luftwaffe/Kriegsmarine 650th Geschwader.
The Luftwaffe also created a plan called "Amerika Bomber" that had designs for a strike against United States. They also ordered for transport for airborne forces and light vehicles the ultra-heavy giant armed assault glider Junkers Ju 322 "Mammut". Such vehicles were supposed to be used in an invasion of America alongside the Messerschmitt Me 321 "Gigant" heavy transport glider.
Use of 'V-weapons' against America
The Luftwaffe analyzed the possible use of 'V-weapons' against the US in a plan to launch a squadron of Junkers Ju 290 long range recon aircraft armed with Fieseler Fi-103 (V-1) rockets. The Kriegsmarine considered a similar idea with submarine-based V-1/V-2 launchers against United States coasts. Similarly, the Wehrmacht created the "Division zur Vergeltung" (Reprisal Division) or "Div.z. V." this unit would use the "Langrohrkanone LRK 15 F-58", also knowed "HDP Kanone" or V-3, or the ultra long-range version of the multi-phase mid-range missile V-4 "Rheinbote" against U.S. soil by attacking from islands or just offshore.
"A9"
Another weapon that was designed for possible use against the US was the A9. The A9 was a further development of the "A4" rocket. No prototype was ever developed before the end of the war, although a variant, the A4b, was produced. The A9 would have been used as the upper stage for an intercontinental missile or a manned craft.
"A10"
The A10, which was never built, was intended to serve as the first stage for the A9, to help it to reach an intercontinental range. New York City and other targets in the northeastern U.S. were its intended targets. Test Stand VII was built at Peenemünde for use in the A10's development.
The A10 was designed to have a diameter of 4.12 meters and to exceed the A4 in its size. It was to be fueled with alcohol and liquid oxygen. The thrust of the engines would have been 235,000 kgf (2300 kN) with a 55-second burn time.
Strategic lines to supposed American invasion
Operation Felix (Fall Felix) and Operation Sealion, planned the occupation of Ireland and Operation Ikarus, would have provided some support bases for installing the Wehrmacht and Kriegsmarine infantry seaborne or Luftwaffe Airborne forces for the invasion.
These units, with proper support from the Kriegsmarine and Luftwaffe, were to capture coastal areas in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey and Delaware.
On the other hand, the invasion could have come from airborne landings on the Atlantic coast of Canada in the Northwest Territories, Quebec, Newfoundland, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, with the army then continuing into U.S territory. The Saint Lawrence River was also considered to be a major possible entry point into North America. Another option involved launching seaborne rockets, long range missiles or aerial bombardments, against U.S. territory. The Germans were also considering the development and use of an atomic bomb against the United States.
Air strikes with heavy long range bombers would have not only put the coastal targets of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Washington D.C., Boston, and New York within range, but also targets in Ohio and even Indiana.
Operations supposedly related to the planned invasion
German forces sent agents to Greenland to install a base for secret operations in the area that would have been supported by the use of a radio station in Saint Pierre and on Miquelon island, under the administration of Vichy France.
The German invasion would also have been supported by German submarine missions to the Atlantic coast and Caribbean areas, with submarines such as U-134, U-853 and others. The Germans had projects to use of submarines with V-1/V-2 Launchers against American coasts. Also, the planned use of special mobile launchers from French coasts for launching one ultra long-range multi-stage V-4 "Rheibote" missile or other similar type.
Another maritime tactic would have been maritime reconnaissance flights by German flying boats Blohm und Voss Bv 222 C-0 "Wiking" from France and Norway to the north and central Atlantic area to watch Iceland, Greenland, England, and the Canadian and United States coasts.
There was also a Kriegsmarine or Luftwaffe attack against the Panama Canal, a U.S. territory at the time. The former would use submarines to strike the Atlantic side of the Canal. The latter would send a squadron of ultra long-range bombers from France to North Africa, before continuing to South America in support of a neutral country.
Japanese-planned invasion of the United States
Ironically, at the start of the 20th Century, Japan was allied to the western powers, and was emerging as a naval power in the Pacific. Anxiety over Japan's interest fueled concern among Americans about their southern border. Rumors abounded of a Mexican plot with the help of Germany and Japan.
For example, in 1908, there was a rumour of a secret treaty between Japan and Mexico and reports of Japanese officers serving with the armies of Huerta, Carranza and Villa. Fear grew of a Japanese invasion of the United States through Mexico, using the Mexican railway system to transport troops to the American border and Gulf of California ports. The mysterious arrival of Cruiser Asama Maru, in April 1915 added to this fear.
During the war the Japanese Navy strongly advocated the capture of the Hawaiian Islands. This would have involved landing after the first stage of the war. The Hawaiian Islands could be used for future landings in the continental U.S., or to conduct aerial surface, naval, or submarine attacks against U.S. coasts. The operations bureaus of both the Army and the Navy investigated the matter on a number of occasions. When it became apparent that the Hawaii operation was beyond the capability of the Army to carry out alone, the General Staff vigorously resisted the project, which was eventually discarded.
Kinoaki Matsuo, a high-ranking officer of the Black Dragon Society, and Japanese Navy thinker wrote the book The Three Power Alliance And The United States-Japanese War, which is purported to detail the Japanese war plans for the simultaneous invasions of the Panama Canal Zone, Alaska, California, and Washington.
Strategic lines to Japanese invasion of America
For Japanese Naval strategists, an invasion of American, Mexican, and Central American Pacific coasts would have required naval bases in the Aleutian and Hawaiian islands, as well as the Mexican Revillagigedo and French Clipperton islands.
From the Aleutians, Japanese forces would have landed in Alaska and Canada, from Hawaii naval or airborne landings in Washington state, Oregon, and California were considered. From these bases, long-range heavy land-based bombers or flying boat attacks on U.S. territory could be launched. The High Command staff considered bombing San Francisco, Panama, Los Angeles, the Texas oilfields, in coordination with German naval strikes against Boston, Washington D.C. or New York. The use of biological and chemical weapons was also considered.
I found this when I was looking through wikipedia. The pln looks pretty formidable looks like it would eat lives by the bundle. Any thoughts?
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