What would have changed in WW2 if Greece, Sweden and Spain had joined the Axis?

[sophie]

You have to remember too that despite most OKH generals knowing their stuff, at least somewhat, Hitler was never one for learning from the mistakes of Napoleon.

Yeah, but there's also a bit of a difference in the temptingness of Russia and that of Spain, or at least I would think.

 

[LightSpectra]

You have to remember too that despite most OKH generals knowing their stuff, at least somewhat, Hitler was never one for learning from the mistakes of Napoleon.

And for good reason, because military strategy, logistics and philosophy evolved quite a bit from 1812 to 1940.

It's true that Hitler generally only listened to the generals that agreed with him anyway (most notably brushing aside Ludwig Beck's very serious warnings against a war over the Sudetenland), but prior to 1944, he did listen to the OKH when its objections were unanimous, which they would've been over invading Spain. Unlike France, which could be defeated by blitzing across the flat Low Countries and capturing their armies, Spain is mountainous (especially in the north) and decentralized. Furthermore, unlike France, for which occupation was a necessity due to its danger as a Great Power, there would simply be no reason at all to invade Spain, even if they did join the Western Allies. Spain did not have enough factories to warrant any sort of occupation, and it only would have overextended Germany's already painfully resource-sucking Atlantic Wall. Alternatively, the Axis could have invaded for the sake of putting Franco on their leash and "Vichyizing" Spain, but that would have been even stupider since it would just open up the entire peninsula for counter-attack from the Western Allies.

In short: there was nothing to be gained from invading Spain, especially considering the necessary resources to do so.

 

[sophie]

And for good reason, because military strategy, logistics and philosophy evolved quite a bit from 1812 to 1940.

It's true that Hitler generally only listened to the generals that agreed with him anyway (most notably brushing aside Ludwig Beck's very serious warnings against a war over the Sudetenland), but prior to 1944, he did listen to the OKH when its objections were unanimous, which they would've been over invading Spain. Unlike France, which could be defeated by blitzing across the flat Low Countries and capturing their armies, Spain is mountainous (especially in the north) and decentralized. Furthermore, unlike France, for which occupation was a necessity due to its danger as a Great Power, there would simply be no reason at all to invade Spain, even if they did join the Western Allies. Spain did not have enough factories to warrant any sort of occupation, and it only would have overextended Germany's already painfully resource-sucking Atlantic Wall. Alternatively, the Axis could have invaded for the sake of putting Franco on their leash and "Vichyizing" Spain, but that would have been even stupider since it would just open up the entire peninsula for counter-attack from the Western Allies.

In short: there was nothing to be gained from invading Spain, especially considering the necessary resources to do so.

In other words, read my post

 

[ParkCungHee]

Oh, and while we're listing problems: A not entirely elimated Republican movement.

 

[Brian Shanahan]

And for good reason, because military strategy, logistics and philosophy evolved quite a bit from 1812 to 1940.

It's true that Hitler generally only listened to the generals that agreed with him anyway (most notably brushing aside Ludwig Beck's very serious warnings against a war over the Sudetenland), but prior to 1944, he did listen to the OKH when its objections were unanimous, which they would've been over invading Spain. Unlike France, which could be defeated by blitzing across the flat Low Countries and capturing their armies, Spain is mountainous (especially in the north) and decentralized. Furthermore, unlike France, for which occupation was a necessity due to its danger as a Great Power, there would simply be no reason at all to invade Spain, even if they did join the Western Allies. Spain did not have enough factories to warrant any sort of occupation, and it only would have overextended Germany's already painfully resource-sucking Atlantic Wall. Alternatively, the Axis could have invaded for the sake of putting Franco on their leash and "Vichyizing" Spain, but that would have been even stupider since it would just open up the entire peninsula for counter-attack from the Western Allies.

In short: there was nothing to be gained from invading Spain, especially considering the necessary resources to do so.

Actually meant my post in the vein of "we can't rule out the possibility of Hitler being brain-dead enough to actually start up another front in a hot war".

And while yes there were a lot of changes in warfare from Napoleon to Hitler, there are some things which do hold true, one of them being overstretch, it would have been as much an overstretch for Germany to go into Spain as it was for Napoleon to go in there.

 

[Tee Kay]

What would have changed in WW2 if Greece, Sweden and Spain had joined the Axis?

I haven't read the thread, but I'm going to say: almost nothing. The Allies would still vastly outproduce the Axis Powers. Perhaps the war might take a few months longer to conclude.

 

[Domen]

Nothing, because the military of all these three countries was laughable compared to major European and global military powers.

Maybe their participation would prolong the defeat of Nazi Germany and her allies for a few additional months.

 

[Luckymoose]

Depends on why they joined, at what time and with what immediate goals.

 

[say1988]

Nothing, because the military of all these three countries was laughable compared to major European and global military powers.

Well, their military is not an issue, bu there are other considerations.

Spain is about the strategic importance of its position (allowing air bases and to attck Gibralter).
Greece is about the forces deployed there to conquer and occupy it.

While it is unlikely to make any difference, just pointing out that while the military could be of minimal importance, other considerations can be significant.