The Hitler Options: Alternate Decisions of World War II

Greenhill's Alternate Decisions

by Kenneth John Macksey (editor)

Ten scenarios that might have changed the course of the war Detailed examinations by ten leading military historians Now for the first time in paperback A thought-provoking study of what might have been. British Army Review In this compelling book, ten internationally acclaimed military authors present the greatest maybes of World War II. Based on crucial turning points of the war, these dramatic possibilities develop from choices Hitler could realistically have made; they fall well within the bounds of what might actually have occurred, and are projected only from factual situations and the options available. Real people behave in character, and projected technological innovations are all plausible. The resulting scenarios will grip the reader and graphically illustrate the role of chance in history, showing how major consequences can result from minor changes in the course of events.

Genres: Alternate History, History, World War II, Military Fiction, Military History, Nonfiction, War

224 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1995

About the author

British author and historian who specialized in military history and military biography, particularly of the Second World War. Macksey was commissioned in the Royal Armoured Corps and served during the Second World War (earning the Military Cross under the command of Percy Hobart). Macksey later wrote the (authoritative) biography of Hobart.Macksey gained a permanent commission in 1946, was transferred to the Royal Tank Regiment in 1947, reached the rank of major in 1957 and retired from the Army in 1968.

Amongst many other books, Macksey wrote two volumes of alternate history, one, entitled Invasion, dealt with a successful invasion of England by Germany in 1940 and the other describing a NATO–Warsaw Pact clash in the late 1980s. The latter book was done under contract to the Canadian Forces and focuses on the Canadian role in such a conflict. He was an editor and contributor to Greenhill's Alternate Decisions series since 1995.

In Macksey's Guderian – Panzer General, he refuted the view of historian Sir Basil Liddell-Hart regarding Hart's influence on the development of German Tank Theory in the years leading up to 1939.

Reviews

[Nadienne Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Contrary to what one might think, most of the alternate decisions posed in this book end with an Allied Victory even earlier than what occurred in reality (I'm tempted to say "the Home timeline" because I read too much Harry Turtledove). The biggest takeaway, however, is that Hitler may have lead Germany to victory - if he weren't Hitler. Almost every decision presented here, which may have led to victory, requires Hitler to act out-of-character and to abandon his nature.

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Within the realm of alternate history literature and scenarios, World War II is particularly prominent for fiction authors and historians to ponder on. In The Hitler Options: Alternate Decisions of WWII, ten military historians—which included book editor Kenneth Macksey—looked at scenarios which could have changed the course of the war towards the Third Reich and its Axis partners against the Allies or that the Allies could have decided to the detriment of the Nazis.

The scenarios ranged from the decision to invade England soon after the end of the Battle of France to the Axis securing the Mediterranean before turning to the Soviet Union to linking up with the Japanese to focusing on a jet fighter instead of a jet bomber. While eight of the scenario focused on decisions benefiting the Nazis, two focused on decisions the Western Allies could have made to fight the war differently. The two Allied focused scenarios, “Through the Soft Underbelly” and “Operation ARMAGGEDON”, were among best written in the book along with the Nazi focused “Operation SPINX”, “Operation WOTAN”, and “Operation GREENBRIER”.

While the five other scenarios were just as interesting, the style the author chose to write them undermined their overall effectiveness to some degree especially when compared those scenarios cited above as. Then ten scenarios came up a total of 216 pages, which came out to just barely 20 pages per scenario when excluding maps used for each. This short length for each scenario to be developed in my opinion hurt some of the less impressive scenarios and could have added depth to some of the best as well.

Overall The Hitler Decisions is a good book for those interested in alternate history, especially concentrated around World War II. Yet, there are some drawbacks with the relatively short length average of each piece that hurt some of the scenarios along with stylistic choices.

[Luka Novak · Rating 1 out of 5]

The premise of the book is interesting enough, 10 What If scenarios about how WW2 could have turned out differently. Naturally, as is often the case with such works, they tend to focus on how Germany (and in one scenario Axis) could do better and avoid their mistakes. Even with short chapters, about 20 pages per scenario, this book would be interesting. sadly it's the execution where entire thing falls apart. I'll give a brief run down of the issues each scenario has.

Operation Sea Lion, the 1940 invasion of Britain is something of a Holy Grail when it comes to WW2 althist. The scenario posits that Luftwaffe does a bit better during Battle of Britain and decides to invade as a result. End result is UK being knocked out of the war. The main problem here is that Royal Navy acts lethargic and cautious even when invasion is already taking place and decide to go for broke fairly late. Meanwhile Germans are able to do everything right. Luftwaffe is able to do everything needed, from battlefield support to interdiction, to attacking Royal Navy at sea to providing airlift to invasion force. This scenario is based on 1980 work by same author and in this book he confidently claims that his work hasn't been challenged since. Which may be technically true, however in 1976 there was an tabletop exercise on how invasion would happen and end result was resounding defeat for Germans. An this is something author of such calibre and interest would be aware of.

Operation Sphinxwhere Germans focus on Mediterranean instead of Soviet Union in 1941. Interesting premise that covers often mentioned German mistakes (or perception of things that were mistakes), namely invasion of Gibraltar and Malta. The scenario is somewhat plausible and the fact that it hinges on things going right for Germans can be accepted.

Operation Wotancovers another big question of early WW2, namely the late focus Gemrans gave to Moscow during Barbarossa and whether going for Moscow early on would be a war winning move. But Lucas gives us a twist! Not only do Germans focus on Moscow, they first shuffle all of their Panzer Armies around and concentrate them in one group in front of Moscow and then use that to go around Soviet flank, bypass Tula and strike at Moscow from below and behind. But wait, there's more! This force will be supplied by air! There are no words to describe how badly thought out this scenario is. At the time when Germans were having problems supplying their forces as it was they quickly move thousands of vehicles laterally and have them march across vast distances against determined defence. This is prime example of why "amateurs study tactics, professionals study logistics" maxim is true.

Operation Orientposits that Japan does better in their attacks against British in early 1942, push into Indian Ocean and in turn Germans focus on Mediterranean as well and they meet as a result. Another scenario where logistics simply don't exist as a thing and Germans can conjure things like fuel and supplies out of thin air and move them at will. At the time when Germans were having trouble gathering forces to conduct offensive on part of eastern front (i.e. Blau) they have dozens of armoured and mechanized divisions they can throw at the British at Mediterranean and supply them to drive across Libya, Egypt, Palestine, Syria and into Iraq. But wait, there is more! There is another force coming down from Turkey! Meanwhile Japan decides to focus on Indian ocean instead of Pacific, even though US carrier force is still intact and whole point of the war was to create impenetrable line on the Pacific to keep US out. And naturally IJN has no problem supplying this force as far as Basra. Because logistics is simply not something Axis need to worry about.

Germany and the Atlantic Sea War 1939-1943 is, as name indicates, scenario about different German approach to submarine war Once again Germans just magically wave their problems away and with few tweaks, such as improved Luftwaffe/Kriegsmarine cooperation, manege to overcome their difficulties and starve Britain into submission. Göring has to go and is gone in the most idiotic way and from then on it's smooth sailing to German victory. British themselves are reduced to being side characters in the story and they are merely hapless observers with no agency of their own and can only watch as their shipping is cut and island starved.

Through the Soft Underbelly where Allies adopt Mediterranean strategy and focus on Italy, Balkans and southern France instead of cross Channel invasion. The premise is interesting but the main flaw is why US goes with it. Historically US leadership was categorically opposed to any such side shows as they took the focus away from main and direct objective, namely invasion of France and direct and quick push into Germany itself. British approach was born out of combination of their strengths and weaknesses, namely the dominance of Royal Navy so they could land their force wherever they chose but at the same time small size of their army so they needed to avoid confronting their continental enemies directly. And US being senior partners in alliance their approach prevailed. Scenario just waves the issue away and results in US being persuaded into full reversal of their strategy. It's an interesting premise but sadly badly executed.

Operation Greenbrier where Germany commits more resources to nuclear weapons program Interesting premise but once again scenario just magics resources for this undertaking. While Germany does operate the program on shoe string budget and is constrained by limits imposed by not having resources available to Manhattan Project the resources this scenario posits simply didn't exist.

The Jet Fighter Menace gives Germans operational jet fighters earlier and in greater numbers This scenario is pretty realistic in that it requires some minor changes that could happen, namely availability of resources. It's also realistic in the outcome where Germans get the Me 262 to work but it's not a war winning move and it merely prolongs the war. It's also realistic in how Allied air forces would react.


Operation Armageddon where Allies conduct different air war and focus on destroying more German cities.Interesting and plausible scenario where cities are targeted for destruction in same manner as Hamburg was.

Bloody Normandy where Rommel gets more tanks in June 1944 and his approach on how to conduct defense prevails. Another scenario where there is a change and Germans do things better at first but end result is mostly the same. The problems Germans faced in Normandy were simply insurmountable and no matter what they did end result was not in doubt. the controversy, so to speak, is whether it would be better to keep armoured reserves back and use them to attack landing sites once landings happen or keep them forward so they can engage invaders right away. Former strategy allowed these reserves to be deployed where and when they were needed but required long travel under hostile skies and allowed Allies to establish a beachhead right away. Latter strategy would allow Germans to quickly engage and defeat invading force but would require knowing where invasion is going to happen and in turn expose these forces to naval bombardment Historically end result was a mix of strategies that satisfied nobody, this scenario posits that Rommel gets some additional forces, i.e. Hitler favours his strategy more, but not completely. Author rightly recognizes that this would allow for faster reaction and bloodier initial battle but overall Germans were to weak and Allies to strong for German victory. So while Omaha beach is destroyed other beach are established with much less problems. Author doesn't go much beyond first days of invasion but end result was that these forces would be wiped out meaning that defensive lines that were established in our timeline are now weaker so Allies can punch through them faster. So this scenario makes initial fight bloodier for Allies and more successful for Germans but down the line Germans are weaker. And that's the strength of this scenario, it's not a battle, let alone war, winning move, it's merely a change where Germans choose one bad option over different one.

So out of 10 scenarios only 3 could be considered good and realistic, one has some good points and rest are just bad, showing poor research, loading the dice for Germans and waving away the very real constraints they faced. And of course these scenarios focus on UK and US with Soviet Union playing a supporting role, if that. Which can be understood, these are either old scenarios, scenarios based on old work or written for this book in early 1990s when Soviet archives were still getting opened only slowly and knowledge of soviet part of the war was still misunderstood and seen through lenses cast by post war German accounts.

Not a good book at all.

[David Duez · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book looks at what might have happened if Hitler and others would have made different decisions. First part of the book is about Hitler's invasion of Britain.... which never happened in reality. Fascinating stuff.

But, the book is a little too technical in parts. It would be so much better if it read like a novel. Very historical though and based on factual possibilities. So I give the authors that. There are parts of the book where I had to remind myself what they are writing as if it was history, really has never happened and taken place.

[Mike Glaser · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some very interesting scenarios, very few of which change the results of the war. Credit to the authors for realizing that the superiority of the Allied forces precluded a German victory for just about any scenario you could come up with after 1941 ended.

[Greg Schloesser · Rating 3 out of 5]

I first read The Hitler Options probably 20 years ago. While perusing my book shelves, the book caught my attention and I had a desire to reread it, which I just completed.

The Hitler Options is alternative history. What would have happened if Hitler or the Allies had chosen a different course of action? Ten different authors each tackle a scenario, including the invasion of Britain (Operation Sea Lion), concentration on the capture of Moscow (Operation WOTAN), concentrating on attacking Italy and the "soft underbelly" of Europe and others. Some of these scenarios are fascinating and makes one wonder if they would have succeeded. Others seem a bit more far-fetched.

The problem is that each scenario is written in they style of the individual author. Some are engrossing and told more as a story, while others are a bit too technical, written by someone who has a strong knowledge and love of military strategies, batallions, movements, etc. In those tellings, the stories suffer due to the technical information and jargon.

Overall, the book is fine, but not as engrossing as I would have hoped.

[Andy Horton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picked up in Milwaukee from a withdrawn library book sale cart.
A range of counterfactuals. some depend on "if X battle had gone differently", others look at alternative technologies or strategies. The former often chain advantageous outcomes together, e.g. in Operation Sealion the putative German victory does rather depend on everything going in the Axis' favour. Likewise, some of the alternative strategies seem to assume quite a lot by way of logistics and implementation.
Despite its thesis of how Hitler might have won, most tend to suggest a different, perhaps longer, route to Allied victory and the "soft underbelly" essay on invasion of Italy rather than France actually suggests it might have shortened the war. There is often a plausible sense that while a different strategy might have succeeded in itself, by diverting resources and focus one side could have given other openings to the opposition. This tends to be true in wargames, which this series of thought experiments, in their way, are.

[Corey Bourne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thought provoking what ifs

I like seeing real world what ifs played out. Fantasy time travel is fun but reality of what could have been makes you think and thank God things worked out the way they did. Really enjoyed this book would recommend this to anyone who wondered what if…

[Andy Casey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Andy's review

Downloaded this e-book largely because of the price, & I am not sorry I did - I especially enjoyed the chapter on Operation Sphinx.

[George · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boring

[Simon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perfectly adequate what-if scenarios. Which, yes, the best word I can think of for my review is 'adequate'.

[Jorge3 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting Options

Thought provoking scenarios of what could have been. The scenarios are all well thought out with factual content and outcome.

[Robert Drumheller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some of the alternative scenarios could have turned out differently. Many are very interesting and could have occurred with other compounding alternative scenarios.

[Trevin Sandlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was fine. A bit dated in some respects and lacking an overall focus (as books like this tend towards). A somewhat misleading title since some of the alternate decisions aren't made by Hitler, but by other nations, etc. Some of the scenarios were better written than others, but more than one ended in a place that didn't seem to be justified by what happened (looking at you, U-boat campaign scenario). Not bad, but not one of the best of this sort of exercise.

[Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I posit that this boot is best-suited for fans of detailed military history and technical works of military history. While it includes some relatively interesting bits of alternate history, I'd hesitate to call it a standout in the genre.

[Sergio Gómez Senovilla · Rating 3 out of 5]

I must admit that I began reading this book with some reservations. Far from falling into frivolity, it analyzes other possible alternatives in different scenarios of the conflict, through the use of extensive information and precise data.

[Richard · Rating 2 out of 5]

What he could have done to have won. Okay, mostly. nothing new on this subject any more.

[Luke Hughes · Rating 3 out of 5]

For me a 2 since i was not looking for narrative but for others maybe 3. For a more historical discussion of what ifs see aptly "What if?" By Deutsch & Showalter"