Once Hitler gained power, unless he was knocked out quickly there was always going to be war. If that had happened the empire was still going to go. Simple social and political change. If there had been no war then the loss of empire would have been a bit later and there is the danger it might have been far bloodier.
If Poland had submitted to Hitler's initial demands then more would have quickly followed, especially if the western powers hadn't made clear they would stand by their guarantee of Polish western borders. Hitler wouldn't have tolerated a Polish state plus he would have wanted the territory for an attack on the Soviets. Once the allies failed to stand up to Hitler early enough to stop him quickly there was going to be war and after the Munich Agreement Poland was very likely to be under Nazi occupation. Unfortunately by that stage, barring very dramatic changes it was facing at least one brutal if not murderous occupation.
Well we will never know for certain but all the evidence is that such an attack, at least without a POD long before the fall of France, would fail. There's the possibility that some landings by parachutists might have triggered a collapse of British moral and Churchill's overthrown by someone who would make peace with Germany but I think that was very unlikely and without ASB intervention that's the only way I can think of for a successful 1940 Sealion.
Steve
1.Hitler was anglofile,so as long as he lived England Empire would be safe - but his successor could see things in another way.
Especially if England try to mess with Europe.
Poland last chance was alliance with Czech in 1938,after that we could help Hitler conqer soviets/which would worked - less way to cross and 40 more dyvisions/ and later become puppet state or die,or choose suicidal but honorable war in 1939.
Personally,i am glad that we wase suicidally honorable - Hitler would probably get rid of us after conqering soviets anyway,or - which is worst - turned into worst german copies.
2.Kesserling was overconfident about Luftwaffe abilities in 1940,so his belive that they could win probably are false.
Maybe,if somebody made realistic game in which Kesserling strategy was used in,let say september 1940,we would knew more.
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