Denmark of August 1 2019 replaces Denmark of August 1 1939

[575]

About the Home Guard Navy Vessels - seems to be an outgrowth of the 1990's post Cold War and stuff - only the MGs and equipment for environmental damage operation. Not war vessels as such. They are to be replaced soon be intersting to see what the new role will become.

[lordroel]

Jan 22, 2022 16:26:23 GMT 575 said:

I have for some time assumed that the three corvettes was mothballed past 2009 but seems they were indeed scrapped by 2013 - not many mentioning such.

About the patrol boats armaments - have to have a look at it.

Well if needed they can be fitted with 1939 waiting and depth charges.

[stevep]

Jan 22, 2022 9:55:49 GMT 575 said:

Jan 21, 2022 18:34:25 GMT stevep said:

  575 ,

  How reliant would Denmark be on imports?  Both for basic things like food, oil and other raw materials or more sophisticated electronic stuff.  Also could their ships and down-time ones use others facilities that well?  This is a traditional issue in temporal ISOTs with the development of containerization since WWII.

  I'm not so sure that the western powers would ignore news coming out of Denmark, especially given their up time diplomats desperately screaming at them to listen and also some of the technology that they can display.  Plus if they pass on information that would be national secrets in Britain and France at this time, such as some diplomatic agreements, work on radar etc that could make a few people listen.  Of course Germany is nearer and as you say there's likely to be some neo-Nazi nutters seeking to aid it so how big a panic or not would this generate and what might be the reaction there.

  Damn I thought I had posted this earlier.

  Steve

stevep; Jan Karol Chodkiewicz;

I had gotten 2018 into my head though things had changed a little by 2019 and my numbers from the 2018 TL is still valid.

Agricultural produce and other foodstuffs will be no problem except for the more exotic stuffs we've become accostumed to since 1939.. as already mentioned we do have the necessary oil and natural gas in the North Sea and still tapping into it during 2019 but had gone from net export of oil to import by 2018. Rationing will be an issue.

Major problem will be import of metals and computerchips; the huge Maersk containerships will probably not be able to dock anywhere else than in Denmark but more importantly the infrastructure will not be available - ports not dredged deeply enough and no cranes or trucks available in size. Problem - getting stuff in right amounts loaded abroad on modern ships.. oh yes and pay for it!

Short term there would be little problems except the usual annoyances encountered in any ISOT that 2019 modern man and woman just won't be able to cope with because everybody gets frustrated and overwhelmed and frightened when their smartphone is out of operation for some minutes.. One problem I did address in the 2018 TL was the smartphone/computer clock and I expect it to be doable by 2019.

Another problem will be positioning without GPS - Armed Forces will have re-learn a lot of old trades of map and compass and fast.

The Brits and French may need some first hand experience of a pair of F-16s penetrating the radar/fighter defences in the case of Britain and some live firing in the case of the French or probably both.

I don't expect the Brits and French to initially be the recipients of art.5 of the NATO charter as their 1939 mentality isn't suited for it - harsh words but do think about it it would be a total Danish sell out! Unless their 2019 Embassies to Copenhagen would be able to convince them of it.. no I don't expect to, at least not in time - sorry Stevep.
Poland might be another case but the outlook is so different of 2019 to 1939 states and their political systems.

The primary objectives of Denmarks should be to rally the other Nordic countries into a kind of defensive league - well Stauning had tried during the early 1930's and didn't succeed but perhaps if presented with a possible nasty what-if.. The Swedes would be difficult to convince remember their strategic outlook would be to the East not South by 1939 and the German-Soviet Pact dividing the spoils in the east e.g. Finland and Baltic states is still a couple of months in the future.

The Poles and Baltics would to 2019 man and woman look like reactionary fascists of the worst kind - do remember the public and much more so media perception had changed so much. It would be a political uphill struggle but I expect sanity to win out and what can be spared of light AT-weapons to be handed over to the Poles if only to keep Stalin at bay if the Germans can be stalled.

Arming the downtimers will really be a thing of low tech - AT-weapons like 66mm rockets, upgraded torpedoes and as mentioned radar - though Denmark may be able to produce radars it'll have to be founded first. It will be months.

Armaments are easier there is still the know-how at the Ammunitionsarsenalet but it needs a rush; also as already pointed to an assessment of available artillery and AA-tubes need being made and troops trained to man it.

Also more fun stuff like smartbombs and artillery clustermunitions which had been abolished by 2008 with will be in short supply and manufacturing initiated.

The modern Danish ASW-ships may be of some interest to the RN at least the few German U-boote at outbreak of war should be a lessened thread once they start leaving port a cruise up the North Sea past Danish oil and gas rigs.. I expect the Navy to be quite aware of this and it may constitute an act of war as it did during WWI!

So - getting Denmark into the war against Germany is not a problem timing is.

I do expect my country to hold its own against Nazi-Germany the annoyance will be small raids of Luftwaffe as we lack numbers of combat A/C though something in the civvie inventory may boost that by a Squadron or two. And AA-guns.

U-boots hunted down. Surface units sunk.

Taking out Hitler et al.? Gadhaffi and Saddam Hussein getting rid off may have changed the political outlook on such actions - perhaps.

 575,

  I wasn't thinking of a formal alliance being formed quickly and there are considerable social differences between even the western democracies of 1939 and Denmark 2019.  However even without what their up-time people in Denmark are telling them and possibly some passage of information that would be deeply secret in those countries in 1939 I think Britain and France would fairly quickly be willing to listen to what the Danes are saying.

  As you say most tech transfers, either to the allies or possible Scandinavian allies would be relatively low tech but could still be a big leap up on what's available in 1939.  I suspect there would be little being transferred to the Poles because there isn't really the time plus there would be too great a danger of items falling into hostile [Nazi/Soviet] hands.  Possibly they could give/trade some historical documents on what say Britain, Sweden etc produced during WWII - along with advice on what not to do.

  One big uncertainty would be what happens with the Molotov-Ribbentrop_Pact which is due to be signed on the 23rd August.  Probably still going to go ahead given Stalin's paranoia means he would quite likely totally refuse to accept any warnings from the future but might not and might be somewhat different. 

  Given the crisis would Denmark be willing to accept a markedly greater militarization, possibly even conscription.  True there won't be time to do much before the storm very likely descends and also to get people trained and weapons to equip them with but given the circumstances every extra boot on the ground could be useful.

  One question is what is likely to be the Danish response to the nuclear jinn?  Suspect they might try and delay production/passage of knowledge but probably enough info in private hands and especially foreign diplomats inside Denmark to mean a lot of information gets out, although to whom, in what order and how well its listened to would be important.

  Its not clear whether its just the Danish core territories or also the Faroes and Greenland have also been brought along, could Otto Kretschmer, clarify on this?  If either/both are included it would had somewhat more resources although not a massive amount.

  Steve

[Otto Kretschmer]

Also Greenland and Faroe Islands

[Otto Kretschmer]

575

What are infantry units of the Danish army? Dano-German border is short so maybe it might just be possible to man the entire border. Even a thin infantry line together with artillery and F-16s bombing supply lines and command posts might halt the Germans for good

[575]

Jan 22, 2022 17:17:09 GMT stevep said:

Jan 22, 2022 9:55:49 GMT 575 said:

stevep; Jan Karol Chodkiewicz;

I had gotten 2018 into my head though things had changed a little by 2019 and my numbers from the 2018 TL is still valid.

Agricultural produce and other foodstuffs will be no problem except for the more exotic stuffs we've become accostumed to since 1939.. as already mentioned we do have the necessary oil and natural gas in the North Sea and still tapping into it during 2019 but had gone from net export of oil to import by 2018. Rationing will be an issue.

Major problem will be import of metals and computerchips; the huge Maersk containerships will probably not be able to dock anywhere else than in Denmark but more importantly the infrastructure will not be available - ports not dredged deeply enough and no cranes or trucks available in size. Problem - getting stuff in right amounts loaded abroad on modern ships.. oh yes and pay for it!

Short term there would be little problems except the usual annoyances encountered in any ISOT that 2019 modern man and woman just won't be able to cope with because everybody gets frustrated and overwhelmed and frightened when their smartphone is out of operation for some minutes.. One problem I did address in the 2018 TL was the smartphone/computer clock and I expect it to be doable by 2019.

Another problem will be positioning without GPS - Armed Forces will have re-learn a lot of old trades of map and compass and fast.

The Brits and French may need some first hand experience of a pair of F-16s penetrating the radar/fighter defences in the case of Britain and some live firing in the case of the French or probably both.

I don't expect the Brits and French to initially be the recipients of art.5 of the NATO charter as their 1939 mentality isn't suited for it - harsh words but do think about it it would be a total Danish sell out! Unless their 2019 Embassies to Copenhagen would be able to convince them of it.. no I don't expect to, at least not in time - sorry Stevep.
Poland might be another case but the outlook is so different of 2019 to 1939 states and their political systems.

The primary objectives of Denmarks should be to rally the other Nordic countries into a kind of defensive league - well Stauning had tried during the early 1930's and didn't succeed but perhaps if presented with a possible nasty what-if.. The Swedes would be difficult to convince remember their strategic outlook would be to the East not South by 1939 and the German-Soviet Pact dividing the spoils in the east e.g. Finland and Baltic states is still a couple of months in the future.

The Poles and Baltics would to 2019 man and woman look like reactionary fascists of the worst kind - do remember the public and much more so media perception had changed so much. It would be a political uphill struggle but I expect sanity to win out and what can be spared of light AT-weapons to be handed over to the Poles if only to keep Stalin at bay if the Germans can be stalled.

Arming the downtimers will really be a thing of low tech - AT-weapons like 66mm rockets, upgraded torpedoes and as mentioned radar - though Denmark may be able to produce radars it'll have to be founded first. It will be months.

Armaments are easier there is still the know-how at the Ammunitionsarsenalet but it needs a rush; also as already pointed to an assessment of available artillery and AA-tubes need being made and troops trained to man it.

Also more fun stuff like smartbombs and artillery clustermunitions which had been abolished by 2008 with will be in short supply and manufacturing initiated.

The modern Danish ASW-ships may be of some interest to the RN at least the few German U-boote at outbreak of war should be a lessened thread once they start leaving port a cruise up the North Sea past Danish oil and gas rigs.. I expect the Navy to be quite aware of this and it may constitute an act of war as it did during WWI!

So - getting Denmark into the war against Germany is not a problem timing is.

I do expect my country to hold its own against Nazi-Germany the annoyance will be small raids of Luftwaffe as we lack numbers of combat A/C though something in the civvie inventory may boost that by a Squadron or two. And AA-guns.

U-boots hunted down. Surface units sunk.

Taking out Hitler et al.? Gadhaffi and Saddam Hussein getting rid off may have changed the political outlook on such actions - perhaps.

 575 ,

  I wasn't thinking of a formal alliance being formed quickly and there are considerable social differences between even the western democracies of 1939 and Denmark 2019.  However even without what their up-time people in Denmark are telling them and possibly some passage of information that would be deeply secret in those countries in 1939 I think Britain and France would fairly quickly be willing to listen to what the Danes are saying.

  As you say most tech transfers, either to the allies or possible Scandinavian allies would be relatively low tech but could still be a big leap up on what's available in 1939.  I suspect there would be little being transferred to the Poles because there isn't really the time plus there would be too great a danger of items falling into hostile [Nazi/Soviet] hands.  Possibly they could give/trade some historical documents on what say Britain, Sweden etc produced during WWII - along with advice on what not to do.

  One big uncertainty would be what happens with the Molotov-Ribbentrop_Pact which is due to be signed on the 23rd August.  Probably still going to go ahead given Stalin's paranoia means he would quite likely totally refuse to accept any warnings from the future but might not and might be somewhat different. 

  Given the crisis would Denmark be willing to accept a markedly greater militarization, possibly even conscription.  True there won't be time to do much before the storm very likely descends and also to get people trained and weapons to equip them with but given the circumstances every extra boot on the ground could be useful.

  One question is what is likely to be the Danish response to the nuclear jinn?  Suspect they might try and delay production/passage of knowledge but probably enough info in private hands and especially foreign diplomats inside Denmark to mean a lot of information gets out, although to whom, in what order and how well its listened to would be important.

  Its not clear whether its just the Danish core territories or also the Faroes and Greenland have also been brought along, could Otto Kretschmer , clarify on this?  If either/both are included it would had somewhat more resources although not a massive amount.

  Steve

Stevep;

The obvious to hand the British and French I guess would be enigma transcripts - that should show we know whats going on and they ought to listen. Still I have little comfort in the 1939 powers - sorry.

Poland might not be the initial recipient of M72 or other AT-rockets but then the want to arm the Poles to the teeth might just win out. OTOH Hitler may get wind of upcoming events such as no British reaction on August 26. and go for Poland. Theres lots of possibilities.

Denmark still got conscription - no problems in this. Actually too many youths male and female want to serve so wont be a problem. Problem will be manning older equipment if still in store as reserves of their day and age is by now some 50+. At least!

Nukes.. I don't know where the uranium of Risø Test reactors are stored these days; been a decade I guess since that was aired last. Only for a dirty bomb though I guess. No, Government won't like it but the cat may soon be out of the bag - Terrorists cook book etc.

Greenland and Faeroe Islands coming along won't be much more for resources - a few Surveillance and Transport Aircraft, Fishery Inspection Ships that have an ASW capacity, Radar station in the Faeroe Islands - Thule Air Base???

[575]

Jan 22, 2022 17:51:51 GMT Otto Kretschmer said:

575

What are infantry units of the Danish army? Dano-German border is short so maybe it might just be possible to man the entire border. Even a thin infantry line together with artillery and F-16s bombing supply lines and command posts might halt the Germans for good

8 Battalions - 1 Armoured Infantry: 1 Armoured 2 MICV coys - 7 Mechanized Infantry: 1 Armoured 2 APC coys. They used to have a reserve third Infantry coy either APC or Motorized but I'm not aware of that during this time. They have it today so most possible they also did then.

Add 15,000 Army Home Guard - basic manouevre unit is Company with some 3-7 making a Battalion. Not really mobile but expect the local ones on border to mobilize. They have the firepower to outgun the 1939/40 Germans but not the mobility. Some will have a Platoon size patrol unit of almost regular Army quality.

These would form the initial trip-wire.

It would be possible to man the 50 km border.

See you're also at AHcom so You might look up my TL there - it will give a better picture.

[stevep]

Jan 23, 2022 21:35:06 GMT 575 said:

Jan 22, 2022 17:17:09 GMT stevep said:

 575 ,

  I wasn't thinking of a formal alliance being formed quickly and there are considerable social differences between even the western democracies of 1939 and Denmark 2019.  However even without what their up-time people in Denmark are telling them and possibly some passage of information that would be deeply secret in those countries in 1939 I think Britain and France would fairly quickly be willing to listen to what the Danes are saying.

  As you say most tech transfers, either to the allies or possible Scandinavian allies would be relatively low tech but could still be a big leap up on what's available in 1939.  I suspect there would be little being transferred to the Poles because there isn't really the time plus there would be too great a danger of items falling into hostile [Nazi/Soviet] hands.  Possibly they could give/trade some historical documents on what say Britain, Sweden etc produced during WWII - along with advice on what not to do.

  One big uncertainty would be what happens with the Molotov-Ribbentrop_Pact which is due to be signed on the 23rd August.  Probably still going to go ahead given Stalin's paranoia means he would quite likely totally refuse to accept any warnings from the future but might not and might be somewhat different. 

  Given the crisis would Denmark be willing to accept a markedly greater militarization, possibly even conscription.  True there won't be time to do much before the storm very likely descends and also to get people trained and weapons to equip them with but given the circumstances every extra boot on the ground could be useful.

  One question is what is likely to be the Danish response to the nuclear jinn?  Suspect they might try and delay production/passage of knowledge but probably enough info in private hands and especially foreign diplomats inside Denmark to mean a lot of information gets out, although to whom, in what order and how well its listened to would be important.

  Its not clear whether its just the Danish core territories or also the Faroes and Greenland have also been brought along, could Otto Kretschmer , clarify on this?  If either/both are included it would had somewhat more resources although not a massive amount.

  Steve

Stevep;

The obvious to hand the British and French I guess would be enigma transcripts - that should show we know whats going on and they ought to listen. Still I have little comfort in the 1939 powers - sorry.

Poland might not be the initial recipient of M72 or other AT-rockets but then the want to arm the Poles to the teeth might just win out. OTOH Hitler may get wind of upcoming events such as no British reaction on August 26. and go for Poland. Theres lots of possibilities.

Denmark still got conscription - no problems in this. Actually too many youths male and female want to serve so wont be a problem. Problem will be manning older equipment if still in store as reserves of their day and age is by now some 50+. At least!

Nukes.. I don't know where the uranium of Risø Test reactors are stored these days; been a decade I guess since that was aired last. Only for a dirty bomb though I guess. No, Government won't like it but the cat may soon be out of the bag - Terrorists cook book etc.

Greenland and Faeroe Islands coming along won't be much more for resources - a few Surveillance and Transport Aircraft, Fishery Inspection Ships that have an ASW capacity, Radar station in the Faeroe Islands - Thule Air Base???

 

  575,

  a)  I would say the key point is that, assuming that Germany doesn't attack Denmark fairly quickly, the allies only need a few nudges that Denmark can easily supply to stop the Germans dead.   If Germany still attacks Denmark, either late 39 or something like the historical date in April then the Danes, especially in the latter case with some time to adjust, can give them a hell of a fight but sheer weight of numbers along with Danish munition shortages is likely to mean the Germans win in the end.  As such its in the interest of both Denmark and allies for the latter to support the Danes against such an attack.  They can provide some numbers to counter the Germans while the Danes do the bulk of the killing.  Sweden is a possible alternative here but it has less strength and assuming the M-R pact still occurs its likely to be looking eastwards for possible aid to the Finns.

b)  The problem with Poland would be getting stuff to them and getting them familiar with the weaponry.  Both in terms of time and that you can only really send it to Danzig IIRC and up the corridor.  Plus do the Danes have enough spare when they know their going to be a tempting target for the Germans themselves.  One other thing is if the Poles learn what happened to them OTL might they concede initial German demands to avoid - possibly - immediate and brutal occupation of their entire country by the Nazis and Soviets.  Given what happened to the Poles OTL and then when everything finished they then spent ~45 years under Soviet rule I would think that a possibility.  Of course Stalin might possibly still attack and Hitler will want more land in the near future but it complicates matters for everybody if the Poles back down and there's not a shooting war starting in Sept 39.

c)  Good.

d)  On nukes I was thinking of information.  For instance I can see assorted diplomats, especially for UK, France and US hurrying to their home countries - or the nearest US downtime embassy for them with whatever details they can on making nuclear weapons.  The simple fact that 'every great power will need those to maintain their status and capacity for independent action' is likely to get a lot of people interested.  Not sure what would happen with Russian or German diplomats.  The former might be more willing to aid Stalin than the latter help Hitler but they could have problems getting past the NKVD and the general paranoia of the Soviet system.  However having plans for a reactor and possibly also some material could be a boost but for whom?

E)  On this the last two were what might be most useful.  Although since the forces at Thule are Americans that would raise some interesting issues.  How do they react with the downside US?  Would they have some tactical nukes?

[Otto Kretschmer]

stevep

Initially plans for attack on Denmark (Unternehmen Wesserübung - Süd) called for two German divisions and was to be a sideshow.

So Germans need to divert a lot more troops to win.

A good strategy for Denmark might be evacuating Jutland and relocate all troops to defend Odense and Copenhagen

[stevep]

Jan 24, 2022 11:57:38 GMT Otto Kretschmer said:

stevep

Initially plans for attack on Denmark (Unternehmen Wesserübung - Süd) called for two German divisions and was to be a sideshow.

So Germans need to divert a lot more troops to win.

A good strategy for Denmark might be evacuating Jutland and relocate all troops to defend Odense and Copenhagen

  True but this time they would realise they need more and its likely to be a focus of a major attack. 

  Evacuating Jutland would give up not only a lot of land and people but also leave the eastern islands very isolated for prolonged defence.  Going to be a lot more difficult to get western aid or simply commerce and trade if the Germans have air bases in Jutland.  It might be necessary depending on the circumstances but it could be a bad move.

[Otto Kretschmer]

Jan 24, 2022 12:36:15 GMT stevep said:

Jan 24, 2022 11:57:38 GMT Otto Kretschmer said:

stevep

Initially plans for attack on Denmark (Unternehmen Wesserübung - Süd) called for two German divisions and was to be a sideshow.

So Germans need to divert a lot more troops to win.

A good strategy for Denmark might be evacuating Jutland and relocate all troops to defend Odense and Copenhagen

  True but this time they would realise they need more and its likely to be a focus of a major attack. 

  Evacuating Jutland would give up not only a lot of land and people but also leave the eastern islands very isolated for prolonged defence.  Going to be a lot more difficult to get western aid or simply commerce and trade if the Germans have air bases in Jutland.  It might be necessary depending on the circumstances but it could be a bad move.

Diverting more troops to Denmark means that Germany is less successful in the west

[575]

Jan 24, 2022 11:34:27 GMT stevep said:

Jan 23, 2022 21:35:06 GMT 575 said:

Stevep;

The obvious to hand the British and French I guess would be enigma transcripts - that should show we know whats going on and they ought to listen. Still I have little comfort in the 1939 powers - sorry.

Poland might not be the initial recipient of M72 or other AT-rockets but then the want to arm the Poles to the teeth might just win out. OTOH Hitler may get wind of upcoming events such as no British reaction on August 26. and go for Poland. Theres lots of possibilities.

Denmark still got conscription - no problems in this. Actually too many youths male and female want to serve so wont be a problem. Problem will be manning older equipment if still in store as reserves of their day and age is by now some 50+. At least!

Nukes.. I don't know where the uranium of Risø Test reactors are stored these days; been a decade I guess since that was aired last. Only for a dirty bomb though I guess. No, Government won't like it but the cat may soon be out of the bag - Terrorists cook book etc.

Greenland and Faeroe Islands coming along won't be much more for resources - a few Surveillance and Transport Aircraft, Fishery Inspection Ships that have an ASW capacity, Radar station in the Faeroe Islands - Thule Air Base???

 

  575 ,

  a)  I would say the key point is that, assuming that Germany doesn't attack Denmark fairly quickly, the allies only need a few nudges that Denmark can easily supply to stop the Germans dead.   If Germany still attacks Denmark, either late 39 or something like the historical date in April then the Danes, especially in the latter case with some time to adjust, can give them a hell of a fight but sheer weight of numbers along with Danish munition shortages is likely to mean the Germans win in the end.  As such its in the interest of both Denmark and allies for the latter to support the Danes against such an attack.  They can provide some numbers to counter the Germans while the Danes do the bulk of the killing.  Sweden is a possible alternative here but it has less strength and assuming the M-R pact still occurs its likely to be looking eastwards for possible aid to the Finns.

b)  The problem with Poland would be getting stuff to them and getting them familiar with the weaponry.  Both in terms of time and that you can only really send it to Danzig IIRC and up the corridor.  Plus do the Danes have enough spare when they know their going to be a tempting target for the Germans themselves.  One other thing is if the Poles learn what happened to them OTL might they concede initial German demands to avoid - possibly - immediate and brutal occupation of their entire country by the Nazis and Soviets.  Given what happened to the Poles OTL and then when everything finished they then spent ~45 years under Soviet rule I would think that a possibility.  Of course Stalin might possibly still attack and Hitler will want more land in the near future but it complicates matters for everybody if the Poles back down and there's not a shooting war starting in Sept 39.

c)  Good.

d)  On nukes I was thinking of information.  For instance I can see assorted diplomats, especially for UK, France and US hurrying to their home countries - or the nearest US downtime embassy for them with whatever details they can on making nuclear weapons.  The simple fact that 'every great power will need those to maintain their status and capacity for independent action' is likely to get a lot of people interested.  Not sure what would happen with Russian or German diplomats.  The former might be more willing to aid Stalin than the latter help Hitler but they could have problems getting past the NKVD and the general paranoia of the Soviet system.  However having plans for a reactor and possibly also some material could be a boost but for whom?

E)  On this the last two were what might be most useful.  Although since the forces at Thule are Americans that would raise some interesting issues.  How do they react with the downside US?  Would they have some tactical nukes?

Stevep;

a) Indeed but will they use the knowledge to get at the Germans like a continued Saar offensive? Hunting down U-boote with modern equipment is one thing the RN would love but going face to face across the border? Denmark will be able to give the Germans a bloody nose but it will be a question of time - lack of combat aircraft and Art/AA-tubes..

b) Interesting take on Poland - essentially stalling Hitler. Will give Denmark much needed time for building supplies and reserves as well as dissiminating information.

c) Absolutely

d) Yes but it will also be something to worry about getting to Germany!

e) Don't know if OP lets Thule/Dundas go along and I would expect Nukes to be there.

[Otto Kretschmer]

If you want Thule to be there... ho ahead!

[575]

Jan 24, 2022 11:57:38 GMT Otto Kretschmer said:

stevep

Initially plans for attack on Denmark (Unternehmen Wesserübung - Süd) called for two German divisions and was to be a sideshow.

So Germans need to divert a lot more troops to win.

A good strategy for Denmark might be evacuating Jutland and relocate all troops to defend Odense and Copenhagen

Not a good idea leaves too much Military infrastructure to the Germans and 3 mill. citizens.

Much better to defend the border being a bottleneck.

Post WWII Jutland Military infrastructure was built up to be the reserve area and staging area of reinforcements - You just can't move it to Sjælland and Fyn in a couple of months. Too bad the enemy is once again ON the border..

Weserübung had two Infantry Divisions and a Motorized Brigade allocated for Denmark; six Infantry Divisions allocated for Norway and two Infantry Divisions in reserve.

It was a sideshow because OKW wanted it that way preparing to taking on the French. That way the only path for the Danes be they invaded is to fight to make it more than a sideshow which may make for serious ripples in German top command.

[575]

Jan 24, 2022 17:39:47 GMT Otto Kretschmer said:

If you want Thule to be there... ho ahead!

Not necessarily! Only if it serves to drag the US into the fray.