AboutPaul Sutton Expertise I can answer questions on World War Two weapons, tactics, and strategy.
I can answer questions on Weapons systems and their development.
I can answer guestions on Space exploration history.
I am a World War 2 expert.
I study Military Weapons Systems and the usage of those systems.
Experience I work for Saint Petersburg College as a TRS or Technology resources specialist. I read 10 to 15 books a year on World War 2 and weapon systems. I also have a BA in History from USF.
Education/Credentials I have a BA in history from USF.
Question Hi there. I was watching a show where Nazi Germany managed to invade the US, taking over much of the eastern seaboard. I don't remember reading anything about Germany having such plans during WW2,so the question is if it were possible and would they have succeeded?
Answer Greetings
Before World War 1 Germany wanted colonies and the Pacific Ocean was an ideal spot for colonies and ports to refuel warships. The US with it swift victory over Spain in 1898 had acquired the Philippine Islands and Guam. Germany wanted these Islands and felt that the US should share. The Germans had a plan to invade the US around New York and it was hoped that holding New York and other Eastern Seaboard ports would force the US to give up some or all of its Pacific island claims. The plan never saw the light of day due the US naval build up after the Spanish American War and the continued British naval buildup.
When World War 2 started American was not an easy target. In order to even think about invading the US the British would have to been knocked out of the war. The Germans in World War 2 had a very small surface fleet. In order to invade the US the Germans would have needed French and captured British warships. If the Germans could cross the Atlantic then most likely the invasion would have been in the Southern States due to smaller amounts of costal defenses. In order for any major planning Britain would have had to have been invaded and conquered or surrendered.
The Germans did have plans to develop a long range bomber to attack the US with conventional and later nuclear or chemical weapons. The Germany built several large bomber prototypes the Me-264 and the JU-390. These large bombers were tested near the end of the war and a JU-390 flew with to a point 20 miles away from New York and then returned to its base in occupied France. With a fleet of bombers it was hoped that the massive convoys sailing from the US could have been damaged and disrupted. Then bombing flights on US cities from Washington DC to Boston could have hurt the US war effort. For the Germany the plans were only dreams.
If the Germans had conquered Russia and Britain then an attack on the US was likely. An invasion would have been very hard and once the US had atomic bombs any attack would have been very dangerous. The US starting in 1941 begin designing a super long range bomber that in the late 1940s became the B-36. So the Germans with long range ME-264 and Ju-390s attacking US cities would have lead to the US using longer range B-29 and new B-36s bombers armed with nuclear weapons on German targets
