I’m a pretty big fan of alternate history and I read as many of them as I can find, plus writing a few of my own. My two favorites are Third Reich Victorious and its companion book Rising Sun Victorious. They are made up of 10 separate stories which explore different ways (and turning points) at which each of the two could have won the war. The stories were complied by Peter G. Tsouras who includes one story of his own to each book as well as being the editor of both.
While I love both of these books, at times some of the stories make me want to pull my hair out and on at least one occasion has gotten a book thrown across the room! There a several ways they manage this but it comes down to 3 different things.
1. Inconclusive or lack of “Victory”
A couple of them do this, where a battle or operation ends with out any real clear cut winners. Best example, story 6 from Rising Sun called Samurai down under, which details a Japanese invasion of Australia. In short, Port Morseby falls, America doesn’t land at Guadalcanal, and the Japanese land at Charters Towers in Queensland. Japan’s plan is to create a number of enclaves on the Australian coast as far south as Brisbane in an attempt to force Australia out of the war (I think, they don’t really mention the over-arching strategy here, like the end purpose, but hey “willing suspension of disbelief” and all). Japan brings Yamashita in as over-all commander and meet with initial success. However, several of the landings go badly, Japan fails to take Brisbane and a number of the enclaves are quickly isolated (rather then becoming mutually supportive of each other, which I think they were supposed to) and later destroyed. Yamashita’s command in Charters Towers gets bottled up and is then outflanked by the Americans (finally) landing at Guadalcanal in 1943, and is joking called by the allies “Japans Tunisia”. How the hell is that a victory for Japan? The title of the books are Victorious not Doing slightly more then we did Historically. On the German side they have the story of Germany getting the bomb early in 1944 and nuking Moscow and London. However this doesn’t result in a negotiated peace but rather has the Allies nuke Berlin later that same year! Again I ask, how the hell is that a victory?
2. Disappearing Armies/Forces
This one really bugs me and more then a few (especially in the German book) do this. Story 5 in Third Reich, The Hinge Alamein to Basra, details a German victory in North Africa. The author makes mention numerous times about the disparity in forces between the two armies, especially about how Rommel was down to 37 tanks to the British 150. Things go slightly different with Rommel not turning north to help the 90th light infantry but pressing through the British left and out flanking their position (oh and Gott takes command of the 8th army instead of Monty). The Brits are routed and fall back past Alexandria, splitting the 8th army in two direction, with the 7th Australian, 18th Indian, and New Zealand divisions, falling back south towards Cairo, while the rest head for the canal. After receiving reinforcements Rommel pushes for the Suez canal while detailing the 90th light and some Italian forces to block the British units defending the line with Cairo. After reaching the canal Rommel easily brushes aside the royal engineers and captures the bridges over it intact. As he presses into Palestine he faces no organized resistance, only colonial troops and some police battalions. My question, where the hell did the rest of the 8th army go? Where are the 1st and 7th Armoured divisions along with all the British formations that weren’t mentioned falling back towards Cairo. No mention is made of them surrendering to the Germans, they weren’t cut off and encircled (the New Zealanders were but fought their way out and to Cairo) SO then where the hell did they go? There is mention of casualties(and the loss of about 50 some-odd tanks) but not on the level of an entire army being wiped out, in fact detailed mention is made of their retreat and their seizure of civilian transport to help facilitate it. If a portion of the 8th Army fell back on Cairo, then logically one would have to assume the rest headed for the canal zone (which I think is mentioned) and would cross it into Palestine. Yet when Rommel arrives, they’re gone! In another story covering a Soviet offensive at Kursk instead of a German one, the author mentions that the Soviets have amassed over 6,000 aircraft in 3 air fleets to support and cover their operations. However, during the height of the battle the Luftwaffe manages to destroy the Soviets 1st tank army in the open. What happened to those 6,000 aircraft in 3 air fleets? I mean if you are going to mention them and not include their activities in the battle fine, I get that. But you can’t have a key component of the battle then be effected by these forces and not account for those 6,000 aircraft!
3. Too Crazy to work
These are usually stories where there is no chance in hell of the plans detailed ever actually working. One such story (not included in the Rising Sun book) is a Japanese invasion of North America with them seizing Victoria Island and Seattle in the process, a German invasion of Britian without the defeat or destruction of the Royal Navy or the RAF (its like they just show up or something?). They are annoying because they have broken the “willing suspension of disbelief” by going way over the top with their ideas. Another book called “The Moscow Option” comes to mind with a glaringly obvious and massive plot hole appearing in the first chapter and kinda of tainting the rest of the book (though the book is still pretty good).
Third Reich Victorious and Rising Sun Victorious are still two of my favorite books despite these problems and i’m not trying to bash them too hard and I would and do strongly recommend that if you get the chance to check them out.