For our military experts, a "what if" kind of question...?

I think the answer to this is actually relativley simple!

We where in Italy in 1942, and were allied with Russia.

Simplist and least risky solution would have been to continue the advance from the south, until hitting the Alps where it would have been hell until we pushed through. Split West and East from the Alps and use the Med as the source of re-supply.

Also help the USSR in the East, and Scandanavia. Norway was lightley defended compared to the rest of Europe, the option of Invasion there should also be considered, and than sweep south, unti hitting the Baltic. An amphibious landing in Denmark would be required, but would far easier given the shorter distance allowing ground based artillery support, and close air support from fields in southern Sweeden.

These are not only plausible, but where potential Allied Ideas until Operation Overlord was approved. The Germans up until the day after also believed these as valid possible allied assault tactics.

Things would have turned out the same. You talk about our tricks; the Germans knew we were coming except the day we came. The weather convinced them of that not any tricks. There were only so many places to land troops and the Germans knew them all. They had convinced themselves (mainly Hitler) that we would do something tricky (we didn't). So when the troops started coming ashore in Normandy the German High Command was not completely convinced and Hitler was certain that we were coming to Calais. It was no trick that delayed the armor reserves in France. Hitler had taken some pills and was sleeping. No one wanted to wake him up and explain that he was mistaken and the reserves should be released.

It wasn't tricks so much as the failures of the German chain of command.

The results would have been the same.

But if you want to debate the issue; we had and would have had complete air superiority. The Germans only had two aircraft in the immediate area. We had naval superiority. Over a thousand allied ships participated and the entire German surface fleet numbered 85 ships.

How wide do you think the English Channel is? Add 80 miles for the aircraft's coming and goings. We still win, plus we had some aircraft carriers that could have attacked the Germans in unconventional areas at a risk.

Okay lets pursue this idiotic game. Yes, it is idiotic.

Suppose the Germans caught the allies totally flat footed and the allies suffered 50% casualties on the land, sea, and air. The biggest factor is weather, tides, and moon phases. We had more troops available in England and in the pipeline from training. Of course I don't hear you asking about the casualities sustained by the Germans which would be huge if not total. The American economy could produce ships and aircraft 20 times faster than the Germans. If we had to rebuild it could be accomplished in a year or two and the Germans would not be able to keep up. More likely the invasion in southern France would have been moved up to take advantage of the Germans being in the north. The Allies would have moved up the Italian penisula as well. I bet you forgot about them didn't you or you never knew about our other forces on the board.

Like I said, there would be no change. Germany is still destroyed.

No I think the USSR would have crushed Germany all by itself, since they were already fighting the majority of the German army as it was.

Probably a loss on D-Day would have resulted in the complete domination of Europe by Russia.

With 560 divisions in the field, Russia was pretty unstoppable.

I suppose with atomic weapons the Allies might have destroyed Germany but I'm not sure they would have dropped this bomb on Europeans.

I would agree that Russia would most likely destroyed Germany. By June 44 the Ukraine had been (mostly) liberated and offensives to liberated Belorussia (the area around Minsk) were just underway. They commited an estimated 2.3 million troops to this operation. By August 44 they were on the borders of East Prussia and had 'recaputured' Eastern Poland.

The "Russian Juggernaut" had been awakened.

The Germans were too busy with the Soviets to really give us a true fight on the Western front, had they somehow managed to repulse the entire D-Day invasion they would still have had to deal with the Italian invasion forces and of course, a second invasion of coastal Europe.

Truthfully, I think we would have lost the war, not for sure though. There are a lot of different things that could of happened. Did you know though, that the day before D-Day Hitler fell severely ill, he was in his room and told his secretary he was not to be bothered for any reason (mistake number 1) and Hitler was in complete control of the German Army, any mass troop movements his Generals wanted to make had to be approved through him.( mistake number 2) When his Generals got wind of an allied assult on the French coast line they wanted to move some of their more inland troops to the beach, however they could not get that movement approved because Hitler was not to be bothered, leaving an opening for the allied assult. Interesting how little things turn the tide of a huge historical event?

We would have turned Paton loose and russia would have been one of our states.Of course stopping him would have been another problem.

they'd probly call in a shitload of airstrikes to clear the area first.

We would have dropped the A bomb on them to.

impossible what if, Navy frogs rule!!!!!!!!!!!!