If Germany enacted Operation Sphinx or Felix they probably could have won. That Operation involved seizing Gibraltar, Malta, and eventually Egypt. A few months of strangulating Britain in the Mediterranean and depriving them from Eastern supplies would have crushed them. Then Operation Sea Lion would have been irresistable. British archives opened in the late 90's showed that Churchill was so close to being replaced in office by Lord Halifax, an appeaser of the 30's. So say something like Sphinx happened, Churchill would definitely have been ousted because he was prepared to fight until every Brit lay dead with a Union Jack in his hand.

Well sealion was serious but not to the extent of Hitler's ambitions of the USSR and France. Hitler did not want a war with Britain (and he had succeeded in removing them from France) and tried to quickly take control of the strait so that Britain was helpless. It was just a battle that would prove decisive if Britain remained in the war or not. However, i highly doubt that it was the victory of Britain that foiled Hitler's plans to defeat the USSR. It was the winter that slowed down the German army to a complete hault. It was the VERY VERY cold weather that destroyed the Germans, hundreds of thousands died from disease and frostbite. Also, this gave Stalin time to withdraw the Siberian Regiments (who were very efficient) from the eastern border (Japan) and to bring them against the Germans. I don't see how the USSR could possibly of defended itself if Germany had attacked 1 month earlier (or more).

How can I say this without offending somebody? Hitler was human! Not only was he human but he was a leader, somehow he could collect together people that listened to him. What if he had been an idiot? Then he would have ended up being what he already was, a chest beating trade union leader. This one barking dog managed to slip the union lead, and came to power in a series of illegal but brilliant moves.

His grasp of war tactics seemed remarkably astute at first. Hit hard and fast before the sods have a chance to move. Some say this wisdom came on the advice of others but all leaders need cooperate with others to form a semblance of government. Early on he made a deal with the army and had the brownshirts liquidated; so he had to go along with the army recommendations for a while. He had an ace up his sleeve in formation of the Gestapo, they were not just into brutality but bending minds to suit their will by any means. Even the army became intimidated by their power.

One can see his continuing see-saw relationship with the generals in the way Rommel was treated, and he was no angel. At first the Generals raced across the Russia steppes taking this famous city and that famous city. Everybody in the German high command was happy until they had to admit their supply lines were over-extended and asked Hitler for more time and supplies to consolidate their victories.  

At that point he went berserk and told them to push on. Not only that but he would take personal command of operations. Many commanders were angry and flew back to talk to Hitler personally. Hitler did not lose his temper. He sat them down and used his great personal charm to convince them the war was being won, when actually each day any form of victory slipped further from of his grasp.

He could have made a tactical retreat and partitioned the territory already won. However, he had his evil heart set on capturing and making Stalingrad into a symbol of German might. That would have been a good move had the offensive been going to plan but the wheels were falling off so to speak, especially when winter came.  

What if the generals had their way? They may have stopped going forward altogether for no military advantage could be found in pressing on. Their supplies needed to be tripled and that was not about to happen. Troops needed to consolidate the Western front were tied down to favour a place where morale was never very high.  

By 1940 Britain had declared war. The British Channel Islands never declared war hoping to remain neutral. They are near the coast of France, between the French provinces of Normandy and Brittany. The Channel Islands became the only portion of the British Isles to be invaded and occupied by German forces during the war.

On June 17 France asked Germany for terms of surrender. On June 28, traffic lined the high street of St Peter Port in Guernsey, the waterfront of the harbor capitol. Most of the traffic was trucks laden with greenhouse tomatoes. They waited to load their produce onto boats bound for England. A dull thunder rolled in the sky, rose to a constant roar, then the planes swooped. Cannon fire raked the road and incendiary bombs sent up smoke and flames as the vegetable trucks exploded. Blood and tomatoes stained the cobbled streets and wharfs.

(Reports from the London Times)

The Channel Islands Raids.

 The death toll was 33. In Guernsey 23 were killed and 36
injured. 10 were killed and several more injured in Jersey.

 The Ministry of Information stated last night.

As it has already been announced, the Channel Islands
have been demilitarized. It is now learnt that enemy
landings have been made in Guernsey and Jersey.
Telegraphic and telephonic communications have been cut
and no further information is at present available.

The German battle songs beginning with Engellandied (for
we're off to fight against England) were turned on again
last night after the broadcasting of a special communique
of the German High Command announcing the capture of
the Channel Islands. 

German Propaganda Report

On June 30, the British Island of Guernsey was captured
in a daring coup de main' by detachments of the German
Air Force. In an air fight a German Reconnaissance
aeroplane shot down two Bristol Blenheim bombers. On
July 1, the island of Jersey were occupied by surprise in
the same manner.