Hitler's plans for Africa?

L. Kafka · Post by **L. Kafka** » Fri Mar 30, 2007 2:55 pm

Once the British were vanquished from Africa did Hitler & Co. have plans to use Africa for settlement and to ultilize its resources? In hindsight, Africa seems like it would have been a better bet than going into eastern Europe, not that I am an advocate of imperialism. Just saying.

Hans Knospler · Post by **Hans Knospler** » Fri Mar 30, 2007 4:08 pm

I don't think the Germans would migrate to Africa, but I'm sure they'd use recources. Such as, rubber for tank tracks, etc.

Maybe also use it as a U-Boat depot, and maybe airfields...

phylo_roadking · Post by **phylo_roadking** » Fri Mar 30, 2007 5:08 pm

rubber for tank tracks

That was different era; steel.

I don't think there were any plans for Africa - they only got into Africa by default, to shore up the Italians. If it could have been avoided it would have been.

Rajin Cajun · Post by **Rajin Cajun** » Fri Mar 30, 2007 10:51 pm

Agree with Phylo on this one there were no plans for Africa. It was pretty much bail the Italians out hence why OKW cut the strings once things when south.

Hans Knospler · Post by **Hans Knospler** » Sat Mar 31, 2007 1:24 pm

phylo_roadking wrote:
rubber for tank tracks
That was different era; steel.

I don't think there were any plans for Africa - they only got into Africa by default, to shore up the Italians. If it could have been avoided it would have been.

Heh...oh yeah...

Reb · Post by **Reb** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 11:09 am

Rommel, exceeding his authority, had visions of sugar plumbs dancing in his head: Alexandria, the Suez Canal, the oil fields etc.

OKW could have cared less.

Hitler enjoyed the propaganda advantage of making Winston look bad by kicking his boys around but ultimately had no plans for Africa. He should have been more careful in his choice of allies.

cheers
Reb

phylo_roadking · Post by **phylo_roadking** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 11:24 am

Ah, but was Germany an ally of Italy's, or Italy an ally of Germany?

The two gentlement might have had differing views on that!

Rajin Cajun · Post by **Rajin Cajun** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 7:29 pm

Reb I disagree it should have been Italy that was more careful about the Allies they chose. Mussolini didn't really think it through or else he completely overestimated his military power in the African Colonies. Either way Italy lost more from siding with Germany then Germany did.

sid guttridge · Post by **sid guttridge** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 4:31 am

Hi Guys,

Germany had no fixed war aims outside Europe.

Before the war, Hitler was interested in the return of Germany's pre-WWI African colonies. he also toyed with the idea of sending Europe's Jews to Madagascar during it.

Many Afrikaaners in South Africa were pro-German, so it is likely there would have been some sort of pro-German Boer republic in southern Africa if Germany had won.

However, Hitler's plans for Africa were generally vague.

Cheers,

Sid.

Reb · Post by **Reb** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 4:56 am

RC

you may have a point. 40 miles from Atlanta is the city of Rome GA with an inscribed monument presented by Mussolini who was quite popular in the US at one time.

cheers
Reb

Rajin Cajun · Post by **Rajin Cajun** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 8:50 pm

Reb I would say the USA is quite an odd nation in the Village in New York is a statue of Lenin.

Though out of the two I would agree more with Mussolini though his biggest problem was he was a little too ambitious for his own good.

Reb · Post by **Reb** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 4:50 am

RC

" in the Village in New York is a statue of Lenin"

why am I not surprised? Yankees....

cheers
Reb

phylo_roadking · Post by **phylo_roadking** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 10:39 am

well - "Moscow on the Hudson" after all!

derGespenst · Post by **derGespenst** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 12:08 pm

Also, the statue of Atlas in Rockefellar Center was sculpted with Mussolini's face. Inside the bowels of the Rock Center complex is firefighting equipment - the best of its kind in the '30s when the center was built - with swastikas cast in brass still visible.

Rajin Cajun · Post by **Rajin Cajun** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 6:20 pm

Reb,

Indeed what is up with the Yankees and their L Dictators Lenin and Lincoln. Though its not really surprising the CPUSA is based in New York City. What I find ironic is the CPUSA helped with the creation of the Abe Lincoln Brigade that joined the Anarchis...I mean Republicans in Spain.

derGespenst,

You will find statues for a lot of different figures in the States personal I find a Mussolini statue less offensive then say a Lincoln or Lenin monument. In fact I agree with Mussolini a lot and I like him for being one of the few Far Right Leaders not to get hung up race and did try and help the working class even if he did screw up in a lot of ways. As to Swastikas being on equipment thats not a big deal in the US Army the Swastika was used as a symbol on Division Shields. The Swastika has a long connection with Humans and I find it annoying that it is solely attached to the National Socialists. It was used all over Europe, India, Asia, South America, ME and Africa. Find a place where humans are you will most likely find a swastika. Hell we used to do the Roman Salute in the USA towards the American flag but again it was discontinued from our long traditional roots because a certain group of people used it.

RC