I Love Alternate History Theories
I don't expect anyone to read this, because it's going to be a big ramble about a scenario I've "discussed" (read: went into unnecessary detail about) in a comment ages ago, plus some other possible concepts. If anyone does, and they make it through: I applaud you immensely! And sorry about any spelling mistakes.
Anyway, the idea: Concepts of War in Europe, 1948-1962
As people may have noticed, I like designing miniature war games as a sort of hobby; or rather, as an extension of loving war gaming as a whole. And as a fan of speculative (aka alternate) history, it's been my desire for a long time to design a game based around a global conflict stemming from the Cold War. My favourite such scenario is the Cuban Missile Crisis turning into all out nuclear war, although lately I've been trying to explore other scenarios as well.
In terms of historical importance, and in terms of importance to alternate history, one of the earliest and most dangerous times in world history was October 28th, 1962. The US Navy has been blockading Cuba for a while now, and the Soviets have sent some nuclear armed subs, amongst them the B-59, to run Kennedy's blockade. The Americans ended up dropping practice depth charges onto the B-59 as a method of forcing them to surface and identify themselves. But since they were almost hit, and authorised by Moscow to fire their nuclear torpedoes if their hull was breached, the political officer on board urged the use of their nuclear weapons; this would have destroyed a good many American ships as well as the B-59, and seen the Soviet commander on Cuba firing his nuclear missiles against the US directly. Luckily, Captain Vasili Arkhipov, second in command (2iC) of the B-59, refused the firing and convinced the Political Officer Maslennikov and Captain Savitsky to stand down from firing, and effectively saved the world. But what if instead, the hull had been breached, or if Arkhipov had panicked in the moment and agreed with Maslennikov and Savitsky? In short, Cuba, much of Eastern Europe, and the USSR simply stop existing as political entities. As stated before, the Soviet commander on Cuba would most likely have used his own nuclear weapons against the US, and against the US forces which would have almost immediately invaded Cuba. As a result, the US would not tolerate this, and following the Massive Retaliation doctrine would have used their own nuclear weapons in Britain, Italy, and Turkey to wipe out many Eastern European and Soviet cities and industrial centres, killing a great number of political leaders and removing those areas as political entities entirely. While the US has suffered massively, it still exists and is functional to an reduced extent; meanwhile Cuba, the Eastern Bloc and USSR are just.... gone. If any Soviet political leaders did survive, and their armies weren't wiped out akin to the American forces which invaded Cuba, a war akin to - if not dwarfing - the second world war may take place across a desolated Europe. Soviet forces encircle and capture Berlin in a similar manner to their successful advance on the city in 1945, while forces in the Fulda Gap and the Northwest Plains across northern Germany are overrun. The risk of radiation exposure, which wasn't really considered at the time, would be ignored outright (if they were aware in the first place) as the Soviets funnelled men and machinery into areas across Europe, Turkey, and the Middle East, thirsting for revenge. It's entirely likely that in such a scenario, Britain would be invaded and possibly overrun (if they could get past the Navy, which is in no way guaranteed). War would come to the Middle East and Asia as well, as the Soviets would not allow British and American oil interests in the area to continue, and would need the supplies themselves (although whether they could spare the men to do that is debatable); while in Asia, the Soviets would find a way to spur the communist states in the area to go to war with the West. Eventually, Western forces would manage to push their enemies back, but at great cost to both sides. By the late 1960s, the Soviets would have exhausted themselves almost entirely, having taken casualties they couldn't really replace except with allied forces, and extending themselves too far; after all, in this scenario a 'Red Dawn' style Soviet invasion of the US is entirely plausible (if very difficult to pull off, and only with Europe pacified first, Middle Eastern/Eastern European/Caucasian supplies, and allied help). By the 1970s, Moscow would have been occupied (or whatever tiny sliver was left of it), the few Soviet leaders left killed or captured, and the USSR dissolved. After that, the war in Asia may or may not continue, a war weary population not sure if there's a point any more after over a decade of fighting and nuclear devastation across the Northern Hemisphere.
The second and third scenarios are considerably shorter, and plays out more like the Second World War. In the second scenario, American military forces move into Hungary to support the Hungarian Uprising. In response, the Soviets invade Europe, and hunker down. They may attack Britain, and would more than likely invade Turkey since they were allied with NATO, but beyond that nothing much would happen. The third and final scenario is the simplest: tensions rise to a point where Joseph Stalin invades Europe during the Korean War. Europe becomes Soviet here too, and they may well push into Britain and even North America, but both of those are debatable. Some cities may get nuked, but it's more likely to remain conventional than the Cuban Missile Crisis scenario above. Either way, depending on how the war goes, either part of Europe or all of Europe is liberated by NATO forces, and Moscow may be occupied or a stalemate declared, like in Korea.
Anyway, the idea: Concepts of War in Europe, 1948-1962
As people may have noticed, I like designing miniature war games as a sort of hobby; or rather, as an extension of loving war gaming as a whole. And as a fan of speculative (aka alternate) history, it's been my desire for a long time to design a game based around a global conflict stemming from the Cold War. My favourite such scenario is the Cuban Missile Crisis turning into all out nuclear war, although lately I've been trying to explore other scenarios as well.
In terms of historical importance, and in terms of importance to alternate history, one of the earliest and most dangerous times in world history was October 28th, 1962. The US Navy has been blockading Cuba for a while now, and the Soviets have sent some nuclear armed subs, amongst them the B-59, to run Kennedy's blockade. The Americans ended up dropping practice depth charges onto the B-59 as a method of forcing them to surface and identify themselves. But since they were almost hit, and authorised by Moscow to fire their nuclear torpedoes if their hull was breached, the political officer on board urged the use of their nuclear weapons; this would have destroyed a good many American ships as well as the B-59, and seen the Soviet commander on Cuba firing his nuclear missiles against the US directly. Luckily, Captain Vasili Arkhipov, second in command (2iC) of the B-59, refused the firing and convinced the Political Officer Maslennikov and Captain Savitsky to stand down from firing, and effectively saved the world. But what if instead, the hull had been breached, or if Arkhipov had panicked in the moment and agreed with Maslennikov and Savitsky? In short, Cuba, much of Eastern Europe, and the USSR simply stop existing as political entities. As stated before, the Soviet commander on Cuba would most likely have used his own nuclear weapons against the US, and against the US forces which would have almost immediately invaded Cuba. As a result, the US would not tolerate this, and following the Massive Retaliation doctrine would have used their own nuclear weapons in Britain, Italy, and Turkey to wipe out many Eastern European and Soviet cities and industrial centres, killing a great number of political leaders and removing those areas as political entities entirely. While the US has suffered massively, it still exists and is functional to an reduced extent; meanwhile Cuba, the Eastern Bloc and USSR are just.... gone. If any Soviet political leaders did survive, and their armies weren't wiped out akin to the American forces which invaded Cuba, a war akin to - if not dwarfing - the second world war may take place across a desolated Europe. Soviet forces encircle and capture Berlin in a similar manner to their successful advance on the city in 1945, while forces in the Fulda Gap and the Northwest Plains across northern Germany are overrun. The risk of radiation exposure, which wasn't really considered at the time, would be ignored outright (if they were aware in the first place) as the Soviets funnelled men and machinery into areas across Europe, Turkey, and the Middle East, thirsting for revenge. It's entirely likely that in such a scenario, Britain would be invaded and possibly overrun (if they could get past the Navy, which is in no way guaranteed). War would come to the Middle East and Asia as well, as the Soviets would not allow British and American oil interests in the area to continue, and would need the supplies themselves (although whether they could spare the men to do that is debatable); while in Asia, the Soviets would find a way to spur the communist states in the area to go to war with the West. Eventually, Western forces would manage to push their enemies back, but at great cost to both sides. By the late 1960s, the Soviets would have exhausted themselves almost entirely, having taken casualties they couldn't really replace except with allied forces, and extending themselves too far; after all, in this scenario a 'Red Dawn' style Soviet invasion of the US is entirely plausible (if very difficult to pull off, and only with Europe pacified first, Middle Eastern/Eastern European/Caucasian supplies, and allied help). By the 1970s, Moscow would have been occupied (or whatever tiny sliver was left of it), the few Soviet leaders left killed or captured, and the USSR dissolved. After that, the war in Asia may or may not continue, a war weary population not sure if there's a point any more after over a decade of fighting and nuclear devastation across the Northern Hemisphere.
The second and third scenarios are considerably shorter, and plays out more like the Second World War. In the second scenario, American military forces move into Hungary to support the Hungarian Uprising. In response, the Soviets invade Europe, and hunker down. They may attack Britain, and would more than likely invade Turkey since they were allied with NATO, but beyond that nothing much would happen. The third and final scenario is the simplest: tensions rise to a point where Joseph Stalin invades Europe during the Korean War. Europe becomes Soviet here too, and they may well push into Britain and even North America, but both of those are debatable. Some cities may get nuked, but it's more likely to remain conventional than the Cuban Missile Crisis scenario above. Either way, depending on how the war goes, either part of Europe or all of Europe is liberated by NATO forces, and Moscow may be occupied or a stalemate declared, like in Korea.
