Operation "Unthinkable", May 1945.

[Egorka]

Hello!

What do you, guys, know about operation "Unthinkable" in May 1945 developed by Cherchill? Do you have any information about it?

Thanks in advance!
Igor Korenev

[Helmut Von Moltke]

Don't know where I read it but I remember a long time ago I read on some forum that it was for an attack against the Red Army stretching from the Baltics to Czechoslovakia by the British Army in July 1945 with the help of 10 re-armed German Divisions. This would not be surprising as on occasion German Military Police was still used to keep order and the Wehrmacht was not officially dissolved until 1946.

I also even heard that the Waffen-SS formations of European anti-communist volunteers (eg 5. SS-Panzerdivision 'Wiking' was still kept in reserve, even though it is unlikely.

K

[Egorka]

.
You can find a bit info about "Unthinkable" here: Operation "Unthinkable" - WW2inColor Talk
.

[Jim O]

For those interested, the source documents are at "Operation Unthinkable: 'Russia: Threat to Western Civilization,'" British War Cabinet, Joint Planning Staff [Draft and Final Reports: 22 May, 8 June, and 11 July 1945], Public Record Office, CAB 120/691/109040.

I've read the entire document and the annexes. This was an assessment of possibilities, and the assessment was pretty grim in terms of any quick success. It was the feeling that total war would likely have been required and, well, we all know what happens when foreign nations try to invade Russia from the west.

The political goal of such an operation would have been to impose UK/US will on the Soviet Union, particularly with respect to Poland. Churchill's impression was

By retaining the codeword "UNTHINKABLE", the Staffs will realise that this remains a precautionary study of what, I hope, is still a purely hypothetical contingency.

These comments were made on June 6, 1945 where the date for commencing hostilities would have been July 1, 1945.

[Klaus]

I finally had the time to read it from beginnig to the end. This was a more interesting read than I hoped it would be. Just imagine how the world would look now. I always thought that "Operation Unthinkable" would be a good start for alternative-universe kind of book. I'll try myself on that if I find some time.

[Jim O]

I suspect that the "Allies" would have gotten stuck in the mud just like the Germans and their allies did. The only question would have been whether the Soviets would have pushed them entirely off of the continent. Of course it is possible that Churchill did not know that there were nuclear weapons actually ready for use that coming August, and using them on Russian soil may have changed the equation somehwat.

[Klaus]

Let's not forget, that they were still fighting against the japanese at that time. Assuming they didn't know about the A-bomb, it would have been a costly fight to the end. Altough the japanese were losing their war, it would have used up a lot of the Allies man-power and material. So there would have been less material for a war against Russia.

And I realy doubt, that the Allies would have come further than Germany did.

[sniper1shot]

Well, I did not read the links, but I did read everyones comments here.

Yes, the Abomb was being developed and the US had the first ones...remember, Russia didn't get the bomb until later.

Yes, it would of been hard for the Allies however Russia was down on manpower too after 4yrs of war. Where the Allies would of had the assistance of 10 German divisions, I am wondering if the Russians would of had the same from their German POW's?? I doubt it.

Let us also not forget that many Russians might of defected to the Allied cause if they actually were winning.

[Klaus]

The russians sure had lost a lot of man. but on the european continent the Allies were outnumbered. And the Allies had to keep the peace in the occupied countries.

[Jim O]

Originally Posted by sniper1shot

Let us also not forget that many Russians might of defected to the Allied cause if they actually were winning.

They might have but unless whole units defected with their equipment they would have required re-equiping and retraining. It might not have been such a great thing.

As for putting together 10 German divisions, again, with what equipment?

I still think that time, terrain, and weather would have been on the side of the Soviets.