For every scenario where Germany wins, there are like four where WWII lasts two weeks. The question 'what if Hitler hadn't invaded the Soviet Union' is ridiculous, giving the 'Uebermenschen' 'Lebensraum' was his whole thing. "What if everything about the Nazi's policies were completely different?"
"What if Hitler hadn't invaded the Soviet Union?" is about as intellectually stimulating a question as "What if Hitler had just gone to art school?"
The First and the Last by Adolf Galland is an interesting read. Gives you an impression of how hopeless the air war was for the Luftwaffe, and a unique perspective from the commander of the Jagdwaffe.
Indeed. Galland's book is quite illuminating on the high command's failure to understand the reality of the war.
As for the other bits, Hitler's policies and decisions from the start doomed Germany. While I'd like to credit him with the success of turning the economy around, one must remember that it was done with the pretext of inevitably going to war. Sure, he gained ground in world power (both literally and figuratively) with the annexation of Austria and Czechoslovakia as well as the signing of the Molotov/Ribbentrop Pact, the invasion of Poland was a gross miscalculation. Hitler did not actually expect a declaration of war. His early successes and the quick victories over the Belgians, French and Norway were the exception - not the rule. Hitler's decisions both before and during the war sapped Germany of men and material needed to fight effectively in the long term. The fighter arm was too weak for a majority of the war. Too few men were sent into fighter squadrons and the squadrons themselves were too few in number. Only after America began bombing German cities did Hitler and Goering begin to give the idea of a defensive air war any consideration. What was done was too little too late. Too many assets were tied up in special projects, the V-1, V-2, Me-163, and Ar-234 projects were all useless in actuality, but Hitler and Goering dedicated resources to them while neglecting the need for a new piston engined fighter to replace the 109 and 190 as advancements to these airframes were inadequate. Also remember that The Me-262 production was also delayed because oh Hitler's wanting to use it as a Blitz bomber.
Also, very few people ever consider the resources wrapped up in the execution of the Holocaust. Granted, it's a small consideration compared to the lives of those murdered, but between the men posted to running the camps and the prisoners themselves, is a significant group of men able to fight and serve. Hitler's attempt to strengthen Germany via "racial purity" actually helped to cripple it. One of Germany's greatest assets, the Jewish community was seen by him as worthless, in every sense of the word. This attitude is both stupid and tragic.
