German-planned Invasion of the United States


Attacks and Threats on the U.S. in WW2

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Before the winter of 1941, Germany appeared to be moving toward a swift victory over the Soviet Union. Alfred Rosenberg, Reich Kommisar for Eastern Affairs, was ordered to print the motto "Deutschland Welt Reich" (German World Empire) and Hitler made known his intention of further conquest following victory over Russia. These plans appeared to include an invasion of the United States.

 

In Autumn of 1940, the attack on the US was fixed for the long-term future. This appears in Luftwaffe documents, one of which dated October 29, 1940 mentions the

...extraordinary interest of Mein Führer in the occupation of the Atlantic Islands. In line with this interest...with the cooperation of Spain is the seizure of Gibraltar and Spanish and Portuguese islands, along other operations in the North Atlantic.

 

In July 1941, the Führer ordered that planning an attack against the United States be continued. Five months later, on December 11, 1941 Germany declared war on the United States.

 


Armament related to the proposed United States invasion


The Wehrmacht, in planning for the British invasion developed some types of airborne and amphibious tanks and other special heavy armour, later considered for an eventual invasion of America:

  • Panzer I C Sd. Kfz. 101 Neuer Art, (Pz I Airborne Tank)
  • Panzer II amphibious (Schwimmpanzer II)
  • Panzer III M Sd. Kfz. 141/1 (Pz III Amphibious version)
  • Panzer III N Sd. Kfz. 141/2 (Pz III Amphibious version)
  • Panzer Pzkfw III G Sdkfz 141 Ausf. G als Tauchpanzer (Pz IIIG Amphibious version)
  • Kfz.2s Swim Wagen (Falks Wagen 166) (Personal Amphibious Vehicle)
  • Land Wasser Schlepper (LWS) (APC Amphibious Vehicle)
  • Gepanzerte Mannschaftstransportwagen Kätzchen (GMK) (Land APC)
  • Waffenträger (Styer prototype) (Self Pourpose/Heavy Tank Destroyer)
  • Selbstfahrlafette L/61 12,8cm "Sturer Emil"(Self Pourpose/Heavy Tank Destroyer)
  • Panzer IVb/105 SdKfz.165/1 "Geschützwagen" IV/105 le. FH. 18/1 auf "Geschützwagen" IV b, Sd. Kfz.165/1 (Heavy Support/Assault Gun)

    The Kriegsmarine, ordered the design of some aircraft carriers (Based on Akagi-Type Great Japanese Navy Flag-Carriers):

  • Graf Zeppelin Carrier
  • Peter Strasser/Deutschland Carrier
  • Europa Carrier(Project)
  • Potsdam Carrier(Project)

    Carrier based Aircraft (such units were intended for equiping the Luftwaffe/Kriegsmarine 650th Geschwader):

  • Fieseler Fi 156C-0 (Recon-Liaison Carrier plane)
  • Fieseler Fi 167A-0 (Attack Bomber-Recon Carrier plane)
  • Heinkel He 50(Dive-Bomber/R Carrier plane)
  • Avia B 534(Dive-Bomber/Recon Carrier plane)
  • Junkers Ju 87C-0/1 "Cassar"(Dive-Bomber Carrier plane)
  • Junkers Ju 87D-4 (Torpedo-Dive Bomber Carrier plane version)
  • Junkers Ju 87E (Dive-Bomber Carrier plane, project)
  • Messerschmitt Me Bf 109T-0/2 (Fighter Carrier plane)
  • Messerschmitt Me Bf 109E (Fighter Carrier plane)
  • Focke Wulf Fw 190A-5 U14/15 (Torpedo-Bomber/fighter Carrier plane)
  • Focke-Wulf Fw 190F-8 U2/3/14 (Torpedo-Bomber/fighter Carrier plane)
  • Arado Ar 95B/195 (Torpedo-Reconnaissance Carrier plane)
  • Arado Ar 197(Carrier Basic Fighter Trainer)
  • Arado Ar 96B (Carrier Basic Trainer)

    The Luftwaffe "Amerika Bomber" designs for strike against United States:

  • Messerschmitt Me 264 "Amerika Bomber"
  • Junkers Ju 390 A-1 "New York Bomber"
  • Focke-Wulf Fw 300
  • Focke Wulf Fw Ta 400
  • Sänger Amerika Bomber

     

    Also ordered for transport of airborne forces and light vehicles in planned British invasion were the ultra-heavy giant armed assault glider Junkers Ju 322 "Mammut". Such vehicles were supposed to be used in an invasion of America alongside the Messerschmitt Me 321 "Gigant" heavy transport glider.


    Use of 'V-weapons' against America

    The Luftwaffe analyzed the possible use of 'V-weapons' against the US in a plan to launch a squadron of Junkers Ju 290 long range recon aircraft armed with Fieseler Fi-103 (V-1) rockets. The Kriegsmarine considered a similar idea with submarine-based V-1/V-2 launchers against United States coasts. Similarly, the Wehrmacht created the "Division zur Vergeltung" (Reprisal Division) or "Div.z. V." through which a special unit was organized. From islands or just offshore, this unit would use the "Langrohrkanone LRK 15 F-58", also knowed "HDP Kanone" or V-3, or the ultra long-range version of the multi-phase mid-range missile V-4 "Rheinbote" against U.S. soil.

    Other special weapons were envisioned for possible use against the United States too, such as:

     

    "A9"


    The A9 was a further development of the "A4" rocket. No prototype was ever developed before the end of the war, although a variant, the A4b, was produced. The A9 would have been used as the upper stage for an intercontinental missile or a manned craft. The A10 was to have been used for the lower stage.

     

    Parameters of the planned manned A9-rocket:

     

    Length: 14.18 m

    Maximum diameter: 1.65 m

    Takeoff weight: 16,259 kg]

    Payload: 1,000 kg


    "A10"


    The A10, which was never built, was intended to serve as the first stage for the A9, to help it to reach an intercontinental range.     New York City and other targets in the northeastern U.S. were its intended targets. Test Stand VII was built at Peenemünde for use in the A10's development.

     

    The A10 was designed to have a diameter of 4.12 meters and to exceed the A4 in its size. It was to be fueled with alcohol and liquid oxygen. The thrust of the engines would have been 235,000 kgf (2300 kN) with a 55-second burn time.





     


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    Operations supposedly related to the planned invasion of the United States

    Orders to send German saboteurs to U.S. territory, along with spies and collaborators

     

    German forces sent agents to Greenland to install a base for secret operations in the area, along with use of the radio station in Saint Pierre Miquelon Island, under the administration of France


    German submarine missions to Atlantic coasts and Caribbean area, with submarines such as U-134, U-853 and others.

    Maritime reconnaissance flights by German flying boats Blohm und Voss Bv 222 C-0 "Wiking" from France and Norway to the north and central Atlantic area to watch Iceland, Greenland, and the Canadian and coasts.

    The successful long range and evaluative flight and return to base of a Junkers 390, in January 1944, from Biscay coast in occupied France to within 20 Km of the U.S. coast, near New York State

    T    he alleged collaboration between Schutz Staffel (SS) and All American SS unit "Amerikan Frei Korps" or "George Washington Brigade" towards the invasion of the U.S. Also, some Americans were recruited to American versions of the German Wehrmacht and SS services to provide aid to invading German forces.

    The projected use of submarines with V-1/V-2 Launchers against American coasts. Also, the planned use of special mobile launchers from French coasts for launching one ultra long-range multi-stage V-4 "Rheinbote" missile or other similar type.

    A plan to use one Junkers Ju 290 long-range reconnaissance plane armed with four V-1 rockets against United States territory.

    A Kriegsmarine or Luftwaffe attack against the Panama Canal, U.S. territory at the time. The former would use submarines to strike the Atlantic side of the Canal. The latter would pretend a squadron of ultra long-range bombers from France to North Africa, were continuing to South America in support of a neutral country.

     

     

    Kinoaki Matsuo, a high-ranking officer of the Black Dragon Society, wrote the Book The Three Power Alliance And The United States-Japanese War, which is purported to detail the Japanese war plans for the simultaneous invasions of the Panama Canal Zone, Alaska, California and Washington.

    Fascist Italy planned to damage dock facilities and sink ships moored in New York Harbor using Maiale Midget submarines. In 1943 preparations were well underway to deploy these weapons against the United States.

     

    The Regia Aeronautica (Italian Air Force), working in conjunction with the Regia Marina (Italian Navy), prepared two long-range Cantieri Zappata CANT Z.511 flying boats for the operation. The CANT Z.511 was powered by four 1,500 hp Piaggio P.XII RC 35 radial engines giving it a maximum range of 2,796 miles. This seaplane also had extremely good stability in waters with up to 7-foot waves. It could carry two or four Maiales.

     

    The operation was to commence as follows: CANTs flying the Atlantic would fly low under enemy radar to a point from which the midget submarines could be launched. The crews of the submarines were special volunteers, who after completing their mission, were authorized to surrender. No plans were made for returning them to the seaplanes.

     

    By May 1943 cooperation with supply U-boats was obtained. The CANTs had been successfully tested with Maiales man-guided torpedos and special volunteers for one-way missions. The raid was scheduled to take place under ideal weather conditions in mid-June of the same year. However, only three weeks before, both the seaplanes and their specially fitted launch racks were partially damaged by British fighters when the CANT's base in Lake Trasimento was strafed. The following July Marschal Pietro Badoglio declared an Italian armistice and the project was abandoned. The planned attack against New York might have scored a success paralleling the Italian attack in Alexandria Bay, Egypt during the Axis Powers' North African campaign.