What if Hitler had invaded the USA?

As published on 2nd March 1942 by Life magazine.

It was a few months after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour (December 1941) - that forced the USA to enter the war, and with Germany seemingly unstoppable since 1939.

At the time of publication, Hitler and his allies had control over Austria, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, France, Norway, Yugoslavia, Finland, Greece, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and parts of the Soviet Union and North Africa. Italy was in control of Sicily, Ethiopia and Libya, while Japan had control over large parts of China and South-East Asia.

A list of scenarios were painted on how Hitler might invade mainland America, as a warning that the US was no longer just an observer of WW2.

Scenario 1: Germany, with help from a 5th column, invades the US from the east coast, after doing the following first: take out British navy, rescue captured Vichy France & Italian fleets. At same time, attack Seattle, San Francisco & LA.



Scenario 2: Meet the Japanese fleet through the Azores, Madeira & Canaries, then together, attack Norfolk, Virginia.



Scenario 3: First defeat the British, then go to Iceland, then invade Canada through the St Lawrence and Hudson Valleys.



Scenario 4: Japan bombs Panama Canal, then land in Ecuador, then invade along the US west coast.



Scenario 5: Pearl Harbor II: joint German-Japanese force, supported by carriers, land on Hawaii, set up base there, then launch big attack on San Francisco.