The first path delays the European war until 1942, broadly preserving the historical sequence while changing the preparedness of every major power. The second starts with Japan attacking in December 1941, then imagines Germany and Italy exploiting the diversion of Allied forces. The third has Germany attack Poland while Italy attacks Greece, with Japan moving on the Dutch East Indies after the Netherlands falls. These starting assumptions leave the subsequent operations conditional. German and Italian economic strain helps explain why a crisis could still arrive before their desired rearmament was complete.
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Three paths to a delayed world war
The three scenarios begin with a 1942 European war, a Pacific war starting first, or a coordinated German-Italian attack followed by Japanese intervention.