Q&A · 2:42:38-2:43:17

Could Germany finish Graf Zeppelin in response?

A stronger Allied carrier threat might renew effort, but Germany's limited resources and lost access to Japanese materials still make timely completion unlikely.

Question

Would the enlarged Allied carrier force cause Germany to finish Graf Zeppelin?

Short answer

Germany might push the project harder, but it still lacks the resources and imported materials to make the carrier operational in time.

Notes

Germany historically renewed work after Taranto, so the operational lesson could strengthen the case for the carrier. The alternate war is less favourable to completion, however, because Japan is no longer supplying scarce goods such as rubber to Germany. The project would still face limited resources, now worsened by the loss of Japanese supplies.