re: GMT

That is an excellent question!

Why the hell would they do it? So. Here is a secret about World War II that doesn't get talked about much. Germany, and for that matter Japan, were pretty much making up strategy as they went along.

Hitler promised Germans they would regain "living space" and retake what they had lost at the end of World War I. He also realized that war with the Soviets was inevitable, if only because Stalin would look up from the massacre of his own people sooner or later and take out Germany to be safe. So, beat a weakened France (WW I really wrecked them), declare victory in the West, and then the showdown with the Soviets.

The Nazis, however, never had a plan for what happens if the UK doesn't agree to terms? They were stuck with an enemy they couldn't attack, while marshaling for their war with the Commies. Once the Italians were trounced in North Africa they were stuck with trying to find a way, any way, to knock out the UK.

Germany's insanity in declaring the war on the US was foreordained, Hitler realized that now the US was at war they would surely extend that war to Europe. No problem! Japan would tie them up for years and in the meantime that pesky Land Lease would disappear! No plan for, well crap, it turns out they can fight in both theaters with growing strength.

Sounds odd? Well, Putin's big plan for Ukraine never went beyond, what do we do if we don't end the war in three days? We see how that is going.

Morning all