In 1937 World War II had not started, but something was brewing. The Pacific War had begun, the Spanish Civil War was underway and the shadow of a new Great War loomed over the world. The United States had a privileged vision, since they were far from the conflict and had resources to supply themselves in case war broke out in Europe, but faced with the vision of a new World War, the newspaper Chicago Herald and Examiner He made a map showing what the United States would look like if it entered the war supporting the losing side.
The result was very similar to what happened with Austria-Hungary after the First World War or what the Allies themselves wanted to do with Germany after the victory. “The United States, with the richest resources on Earth, would suffer the fate of Poland, Austria and Germany. Our cherished lands would be divided among conquerors.” Americans held each other in high esteem.
New York, no man's land. Curiously, the authors did not comment on the winning side, but there are some fairly clear references because Imperial Japan and Nazi Germany were the suspects. The Americans were clear that New York was the jewel in the crown and on the map we can see a caption that reads “the city of New York, a prize too rich to be awarded only to a conqueror, would be an international free port.” . That is if it is not reduced to ashes, of course.
The reason is that in the illustration you can see bombers without a defined flag, but with runes suspiciously similar to those of the 'SS' and completely destroying the city. Curiously, it would not be the first Nazi symbol in New York, since that same 1937 the Hindenburg accident occurred in New Jersey.
a german east. Beyond New York, the entire east would go to the winning side in Europe, with a suspicious red color. This ranges from New Jersey to Florida, passing through Georgia, North and South Carolina and Virginia, with a city as important as Washington DC also in the hands of the victors. Legend tells us that “the rich East Coast will be extirpated from the United States and divided among foreign powers.”
Death row. Right next to this red zone we find “death row”. We might think that it is an exclusion zone between the central and eastern territories of the conquerors, but the legend is somewhat different.
“On death row, with an abundance of steel, coal and cotton, it could be diverted into channels of destruction. Munitions factories would appear that would far exceed the combined production of all of Europe and there would be a state that would separate the continent, as happened with Poland”.
The “gifts” of the north and the south. In this scenario, Americans imagined a divided north. On the one hand, the area of Wisconsin, Michigan and Minnesota, which would be “a prize” for the winners, since it has minerals, food and outlets to be a trading post. On the other hand, in the north of New York state, “The Empire State Corridor” would be formed, granted to the United States itself for what may happen in a future conflict.
Looking south, the United States would “cede” parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Texas, a territory rich in agricultural and mineral resources, to “one of the successful allies.” Curiously, there is nothing of Mexico on this map, which continues to preserve its territory intact, including Baja California.
California to Japan. And speaking of the west, if the east is for Nazi Germany (supposedly), the west was for Imperial Japan. This includes the Hawaiian Islands and is a vast territory from the Canadian border in Washington, through Oregon and California, with part of Nevada and Arizona. It also includes Alaska, since “the rich mineral, timber and fur resources” would be for the conquerors.
The description of the new state of California reads as follows: “our rich Pacific coast, with great wealth of minerals, oil, timber and its many natural advantages, would be easy prey to conquerors. Furthermore, this empire could defend itself against attacks from the east.” . There is no Japanese symbology here as there were the 'SS' runes in the east, but it is curious that they use the term “empire”.
The US would still have access to the ocean. But hey, the central part is missing and that would be for the United States. It is not the richest in resources and, in fact, today you can clearly see how the country's main powers have gone to both coasts. But hey, it's something and they emphasize that they would continue to have access to the sea through the remaining parts of Texas and Louisiana.
This territory is “all that remains of the United States of America, reduced by the pressure of the conquerors and besieged on all sides. We could till our land, manage our industries and conduct our commercial affairs. Also send products abroad , but under the supervision and control of the powers.”
Otherwise, this hypothetical map created by illustrator Howard Austin Burke is most interesting and the truth is that this scenario was not so different from that seen in some video games in which Nazi Germany invaded the United States or the map of the series 'The Man in the High Castle' based on the novel by Philip K. Dick with an east and center of the Nazis and a west of the Japanese.
Images | Barron Maps
In Xataka | https://www.xataka.com/magnet/plan-cien-millones-muertos-asi-pretendia-revertir-japon-segunda-guerra-mundial
