DBWI: Austro-Hungarian archduke killed

[Evil Opus]

In 1914, war was almost precipitated between Austria-Hungary and Serbia when a Serb assassin nearly killed the heir the Austiran throne, who would later become emperor in 1916. But WI he had been killed? How would this affect the course of world history?

[Gladi]

Bright day
While it would be tragedy I doubt war would come of it. Hungarians would drag their feet like they used back in dualist days and be cautious about possibility of anexing serbia. You would see some heavy diplomatic action. Russia -Serbia sponsor-would propably abondon idea of Russian Balkans and find other places to ocupy itself with. Serbia becomes pro-Austrian. Dualism is still dead. End of story.

[Max Sinister]

I hope too that the European powers would be reasonable enough not to start a war. (Better for all of us, after all, the various alliances would've led to a war all over Europe.) But in 1914, mankind was sane enough. After all, only a few years before the French president was killed by an Italian, but did the French declare war on Italy for that? Of course not.

[tinfoil]

Don't dismiss the idea of a regional war too quickly; those were emotional and potentially turbulant times. The 'dual monarchy' had not yet quite collapsed, and might have declared war to hide the impotence that became clear in 1925 in OTL, when AH began to split apart. In 1914, there were still many in Europe who thought that AH had clout.

AH may have used the death of the heir as a causus belli and DOWed little Serbia. Russia would almost certainly have intervened, with the Ottomans too close to ignore things...

Mind you, if I recall correctly, Germany actually had a mutual assistance treaty with AH. I wonder if they would have honored it?

[Gladi]

Don't dismiss the idea of a regional war too quickly; those were emotional and potentially turbulant times. The 'dual monarchy' had not yet quite collapsed, and might have declared war to hide the impotence that became clear in 1925 in OTL, when AH began to split apart. In 1914, there were still many in Europe who thought that AH had clout.

AH may have used the death of the heir as a causus belli and DOWed little Serbia. Russia would almost certainly have intervened, with the Ottomans too close to ignore things...

Mind you, if I recall correctly, Germany actually had a mutual assistance treaty with AH. I wonder if they would have honored it?

Collapsed? Bah we are better off without the bloody Hungarians.

[Kabraloth]

Mind you, if I recall correctly, Germany actually had a mutual assistance treaty with AH. I wonder if they would have honored it?
Most likely. German politics in those days was all about "nibelung loyality".

[Berra]

But this might avoid his totaly crazy desition to invade Germany 1934.

[Kabraloth]

But this might avoid his totaly crazy desition to invade Germany 1934.
Hey, at least that war finally ended Austria-Hungary's existance, roughly 5 centuries of incompetent Habsburgs finally gone during the "Bloody Sunday".

The only ones unhappy about that (And the following inclusion of Austria into Germany) are the Brits with their "balance of power", as usual. (I think they still are. :p ) It is not as if they have fought on the continent since Napoleon.

[Nicole]

I will report you to the administrator if you continue this blatant insulting against my noble family, mister Kabraloth! We shall be restored!

[Kabraloth]

Right, and pigs can fly. Even you have to admit it, the Hohenzollen-Sigmaringens are going to stay, just as they have been for almost 70 years.:rolleyes:

[Gladi]

Right, and pigs can fly. Even you have to admit it, the Hohenzollen-Sigmaringens are going to stay, just as they have been for almost 70 years.:rolleyes:

All you need to make a pig fly is just a cannon big enough to fit pig in. And it is being worked on.

(sigh and here I was trying to save the empire)

[Nekromans]

I predict Russia reneging on its Serbian pact, and a small regional war taking place. In the end, Serbia is annexed by Austria. Hungary uses this as an excuse to invade Romania. Russia feels threatened by this action, and declares war on Austria-Hungary. Germany gets involved, and decides to invade France, as well. The combined Russo-Romanian forces quickly drive the Front Line well into the Hungarian heartland, and Hungary is annexed by Russia. Germany agrees to make peace with Russia, and begins an assault on France by sea, as to not risk England's wrath by invading Belgium. German Dreadnoughts - filled to the brim with invading soldiers - land in Normandy, and a massive German army wipes out the fortifications at Alsace-Lorraine. The troops are setting in motion a siege of Paris, when British troops arrive from the north, desperate to stop any movement that will bring about an occupied Paris. The German troops fight valiantly, but are no match for the new Tank.

Peace!

[Max Sinister]

Which time are you talking about, Nekromans? The possible POD would be 1914, but you sound as if you were talking about the time when the A and H of A-H were already going different ways.

[luakel]

German Dreadnoughts invading Normandy from the Sea? Puh-leeze. The whole Royal Navy would be right on top of them. :rolleyes:

[KJM]

If war broke out over an assassination, the US would have nothing further to do with Europe. Ever. At least, in my opinion.

[Nicole]

Nothing further? Since when has the US had anything to do with Europe?

And I will note that the only reason the bastard branch of the Hohenzollerns stays in Vienna is because of the force of German arms! One day the Germans will be forced to leave, and then the Hapsburgs will regain our God-given throne!

[Nekromans]

German Dreadnoughts invading Normandy from the Sea? Puh-leeze. The whole Royal Navy would be right on top of them. :rolleyes:

Eh... it was a nice thought. Anyway, since when were the British involved at that point?

Okay, new plan: Battle of the Channel. The german fleet, confident that Britain will remain neutral, attempts an invasion of Normandy. However, the whole Royal Navy is right on top of them, and sinks most of Germany's fleet. The German army in Alsace-Lorraine manages to take a considerable portion of Burgundy before Britain sends troops down.

And in regards to the A-H thing - They WERE going seperate ways then. They were hardly united - they were outnumbered.

[JLCook]

No DOW?

No warnings?

They just sail up behind them and start blasting?

When Horatio Nelson did that at Copenhagen, at least Great Britain was already at war with someone else. What makes you think that they'd resort to that now? I'll agree that the UK will be very unhappy about German Dreadnaughts in the Channel and might go to war over it, but wouldn't they declare war first or at least make it conditional that if the Germans arrive in the channel they will be met with force and let the Germans decide if they want war or not?

[luakel]

Eh... it was a nice thought. Anyway, since when were the British involved at that point?
German ships in the Channel will get them involved.

[tinfoil]

German ships in the Channel will get them involved.
1) Why would Germnany risk antagonizing the one sea power by doing ANYTHING in the channel? Esp. considered they whupped France's ass only 50 years before in a purely land war.

2) How did a thread about A-H and Serbia suddenly become between France and Germnay. There's no way an assassination of the heir of a soon-to-be-defunct Eastern european empire is going to invlove these two (or three if you count the UK). You're going to have to find another way to start THAT war!

[Kidblast]

A big trial will occur, and perhaps notes of condolences from heads of state.

Other than that, any thoughts of war are ludicrous. This is almost ASBish.

[Mr_ Bondoc]

In 1914, war was almost precipitated between Austria-Hungary and Serbia when a Serb assassin nearly killed the heir the Austiran throne, who would later become emperor in 1916. But WI he had been killed? How would this affect the course of world history?

Well according to my B.S. Degree in Eugenics, it is quite easy to discern that based on the lower intelligences of Slavic Races that violence would mainly contained in the Balkans region. Just consider the long list of Catholic and Orthodox leaders who thrive in the region, such as General Slobodan Milosevic of Serbia who came to power in a coup in 1989.

[KJM]

Well according to my B.S. Degree in Eugenics
Must... not... comment...