London August 2 1914
Foreign Security Sir Edward Grey looked at the dispatch in disbelief. The three German Armies that had massing on the German-Belgian frontier were packing up and going to somewhere else in Germany. But where were they going? The east perhaps? But to Sir Grey it still didn’t make any since. It was an open secret for years that when war came to Europe that Germany would march through Belgium to out flank the French in the opening days of the war. Now at the moment war have arrived Germany was throwing out her plans and flying by the seat of her pants which was very un-German like.
It also destroyed the years of work Sir Grey and the other Francophobes in parliament. The thought of ties to the continent would deeply unpopular with the British public. Prime Minister Asquith knew of the unofficial work of the Francophiles in his cabinet and had done nothing to stop it. Asquith himself didn’t want war and had made it clear he wouldn’t take a divided nation into war. However Grey had an answer, The Treaty of London signed in 1839. In the treaty the British had with French, Prussians, and Dutch had agreed that if Belgium was invaded they were bounded to come to the aid of Belgium. The German Empire had taken over the role of Prussia in 1871.
With the open secret of Germany planning on invading Belgium to defeat, Grey had planned on marching into parliament and saying the British were duty bound to come to the defense of Belgium. All of the planning of the Francophile block was depended on a German invasion of Belgium. With even Kaiser Wilhelm going so far to tell King Albert of Belgium he should stand aside when the German invasion came if he wished to remain in power. With such threats it seem to be full proof way to get the British Empire when war came to Europe.
Everything leading up to the dispatch Grey now held in his hands pointed to the Germans would come crashing through Belgium like the Huns. As the July Crisis unfolded the German Armies started massing on the German-Belgian frontier which all pointed to a German invasion. However now it seemed that be wrong with three German Armies moving back into Germany to points unknown. He wonder what Prince Lichnowsky who Grey had met with yesterday had spent back to Germany to get the Kaiser to change his mind about the invasion of Belgium. Lichnowsky was known to be a member of the German noble class that favorer peace to war, but what could he had said to get Germany to call off its planned invasion.
However whatever Lichnowsky had said, if had left Grey holding the bag. Without a German invasion the British couldn’t find a casus belli for war with the German Empire for the foreseeable future and Grey knew it. Everyone in the British Isles would turn their focus back on the Irish Home Rule Bill which was threating to lead the British down the path to civil war. Ulster was hell bended to stay out of this home rule bill and it was pointing to it was willing to use force to do so.
As Grey put down the dispatch he stood up and looked out the window in his office. Across Europe the lights were going out and would not be turned back on for a long time. The British Empire the most powerful nation on the face the Earth was going to be forced to watch from the sidelines as he could not find a way to stop Germany from destroying the cornerstone of British Foreign Policy which was to make sure no one nation in Europe from taking control of Europe. As the lights were going out, Grey wondered if the Sun was also setting on British Foreign Policy as well.
<*>
I had this idea for a long time, but how just now decided to do something with it. I got the idea by the e-book Gray Tide in the East by Andrew Heller. He uses the Kaiser’s order to halt the invasion of Luxembourg and Belgium as his POD, which I have done as well. Even through his book was a good read I had a number of disagreements with his butterflies. Even more so with his two follow on works that came out after his first. In August Wind I plan to go down the road which I think would been travelled instead of the one Mister Heller took in his book. However this is Alternate History and everyone is entitled to their own thoughts. These are mine.
Should I keep on? Your thoughts?
Foreign Security Sir Edward Grey looked at the dispatch in disbelief. The three German Armies that had massing on the German-Belgian frontier were packing up and going to somewhere else in Germany. But where were they going? The east perhaps? But to Sir Grey it still didn’t make any since. It was an open secret for years that when war came to Europe that Germany would march through Belgium to out flank the French in the opening days of the war. Now at the moment war have arrived Germany was throwing out her plans and flying by the seat of her pants which was very un-German like.
It also destroyed the years of work Sir Grey and the other Francophobes in parliament. The thought of ties to the continent would deeply unpopular with the British public. Prime Minister Asquith knew of the unofficial work of the Francophiles in his cabinet and had done nothing to stop it. Asquith himself didn’t want war and had made it clear he wouldn’t take a divided nation into war. However Grey had an answer, The Treaty of London signed in 1839. In the treaty the British had with French, Prussians, and Dutch had agreed that if Belgium was invaded they were bounded to come to the aid of Belgium. The German Empire had taken over the role of Prussia in 1871.
With the open secret of Germany planning on invading Belgium to defeat, Grey had planned on marching into parliament and saying the British were duty bound to come to the defense of Belgium. All of the planning of the Francophile block was depended on a German invasion of Belgium. With even Kaiser Wilhelm going so far to tell King Albert of Belgium he should stand aside when the German invasion came if he wished to remain in power. With such threats it seem to be full proof way to get the British Empire when war came to Europe.
Everything leading up to the dispatch Grey now held in his hands pointed to the Germans would come crashing through Belgium like the Huns. As the July Crisis unfolded the German Armies started massing on the German-Belgian frontier which all pointed to a German invasion. However now it seemed that be wrong with three German Armies moving back into Germany to points unknown. He wonder what Prince Lichnowsky who Grey had met with yesterday had spent back to Germany to get the Kaiser to change his mind about the invasion of Belgium. Lichnowsky was known to be a member of the German noble class that favorer peace to war, but what could he had said to get Germany to call off its planned invasion.
However whatever Lichnowsky had said, if had left Grey holding the bag. Without a German invasion the British couldn’t find a casus belli for war with the German Empire for the foreseeable future and Grey knew it. Everyone in the British Isles would turn their focus back on the Irish Home Rule Bill which was threating to lead the British down the path to civil war. Ulster was hell bended to stay out of this home rule bill and it was pointing to it was willing to use force to do so.
As Grey put down the dispatch he stood up and looked out the window in his office. Across Europe the lights were going out and would not be turned back on for a long time. The British Empire the most powerful nation on the face the Earth was going to be forced to watch from the sidelines as he could not find a way to stop Germany from destroying the cornerstone of British Foreign Policy which was to make sure no one nation in Europe from taking control of Europe. As the lights were going out, Grey wondered if the Sun was also setting on British Foreign Policy as well.
<*>
I had this idea for a long time, but how just now decided to do something with it. I got the idea by the e-book Gray Tide in the East by Andrew Heller. He uses the Kaiser’s order to halt the invasion of Luxembourg and Belgium as his POD, which I have done as well. Even through his book was a good read I had a number of disagreements with his butterflies. Even more so with his two follow on works that came out after his first. In August Wind I plan to go down the road which I think would been travelled instead of the one Mister Heller took in his book. However this is Alternate History and everyone is entitled to their own thoughts. These are mine.
Should I keep on? Your thoughts?
Last edited: