Sweden enters the Crimean War

[chris N]

Britain and France were finding that their war against Imperial Russia in the Crimea was going nowhere fast. The longed to open a second front and thus force a conclusion to the war. A decision had been reached to bring the war into the Baltic. However, the British and the French both knew that for any realistic chance at success they would need additional help. It was thus decided to approach the Kingdom of Sweden to see what arrangement could be made to gain the active support of Sweden into the War.
There were some in the government and the Monarchy that wish to see the Kingdom regain its Finnish province. Thus the price for Sweden'sfull support of the war would be an agreement that Britain and France would demand that Finland be restored to Sweden. That there would be no peace without that.
The British Government reluctantly agreed as it saw the move as a means of ending the war much quicker. France also agreed.
With the agreement Sweden mobilized its military and together with the Royal Navy it was transported to Finland.

[Shtudmuffin]

Oooh. I remember asking about this a long time ago. I'm interested in seeing where this goes. Consider me subscribed.

[The Gunslinger]

If Sweden joins the war, there's going to be heavy pressure on Austria to join too...

[Prime Minister]

Very interesting. Please do continue.

[wolf_brother]

Originally Posted by The Gunslinger

If Sweden joins the war, there's going to be heavy pressure on Austria to join too...

And the Prussians as well. This might turn into a general Russ-screw.

[jkarr]

i could imagine if austria gets sucked in it might spark off the serbs earlier, mabye bring up a slav insurection along that area, thereby perhaps avoiding the rason for the later pressure realese in ww1

[von Adler]

The Nrowegian army, which was a separate entity from the Swedish one, would probably not be allowed to leave Norway by the Norwegian parliament - it might be seen defending Finnmark and perhaps parts of northern Sweden, while the Swedish army lands in Åland and Finland.

The Swedish army at the time is roughly 40-45 000 men, including the navy. The navy was at a historical low with;

6xSailing ship of the line.
4xSailing frigates.
1xSailing corvette.

1xPaddle steam corvette.
1xScrew steam corvette.
1xSteam ship of the line.

Two more steam screw corvettes were added 1853 and 1854, and another screw steam ship of the line 1857.

There's also about 20 000 men in nationalbeväringen, a kind of militia.

The army was in the process of re-arming with minie-ball rifles from round ball rifles and muskets. The light infantry and sharpshooters have m/1840 and m/1848 rifled minie ball percussion cap carbines, while most of the army still carry round ball rifles and muskets - some muskets have been rebored to rifles, some have been modified to use minie balls, but the majority, even the percussion cap rifles, use round balls.

The problem is how the allied forces are supposed to make any headway into Finland. Crimea was VERY far away for Russia, and they had massive problems getting troops, reinforcements and supplies there. Finland is next door to S:t Petersburg.

[Lt.Gen 767]

Please do a Russia-screw, Russia gets off far too easily considering how weak they were in the 19th century.

It would be interesting if the loss in the TTL's Crimean War leads to a mid-19th century Russian revolution. Huge butterflies for any ATL WWI and the rise of communism in the 20th century.

[Fabilius]

Sweden would get their asses handed to them by the Russians unless they enjoy support from France and Britain.

And not financial, they were offered that OTL, what they need are soldiers.

Maybe this increases odds on Austria and Prussia joining, how close were they OTL? (I only just recently read a bit on swedish history).

But this might easily be a Sweden screw. Norway separating earlier and Sweden abolishing it´s monarchy along with more radicalized social movement in the aftermath of a catastrophic war.

[HunterX]

I don't think this is likely to lead to Swedish gains outside of perhaps the Aland Islands.

[Iori]

Originally Posted by Lt.Gen 767

Huge butterflies for any ATL WWI and the rise of communism in the 20th century.

Communism and various forms of Socialism already existed by the time, so it would'nt alter the rise of Commuism, what it would alter is whether or not their was ever a Communist state, and if their is, what place aside from Russia it would arise in.

[Jurgen Wullenwever]

The Czar regime was rather popular in Finland, Estonia and Latvia at this time, unlike in WW1, so an invasion might not receive any support from the local populations. They would rather work against the Swedish invasion forces.

(But I might be wrong.)

[Olligarchy]

Could be a rather interesting TL. Will be following this.

[Direwolf22]

Alternatively if Sweden and Austria join the allies against Russia this could convince Prussia to side with the Russians. Berlin and St. Petersburg were quite close after the Napoleonic Wars and a chance for Prussia to expand its influence in Germany against a distracted France and Austria would be quite tempting..

[wietze]

Originally Posted by Direwolf22

Alternatively if Sweden and Austria join the allies against Russia this could convince Prussia to side with the Russians. Berlin and St. Petersburg were quite close after the Napoleonic Wars and a chance for Prussia to expand its influence in Germany against a distracted France and Austria would be quite tempting..

So essentially the crimean war expanding to a full scale european conflict?
I could see many german states siding with austria, could be a earlier version of the austro-prussian war there.

[wolf_brother]

Why would Prussia suddenly join the people whom the rest of the continent has just united against? Frederick William isn't that stupid.

[Faeelin]

Originally Posted by Lt.Gen 767

Please do a Russia-screw, Russia gets off far too easily considering how weak they were in the 19th century.

Too weak? Eh, they managed to take on Napoleon's armies and chase them back to Paris.

[Rich Rostrom]

Originally Posted by chris N

Britain and France were finding that their war against Imperial Russia in the Crimea was going nowhere fast. The longed to open a second front and thus force a conclusion to the war. A decision had been reached to bring the war into the Baltic. However, the British and the French both knew that for any realistic chance at success they would need additional help.

The British Royal Navy and probably the French as well attacked Russian positions in the Baltic without Swedish assistance OTL.

[MerryPrankster]

I suggested this in an earlier thread and the response I remember is that Sweden wouldn't do this because in order to hold any of their gains against a Russian revenge, they'd need to be allied permanently to Britain and France and they wouldn't like that.

Was Sweden's government at the time strongly opposed to "entangling alliances"?

[chris N]

Great Britain agreed to help the Swedish government with more modern weapons. There were however limits to the amount of additional Manpower that they would have available.
There was some belief that there would be Finns that would be more than willing to join in the allied invasion as long as it was clear that there was a commitment to the liberation of Finland from Russian Control.
British and French diplomats began a serious lobbying of the Austro-Hungarian Government to join in the conflict. Russia's acting as the protectors of the Serbs was considered by some in the Empire a threat to the Empire's Interest.
It was clear that consideration was being given to making this a wider war.
If it went the aliies way the map of Europe would be redrawn.