Self-explanatory. What PoD would have a 20th Century Without Tears? What would need to happen to avoid both WWI and subsequently WWII.
Best Way to Avoid A World War?
- Thread starter Thermopylae
- Start date
Thermopylae said:
Well, a different outcome to Franco-Prussian war of 1870 would have helped - maybe something that settles a better division of Alsace-Lorraine, or that results in German Empire being stillborn, to where Germany does not unite until some time in mid-late XXth century, as a EU-like federation.
midgardmetal said:
Agreed. WWI was written in Frankfuhrt as much as, or more than, WWII was written in Versailles.
If another state had taken the task of uniting the germans maybe Bavaria rather than Prussia; Let's say if Prussia plays much less of a role in crushing Napoleon, and so is not rewarded with the Rhinelands...
Glen
Moderator
Thermopylae said:
Arrange the alignment of nations such that Germany is isolated until KWII dies and the atomic bomb is developed. Then for most timelines at worst you see a cold war between the powers but eventual thawing and liberalization gradually.
For example, have both Franz Josef and Franz Ferdinand assassinated in an incident in 1907, and pro-Entente Emperor Karl helps isolate KWII's Germany.
I agree with Glen. Earlier nukes more or less ensures that there won't be a general conflagration.
Put a powerful Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth that in XV-XVIIC. annexed back Silesia and Western Pomerania and conquered or annexed Eastern Prussia/Teutonic Order, and then you have no place for Brandenburg to expand, meaning no Kingdom of Prussia later, and no Prussia-united Germany... Also powerful Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth would severly weaken Russia as an added bonus
Some early 20th century contained wars involving at least one Great Power, seeing the strength of the tactical defense emerging, as long as the shocking manpower costs. I think about a string of humilitating defeats to the mentioned Great Power by a smaller country which has reformed it´s military. So the outcome cannot be blamed on surprise and/or military incompetence.
When a major war breaks out, it doesn´t tie down to the stalemate we know.
When a major war breaks out, it doesn´t tie down to the stalemate we know.
Steffen said:
Boer war, the Boers dug into a trench arrangement along the Tugela River and held out for a significant time.
In the end Buller invented the rolling artillery barrage in order to solve the problem (of course nobody was taking notes so it had to be reinvented several years later).
The Russo-Japanese war also pointed out the problems with charging an entrenched enemy.
Darkling said:
The problem is the Boer war experiences can be blamed on Gen. Redvers Buller-Thande and his collegues`incompetence, and it´s possible to shrug it off as a colonial affair without significance.
But it´s the direction I´m thinking of.
Maybe the Ottoman Empire reforms an army and beats a French force? Everybody would be shocked a written-off power can beat the French...
Russo-French War is also, of course a prime contester. maybe we POD so the Russians get ample preparatory time, gets a huge army there with a couple of influental european military observers
Straha said:
By involving their worldwide colonies they drew the world into the conflict... thus, it is a WAR on a WORLDWIDE scale...