Thande
Donor
Someone with better knowledge of the 1920s and 1930s than me will have to think up a specific POD, but: WI France, by say 1934, is a one-party Communist state? Whether it reaches this path by democratic election or revolution (I think a worse Depression might play a part) this throws a spanner in the works for the whole leadup to WW2.
For one, it means that Soviet Russia is no longer the sole edifice and symbol of Communism in the world. This could go either way in Britain, the US, etc.: either "we can't link this with the old Russia-Is-The-Implacable-Foe threat, so Communism gets more sympathy, or "it could happen here! It has happened in a democratic Western country!", so Communism is feared more. Also, it seems quite likely that the Communist French government wouldn't see eye to eye with Stalin, so now we could see real competing visions of the global proletarian revolution again rather than a single dominating view rooted firmly in Moscow.
Secondly, if the Spanish Civil War still happens, a Communist victory is virtually assured - although it would be interesting whether the resulting government would look more towards France or the USSR.
Thirdly, it is interesting to speculate what would happen to the French colonial empire - particularly if the Communists come to power in France through revolution.
Fourthly, this makes it likely that, if the Rome-Berlin axis still forms, the Axis will be opposed from the start by both the USSR and France, with Britain and the USA probably watching from the sidelines and hoping both sets of unpleasant ideologues sides slaughter each other. Perhaps we could see authoriatarian Poland become an Axis ally rather than an immediate battlefield (perhaps conceding Danzig and the Corridor to Germany in exchange for Czech territory and some Soviet land after any future war?)
Comments?
For one, it means that Soviet Russia is no longer the sole edifice and symbol of Communism in the world. This could go either way in Britain, the US, etc.: either "we can't link this with the old Russia-Is-The-Implacable-Foe threat, so Communism gets more sympathy, or "it could happen here! It has happened in a democratic Western country!", so Communism is feared more. Also, it seems quite likely that the Communist French government wouldn't see eye to eye with Stalin, so now we could see real competing visions of the global proletarian revolution again rather than a single dominating view rooted firmly in Moscow.
Secondly, if the Spanish Civil War still happens, a Communist victory is virtually assured - although it would be interesting whether the resulting government would look more towards France or the USSR.
Thirdly, it is interesting to speculate what would happen to the French colonial empire - particularly if the Communists come to power in France through revolution.
Fourthly, this makes it likely that, if the Rome-Berlin axis still forms, the Axis will be opposed from the start by both the USSR and France, with Britain and the USA probably watching from the sidelines and hoping both sets of unpleasant ideologues sides slaughter each other. Perhaps we could see authoriatarian Poland become an Axis ally rather than an immediate battlefield (perhaps conceding Danzig and the Corridor to Germany in exchange for Czech territory and some Soviet land after any future war?)
Comments?
