What if France had emerged the victor in the Franco Prussian War? I don't want to get bogged down in the (un)likelihood of this happening, only the aftermath.
Let's assume that the war ends in late 1871, with a recovered French invasion force crossing the frontier into the Western German states. Prussia and Bavaria are untouched as yet. Seeing the inevitable however, the Prussians sue for peace.
The capture of Louis Napolean is less of a bargaining chip, as the French have deposed him in absentia in favour of a new republic. He will spend the rest of his days as a guest of the British crown.
Will this affect Prussia's ambition to unite the German states into one nation? How will rivals like Bavaria and Austria react? Will a newly dominant French Republic again be a thorn in Britain's side?
In the long term, will their be a First World War along the lines of that which actually happened?
Your thoughts?
Let's assume that the war ends in late 1871, with a recovered French invasion force crossing the frontier into the Western German states. Prussia and Bavaria are untouched as yet. Seeing the inevitable however, the Prussians sue for peace.
The capture of Louis Napolean is less of a bargaining chip, as the French have deposed him in absentia in favour of a new republic. He will spend the rest of his days as a guest of the British crown.
Will this affect Prussia's ambition to unite the German states into one nation? How will rivals like Bavaria and Austria react? Will a newly dominant French Republic again be a thorn in Britain's side?
In the long term, will their be a First World War along the lines of that which actually happened?
Your thoughts?