In otl, Austria almost got the Solomon Islands in the south pacific
*pulls out notebook*
Elaborate !
And the most of the sailors that were on the ship that made the discovery were Croatians from Dalmatian seaside. It should have been ours.
the short version: in the late 19th century, not to be outdone by the other European Powers, Austria - Hungary commenced a series of 'showing the flag' tours to various locales. In 1895 the SMS Albatros steamed to the Solomons after acquiring necessary coal and provisions from Australia; the leader of the expedition, Baron Foulon Norbeck of the Imperial and Royal Geological Society organized an exploration of the islands but an initial attack by natives set back their efforts. Later on Albatros returned to carry out her survey mission, and to my knowledge two or three other times the islands were visited by ships of the Imperial and Royal Navy. Admiral Miklos Horthy mentions in passing in his memoirs that there was a half hearted attempt to buy the islands from the British, which would surely have gone through had not the domestic political scene been such a nightmare. The Czechs and Hungarians were very good at fucking things up for everybody else.
Than we would have built a grand longhouse, colonise the place, hunt seals and polar bears and drink rakija. Later in the 20th century in the finest tradition of our ancestors terrfying reavers would descend from the fronzen north no maim and pillage the coasts of Iceland, Norway, Shetlands and Orkneys. And the mortal world would tremble.
Hear, hear!
Than we would have built a grand longhouse, colonise the place, hunt seals and polar bears and drink rakija
Later in the 20th century in the finest tradition of our ancestors terrfying reavers would descend from the fronzen north no maim and pillage the coasts of Iceland, Norway, Shetlands and Orkneys.
And the mortal world would tremble
Those dirty Lozans... They will kneel before the blood-stained axes of their šljivovicite masters!