If The USA is a real neutral (no unsecured loans, etc) then perhaps Britain would be desperate enough to consider selling Bermuda or other choice pieces of land...
To whom?
The populace of America had a fuss over the Alaska Purchase and the Americans might not see any value in it.
The only thing I can see them selling is maybe the Malvinas Islands back to Argentina
Although on second thought; The Americans could buy Caribbean or Pacific Islands for the Economic crop potential, the British would have no problem importing Sugar from American territories as they imported (literal)Tons of stuff from America already.
If this became the case and America was the main sugar supplier for Europe I wonder how a TL like that would go. I also know post ww1 Europe was buying American Grain due to much of the land being under restoration from the war.
What can the Germans hope for in a 1918 offensive on the Western Front? Keeping America out of the war dials back the urgency quite a bit, so presumably they'll take more time to plan and organize it. A better executed Kaiserschlact against weaker Entente would definitely put the hurt on them, but OTL, it's was a Phyrric victory, since concentrating their best troops into stormtrooper battalions had calamitous effects on their army when they suffered atrocious casualties. If they didn't have to rush to beat the Americans to Paris, would they have been more deliberate in training the whole army in the new tactics?
The options in 1918 are but two, attack in France or attack in Italy.
France Pros: Could end the war all together if France collapses. Big 700+ mile front line to allow attack(s) at location of choosing to better make use of those freedup divisions from the east.
France Cons: Germany is going strength vs. strength here.
Italy Pros: One of the bigger breakthroughs occurred vs Italy. Italian army is weakest of those remaining. Helps Austria-Hungary.
Italy Cons: Limited scope for attacks and best case it doesn't end the war just removes another enemy.
Problem here isn't just the knock France out before USA arrives consideration. There is also the Prussian-German military tradition which highly favored trying to achieve a decisions NOW even if you run risk. Prussia-Germany was at times aggressive to a fault. If given a chose they really would rather attack if at all possible.
So yah some type of offensive in France in 1918 is all but inevitable but without the pressure of US entry would it be pushed as hard as it was?
Michael
Problem here isn't just the knock France out before USA arrives consideration. There is also the Prussian-German military tradition which highly favored trying to achieve a decisions NOW even if you run risk. Prussia-Germany was at times aggressive to a fault. If given a chose they really would rather attack if at all possible.
So yah some type of offensive in France in 1918 is all but inevitable but without the pressure of US entry would it be pushed as hard as it was?
Michael
The options in 1918 are but two, attack in France or attack in Italy.
France Pros: Could end the war all together if France collapses. Big 700+ mile front line to allow attack(s) at location of choosing to better make use of those freedup divisions from the east.
France Cons: Germany is going strength vs. strength here.
Italy Pros: One of the bigger breakthroughs occurred vs Italy. Italian army is weakest of those remaining. Helps Austria-Hungary.
Italy Cons: Limited scope for attacks and best case it doesn't end the war just removes another enemy.
Problem here isn't just the knock France out before USA arrives consideration. There is also the Prussian-German military tradition which highly favored trying to achieve a decisions NOW even if you run risk. Prussia-Germany was at times aggressive to a fault. If given a chose they really would rather attack if at all possible.
So yah some type of offensive in France in 1918 is all but inevitable but without the pressure of US entry would it be pushed as hard as it was?
Michael
You miss the obvious- Italy was the enemy of Austria and not of Germany. What does Germany gain by knocking out Italy? Nothing but Austria may see no need to continue to back Germany with Italy, Serbia, Romania and the Russians beaten, the Austrians are more likely to fear Germany than support her. After all, if France is beaten, who will protect the Austrians from the Germans?
On the other hand, if the Germans knock out France, then Italy can be brought back into the Triple Alliance- and the Italian Fleet would be useful against the British
I can't see Italy as the main objective for 1918. It's just not a decisive theatre.
One possibility though. Might the Germans decide they can spare troops for Italy a bit sooner than OTL, so that Caporetto is fought sometime in August?
At that time the river levels were quite a bit lower, so the Piave might not have been a defensible line. So the Austrians get to the Adige, and perhaps even rest their left flank on the Po, so their position is stronger. With Austria now reasonably secure, the Germans can concentrate everything in Flanders and Picardy for the big push.
I am not even sure the Germans should launch a 1918 offensive.
Russia's out and has been knocked flat, but the Ottomans and Austrians are still hurting. Perfect time to call a general peace conference rather than hammering out a crushing defeat of Russia and uncertain gains in the west.
Force the French and British to pay for Russian reduced losses, and you win by default. Might even secure a greater-Turkey of Turkey+Kurdistan+parts of Syria/Iraq with an Arabic buffer rather than actual British-French territories. Kinda depends what the Germans focus on (writing off the Mid-East and Africa are surely the better prospects in the long and medium run, if it nets gains in Europe). A-H will likely totter along as a German semi-puppet too, the double monarchy having been hurt way too much to ditch Germany (lest they face another Königgratz whenever the Germans work up enough anger about the 'stab in the back').
Of course, this being 1917-18 Germany, there's a real chance they'll painfully try for a knockout blow and fail, resulting in a much lesser victory in the peace.
I am not even sure the Germans should launch a 1918 offensive.
Of course, this being 1917-18 Germany, there's a real chance they'll painfully try for a knockout blow and fail, resulting in a much lesser victory in the peace.
I don't think Americans entering ww1 has something to do with some ship as wall street basically kidnapped gov due to large british war bonds.
Welcome to the board. You've posted twice here, and each time you bumped long-dead discussion threads. That is discouraged here unless you're significantly contributing to the discussion.I don't think Americans entering ww1 has something to do with some ship as wall street basically kidnapped gov due to large british war bonds.