Recent content by von Adler

I'm a bit weary on the idea that the Ottomans and Austria-Hungary would inevitable collapse even if they won ww1. The old style Empires that did collapse only did so because their armies were defeated - because their whole state structure depended in the end on the prestige of their army. If...

Bodø was untenable because of the German air support from Hattfjelldal. And Narvik would be untenable because of the air support from Bodø. Unless the Allies are willing to commit enough fighters to contest German air superiority, they can't hold Norway.

Two weeks into the campaign, the Germans held all the important cities, infrastructure, mobilisation depots and what remained of the Norwegian army had been pushed into positions from which it held no strategic relevance whatsoever. It was only at Narvik things got bad for the Germans, but the...

The Germans comitted their C-team to Norway. Except four regiments of moubtain troops and three companies of paratroopers, none of the troops sent in had more than 90 days of training they had no mortars, their artillery was weak and ww1 vintage. The Norwegian army was 116 000 men if mobilised...

The prevailing European and American doctrine on the sub-machinegun in the 30s was either as a replacement of the pistol for rear combat formations, such as mortar crews, runners and messengers, radio crews and so on, or as a special weapon to be issued for special missions (such as trench...

While Sweden did allow Germany to ship soldiers going to and from leave to Norway over the Swedish railway network, as well as food and other non-contraband goods, it sold iron ore and ball bearings to Germany, neither of which could be considered war material. Iron ore was sold to Britqin too...

I intended it as a compliment - you know a lot about Russia and Russian internal politics in the era, and are thus equipped to tell me why the timeline I made would not be realistic because A, B and C. A lot like I do when people try to present late Kalmar Union survival scenarios. :) Peter had...

Likewise, Sweden had designs on Norway to remove being surrounded by hostile powers (Norway in the west, Russia in the east, Denmark to the south). Denmark's attitude may change with how strong she feels, how strong she feels Sweden is (both of which may or may not be related to the actual...

It did not OTL. Denmark treid to go to war with Sweden 1685 and 1688 and then again 1700 and 1709 (the latter two times the naval powers could not dissuade Denmark). Sweden held a pro-naval powers position from 1680 to 1721 While we know today that Denmark as a grand power was in decline and...

What the result is will depend a lot on when and how Sweden wins. A scenario from me, @alexmilman will of course shred it, but that is appropriate. ;) 1. Denmark is knocked out as historically. 2. Sweden retains the prisoners after Narva. A lot of them die due to exposure and the lack of...

Traditionally, the Chinese were arrogant about their own position in the world and forced foreign diplomats to kow-tow (kneel and then bow so the forehead touches the floor) before the Emperor. While this was the "natural" way to show deference to the Emperor in China, Europan diplomats thought...

While China could become a very strong regional power, or even a grand power in east and southeast Asia, I doubt they would become a hyperpower of the scale of Britain 1815-1886 or US 1945-today. China traditionally lacks the ambition to build colonies, extend their influence over far reaches...

If the US is acting like a geopolitical rival to the British, you can be sure that they will built up capacity ot operate in the eastern Pacific - this would include Hawaii, the Galapagos islands, Easter Island and building up a major naval base in western Canada, It would also include denying...

Another factor to remember with the US growth is that a militaristic state aiming to challenge British hegemony will most likely be enforcing taxation and conscription on its population - which will probably reduce the attractiveness of the US for the extensive migration it received OTL...

Considering your pleasant tone, I'll opt for alternative two.