AHC: A democratic Germany gets into a WWII versus France and others

[raharris1973]

What it says on the tin.

The challenge is a democratic Germany getting into a war with a group a neighbors including France, with a PoD after 1924.

It can be a flawed democracy with deep state elements, the standard of democracy is adhering to the Weimar constitution.

 

[Lalli]

German economy is going to be strong again and this nerves France and it decides go war against the country.

But not sure how get other countries to the war. Poland is easy get there but others are quiet tricky.

 

[SpicyJuan]

Have Stresemann live and pursue his liberal-imperialist policies against Poland and Austria, to which a resurgent right wing in France takes power and declares war.

 

[Saint_007]

So in other words, Germany isn't the one firing the opening shots here?

Yeah, the USA will be much more hesitant in joining this fight.

 

[Michel Van]

One scenario would be that new Democratic Germany refuse to follow the Versailler Treaty
and stop pay back to France and Britain, while Germany is restoring it's old border* from Empire time and demand it's colony back
France troops march into Rheinland and get vanquished by Reichswehr, Germany consider that as Invasion by France
from here you can escalate the situation towards France and Germany is at full war

*
in 1920s the Belgium government try to sell there former Germans parts (Eupen Malmedy) back to Germans for 27 million Reichsmark
the French government was so furious on news that they intervene, had Belgian made there deal and sell, it's first steps to the Conflict between France and Germany

Next to that you have the case of Austrian joining Germany, the question of Sudeten Germans, status of city of Danzig, all of this would be starting point for a War

 

[raharris1973]

Germany is allowed to be the attacker (in east or west) as well as France. However, you want to accomplish it.

 

[Michele]

German economy is going to be strong again and this nerves France and it decides go war against the country.

Now really? A good proposal for the ASB section.

 

[Lalli]

Now really? A good proposal for the ASB section.

Of course not in 1920's but bit later sometimes in early 1930's. ASB? No. But perhaps bit implsuible but not impossible.

 

[Ultima Ratio]

Maybe Austria petitions for joining Germany in the 40s by a democratic vote. The Germans accept, France sees this as a breach of the peace treaty and declares war.

 

[Michele]

Of course not in 1920's but bit later sometimes in early 1930's. ASB? No. But perhaps bit implsuible but not impossible.

In OTL, Nazi Germany did much much much worse than just getting a strong economy (which it also did, as seen from Paris in 1939; we know now that it was a house of cards). Yet - no French declaration of war. Frenchmen in the 1930s knew how close to disaster had been 1917 for their country; they knew how entire classes of young men from their school or village had all died in 1914. They wanted no war, for no reason, let alone because a democratic Germany gets a strong economy.
So yes, extremely, inordinately implausible, which amounts to ASBs.

 

[Johnrankins]

Of course not in 1920's but bit later sometimes in early 1930's. ASB? No. But perhaps bit implsuible but not impossible.

Also nothing says the French can't panic thinking Germany is becoming strong again when it isn't.

 

[Michele]

Also nothing says the French can't panic thinking Germany is becoming strong again when it isn't.

So the French panic over a perceived German economic boom and - declare war?

OTOH we do know that the Germans remilitarized the Rhineland, threw the Versailles restrictions down the drain, created the Luftwaffe, annexed Austria, annexed the Sudeten, dismembered what remained of Czechoslovakia turning it into a protectorate and a vassal state, made sure a Fascist regime gained power South of the Pyrenees, annexed Memel, signed an alliance with the Italians, made a deal with the Soviets - but the French did not panic enough to declare war.

 

[Johnrankins]

So the French panic over a perceived German economic boom and - declare war?

OTOH we do know that the Germans remilitarized the Rhineland, threw the Versailles restrictions down the drain, created the Luftwaffe, annexed Austria, annexed the Sudeten, dismembered what remained of Czechoslovakia turning it into a protectorate and a vassal state, made sure a Fascist regime gained power South of the Pyrenees, annexed Memel, signed an alliance with the Italians, made a deal with the Soviets - but the French did not panic enough to declare war.

Different TL. It IS a long shot but it isn't impossible. A successful Weimer Republic is going to cause butterflies.