1848 Germany Unification Succeeds!

This is probably already a thread, but what if Germany successfully unified in 1848? I hear they were trying for REAL reforms, so could Germany have become a symbol of progress in Europe?
 

Glen

Moderator
This is probably already a thread, but what if Germany successfully unified in 1848? I hear they were trying for REAL reforms, so could Germany have become a symbol of progress in Europe?

Yes, it's being addressed - Check out The Smallest Possible Difference - I think that's a good one that's currently active.

There is only two problems with a unified progressive Germany - they're called Prussia and Austria. That's why in the Dominion of Southern America timeline we cut them out of Germany entirely, and had them form with the Hanoverian heir as the new Kaiser.
 
Yes, it's being addressed - Check out The Smallest Possible Difference - I think that's a good one that's currently active.

There is only two problems with a unified progressive Germany - they're called Prussia and Austria. That's why in the Dominion of Southern America timeline we cut them out of Germany entirely, and had them form with the Hanoverian heir as the new Kaiser.

:D

Agree with Glen though about Prussia & Austria. You'd need to break the back of the royalist/absolutists Hohenzollerns and Hapsburgs to have both within Germany. I did it in TSPD, but at the cost of leaving both Berlin and Vienna in the hands of radicals; I imagine though most timeslines and most writers would wish to avoid such a situation so you're back to square one.
 
Here's a question - could the German Empire form in 1848 without including the Hapsburgs? The Hapsburgs split off in Hungary during the revolution and the German Hapsburgs remain in charge of Austria and Bohemia, while the Hohenzollerns steamroll through Germany. With Austria weakened the only real opposition the Prussians would face would be France (but I don't know how strong France is in 1848 - didn't they have their own issues?) or Britain due to Hanover (I'm guessing).

If all goes well, the ultra-expansionist Germans later set their sights on Austria-Bohemia.
 
Here's a question - could the German Empire form in 1848 without including the Hapsburgs? The Hapsburgs split off in Hungary during the revolution and the German Hapsburgs remain in charge of Austria and Bohemia, while the Hohenzollerns steamroll through Germany. With Austria weakened the only real opposition the Prussians would face would be France (but I don't know how strong France is in 1848 - didn't they have their own issues?) or Britain due to Hanover (I'm guessing).

If all goes well, the ultra-expansionist Germans later set their sights on Austria-Bohemia.

The more likely scenario is actually the opposite. As it was Prussia was lucky, very lucky, to retain the status quo, let alone enjoy serious territorial expansion. The issue that I discovered while doing research for my own timeline is that breaking the conservative-reactionary hold anywhere in Central Europe was likely to cause the entire thing to come crashing down. If Hungary successfully breaks away then Austria is going to be drawn into a united, liberal, Germany. Depending on how you play with butterflies you might have Prussia outside of this Germany, but its unlikely. Certainly you're not going to have Austria outside of Germany in 1848; the Viennese radicals were some of the most active and most ardent of all the German nationals. They were also the most successful, effectively controlling the the capitol several times.
 
The Hapsburgs split off in Hungary during the revolution...
There would have to be a *lot* of risings elsewhere before this could happen imo. Don't forget that the other lands of the Habsburgs were in a stir as well, even removing Hungary from the picture, they would still have a head ache. Yes France would be busy, their Revolution caused the rest you know. :) I don't see how the Prussians could just sweep through Germany either, they also had their own unrest. Unless they are willing to effectively bow to the Liberals in Frankfurt...
 
If anyone is interested, here's the pertinent page describing the scenario for a successful German Unification I used on my CoHE TL - https://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=90617&page=23

In TTL these events take place in 1854/55. The initial revolutions are in the Russian Kingdom of Poland ("Congress" Poland) and Spain. The revolutions in Germany and the Frankfort Assembly unfold similarly to OTL. Austria loses Bohemia, Hungary and Lombardy-Venetia. Russia is too busy in Poland and elsewhere to intervene in Hungary like they did in OTL. Frederick William IV, who believed his crown to be "God’s property" and saw himself as God's servant, hesitated to accet the imperial German crown, doing so only after being urged to “fulfill his duty to God and his responsibility because of who he is, by accepting what divine providence has laid before him.” (take a look and see who made this statement in the TL :))
 
I ws thinking of this myself earlier.

What I came up with was Frederick William developing differently and instead of embracing Romanticism and the related reactionary beliefs and positions, comes to believe in the idea of German Unification and either moderate reformism or outright liberalism.
When the revolutions come up he sees this not only as his chance, but also perhaps as a sign from god that it is his duty to fulfill this, his greatest of dreams.

I'm not really sure how it would develop after that outside the German lands, or if Austria would become part of it.
 
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