Thomas1195
Banned
Only take Saarland. But they can actively sponsor separatists in the South as much as possible to encouraging the formation of independent states therem
It's nothing that couldn't be figured out quickly by opening an American newspaper - his popularity wouldn't last long, and his relationship with Congress was already terrible. Plus, a look at possible replacements for the guy in the next couple years would have revealed much less internationalism.
A Germany that's still demilitarized and paying reparations has little to offer Britain.
It still shows that the vicious instinct is there - and really, it would have lasted a lot longer than two years if there wasn't the danger of West Germany going red.
Because Britain in 1919 was still led by Lloyd "Hang the Kaiser!" George, who took a harder stance against Germany at Versailles then Clemenceau did. He'd happily look the other way at the time and blame France later when his positions became unpopular, just like OTL. The difference being that at least this part of the Treaty would be a fait accompli by that point, as opposed to reparations or re-armament, which required continual compliance.
Why exactly would those areas be ripe for separatism, though?Only take Saarland. But they can actively sponsor separatists in the South as much as possible to encouraging the formation of independent states therem
The ethnic Germans in South Tyrol didn't become Italianized, though.As in Alsace and Lorraine, make French the official language and locals will learn the new language within a generation. Even today, Alsatians are surprisingly flexible when it comes to learning new languages.
Wilson didn't have a stroke which impaired his judgment yet, though; indeed, without his stroke, there is a possibility that Wilson would have been more willing to compromise with the U.S. Congress.
Britain can push to have these reparations and military restrictions lifted, though.
Wouldn't there have also been a risk of Germany going red in 1919, though? After all, even after the German Communists would have been defeated, they could have made another grab at power at some future point in time.
Frankly, I think that you are overestimating Lloyd George's hostility towards Germany (Germany as a whole--not the German Kaiser in particular); after all, as far as I know, Lloyd George opposed France's desire to annex the Saar and Poland's desire to annex Upper Silesia without a plebiscite.
And then what? I'm sure the news of starving Germans being turfed from their homes and sent to walk to their deaths because France wants the Saar is going to be so popular to his electorate?Honestly, I think he could be bought with more reparations for Britain. He was very self-serving that way. He wouldn't need to be told about the deportations until later, of course.
And then what? I'm sure the news of starving Germans being turfed from their homes and sent to walk to their deaths because France wants the Saar is going to be so popular to his electorate?
Not the Saar--the entire Rhineland. After all, France can annex the Saar without a large demographic problem afterwards.And then what? I'm sure the news of starving Germans being turfed from their homes and sent to walk to their deaths because France wants the Saar is going to be so popular to his electorate?
Yeah, and I'm sure that'll swing so nicely with the war weary public.Easy, he'll blame the French and say they made him do it, and goddammit, guys, the Irish are revolting, isn't that more important?! We can't attack a loyal ally while we've got a Soviet-backed rebellion on our doorstep! At least the French can be trusted to stand up to the reds!
Yeah, and I'm sure that'll swing so nicely with the war weary public.
So, where exactly is France going to get the people to repopulate the Rhineland from? After all, France's own population was already stagnating for a while by this point in time!The British war weary public? Why not, someone else's problem. Sure, the Ireland situation will be just as unwinnable as OTL, but it'll be a good temporary distraction. It's not like I'd really expect Lloyd-George to survive all of this, just enough for him to think it was a good idea at the time. What would really be necessary here would be for much harder-line French leadership than Clemenceau.
After all, they were a part of a unified German Reich for almost 50 years and Weimar Germany was a federation just like the German Empire was.Why exactly would those areas be ripe for separatism, though?
For it to happen, the war would have to continue in 1919 and end with Allied tanks over the Rhine, at least, if not in Berlin (if not, no other power will support French annexion of Saar).
This will have a lot more impact on whether there is a WW2 than annexion of the Saar (it also means that there will be no reparation, which has its own impact)
Why exactly would a WWI which lasts into 1919 mean that there will be no reparations, though?
Can't the Ruhr be rebuilt, though?Because it means that Germany will also be devastated by the war, especially its industrial heartland in the Ruhr, so it will obviously not be able to pay the sums which were requested OTL. So the Voctors will have to get their compensation another way...
Can't the Ruhr be rebuilt, though?
Very true.It can, but it would take time and money. Money which could not be used to pay for the damage done to France and Belgium. SO Germany would be obviously not able to pay the sums required