A German invasion of the United States pre-WWI

Kaiser Wilhelm II, like other leaders of his period, wanted the German Empire to be the dominant force in the world. However, he recognized that he was to have influence in the Pacific, he would have to degrade the influence of the United States. The only conceivable way for Kaiser Wilhelm II to attain this goal, in his mind, was to invade the US mainland. He never planned to conquer the US, simply degrade it's influence in the Pacific.

He drew up three plans for a invasion of the US. However, I want to focus on Operation Plan II, drawn up by Eberhard Von Mantley on the orders of Kaiser Wilhelm II in March 1899 as a result of American gains in the Spanish-American War.

It essentially called for a land invasion of New York City and Boston. German troops were to land at two points: Cape Cod for the Boston invasion and Sandy Hook, New Jersey for the New York invasion. The German troops at Cape Cod were to be armed with artillery for the assault on the city. After dealing with harbour fortifications such as Fort Hamilton and Fort Hopkins, warships would then shell Manhattan and other areas of New York City. The manpower of the invasion was to be 20,000 men, at least. In 1900, Kaiser Wilhelm II decided that the operation would be carried out from a base in Cuba, rather than mainland Germany. Of course, this base would have to be taken by force, a prospect which shocked the General Staff.

No one supported the invasion idea and the plan was later shelved.

What if Kaiser Wilhelm II actually ordered this invasion to be carried out sometime before WWI?
 
So I wrote an outline for this in the other thread asking if it was possible to invade the US. If you make world war 1 start in 1913 it should meet your criteria. Basically my idea is such an invasion is possible if you get China to follow Japan's historical trajectory. Industrialization followed by insane expansionism and militarism. My timeline focuses on China not Germany as they would be the main driver. But I feel a victorious Imperial Germany participating is not to far fetched. So the scenario is as follows.


The Qin dynasty is overthrown in China by one of the numerous rebellions against them. A new dynasty of Han Chinese takes over the country and institutes extensive Meiji style reforms industrializing China. The revolutionary character of the government, leads to a very militarized state, and conflict with the Russians, French Japanese and British, as these are all the powers on China's borders.

When world war 1 comes, Germany and China become allies, yes Kaiser Wilhelm is worried about the yellow peril but with China and him having the same enemies realpolitic wins the day. With a powerful industrialized state on their Eastern border Russian crumbles quickly Siberia and Central Asia soon fall to the Chinese Empire, Southeast Asia and India are quick to follow as the colonial garrisons have now way to cope with by an Army of millions. Russia surrenders by 1916 and the war is over by 1917 with a Central powers victory. In western Europe the status quo is unchanged. But it the east Germany get the equivalent of brest-livosk China takes Siberia Central Asia, Southeast Asia. India is mostly awarded to Germany helping to satiate Kaiser Wilhem's endless appetite for colonies. Some bit are given to China such as Burma but mostly the British raj is now German. In the aftermath of war both China and Germany embark on extensive naval buildups to compete with the British navy which so limited them in the last war. In China the army's easy successes have fanned the flames of nationalism and expansionism and the Army is more or less running the country. Paranoia of a war with America or Britan runs rampant and the Philippines and Alaska are played up as dagger aimed at China's heart. Extensive rail links and naval bases are built in Kamchatka to provide logistical support in the event of war, the most extreme nationalist supporters speak of a "Chinese arch"covering two continents. Meanwhile in America many decry America's lack of intervention and failure to provide more than material support to England. England and America become closer and in 1928 sign a mutual defense pact. In 1935 Roosevelt as part of the new deal starts a military reconstruction program.

Worried by growing American strength Germany and China decide war is necessary. Using the pretext of and anti Chinese riot in San Francisco China Germany and their Allies declare war on America England and France. France is quickly outmatched as Germany with it's eastern territories , Austria-Hungary, and Italy (having been promised many French and British possessions) Overwhelm it in industry and numbers. The remaining war is a naval one. As the Central Powers first seize Malta and Gibraltar and then move on to Africa. Initially the British still enjoy Naval superiority but they simply cannot compete with the combined industry and numbers of Germany and China. The Americans meanwhile are desperately building ships and their phenomenal blessings in industry and resources allow them to produce simply huge numbers, however they are hampered by having a war on two fronts. By 1938 Britain's navy is mostly gone and it's industry has been destroyed the Germans launch operation "Seesäugetier" and take the island。 The queen and government flee the island and vow to continue the war from Canada.

China meanwhile has been busy in the pacific. They quickly took the Philippines and have been involved in a grueling match across the sea both the Americans and the Chinese can field and replace huge number of ships and the largest naval battles in history. As both sides ramp up production two years into the war American and China both have larger fleets then their prewar selves. That America and China are about equal in resources but China has more people and America is fighting in both the Atlantic and the pacific. Slowly the Chinese begin to push the Americans back taking Island after island.

In Alaska the Chinese are having mixed results their initial attack went very well owing to a combination of more material and preparation. The were able to seize the Aleutians and other outlying islands. But the distances involved and the harshness of terrain and lack of infrastructure and development have stymied efforts to push inland. They begin to adopt a strategy of island hopping taking islands along the coast and moving down. This works better then their attempts to push inland, but has some major drawbacks. They don't control the mainland and so constant air aids are a danger to their garrisons. American production is untouched and they are able to employ huge numbers of planes. So much so that Germany begins to send planes after the battle of Britain is finished. But with both China and Germany the US can't compete. Sure they can and do win many air battles but fighting the German and Chinese navies at once has severely weakened their naval capacity. And one thing the Chinese have never lacked is people. One they take an island they are able to strongly garrison it. It's a slog with many Air and naval battles but slowly the Chinese move down the coast.

Finally After the Chinese take Prince Edward Island a plan is conceived. One Armada sails from Hawaii another from Prince Edward Island. The arrive in Vancouver and invade. Chinese bomber begin bombing American west coast production. The Germans take Bermuda and Newfoundland in a similar operation and begin bombing the east. At this point peace is considered diplomats head to Geneva and engage in heated talks. But ultimately peace doesn't happen the Chinese army has had to much success and the prospect of colonizing a white nation is to tempting for them to stop those who did advocate for peace had a habit of being assassinated. In Germany the discussion was more balanced but ultimately the German government was to worried about a "second England" excisitng across the Atlantic and Kaiser Wilhelm felt personally slighted by the Americans sheltering the British government. The Chinese and German peoples were not consulted in the matter. And so one year after the Chinese took Vancouver the Invasion of America began. The Chinese Empire shipped 3 million men from Vancouver to America. And the Germans invaded with 2 million from Newfoundland and with that the invasion of America had begun2 million from Newfoundland and with that the invasion of America had begun.
 
My thought was to increase German investment in Spain & the residual Spanish empire from the latter 19th Century, along with some strategic aristocratic marriages. the object would be to help counter French resurgence with a German aligned Spain, and second to increase possible friendly ports overseas should Germany get involved in a naval war.

So, when the Spanish American war comes Germany opts to support its Spanish interest & declares for war with the US as well.
 
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