A Hanover led German Unification?

Lets say that, for some reason, Prussia was unable to unify Germany. Maybe Bismark didn't ever attempt German unification, or died early on in his life? Would a British backed Hanover be able to lead German Unification? It would result in an interesting alliance between the two largest industrial powers in Europe (England / "Germany"). Would Hanover use Military might against the other German states? Or take the more manipulative path that Bismark took in the OTL?

This may also result in an alternate system of alliances at WWI, with the Anglo-German alliance ( + Russia?) VS a Serbian / French / Austrian Alliance? What do you guys think?

((Also, First post here, so, sorry for any (Possible) mistakes.))
 
Its hard because until 1837 it is in personal union with the UK, who will not unite Germany (balance of power and all).

In 1866 it gets annexed by Prussia.

So in that small gap you have to create a Hanover thats stronger than both Prussia and Austria and more popular with the smaller German countries.

Prussia losing the Austro-Prussian war saves Hanover but it leads to a more Austrian orientated Germany (not unified)


Also welcome to the board :)
 
A Hanover-led unification of Germany is pretty much ASB, as they lacked the military, population, and economic base to achieve this.
 
Its not that ASB.


If Ernest Augustus I of Hanover could reform the country and annex some of the smaller states around him like:
  • Oldenburg
  • Westphalia
  • Rhine Province
  • Holstein
This would give them a reasonable size country. And it helps when Helmuth Karl Bernhard Graf von Moltke (a Danish military officer) joined Hanover, later becoming Field Marshal of Hanover, helping to form the new nation into a new military giant in Europe.

The Austro-Prussian could be made worse when Russia is "misinformed" by Hanover Foreign Minister, Engelbert, 8th Duke of Arenberg, that the war will attack Russia, unless they strick first.
With Russia attacking the two nations weakens them, leading to a smaller Austria and Prussia, while Russia gains a the eastern land.
Hanover gains the western land.

This would form a three way german unification.

WW1 would most likely be avoided until a later date. And the alliances would be Britain, Russia, France and Hanover vs Prussia, Ottoman, Italy and Austria
 
Its not that ASB.


If Ernest Augustus I of Hanover could reform the country and annex some of the smaller states around him like:
  • Oldenburg
  • Westphalia
  • Rhine Province
  • Holstein
This would give them a reasonable size country. And it helps when Helmuth Karl Bernhard Graf von Moltke (a Danish military officer) joined Hanover, later becoming Field Marshal of Hanover, helping to form the new nation into a new military giant in Europe.

The Austro-Prussian could be made worse when Russia is "misinformed" by Hanover Foreign Minister, Engelbert, 8th Duke of Arenberg, that the war will attack Russia, unless they strick first.
With Russia attacking the two nations weakens them, leading to a smaller Austria and Prussia, while Russia gains a the eastern land.
Hanover gains the western land.

This would form a three way german unification.

WW1 would most likely be avoided until a later date. And the alliances would be Britain, Russia, France and Hanover vs Prussia, Ottoman, Italy and Austria


Yeah that is ASB. Maybe Hanover could get/occupy Holstein (compromise between Austria and Prussia?) but the rest is total ASB. For one WHY would they annex Oldenburg? Strategically and politically there's no reason. And second, Westphalia and the Rhine are controlled by Prussia and considering how well the OTL war against them went, I can't see Hanover of all nations beating the Prussian war machine. Third, Russia getting involved would trigger a HUGE freakout in the rest of Europe, and see France (and maybe the UK diplomatically) side with Austria. And WHY would Hanover's Minister mislead Russia? Hanover was allied to Austria not some free-floating state. A weakened Austria combined with a strengthened Prussia isn't gonna help them. So again pretty much ASB.
 
Yeah that is ASB. Maybe Hanover could get/occupy Holstein (compromise between Austria and Prussia?) but the rest is total ASB. For one WHY would they annex Oldenburg? Strategically and politically there's no reason. And second, Westphalia and the Rhine are controlled by Prussia and considering how well the OTL war against them went, I can't see Hanover of all nations beating the Prussian war machine. Third, Russia getting involved would trigger a HUGE freakout in the rest of Europe, and see France (and maybe the UK diplomatically) side with Austria. And WHY would Hanover's Minister mislead Russia? Hanover was allied to Austria not some free-floating state. A weakened Austria combined with a strengthened Prussia isn't gonna help them. So again pretty much ASB.

Oldenburg is just below Hanover so would be a brilliant position to annex it.
The Hanover minister would mislead another country for their own gain, (a bit like US saying to the UN, that Iraq has WMB.) Ok so maybe instead of saying both will attack Russia, have the Hanover Minister, have Russia side with Austria to attack Prussia.
When King Ernest August took the Hanover throne,Westphalia and the Rhine were still theoretically independent, so fearing a full Prussian control they would be allowed better political representation in a Hanover Kingdom.
France is in no position to wage war and Britain will be backing Hanover.
 
Even if Hanover somehow manages to work up the diplomatic clout to mislead the Russian ambassador who then somehow manages to convince the Russian Tsar to declare war, why on Earth would Russia declare war on Both Austria and Prussia?

If Hanover gets Russia in the War then Russia is attacking Prussia and on the Side of Austria because why would Hanover try to convince Russia to attack Austria when that means Russia will also be attacking Hanover?

That means Prussia is totaled, Austria Regains Silesia and probably becomes sole administrator of all of Schleiswig-Holstein. The Rheinland Provinces might, depending on how badly Prussia is crushed, be spun off into their own state that will be under heavy Austrian Influence.

Austria in this situation is now an absolute Beast with an Iron Grip on The Four Corners of Germany. Hanover will, at most, be allowed to annex some of the small North German States that supported Prussia. Although this will strengthen Hanover Greatly, they'll still be dancing to Austria's tune.
 
Alright, thanks everyone for your replies! I'll do some more brainstorming today to see if there is any other possibility for a British (And Hanover) led Germany (Or Pseudo-Germany.) And thanks for the welcome! :D Keep the replies coming!


EDIT:

I was considering a different Congress of Vienna, one where Prussia had stayed neutral, (Possibly even siding with france?) during the Napoleonic Wars. In this ATL war, Hanover took Prussia's place in the 6th coalition, after modernizing its (Small) military, with loads of help from England. After the war, Prussia Doesn't get Westphalia, instead, it goes to Hanover. A West German confederation could possibly be formed from the Confederation of the Rhine.

Would this PoD Work? Or is it too outlandish to have a 6th coalition victory without Prussian assistance?
 
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Alright, thanks everyone for your replies! I'll do some more brainstorming today to see if there is any other possibility for a British (And Hanover) led Germany (Or Pseudo-Germany.) And thanks for the welcome! :D Keep the replies coming!

Just for facts: In 1816, Prussia had (w/o Posen, West and East Prussia) 8 mio. subjects and the proto-industrial areas of the Saar, the Ruhr and Upper Silesia. In 1816, Hanover had 1.3 mio, less than Württemberg, and practically nothing but agriculture. IIRC, after 1815, Hanover had a navy consisting of one brig doing customs duty on the River Elbe.

So no, I cannot see it.

I was considering a different Congress of Vienna, one where Prussia had stayed neutral, (Possibly even siding with france?) during the Napoleonic Wars. In this ATL war, Hanover took Prussia's place in the 6th coalition, after modernizing its (Small) military, with loads of help from England. After the war, Prussia Doesn't get Westphalia, instead, it goes to Hanover. A West German confederation could possibly be formed from the Confederation of the Rhine.

Would this PoD Work? Or is it too outlandish to have a 6th coalition victory without Prussian assistance?

You would have to change a lot, but after all, the United Netherlads were intended by British diplomats as medium-sized barrier against France. If France remains significantly stronger and keeps control of OTL BeNeLux, and Prussia is somehow much weaker, than the UK might see the creation of a medium-sized Hanover between the Lower Rhine and the Lower Elbe (Berg, Westphalia, Lower Saxony) as lesser evil. Especially if it is made strong enough to fend for itself and not to need always support from Britain. But still not very likely.
 
I don't think it's really feasible to get Prussia to stay neutral in the 6th Coalition. By the time Prussia historically joined the writing was already on the wall and everyone was joining up.

Instead, I think you would probably have more luck with Prussia being soundly defeated in battle, in some humiliating way. I'm talking something like the Prussian Army outnumbering the French by a 2 or 3 to 1 factor and still losing both the battle and having their entire Army torn apart until it is a shadow of its former self. Then the armies of Britain and Hanover join up and beat Napoleon, then as Westphalian said you could wind up with a situation similar to The United Netherlands.

Still not terribly likely though, and I don't see even that making Hanover strong enough to go Toe to Toe with Austria, which remember, is a Requirement in order for anyone to unify Germany.

Alternatively, there was a thread not too long ago about the Polish-Saxon Crisis developing into outright war. If that happens and the Austria-England Alliance manages to pull out a major decisive Victory, you could see Prussia get torn apart and, since Hanover would be on the victorious Alliance, they would likely get some spoils from Prussia.
 
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