A King on the Gallows

In 1918, as the German army and navy mutinied around him, Kaiser Wilhelm II was forced to abdicate and flee to the Netherlands. The Allies petitioned relentlessly for Wilhelm's extradition, but Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands refused to hand him over.

WI the Netherlands had handed Wilhelm II over? Is there any possibility that we could see a war crimes trial, a la Nuremberg, in 1918 or 1919? More importantly, could Wilhelm and other leaders of the Central Powers (Hindenburg, etc.) end up being hanged or imprisoned? How would this change the inter-war years, if at all? Is there any chance that it could affect Hitler's rise to power?
 

maverick

Banned
Now, lets say Hindenburg, Luddendorff, von Falkenhayn and a dozen German, Austrian and Bulgarians are hanged as are a dozen politicians and some notables (I somewhat feel that the Father of Chemical Warfare, Fritz Haber, deserves a place on the gallows)

What was I saying? oh, yes, the effects...

Of course the Germans will be more inclined to see the Kaiser as a victim than a tyrant, although they'd still be polarized over it...maybe this solidifies the monarchist factions (but not for the IOTL Crownprince Wilhelm, who led the attack at Verdun and would have been hanged ITTL)...maybe for the grandson...

Without Hindenburg, Luddendorff not any other Grand Old man of the Army, then someone else takes the presidency in 1925...

Back to 1920, there could be riots and recriminations at Germany, and later whatever revanchist fanatic who takes over Germany (probably Hitler) uses this as an excuse to further hate the allies and maybe even execute their leaders when he gets his hands of them...maybe even the King of Belgium or the French President...causing even greater anger...
 

Valdemar II

Banned
It raise the chance of a new German Emperor, the royal family would get a lot of sympaty from the German population and they would rid of Wilhelm II (who was the monarchists footchain). Beside that many of the later allied leaders would most likely be shocked and disturbed by Wilhelms treatment, especially in other monarchies, which would make them more likely to support a new monarchy.
 
In 1918, as the German army and navy mutinied around him, Kaiser Wilhelm II was forced to abdicate and flee to the Netherlands. The Allies petitioned relentlessly for Wilhelm's extradition, but Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands refused to hand him over.

WI the Netherlands had handed Wilhelm II over? Is there any possibility that we could see a war crimes trial, a la Nuremberg, in 1918 or 1919? More importantly, could Wilhelm and other leaders of the Central Powers (Hindenburg, etc.) end up being hanged or imprisoned? How would this change the inter-war years, if at all? Is there any chance that it could affect Hitler's rise to power?

Come on. Napoleon wasn't hanged. Why would Kaiser Bill be?
 

maverick

Banned
Millions of deads, massive destruction, near economic collapse...plus, the French would be pretty pissed...maybe if the British allow them to have a freer hand over Germany...
 
ww
Millions of deads, massive destruction, near economic collapse...plus, the French would be pretty pissed...maybe if the British allow them to have a freer hand over Germany...
all of which happened after the Napoleonic Wars, and yet he was sent to Ebla and not to the gallows. I'm inclined to think that the Germans would not be executed, at most imprisoned, and even that would be overly harsh.

but let's just say they are executed, this makes the chance of WWII (or at least WW1.5) close to 100%. monarchism in Germany would become even more widespread, and most leaders would play off this to restore the Hohenzollerns and rearm to "take on the barbarians who massacred the royal family," so it would not end well.
 
Millions of deads, massive destruction, near economic collapse...plus, the French would be pretty pissed...maybe if the British allow them to have a freer hand over Germany...
Britain wouldn't have allowed it, if they had a choice (and France isn't that stupid that they would completely ignore the Empire's wishes)
It is within their interest to avoid setting a precedent about executiong monarch.
 

maverick

Banned
WWI was more traumatic than the Napoleonic wars...then again, I'm not saying that executing the Kaiser would have been either plausible or positive...just an idea...
 
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