AHC: Balkanized Germany (ala Yugoslavia)

Is there any way for Germany either before or doing WWI (or just after, 1920 at the latest) to explode in a number of statelets due to cultural differences and claiming decent from some of the major kingdoms/Duchies of HRE, in a similar fashion as Yugoslavia exploded in the 90s?

If so how would the rest of europe react to such a civil war, and which germanic states would be likely to be standing when the smoke clears?
 
It would be possible. That situation existed for a better part of millennia. Certainly much longer than united Germany. If the WWI lasted longer it may have been the outcome. Or if the WW2 ended differently. Or the Kapp putch succeeded.

You could certainly have Bavaria, Prussia and maybe Rheinland. Perhaps even Hanseatic alliance.
 
Nationalism in Germany was pretty strong on 20th century. I think that only ways to balkanise Germany is longer and more devastating WW1 for Germany and in Versailles Entente decides balkanise the country.

Another way is that Allies balkanise Germany after WW2.

Third way could be continuing Cold War or on some reason West and East Germany never unite.
 
Nationalism in Germany was pretty strong on 20th century. I think that only ways to balkanise Germany is longer and more devastating WW1 for Germany and in Versailles Entente decides balkanise the country.

Another way is that Allies balkanise Germany after WW2.

Third way could be continuing Cold War or on some reason West and East Germany never unite.

The second option is where we came closest. In our timeline, Germany was kept together as it was felt a strong Germany could hold back communism. If you had a timeline where communism never comes to the fore in Russia, or else it is replaced by a regime the West is less worried about, it's quite possible Germany could be divided into several states.
 
If you look at these ideas proposed by the Allies after WW2:
yalta.jpg

What if one of the WWI allies chose, instead of splitting up the land between foreign nations, the four leaders plan to split up Germany so it was impossible to re-unite and start a second great war..
 
As mentioned above, in the absence of the Cold War, Germany might well be split into 4-5 or separate states. Maybe if the USSR collapses upon the German invasion, and the military regime that fights back is instead more of a Russian nationalist one?

The other possibility is perhaps a Communist revolt succeeds in Germany in the 1919/1920 period. (Successful Spartacist revolt?)

If that happens, I could see it only succeeding in Prussia, with the Southern German states and perhaps East Prussia breaking off to form their own conservative states.
 
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