This thread was inspired by the following link. - https://academic.oup.com/tcbh/article-abstract/20/2/227/1674132
In real-life it seems Declinism, a general malaise and lack of investment (in sports, industries, etc) and the habit of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory (whether via incompetence, internal subversives, etc) has become a recurrent theme in recent British history.
To the point where it is a regular national pastime for a largely adversarial UK media bashing their own industries (into either failing or falling into foreign ownership), national infrastructure and national teams in sports, whilst at the same time reminiscing or "mock reminiscing" about past success (e.g. 1966 World Cup, etc) and adopting a "Grass is always Greener on the other side" attitude.
Germany (initially West Germany) on the other hand managed to bounce back from devastation in the aftermath of WW2 experiencing success in both sports (Football / Soccer is one example that stands out) and industries such as high-speed trains (e.g. Intercity-Express / ICE) and automobiles (the latter remaining under domestic ownership), quickly surpassing the UK all without seemingly experiencing this malaise or Declinism let alone an oikophobic media readily recommending non-domestic alternatives, etc.
In a scenario where WW1 and WW2 still happen as in OTL yet with an earlier PODs for the changes involved, what would it take to largely swap the fortunes of the UK and Germany with regards to post-war Declinism / general malaise (where the 1954 World Cup becomes ATL Germany's 1966 yet the German Car industries still largely manages to succeed in the face of adversity) without simply resorting to the Morgenthau Plan?
Obviously the UK would still have to recognize the reality it is no longer an Empire in such a scenario, the challenge though is for the UK to experience a similar level of success to OTL Germany in the aftermath of WW2 up to the present day in terms of infrastructure, industries and sports without experiencing the OTL Declinism and general malaise.
In real-life it seems Declinism, a general malaise and lack of investment (in sports, industries, etc) and the habit of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory (whether via incompetence, internal subversives, etc) has become a recurrent theme in recent British history.
To the point where it is a regular national pastime for a largely adversarial UK media bashing their own industries (into either failing or falling into foreign ownership), national infrastructure and national teams in sports, whilst at the same time reminiscing or "mock reminiscing" about past success (e.g. 1966 World Cup, etc) and adopting a "Grass is always Greener on the other side" attitude.
Germany (initially West Germany) on the other hand managed to bounce back from devastation in the aftermath of WW2 experiencing success in both sports (Football / Soccer is one example that stands out) and industries such as high-speed trains (e.g. Intercity-Express / ICE) and automobiles (the latter remaining under domestic ownership), quickly surpassing the UK all without seemingly experiencing this malaise or Declinism let alone an oikophobic media readily recommending non-domestic alternatives, etc.
In a scenario where WW1 and WW2 still happen as in OTL yet with an earlier PODs for the changes involved, what would it take to largely swap the fortunes of the UK and Germany with regards to post-war Declinism / general malaise (where the 1954 World Cup becomes ATL Germany's 1966 yet the German Car industries still largely manages to succeed in the face of adversity) without simply resorting to the Morgenthau Plan?
Obviously the UK would still have to recognize the reality it is no longer an Empire in such a scenario, the challenge though is for the UK to experience a similar level of success to OTL Germany in the aftermath of WW2 up to the present day in terms of infrastructure, industries and sports without experiencing the OTL Declinism and general malaise.
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