Some speculation in the Moldova chat thread:
So, without altering WWII immensely what are the results of Romania either neutral or one of the Allies?
Does Bulgaria still go communist?
What happens to Moldova/Bessarabia/Transnistria?
Impact on the Balkans as a whole?
Stalin wasn’t really that kind, he was very cautious about invading other polities unless he could be absolutely sure of no real repercussions.
If the Nazis hadn’t been a thing the butterflies for Romania are vast. Critically, the Romanian government before Antonescu was very Francophile and had a good relationship with France and other countries. If Hitler hadn’t agreed with Stalin to carve off their territory and the fall of France hadn’t badly undermined the original government’s position they would still be in control. In that case, there would be very definite repercussions for invading Romania. That would keep Stalin at bay.
A post ww2 western allied Romania has massive butterflies for the whole Balkans too. A Yugoslavia that includes Bulgaria might be the result or perhaps some Balkan miniUSSR!
There is absolutely no chance of Yugoslavia including Bulgaria without Bulgaria being a Communist country and that is not going to happen if Romania is Western allied.
I was only speculating but why not?
Because any Bulgarian government that is not led by Stalinist stooges would demand as nonnegotiable conditions for joining Yugoslavia an equal position within Yugoslavia and Macedonia to be given to Bulgaria. And neither the Monarchical or Communist Yugoslavia would accept such conditions.
Well, I was assuming Bulgaria still went communist and was influenced by Stalinist policies when I said it might be included.
Of course there are all manner of other possibilities such as a Nazi influenced Bulgarian invasion of Romania in WW2 and thus the Red Army still enters Romania anyway etc etc.
How can Bulgaria become Communist if Romania is not occupied by the Soviets?
I assume as a Nazi Ally it would still be invaded via the Black Sea coast and a USSR friendly government installed.
So, without altering WWII immensely what are the results of Romania either neutral or one of the Allies?
Does Bulgaria still go communist?
What happens to Moldova/Bessarabia/Transnistria?
Impact on the Balkans as a whole?