Allies for France in Franco-Prussian War?

From what I've read about Franco-Prussian War I have got an opinion that one of the biggest problems Napoleon III had was lack of allies.

Is it plausible for Emperor of the French to make an alliance with... Austria? Austria contested Prussia for position of main germanic state. I know that french-austrian relationship was hostile, but an enemy of your enemy is a friend of yours.

Denmark could be persuaded into joining in to recapture lost territories, or not?

Bavaria was on French side since time of Roi Soleil. Could they side with Napoleon once again?

And what impact would it have on the war?
 
First france would need to demonstrate she can actually fight prussia,the cascading defeats didnt help,have france pull off a large win at the start in a full battle and then others might join of of sheer oportunism.
 
First france would need to demonstrate she can actually fight prussia,the cascading defeats didnt help,have france pull off a large win at the start in a full battle and then others might join of of sheer oportunism.



On ah.com I've seen TLs and threads where battle of Mars-la-Tour was regarded as a POD.
 
The litterary Bear in the shadow is... well Russia that had good relations with Prussia at that time. So what would Austria at all contribute, that Russia is not too?

Denmark would have a good strategic position, but little in the form of force. Austria would trigger the Russians and Bavaria probably also feared the French. As they were again on the expansionist move, Mexico and colonies.

So how will the French build a alliance of thorougly beeten Denmark, beaten and treated fair ( and fearing Russia) Austria and GERMAN Bavaria? The nationalism in the later would probably make it hard.
 
Spain........

From what I've read about Franco-Prussian War I have got an opinion that one of the biggest problems Napoleon III had was lack of allies.

Is it plausible for Emperor of the French to make an alliance with... Austria? Austria contested Prussia for position of main germanic state. I know that french-austrian relationship was hostile, but an enemy of your enemy is a friend of yours.

Denmark could be persuaded into joining in to recapture lost territories, or not?

Bavaria was on French side since time of Roi Soleil. Could they side with Napoleon once again?

And what impact would it have on the war?

....had a relationship with France - change the history of Spain (carlist wars) to have the French contribute to a stable and prosperous Spain ... But the Prussians would bitch slap the Spanish expeditionary force!!!
 
From what I've read about Franco-Prussian War I have got an opinion that one of the biggest problems Napoleon III had was lack of allies.

Is it plausible for Emperor of the French to make an alliance with... Austria? Austria contested Prussia for position of main germanic state. I know that french-austrian relationship was hostile, but an enemy of your enemy is a friend of yours.

France destroyed Austria's position in Italy and did nothing to help it against Prussia, the salt is too big.

Denmark could be persuaded into joining in to recapture lost territories, or not?

I think the Danes alone wouldn't do much, the Reserve Prussia left to deal with any intervention from Austria and Russia would be enough.

Bavaria was on French side since time of Roi Soleil. Could they side with Napoleon once again?

Bavaria was Prussia's ally against French aggression.
 
From what I've read about Franco-Prussian War I have got an opinion that one of the biggest problems Napoleon III had was lack of allies.



France destroyed Austria's position in Italy and did nothing to help it against Prussia, the salt is too big.



I think the Danes alone wouldn't do much, the Reserve Prussia left to deal with any intervention from Austria and Russia would be enough.



Bavaria was Prussia's ally against French aggression.


True enough - Danes can prove worthy if and only if prussians are distracted elsewhere. That's the only way for them to be a rel menace.

That's true and that is what led to OTL situation. I just thought that Austria may be inclined to secure dominance over southern Germany. In 1866 they fought a war against Prussia.
And Bavaria was oftenly...well...independent-minded.


But perhaps the best thing Napoleon could have done is to help Austrians back in 1866. Via supporting the loosing side you always profit more than the winning.
 
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