Alternate History Challenge: Have Russia's southern border reach the Indian Ocean

Is there any chance of Britain [along with France, historical Central Powers, Japan, Portugal, Italy and the Netherlands] trying to reconcile with native Indian Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists and even more 'western' faith believers such as Jews, Catholics and even Protestants and atheists to fight the Russian invaders' imperialist march to India? Could a holy war be declared in response to opposition to the Russian Indian campaigns?
Very possibly Yes.
 
A point of diversion that might have more promise is if Russia keeps Northern Iran after Peter the Great conquered it in 1723. Historically, these territories were returned in 1732 as part of a rapprochement with Persia in the face of Ottoman aggression against the other two powers. The Russian government under Anna Ioannovna was also concerned with the cost of maintaining a large body of soldiers in the region. The soldiers often succumbed to diseases endemic to the southern coast of the Caspian Sea, which meant replacements had to be constantly dispatched to keep the garrisons strong. A scheme to build a silk-manufacturing industry also floundered, reducing the value of the region to St. Petersburg.

If you change a few things around to make the provinces more viable from an economic and military standpoint, it could be used as a base to conquer far more of Persia than the Russians did in OTL. Russia's war with Persia in 1796 might turn out to have greater significance then it did historically in such a scenario.

As for Paul's attempt to conquer India in 1800, the less said the better. It seriously undermined the Russian elite's confidence in their emperor, and may have contributed to support for Paul's assassination in 1801. Those Cossacks that composed the expeditionary army were very lucky to have made it back alive, considering Russia had no reliable maps of Northern India or the surrounding region. The army was apparently expected to march into Central Asia and then stumble south until they entered India. Assuming they did not die of starvation in the middle of the desert or the Hindu Kush mountains, I seriously question that the ten thousand-strong army would have the resources to conquer the independent kingdoms of the Punjab, let alone the entire subcontinent. It is doubtful the agents of the East Indian Company would have even caught a glimpse of the Cossacks, let alone have to bring in troops to crush them.
 
A point of diversion that might have more promise is if Russia keeps Northern Iran after Peter the Great conquered it in 1723. Historically, these territories were returned in 1732 as part of a rapprochement with Persia in the face of Ottoman aggression against the other two powers. The Russian government under Anna Ioannovna was also concerned with the cost of maintaining a large body of soldiers in the region. The soldiers often succumbed to diseases endemic to the southern coast of the Caspian Sea, which meant replacements had to be constantly dispatched to keep the garrisons strong. A scheme to build a silk-manufacturing industry also floundered, reducing the value of the region to St. Petersburg.

If you change a few things around to make the provinces more viable from an economic and military standpoint, it could be used as a base to conquer far more of Persia than the Russians did in OTL. Russia's war with Persia in 1796 might turn out to have greater significance then it did historically in such a scenario.

Very realistic scenario! :) Thus, very nice job! :D

As for Paul's attempt to conquer India in 1800, the less said the better. It seriously undermined the Russian elite's confidence in their emperor, and may have contributed to support for Paul's assassination in 1801. Those Cossacks that composed the expeditionary army were very lucky to have made it back alive, considering Russia had no reliable maps of Northern India or the surrounding region. The army was apparently expected to march into Central Asia and then stumble south until they entered India. Assuming they did not die of starvation in the middle of the desert or the Hindu Kush mountains, I seriously question that the ten thousand-strong army would have the resources to conquer the independent kingdoms of the Punjab, let alone the entire subcontinent. It is doubtful the agents of the East Indian Company would have even caught a glimpse of the Cossacks, let alone have to bring in troops to crush them.

Thank you very much for this explanation! :)
 
A point of diversion that might have more promise is if Russia keeps Northern Iran after Peter the Great conquered it in 1723. Historically, these territories were returned in 1732 as part of a rapprochement with Persia in the face of Ottoman aggression against the other two powers. The Russian government under Anna Ioannovna was also concerned with the cost of maintaining a large body of soldiers in the region. The soldiers often succumbed to diseases endemic to the southern coast of the Caspian Sea, which meant replacements had to be constantly dispatched to keep the garrisons strong. A scheme to build a silk-manufacturing industry also floundered, reducing the value of the region to St. Petersburg.

If you change a few things around to make the provinces more viable from an economic and military standpoint, it could be used as a base to conquer far more of Persia than the Russians did in OTL. Russia's war with Persia in 1796 might turn out to have greater significance then it did historically in such a scenario.=

Eastern Persia has a low enough population density that it might be possible for a Russia that has conquered the country in its entirety to slice off a corridor to the ocean for themselves in exchange for freeing the rest of Persia.

I think "Russian Eastern Persia" and the Afghanistan-Balochistan route are the only reasonable scenarios where you can have an actual Russian corridor to the sea populated by Russians (eventually). They're both pretty ugly terrain to get through, though.
 
In early 1941 Hitler dies and Göring assumes power. Göring has no desire to invade Russia and signs a formal military alliance with Stalin.

The UK worries about Iran siding with Germany/USSR and invades to install a pro-west government. The Soviets along with German support then invade Iran to liberate it, after driving out the British Stalin then attacks Iraq and Pakistan.
While he is doing this he decides having direct access to the Indian Ocean would be great and takes part of eastern Iran and western Pakistan and creates a Persian SSR.
 
Eastern Persia has a low enough population density that it might be possible for a Russia that has conquered the country in its entirety to slice off a corridor to the ocean for themselves in exchange for freeing the rest of Persia.

I think "Russian Eastern Persia" and the Afghanistan-Balochistan route are the only reasonable scenarios where you can have an actual Russian corridor to the sea populated by Russians (eventually). They're both pretty ugly terrain to get through, though.
Yes, all of this seems realistic and accurate. :)
 
In early 1941 Hitler dies and Göring assumes power. Göring has no desire to invade Russia and signs a formal military alliance with Stalin.

The UK worries about Iran siding with Germany/USSR and invades to install a pro-west government. The Soviets along with German support then invade Iran to liberate it, after driving out the British Stalin then attacks Iraq and Pakistan.
While he is doing this he decides having direct access to the Indian Ocean would be great and takes part of eastern Iran and western Pakistan and creates a Persian SSR.
Wouldn't Goring have wanted to acquire Lebensraum in the Soviet Union just like Hitler did, though? Plus, wasn't Goring a vehement, rabid anti-Communist just like Hitler was?
 
Top