Say upon unification of Germany in 1871, an idea catches the imagination of the German people. Successful completion of this railway. An enormous megaproject the Germans could aspire to. Something like the Panama Canal dug by the Americans and the Suez Canal by the French. A megaproject to unify the German people after this war, earn their rightful place under the sun; a project the new country would complete to show the world German technological, economic and industrial prowess...
The Germans were already captivated by the prospect of colonies, even if Bismarck disagreed. Railways had already been proven as a winning cause in the recent Franco-Prussian War. The railways was envisioned IOTL anyway to bypass British control of the Med Sea and Suez canal and get the Germans a port in Basra in the Persian Gulf.
Would Germany have profited/benefited from this railway? In what form, colonies, trade, influence in Persia perhaps? More German colonies?
Earlier discovery of suspected (at the time) oil rich areas of Mesopotamia to Germany's and the Ottoman's benefits. Earlier conversion away from coal to oil economy? Earlier conversion of naval warfare from coal to oil with all pertinent benefits? Perhaps a German dreadnought type using steam turbines rather than triple expansion engines as the first of its kind.
A stronger Ottoman Empire with a firm grip on Mesopotamia and even Arabia. An Ottoman Empire with oil revenue and German investment plus technical know-how to reverse its declining status and change the balance of power?
Germany's relations with Austria-Hungary and rest of Balkans and rest of territories between Berlin and Constantinople? How secure would this corridor be? German monarchs on the Romanian and Bulgarian thrones could provide a friendly passage... A different German response to the Ottoman-Russian war of 1877-1878, rejection of Treaty of San-Stefano & different outcome of Congress of Berlin/Treaty of Berlin in 1878?
What responses from British, French and Russians to construction of railway and ongoing operation? Could the Germans gain cooperation/approval of any other powers.
So the discussion is a scenario after unification where Germans embrace completion of this construction of this intercontinental railway in say 10 years and completed by early 1880s. Please discuss.
The Germans were already captivated by the prospect of colonies, even if Bismarck disagreed. Railways had already been proven as a winning cause in the recent Franco-Prussian War. The railways was envisioned IOTL anyway to bypass British control of the Med Sea and Suez canal and get the Germans a port in Basra in the Persian Gulf.
Would Germany have profited/benefited from this railway? In what form, colonies, trade, influence in Persia perhaps? More German colonies?
Earlier discovery of suspected (at the time) oil rich areas of Mesopotamia to Germany's and the Ottoman's benefits. Earlier conversion away from coal to oil economy? Earlier conversion of naval warfare from coal to oil with all pertinent benefits? Perhaps a German dreadnought type using steam turbines rather than triple expansion engines as the first of its kind.
A stronger Ottoman Empire with a firm grip on Mesopotamia and even Arabia. An Ottoman Empire with oil revenue and German investment plus technical know-how to reverse its declining status and change the balance of power?
Germany's relations with Austria-Hungary and rest of Balkans and rest of territories between Berlin and Constantinople? How secure would this corridor be? German monarchs on the Romanian and Bulgarian thrones could provide a friendly passage... A different German response to the Ottoman-Russian war of 1877-1878, rejection of Treaty of San-Stefano & different outcome of Congress of Berlin/Treaty of Berlin in 1878?
What responses from British, French and Russians to construction of railway and ongoing operation? Could the Germans gain cooperation/approval of any other powers.
So the discussion is a scenario after unification where Germans embrace completion of this construction of this intercontinental railway in say 10 years and completed by early 1880s. Please discuss.