By a Bullet: Wilhelm II is kill by Annie Oakley

Razgriz 2K9

Banned
Firstly, his son becomes Kaiser (as Wilhelm III), ruled under a regency council. What this means long term however, I cannot say what his character will be in comparison to Wilhelm II (due to him being at the time of that PoD, about 5 or 6 years old.)
 
Year 1888 will remember as Year of the Four Emperors. :D

But it is truly difficult to say, what would happen on future. Wilhelm III was on this time just child so his father's early death might affect for him. Anyway, who would be his regent? Wilhelm II's brother Heinrich?
 
Year 1888 will remember as Year of the Four Emperors. :D

But it is truly difficult to say, what would happen on future. Wilhelm III was on this time just child so his father's early death might affect for him. Anyway, who would be his regent? Wilhelm II's brother Heinrich?

Freidrich Wilhelm V, not Wilhelm III!:mad:
 
Forgive me if my history is incorrect, but would this mean Bismarck would serve as Chancellor for longer? I thought Wilhelm II was responsible for getting rid of him.
 
One of those ones like what if Cortez had been captured and eaten by Aztecs. So many ripples.


Lets look at a few things this random death wont change: Militarism in France, Rise of the United States, Disintigration of Ottoman and Austrian Empires. German General Staff being obsessed with pre-emptive war, etc.


WWI is still going to happen, but the sides might be more complex we could see a Russian/French/Italian war vs Germany and Austria. Or we could see some crazy reversal like German/Russia vs France, England, Austria and USA
 
Year 1888 will remember as Year of the Four Emperors. :D

But it is truly difficult to say, what would happen on future. Wilhelm III was on this time just child so his father's early death might affect for him. Anyway, who would be his regent? Wilhelm II's brother Heinrich?

Prince Heinrich seems the most likely regent. There's no tradition of female regents in Prussia, plus the Empress Frederick is too English, and Dona is too apolitical. So he'd presumably rule until about 1900. I don't know what his attitude to Bismarck would be, but it seems much less likely he'd pick a fight the way his brother did.
 
Prince Heinrich seems the most likely regent. There's no tradition of female regents in Prussia, plus the Empress Frederick is too English, and Dona is too apolitical. So he'd presumably rule until about 1900. I don't know what his attitude to Bismarck would be, but it seems much less likely he'd pick a fight the way his brother did.

The conflict between Bismark and Wilhelm II tends to be overrated as a turning point. It's likely that no regent would have dismissed Bismarck so peremptorily (certainly not Heinrich, who had a very poor view of his own intellectual capacities and always deferred to the wisdom of others). But Bismarck was already a controversial figure, and picking more fights as he went along. I don't think he's long for the office, regardless of who rules Prussia. He's making too many enemies and going too much against the domestic policy mainstream.
 
One of those ones like what if Cortez had been captured and eaten by Aztecs. So many ripples.


Lets look at a few things this random death wont change: Militarism in France, Rise of the United States, Disintigration of Ottoman and Austrian Empires. German General Staff being obsessed with pre-emptive war, etc.


WWI is still going to happen, but the sides might be more complex we could see a Russian/French/Italian war vs Germany and Austria. Or we could see some crazy reversal like German/Russia vs France, England, Austria and USA


I think your a bit wrong on some things here. For one the disintegration of the Austrian and Ottoman Empires was by no means guaranteed. Franz Ferdinand could have been able to reform the Empire into a true Federation rather then the duel monarchy. Or Karl I could have ended up being a capable Emperor-King. He seemed to be a good man that could have done a lot of good for his Empire. If it hadn't been for WWI he might have been able to do some real good. Truly same for Franz Ferdinand.

As to the Ottoman Empire, they were in the midst of massive reforms before WWI so I don't think it would be impossible for the Ottomans to survive.

As to WWI still happening, I think you are really underestimating just how much damage Wilhelm II did on European relations. He antagonized nearly all of his fellow monarchs, acted as though he was a genius when he was really an idiot, had no control over the army, was obsessed with the Navy, which ended up being worthless in WWI, ruined most of Germany's good relations, the list goes on and on. Really a monkey would have been a better Kaiser them Wilhelm II. Without him on the throne Germany would have better relations with the rest of Europe, wouldn't focus its efforts on the navy, and wouldn't have its Monarch making an ass of himself across Europe. Perhaps a more capable Kaiser/Regent could rain in the German General staff. Hard but not impossible if one is willing to do it.
 
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The calcified, mildly dysfunctional Dual Monarchy of 1914 was in no manner "disintegrating". There were problems, and loose talk about it becoming the new sick man of Europe, but it certainly hadn't reached that point yet.

On the other hand, if Franz Ferdinand does become emperor, there's a pretty decent chance of collapse as a result of his reform proposals. Empires usually collapse not under calcified, backwards leadership, but when attempting to reform.

I'd also say that I'm not sure Prince Heinrich wouldn't have focused on the Navy. Unlike his brother, he was actually a career naval officer. But he was pretty unpolitical OTL, so it's kind of hard to see what path he'd take. Certainly the naval build-up won't take place as long as Bismarck's in charge, but even if we assume that Bismarck manages not to offend enough people to have to be removed, and doesn't want to retire (the latter, at least, seems plausible), he died in 1898 OTL. At that point, new people come in, and who knows what they think. Of course, that's also towards the point when the new Emperor comes into his majority. OTL, the Crown Prince was pretty terrible, but growing up without his father will certainly change him in some respects. I have a hard time thinking that he'd turn out much better being emperor from early childhood, though.
 
Interesting theories what would happen to Europe re the early death of Wilhelm II but I wonder if anyone thinks that Annie Oakley herself could have been allowed to plead 'accidental manslaughter' or would she have been lynched [with ugly reprisals against any US Americans who happened to be in the German Empire or dealing with it]? I know she was a performer but could she have pulled off an 'oops' to convince a jury who may not have wanted him to be Kaiser? It should be noted that she DID send him a note in WWI saying she regretted that she 'missed' him.
 
Interesting theories what would happen to Europe re the early death of Wilhelm II but I wonder if anyone thinks that Annie Oakley herself could have been allowed to plead 'accidental manslaughter' or would she have been lynched [with ugly reprisals against any US Americans who happened to be in the German Empire or dealing with it]? I know she was a performer but could she have pulled off an 'oops' to convince a jury who may not have wanted him to be Kaiser? It should be noted that she DID send him a note in WWI saying she regretted that she 'missed' him.

There's a fair chance of an acquittal, though she'd no doubt have a very unpleasant trial and be deported immediately. More likely she'd be found guilty of a lesser charge (fahrlässige Tötung sounds most likely) and put in prison for a number of years. I can't see large-scale reprisals because, frankly, most Germans had only the vaguest idea what the USA were. If she'd been French or Russian, now - that could have got nasty.
 
The conflict between Bismark and Wilhelm II tends to be overrated as a turning point. It's likely that no regent would have dismissed Bismarck so peremptorily (certainly not Heinrich, who had a very poor view of his own intellectual capacities and always deferred to the wisdom of others). But Bismarck was already a controversial figure, and picking more fights as he went along. I don't think he's long for the office, regardless of who rules Prussia. He's making too many enemies and going too much against the domestic policy mainstream.

I was just going to say that this would lead to your TL which not to sound weird is my favorite tl right now.
 
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