Entente offers German territory to the Netherlands

Entente offers German territory, to the Dutch government around 1917, besides strong diplomatic pressure/arguments.
As part of an Entente plan to open a new front to Germany.

Despite reluctance towards Great Britain and an even stronger feelings to stay neutral, the Entente Blockade ruins the Dutch economy and shortages of all kind of products are felt.
Viable?

Anexation-plan.PNG
 
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The Dutch were quite friendly with the Germans at this point.

This would also undermine British reasoning for entering the war - they entered the war to defend Belgian neutrality... they would lose that moral high ground by violating Dutch neutrality.

By the Entente Blockade, are you referring to the blockade of Germany, or is the Entente now blockading the Netherlands? If they are blockading the Netherlands, the Dutch would likely see it as an act of war, and the Dutch army would likely engage against the British and French.

The friendly relations between the Netherlands and Germany would run counter to this kind of agreement. Germany historically is a huge trading partner to them - renouncing neutrality and breaking friendly ties with Germany would -not- bode well for them. This is also pre-WW2, and the Dutch still felt themselves as "brothers" or "cousins" to the Germans.

In short, enough pressure, and the reverse would happen - the Entente would be strengthening the Central Powers, and add -another- army into the fighting, which might just be enough to break through to Paris. It's even more possible that Germany may counteroffer in this case, and offer to give the Netherlands Flanders.

You are also going to see the relations of the remaining neutral powers towards the United Kingdom plummet. If it is believed that the Entente is willing to attack neutral powers to "open up fronts", you are going to see a very nervous Switzerland and Scandinavia.
 
The Entente blockade against Germany was effecting as well the Netherlands. Not only it affected the number of goods entering Dutch ports but as well the Dutch merchant marine (at 1914 larger than France). Great Britain confiscate ships and/or the cargo of neutral countries when they thought it could be used in the war effort of Germany.
Most of the good entering the trading nation as the Netherlands was, were indeed useful for the German war effort.
The Netherlands did not only continued to have trade with Germany but as well with the Entente or other nations during the Great War, as far as the blockade allowed this.

And the Entente is NOT attacking the Netherlands they try to bribe them, with of course a ''stick'' behind them to make their arguments more clear.

Dutch population and politicians were not hostile and generally friendly or neutral towards Germany and Germans, however there is not such thing as a ''brother or cousin" feeling.

Considering the situation I do not think the entente give any thing about the opinion of the other neutral nations (except the USA), besides this were just a hand full.
 
The Entente blockade against Germany was effecting as well the Netherlands. Not only it affected the number of goods entering Dutch ports but as well the Dutch merchant marine (at 1914 larger than France). Great Britain confiscate ships and/or the cargo of neutral countries when they thought it could be used in the war effort of Germany.
Most of the good entering the trading nation as the Netherlands was, were indeed useful for the German war effort.
The Netherlands did not only continued to have trade with Germany but as well with the Entente or other nations during the Great War, as far as the blockade allowed this.

And this breeds animosity towards the Entente, not towards the Central Powers.

And the Entente is NOT attacking the Netherlands they try to bribe them, with of course a ''stick'' behind them to make their arguments more clear.

And if the stick is too sharp, the Entente has another enemy. I highly doubt that the Netherlands is willing to engage in conflict with their friendly neighbor, simply because -they will lose-.

Dutch population and politicians were not hostile and generally friendly or neutral towards Germany and Germans, however there is not such thing as a ''brother or cousin" feeling.

My studying of history says otherwise. Much of the current attitude towards Germans by the Dutch is due to the invasion during World War 2 -- WW2 is even why the word Diets stopped being used to mean the Dutch Language.

Considering the situation I do not think the entente give any thing about the opinion of the other neutral nations (except the USA), besides this were just a hand full.

What?

Responses in bold.
 
The Dutch where not friendly with the Belgians as well, the country got swarmed with refugees during the war who where interned. They where not happy with Germany as a famine was treathening to happen because of this(as well as attacks on Dutch merchant ships by German U-boats). The Belgians and English where not happy with the Netherlands either though, the Dutch got a lot of pressure from them. They where still Pro-German in the end.

They would be interested in the Ruhr area though. A lot more then the Germans offering Flanders.

Plus by 1917 they would be smart, like Romania to join the winning side.
 
The Dutch where not friendly with the Belgians as well, the country got swarmed with refugees during the war who where interned. They where not happy with Germany as a famine was treathening to happen because of this(as well as attacks on Dutch merchant ships by German U-boats). The Belgians and English where not happy with the Netherlands either though, the Dutch got a lot of pressure from them. They where still Pro-German in the end.

Strongly pro-German. The blockade was Britain's, not Germany's.

They would be interested in the Ruhr area though. A lot more then the Germans offering Flanders.

Except that it would involve a war, and they wouldn't get it anyways. France is more likely to get the Ruhr than the Netherlands. The Dutch also wouldn't want a rather heavily populated -German- area... particularly since they are a democracy... you will suddenly have a pro-German majority in their legislature.

Plus by 1917 they would be smart, like Romania to join the winning side.

Only as of April. Until that point, the Entente was not winning. After that, the Entente gains nothing by offering anything to the Dutch. Even then, they would have eliminated any possibility of friendly relations with Germany after that point -- I don't believe that the Dutch would be willing to do that.

Response in bold.
 
And this breeds animosity towards the Entente, not towards the Central Powers.

Correct. But this is a opinion and that does not have much value when confronted with diplomatic presure
There were as well many in favor of the British. Among them Secretary of foreign affairs Mr Loudon.

And if the stick is too sharp, the Entente has another enemy. I highly doubt that the Netherlands is willing to engage in conflict with their friendly neighbor, simply because -they will lose-.

The Netherlands had a vast Asian Empire which could only be defended by a small fleet of armored cruisers which were no party for the pre-Dreadnoughts of the British India fleet. ( this is the stick)
No body knows the outcome in around 1917.

No doubt that there will be no enthusiasm to be part of the slaughter the Great War has turned, preferred would be neutrality at almost all cost.

My studying of history says otherwise. Much of the current attitude towards Germans by the Dutch is due to the invasion during World War 2 -- WW2 is even why the word Diets stopped being used to mean the Dutch Language.


As I wrote; friendly or neutral.

Total of neutral counties during the Great war, were literally a hand full of countries and of no geopolitical value except of course the USA. The Netherlands had the misfortune to be as only neutral country, geographical , between the belligerents.
 
On diplomatic level there was animosity or indifference between the Netherlands and Belgium pre- Great war. The Belgian refugees were in general warm welcomed and sheltered as best as possible. The dutch public was well in formed by news paper correspondents of the horrors the Belgian population had to endure at the start of the Great war.

As you look to the Map, the Ruhr area is not included. It are mostly thin populated areas, with a mainly agricultural economy, and have historically a connection with the Netherlands.

The Netherlands were almost involved in the Great war, during several occasions, during the first days 1914, and in 1916, 1917 and 1918 in all occasions it was Germany who threaten to violate Dutch neutrality.
 
By the Entente Blockade, are you referring to the blockade of Germany, or is the Entente now blockading the Netherlands? If they are blockading the Netherlands, the Dutch would likely see it as an act of war, and the Dutch army would likely engage against the British and French.

The British as the war went on were putting tighter and tighter restrictions on Neutral Powers, Netherlands, Denmark, Norway and Sweden. The stance of London can be summed up that they wanted these nations to PROVE to London that nothing was being transshipped to Germany through them. Which was happening in very large amounts, including from England. Later on London tightened things up demanding that these nations stop trading with Germany all together. Failure to agree with these terms would mean that the RN would stop shipping bound for them to prevent anything from getting into German hands. In the end each nation had to setup export controls at levels set in London or face blockade. By 1918 Sweden for example had agreed to cut off export of high grade iron ore to Germany in exchange for London agreeing to export Coal to Sweden.

The various nations protested this and at one point tried to get the USA to back a freedom of neutral trade movement but Wilson's administration wanted nothing to do with it.

Michael
 
I am unfamilar with any real pro-war faction in the Netherlands at the time. I mean someone would no doubt look at new lands with glee but I am not see it.

Worse off if this ever does occur you face a weaker army against one which has had years of trench fighting to throw at them.

Mind you once Wilson pops in such an offer is ended in full.
 
Consider the offered territory as the carrot, in a Churchill kind of enterprise....
It does not matter if the Dutch cabinet or other people in the Netherlands even eyed on this pieces of land.
There were some pro-war factions, with a slight majority in favor of the Germans.

The Dutch army will, initially,only be a kind of reserve while the lead is taken by British and Commonwealth and French troops.
 
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