For Which it Falls - An Authoritarian America TL
Still hoping the Kaiser can hang on, creating a revanchist but non-Nazi germany
The collapse of Central Powers should be way faster.
No American entry in the war still means revolutionary agitation at home, the ultimate factor which compelled the peace.
Bulgaria which had been the country to mobilize the most important force relatively to its population wasn't just defeated, it was exhausted from the fighting, its army collapsed and revolution was in the midst of breaking out when it sued for peace.
If Austria-Hungarian army in Italy ceased to exist as a fighting force, there was nothing more left to make another stand. The Austro-Hungarian had already mobilized all they could, even aged people, but the gigantic losses incurred early couldn't just be replaced (it only owed to German reinforcements avoiding total collapse as early as 1916, even 1915 it could be said after the disasters in Galicia and Serbia). From there, the Italians had practically an open route to Vienna, with logistics as their only limit. Emperor Karl was eager to exit the war since he took the throne (as showed by the Sixtus affair in 1917, an attempt of separate peace). He won't wait another six months after Vittorio Veneto to sue for peace. *
Then, for the Ottomans, the conclusion was foregone as Bulgaria exited the war, leaving Constantinople exposed to a land attack all while they lost the entire Levant, Arabia and Iraq, with Anatolia threatened from the South.
So, in the cases of Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria and the Ottomans, it should be expected the same delays as IOTL between the success of Entente offensives and their coming to terms, and I'm gonna say probably on the same schedule as IOTL.
As for Germany, it can perhaps make it through the winter and retreat slowlier, but it too was faced with a revolution at home with sailors mutinying in port and soldiers deserting in masse, and the news of its allies jumping off the ship will only make staying longer in the war worsening the situation. The ghost of the Russian revolutions and the execution of Nicolas II, the Kaiser's cousin, and his family, still fresh in memories.
No American entry in the war still means revolutionary agitation at home, the ultimate factor which compelled the peace.
Bulgaria which had been the country to mobilize the most important force relatively to its population wasn't just defeated, it was exhausted from the fighting, its army collapsed and revolution was in the midst of breaking out when it sued for peace.
If Austria-Hungarian army in Italy ceased to exist as a fighting force, there was nothing more left to make another stand. The Austro-Hungarian had already mobilized all they could, even aged people, but the gigantic losses incurred early couldn't just be replaced (it only owed to German reinforcements avoiding total collapse as early as 1916, even 1915 it could be said after the disasters in Galicia and Serbia). From there, the Italians had practically an open route to Vienna, with logistics as their only limit. Emperor Karl was eager to exit the war since he took the throne (as showed by the Sixtus affair in 1917, an attempt of separate peace). He won't wait another six months after Vittorio Veneto to sue for peace. *
Then, for the Ottomans, the conclusion was foregone as Bulgaria exited the war, leaving Constantinople exposed to a land attack all while they lost the entire Levant, Arabia and Iraq, with Anatolia threatened from the South.
So, in the cases of Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria and the Ottomans, it should be expected the same delays as IOTL between the success of Entente offensives and their coming to terms, and I'm gonna say probably on the same schedule as IOTL.
As for Germany, it can perhaps make it through the winter and retreat slowlier, but it too was faced with a revolution at home with sailors mutinying in port and soldiers deserting in masse, and the news of its allies jumping off the ship will only make staying longer in the war worsening the situation. The ghost of the Russian revolutions and the execution of Nicolas II, the Kaiser's cousin, and his family, still fresh in memories.
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Will Romania issue harsher terms against Austria-Hungary and Bulgaria such as more severe war reps? Or will they just take Transylvania and Dobruja?
A revolution at home still is a "stab in the back" myth in making, and that's still going to happen. The difference is that staying in the war longer may cause this revolution to become a full scale civil war as in Russia.
The Spartacist Uprising or a similar movement of revolutionaries in Weimar Germany would definitely be more prominent and powerful.
Indeed, there will be many consequences to come for the prolonged war and even harsher repercussions for the civilians under the Central Power's rule (and in reply to your comment about the Central Powers falling earlier, you are right, I was in a hurry, but for now I'm keeping it the way it is so my planning of the TL doesn't change too much.).
Chapter 3 - The Three Men at Versailles
The Three Men at Versailles
As the war came to an end, revolutions spread through Germany like a wildfire, seeking for only the total destruction of their oppressors. German democrats rose everywhere throughout the Empire, eventually over throwing Kaiser Wilhelm II himself. Poles took up arms in their ethnic cities declaring themselves independent from the Germans. The fires of revolution had met Europe and only the Treaty of Versailles could cool them down. For now.
Known in history as the Big Three, Italy, France, and Great Britain were the main superpowers that had held the peace conference. All of their leaders, Vittorio Orlando of Italy, Georges Clemenceau from France, and David Lloyd of Britain had their own agendas. France never wanted never wanted another German war again. Britain wanted to end the wars but keep Germany stable. And Italy simply wanted their war goals of the Adriatic. And as a result none of the Central Powers were invited as they were deemed a threat for a decisive treaty. The negotiations had gone off to a good start in early January, 1920. Japan had been invited to the Council of Powers that would discuss terms and agreed, but soon dropped out from the Council after believing there was "no interest for Japan." Besides this small step back the Allies continued to negotiate terms such as the division of Germany and the establishment of a world-wide peace keeping force. The Supreme Council also discussed economic issues. Affairs like reparations, railroads, infrastructure, rebuilding, and even responsibility for the war were all placed in the hands of the Supreme Council. But arguably the most important part of the war, the territorial changes, were yet to be made.
Woodrow Wilson from the U.S. looked upon Versailles with caution. He had sent the Secretary of State (Robert Lansing) to monitor the treaty and to attempt to push American rhetoric. But surprisingly to no avail. Wilson could do nothing but watch a new Europe unfold in front of his eyes. A good result or not, Woodrow Wilson had to deal with the fact that he left Europe in the hands of two colonial powers. Talks when on throughout the year, each power being divided in their own treaty. Versailles was signed first as it decided the fate of Germany. It was agreed upon the three powers that Germany would pay 37.4 billion dollars in marks, which would be used to rebuild Europe and her armies. Germany was also humiliated, admitting that they started the war and were at fault for it. The Monarchy was to never be restored and a democratic republic by the name of the Weimar republic was instituted. Germany had lost Danzig and her land in Poland, losing it to a brand new independent Polish state. One of the biggest German industrial centers had been lost too, being annexed by a Rhineland buffer state (which was in the French sphere of influence). Their army was also cut down to 100,000 men and their colonies annexed by the Brits ans the French. Germany was disgraced, the government weak, and the populace mad.
"This is not a peace. This is an armistice for twenty years."
- Ferdinand Foch, 1919
Austria was next. They were partitioned harshly, losing all of the non-Austrian land. Istria, South Tyrol, and Dalmatia to Italy. Bohemia to a new Czech state. Slovakia to a new Slovak state. Galicia split between Poland and Ukraine. 3/4's of Transylvania to Romania and the other quarter to Hungary. And last not but not least, their Bosnian, Croatian, and Montenegrin holdings all annexed by a unified Kingdom with Serbia, called Yugoslavia. The Allies found Austria-Hungary one of their least threats but still partitioned it, splitting it up by large nationality groups. Austria could never unite with Germany (which was the hope of some politicians after the end of the war) and they too had pay reparations and recognize the independence of their daughter nations. Bulgaria followed suit with the loss of Thrace to Greece and Macedonia to Yugoslavia. Hungary was next as the Treaties passed into 1921. They too would experience harsh reparations and a lost of Ethnic lands. Yet due to some Hungarian sympathies in the council, Hungary was able to keep hold of some of Transylvania, southern Slovakia, and Vojvodina.- Ferdinand Foch, 1919
The last were the Ottomans. The Empire was faced with the most territorial loss, losing more than half of the land they entered the war with. Iraq, Jordan and Palestine were annexed by the Brits and Syria and Lebanon by the French. Armenia was made a new state while the Caucuses countries annexed slivers of land south them. When Allies reached Anatolia, the heartland of the Turks, they reached a problem. Though there was an extremely large risk of low stability in the Ottoman Empire, the Colonial Empire were hungry for land. And land was what they got. 91% of the Turkish coast of the Mediterranean were now in the hands of Italy, Britain, France, and Greece. The land bordering the Sea of Marmara was also now placed under an international committee.This International Committee was the biggest wish of Woodrow Wilson, and for the Europeans to avoid social unrest, they created the Committee of International Affairs. With this, in the Summer of 1921, the Central Powers had officially been dealt with, and Europe had been forever changed.
Note: The Official Treaty of Versailles. Again many differences from OTL, Turkish land which was in spheres of influence now actually annexed, a larger Hungary, an independent Armenia and Rhineland (and don't forget Slovakia), and harsher reparations. If there are any questions or suggestions about the TL or this Treaty, feel free to ask and I will begin to answer. Also this ws supposed to be published yesterday, but because of setbacks I had to today, these will still be published weekly on Friday though despite today. Anyway thank you for reading, and have a good day!
- BenDaCoolGuy
I grappled with this one a lot, here's my reasoning. If the French wanted to create a full buffer state that would protect them from future German attacks, that buffer state would have to be in between the whole of each country. So if the Germans wanted to attack France, they'd have to attack the Rhineland. If the French wanted to do that with Alsace-Lorraine French annexed they'd have to make Rhineland's borders even larger, which the British wouldn't want since too much of a fractured Germany would be going against their justice not revenge philosophy. Also around this time many people in Alsace Lorraine could either speak German or considered themselves more German than France. The Rhineland is supposed to be a testiment to a German-French country in which both nationalities will get along (which we'll see if they do) and achieve their goals together. If the Rhineland was able to be under French influence with French rulers, Clemenceau would be satisfied with the buffer state, and Britain would be satisfied that Germany was still Germany.Wait A-L is inside the rhineland buffer state ? The French would never have done that
Edit: also I found this pic when searching war goals so this made me a bit more on the side of an A-L in the Rhineland state -
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All I noticed in that update was the quality of that map. Shit, it's beautiful.
I don't think it will be accepted. For the full for years of war, it was "Alsace Lorraine is crying for our help" and then they just decide to give it to another state? A french governement giving AL away is pretty much finished. And poincaré was a hardcore french nationalist. Even if he was theorically powerless, he still has influence and would have pressured clémenceau
The one bright spot with the treaty is that with Italy's demands satisfied Mussolini would likely not have a leg to stand on given how much frustration with the apparent insult of the treaty helped the rise of Fascism.
Thank you!
Yep, Mussolini might never rise.
hmm, i will think about redoing that then, i'll do more research thank you for the info!
I must agree, while the author reasoning it's sound and logical; after this kind of war reason and logic are dead and deep buried. Look at OTL Italy negotiation, the fate of Fiume a single italian city (yes economical and strategically important) had become vital for the italian pubblic, so much to dominate the negotiation.
Alsace-Lorraine it's too important, for decades had been the focal point of French hatred towards Germany, any goverment agreeing to using her as buffer state will be feathered and tarred immediately...IMVHO the most probable option are the enstablishment of OTL Rhenish Republic https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhenish_Republic or the annexation of the Saarland (i doubt that the British will allow both).
More than a buffer state, French security was assured (in the mind of the French goverment) by a strong alliance against Germany; historically it was with Russia, but now it's not possible and OTL it was transferred to Poland after a while, the British will not want to attach themselfs to France and give her some guarantee... as OTL; witht he current situation the plan to form a custom union/defense alliance with Belgium and Italy will get much more attention.
Well getting what promised, not being humiliated by Wilson, no Fiume action by D'Annunzio and the promised colonial compensation (what obtained in OTL, no more, just immediately and not in the following years) will have the nice consequences of not having the credibility of the liberal goverment being destroyed. Naturally the fate of the russian revolution it's also important and with Ukraine and Bielorussia indepedent don't see things going well for them...even if in this situation i see instead of the Polish-soviet war, Moscow and Warsaw collaborate to carve up Bielorussia
Chapter 4 - The Election that Changed the World
The Election that Changed the World
"The lamps are going out all over Europe, we shall not see them lit again in our lifetime." And with the treaty signed, the lamps had all been out. The period between the 2 World Wars is arguably one of the most important in human history, and the treaty of Versailles was just the beginning of it. The Russian civil war raged on in the East as the communists gobbled up White Russian territory and posed direct threats to the young nations bordering them. While in Western Europe a new wave of social order was arriving, men faced by the terrors of war had their say in who they wanted to lead them, and they would never pick one to lead them into such a deadly war like the last. Asia was beginning to see the toppling of the Qing dynasty and the rise of a Japanese Empire. And in America, the elections were coming up.
Issues such as entry into the Committee of International Affairs, isolationism, growing progressivism, and foreign policy dominated the 1920 election. In the Republican primaries, two front runners dominated. Inexperienced Leonard Wood and progressive Harim Johnson, others like moderate Warren Harding and conservative Frank Lowden did pose threats but ultimately couldn't make a mark as Leonard Wood garnered massive support. Despite the party's best efforts to find a compromise candidate, Leonard was too popular and no deadlock was achieved in the party to have a reason for a compromise. He was elected on June 8th along with Henry Allen as his Vice President, who only barely won against Irvine Lenroot.
Leonard Wood was made president on January 20th, 1921. His election was greeted with the rise of the extremely popular socialism of Eugene Debs who had reached more than 1,000,000 votes (and 4.01% of the vote). It was greeted with a stagnant economy and the beginning of prohibition. And it was greeted by the Soviet aggression in Eastern Europe and the failed reclamation of Turkish lands by Ali Mustafa. Wood's election spelled a new age in American politics. One beset on the Red Scare, a rise of far right wing ideology, and the slow but ever approaching fall of American democracy.
"Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There was never a democracy yet that did not commit suicide."
- John Adams
------ John Adams
Note: I am late once again! This is a short chapter but will change a lot. Debs was never imprisoned for being against the war in 1918, the large riots in Chicago and Boston never happened and in turn never made Coolidge and Lowden popular enough to slow down Leonard from winning, and a small note that will be expanded upon next chapter, Ataturk has been failing in Turkey. Also I've decided that Alsace-Lorraine is French annexed despite the map. I will try to get back on track with the schedule but overall this TL is still ongoing. As always leave any praise or criticism you find valid and have great day!
- BenDaCoolGuy
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