German West Indies?

During the Second War of Schleswig, would it be possible for a Prussian Naval contingent to be dispatched to sieze the Danish West Indies from Denmark in order to give Prussia (later the German Empire) a foothold in the Carribean (submarine bases anyone? :D). If this part of the Virgin islands were under Prussian control, what would the political ramifications be for the rest of the World for Germany to have a presence there? Would the USA attempt to sieze them?
 
I'm not sure how deeply the US would have been committed at this time or how strong the Prussian Navy was compared to the American Navy (or, for that matter, the Danish Navy).

I know America would have frowned upon any European aggression in the Caribbean.

However, during the civil war, they couldn't do a thing about the French/Austrian/British invasion of Mexico. I doubt they could do much in 1864 when the 2nd Schleswig War occured.

I do recall there were offers for the US to buy the Danish West Indies at this time but nothing came of this until decades later.
 
The Prussian navy was pretty pathetic. I'd give the Austrians better chances, actually. But if they wanted the islands, they could have had them at the peace conference more easily.
 
The Prussian navy was pretty pathetic. I'd give the Austrians better chances, actually. But if they wanted the islands, they could have had them at the peace conference more easily.
Bismarck (I believe he was in power by that point) was probably highly anti imperialism, which is why Germany got into imperialism late. But in this TL Bismarck is persuaded that the advantages of such a possession outweigh the consequences, whether it be the rum and sugar trade :D or the potential naval base. And although the Prussian navy was weak at the time, an expedition could have been dispatched before the declaration of war. If they had acquired this colony, would their ability to project influence or gain Latin American alliances have been any stronger?
 
Let's say for the sake of argument that Prussia does seize the Danish Virgin Islands. This means that in 1916 when the USA would have bought them from the Danes because they were afraid of Germany seizing them for U-boats... Germany's already using them for U-boats. I'd say if Teddy Roosevelt didn't already buy them to protect the Panama Canal that Wilson will be seizing them during the war and keeping them after it. Germany's affect on the Virgin Islands is about the effect on Germany's control of Northern Marianas. Nil.
 
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Driftless

Donor
Let's say for the sake of argument that Prussia does seize the Danish Virgin Islands. This means that in 1916 when the USA would have bought them from the Danes because they were afraid of Germany seizing them for U-boats... Germany's already using them for U-boats. I'd say if Teddy Roosevelt didn't already buy them to protect the Panama Canal that Wilson will be seizing them during the war and keeping them after it. Germany's affect on the Virgin Islands is about the effect on Germany's control of Northern Marianas. Nil.

The British Virgin Islands are literally the next islands over, plus Jamaica and other British Islands are in the immediate area. French Martinique is close by as well, with a naval station. I could imagine by the end of the first week of August 1914, the British or French have made moves against any German naval stations.

If the Prussians made their initial move while the US was pre-occupied with the ACW, and manage a low-profile, maybe they have a useful naval coaling station for a time. Who knows, maybe using VI sugar, the Germans develop a hankering for Caribbean-made Schnapps..... Ein Prosit allawe...
 
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