Germany attacks Puerto Rico post-WWI victory

[herlockscholmes]

The Imperial German "Operations Plan III" envisioned a showdown with the United States following success in a general European conflict sometime in the early 20th century. In general, the plan called for establishing a naval base in Culebra to threaten the Panama Canal and the East Coast. The ultimate aim of this conflict would be to force the U.S. to offer economic concessions in the Caribbean and the Pacific, but that's not necessarily the focus of my inquiry here. Imagining - using whatever POD you like to get to the moment where it happens - that Germany ends up in a position to launch this attack, a few questions:

1. Given their experience fighting in hotter climes, would the Germans have employed East African troops in the initial phase of the war to seize Puerto Rico? Basically an expeditionary force of Askari/former European GEA regulars commanded by Lettow-Vorbeck or someone else with experience in warmer-weather warfare.
2. IF the Germans did so, would they have attempted to publicize the Askaris' presence in propaganda? This is, after all, the era of the Jim Crow South, so would the Germans perceive an advantage in making the case that the Askaris "fight as equals," being permitted to serve as NCOs and in combat roles at a time when formal discrimination existed in the U.S. Army and in civilian life?
3. IF they did this, how would they do it? Agents traveling around to communities throughout the South and spreading by word of mouth?
4. Would it meet with any kind of "success?" Obviously "success" here is a vague term - I've left it open for various interpretations of its meaning.

There are obviously a lot of assumptions baked into the question itself, so I'm happy to expand on the scenario if it's necessary.

 

[Monk78]

My understanding Is that the German battle fleet was short ranged built for operations in the North sea

 

[Dorknought]

The US would have built the ‘Seven Ocean Navy’ by the time Germany would be in a position to push into the Western Hemisphere regardless of where the troops come from, who’s in charge and if they have hats or not.

 

[herlockscholmes]

My understanding Is that the German battle fleet was short ranged built for operations in the North sea

Hmm...it was used that way, but I'm not sure that's the same as saying that's all it could do. Wilhelm didn't necessarily anticipate the allies' total defeat; he imagined some sort of peace settlement where the Germans would have the upper hand thanks to victories on land and remaining strength at sea. The Germans started WWI relatively conservatively on the naval side of things for this reason. The larger issues of refuel and resupply would have to be ironed out - part of the reason Operations Plan III was designed the way it was - but they certainly had vessels that could travel longer distances. The Lützow, for example, had a range of 6,400 mi @ 14 knots - more than enough to get there and back again.

The US would have built the ‘Seven Ocean Navy’ by the time Germany would be in a position to push into the Western Hemisphere regardless of where the troops come from, who’s in charge and if they have hats or not.

Does that prove much more than that they'd be well-prepared to take on the High Seas Fleet when it arrives, assuming they catch it at the right time and place? This is still an era before radar, an era where reconnaissance flights aren't going to be as effective as in WWII, etc. etc. etc. I don't doubt that a straight fight between the High Seas Fleet of OTL and a mobilized USN favors the latter, just saying that I don't know that it eliminates the validity of the scenario entirely.

 

[Anarch King of Dipsodes]

so would the Germans perceive an advantage in making the case that the Askaris "fight as equals," being permitted to serve as NCOs and in combat roles at a time when formal discrimination existed in the U.S. Army and in civilian life

Black Americans served as NCOs in segregated regiments, and saw combat, just like the Askaris.

(AFAIK, no Askari was ever in command over any white soldiers. White NCOs served in the German colonial forces, but were always considered to outrank their native counterparts.)

 

[sarge]

I can't see the Kaiserreich in a position to threaten the US. Sure, they could plan for it, everyone makes plans no matter how ludicrous they are. End of the day the US would be able to out build them, probably 3-4 ships to 1 should they feel seriously threatened by Germany. To threaten the US Germany would first have to deal with Britain. Turning them to an ally is impossible if they win WW1 and the High Seas Fleet defeating the RN during WW1 is very, very unlikely considering the shipbuilding capabilities of the British Empire. Should an ASB help Germany win against Britain, she would still help the US with whatever ships it could build to contain Germany.

Not to mention, what does the German Empire stand to gain by trying to seize territory protected by the Monroe Doctrine? They wanted to be the great power of Europe, which could have been done had things been different. Pissing off the US on their home turf is asking for trouble. Seizing a few unimportant backwater islands doesn't justify a massive conflict with a US that is discovering that it can become a superpower.

 

[Gillan1220]

I use this video for reference:

The logistics for invading Puerto Rico would be difficult for Germany.

The U.S. can outbuild Imperial Germany in the naval arms race. America in the early 20th century was a rising power. It was proven when America defeated Spain in Manila Bay and took the Philippines from the Empire.

As @sarge pointed out, this would invoke the Monroe Doctrine. The U.S. can simply cut the Germans off until they surrender.

My question is, since Puerto Rico is close to the British and Danish Virgin Islands (assuming the U.S. does not buy it from Denmark), does Britain and Denmark ally with America to kick the Germans out of the Caribbean?

 

[173rd LRRP]

That is attacking USA

 

[Gillan1220]

That is attacking USA

It does give a reference how a German fleet will need to cross the Atlantic, including the logistics of such. Plus, attacking Puerto Rico is still attacking the United States. Just look at the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Even if Hawaii wasn't a state yet, an attack on a U.S. territory is still an attack on the country.

 

[173rd LRRP]

A 1911 article in Scientific American compared the battle fleets of US and Germany and “determined” US was far superior. US fleet was second largest in world at that time.

 

[173rd LRRP]

US Navy was perhaps as good as German and designed as a Blue Ocean Navy. The German was more designed to protect Baltic and engage UK, Russian, and France. Their ships did not have range for combat at 2000 mile radius. US had major Naval bases in South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and Gulf. It probably had provisioning and munitions facilities in Puerto Rico and Cuba but find nothing on web discussing this.

and there is the matter of UK and French Blue Wayer fleets.

 

[Gudestein]

So, in this utterly crazy scenario France and Britain was defeated. Troops on the ground with handwavium. The queen E’s, Revenge class and the 4 admirals are given to Germany?
Just trying to make it work

 

[Aghasverov]

The Wiki says the plan was shelved in 1906... did Buechsel live out the rest of his life in an insane asylum? 🤪

 

[Gillan1220]

US Navy was perhaps as good as German and designed as a Blue Ocean Navy. The German was more designed to protect Baltic and engage UK, Russian, and France. Their ships did not have range for combat at 2000 mile radius. US had major Naval bases in South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and Gulf. It probably had provisioning and munitions facilities in Puerto Rico and Cuba but find nothing on web discussing this.

and there is the matter of UK and French Blue Wayer fleets.

The USN definitely has the advantage to limp back to shipyard in the mainland and get repaired, even if it takes time. The Germans do not have that advantage.

 

[173rd LRRP]

The USN definitely has the advantage to limp back to shipyard in the mainland and get repaired, even if it takes time. The Germans do not have that advantage.

Limping back to Roosevelt Roads in Puerto Rico, several ports in Cuba, or major naval Bases in US would only be voyages of several hundred miles. As you note, Germans would have to retreat several thousand miles with US and UK Navy hunting them.

Supply and fuel would have been nearly impossible. Germany probably did not have enough oilers or colliers to sustain a major effort. Their Navy was littoral protection and not that of colony extension..