Germany Enters the Russo-Turkish War on the Turkish Side

CaliGuy

Banned
Let's say that Otto von Bismarck hits his head extremely severely on something in 1877 and thus becomes a staunch supporter of acquiring Lebensraum in order to reduce German emigration. In turn, this causes Bismarck to have Germany enter the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878 on the Turkish side.

Anyway, how exactly would this have turned out?
 

CaliGuy

Banned
Would France enter this war on Russia's side in this TL? After all, France certainly wanted to recapture Alsace-Lorraine!
 
Right so Germany feels that leaking 70,000 people a year to the USA is weakening the nation. Roughly 35,000 of which were farmers with no land to farm (due to industrialisation or being second or third sons).

A draft of the San Stefano treaty leaks and Germany sees the opportunity to attack Russia while Russia appears to be a pariah. Aiding the turks before this would have left Germany hated internationally.

Austria plays the diplomatic game attempts to step in as the new protector of Bulgaria, Serbia Montenegro and Romania who all sign peace treaties with the Turks proclaiming their independence without relying on Russian support.

Germany probably tears congress Poland off of Russia and signs a peace.

France will probably stay away as Britain is likely pro Germany (having sailed the Royal Navy towards Constantine please to intimidate the Russians away from the city).
 

raharris1973

Gone Fishin'
Donor
Monthly Donor
things happen like in Naraic's timeline, it becomes the war to end wars in Europe.

Germany is the central peacemaker on the European continent, too powerful to challenge with opposing coalitions, but also knowing further expansion would result in diminishing returns. Although Germany ceases expansion in Europe after the gains made in this war, it does expand its African and Pacific empires. Here too, Britain has the edge, which keeps German colonial gains within proportions not a lot larger than OTL's, but at the same time, Britain can't dismiss or cock-block Germany everywhere, because confrontation with Germany is not to be taken lightly.
 

CaliGuy

Banned
Right so Germany feels that leaking 70,000 people a year to the USA is weakening the nation. Roughly 35,000 of which were farmers with no land to farm (due to industrialisation or being second or third sons).

Yes; correct!

A draft of the San Stefano treaty leaks and Germany sees the opportunity to attack Russia while Russia appears to be a pariah. Aiding the turks before this would have left Germany hated internationally.

Were the Turks really that hated back then?

Austria plays the diplomatic game attempts to step in as the new protector of Bulgaria, Serbia Montenegro and Romania who all sign peace treaties with the Turks proclaiming their independence without relying on Russian support.

OK.

Germany probably tears congress Poland off of Russia and signs a peace.

Can Germany go for more than that, though?

France will probably stay away as Britain is likely pro Germany (having sailed the Royal Navy towards Constantine please to intimidate the Russians away from the city).

OK; good. :) In turn, this will allow Germany to avoid a two-front war in 1878 in this TL! :)
 
Were the Turks really that hated back then?
Well the war of 1877 was one which was sparked off by Turkish massacres in Armenia, Bulgaria and the rest of the Balkans. Historically it was the collapse of the Ottomans and the treaty of San Stefano that turned the opinion of the great powers away from Russia.

I have Germany going for limited gains because this was the era of limited war and limited gains. It's a war that Germany entered with the stated goal of stopping Russia being too strong. The treaty of San Stefano would have seen Serbia, Montenegro, Romania, and Bulgaria as Russian client states and territorial revision. Germany would lose Austrian and British support if it went too far and if Austria or Britain turned on Germany well France probably would too. That said France is still recovering from paying the indemnity from the 1870 war.
 
Top