Depends on if it's a loss in a short war, which results in some minor border corrections and a bit of money but reverts back to the pre war order pretty quickly, or a 1918/19 loss where empires are made and unmade.
By the end of thr war everyone knew that colonies were just vast money pits. I don't think the Germans would want them.. Influence yes, but outright want? Not so much.Is them loosing ALL colonies ASB? Perhaps Germany would want to kick down France so hard that it completely ceases to be a great power?
Who is going to stop them?
Take a look at the very moderate September Program.
I assume you were sarcastic with the 'moderate' there?Who is going to stop them?
Take a look at the very moderate September Program.
Would it be possible for former French colonies to get independence? Say a lot of these colonies are money drains, yet Germany still wants to keep France weak. So they carve out a bunch or independent states under German and/or Ottoman influence. Can that happen?
Why would Germany want France's colonies as they're money sinks, are restive with French citizens sprinkled through them at best or borderline rebellious at worst? I could see them taking the French Congo/possibly parts of Equatorial Africa to lump in with Kameroon but why bother with the predominant desert of French West Africa or the issues Indochina? Most Germans are not going to settle in these new properties and the war may also reveal how defenseless colonies are so why spread yourself thin defensively? European property is far more worthwhile and tying all of Europe to you economically removes the need to waste capital on territory where the population is unlikely to accept your presence in perpetuity. Likewise, taking all French territory only serves to piss off the UK encouraging them to counter you at every turn while engendering fear in your Allies and potential Allies as a powerful threat to their independence.Who is going to stop them?
Take a look at the very moderate September Program.
France was going to be charged a 10 billion mark indemnity and to assume 33 billion in German debt
Then look at the plans for Belgium and the Netherlands. Even neutrals were to be put under the German heel.
And how are the British going to stop them? Britain needed the help of France, Russia , Italy and the US to win the war
How is she prevailing with France and Russia defeated and Italy either defeated or allied to Germany?
The idea that Britain can't lose because her fleet will protect her fails the most cursory of examinations. The British cabinet understood and that's why they went to war- not for Belgium but to keep their Empire
Lets say it ends around or a little later than it did otlAlso depends on when this crushing defeat is inflicted, as mentioned the longer the war drags on the more the victorious side would want
Lets say it ends around or a little later than it did otl
Huh. So, what would be the best time for the war to end that leaves Germany as strong as possible and France as weak as possible?Then Germany has even less incentive to scope up large areas of unprofitable and hard to pin down territories and completely alienate any potential peaceful commercial partners. She's already scraping the bottom of the barrel as far as manpower is concerns, with an economy awash in triple-booked funney money, alongside a whole chunk of Territory in the east that's slipping into anarchy and she's stripping of seed corn to feed the home front. In order to consolidate her gains and make them useful, they can't afford to have a continent of bleeding ulsers alongside France just waiting for the second her guard slips, to say nothing of the Red giant looking in the east.
And that's not even taking into account the fact that her Austrian ally is collapsing into a mess. Bulgaria and the Ottomans? They're in better shape in terms of core stability. But propping up Vienna for these critical early years is going to be a big load reguardless
Huh. So, what would be the best time for the war to end that leaves Germany as strong as possible and France as weak as possible?
Well, I want a situation where Germany can impose it's will on France in basically any way they please and force any kind of treaty on them they want.Those two aren't the same question. Are you wanting to prioritize what puts Germany in the post position to thrive, or strips France of the most power, because Germany actually benefits quite a bit from France being stable, mid ranged in strength, and reconciled to Berlin's Hegemony.
Well, I want a situation where Germany can impose it's will on France in basically any way they please and force any kind of treaty on them they want.
Well, I want a situation where Germany can impose it's will on France in basically any way they please and force any kind of treaty on them they want.
Well, I want a situation where Germany can impose it's will on France in basically any way they please and force any kind of treaty on them they want.
Hmm. I see. Though really, I would just like France to be weakened enough for its north african territory to be ripped away