Another possibility I could see is a combination of a slightly more diplomatic Willy combined with a 3 term Teddy Roosevelt who decides to outbuild everyone and dominate the oceans.
BlondieBC
Banned
With POD after 1910, it is hard to see the UK joining the Central Powers. You would really need France or Russia to do something to drive the UK towards the Germans. These type of POD would tend to have to be major colonial type POD. Think in terms of a major shift in Russian policy after the Russo Japanese war to try to contest India. Or a major blow up in Africa between the French and British over something that starts out small.
BooNZ
Banned
Up until around 1902 the British appeared far more likely to hook up with Germany than France.
If WW1 is averted, I think Anglo-Russian tension sees the British drift away from the Entente, but not necessarily fully into the warm embrace of Wilhelm.
Perhaps Britain avoids WW1 altogether and hooks up with the victorious CP powers at the conclusion.
If WW1 is averted, I think Anglo-Russian tension sees the British drift away from the Entente, but not necessarily fully into the warm embrace of Wilhelm.
Perhaps Britain avoids WW1 altogether and hooks up with the victorious CP powers at the conclusion.
If Nicholas' reign was polically and economically better and won RJW then puppetize Korea. UK would join CP maybe.
A worse Dogger Bank incident (time travelling submarine optional) scuppers the Angle-Russian entente.
Coulsdon Eagle
Monthly Donor
Nothing to do with familial relations, but if Britain's interest is focussed more on the Empire & less on the balance of power in Europe, why not line up against your two most (long-lived) colonial rivals?
It was the UK’s policy for centuries to align against the strongest power or coalition on the continent. They felt that was the best way to keep England safe & independent.
That means you have to either strengthen the Entente OR you have to weaken the Central Powers.
Possibilities:
- Japan & Russia reach an accommodation in east Asia about who has what & avoids the RJW.
- Italy abandons the Triple Alliance and joins the Entente. If this occurs before 1912 then perhaps Italy & the Ottoman Empire reach an accommodation where they support each other’s interest in N. Africa & the Balkans.
To me, anything else requires a POD before 1900.
That means you have to either strengthen the Entente OR you have to weaken the Central Powers.
Possibilities:
- Japan & Russia reach an accommodation in east Asia about who has what & avoids the RJW.
- Italy abandons the Triple Alliance and joins the Entente. If this occurs before 1912 then perhaps Italy & the Ottoman Empire reach an accommodation where they support each other’s interest in N. Africa & the Balkans.
To me, anything else requires a POD before 1900.
RightHoJeeves
Banned
The UK's longstanding policy regarding Continental Europe was to maintain an acceptable balance of power.
Germany in the early 1900s was poised to upset that balance of power so I see no reason why the UK would just let the Kaiser subjugate Eastern Europe and the Low Countries, royal relations or not.
A 19th century POD would have to occur where Germany is much less threatening and the Brits are more concerned with another power, either the French or the Russians.
Germany in the early 1900s was poised to upset that balance of power so I see no reason why the UK would just let the Kaiser subjugate Eastern Europe and the Low Countries, royal relations or not.
A 19th century POD would have to occur where Germany is much less threatening and the Brits are more concerned with another power, either the French or the Russians.
BooNZ
Banned
Nope. In 1914 there were a grand total of 2 members (Grey and Churchill) of the British Cabinet who wanted war against Germany, while 5 British Cabinet were firmly against any war in any circumstances. Asquith (PM) assessed on 1 August 1914 the majority of Cabinet were against war in any circumstances, but on 2 August 1914 the British Cabinet agreed to go to war in the event of a major violation of Belgium's neutrality.
In the years prior to the war the British foreign office held firm anti-German views, but Eyre Crowe, the architect/inspiration for those anti-German positions is on record as stating the one thing he feared more than Germany was the French-Russian alliance. This suggests Britain was not standing against German hegemony, but instead seeking to appease the Russians.
According to the firmly anti-German Crowe, the Russian-French alliance posed a greater threat than Germany. The suggestion Anglo-German friction was a result of German weakness is reflected in the contemporary writings of Niall Ferguson and Christopher Clark.
As outlined above, the British Cabinet were not concerned about geo-political issues and the British foreign office feared Russian potential more than Germany. Do you have any examples of German schemes before the [first world] war to subjugate Eastern Europe and/or the low countries? Mitteleuropa is the only one that comes to mind.
According to Dreadnaught by Massie, Wilhelm enjoyed a purple patch of popularity in Britain during his subdued attendance of his Grandmother's funeral in England. Wilhelm was under strict instructions from his diplomatic handlers to rebuff OTL feelers from the British at that time (late 1901?). The German response was not attributable to Anglo-German enmity, but the German diplomatic (mis)calculation an Anglo-German understanding was inevitable and Britain should pay a fair price for German friendship.