Let us say that the Monarchy was re-establised in 1928 and the Kaisers Grandson is put on the Throne. The British government supports this move and as a result it is the Kaiser who is the Commander in Chief of the Military. With the Kaiser as Head of State the Nazi's are unable to seize power and more moderate conservative forces come to power.
Monarchy restored in Germany in 1928
- Thread starter chris N
- Start date
Interesting. I have a couple of questions (not challenges; real questions):
* Who and/or what prompts this move?
* Is Wilhelm II obliged to abdicate entirely from exile (and likewise his sons)?
* Would the rejuvenated Kaiser be the nominal commander-in-chief of the military, and would there be civilian (e.g., a Minister of War) oversight?
* What would make this series of events in the best interests of the British such that they would sign off on it?
1. Why does Wilhelm's grandson and not his son get the throne?
2. What happens in the late 1920s, in the height of prosperity and activity that was the Roaring Twenties in Weimar Republican Germany, with Nazis and other fringe groups really on the fringe, that prompts the Germans to re-establish the monarchy?
3. Why do the British allow this? What about the French? What about the Belgians? What about the Americans who are supplying the loans that is making the prosperity and activity in Weimar Germany possible?
4. Who's to say that the German monarchy, historically a patron of those who wanted to make the country strong and powerful, wouldn't listen to the Corporal and the National Socialists at the darkest height of the Depression when the possibility that the country might turn to communism was an ever-present threat?
2. What happens in the late 1920s, in the height of prosperity and activity that was the Roaring Twenties in Weimar Republican Germany, with Nazis and other fringe groups really on the fringe, that prompts the Germans to re-establish the monarchy?
3. Why do the British allow this? What about the French? What about the Belgians? What about the Americans who are supplying the loans that is making the prosperity and activity in Weimar Germany possible?
4. Who's to say that the German monarchy, historically a patron of those who wanted to make the country strong and powerful, wouldn't listen to the Corporal and the National Socialists at the darkest height of the Depression when the possibility that the country might turn to communism was an ever-present threat?
The new Kaiser would most likely follow a path to bring Germany back to its previous strength. It is true though, that Hitler and his political aspirations would never reach the heights of OTL, but that wouldn't stop them from possibly gaining a foothold in the new monarchy's government.
Valamyr
Banned
I wonder if the Nazis would have accepted to serve under a restored monarchy. Probably. They'd have ensured the monarch had somewhat lessened powers than before the war, and Hitler could have tried to play the part of the second coming of Bismark.
Who knows, if the new Kaiser played his cards well, his influence could be sufficient to reign in their worst excesses or to prevent all-out war.
If the monarchy is well-established by the time the Nazis have even a slightly better chance of getting a majority in the Reichstag than in 1928, they'd have to accept it if they want to get into power legally, as was their plan. If the monarchy was popular, Hitler could not have removed it, not if he wanted to keep playing prime minister.
Of course, Hitler duping the emperor and manipulating the scene once secure in power is altogether a different matter.
Grey Wolf
Donor
Hitler could have had Mussolini as his role model in this as well
Best Regards
Grey Wolf
maverick
Banned
Perhaps, but may I remind everyone that the year following the restoration there's the crash of 1929...not to mention Hitler's massive support, most of which he got after 1929...and at their height the SA had nearly 3 million men (not sure)...more than the Reichswehr (100,000) and the Freikorps, of which the strongest had about 500,000 at its peak...
And that's without considering the influential Social Democratic Party and the Communist revolutionaries...
Now lets say Hindenburg, the Junkers, the conservatives, the Military-Industrial Complex and the Right-Wing Freikorps support this, with the SPD, the KPD and the NSDAP opposing...
We either get a civil war or a left wing Nazi Revolution led by Rohm's SA...
Now, if we can get Crown Prince Wilhelm in front of a Harzburger front in 1932 instead of this idea...well, just sayin'...
And that's without considering the influential Social Democratic Party and the Communist revolutionaries...
Now lets say Hindenburg, the Junkers, the conservatives, the Military-Industrial Complex and the Right-Wing Freikorps support this, with the SPD, the KPD and the NSDAP opposing...
We either get a civil war or a left wing Nazi Revolution led by Rohm's SA...
Now, if we can get Crown Prince Wilhelm in front of a Harzburger front in 1932 instead of this idea...well, just sayin'...
maverick
Banned
No...they couldn't even agree on their policy towards Spain or Austria, much less unite against Communism...
The French and the Germans still hate each other; Spain is not gonna be a coherent part of Europe any time soon...
The British sure as hell don't wanna interfere with Continental affairs unless it directly involves them; Everyone in the Balkans and Eastern Europe hate each other and Italy...Italy competes with Britain for influence in the 1930s...
Wait to difficult...and without the Nazis, Europe is even more multipolarized...
And besides, after 1929, if the Nazis dont' take over then its either the Army, the Freikorps or the KPD...
The French and the Germans still hate each other; Spain is not gonna be a coherent part of Europe any time soon...
The British sure as hell don't wanna interfere with Continental affairs unless it directly involves them; Everyone in the Balkans and Eastern Europe hate each other and Italy...Italy competes with Britain for influence in the 1930s...
Wait to difficult...and without the Nazis, Europe is even more multipolarized...
And besides, after 1929, if the Nazis dont' take over then its either the Army, the Freikorps or the KPD...
With a Kaiser the the military would be loyal to him and it also might be a lot harder to form the SA. It is far more likely that with Louis Frederick as Kaiser the more moderate conservative parties such as the Catholic Center party might have been able to retain control of the Reichstag. In addition the Kaiser might very well have encouraged them to nomiate the former Bavarian Crown Prince for Chancellor.
Grey Wolf
Donor
A curious idea, the latter. One wonders whether it might have increased Bavarian secessionist feeling, or have resulted in blowing it all away and leaving Rupprecht at the mercy of the Kaiser. I just don't see him accepting, though. IMHO Max of Baden was a one-off, and wasn't heir to Baden by being son of the previous ruler IIRC but was nephew or some such. I don't think any other ruler/heir will be appointed Chancellor...
Best Regards
Grey Wolf
It is highly likely that Louis Frederick would have been a very popular Monarch and he would have had the total loyalty of the military. In addition with him in power it is quite possible that a lot of support for the Nazi party might not have developed. It was one thing to rail against th Weimar Republic but another to attack the monarch. Any attempt on the Kaiser's life could very well backfire bigtime on the Nazi Party. I still believe that Ruphert could be convinced to take the post of Chancellor to deal with the threat to the state.
It is highly likely that Louis Frederick would have been a very popular Monarch and he would have had the total loyalty of the military. In addition with him in power it is quite possible that a lot of support for the Nazi party might not have developed. It was one thing to rail against th Weimar Republic but another to attack the monarch. Any attempt on the Kaiser's life could very well backfire bigtime on the Nazi Party. I still believe that Ruphert could be convinced to take the post of Chancellor to deal with the threat to the state.
Kaiser Louis Frederick after meeting with members of several political paries has appointed the former Bavarian Crown Prince as the new Chancellor of Germany. Germany has begun a series of public works programs design to stimulate the economy and provide full employment. The new Kaiser has urged his relative the king of Great Britain to urge the British government to ease the war reparations.