Netherlands in WWI...

We all know the Schiefflin Plan was more or less Germany's contigiency plan if war broke out between them and France/Russia, but what they did was execute a modified version of, the original called for an invasion of the Netherlands...however, it was called off as being "too risky" in angering too many neutral countries...so, what is it that is stoping (or what kind of a PoD would be needed to get) Germany to forming some kind of agreement with the Netherlands to help with the Invasion of Belgium, they offer Holland Belguim's colonies, some border areas, they could also give Luxemburg some border areas as well, it would seem excessive to offer all of the Flanders but who knows?
 

HJ Tulp

Donor
We all know the Schiefflin Plan was more or less Germany's contigiency plan if war broke out between them and France/Russia, but what they did was execute a modified version of, the original called for an invasion of the Netherlands...however, it was called off as being "too risky" in angering too many neutral countries...so, what is it that is stoping (or what kind of a PoD would be needed to get) Germany to forming some kind of agreement with the Netherlands to help with the Invasion of Belgium, they offer Holland Belguim's colonies, some border areas, they could also give Luxemburg some border areas as well, it would seem excessive to offer all of the Flanders but who knows?

Politicians don't play Hearts of Iron. The Netherlands didn't want parts of Belgium or their colonies. Not if it meant going to war. The Netherlands just wanted to be neutral. For the Netherlands to get into WWI you need a different POD. Maybe one in which the Allies attack the Netherlands though I can't fathom why.
 
Politicians don't play Hearts of Iron. The Netherlands didn't want parts of Belgium or their colonies. Not if it meant going to war. The Netherlands just wanted to be neutral. For the Netherlands to get into WWI you need a different POD. Maybe one in which the Allies attack the Netherlands though I can't fathom why.

did you not know that the way the british acted towards the Netherlands was as if we, the dutch, were at war with them?
 
The Netherlands didn't want parts of Belgium or their colonies. Not if it meant going to war.

I am not even sure if the Dutch would have wanted all of Flanders anyway. That much catholics would completely shake up the political balance that had been created at that time. The protestant faction would be margianalized.
 
I am not even sure if the Dutch would have wanted all of Flanders anyway. That much catholics would completely shake up the political balance that had been created at that time. The protestant faction would be margianalized.

True we wouldn't have wanted Flanders but the Netherlands could have been swayed either side easilly, though to the CP seems most likely, Wilhelmina is said to have been rather fed up with the Allies.
 

HJ Tulp

Donor
did you not know that the way the british acted towards the Netherlands was as if we, the dutch, were at war with them?

which happened several times, several cities in zeeland were attacked by the entente (like Goes and Zierikzee)

They did and it did not put the Netherlands on the German side. If the Allies would really make preparations to invade or declare war the Netherlands will almost certainly give in to their demands. Better that then losing the colonies and become part of the slaughterhouse that is the Western Front.

I am not even sure if the Dutch would have wanted all of Flanders anyway. That much catholics would completely shake up the political balance that had been created at that time. The protestant faction would be margianalized.

You are totally right ofcourse. Then again if a Netherlands at peace would have been offered Flanders without any demands crazy things could happen. No way such a thing is going to happen ofcourse.
 
True we wouldn't have wanted Flanders but the Netherlands could have been swayed either side easilly, though to the CP seems most likely, Wilhelmina is said to have been rather fed up with the Allies.
Popular opinion in general was rather anti-British because of the Boer wars.

Wilhelmina and Wilhelm II weren't exactly on friendly terms either; something to do with a distantly related Hohenzollern widow to a Dutch Prince not getting her inheritance and whatnot. Didn't stop them from giving eachother all sorts of knightly titles (including the Dutch equivalent of the Victoria Cross) and of course, the whole exile thing; traditional (family) ties came before feuds, and they were both very traditional, proud people.
 
... the Dutch equivalent of the Victoria Cross...

Wilhelm was made a Knight Grand Cross of the Military William Order. The MWO is the Netherlands' highest award for bravery, and KGC is the highest rank in the MVO (except for the Grand Master, who is the sovereign of the Netherlands).

But it is not equivalent to the VC, as it is has also been awarded many times to VIPs as a gesture of respect or friendship.

For instance, the KGC-MVO was given to Franklin Roosevelt, Haile Selassie, King George IV of Britain, King George VI of Britain, Emperer Franz Josef of Austria, King Charles X of France, and Tsars Alexander I, Alexander II, Alexander III, and Nicholas I.

The award to Wilhelm was comparable to his receipt of the British Order of the Garter.
 

Cook

Banned
Technically the Netherlands should have joined the Entente powers fighting against Germany; they were a signatory of the Treaty of London guaranteeing Belgian neutrality. To do so would have been to commit national suicide though, as would joining the Germans; a German victory presents the very obvious risk of the Netherlands being reduced to a province of the German Reich.
 
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HJ Tulp

Donor
Technically the Netherlands should have joined the Entente powers fighting against Germany; they were a signatory of the Treaty of London guaranteeing Belgian neutrality. To do so would have been to commit national suicide though, as would joining the Germans; a German victory presents the very obvious risk of the Netherlands being reduced to a province of the German Reich.

The Netherlands was also technically guarenteeing the neutrality of Luxembourg which was kept silent in the Dutch press after a plea from Wilhelmina.
 
During the psring offensice in 1917 many tought the Holland would invaded too by the Germans. Many politicians suggested to immedeatly surrender. Many Dutch were in favor of this too, not because they were that pro-German, but more Anti-War. In that postion it would have been easier for the Dutch to negotiate.
 
Wilhelm was made a Knight Grand Cross of the Military William Order. The MWO is the Netherlands' highest award for bravery, and KGC is the highest rank in the MVO (except for the Grand Master, who is the sovereign of the Netherlands).

But it is not equivalent to the VC, as it is has also been awarded many times to VIPs as a gesture of respect or friendship.

For instance, the KGC-MVO was given to Franklin Roosevelt, Haile Selassie, King George IV of Britain, King George VI of Britain, Emperer Franz Josef of Austria, King Charles X of France, and Tsars Alexander I, Alexander II, Alexander III, and Nicholas I.

The award to Wilhelm was comparable to his receipt of the British Order of the Garter.
Sorry for oversimplifying things (that, and being a bit ignorant). :eek: Mind you, doing a bit of research, Wilhelm II was the least such VIP to get the MWO for non-military reasons.
 
The Netherlands was in no way in shape to wage war. It would have been an economic, strategic and logistical disaster.
 
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