Deleted member 94680
I don't know that they would, but there seems to be a pretty widespread assumption on this forum that A/H would soon fall apart even if on the winning side. I was accepting it as a possibility.
Assumptions by many that “know” these things but have no sources to back up the claim. I urge you to read a good study on the Dual Monarchy and make your own assumptions. I believe that the Empire was wonderfully adaptive and the balm of victory could well soothe whatever ruptures the rigours of War have thrown up.
I meant major war with other great powers
Ah I see. Well, OTL would suggest 20 odd years with a weakening of attitudes towards keeping the losers down.
Would the Germans of Austria particularly want to be "independent and sovereign" if they no longer had an empire? They became so in 1919 only because the Entente insisted on it, and in this scenario the Entente is defeated and in no position to insist on anything.
I don’t know about the populace, but I can’t see the Emperor of Austria-Hungary subordinating himself to the Emperor of Germany. This is the problem that needs to be addressed.
I agree the Sozis may have reservations about incorporating Czechs and Slovenes, but I don't see why they should have any problem about Austria's Germans joining the Reich, if that was what the latter wished. A voluntary Anschluss would not be seen as "annexation". And quite a few German-Austrians did vote socialist, and would presumably continue to do so as German citizens. Most others would probably vote for the Zentrum.
See point above.