Inspired somewhat by this old Victoria 2 AAR, I was wondering what the plausibility and consequences of a successful, largely socialistic, revolution in the Rhineland during the 1848 Revolutions? Obviously the AAR isn't a very realistic account of 19th Century politics, and its main PoD, Weydemeyer defecting to the rebels along with the forces under his command, isn't likely to work given that he had already resigned from the Prussian army four years earlier, and even if he had stayed his well-known political views would have meant that he wouldn't have been promoted to a high enough position, or have been trusted to put down a radical uprising if he had been.
An alternative PoD might be to have the revolution in Belgium succeed. IOTL the revolutionaries in the Rhineland attempted to purchase arms from Belgium, but were blocked from doing so. With a more friendly government in power arms should be easier to come by, as well as the possibility for some sort of military alliance. With a better armed force, and a lot of luck, the revolutionaries might be able to win a decent battle against the Prussian army and advance into Westphalia. Then have an outside power (possibly France or Britain) throw their support behind the revolutionaries as part of a divide and rule foreign policy against Prussia. This then forces the Prussians to the table.
One consequence of a successful revolution in the Rhineland is that the revolution would likely be socialistic in nature. Unlike much of Germany at the time, which was still fairly agrarian, the Rhineland was fairly industrialised and proletarian. In addition many of those active in the revolution there were active socialists, such as Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels and August Willich. The more radical character of the revolution in the Rhineland was one of the main reasons that the bourgeoisie and petite-bourgeoisie began to turn against it.
I also imagine that the Rhenish revolutionaries would probably try to link up with the uprising in the neighbouring Palatine, possibly incorporating it into their republic.
The loss of the Rhineland province, and possibly part of Westphalia if the rebels manage to roll enough 6s, would be very damaging to Prussia, which could spell the beginning of a decline in their fortunes as the rising power in Germany.
An alternative PoD might be to have the revolution in Belgium succeed. IOTL the revolutionaries in the Rhineland attempted to purchase arms from Belgium, but were blocked from doing so. With a more friendly government in power arms should be easier to come by, as well as the possibility for some sort of military alliance. With a better armed force, and a lot of luck, the revolutionaries might be able to win a decent battle against the Prussian army and advance into Westphalia. Then have an outside power (possibly France or Britain) throw their support behind the revolutionaries as part of a divide and rule foreign policy against Prussia. This then forces the Prussians to the table.
One consequence of a successful revolution in the Rhineland is that the revolution would likely be socialistic in nature. Unlike much of Germany at the time, which was still fairly agrarian, the Rhineland was fairly industrialised and proletarian. In addition many of those active in the revolution there were active socialists, such as Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels and August Willich. The more radical character of the revolution in the Rhineland was one of the main reasons that the bourgeoisie and petite-bourgeoisie began to turn against it.
I also imagine that the Rhenish revolutionaries would probably try to link up with the uprising in the neighbouring Palatine, possibly incorporating it into their republic.
The loss of the Rhineland province, and possibly part of Westphalia if the rebels manage to roll enough 6s, would be very damaging to Prussia, which could spell the beginning of a decline in their fortunes as the rising power in Germany.
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