I say it in jest, not frustration. I kinda had a laugh when I read the related comment.
Place In the Sun: What If Italy Joined the Central Powers? (1.0)
- Thread starter Kaiser Wilhelm the Tenth
- Start date
Why would that be a bad thing from a writer's standpoint? I know it wouldn't be good for the locals, but why don't you like it?
Edit: my apologies, hadn't seen your last comment!
I would assume so.
Then again, maybe I've been reading too much TL-191
It helps divide a possibly hostile British Sudan from a hostile French West Africa... but more importantly it looks good on a map
I can think of one, by controlling all of Chad, Mittelafrika borders Italian Libya, meaning the Germans can eventually build rail and road links up to Tripoli, avoiding the Suez and any potential future blockades of its colonies by France or Britain. (Assuming relations stay friendly.)
I'm not an expert on this, but aren't there practical problems with trying to build a rail link that goes right through the heart of the Sahara?
I'd imagine so.
If I had to guess, it would make more sense for the Germans to invest in the Congolese coast as the main trade/communications centre in Mittelafrika
Since when has practical concerns stopped colonial aspirations, the French considered a Tran-Saharan Railway to link their empire, the British have their Cape to Cairo plan, one can surmise that Mittelafrika would have its own ambitious (not to mention, expensive) Railway plan.
Needless to say, it will likely not be built, but without control of Chad it couldn't be built at all, hence, German Chad.
I suppose it's something to take into account. I've got an Africa chapter scheduled... we need to take a look at things there. This issue will go into my notes- thank you to everyone who mentioned it.
The best response possible!
Really glad you like it, glad to have you onboard! France has some... *interesting*... times ahead, but it'll rebound eventually...
So the British would keep South Africa and Rhodesia no matter what?Concerning Mittelafrika, i've noticed that in all drawn-out plans for it, it never seems to go any further north than Lake Chad
Any particular reason Germany took all of Chad ITTL?
Most definitely. And to be perfectly frank- the Germans had zero capacity to project power into southern Africa. If Berlin demanded Rhodesia, the British could laugh in their face.
The British signed what was more or less a white peace with the Germans, nothing worse.
I can see Germany initially treating Tchad/Chad the same way the French did when they had it - as a useless piece of desert that they wanted mostly for its geographical location more than anything else.
What could change things majorly is the discovery of oil in the area. As far as I can tell, Germany has no colonies in Africa with major oil reserves...except for chad. An oil rush in the region would add a nice impetus for a major railroad project via Italian controlled Tripoli. With a domestic oil industry based on Chad, Germany would gain a semblance of safety from possible hostile oil embargoes from Britain and the US.
What could change things majorly is the discovery of oil in the area. As far as I can tell, Germany has no colonies in Africa with major oil reserves...except for chad. An oil rush in the region would add a nice impetus for a major railroad project via Italian controlled Tripoli. With a domestic oil industry based on Chad, Germany would gain a semblance of safety from possible hostile oil embargoes from Britain and the US.
Was there a Boer rebellion during the war like there was IOTL?
Probably, seeing as it took place IOTL before the POD of this TL.
There was still a Boer rebellion, and it went more or less exactly as OTL. No butterflies could get there in time to change anything...
They'd probably just be repatriated to either Germany or Mittelafrika. If anything, I can see South Africa playing nice with Germany, and pushing the boundaries of their ability to conduct foreign affairs without sanction from London to cozy up to Berlin.
I have to agree. Sudwestafrika / Namibia is primarily desert and was never that attractive for European settlement. I'm sure some of the few German colonists in the region are not pleased with now being a part of South Africa, but they are so few in number that I don't see any chance for a meaningful resistance.
From the perspective of South Africa, I can see them treating the Germans in Namibia that choose to stay with velvet gloves. South Africa has always been generally pro white immigration and German and Dutch are sister languages. The Boers have obvious incentives to treat German settlers with kindness.
South Africa also has a fierce independent streak and getting into the good graces of a major industrial power like Germany to act a counterpoint to overbearing British dominance is a no brainer.
Remember that Britain just lost a major war. Even if the terms they had to pay were very lenient, the damage to their pride and image should not be understated. The war has perfectly illustrated just how limited and utterly worthless are many of their "promises" - just ask France. I can see South Africa flexing their diplomatic muscles and daring Britain to say something to the contrary.
If something major happens (like a full scale revolution in the British Raj) then all bets are off.