Possible POD to create a warlike Scandinavians in 20th century?

So, in most timeline I've read, the Scandinavian countries in 20th century very rarely involve themselves at war unless they're invaded, and they never seems to be aggressive.

But still, after some discussions, most said that to have an aggressive scandinavians, we need pre20th Century POD(s).

And well? What could bring modern viking raiders back then?

Note : Scandinavian countries in personal union with German/France/Britain/Russia/any non scandinavian nation didn't count. But union/annexation by another scandinavian countries count.

Could be Denmark, Norway, Sweden, or even Finland...
 
Well, maybe get rid of Peter the Great, or have Christian defeat him in the Swedish-Russian wars. This keeps Sweden as a major player and, if it cane unite tye rest of Scandinavia would make it a force to be dealt with in European affairs. It doesnt have the popopulation to really take on a Germany or a Britain, of course, but it wouldn't ne onw to sneeze at either.
 
You need to, one way or another, make them relevant populationwise to have them stay aggessive (or prehaps rather, stop others from beating them down to they start being less so) ... as for how exactly to do this is wide open.

Succesful North Sea Empire, re-unification (or lack of collapse) of Kalmar Union. much stronger Swedish empire doing 18th century with much fewer critical failures (and/or fewer huge successes so they don't get a huge coalition going at 'em). Less humilation conga for the Danish from 1600 onwards (ie. no losing Scania in 1648, no losing fleet in 1811, no losing norway in 1814, no losing Schleswig, Holstein, Lauenburg in 1864) are all viable Pods, and there's sure to be quite a few more to take a bite at

As long as you manage to get enough argicultural land under them to feed a population of ~ 10 million by 1850s, and actually have that population, you should be good to go as a second tier power in Europe.
 

Driftless

Donor
North Atlantic ports for Sweden?

IF Sweden siezed control of Norway's northernmost counties of: Finnmark, Troms, or even Nordland; that would give them ports on the Atlantic, such as Narvik, Bodo, Tromso & others. Would that help their strategic situation? Or does that really need development of Railroads to capitalize on their access?
 
A major problem is that Scandinavia has low population and can't afford the many losses that modern wars creates. When wars were more boutique cabinet affairs with smaller forces, a country like Sweden could fights wars with limited casualties.

That worked when Sweden became temporarily dominant because of the military revolution that allowed a small, but disciplined army defeat larger rivals. However, as others adopted, Sweden became less able to defeat them and required larger armies if they were to handle a country like Russia.

At some point, that qualitative edge can no longer make up for a smaller population base. Which means you need to throw men into the grinder which the Scandinavian countries don't have.

I think the only way it could happens is if 1) the rest of Europe is divided into similarly small states, and 2) because of tradition, economics, or technology, Scandinavia could retain a dominance in military force over its rivals. Neither are very likely.
 
IF Sweden siezed control of Norway's northernmost counties of: Finnmark, Troms, or even Nordland; that would give them ports on the Atlantic, such as Narvik, Bodo, Tromso & others. Would that help their strategic situation? Or does that really need development of Railroads to capitalize on their access?

wouldn't really help all that much since are logistics over the scandinavian mountains are quite painful before railroads. While mountains stop being a problem when you get to Finnmark, that in itself have a whole other collection of issues, mainly the fact that its deep in the actics, with very poor timber to supply shipyards, and being stuffed in the freezer several months each year being nigh impossible to get anywhere with ships
 
Top