Replacing Kaiser Wilhelm?

oberdada

Gone Fishin'
Yea, it does. It would also allow for one to just remove the negative effects of the the Kaiser on the leadup to WW1. In most POD, we have as much impact from the replacement, but with a disabled Kaiser, Germany will limp to war based on consensus German decision making. I have a sneaking suspicion that most German leaders would have support their long-term ally in war over an assassination of the crown prince.

Depends on the timing really.
If the Kaiser falls into a Coma in August '14 the German leaders might as well tell Austria to accept Serbia agreement to almost all of the terms after the assassination.
A bit like the Soviets to north Korea after Stalin's death to cease fighting.
Something like:
Sorry, we got bigger problems at the momemt.
The Kaiser was quite important as a figurehead to really behind ...
 
How long person was able to be on coma with early 20th century medicine? Wouldn't he dehyrdate pretty soon?
 

BlondieBC

Banned
Depends on the timing really.
If the Kaiser falls into a Coma in August '14 the German leaders might as well tell Austria to accept Serbia agreement to almost all of the terms after the assassination.
A bit like the Soviets to north Korea after Stalin's death to cease fighting.
Something like:
Sorry, we got bigger problems at the momemt.
The Kaiser was quite important as a figurehead to really behind ...

That is actually a really, really great ATL. Since Russia started mobilizing 4 hours BEFORE A-H received the reply, we have a situation where Russia starts the war after the Austrians back down. Really fascinating French/German/British politics and diplomacy.
 
"Kaiser in a Coma" sounds like a great tittle for a TL

Depends on the timing really.
If the Kaiser falls into a Coma in August '14 the German leaders might as well tell Austria to accept Serbia agreement to almost all of the terms after the assassination.
A bit like the Soviets to north Korea after Stalin's death to cease fighting.
Something like:
Sorry, we got bigger problems at the momemt.
The Kaiser was quite important as a figurehead to really behind ...
sounds interesting.
How long person was able to be on coma with early 20th century medicine? Wouldn't he dehyrdate pretty soon?
You don't need a full coma, a heavy stroke could leave him unable to communicate, but able to survive a long time.
 
You don't need a full coma, a heavy stroke could leave him unable to communicate, but able to survive a long time.

In either case I suppose the Crown Prince would be named regent during his father's incapacity. There have to have been plans in place for this eventuality.
 
Depends on the timing really.
If the Kaiser falls into a Coma in August '14 the German leaders might as well tell Austria to accept Serbia agreement to almost all of the terms after the assassination.
A bit like the Soviets to north Korea after Stalin's death to cease fighting.
Something like:
Sorry, we got bigger problems at the momemt.
The Kaiser was quite important as a figurehead to really behind ...
They weren't going to tell AH to back down they wanted a war with russia, hell it was Wilhelm that thought the otl Serbian reply was good enough and figured no war would take place because of it.
 

NoMommsen

Donor
How long person was able to be on coma with early 20th century medicine? Wouldn't he dehyrdate pretty soon?
Depends on the depthness of the coma and what parts of the brain are affected by ... whatever illness or injury you choose.

As long as the brain-stem and the ... "deeper" parts of the brain are not affected/knocked out, the swallowing reflexes still work and he can be fed by hand as well as given to drink.

However, the use of intravenous therapie, application od medcine and liquids was already known and used since the 2nd half of the 19th century, though not very widely.
 
Willhelm II's father, Kaiser Frederick III, died of throat cancer at a relatively young age. If Frederick had survived, he would have been 83 in 1914 (Wilhelm II lived to the age of 82, and Frederick's father Wilhelm I lived to the age of 90). There are several plausible PODs that could have lead to Frederick surviving: he never develops cancer, he opts for surgery when the cancer is first diagnosed instead of getting and relying on a second opinion which misdiagnosed the cancer as infection, or the second opinion confirms the original correct diagnosis.
 

CaliGuy

Banned
That is actually a really, really great ATL. Since Russia started mobilizing 4 hours BEFORE A-H received the reply, we have a situation where Russia starts the war after the Austrians back down. Really fascinating French/German/British politics and diplomacy.
Would mobilization on Russia's part automatically mean war in this TL? After all, launching a war against a country which just backed down is going to look very, very bad.
 
Maniakes has identified the most probable and easiest to manage scenario. If the the death of Frederick could have been prevented (or if he had not become ill) and was therefore stronger it's likely that Crown Prince Wilhelm would not have had such a free run at the administration - for example, Frederick would not have allowed Bismarck to authorise Wilhelm to effectively act as Regent. If Frederick did live as long as his father and grandfather then it's even possible that some of Wilhelm's dubious personal life practices could have seen him off before his father.
 

BlondieBC

Banned
Would mobilization on Russia's part automatically mean war in this TL? After all, launching a war against a country which just backed down is going to look very, very bad.

Generally speaking, mobilization was considered the point of no return. The problem is that once you start mobilizing, cancelling it would create logistical chaos. And in this period of chaos, it would be a great time for your enemy to mobilize and catch you at your weakness. And presumably, if you order a mobilization, the other guy is a hated enemy.

There are also issues like mobilizing most of the men from 20-40 cause a huge disruption of your agricultural and industrial base.

While nothing is certain, IMO, OFFENSIVE mobilizations are irreversible. And that a great war was inevitable in Europe a few hours before the reply to the ultimatum was received. Now a defensive mobilization such as Turkey had can be reversed, but that is not what A-H, Russia, France, or Germany had.
 
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