Screw Germany

With a POD after 1815 have it so that by 1900 German speaking nations (not just Prussia or Austria) are in the worst possible position (size of territory, economically, even perhaps population), please be willing to back this up with intelligent arguments, no ASB. Thank you :D.

You need a French-Russian alliance prior to German unification 1866/1870.

1) no French involvement in Crimean war 1854

2) Prussia and Austria support Britain vs. Russia in 1854 to some extent

==> Russia is hostile towards both Austria AND Prussia

3) 1864 during the Danish-German war, both Russia and France intervene and carve up large parts of "Germany" and utterly destroy/disintegrate the two potential threats (Austrian Empire and Prussia).

==> results:

a) Russia and France are the unchallenged rulers of Europe
b) several small German states, partly independet, partly French/Russian puppets; later industrialisation, much more emigration to North and South America, any attempts of "unification" are prevented by French/Russian intervention later on
 
Have France get its act together before the Franco Prussian war. Have its leadership become competent, its equipment in place, and its soldiers somewhat better trainer.

And in the process, eliminate the Franco-Prussian war as we know it.

If you change France dramatically enough for - for example - mitrailleuse to be more widely used and the army prepared to use it to best effect, this is going to be difficult to keep secret enough for the Prussians not to find out and weigh when calculating "France as an enemy" scenarios.

And that's just one component of one of the three things you mentioned.
 
1945: The allied powers decide to make former Germany and Austria into colonies/territories/integrate them into their own lands, rather than restore them as nations.
 
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