I am planning a real different German unification (well not really a unification). My idea was that during the 40's revolts Prussia conquers a lot of those tiny German states, who will try to form republics. In the end Prussia controls most of Germany, with the exception of Bavaria and Austria. World War I (or that timelines variant of it) will be Prussia trying to add Bavaria to its territory. France, who is Bavaria's ally declares war on Prussia and the war is started. Prussia decides to attack France through the Netherlands, so he can also add Luxembourg and East-Frisia.
Searching for a good POD
- Thread starter pompejus
- Start date
I am planning a real different German unification (well not really a unification). My idea was that during the 40's revolts Prussia conquers a lot of those tiny German states, who will try to form republics. In the end Prussia controls most of Germany, with the exception of Bavaria and Austria. World War I (or that timelines variant of it) will be Prussia trying to add Bavaria to its territory. France, who is Bavaria's ally declares war on Prussia and the war is started. Prussia decides to attack France through the Netherlands, so he can also add Luxembourg and East-Frisia.
The problem is that the Dutch don't have anything as important as Ceylon they'd be willing to trade (especially if they have to keep Malaya)...
They did keep Malaya OTL, I believe. At least Malacca was returned to them. They only lost Malacca during a deal with the British in 1824 when they traded it (together with various Indian colonies) for a british colony on sumatra.
I know that...
Re-reading the first post, it says "Preferably also Ceylon"...
That means that they don't have to have it... which would be dificult in any case, since the Dutch would have to cede at least one colony (or a part of one) to the British if they were going to keep the former Austrian Netherlands.
The British were originally going to return all of the Dutch colonies that they occupied, before the whole Austrian Netherlands thing came up (in which Austria got Venice, Istria and Dalmatia in exchange for the Netherlands getting the Austrian Netherlands, and Britain geting the Cape...)
The only PoDs I can think of for the Netherlands getting *Belgium and Luxemburg as well as all those colonies are before the late 18th centuary... Something else has to be done...
Realy? I didn't kown that. I would say that makes it easier. That would prove that Britain is willing to return the colonies. Now we only need a good reason for the British to allow a unification of the Netherlands. Also Austria is clearly willing to exchange the southern Netherlands for something closer to home. Also the Netherlands have in theory a good claim for the southern Netherlands. The only thing we need is a Britain who is so grateful for something the Netherlands (or its ruler) has done that they are willing to allow a bigger Netherlands.
I think that a Louis Napoleon Bonaparte, who was a clear English ally and instrumental for the defeat of his brother could work. (Assuming Louis Napoleon would be willing to betray his brother and the British won't mind a Bonaparte to rule a country).
There's one problem with that, though - the British "Balance of Power" theory... If one country had to gain something, it was only by trading something else for it... Otherwise Britain would have just given everything back anyway.
Not so sure about this.