Stomach Pains (CP Victory TL)

This is my first attempt at a timeline, so please feel free to flame my n00b ass, for those who may not be interested this is a timeline where British involvement in the Great war is limited, negligible or non-existent (depends on what I feel after I get feedback), which in turn delays or excludes the USA so leading to a victory by the central powers.

If there is not anything seriously wrong with this it is purely by chance and no doubt it will require a great deal of expansion.

Yes I need a better title.

Stomach Pains, Part: 1

On June 27th 1902, his Royal and Imperial Majesty Edward VII, King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of the dominions beyond the sea, Emperor of India dies as the result of a burst appendix and is succeeded by his son George V. The sudden passing of Edward VII is a heavy burden for the British, so soon after the demise of Queen Victoria and just a day after the originally scheduled date of his coronation.

Edward VII, often presented as a debauched and ridiculous figure in the French media is further defamed by allegations that his death was brought on by a venereal condition and other sordid suggestions. The British ambassador in Paris demands that these newspapers are brought to heel, the French government is reluctant to do so and a bitter row ensures very much poisoning the relationship between the two countries.

June 1903 shortly after his coronation, King George V makes his first state visit to his cousin Kaiser Wilhelm II. Though the two men are not natural friends and though several points of tension exist between the two countries, the visit is intended very much as a reciprocation for the support the Kaiser gave during the passing of both Queen Victoria and Edward VII as well as to reinforce familial ties.

Despite the Kaiser’s normally heavy handed approach to diplomacy the visit goes surprisingly well, and a period of improved relations is enjoyed between the two countries.

On April 8th 1904 Britain and Germany sign an ‘entente’. Though widely condemned in Paris, and praised in Berlin as an ‘alliance’ the truth is that the entente merely represents a desire to maintain good Anglo-German relations as opposed to any actual solid agreement. The entente contains numerous possibly insecure declarations of amity and friendship as well as a vaguely written ‘understanding’ that Germany is to keep naval expansion commensurate with external threats. London takes this to mean that Germany is to maintain naval parity with France, the Kaiser takes this to mean that Britain fears the future German navy and that he build up as he sees fit. A warm relationship has been established between Britain and Germany, albeit one that is built on a shaky foundation. Anglo-French relations continue to cool.

In 1905 France is ‘caught’ trying to establish a protectorate over Morocco and is challenged by Germany. Finding herself without British support, she quickly concedes the point and at the subsequent Algeciras Conference the Great Powers recognise Moroccan independence. The incident underlines French isolation and vulnerability and causes a serious political fall out in Paris leading to resignations and street riots. In Germany the popularity of the Kaiser and the Chancellor soars, meanwhile Britain convinces herself that she was somehow responsible for diffusing the crisis.

In 1907 a number of officers and opposition MP’s petition King George V to intervene against the controversial Army reforms of Richard Haldane the Secretary of War. Haldane’s plans include the creation of a Territorial Army, to augment the small Regular Army in the event of a major war. The King already a naval man is more than impressed by the recent emergence of the powerful and expensive Dreadnoughts and in any case talk of a major European war seems increasingly far-fetched. After many consultations between the King, Prime Minister Campbell-Bannerman and subsequently Asquith the proposed reforms are shelved and Haldane resigns in protest.

In the wake of the Bosnian crisis, vague doubts regarding relations with Germany and growing relations between Britain and Russia a watered down version of Haldane’s proposals is resurrected and passed in the form of the “Army Reserve Act, 1909”. This act merely allows for a small expansion of militia forces, does not reorganise their leadership and due to the political wranglings and the reticence of the Regular Army does not come into force until 1911.

The Balkan wars pass without provoking a war amongst the great powers but by 1914 small cracks have appeared in the foundation of the European peace. Despite the Anglo-German entente of 1904 it is clear that Germany has a navy far advanced of what it ‘legitimately’ needs for parity with France but the general consensus is that Europe is at peace and will be so for many years to come.
 
interesting idea...Germany wasn't likely to give up on their massive fleet buildup without serious concessions that Britiain wasn't likely to give... there had been a cold war going on between those two countries since 1872 that went far beyond their monarchs liking or not liking each other.

German hedgemoney on the continent isn't in British interests... I could see them getting pissed off at the French for various reasons but not necessarily supporting the Germans over them.

Britain as a benevolent neutral is an interesting tl idea though keep it comming
 
Thanks, I am trying to balance mine, and the contempary desire for peace between the two countries with political realism and the Kaiser's incompetent diplomacy.
 
I'm interested. So far plausible. I'm curious how a post-war will look, as GB will not want total German domination of the continent, "entente" or not.
 
PS: I have just realised that I need to work out the repercussions of the 1909/1910 constitutional crisis and events in Ireland. Not having the disruption of King Edward VII's death in 1910 does have consequences that may actually be quite useful for me!
 

yourworstnightmare

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Figuring out a plausible Central Powers victory scenario usually give me stomach pain too. Getting rid of the British seems to be a good idea though. Will see if you can get it plausible.
 
Amendment to Part: 1

In 1909 the Liberal Government attempts to pass what becomes known as ‘the peoples budget’, a progressive piece of legislation it incurs the ire of the conservatives by the creation of a land tax. The budget is vetoed by the house of Lords, however this is the first time since the 17th century that the Lords had contested the common’s control of finances. In revenge Asquith calls for a new election, with the central pledge of his manifesto to be the curtailing of the power of the Lords. The Liberals fail to gain a majority on their own, but instead form a coalition Government with Labour and the Irish Nationalists. The latter joining the coalition because the veto of the Lords is considered to be the main obstacle to Irish home rule.

Though the Lords subsequently accept the budget, sans the land tax, the damage has already been done and Asquith attempts to put through his proposed ‘Parliament Act 1911’. King George V, though entertaining many liberal notions has been influenced by his more authoritarian German cousin. He is also committed against Irish home rule. He avoids the pressure imposed on him by the Prime Minister to create more liberal peers to ensure the passage of the bill, but otherwise remains neutral.

The Monarch's resistance removes the one bargaining chip Asquith holds over the Lords and the bill is decisively defeated. The political fall out sees nationalist violence in Ireland, whilst in Britain the trade unions strike.

The Irish Nationalists angered at the failure of Asquith withdraw their support for his Government, which actually holds onto power for several months due to the reluctance of the now very unpopular Conservatives to fight what will likely be a bad election for them. However without a majority in Parliament the inevitable occurs and an election is called. The 1912 election sees a sizable gain by the Liberal and Labour parties which form a coalition government. Political satire rises to new heights in the light of three elections in two years and the bitter political disputes. An increasingly progressive Commons finds itself opposed by an increasingly reactionary Lords, with an awkward Monarch variously siding or even mediating between them.

Irish resentment simmers, and 1913, just after a failed attempt on the life of the King comes the ‘Easter rising’ were armed Irish nationalists seize key buildings in Dublin and other cities and proclaim an independent Irish republic. The revolt is put down after a month, but has led to the deaths of nearly a thousand British soldiers and the increased garrisons in Ireland, combined with the drop in recruitment from the southern Irish causes severe manpower problems in the British army.
 
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Now, should I try to provide details for the War, or simply summarise and jump ahead?
Is the war going to be drawn out like OTL, or a quickie? Because you cant really summarise something akin to our WWI by saying "there was a war", but you could if it was something short and fast.
 
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