The German Century
- Thread starter Joriz Castillo
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And while I bet the same was true before Alaska or Hawai became US-States they still became US-States. Because even if the US Congress likes the status quo, they can't deny that any US-territory has the constitutional right to become a State in the US.
Nearly a million, but less. The number is more than 800K.
Well, the French won't literally run out of men. They could lower the conscription age and you'll start seeing 16-19-year-old teenage boys in the trenches. Oh wait, they will.
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Washington D.C. is the exception and it's territory was donated by Maryland and Virginia (and in the case that it would no longer be a Territory it's Lands would go back to the donating States) under the Residence Act.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington,_D.C.
Point is, you seem to be assuming that the 20th century U.S. is a colour blind society that doesn't move its goalposts. Guam, American Samoa and the Virgin Islands are most definitely not part of Maryland or Virginia.
See, due to a mixture of politics and racial prejudice, the Insular Cases ruled that only incorporated territories can get statehood, which Alaska and/or Hawaii may not have in TTL. Even in OTL, with incorporated status, there was opposition on the mainland against statehood: WASPies were scared of Communist infiltration, or opening the door to statehood for the Philippines, or having senators named "Moto," or ones that supported Civil Rights legislation, or any number of BS reasons. At least Baja is contiguous to the lower 48.
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The Domino Effect Part 3: A Venetian Nightmare
The Domino Effect Part 3: A Venetian Nightmare
The failure of the May Day Offensive could not have been any worse. The huge number of casualties inflicted on the British led several units of the BEF to do the unthinkable; they mutinied.
Taking inspiration from their French counterparts, several British & Commonwealth units refused to conduct any more attacks but promised to defend their positions. Surprisingly, the British treated the mutiny more delicately, unlike the French. Sir Douglas Haig acquiesced to some of their demands while still punishing the ringleaders. Very few were executed while the rest were given prison sentences to maintain morale and discipline.
On the French side, the bad blood between the Rank & File and their officers only got much worse. This was, in their minds, a repeat of the Nivelle Offensive but just 5 times worse. While they tried to hide their expressions under the fear of getting court-martialed, most French soldiers began having a burning hatred against their officers for leading them into the suicidal charges and not giving one single damn about their men.
And for the Germans, the Hindenburg line had saved them from being pushed out of France entirely and possibly into Belgium. They had inflicted so many casualties that they believed the Entente would simply give up fighting and negotiate. Although this didn't materialize immediately after, it boosted German morale as it made them believe the end was in sight.
This became more pronounced as Italy would become the next nation in the Allied camp to suffer a terrible fate.
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On June 30, the Austrians launched Operation Radetzky. Using the new infiltration tactics that were experimented in Greece, they manage to cross the Piave river and capture Monte Grappa. Fearing that his line was about to break, Armando Diaz ordered a general retreat. But in the confusion and chaos, a huge chunk of the army became trapped in Venice. With little few men to hold the front line, the Austrians advanced much farther than usual.
At lightning speed, they reached the Po River in mid-July. But the nightmare doesn’t end there for the Italians, as German stormtroopers crossed the river and punched a hole in the weak defenses. With another blow, the Austro- German army was soon moving towards Bologna and Ravenna.
Meanwhile, the Italian army was being besieged in the small island city of Venice. While they managed to blow up the railway line connecting the city to the mainland, they were helpless against the artillery shells that were falling all over the city areas. To make matters worse, the Austro-Hungarian and German fleets went into action and sailed towards Venice. Once they arrived, the ships began raining hell down on the city relentlessly day & night. The city residents had to endure all this while having no defenses of their own.
An Austrian illustrated postcard showing the K.u.K navy bombarding Venice with an airship flying above the city
The aftermath of an artillery bombardment on Venice, July 1918
While all of this was taking place, the government in Rome was thrown in absolute chaos. The utter mishandling of the war effort and the disaster unfolding up north caused a huge rupture in the Italian parliament. Many MPs were angered that such a situation could happen on home soil and demanded a no-confidence vote. To top it all off, there were strikes orchestrated by the socialist trade unions agitating against the government.
Vittorio Orlando, despite the chaos all unfolding around him, still thought he could survive this in some way or another. That was until a telegram reached his office on July 30. In it were the words that made his face pale and his heart skip a beat:
Venice has fallen. The trapped army has surrendered and white flags are flying everywhere.
With Venice gone, the whole war seemed unwinnable to everyone. On August 1st, a no-confidence had succeeded and Orlando’s government resigned. The Italian king appointed Giovanni Giolitti to form a government and make peace with the Central Powers. On August 4, an Italian delegation was sent to Venice to negotiate with the Austrians for an armistice. After a few days of negotiations, an agreement was signed on August 7 and an armistice was declared on the same day. All fighting had ceased and Italy was out of the war. There were now just 2 nations left who were still fighting.
In London and probably in Paris too begin to be much of pressure get this slaughtering to end with way or another. Brits might be more rational find peace with Germany when them have not anything what they could lost. But French seems bit more stubborn.
Whatever, this time war is going end by Christmas.
This:
The British will stick to their guns, so no separate peace.
When has that ever happened in history?
Brits might have to had over a few colonies, but that's about it
Nope by now its all over but the crying and the slowly destroying of Entente mebers continues that allone will get there casualeties up even higher, Not to forgett less Neutral support for the British and French translates in problems both at the front and home as the civilians get hungry Industry grounds to a halt and so on.
Depending on what the Peace conditions for the Italiens are, for example handing over their Dreadnoughts to Austria or Germany, the French and British might have to deploy more of their (Naval-)forces to the Med.
I know that was a typo, but still I'd love to see pictures of that!
Every war in history ended before some Christmas.
I mean, statistically speaking it has to have happened at *some* point...?
Clowns yes There Will be a army of french clowns marching in Paris soon.
Oh no, watch out, French Mimes!!!!! They will be armed with invisible walls an chainsaws.
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