The Rational German Militarist

In the aftermath of the Great War, it’s quite understandable that German nationalism and militarism would surge after the humiliation of Versailles. In OTL, Adolph Hitler rode this to power, with catastrophic results.

I’ve been thinking—what would happen if we had a rational German militarist scheming for power and taking it successfully. He’s got the same charisma as Hitler, but he’s also more sane. He doesn’t care about destroying the Jews, or any other specific group. They are Germans, after all—and throwing away the resources of any part of Germany would be stupid. (He’s rational about how he achieves his goals—restoring Germany—I’m not saying that his goal is necessarily rational.)

This man is cold blooded and calculating, willing to take some time, and has assembled a competent bunch of associates. He can give one heck of a speech, and knows how to rally a crowd.

He doesn’t necessarily want a war, but has no hesitation about entering one if the odds are right. His goal is simple: The reestablishment of Germany as a great power in the world, and the reclamation of the 1914 borders. The colonies are of no importance; they were a burden in any event.

The program need not be one big grab; if he can get German Poland back one year, or Elas-Lothringien back another, he’ll cheerfully take a partial victory now, and more later.

He’s not especially interested in non-German lands, but won’t hesitate to unite areas that are culturally German. Austria might be a logical goal for peaceful unification.

It’s more important to insure that the new empire will last than to get it quickly. And, he can see that even a crushing defeat need not be permanent—so he doesn’t want France or Britain humiliated to the point where revenge will become part of the national psyche, ready to strike back when the time is right.
 
If he really does that, hwe can make Germany into a Central European hegemon with an anti-Soviet alliance system and global economic reach. Thew Western allies weren't terribly fazed by Germanmy recovering the territory lost at Versailles. OK, Alsace-Lorraine would be a vastly different story, but a rational man surely would see that. Play his cards right and he could vassalise Czechoslovakia and Poland, get the Sudetenland and Danzig, maybe even Silesia.

He could do it with less military power, too. Thus without bankruipting his country and therefore without forcing himself into a war of conquest.

But rationality is one of those things. It doesn't sell well in politics, especially early twentieth century Central Europe. I can't quite see it happen. If that was what the Germans *wanted*, they could have stuck with the democratic parties.
 
The problem is that traditional Second Reich militarism was delegitimised by the Kapp-Putsch were it was shown that it was unable to defeat socialism, this is why I think that the oft proposed scenario of conservatives taking power and restoring the Empire is very unlikely.
 
Militarist--if necessary

By "Militarist," I wasn't meaning someone that wants a war, but someone that won't hesitate to go to war if that's what the situation calls for; he things a good war is much better than a bad peace. Compromise is possible--and desirable--if it gets him what he wants.

Regarding sticking with democratic parties, Germany is vulnerable to takeover by the right person, IMVHO, so I'm just supposing that the one that takes over is more rational in his methodology after he has control.

Elas-Lothringien is a sticky point--but it's also part of Germany in his mind, so regaining it is part of his long term goal--though he might be able to be persuaded otherwise.
 
Shouldn't this be in post-1900? Oh well, screw the bureaucracy:
If someone like Hitler was going to take power it would either be in a military coup in 1918 or a rebellion/royla restoration in 1919 when hyperinflation began getting bad. I reckon that's the time when there was popular demand for strong leadership without fear of foreigners/communism/capitalism. Maybe an ultra-capitalist state? Randism?
 
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