I'd sooner expect such a Germany to fight the Danes (over Schleswig), or Belgians (over Eupen and Malmedy) than the French (over A-L).
The Red Baron, the German Chancelor
- Thread starter talonbear01
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I'd sooner expect such a Germany to fight the Danes (over Schleswig), or Belgians (over Eupen and Malmedy) than the French (over A-L).
Certainly getting those territories back would not be nearly so difficult of a fight, and Lithuania ceeded Memel without a fight to Hitler in 1939; I could see Denmark possibly ceeding without a fight as well as the Danes would have to know how badly they were outmatched. However, Eupen-Malmedy and Schleswig are fairly small and not particularly important, whereas regaining Alsace-Lorraine would probably be a major goal of any nationalist regime, as doing so would serve as a symbolic erasure of German defeat in World War I in a way that other territories would not.
Luxembourg is probably also a target for German expansion; possibly the Germans could demand Belgian Luxembourg, restoring the pre-1839 borders.
If Germany goes militarily for A-L, it will fight Belgium too, and seek one or both Luxembourgs.
Probably so; I doubt the Germans would have tried to punch through the Maginot Line rather than bypassing it by invading Belgium and Luxemburg again.
The question is, could this happen without war with Britain as well?
Probably not, but with an old-line conservative in power instead of a radical nut like the Hitler the British would probably be much more willing to negotiate if the war in France goes more or less as it did in OTL.
Susano
Banned
Because the National Scoialist German Workers Party was a small, obscure munich-based party before it rose to prominence. Sure, eprsons joined once it became famous, but often because it became famous as a radical-nationalist movement.
Change any small thing politically in Germany at that time, and the Nazis wont ascend. And certainly, having the Red Baron as Chancellor would be a big political change... if he becomes chancellor, he doesnt need to have his views expressed by joining a rising movement, after all, no?
Because the National Scoialist German Workers Party was a small, obscure munich-based party before it rose to prominence. Sure, eprsons joined once it became famous, but often because it became famous as a radical-nationalist movement.
Change any small thing politically in Germany at that time, and the Nazis wont ascend. And certainly, having the Red Baron as Chancellor would be a big political change... if he becomes chancellor, he doesnt need to have his views expressed by joining a rising movement, after all, no?
Some people have the need to be big(est)ish fish in the pond. Much easier to be that in small party.
I'm too lazy to look it up right now, but there is an old multi-part TL about exactly this on the SHWI archives. I remember it being somewhat similar to Doug Hoff's famous Chancellor Lettow-Vorbeck timeline.
EDIT: It's called "A Man and a Dog . . . uh, Plane ", and there appear to be at least 64 parts. Joseph Major, 2002.
EDIT: It's called "A Man and a Dog . . . uh, Plane ", and there appear to be at least 64 parts. Joseph Major, 2002.
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Susano
Banned
Okay, let me rephrase "small" with "tiny". Really, at its origins, I guess hardly anybody outside Munich even knew of the party!
I think that the Richtoffen would rise to power on a traditional conservative platform backed by his status as a war hero. Most old-style German conservatives wanted to regain the territories Germany lost in World War I. That was my reasoning at least, I can not speak for anyone else.
Faeelin
Banned
But a nation can want something and not go to war over it, or decide that war isn't worth it.
A major war with France, Great Britain, and the Benelux for control of Alsace Lorraine is wildly different from a peaceful union with Austria.
Faeelin
Banned
Would they oppose union with a Conservative, mildly authoritorian state?
Serious question.
If not, does it lead to war or merely unrest in Austria?
Many of the conservatives wanted to rebuild Austria-Hungary, impossible as it may sound, and wanted a Hapsburg restoration when they could get away with it. A unification with Germany, even a conservative Germany, would seem to end any possibility of these goals... however, I'm not exactly sure on this point.
Max Sinister
Banned
Rebuilding the Habsburg empire would be like bringing a fried chicken to the vet. Besides, Horthy the regent of the kingless kingdom Hungary, was quite happy with the situation. No Habsburgs necessary.
Lothar von Richthofen died in an airplane crash in 1922, so it would have been rather difficult for him to be a Nazi.
Their mother, Kunigunde von Richthofen gennant von Schickfuss und Neudorff, was anti-Nazi.