What British territory(ies) would have been worth trading for Deutsche Sudwest Afrika?

What British territory(ies) would have been worth trading for Deutsche Sudwest Afrika?

  • a) Nigeria

    Votes: 2 15.4%
  • b) Gold Coast

    Votes: 3 23.1%
  • c) Southern New Guinea

    Votes: 3 23.1%
  • d) British Borneo

    Votes: 5 38.5%
  • e) British Somaliland

    Votes: 6 46.2%
  • f) Only much smaller territories (Sierra Leone, Gambia, Gilbert or Phoenix islands)

    Votes: 3 23.1%

  • Total voters
    13

raharris1973

Gone Fishin'
Donor
Monthly Donor
....prior to WWI.
Britain, or more correctly, the Union of South Africa and its predecessor Cape Colony desired to have control of Southwest Africa in place of the Germans, for improved security and a greater territorial hinterland. tOnce WWI started, British officials started to call it a desirable acquisition in late 1914 or early 1915, and ultimately Britain conquered the territory and received a mandate over it post war, that was administered by South Africa after the statue of Westminster.

Prior to the outbreak of WWI, if either the Germans or the British broached the subject of Germany ceding Southwest Africa to Britain as part of a territorial exchange, was there any British territory that was sufficiently dispensable to Britain, for Britain to offer it to Germany in exchange. Would any of the territories Britain might have considered offering been considered sufficiently valuable for the Germans to say yes to a swap?
 
Nigeria or the Gold Coast are far too valuable by comparison and New Guinea would have pissed of Australia mightily. Somalialand is also unstable and of little interest to Germany so Borneo seems the only viable choice (presuming the Brooke’s could be persuaded to sell out sooner).
 
Nigeria or the Gold Coast are far too valuable by comparison and New Guinea would have pissed of Australia mightily. Somalialand is also unstable and of little interest to Germany so Borneo seems the only viable choice (presuming the Brooke’s could be persuaded to sell out sooner).

I'd assume he meant North Borneo, not Sarawak as well.

Uganda might be one option in the area. That, or Zanzibar if the British could be persuaded to give it up. Something that consolidated their control in East Africa might be judged well.

There's also the potential for the partition of Portuguese colonies as well - have the Germans get a larger share in exchange for it.
 

raharris1973

Gone Fishin'
Donor
Monthly Donor
so Borneo seems the only viable choice (presuming the Brooke’s could be persuaded to sell out sooner)

I'd assume he meant North Borneo, not Sarawak as well.

From the German perspective, one thing that North Borneo, or North Borneo with Sarawak, have going for them is they are a short hop across the South China Sea to French Indochina, so France now has to pay more attention to defense of that area.

Somalialand is also unstable and of little interest to Germany

One thing on the plus-side for Somaliland is that it abuts French Djibouti, forcing France to be more concerned with defense of that territory.

Uganda boosts up German East Africa and is an interesting choice. Same with Zanzibar.

What's the value of Zanzibar compared to its Tanganyikan hinterland?

On the Portuguese colonies I think Britain would be most sensitive about keeping southern Mozambique in its share of a Portuguese partition [a partition Britain was in no mood to hasten, and which Britain was prepared to extend credits to forestall]. Portuguese Guinea, northern Mozambique and Angola would be less sensitive points for the British.

Although the contiguity of northern Mozambique to East Africa makes it pretty logical as part of a German share, Portuguese Guinea does have the benefit of not being as far from Germany and being a potential thorn in the side of French West Africa.

Values of colonies can be measured variously in economic, prestige and strategic terms. If you've caught my drift in my comments on individual territories, I think a German colonial policy that maximizes the number and length of colonial borders with France while minimizing the same with Britain might better serve German global strategic interests than OTL's colonial distribution. In pretty much all cases I mentioned except Djibouti-Somaliland, the French side of the border contains the bigger and better colony, and France's power projection position is easier than Germany's, but even if German holdings just function as flypaper attracting French colonial forces and attention, that's a service to Germany of stretching the less numerous French Army between Europe and overseas.
 
The British also would not be keen on strengthening German position in the Pacific, though - they only have one large base in Wilhelmsland, and as such the German fleet can, without too much effort, be expunged. The other ports are small and isolated.

Somaliland also more directly threatens Suez - at this point, another power that threatens Britain's lifeline with India would not be appreciated.

Zanzibar was a very good port and trade center for the area. Not enough for all of Namibia, but certainly a good down payment on it. It means that Tanganikya no longer has any port blocking access to the territory, but at the same time does not strengthen Germany's hand much at all, as it brings them no closer to British territories than currently extant and it also does not preclude British presence in the area.

Same with Uganda. Granted, resources would be terrible, and it might dissuade any railroad route (and it certainly cuts off British territory from the Congo, which would be a major concern vis-a-vis British influence in the Congo.

As it stands, I feel the best option would be to offer up a sacrificial cow (Portugal), or to offer a combination of Zanzibar with other small ports on the west coast of Africa.
 

BlondieBC

Banned
Nigeria or the Gold Coast are far too valuable by comparison and New Guinea would have pissed of Australia mightily. Somalialand is also unstable and of little interest to Germany so Borneo seems the only viable choice (presuming the Brooke’s could be persuaded to sell out sooner).

From the English perspective, that makes sense. It does not for the German who are giving up their prestige colony. The one with land suitable for Europeans. The only colony on the list near important enough would be Nigeria, but I don't think that would entice the Germans to trade.

Realistically, I think it would have to be support for the Germans having Morocco plus some other bits and piece. The Germans would be interested in a series of colonies that would allow a series of potential bases to China. And I think we then get into 3 way trades or more person trades. And hard to see these happening.

The other option might be the Belgium Congo to Germany plus connecting lands.

So don't really see it happening.
 
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