What happens to India if the Brits lose WW1.

Exactly as the questions says, would we see and independent India or will the Germans take it for themselves or would the British still keep it.
 
Exactly as the questions says, would we see and independent India or will the Germans take it for themselves or would the British still keep it.

Don't see how the Germans could occupy it. They can't get there by sea, and the overland route via Persia is horrendous. It would be a case of sending some arms by U-boat to Indian rebels, if Britain's loss of prestige is such as to produce a revolt.

More likely, though, if we lose WW1 we get a Labour or Lib-lab government which defuses things by granting self-government, ie we jump before we are pushed. .
 
As Mikenstone said india would probably continued to be under british rule it was by far the most important colony of the empire so they would be extremely reluctant to part with it.

Germany, and Austria Hungary didn't have the ability to reach india. Globally the entete powers very quickly defeated the axis colonies in africa and asia. Only the ottoman empire could theoretically threaten india but i doubt it could even if the central power had won the war.

The british would certainly lose influence over Europe but still retain their superpower status
 

trurle

Banned
Don't see how the Germans could occupy it. They can't get there by sea, and the overland route via Persia is horrendous. It would be a case of sending some arms by U-boat to Indian rebels, if Britain's loss of prestige is such as to produce a revolt.

More likely, though, if we lose WW1 we get a Labour or Lib-lab government which defuses things by granting self-government, ie we jump before we are pushed. .

I agree. The earlier independence of India (may be as fast as 1930 after gradual autonomy grants) will happen. But it also mean a weaker and less secular Indian state, so religious upheavals which resulted in creation of Pakistan and Bangladesh in OTL will be much worse in the alternative history here.
 
The real question really should be What happens to French Indian Holds if CP wins?

I suspect they'll be handed over to Britain in exchange for cash moneys. I mean, there's no way any of the Central Powers will be taking them, and even if they forced France to hand them over in a treaty, Britain wil occupy them and erect statues of King George at each one giving the Germans a big middle finger.

I think, depending on the circumstances that led to peace, Britain will be looking at its empire with a much more focussed eye than it did before, so I would suggest - assuming there's no Second World War - you'll actually have a later Indian independence rather than an earlier one.
 
The real question really should be What happens to French Indian Holds if CP wins?
Even if Germany took control over them via a treaty. It would be more likely that the territories would just be simply absorbed into India proper. The land was only around 200 Square miles and a somewhat small population.
Any colonies that the French would hand over would really only be in Africa, trying to go after any islands in the Caribbean or Pacific would be met with too much pressure from GB and America.
 
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