What if France won the Franco-Prussian?

What happens to the German empire if France wins the war? would it eventually form or would the region remain divided?
 
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You mean if France won the war, right? Well, for starters, Napoleon III would stay in power and would probably be a popular leader after defeating Prussia. The reason Bismarck started the Franco-Prussian War was to give all Germans a common ally to unite against which would be achieved now that France is even stronger than before and aggressive towards Germany, however, I doubt that Prussia would be uniting Germany any time soon considering that it just dragged Germany into a war that it lost.
 
You mean if France won the war, right? Well, for starters, Napoleon III would stay in power and would probably be a popular leader after defeating Prussia. The reason Bismarck started the Franco-Prussian War was to give all Germans a common ally to unite against which would be achieved now that France is even stronger than before and aggressive towards Germany, however, I doubt that Prussia would be uniting Germany any time soon considering that it just dragged Germany into a war that it lost.
Considering France was technically the aggressor in that war I don' think Bismarck would have to worry about being seen as "dragging" Germany into a war.
People seem to forget that France declared first, the fact that it was what the Prussians wanted doesn't change that.
 
Considering France was technically the aggressor in that war I don' think Bismarck would have to worry about being seen as "dragging" Germany into a war.
People seem to forget that France declared first, the fact that it was what the Prussians wanted doesn't change that.

The southern German states are probably going to feel let down/fooled into getting involved though, and the other members of the NGF will at least question to what extent Prussia should have a monopoly on power within the Federation considering the lose it just lead them into.

A lot depends on just what terms France manages to extract and how far they get into/how much damage they do to the Germanies. If they push for the Rhine Prussia certainly comes off looking better. If Napoleon III's demands are more modest and diplomatic though, in line with the scale of the causus belle (namely, enough to defend his honor), than Prussia looks petty to the international community and a bully or at least reckless to the minor German states
 
The southern German states are probably going to feel let down/fooled into getting involved though, and the other members of the NGF will at least question to what extent Prussia should have a monopoly on power within the Federation considering the lose it just lead them into.

A lot depends on just what terms France manages to extract and how far they get into/how much damage they do to the Germanies. If they push for the Rhine Prussia certainly comes off looking better. If Napoleon III's demands are more modest and diplomatic though, in line with the scale of the causus belle (namely, enough to defend his honor), than Prussia looks petty to the international community and a bully or at least reckless to the minor German states
NGF was Prussia and it's tiny irrelevant vassals they are not really in a position to question anything.
The South German states were bound by alliance to join they weren't fooled into doing anything, they joined a defensive war.
France would have faced a good deal of backlash from other powers if it pushed for any kind of large annexations.
The genius of Bismarck is often exaggerated but in the case of the Franco-Prussian war he really did have his bases covered.
 
Knowing Napoleon III, he'll probably manage to get the worst of both worlds.

Probably he takes the Bavarian Palatinate, Mainz and perhaps a little more - perhaps everything up to the Moselle. That's just enough to alienate the South German states and drive them firmly into Prussia's arms, while not weakening the Germans enough to stop them coming back for revenge a few years down the line.
 
IMO it would be just as interesting if its a draw. Bismarck could sell it as a victory as they stopped the french agressors and this still could lead to german unification - without Alsace. Also they wont have beaten everyone so they will be considered much less superior militarily.
 
IMO it would be just as interesting if its a draw. Bismarck could sell it as a victory as they stopped the french agressors and this still could lead to german unification - without Alsace. Also they wont have beaten everyone so they will be considered much less superior militarily.
Now here's a novel idea I would a read a timeline about. Germany without A-L and no French revanchism? I can already sense the panic in London :)
 
Now here's a novel idea I would a read a timeline about. Germany without A-L and no French revanchism? I can already sense the panic in London :)

I disagree. France and Germany both still are the biggest recognizable threats to one another and the zones of influence they'll be pushing for (A-H, Italy, the Low Counteries) are naturally going to overlap if Nappy III keeps his policy and Germany continues to be a land focused power. Especially since at this time Russia is also at odds with the Brits, there's not much for them to rally around without Germany developing her interests mainly overseas. Actually, you might see Germany get warm treatment from London to help contain St.Petersburg
 
However a contiental block might come to existence. France might remain a monarchy and if it focuses on overseas it will have conflict with Brittain just like Russia. Germany much less sure of himself (not beaten France) can gain security to focus on inner matters by entering into a continental block with Russia and France. Germany either has nothing to loose or gain some British colonies if he wants. France on the otherhand frees itself to focus on Brittain. Russia can focus on the Far East and Middle Asia. Also Russia not focusing on the Balkans solves the problem with A-H which of course has to join this alliance for the reason to secure its existence. Same for Italy. So we have Brittain vs the Continent. And this is only one possibility. It was considered OTL but the Franco-German alliance was never possible thanks to Alsace and the humilation France suffered.

Also, even if France decides to focus on the continent and alliances play out something like OTL (not necesserily the same) there is still the difference of Germany having a lot less faith in his superior military - they will be much less overconfident.
 
You mean if France won the war, right? Well, for starters, Napoleon III would stay in power and would probably be a popular leader after defeating Prussia. The reason Bismarck started the Franco-Prussian War was to give all Germans a common ally to unite against which would be achieved now that France is even stronger than before and aggressive towards Germany, however, I doubt that Prussia would be uniting Germany any time soon considering that it just dragged Germany into a war that it lost.
Yeah, sorry i wrote Prussia accidentally
 
I disagree. France and Germany both still are the biggest recognizable threats to one another and the zones of influence they'll be pushing for (A-H, Italy, the Low Counteries) are naturally going to overlap if Nappy III keeps his policy and Germany continues to be a land focused power. Especially since at this time Russia is also at odds with the Brits, there's not much for them to rally around without Germany developing her interests mainly overseas. Actually, you might see Germany get warm treatment from London to help contain St.Petersburg
Maybe, and maybe Austria, France and Russia ally against Britain and Prussia. France is along-time enemy of London, and Austria already hates Prussia. Italy possibly allies with Prussia, they were allies in the Austrian-Prussian war, but thats a stretch
 
Maybe, and maybe Austria, France and Russia ally against Britain and Prussia. France is along-time enemy of London, and Austria already hates Prussia. Italy possibly allies with Prussia, they were allies in the Austrian-Prussian war, but thats a stretch

Italy, for obvious geographic reasons, will never ever enter an alliance against both France and Austria. This would be suicidal.

But Britain will most probably want to balance the perceived most powerful continental power, be it France or Germany.
And most importantly : Britain will try at all costs to avoid an alliance between Russia and the other biggest continental power (be that Germany or France).
 
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