So, I was trundling along and found a website talking about Wilhelm II's brother, Prince Heinrich. So here is my what question is: if Wilhelm II died via throat cancer, say in 1901, and, ( I am none to sure who would be next in line, but for convenience sake we can just kill Wilhelm's entire lineage if need be on a boat trip to Victoria's funeral) Prince Heinrich became the new King of the German State, what might happen? He seemed to be more diplomatic and worldly than his rather odd and ill-tempered brother, if the previously noted article is anything to go by.
Would alliances shift? Would the world stage push back the inevitable (or perhaps less so) great war to a later date, perhaps in the mid-1920's? Or, might the general staff push the good-natured but manipulable Heinrich into war even faster than his brother did?
I think the geopolitical scene (as well as the underlying economic scene) would make the alliances between France and Russia a certainty to remain, as well as the more-so defensive nature of the Triple Alliance. However, I do think that it would be possible for the British to remain in "splendid isolation", assuming they could reasonably assure that any continental power could not become hegemon over it, if their naval superiority was not threatened. Hopefully Heinrich could have remarked upon "what even is the strategic value of a battleship?" to the British, quelling their attitudes of alarm. Plus, it is not for certain that Italy remains on the side of the triple alliance, especially if Austria-Hungary and Germany undergo a rift in their relationship, allowing Italy to pressure Austria by threatening joining the French in their alliance, prior to any war, if it is favorable to do so.
Your thoughts?
Would alliances shift? Would the world stage push back the inevitable (or perhaps less so) great war to a later date, perhaps in the mid-1920's? Or, might the general staff push the good-natured but manipulable Heinrich into war even faster than his brother did?
I think the geopolitical scene (as well as the underlying economic scene) would make the alliances between France and Russia a certainty to remain, as well as the more-so defensive nature of the Triple Alliance. However, I do think that it would be possible for the British to remain in "splendid isolation", assuming they could reasonably assure that any continental power could not become hegemon over it, if their naval superiority was not threatened. Hopefully Heinrich could have remarked upon "what even is the strategic value of a battleship?" to the British, quelling their attitudes of alarm. Plus, it is not for certain that Italy remains on the side of the triple alliance, especially if Austria-Hungary and Germany undergo a rift in their relationship, allowing Italy to pressure Austria by threatening joining the French in their alliance, prior to any war, if it is favorable to do so.
Your thoughts?