Are there any major powers that would join on the Franco-Russian side of the conflict or is the alliance doomed from the beginning?
Are there any major powers that would join on the Franco-Russian side of the conflict or is the alliance doomed from the beginning?
No ones taking the Russian far east. How would they get the troops there? How would they hold it? Who would even want it? The Japanese? No Russia might get some border adjustments but no core Russian territory would be lost. France probably has some minor border adjustments assuming both they and Germany get involved. Italy is acctually in a better position now then they will be in 16 years, economically relative to the other powers, less time for French economic warfare to hurt the Italian economy.I would vote for doomed. It is basically WW1, except Britain goes with Germany. Russia is almost completely shutoff from the world. France is largely isolated at least in the Atlantic, and has to worry about amphibious operations. The only advantage is that the Germans can't violate Belgium neutrality (maybe) so France has a much shorter line to defend. German troops and British shipping can even invade various colonies, so a German IndoChina is not impossible. I would go with Russia losses within a year of the UK entering the war. Russia losses all the possessions lost in OTL in Asia, plus the Russian Far East in its entirety, so the new Russian border is near Baku. The Polish speaking areas do not remain under Russian control along with the Baltic states and Finland. I would guess Germany would keep the Baltic States and Poland as directly ruled lands. Finland is independent. France loses some colonies, but the French-German border is not moved. France would prefer to lose parts of Africa or Asia over the sacred French soil, and Britain and Germany would love to have more colonies. A-H will get some Russian land, not sure how much.
The USA would not enter the war quickly, and even if it did, it would take about a year to field a sizable force. Italy only joins if F-R is winning. Same for most small European countries. You might look at China, i am not familiar with Chinese positions at this time frame.
No ones taking the Russian far east. How would they get the troops there? How would they hold it? Who would even want it? The Japanese? No Russia might get some border adjustments but no core Russian territory would be lost. France probably has some minor border adjustments assuming both they and Germany get involved. Italy is acctually in a better position now then they will be in 16 years, economically relative to the other powers, less time for French economic warfare to hurt the Italian economy.
It still astonishes me that the Russians were so jumpy/paranoid/batshit crazy that they thought that the Imperial Japanese Navy would be waiting to ambush them in the North bloody Sea.![]()
I would vote for doomed. It is basically WW1, except Britain goes with Germany. Russia is almost completely shutoff from the world. France is largely isolated at least in the Atlantic, and has to worry about amphibious operations. The only advantage is that the Germans can't violate Belgium neutrality (maybe) so France has a much shorter line to defend. German troops and British shipping can even invade various colonies, so a German IndoChina is not impossible. I would go with Russia losses within a year of the UK entering the war. Russia losses all the possessions lost in OTL in Asia, plus the Russian Far East in its entirety, so the new Russian border is near Baku. The Polish speaking areas do not remain under Russian control along with the Baltic states and Finland. I would guess Germany would keep the Baltic States and Poland as directly ruled lands. Finland is independent. France loses some colonies, but the French-German border is not moved. France would prefer to lose parts of Africa or Asia over the sacred French soil, and Britain and Germany would love to have more colonies. A-H will get some Russian land, not sure how much.
The USA would not enter the war quickly, and even if it did, it would take about a year to field a sizeable force. Italy only joins if F-R is winning. Same for most small European countries. You might look at China, i am not familiar with Chinese positions at this time frame.
And they were that paranoid since departing their Russian ports. There were reports of armed merchant ships in Norwegian waters, unknown airships following the fleet, you name it. So when they blundered across the Hull fishing fleet they panicked and opened fire.
As I understand it the UK was actually building torpedo boats for Japan at the time. It seems that the Russians got it into their heads that these were complete and at sea and were completely paranoid about the possibility. They not only fired on the British trawlers but they also fired on one of their own cruisers.
Are there any major powers that would join on the Franco-Russian side of the conflict or is the alliance doomed from the beginning?
I'm not sure France would join to begin with, so...
France is under no obligation to embark on national disaster because their Russian ally suddenly went insane in the North Sea.