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Suppose things go bad in the Fashoda Incident (that single nervous soldier...) and we get a war between Britain and France erupting in Africa in 1898. I think that Germany would be happy to jump on France's back to reap their own share of the glory while Italy sit out to see who wins and then jumps on the back of France. Russia is a French ally and will have to assist and they'll likely attack in Central Asia as that is where their borders with Britain are while Germany finishes France first. The Japanese will be wise to assist in the butchering of France and Russia and not oppose Britain so we'll get a Russo-Japanese war a few years earlier unless Tokyo remains neutral of course as Russo-Japanese sentiments weren't that bad yet (although that'd anger Britain). In the chaos of war, they might try another stab at China again since their gains were cut short after the First Sino-Japanese War (1894-'95). The Ottomans will likely be wise enough to stay out of this slaughterfest unless Russia is dumb enough to attack them first and make it a three-front war for them. If anyone knows a plausible way to get the US in on either side (please tell me if you do), we have a three continent spanning world war on our hands. with these sides:

France & Russia and possibly China (maybe the US over the old 'answering the call to Lafayette', the Open-Door policy in China or over good Russo-American ties or any combination of these although I think the British/Germans would have to do something incredibly stupid first to get them out of isolationism).

vs.

Britain, Germany, Austria-Hungary, Japan and Italy

I know France will lose, but I'm more interested in the aftermath. What will Britain, Germany and Italy gain? Will the Anglo-German alliance of convenience hold or will it break up? I don't think Britain will find good allies in Russia or France against Germany so maybe Splendid Isolation?France will be pissed off and prostrate at the feet of the Anglo-German combine and if this goes anything like WW1 or the RJW for Russia, they'll be facing serious internal upheavals at best, if not revolution. Nicholas II will be forced to step down in that case in favour of his brother Michael if the empire even survives. I doubt either of them could be allies if they wanted to. Where does the US stand in this if they remain neutral (or if they join and lose and get their Monroe doctrine stuffed up their butt)? The Ottomans in the meanwhile will see their arch nemesis Russia crippled. Might they do better in the Balkans now that their Russian patron is preoccupied? They could perhaps hold onto Macedonia and Thrace IMO.

Ideas? Thoughts?
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