WI Japan in Central Powers

What if Japan was a member of the Central Powers in WWI instead of an Ally? What effects (if any) would this have on the war, and in Japan after the war?
 
Bad News...

That would be very serious to the British. How serious depends on if the Anglo-Japanese Allaince broke down at the start of the war, or was long gone.

If it breaks down at the start of the war, Britian is in a world of hurt. The Royal Navy can't contain both the German and Japanese navies easily, especially since Japan has easy acces to the sea from any direction, whereas Germany can be blockaded.

Japanese commerce raiders go wild, scourinmg the seas of British merchants...even troop convoys are at risk, as are various small islands.
 
What if Japan was a member of the Central Powers in WWI instead of an Ally?
How serious depends on if the Anglo-Japanese Allaince broke down at the start of the war, or was long gone.
If the break was just before the war, I doubt if Japan would be in the CP.
To get Her into the CP whe need to push the break back. My guess would be something to do with the Port Aurthur fiasco.

As part of the terms of the Treaty of Shimonoseki concluding the war, Japan was granted the Liaodong Peninsula but had to cede back the territory when threatened jointly with war by France, Germany and Russia in what is called the Triple Intervention of 1895.
IITL It is Britian instead of Germany that joins with France & Russia.
This puts a end to the Anglo Nippon Treaty.

Then Russia moves in and takes the port for itself, two years later.

8 years later Japan again gains the port in the war of 1905.
While going in the Book as a victory for Japan, the Military knows haw close they came to Defeat.
They also knew there will probally be a round 2.

Looking around for an Ally, there is Germany on the other side, gearing up for a possible war with Russia.
Japan joins the CP.

august of 1914 While Japan DoW's on Russia, She sends France a Notice of Neutrality.
And 2 weeks later after Belgium while Britain is debating, entering the War, Japan again sends Notice of Neutrality.
France under pressure from ally Russia finally DoW's Japan, Japan doesn't DoW back. Nor does Britain DoW Japan.

While France does send some ships to help protect Indochina, and the French South Seas, It sends no extra troops.

In Octobre Japan attacks Russia, sending troops north thru Sahalikin to cross the narrow channel to Amur.
Japan takes Vladivostok, and other Pacific Coast Ports, and proceeds to occupy Siberia. Russia is fighting a two front War.

However this is not Stalin's well equipped, and supplied Pacific Army, from the -Japan goes North in WW2- Scenarios.
Against the Tzar's Poorly Equiped, and poorly supplied Army, japan has lot of Sucess.

In Early 1917 Civil war breaks out in Russia, and 6 month earlier [& pre US] than OTL Russia leaves the War
 
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