WI Netherlands fought in WWI

Volpij · Jun 13, 2020

Just like the titel said but what if they didn't join the whole fight but like a few months before the German's surrendered the Dutch attacked.

Could they liberate Belgium and Luxemburg, or if possible take them whole or pieces from them, and/or take big swats off German lands for themselves?
How would the rest off the world see the Dutch who suddenly attack the German's, in name off 'human decency' because they no longer felt like they could sit on the sideline and watch this war keep going on, while at the same time increase their nations size?

CV(N)-6 · Jun 13, 2020

The Dutch lack the capability of an offensive, if they join the war in early 1918 there is still a decent chance the Germans will invade. In exchange, the Dutch might get slight border adjustments but that’s about it.

Veiovis · Jun 13, 2020

"A few months before the surrender" means the Dutch get military utterly slapped. The german armies collapse in actual fighting power was much more sudden in WWI then its drawn out death in WWII.

So the Dutch suffer huge casualities for absolutly minimal gains (if any) in the post war settlement, while poisoning its relations with Germany and inviting massive internal political unrest because of this poorly thought out adventure. A terrible scenario, which is why nobody really entertained it.

spiritfya · Jun 13, 2020

Could Dutch territory be used for a decisive flanking manouver by any power?
If so, that would be much more useful than the Dutch army itself.

Otherwise The Netherlands would just be Romania 2.0.

fastmongrel · Jun 13, 2020

What if the Netherlands sees Germany smash the Russian Empire and then during Operation Micheal seeing the British Army about to be cut off from its ports thinks Germany is on the point of winning joins the Germans and attacks the Allies. The aim being to regain Belgium, Luxembourg and a chunk of the North west coast of France would be nice as well.

Grey Wolf · Jun 13, 2020

Well, a Dutch entry would probably be accompanied by a mass British landing in Holland.

Coulsdon Eagle · Jun 13, 2020

fastmongrel said:
What if the Netherlands sees Germany smash the Russian Empire and then during Operation Micheal seeing the British Army about to be cut off from its ports thinks Germany is on the point of winning joins the Germans and attacks the Allies. The aim being to regain Belgium, Luxembourg and a chunk of the North west coast of France would be nice as well.

For a start, Germany's windpipe, which is how all sides viewed the Netherlands, would be squeezed shut. The Blockade can now intercept all ships heading for an enemy port, even those with Blue Circle Cement. Germany's starvation diet gets further cut in rations, and the Dutch will start to run short as they will not be importing anything at all.

For the Netherlands to join the Central Powers, after not the US declaration of war on Germany but after the US military build-up in Europe is a fact, is an act of national suicide so insane the IJA would admire it.

Coulsdon Eagle · Jun 13, 2020

Forgot to add - bye bye Dutch overseas empire. The Americans & British seize the territories in the Caribbean, and the Japanese remove the "N" from the NEI.