WI: Post-WWI German Civil War

Zelc

Banned
Let's say the Spartacusbund somehow overthrew the monarchy and started a Marxist state. I would imagine the German conservatives/military types wouldn't exactly stand down for it and would try to take the country back.

I can see some weaknesses for both sides, such as weakened morale on the military from the years in the trenches and smaller numbers for the Spartacists. But what would play out?
 

Deleted member 1487

How? You'd need a lot to be different for that to be an option AND for the Allies not to then conquer them for fear of a Communist Germany. No one would let that happen.
 
To begin with, you need a Spartakist movement stronger to achieve that, able to put its representantives instead of the SPD ones to lead the workers and soldier's councils. Then the councils must believe that they are the real power, depose Ebert's government and then go on from that point.

But that's almost ASB unless you go back in time to achieve a stronger Spartakist league.
 
I'm writing an active TL on this and even I admit it's nigh impossible.
plausibility aside though, some interesting things could definitely take place.

Nationalized German Rail, an alliance with the Marxists in Italy as well as the Bolsheviks, as well as a balkanized Germany are all possibilities.

the big question is whose going to lead it.
I'd image Karl Leibknecht would establish himself as a leader Lenin style but the German radical left was so incoherent I wouldn't be surprised if they eventually collapsed into civil war.
 
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