In 1866, Bismarck strongly opposed Prussia grabbing some parts of Austria-Hungary even thow it would have been considered normal spoils of victory at the time.
The reasons were not bad - it would improve relations with AH, it would keep Britain, Russia, and France from fighting Prussia getting too strong, it would supposedly reduce fears of the militarist "huns".
But would it really have been that bad - I suppose Russia was too big to worry much about those few square miles. Britain was still far more powerful than Russia. Only France might have bothered, but they too would probably wait a little for better opportunities.
Grabbing the area which would later become Czechoslovakia would make the Germans a minority in AH, afaik. Hungary might become the dominating partnert, which might lead to strong centrifugal forces. AH might break up within a few years - especially if Prussia, Serbia, Italy, and other countries helped that a little bit.
It would also make Prussia stronger - lots of ressources, some modern industry, some new know-how, and so on.
The war against France might happen 1 or 2 years earlier and it might be initiated by France and not by a shortened German telegram, but I suppose it would have ended pretty similar - with a German unification under Prussian leadership.
Elsace-Lorraine might not become part of the newly founded empire, but imo that would be an advantage. Instead, Austria might join Germany after AH is split, maybe a few years after the war against France.
Austria would probably include Slovenia and therefore an access to the Mediterranean - a big advantage for fleet operations, and an incentive to build ships there. The situation might also allow Germany to build lots of ships without alienating the British - a medium fleet in the Baltics and a medium fleet in the Adria might be seen as less of a problem than a big fleet in the Baltics.
The Serbian problem wouldn't exist, except if Germany tried to expand into the Balkans (which I consider unlikely).
What next?
The reasons were not bad - it would improve relations with AH, it would keep Britain, Russia, and France from fighting Prussia getting too strong, it would supposedly reduce fears of the militarist "huns".
But would it really have been that bad - I suppose Russia was too big to worry much about those few square miles. Britain was still far more powerful than Russia. Only France might have bothered, but they too would probably wait a little for better opportunities.
Grabbing the area which would later become Czechoslovakia would make the Germans a minority in AH, afaik. Hungary might become the dominating partnert, which might lead to strong centrifugal forces. AH might break up within a few years - especially if Prussia, Serbia, Italy, and other countries helped that a little bit.
It would also make Prussia stronger - lots of ressources, some modern industry, some new know-how, and so on.
The war against France might happen 1 or 2 years earlier and it might be initiated by France and not by a shortened German telegram, but I suppose it would have ended pretty similar - with a German unification under Prussian leadership.
Elsace-Lorraine might not become part of the newly founded empire, but imo that would be an advantage. Instead, Austria might join Germany after AH is split, maybe a few years after the war against France.
Austria would probably include Slovenia and therefore an access to the Mediterranean - a big advantage for fleet operations, and an incentive to build ships there. The situation might also allow Germany to build lots of ships without alienating the British - a medium fleet in the Baltics and a medium fleet in the Adria might be seen as less of a problem than a big fleet in the Baltics.
The Serbian problem wouldn't exist, except if Germany tried to expand into the Balkans (which I consider unlikely).
What next?