Wilhelm II never becomes Kaiser

General Zod

Banned
Yeah, the Brits were freaked. In fairness, the German navy wasn't too out of proportion, if you view it as a defensive force to oppose the combined Franco-Russian fleets. But with British identity firmly rooted in the navy, it was a disaster waiting to happen.

Yup, they built the navy in the wrong way, and with Willy and his Weltpolitik cronies saying the wrong things. They should have acted like they effectively asked Britain's permission, agreeing about the dimensions of the HSF which left the British feel safe in a naval treaty, then making a gradual mutually-agreed buildup while Anglo-German relations blossomed from neutrality to detente to parnership to full alliance. Not seeking full parity, but Britain would have gladly accepted a HSF 35-50% of the RN, if Germany looked more and more like an ally vs. the Franco-Russians.
 

General Zod

Banned
Well, Bismarcks conception was quite reasonable. The weakness of course was that his carefully crafted system was so fragile, but nontheless, trying to balance Russia and Austria makes sense. Should Russia tend towards France, Germany will accept A-H as ally no matter respective domestic politics. And seeing how France was willing to do anything to break the isolation crafted by Bismarck, it simply does have most to offer to Russia, as also IOTL.

Yep, I agree that in all likelihood, the Quadruple Alliance is the natural outcome of an Anglo-German detente. As a matter of fact, I think Germany would not accept A-H as an ally only if they grow skeptical about its long-term internal stability or in case of a war, and do not want to be shackled down to defend its weakness, or if Greater-German irredentism becomes a force in German national politics. The less likely outcome, but it may happen.

but as said, if there are closer British-German relations, there will maybe no thought be poured into how to scare Great Britain away, and wiithout Williams infantile obsession with big, big ships... yeah, it might not alienate Great Britain.

Yup. And the more British-German relations brighten, the lesser any German naval buildup shall look threatening to Britain, instead of a useful support for the RN against the French-Russians. A virtous circle instead of the OTL vicious one.
 
Silly Willy?

As previously mentioned by others without the Kaiser there may well have been no war or Britain could have kept out. A more carefully thought out foreign policy would probabnly have resulted in Germany not building a powerful navy and thus not being percieved as a threat by Britain there may well have been no entente cordiale and no Von Schliefen plan. It is even possible that the rush to war might have been averted by diplomacy through Germany declining to back Austria's unreasonable demands on Serbia

The rising strength of the SPD might have been accomodated by the government which would have been more accountable to the Reichstag and with less military input
 
Yup, they built the navy in the wrong way, and with Willy and his Weltpolitik cronies saying the wrong things. They should have acted like they effectively asked Britain's permission, agreeing about the dimensions of the HSF which left the British feel safe in a naval treaty, then making a gradual mutually-agreed buildup while Anglo-German relations blossomed from neutrality to detente to parnership to full alliance. Not seeking full parity, but Britain would have gladly accepted a HSF 35-50% of the RN, if Germany looked more and more like an ally vs. the Franco-Russians.

No, the Germans built the right navy - they had any inclination to being a Great Power. For Germany the main strength of her battle fleet has to be able to be mustered within the confines of the North Sea and Baltic in order keep ones ports free of blockade. The presence of a strong HSF, besides having to fend off any force of either French or Russian warships, is to blunt the capability of Britain arbitrarily interfering in any action.

The Anglo-German naval race is just a continuation of the Anglo-French naval race of the 19th century with the periodic Russian scares. The main individuals behind those were the Admiralty and the military-industrial complex to keep British shipyards and armament manufacturers busy.

The drive for a large German navy precedes both Wilhelm II and von Tirpitz. The two German leaders that took great pride in expanding the navy were Wilhelm I and Frederick III.

The intense commercial rivalry between Germany and Britain was probably more poisoning that the naval race which was far more public.
 
The Army would want Inner and Outer Manchuria, the Navy would want Indochina. They might or might not go after French Polynesia as well (it's a bit a far from their own bases, even using German bases to resupply, which however might be under French attack, and they have other big targets to go after).
If Japan is going to go to war with Russia as well as France, then Manchuria is going to take priority. They had bled for it in 1905, and they felt that it was theirs by right. Once Manchuria can be brought under control (depending on whether or not the Russians send any significant forces), then their attention may move towards French Indochina, the next likely target.
 
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