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I saw a debate on the question "should Britain have fought in world war 1"? Which is the background for this thread.
Points for the motion (Britain Should Not Have Fought in the First World War)
- Germany would not neccesarily impose a draconian peace, the Germans did not do so in the Franco-Prussian war. Also Germany OTL imposed a draconian peace but only after 4 years of war, they would not do so after a 1 year war.
- Germany had given up on the naval race, Britian had won the naval race.
- Kaiser Wilhelm was not Hitler. Kaiser Wilhelm did not want war and tried to calm the Austrians.
- Germany victory would not negativly affect the British position.
- Britain was the largest creditior in the world before ww1, after ww1 Britain was the largest debtor.
- Germany had large socialist and progressive movements.
- Britain had plans of blocading Belgium and forcing them into the war.
Points against the motion (Britain Should Not Have Fought in the First World War)
- Germany did impose a draconian on Russia(Brest-Litovsk treaty).
- Germany had engaged in a naval race with Britain, knowing that the navy was considered as the British line of defense.
- Kaiser Wilhelm was militaristic and dangerous. Kaiser Wilhelm supported Indian nationalists.
- German victory would disrupt the balance of power in Europe.
- Britains role as creditor was dependent on imperialism, therefore Britain needed to go to war to defend this system and Britian domination of the system.
- Germany was illiberal.
- Germany invaded Belgium.
Question/Discussion:
1. Could Britain stay out of WW1?
2. How would WW1 progress without Britian participation?
3. How would the peace deal after such a war look like? How would the map look like? What do you imagine the peace treaties would dictate?
4. How would this ATL Britain use it's dominant financial positions during this war and in the aftermath?
5. Would some countries that were participants in OTL WW1 avoid the war or fight on different sides?
6. Could Germany have colonised France in such a scenario if they won? Colonised in the sense of settled by Germans, and overtime assimilating the French.
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