Yet another "Helps the Central Powers" scenario...

Two scenarios that come to my mind, both can be considered the best case scenario for Central Powers:

1. In late 1914 and early 1915 various neutral powers decide to gang-up against the Entente and thus joins the CP: Italy, Japan, Romania, Sweden, Denmark, Netherlands, Spain, China, Persia, and Greece, while Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria join the CP too as in OTL (I deem Norway, Belgium, and Portugal are too pro-British to include them). United States still joins the Entente in the later stage, like in OTL.

2. Similar with the above, Italy, Japan, Romania, Sweden, Denmark, Netherlands, Spain, China, Persia, and Greece joins the CP, but this time it's much worse: in later stage United States joins the CP too. However, nearly all Latin American countries (including Mexico, Brazil, Argentina) decide to throw their support to the Entente and join them, thanks to Anglo-French naval supremacy.

So...which scenario that has bigger chance to make a CP victory TL...?

(well, maybe this is too close to the ASB, but still...)

1914otl.png
 

BlondieBC

Banned
Italy had recently taken Libya from the Ottoman Empire and Italy desired the Italian majority areas of the AH. A very skilled German foreign minister might be able to convince Italy to remain neutral.

Japan would not want to fight the British Navy, and appreciated the easy to conquer German Pacific Colonies.

China is weak and divided.

Romania had pro-CP and pro-Entente Factions. Greece had the same. Either one might be persuaded to join the CP, especially if the CP appears to be winning. For this to happen, the AH needs to be able to defended Galacia from Russia.

It is very hard to see the USA joining the CP.
 
Italy had recently taken Libya from the Ottoman Empire and Italy desired the Italian majority areas of the AH. A very skilled German foreign minister might be able to convince Italy to remain neutral.

Japan would not want to fight the British Navy, and appreciated the easy to conquer German Pacific Colonies.

China is weak and divided.

Romania had pro-CP and pro-Entente Factions. Greece had the same. Either one might be persuaded to join the CP, especially if the CP appears to be winning. For this to happen, the AH needs to be able to defended Galacia from Russia.

It is very hard to see the USA joining the CP.


Blondie is pretty much spot on.
 
Japan isn't going to join the CP in 1914, period. Not only does the Anglo-Japanese Alliance still stand in 1914, but it would be pure lunacy to go up against the British, French and Russians at the same time.

Same goes for Italy, they have little to gain and much to lose by joining the CP.

I think with a bit of work it's possible to get Romania, Greece, Sweden, Netherlands, Spain, China, Persia, and Greece into the CP, but once again, most of these nations have little to gain and much to lose, particularly in the case of the Netherlands and Spain in terms of their colonies and China because of it's less than stable state at this time (although they can probably be a rather annoying nuisance to the Entente and a distraction from elsewhere).
 
Actually, Italy does have some targets if it sides with the CP. Corsica, Nice, and Savoy. A deal could be worked out to gain some of the territories they want from Austria as well. Romania also has Bessarabia to gain if they join the CP, so there isn't a lack of incentives for powers to join the CP. The only problem is, that both Italy and Romania desired territories held by the Central Powers more. Find a way to make victory for the Germans seem certain, and Italy and Romania will fall into line.
 

BlondieBC

Banned
Actually, Italy does have some targets if it sides with the CP. Corsica, Nice, and Savoy. A deal could be worked out to gain some of the territories they want from Austria as well. Romania also has Bessarabia to gain if they join the CP, so there isn't a lack of incentives for powers to join the CP. The only problem is, that both Italy and Romania desired territories held by the Central Powers more. Find a way to make victory for the Germans seem certain, and Italy and Romania will fall into line.


Italy would also be interested in Tunisia and Algeria.

Agreed that Italy and Romania will only join the CP if victory seems certain. If you want to write a time line with a CP victory, you need a much better performance of the CP on the eastern front in the 12 months of the war.

Sample Ideas:

1) Something messes up Russian mobilization or their military performance.

2) Germany and AH have a coordinated strategy. Perhaps AH goes on the defensive against Serbia and deploys a lot more troops against Russia.

3) Something makes the AH army perform a lot better.
 
About United States joining Central Powers...I'm thinking about POD that could lead to no German U-boat attacks on merchant ships, no German atrocities in Belgium and France, and a much harsher British blockade against Germany...is that possible?
 

BlondieBC

Banned
About United States joining Central Powers...I'm thinking about POD that could lead to no German U-boat attacks on merchant ships, no German atrocities in Belgium and France, and a much harsher British blockade against Germany...is that possible?

The USA had a very strong tradition of avoiding European wars. Even with unrestricted submarine warfare, it took the Zimmerman telegram to tip the USA into declaring war. You will likely need something equally dumb by the Entente to get the USA to enter for the CP.

Ideas for an Entente Zimmerman moment:

1) Canadian Nationalists stage an raid into the United States.
2) Some action the USA sees as violation of the Monroe doctrine. Britian occupies Venzuela, British military aid to Poncho Villa, etc.
3) USA is angered by Entente blockade, and close Panama Canal to Entente and Entente friendly neutral powers. Britian sieze Panama Canal.
These are all likely ASB, but to someone in 1910, a German/Mexican Allaince against the USA is equally bizarre.

The contitions you list are more likely to result in a USA that remains neutral, perhaps even a USA that bans trade with the Entente.
 
1. In late 1914 and early 1915 various neutral powers decide to gang-up against the Entente and thus joins the CP: Italy, Japan, Romania, Sweden, Denmark, Netherlands, Spain, China, Persia, and Greece, while Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria join the CP too as in OTL (I deem Norway, Belgium, and Portugal are too pro-British to include them).
In order for all these countries to join the CP, you need the CP to score some very impressive victories early on, aftr which they probably won't really need help.

As for the US joining the central powers, this indeed is close to ASB. I see no reason why the Entente would ever try something as hare-brained as the Zimmermann telegram, and if they did anyway, then they would have the means to keep it a secret.
 
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