I've recently come across a very interesting article by the late great John J. Reilly, concerning the (terrifying) ramifications of a German victory in WWI (link: http://www.firstworldwar.com/features/ifgermany.htm).
To break it down, he basically posits that the cultural/political climate of post-war Germany would resemble Weimar IOTL, dictated by preexisting cultural trends. From this turbulent culture, a radical party not unlike the Nazis would have risen to power, buoyed on the unquenched war-fervor of the people. Its aims would certainly have been the same; expansion into Eastern Europe and West Asia were almost 'truisms' in '20s German politics, and anti-semitism is a belief that predates Germany itself.
The differences begin to show themselves when Reilly talks about the effects a loss would have had on its other participants; France and Britain would suffer political collapse, with the latter facing the possible dissolution of its empire decades early and possibly forced to ally with the U.S. Interestingly, Soviet Russia might have been butterflied away as Germany would have turned it into a puppet state after using it for its own gains.
Thus, an alternate WWII inevitably erupts, but this time the Germans are holding the aces. With more competent commanders and a MUCH stronger army and navy (their expansion permitted by postwar demands), they would roll over most of Europe before besieging Britain with their new-found naval power. For aforementioned reasons, any Eastern Front is negligible, if resistance exists at all.
Here is where the article ends and my speculations begin. Weak and isolated, Britain would ultimately be starved into submission, becoming a puppet of the German empire. With all of Europe and much of Africa under Fascist rule, the U.S. has its hands tied. Unable to bring its military strength to bear without a foothold, it has no alternative but a staring contest, heralding the frigid dawn of a American-German Cold War. To imagine such an outlandish scenario, one could start by reading Robert Harris' 'Fatherland'.
This is the way it might have gone if the Allies had lost their nerve in WWI, the biggest and closest game of 'chicken' in history. What are your opinions?
Tamerlane
To break it down, he basically posits that the cultural/political climate of post-war Germany would resemble Weimar IOTL, dictated by preexisting cultural trends. From this turbulent culture, a radical party not unlike the Nazis would have risen to power, buoyed on the unquenched war-fervor of the people. Its aims would certainly have been the same; expansion into Eastern Europe and West Asia were almost 'truisms' in '20s German politics, and anti-semitism is a belief that predates Germany itself.
The differences begin to show themselves when Reilly talks about the effects a loss would have had on its other participants; France and Britain would suffer political collapse, with the latter facing the possible dissolution of its empire decades early and possibly forced to ally with the U.S. Interestingly, Soviet Russia might have been butterflied away as Germany would have turned it into a puppet state after using it for its own gains.
Thus, an alternate WWII inevitably erupts, but this time the Germans are holding the aces. With more competent commanders and a MUCH stronger army and navy (their expansion permitted by postwar demands), they would roll over most of Europe before besieging Britain with their new-found naval power. For aforementioned reasons, any Eastern Front is negligible, if resistance exists at all.
Here is where the article ends and my speculations begin. Weak and isolated, Britain would ultimately be starved into submission, becoming a puppet of the German empire. With all of Europe and much of Africa under Fascist rule, the U.S. has its hands tied. Unable to bring its military strength to bear without a foothold, it has no alternative but a staring contest, heralding the frigid dawn of a American-German Cold War. To imagine such an outlandish scenario, one could start by reading Robert Harris' 'Fatherland'.
This is the way it might have gone if the Allies had lost their nerve in WWI, the biggest and closest game of 'chicken' in history. What are your opinions?
Tamerlane
