A Shift in Priorities

[glowjack]

at the same time its gonna be interesting to asee a china not ravaged by most of the last 80 years

[rast]

I report back for work.



Reflections

The director of the physics department of the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Institut, Albert Einstein, had already been a pacifist before the war. Today, he was one of Germany’s leading pacifists. Thus, he was in sharp disagreement with the director of the department for physical chemistry and electrochemistry, Fritz Haber, who as an ardent patriot had done everything to support Germany’s war effort.
Haber, nobilised in 1920 as Friedrich von Haber, decorated with the Pour-le-Merit for science, donated a manor in Silesia and promoted to reserve colonel of the army in 1921, was a stout supporter of the GDNP, while Einstein, after a short sojourn with the FVP, had abandoned party politics and become an active member of the German Pacifist Movement and the German Human Rights League, remaining in close contact with Ludwig Quidde, who was an well known pacifist and FVP member at the same time.

German policy after the end of the war had left Einstein in conflict with his convictions. He recognised the temperate nature of the peace treaties and the positive effect of the plebiscites after the collapse of Austria-Hungary, yet had little sympathy for Germany’s allies – Hungary, Bulgaria and Turkey – and their more violent approach to solving ethnical questions.
He also very quickly had identified Richard von Kühlmann’s penchant for ethnical cleansing – if a solution via plebiscite was not applicable.
What really had horrified him was the Greco-Turkish War with its cruel ethnical cleansings – and petty genocides.
Einstein’s conclusion was that Palestine was not suited as home of a future Jewish state. He had thus terminated his short contact with the Zionist movement, and now propagated his believe that Germany and the Middle European countries associated with Germany were the best places for Jews to live and prosper.
He did not favour the US because of the discrimination of Negroes, Chinese and Latinos and fiercely fought against emigration from Russia, the Ukraine and Poland to the USA. In his view, the ‘old’ Jewish elite in the USA had found their place in society, but all immigrants to the US after the war would only face misery and future discrimination.

Looking around in the German scientific community, there were many Jews at work: Fritz von Haber, Albert Einstein, Luise Meitner, Max Abraham, Fritz Reiche, Max Born, Erwin Freundlich, Hans Franck, Hans Goldschmidt, Leo Graetz, Rudolph Schoenheimer, Otto Loewi, Otto Warburg, Felix Bernstein, Richard Courant, Paul Epstein, and many, many others did their best to further knowledge, science and technology.

Generally, the Jews felt at home in Germany. The German mind – in their view – had the closest resemblance to the Jewish mind. – German Anti-Semitism – so far – had proved to be the least violent variant in Europe. – There was no inhibition for an Anti-Semite in the Reichstag to have a beer with a Jewish colleague from the FVP or NL after duty. Once the standard accusations of the Anti-Semite had been forwarded, one could agree about the superiority of German culture and science – and even discover that Jewish bankers and traders were as patriotic as Prussians. Once accepted that the Jew would not convert to Christianity, one could agree upon the common cause of furthering Germany’s fortune.

There were some really queer people on the extreme right, outright freaks. – They even frightened hard-core GDNP members. – But they had no influence on public opinion and on the voters. People loved German discipline, order and organisation – but hardly anybody had love reserved for ‘Aryan’ groups praying to Sun, Moon and the Holy Horse.

No, Germany was a good country for Jews to live. If one wanted to get rich, it perhaps was better to join the US relatives, but if one desired an outstanding reputation in science, technology or arts, one better lived in Germany.


(P.S.: I'm interpolating on basis of a History of the Jews in Germany that postulates that prior to the arrival of the Nazis, Germany was the favourite country of the Jews. - As this TL knows no Nazis, this is bound to remain so.)

[thales]

Good to see you back!

The butterflys this situation could create are gigantic... Keep up the good work!

[trekchu]

It is said that Germany has three resources: Brown Coal, fish and technology. I like.

[rast]

Honi soit qui mal y pense

The quick and complete collapse of the South African Union had caused considerable consternation in the Netherlands. All dreams of standing up against Germany, the hegemon of Europe, had been stopped cold – and, if one looked closely, Germany now also had become the hegemon of Africa.
But even worse, the German attitude of supporting the native movements against the Boers signified nothing good for the Dutch East Indies. The natives there had seen how fast the colonial rule of some few could be overcome by the mass of indigenes. With the examples of India, Vietnam and South Africa at hand, most people in the Netherlands now believed that the East Indies would soon be lost. Without the abundance of these colonies, the Netherlands were bound to become a poor country...
At the same time, German public opinion had identified the Dutch as supporters of the Boers, and the media climate had turned outright chilly. Dutch companies had not been invited to bid on a number of recent projects in Germany and the flow of German export goods via Rotterdam had diminished considerably. Dutch farmers were complaining loudly that their foodstuffs no longer were selling to Germany. – They had stepped up their production capacities during the war in order to satisfy German demands and get well paid for that, now the German market had turned to other producers ‘because Dutch products no longer are in demand in Germany’.
It was a calamity. – Yet, the Dutch were too old a nation of traders to stagnate in this kind of mishap. Germany clearly could live without the Netherlands, but the Netherlands couldn’t hope to prosper without the German market. So, if you can’t kick’em, lick’em...
Already by January 1922, the press in Amsterdam and The Hague was reporting favourably about Germany and German achievements. Various attempts on all levels were made in order to improve Dutch-German relations.
Consequently, the order for the warships to be constructed in Britain was cancelled. The general belief being now that the colonies would be long lost before these vessels could be ready. – Why waste good money on a lost cause?

In Britain, the consternation about the quick German victory was immense. There was an impending threat against the British African colonies in it; not one of German conquest – this was quite clear even to the likes of Winston Churchill – but one of utter destabilisation. Until now, the Negroes – much more backward than the Indians or Egyptians – had been quite contend (one thought) to live under White rule. From now on, this would – most probably – change rapidly. And the Negroes were also seeing what the Germans were doing in their colonies – and what the English obviously were not doing in their colonies.
But colonial affairs were one thing, a direct threat to British national security quite another affair. Churchill was quick to point out that the Germans had not ceased to construct aircraft carriers and landing crafts now that the South African enemy had been overcome.
Who could be the target of these weapons – if not Britain? Wasn’t it all obvious? The Germans had never stopped to scheme for Britain’s ultimate downfall. Tirpitz, the arch enemy of England, was still there and conducting his sinister plans. Churchill had little trouble in convincing his colleagues in the cabinet about these dire assumptions.
Consequently, more ships and airplanes were ordered for the defence of Albion, fuelling inflation and social unrest.

In Washington, the Second Mexican Revolution raised much more alarm than events in South Africa. Nevertheless, they were closely screened and evaluated.
Uninfected by British Germanophobe paranoia, the US analysers nevertheless noted the capacity building of the Germans – and counselled that landing craft and their transport vessels should be developed for the US Marine Corps as well.
The new Dortmund class cruisers – with their Diesel marching engines and Diesel fuelled steam turbines – would enable Germany to wage worldwide cruiser warfare. Once the German bases in Africa were ready, the German Navy was to be considered a major player in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans.
It was also noted that the Germans hadn’t renewed their East Asian Patrol and only entertained some small observation and research vessels east of India. Although they were investing in China’s future, the Germans didn’t seem to have any territorial aims in that area.
Another factor was the German intention to start Zeppelin traffic between Europe and North and South America.
This meant that New York and other big east coast cities came into reach of vehicles, the ancestors of which had been used to bomb London and other targets in Britain.
The Zeppelins used by the DELAG and the German Luftwaffe were quite interchangeable: To remove the passenger compartment and install a bomb rack was a matter of few hours.
Should the DELAG request thus be rejected for reasons of national security? – Argentine, Uruguay and Brazil had already agreed to the DELAG plans.
After lengthy discussions the Chiefs of Staff finally agreed that currently no German attack on the USA was probable or to be expected, should relations worsen, one still could take measures. Thus, the US agreed to the DELAG Transatlantic Plan on January 6th, 1922.

[Neroon]

Keep them coming again!

[Amit]

Nice update - Question: so with the airships regining supreme as modes of trans-atlantic transport, are we going to see lesser development in transport aircraft and/or bombers? You did mention that the Germans had air superiority during WW1 so I am assuming that fighter development is on par with OTL right?

[Herr Frage]

I cocur with all those whjo are praising your TL, it is masterfully crafted. As you might guess by looking at my stated political affiliation I am quite happy with how the Reich turned out. Though I was hoping one of the Baltics would end up with a monarch. Incidentally did Finloand embrace the siren sound of republicanism ITTL as well.

The Cyprus tragedy was hard to read. The Turkish Cypriots destroyed, the Greek Cypriots cut down and driven into exile. Cypriot culture has basically been destroyed. Even with the Ottomans brining in new Turks they are still foreigners not true replacements for the Turkish Cypriots. What madness is this that would cast away so many lives to the fires and make tombs of ancient houses? The final line from planet of the Apes comes to mind regaring the Greeks, how could they possibly have pulled it off? Was it even worth the risk?

Personally I am hoping you will give some info on the other Balkan nations. I once had a thread speculating about Bulgaria as a great power. And of course will I do not particularly care for rebellious Hungary I want to see the Habsburgs prosper.

[rast]

No real German air superiority in WW1. The Royal Flying Corps was fought down in the Battle of Arras and the subsequent actions ending in the Battle of Calais, but the Germans also were taking heavy losses here.
Factually, the French air arm was the strongest flying force on the Western Front in May 1918. Once Pétain had recognised that the British were about to be gutted, he had restricted the French airmen to the defence of the French air space.
The French army and its aviation service had remained 'unbeaten in the field' - we'll come to that...

The German OKW/LKL have discarded strategic bombing. The development of fighters and short/medium range bombers is taking place - quite similar to the development of the OTL Reichsluftwaffe, - for a tactical, close air support force.

[rast]

The dogs are barking, the caravan is going on.
(Bulgarian proverb)

When Tsar Ferdinand I. of the Bulgarians looked at what had been achieved since his accession to the throne in 1887, he had reason to be very proud. Today, Bulgaria was a major power, dominating the Balkans, well, at least the southern part of it. Bulgaria had considerably grown in size – and almost achieved the borders of the early medieval Bulgarian Empire.
Nevertheless, Ferdinand knew that his country was no great power. Bulgaria lacked the industrial background – and the necessary education of her population.
While Ferdinand and Prime Minister Vasil Radoslavov did everything to encourage industrial development, the question of education had finally been solved.
A number of gifted students could be sent to Germany following a bi-lateral agreement that Ferdinand had managed to get in place despite the overcrowding of German universities with black Middle Africans. But that hadn’t solved the basic problem. Here, Italy had come to the rescue.
The Italians, eager to acquire Bulgarian resources, such as coal, copper, lead, chromite, nickel and manganese ore, had agreed to assist in building a modern education system and to accept large numbers of Bulgarian students to Italian universities.
In addition, Radoslavov had talked Giovanni Giolitti into promoting Italian industrial expansion to Bulgaria. Fostered by both governments, FIAT had begun to set up a production facility for lorries at Salonika, while Ansaldo was building an aircraft factory near Sofia and Pirelli was already manufacturing rubber products at Burgas.

The troublesome ethnic Greeks had been violently pushed over the border to Greece; the ethnic Turks had been peacefully relocated to Cyprus (all paid for by the Sublime Porte).
The Dobruja had successfully been cleansed from Romanians. (Ferdinand had no remorse here. He knew that the area originally – by 1850 – had been populated by Bulgarians, Tartars, Turks and some Russians – before the Romanians had started to swamp the place with Romanian settlers. Now, these Romanians had been removed again, so what?)
The assimilation of the Serbs was going well. Common orthodox belief and the Torlakian argument facilitated it for the Serbs to convert into loyal Bulgarian citizens. The – not so happy – fate of the Serbs under Croatian domination certainly also helped a lot to further this quiet transition.

The Albanian ally – under the direction of Ferdinand’s second son, Kyril, King of Albania – was performing as expected. Far more backward than Bulgaria, the country was wide open to Bulgarian influence – and welcomed the introduction of Bulgarian teachers and professors!

The Bulgarian Army was well equipped with surplus German matériel, including aircraft and three Zeppelins, based at the old German Zeppelin site at Jambol.
The Stabilimento Tecnico Triestino had already delivered the initial batch of small ships for the Bulgarian Navy. Ferdinand especially liked the fast attack torpedo boats, constructed after the example of the Italian Motoscafi Armati Silurante (MAS) of the war.

Looking over the borders, Ferdinand thought that Hungarian influence was dwindling while Croatian importance was rising in the Hungarian Empire. In the long run, either the Croats would be able to take over the whole empire – or they would split, leaving behind a small and weak Hungary.
Romania was still licking the wounds from her war against the Hungarians and Bulgarians. As all their oil was flowing directly for German profit, they were bound to remain a rural society, bound on making a living with selling foodstuffs.
The Ottomans were busy in the east, trying to solve their Kurdish and Azeri problems. Ferdinand had great respect for these Turks. Given the fact that they had ended the war deeply exhausted and almost defeated, they had shown surprising energy and outstanding performance until now. Here was the embryo of a future great power. Now, with the Kirkuk oil (exploited by the German EVEG), the Ottomans would make enough revenues to really bring to shape their infrastructure and transform to a modern state.

The sore spot was to the south. Ferdinand was deeply troubled by events in Greece. That Venizelos Tyrant was turning Hellas into an authoritarian, single party police state. And the poor Greek masses were staring with greedy eyes at the wealth of their few rich compatriots and at the opulences abroad...

[Herr Frage]

Beautiful, Bulgaria is a regional power whose value will continue to rise. They may never be a true great power but at least they will be defacto and de jure independent. Surpriseed Germany would make so many allowances, after all it is in their interests to keep Bulgaria onside. I wonder if the ProOttoman sentiment will last beyond Tsar Ferdinand. After all theiris old bad blood there. With the Grteeks contained and the Serbs effectively removed from the game Bulgaia's ambitiobs wouild lie either North to the Hungarian and Roamanian Frontier, or south towards Greece and Ottoman Europe. Greece is the weakest but the Greeks would be thoroghly ungovernable, not to mention the coubntry would not be worth taking for the forseeable future.

The Ottomans are too strong to tackle alone. Perhaps a future understanding between the Tyrant, Shah, and Shah to reduce the Empire. The German on the street views the Ottonmans as the most savage of the Great Powers so there is a chance the Reich would stay out of it. Hopefully some nationalist elements persist that would cause tyrouble in the event of war. Britain could be expected to provide aid, they need allies and the Ottomans are old enemies.

Romania would be another easy target. However the conquests have already used up historical claims, and it would mean intruding on the German sphere.

Hungary is a waiting game. IF the Croats take power the gamble is nopt worth it. If the Empire splits a war with Croatia to bring all of the old serbian lands under Sofia.

If Hungary splits would a Habsburg get the new throne?

[rast]

The Germans are glad to have Austria removed from the equation. Already during the war, German opinion of Hungary was much higher than that of Austria.
Bulgaria and Turkey are proven allies, who never questioned or challenged German supreme command.
If not the old allies develop courses of action against German interests, the Germans will most likely stick with them.
(Only a Red-Red government might arrive at the idea of abandoning Turkey.)
The Germans are eager to have many allies, the situation of 1914 has taught them a lesson. They're also glad to have Italy in the boat again.

[glowjack]

Great timeline Rast,
It's gonna be interesting to see the modern economic problems of supply and demand once mass production really kicks in.
Once the industrialists really get going there will be more sellers than buyers as the nature of mass production requires only a few to provide for many, and ironically in an atempt to save costs by outsourcing to lower wage country they also reduce the high income base that buys their products.
EX: I can ship all the auto works in Germany to crechs or russia for 1/2 the wage but then there are only people with 1/2 the money to buy my product, and I'll have to cut back my prouction by 1/2 inorder to keep up and then the purchasing power will dimish further...

The reconsturction of Europe might fuel this as it leads to a temporay increase in demand, leading to the first time finance makes a big debut.
Since most stock buyers require fast growth rates companies will be encouraged only to make short term gain which is terrible for industrial development.

Also we are probably going to see what happens today when companies outsource the most efficient, high-tech, and productive factories in the first world to the third world not because its more effecient physically but because its financially more viable due to lower wages, cheap transportation cost and rigged exchange rates.
it costs about 0.8% of a bulk cargo's value to move the cargo 100Km on large frieghters, 1.8% by railroad and around 12% per 100 km by automobile but since these are modern statistics based upon crude oil transport so I'll have to reduce the efficiency a little

Ship--------------------1.2%/100km
Railroad-----------------2.3%/100km

• Berlin-New Orleans

around 250km rail at 7.75%
around 8500km by frieghter at 102%
total of 109.75% (twice the cost, not accounting distribution once it reaches New Orleans)

• Berlin-New York

around 250km rail at 7.75%
around 5500km by frieghter at 66%
total of 73.75%

• Berlin-Warsaw

around 550km uped to 620km(assuming that the rail is not a striaght line) rail at 13.64%
total of 13.64% which makes it feasible for outsourcing.

and then the bailouts... But the people in this timeline have not developed the international finance mindset(and stock trading overseas by mail is not a smart idea ), but its only a matter of time before technology makes it easier to connect.

[altamiro]

Originally Posted by glowjack

But the people in this timeline have not developed the international finance mindset(and stock trading overseas by mail is not a smart idea ), but its only a matter of time before technology makes it easier to connect.

Almost instantaneus stock trading via telegraph was common since 1870s and led to the stock exchange crash in 1873, and again in 1893 - with global consequences for the financial markets and the real economies.
So it is already there ITTL...

[glowjack]

i knew i forgot something, thx

[rast]

Activity breeds Prosperity
(Kurdish Proverb)

It had taken the Four Pashas some time to come to a solution about Kurdistan and Azerbaijan. Once they had started discussing the issue, the wider repercussions had become clearer and clearer.
The Ottoman Empire was a multi-ethnic and multi-religious realm, the last one in Europe. (The Pashas – like the Sultan himself – were of the firm opinion that the empire was a part of Europe, even if most of its real estate today lay in Asia and Africa.) Austria-Hungary and the Tsars’ colonial empire had already broken apart. So far, dominance of the Pashas had prevented a fragmentation, although the Emirate of Egypt had become factually self-ruling and only nominally bowed to the Sublime Porte.
Kemal Pasha had eliminated the rebellious Bedouins in the Nejd, the Hejaz and in Al-Bahrayn, leaving their bones to bleach under the sun. The Armenians, who had supported the Russians ever since, had been reduced during the war, those still alive either lived in Armenia proper (under German protection, unfortunately) or abroad. The Greek plague had just been solved terminally.
Nevertheless, there remained Arabs, Kurds, Jews, Christians and others, who made up the multi-ethnic and multi-religious mix of the empire. And the Pashas agreed that a violent solution was neither desirable nor necessary for those groups hitherto loyal to the Sublime Porte.
But which solution could ensure the continuity of the empire and at the same time provide a measure of autonomy to the individual groups?
Enver Pasha had argued that without Greeks and Armenians, his Emirate was now made up almost exclusively from Turks and Kurds. If the Kurds could be split off, Anatolia would become a region purely inhabited by Turks. – At least in theory, because of Kurdish diaspora. – Wouldn’t that create a reliable heartland of the empire?
Kemal Pasha had replied that his emirate was made up mainly from Arabs, Jews and Christians – and that it was far better to give everybody equal rights and equal access to education than to create autonomous zones where separatist ideas would be bred. His emirate did have a parliament that represented all inhabitants, why make distinctions between ethnical or religious groups?
Çemal Pasha also thought that creating autonomous areas would set the wrong signal. “Once we give the Kurds what they demand, they will not be satisfied, but want more. Today an autonomous emirate, tomorrow an own state.” The interviews with Sheikh Barzanji had convinced him that Kurds, once they had gotten one finger, soon would demand the whole hand.
Talat Pasha did not believe in creating a Turkish heartland either. “We always have been mixed, if we now start to separate, we’re doomed. – Let us try to create an empire that is acceptable to all groups. After we have destroyed our enemies, let us now head for a state that is acceptable and comforting to its people.”

Thus the idea of a Kurdish Emirate was buried. Instead, the Ottoman Empire would work to improve the infrastructure and the education all over its territory. Like Prussia had once industrialised by building railroads, the empire would now undertake a similar effort. Only if the vast distances could be overcome by boarding a train did the empire have a chance to grow together and form one commonwealth.
At the same time, the Pashas agreed that all religions would be considered equal – and that nobody should be depreciated because of his religion or ethnic origin. The old Millet System was to be revived under modern conditions, the empire could only flourish if nationalism and separatism were overcome.

Because Baku-Azerbaijan – after close scrutiny – was considered already too Germanised, the plan of creating a greater Azerbaijan was also put on hold because the Pashas feared that German influence would spread together with Baku-Azerbaijan wealth.

In the meanwhile, the German EVEG had started to exploit the Kirkuk oil field. A crude oil pipeline was under construction to Iskenderun, where a refinery was being built. The contract with the EVEG gave 60 percent of the earnings to the Ottoman Empire, which had the obligation to provide construction ground for free, and 40 percent to the EVEG, which had the obligation to provide the infrastructure. In return for these favourable conditions, the EVEG had acquired the exploitation rights for oil and gas all over the Ottoman Empire.

These conditions were also noted in Persia, where the haggling with the APOC and the British Government was still ongoing. To the extreme displeasure of the Englishmen, hordes of Japanese prospectors had turned up in Persia, eagerly searching for oil and gas all over the country.

[rast]

Europe, Asia and Africa in early 1922.

[rast]

A Travelling Journalist

Jonathan C. Powell cursed when he saw the group of Negroes step out from the trees. They didn’t look friendly, did they? He turned to his guide – only to discover that his guide was gone, running away rearwards at top speed.
“Hey, you, come here! I need you to translate! Come back!”
But Abel, the guide, didn’t turn around, nor did he slow down.

Now the Negroes advanced, closing in on Jonathan, who held his open hands sideways, indicating that he held no weapons.
They were six, led by a grey haired man who seemed to wear a kind of uniform.
“Bon jour.” the senior mumbled. “Votre passeporte, s’il vous plaît.”
French! Damn! Jonathan’s French consisted of three or four words, ‘oui’, ‘non’, ‘merci’ and ‘au revoir’.
“Do you speak English?”
“You Eengleesh?” Jonathan saw two rifles suddenly pointing at him.
“No, no, - I’m American.” he hurried to point out.
“Ah – Americain, c’est bon. – Seer, yoor passpor’ plees!”
Jonathan fumbled his passport out of his backpack.
The old man scrutinised it closely.
“Yoo doo no haff visa for Gyaaman! – I can geef visa, for ten Dolla’.”
Jonathan thought he dreamed, but compliantly dug a ten Dollar bill out of his pocket.
The old man produced a small ink pad and a seal from his jacket. With great aplomb he marked the passport and handed it back.
“Vellcome to Gyaaman, Sir. – Thees man vill guide yoo to town.” He pointed at one of his black fellows, who smiled a big smile and nodded.
Wondering, Jonathan followed his new guide.

The town turned out to be a village, inhabited by perhaps two hundred natives, at least two thirds of them children.
His new guide led him to a larger hut, where a group of women was sitting in the shadow. He uttered some words in his language and the women laughed.
“Ah, a visitor from the States. – Welcome, Sir, to Gyaaman. My name is Yandava.” a big breasted matron addressed him. “Are you staying over night? Need a room?”
“Actually, I’m here to learn about you and your people. – I’m a journalist...”
“Wonderful. – Have a seat...”

While sipping a refreshing juice, Jonathan learned more about the State of Gyaaman. It had been founded after the white men had been driven out. One thought there were about three hundred villages belonging to Gyaaman. It was an agricultural society ruled by a council of chiefs. The name had been chosen in reverence to the ancient Gyaaman State of the Abron.
Yandava – in her early life – had served as a housemaid in British Gold Coast, thus her excellent English. Now she was the third wife of the village chief, an ancient guy called Ompooro, who slept most time of the day – and then complained that he couldn’t sleep at night.
Did people miss the whites? No, not at all. One was happy to live in the traditional way without interference by the colonials, who never had had any understanding for the native ways.

It was a tranquil society that Jonathan got to know. Self supplying and decent, the natives lived a fulfilled life, at least in Jonathan’s perception.
Consequently, his book “Somewhere in Africa” became a bestseller and launched a wave of western self-seekers invading the country, eager to pay their ten dollars for a visa to famous ‘Mr. Grey’ – and get Yandava’s ‘wise’ counsels.

[Herr Frage]

The map is much appreciated. IUt is annoying that the Ottomans despite being clearly a Swasian Empire try to claim status as Europeans, equivalent exchange, have to give something up. Also with all th ethnic cleansing I am hoping to see the Ottomans suffer a major setback.

Also what has been happening in the Hetmanate?

[LordInsane]

Originally Posted by Herr Frage

IUt is annoying that the Ottomans despite being clearly a Swasian Empire try to claim status as Europeans, equivalent exchange, have to give something up.

On the other hand, they were recognised as European by Europeans right up to 1918. Sick Man of Europe, remember? So I wouldn't say they are 'clearly a Swasian Empire'...