A democratic but nuclear-armed Weimar Germany?

[ahmedali]

There were plenty of Germans who supported the democratic government. Voter turnout in 1928 was 75%. 80% of those votes were for parties that were not reactionary and anti-democratic. The government ended up being a coalition of center and left parties. The Nazis picked up a lot of power in the 1930 election, and then 1932, but a majority of Germans still supported democracy and often liberalism. The Nazis taking power was due to backroom deals between scared conservatives, not the will of the people, who still by all indications believed in democracy and freedom.

The enormous weakness and illegitimacy of the Weimar Republic is Nazi propaganda that everyone bought for some reason.

Even the "weakness" of the German economy was partially an illusion (to try and get out of payments), and was exaggerated by Nazi propaganda.

Germany ended up going Nazi, but it could just as easily have gone Communist or lurched along as a liberal democracy, especially if the economy picked up - say, by easing war reparations or changing them to be in the form of patent licenses instead of gold.

A year later, support for non-reactionary and liberal parties decreased to 30 or 40 percent after one year

The Nazis had successful propaganda and their calls to reverse Versailles and restore the real German lands had great support among the people, so the Nazis had great popular support and until 1938 they viewed Hitler as the greatest German leader, not a deal

Hitler was well aware in 1933 that if he did not become chancellor he could stage a coup and was confident he had the backing.

(The Nazi Party was the biggest party in the Reichstag elections in 1932 so this shows you the support it had)

Therefore, when the Germans were given the choice between restoring what is their right and demanding a reform of the injustice that occurred from their point of view, and between democracy and liberalism, they chose the former.

The conservatives were royalists when the Nazis hated the monarchy and tried to overthrow them several times

(Many conspiracies that wanted to overthrow Hitler, including Auster and Valkyrie, were originally planned and executed by the monarchists and were to restore the monarchy immediately after its success, while the liberals and democrats did nothing)

When you say that the Germans supported democracy and liberalism, you ignore that the German Empire was a democratic country and a constitutional monarchy that was even more democratic than the United Kingdom in 1900.

(The right to vote for men was provided in Germany when it did not exist in Britain and was reserved for the nobility)

So simply, if there is no Hitler, welcome the Kaiser again (Louis I or Wilhelm IV, choose what you want)

(It paradoxically guarantees more democracy and liberalism, since the monarchists agreed that any restoration would make the British-style constitutional monarchy no room for the 1871 constitution)

 

[Michel Van]

What I meant is that they will join the war way before the Germans go through Belgium (and regardless if Germany goes through Belgium).

Chamberlain want at any cost peace and keep Britain Neutral.
As little Austrian start to invade everyone in Europe, Chamberlain resign and Churchill became PM

In this version of history before 1941
we're Germany only attack France, it realistic that Chamberlain look the other way and survive the motion of no confidence by opposition.
Happen the invasion after dead of Chamberlain in 1941, the new PM decide about declaration of War

 

[Onslow123]

How will a Germany with ToV territory deliver this nuke, assuming that they get it in the 50s? Presumably they have an aviation industry at least on par with Britains and can build their own V-bomber rather than the French Vatour.

Germans would probably use rockets, because it was technology not covered by ToV, in OTL Verein für Raumsciffahrt predates Nazy takeower and had military connections (there is more to read about the association in Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verein_für_Raumschiffahrt).
The problems with rocket technology are twofold, firstly the weight, OTL early bombs were over 4000 kg, OTL V2 had useful cargo of 1000 kg. The second problem is money, that for research to miniaturize the warheads and that to increase useful cargo.
According to Wikipedia: In OTL Mark 7 nuclear bomb from 1952 was first to weigh under 1000 kg, and W9 280 mm artillery shell from 1952 weighted uder 400 kg. In the field of rocket tecnology Wenher von Braun had in OL plans and development of heavier A9 to A12 rockets, that vere quite promising.

If the gap between capability of rockets and artllery to use nuclear warheads (that are in te beginning too heavy) is not yet solved, it is still possible to use nuclear landmines for most possible breaktrough locations of enemy assaults.