Austria inside: a Greater German Empire TL
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I seem to recall that when West Tirol was annexed, it was largely depopulated and was repopulated by Tyrolese Germans.
This is right.
Anyway, West Tyrol had (also IOTL) their own small German population, which retained historical ties with the Grisons as they belonged to the Grey League (Graubünden) for some time when both sides were still part of the HRE.
IT has some sense that the population of West Tyrol would prefer to stick with the Grisons rather to royalist Austrian Tyrol, administered from far Innsbruck.
must agree with the triumvirate it possibly would have been better having a Kanzler from the dominant party or having it rotate between the major and minir states.
ie prussia Austria bavaria with one of the smaller ones in between before rotating through the big three.
unless the german empire manages to keep GB on side during any war/s they could be in for a world of hurt.
After a hiatus caused by work, tomorrow I will publish a new chapter of this TL.
Spoiler: the title is "William III and the Prussian Empire"
I cannot wait!
CHAPTER XXI: WILLIAM III AND THE PRUSSIAN EMPIRE
After six months of ‘voluntary’ exile in Sweden, former Kaiser William III and his wife Wilhelmina, the former Queen of the disappeared German Netherlands, return by surprise to German soil on December 22nd 1910.
After a secret stop in Riga, the couple reappears in public in Reval, the Estonian capital, where the local Duke has invited them in order to support the isolated Eastern royalists in their campaign against the USR expansion. At that moment, the German Baltic duchies are loyal to the royalist government in Danzig, which thinks that actual Kaiser Frederick IV has betrayed the Prussian royalists. However, this government is weak and lacks of true leadership, something that the USR has used in its own profit for expanding westwards.
During January 1911, the former imperial couple travels to Danzig, escorted by German Baltic loyalists. The government in Danzig welcomes the return of them and plans to restore them in the throne; as the rest of German states refuse any approach to them, the Danzig officers create a new title of Emperor of Prussia (Prussia as an entity had practically vanished), who would rule over the three Prussian provinces and the German Baltic duchies. Sweden and Russia would eventually recognize the new Empire just for practical reasons, as the vacuum of legitimate power in Northern Germany was blatant by 1911.
Russia resumes then the former alliance with the Prussian monarchy, in order to contain the USR advances into both realms. At first, the new alliance is a success: the USR troops are cleared from the borderlands and even Estonia and Livonia recover part of their former territories. Russia and Prussia sign the Treaty of Pskov (April 28th) for delimiting their common borders: Prussia returns Pskov and part of Ingria to Russia while Russia recognizes Prussian sovereignty over the Baltic duchies (which were formerly Russian).
However, despite this initial success, the new Empire of Prussia has to deal with the huge spread of the Republican ideals among their lower classes. Most of Polish and Baltic nationalists assume Republican ideals as well, causing failed Republican uprisings in Posen, Danzig and Riga. Empress Wilhelmina, who had not recovered from her depressive episodes, is attacked (5th October 1911) by a Republican mob when visiting the city of Elblag. She survives the attack but the trauma would make her to seek reclusion in the palace of Danzig, thus upsetting the Emperor.
During 1912, the number and intensity of riots caused by the Republicans exponentially increase. The Emperor suffers two attempts of assassination (March 18th and June 3rd) and finally the Imperial couple decides to move to the historical castle of Marienburg, for their own safety. William III and his wife soon withdraw from public life and delegate their power to a series of pretty inept Ministers who would eventually lose control of the situation. Thus, the Prussian Army takes finally over (September 12th) and the ‘country’ becomes a sort of military dictatorship, under the rule of General Paul von Hindenburg.
General Paul von Hindenburg, ruler of Prussia (1912-1913).
Von Hindenburg is a widely respected General who moreover has a crystal clear political vision. He soon realizes that the Empire of Prussia would not survive in its current political isolation from the other German states, either Republican or Royal ones. He arranges secret meeting with authorities from the Free State of Brandenburg, as well as with Austrian delegations. The United Kingdom, which is suffering the Republican Revolution events because of the disturbance in their trade routes to the East Mediterranean, would also join the meetings in order to help the German states in restoring peace.
The secret conversations between Von Hindenburg (royal Prussia), Ebert (representing the Free states) and the Austrian representatives would lead to the Compromise of Potsdam (November 28th). The exact clauses of the Compromise would never leak, but would pave the way to a difficult reunification of the German states, respecting both the Republican and the Royalist forms of self-government.
However, neither the Free States nor Austria are eager to accept William III and his wife again. Von Hindenburg and his closer officers also despise them due to their erratic attitude and love for reclusion. Anyway, they know they still enjoy some support from the Prussians; thus, after long discussions, the military Prussian government decides to remove their Imperial titles (January 8th 1913) alleging incapability to assume their duties. The couple is allowed to live under strict reclusion at Marienburg, but they eventually opt for mutual suicide (January 21st), even if this episode has been tipped many times as a covered assassination.
Big map coming soon
I cannot wait to see it!
Would it not make more sense, for historical reasons, that Royal Prussia's capital be Königsberg instead of Danzig?
Will the arrangement with Russia sea a greater connectivity of Germany's Baltic lands?
Who is the new Emperor of Prussia at this point?
I like this final de-Prussianisation of Germany, with the abolishment of the Kaiser, has made the Austrian King the most powerful monarch in Germany.
Edit: I am still hoping for an enlarged Saxony under the Wettins.
Have the other powers used this time to take control of some of Germany's colonies or have the Southern German states have control over them?
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Well, Danzig was just a casual relocation of the former Royalist government in Berlin. It is closer to Berlin and far from troubles in the borders with USR; it was, anyway, a provisional situation.
Yes, you will see it on the following mini-map
The (still) legitimate King of Prussia is Frederick IV, William's younger brother. But as former Prussia has technically fallen, the Royalist govt in Danzig decided to recreate the title for their 'restored' new monarch William III.
Samuel Von Straßburg11515878 said:I like this final de-Prussianisation of Germany, with the abolishment of the Kaiser, has made the Austrian King the most powerful monarch in Germany.
Yes, Rudolf is now the most prominent monarch and he has the Kaiser truely puppetized.
Samuel Von Straßburg11515878 said:
Your wishes may come true
Samuel Von Straßburg11515878 said:
The colonial German Navy is controlled by Austria and other southern allies right now, and it is still powerful enough to keep their ground. Moreover, UK is still an ally from 'legal' Germany and they are not going to steal German colonies.
I´d prefer if it was a suicide, otherwise it would mean that even secluded in their palace the outside world hunted them down.
Germany got the colonies only for 5 years, I bet that they don´t really control everything they have de jure so they would not lose control, merely stop expanding their control and stay on the coast until things are restored.
I got bored so I made this little map out of the one of post-war Germany(a bit modified, not 100% matching):
Blue = Union of German Republics
Dark Green = Confederation of German Republics(or Free States?)
Grey = Neutral Republics
Light Green = Neutral Free States
Pinkish White = Austria and Austrian influenced states
Yellow = Prussia and Prussian related states
Edit: Now it´s outdated lol and there is no spoiler so if this image disturbs I will remove it.
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One thought has just occurred to me, will Frankfurt become the capital of Germany post civil war? My logic is that Berlin is to firmly on the democracy camp, so that excludes it. Frankfurt is on the other hand ore central capital that could be held as a neutral place between monarchies and democracies.
Yes, it is obvious. As long as there is a compromise between republics and royal states, Frankfurt just lies between both areas and is not stuck to any particular power.
Just beyond the fact that it's hard to see how or why the Austrians would let it get to that point, I don't see how that's relevant at all. The French army was perfectly capable of crushing the Commune while German troops still occupied most of northern France. Austria would seem like they should have an easier time crushing a Hungarian uprising than France did crushing the Commune, at least so far as what the presence of Prussian troops does.
And Bismarck will *want* Austria to crush a Hungarian uprising, because Bismarck doesn't want to break up the Habsburg Empire. Certainly Bismarck has no interest in a "Kingdom of Austria" that will be included in the German Empire, which is exactly what he fears will happen if the Habsburgs get independence. That's the whole reason he backs Austria-Hungary against Russia in the first place. Why is he just leaning into this outcome, when he could easily crush the Hungarians, or allow the Austrians to do so?
Getting back to the initial issue - why would this happen? Did you ever explain what the actual POD is? Is it just "Austria doesn't surrender after Königgrätz and decides to fight on for no reason"? Why would they do that?
CHAPTER XXII: END OF THE REVOLUTION. THE CONSTITUTION OF 1914.
Once William III is not an issue for the Royalist side anymore, the clauses of the Compromise of Potsdam start to be applied, beginning with the redaction of a new brand Constitution for the Empire of Germany that could satisfy both the Republican and the Royalist sides.
Meanwhile, the main handicap in 1913 for the final reintegration of all German states is the refusal of the Republics to reform as Free States. At first, neutral Rhineland support the positions of Angria and Westphalia, advocating for a Confederation of German Republics, independent from Frankfurt, but open to new admissions as long as still-Royalist states could become Republics or Free States.
However, the United Kingdom decides to intervene in order to secure their commercial routes through Germany until the key port of Trieste. The threat of a British invasion, tolerated by Berlin and Frankfurt, makes Rhineland to swap positions and then supports the Compromise, as well as Nassau and later also Meuseland. The defection of some Republics do not deter Angria to launch a campaign against the Free States, but the increasing lack of support to its radical thesis makes them to fail and thus Brandenburg and its allies takes control of Hannover (12th April 1913), putting an end to the dispute.
Between this time and August, the remaining Republics reform their Constitutions to adapt to the Free State formula. Only Swabia resists, but finally also cedes (2nd September 1913) due to the threat of an invasion commanded by the southern states. Southland is also granted as a Free State, but not Croatia, which is under direct influence of Vienna; the provinces of the former Prussian Empire opt also for transforming into Free States, excepting Estonia, because of the popularity of the ducal family there.
The last conflict to be solved is the New Palatinate issue. Following a plebiscite (October 18th), six western cantons (including Darmstadt) vote to join the Free State of the Palatinate, while the four eastern cantons vote for remaining under Bavarian rule, joining the Autonomous Province of Franconia. Thus, the new Imperial district of Frankfurt-am-Main is still delimited by Royalist soil (Bavaria), even if it is mostly surrounded by Free States (Hessen, Nassau and Palatinate).
The redaction of the new Constitution is supervised by Von Hindenburg, Ebert and the Austrian government. Kaiser Frederick IV is deprived of any participation, as long as it has been agreed at the Compromise that the Kaiser would be downgraded to a mere symbolic figure with even less powers that the Kings of England or Sweden. The Kaiser protest this decision, but he is virtually secluded in Frankfurt and he is unable to influence in the redaction in any way.
New German flag adopted after the new Constitution of 1914.
The Diet (Tag) is initially designed to be composed by members voted through constituencies, similar to the English system, but an alternative system of lists is finally approved. The Senate (Rat) is, however, not directly elected, but the government of every state will elect two senators according to the ruling political parties: if a political party get an overall majority in a state parliament, it could choose two own senators but if it wins with only relative majority then it could choose only one, while the opposition will be electing the second senator.
In order to balance the weight between Republicans and Royalists, Austria, Bavaria and Bohemia-Moravia are granted to choose two senators per province. Thus, Austria is allowed to choose up to 22 senators (2 per province plus 2 representing Croatia). In total, the Diet is composed by 670 members and the Senate by 112 representatives.
The new Diet is elected through the General elections of March 1914, where the SPD of Friedrich Ebert wins an overall majority of 364/670 seats. The Diet passes the new Constitution, which is later ratified by the Senate, thus being enforced upon May 16th 1914.
Once William III is not an issue for the Royalist side anymore, the clauses of the Compromise of Potsdam start to be applied, beginning with the redaction of a new brand Constitution for the Empire of Germany that could satisfy both the Republican and the Royalist sides.
Meanwhile, the main handicap in 1913 for the final reintegration of all German states is the refusal of the Republics to reform as Free States. At first, neutral Rhineland support the positions of Angria and Westphalia, advocating for a Confederation of German Republics, independent from Frankfurt, but open to new admissions as long as still-Royalist states could become Republics or Free States.
However, the United Kingdom decides to intervene in order to secure their commercial routes through Germany until the key port of Trieste. The threat of a British invasion, tolerated by Berlin and Frankfurt, makes Rhineland to swap positions and then supports the Compromise, as well as Nassau and later also Meuseland. The defection of some Republics do not deter Angria to launch a campaign against the Free States, but the increasing lack of support to its radical thesis makes them to fail and thus Brandenburg and its allies takes control of Hannover (12th April 1913), putting an end to the dispute.
Between this time and August, the remaining Republics reform their Constitutions to adapt to the Free State formula. Only Swabia resists, but finally also cedes (2nd September 1913) due to the threat of an invasion commanded by the southern states. Southland is also granted as a Free State, but not Croatia, which is under direct influence of Vienna; the provinces of the former Prussian Empire opt also for transforming into Free States, excepting Estonia, because of the popularity of the ducal family there.
The last conflict to be solved is the New Palatinate issue. Following a plebiscite (October 18th), six western cantons (including Darmstadt) vote to join the Free State of the Palatinate, while the four eastern cantons vote for remaining under Bavarian rule, joining the Autonomous Province of Franconia. Thus, the new Imperial district of Frankfurt-am-Main is still delimited by Royalist soil (Bavaria), even if it is mostly surrounded by Free States (Hessen, Nassau and Palatinate).
The redaction of the new Constitution is supervised by Von Hindenburg, Ebert and the Austrian government. Kaiser Frederick IV is deprived of any participation, as long as it has been agreed at the Compromise that the Kaiser would be downgraded to a mere symbolic figure with even less powers that the Kings of England or Sweden. The Kaiser protest this decision, but he is virtually secluded in Frankfurt and he is unable to influence in the redaction in any way.
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New German flag adopted after the new Constitution of 1914.
The Diet (Tag) is initially designed to be composed by members voted through constituencies, similar to the English system, but an alternative system of lists is finally approved. The Senate (Rat) is, however, not directly elected, but the government of every state will elect two senators according to the ruling political parties: if a political party get an overall majority in a state parliament, it could choose two own senators but if it wins with only relative majority then it could choose only one, while the opposition will be electing the second senator.
In order to balance the weight between Republicans and Royalists, Austria, Bavaria and Bohemia-Moravia are granted to choose two senators per province. Thus, Austria is allowed to choose up to 22 senators (2 per province plus 2 representing Croatia). In total, the Diet is composed by 670 members and the Senate by 112 representatives.
The new Diet is elected through the General elections of March 1914, where the SPD of Friedrich Ebert wins an overall majority of 364/670 seats. The Diet passes the new Constitution, which is later ratified by the Senate, thus being enforced upon May 16th 1914.
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