Quote:
Originally Posted by Astromancer
Try this...
On one Q6 world, a German spy in Moscow in June of 1914 manages to let his superiors know that the Russians really think they need to attack soon or be crushed. The Germans in Homeline history found out the Russians were mobilizing for war just early enough that the Russians lost any advantage of secrecy. In this parallel, the Germans attack before the Russian mobilization is more than just started. The main German attack is back towards France which declared war as soon as they knew Russia was attacked. A declaration given only as the troops started mobilizing. In this world, the Germans high command takes the British view of Belgium seriously. They don't risk touching Belgium soil and thus don't panic Britain early.
By early 1915 Russia has collapsed and Germany is at a massive advantage in France. Lacking a two-Front war, Germany pushes hard against France. Britain demands that all parties go to the negotiating table. The Kaiser mistakes British arrogance for fear. And the Brits mistake self-confidence for aggression. The Kriegsmarine is quickly and soundly beaten by the Royal Navy, but France, which never recovered from an early attack, falls hard.
This is basically a very nasty anti-glamourous Cold War with lots of Napoleonic qualities thrown in. Britain rules the seas and Germany, with Austria and Italy for allies (Italy decided to join the winners once they knew who would win, which was obvious early in this world) rule the continent of Europe. Neither France nor Russia is easy to hold. The Tsar is a prisoner in Bavaria and Lenin and Stalin have been shot. However Rosa Luxemburg, with Trotsky and Emma Goldman as her lieutenants, is proving to be more than the German state bargained for. Russia is a mass of pretty furious revolts and bleeding Germany slowly dry. Britain's economy is a mess and German submarine warfare is slowly collapsing the food supply.
Homeline favors Britain, Centrum sees the Kaiser as the path to world unity, the Cabal sees easy pickings. |
What would you call this world? Maybe a Kaiserene (I think that's the Infinity designation for 'Germany wins WWI' worlds)?
Would Centrum overcome their Anglophilia to support Germany over the U.K.? The U.K. is still pretty hierarchical at this point (even more so than Homeline, without experience of battlefield WWI), and would seem to be the better bet than Germany, given Homeline history (which Interworld is well acquainted with).
Infinity would back the British over the Kaiser, but would have different aims than Interworld. Infinity would be focused on Germany collapsing peacefully, and not submitting to Britain or any Treaty of Versailles. Interworld would want a clear British victory leading to 'Pax Britannia'.
And presumably the U.S. would on the sidelines, staying out of European wars. But it would be hard to stay out of it, given the large oceanic war, from German submarines to larger British blockade.