I've been knocking this idea around in my head for a time.It is partly a conceit for gaming,partly a distraction and partly fun.I have been imagining Europe without German Unification in 1871.I imagined the small (or larger even) 18th century states ,which inspire many gamers, continuing into the 20th century.Ok Prussia wil be a large influential state along with a few others but the wee ones will continue.The structures of the Holy Roman Empire will trundle on and I imagined WW1 taking place but with some changes of sides/allies.Austria needs to be factored in as well as the continuing Italian states who never unified either- hence Duchy of Volare- Cantare etc.
I wondered also about taking the armies of "The Wargame" and "Charge" into the interwar period.In my mind's eye I saw the Vereinigte Frei Stadte with half tracks,the Oldenburg Regt flag draped on tanks for air identification...
I am interested in your thoughts and ideas as ever-please leave me a comment...
I wonder if WW1 would have taken place at all. The European balance of power that made it possible would have looked very different without a united Germany in place.
ReplyDeletePerhaps Germany would have cohered into something like a North German Confederation on the one hand in Prussia's pocket with a "South German Confederation" consisting of Bavaria and the othe Catholic states and looking more to Vienna.
Greg
PS - I'd see the SGC as being the battlefirld between the NGC and the Austrians.
ReplyDeleteG
Greg,
ReplyDeleteInteresting thoughts re my "If" scenario.and there is much to be said for the SGC and NGC idea.I like the idea of different contingents from the little states making up a sort of Reicharmee.Each with diverse equipment and uniforms and levels of training and willingness to fight.
An interesting premise, Alan. I've wondered what the world would have been like if Kaiser Frederick III had not died, but achieved his ambition of reforming rule of the German State along British parliamentary lines.
ReplyDeletehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_III,_German_Emperor
An autocratic Kaiser like his son would never have possessed the kind of historical power which led to the world wars. I think some kind of war would have taken place, perhaps with a Communist/Socialist Russia.
Interesting link and story AJ,thanks for sharing it.
DeleteIt is a very interesting 'What if ...'!
ReplyDeleteIf Germany had not unified in 1870, then France would have been left without the trauma of defeat to overcome ... and been more of a threat to the British Empire.
The chances are that Italy would have become split into two main 'spheres' (a Piedmont-controlled Northern Confederation and the Kingdom of Naples) with the Papal States between them acting as a buffer.
The development of the technology of war would also have been slower, and it would not be unreasonable to imagine that your 'First World War' would have been more like the Franco-Prussian War with the addition of heavy machine guns and motor vehicles.
All the best,
Bob
Interesting comment Bob.The French part was something I had not thought of.Tempting gaming of Volunteers Rifles v French invaders to be resisted here...
DeleteThe Italian idea seems very plausible.Your technology comment has me thinking too...
Interesting comment Bob.The French part was something I had not thought of.Tempting gaming of Volunteers Rifles v French invaders to be resisted here...
DeleteThe Italian idea seems very plausible.Your technology comment has me thinking too...
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