Hmm... I don't consider this to be a major war effort, but I... Anyway, one might have found out after WW1 that this was ineffective.ORIGINAL: mikemike
He might have - he was the inventor of the strategy of attacks from the air on the civilian population to undermine morale. Those chickens would come home to roost with a vengeance in WWII; and it must have made him very unpopular in Britain.
So this name can be considered, but we have better ones...
Can you send me the specifications of the boats of which it makes sense to keep them in use? Or do you have a website were I can read this? I'm pretty sure that I one of my books, but I'm pretty busy atm and a little lazy as well [;)]You don't need the old boats for that, there are about 50 new A-class boats for those purposes
What is a worthwhile armement? 2x3 or 2x4 Torpedolauncher, 1 DP and some light AAA isn't that bad, no?Sure the Reichsmarine/Kriegsmarine used those old crocks - it was all they had left in the beginning. I know the website you got your class information from, but the boats ordered between 1906 and 1910 were at least 4 distinct classes. Using the 1909/1910 boats would be feasible, if you're prepared to pay for the reconstruction, but I don't know if it would be cost-effective - the boats were really too small for any worthwhile modern armament.
I know, but adding anti-torpedo bulges may be done while the rearmement. Moreover, a pre-Dread is better than nothing, no? The idea is to use them for second line duty like escorting convois or bombardement within own aircraft range - they are useless for any offensive actions anyway because of their slow speed (never more than 20-21 kn) and short range (4000-5500 nm)Technically feasible - but be warned - the pre-dreadnoughts are deathtraps. Remember what happened to SMS Pommern at Jutland - one torpedo hit and the ship blew up with all hands. I think there ought to be a better use for 850 crewmembers.
We both are Germans, so we both learn in school and media the omnipresent "Germania culpa"One more thing:
Look how fast the "Friendship" between France and Germany was installed after 1945. It was already in 1952, when the EGKS was founded and in 1963 the Elysée Treaty was signed. In my scenario, Germany accepted peace as there's no big chance to win the war while the loss of the war isn't likely as well.
The difference is that after 1945 Germany was irrevocably, utterly and undisputably beaten and chopped up and its parts useful as buffer zones for their respective victors, while in your scenario Germany remains as an empire, even with an expanded alliance. I don't think the French would have been inclined to friendship in that case
A total defeat of both sides isn't necessary. There has been a free choice for the population of Alsace-Lorraine to which country they want to belong, so no country can claim this as casus belli.
But my idea isn't a friendship between France and Germany, it is one between Germany and GB. I talk about this friendship (, the leftist government and the economic weakness) to explain why GB allows Germany such a big number of disarmed ships and a massive expansion program after 1936 which gets close to Britains own strength.
I already thought about an abdication of Wilhelm II. and the enthronement of Wilhelm III. but I still seek a reason for that.That was actually part of the problem. King Edward VII cordially loathed his nephew Wilhelm II, whom he regarded as a loudmouthed upstart. There might have been an element of jealousy in that, as Wilhelm II was his mother's favourite grandchild. Anyway, that attitude certainly influenced British foreign policy. Churchill fought against Germany to eliminate a dangerous rival to the British Empire. This was also his main motive in WWII - I'm convinced he would happily have waged war against any kind of German government, not just against Hitler. I don't believe Britain would have consented to leaving Wilhelm II on the throne - not when the very effective British propaganda had been busily painting him as a bloodthirsty, baby-killing monster.
As the war isn't lost and Germany didn't have to beg for peace - why should he abdicate? However, this is only a side note which should be inside the description for the completed scenario. It isn't that important to find a reason for this, now, I guess.
