Europe Buildup

[Carthaginian]

I kind of like the 'Super Netherlands' solution.
Better position for a PC nation than Poland.

[Jefgte]

2. Both go to Germany

Because, I start in 1880 with the 3rd Republic Governement.
France had lost Alsace Lorraine after the 1870 war.

Jef is in charge of the
"Ministère de la Guerre"
(War minister)

[Walter]

La Troisième République ?!? Non! Ce n'est pas possible!!! La République est mort!
Vive l'Empereur!!! :D


... uhm... wait a minute... he's dead already... sorry about that.
Vive la République!!! ;D

[Sachmle]

2. Both go to Germany

Because, I start in 1880 with the 3rd Republic Governement.
France had lost Alsace Lorraine after the 1870 war.

Jef is in charge of the
"Ministère de la Guerre"
(War minister)

Only if that is the history you, and by default since it involves him, Nobody decide on. In this timeline France could have won in 1870 for all we know.

[Jefgte]

Yeeeeahh

I prefer won the war & had an Emperor  :D  :D  :D

France;  III Empire

Cool.

I am always Minister of the War since 1-1-1880


Jef  ;)

[Nobody]

I have no issues with number 4 - especially if that prevents Jef from trying to steal them from me.

[Carthaginian]

Too late, Jef!
I done stole Napoleon IV from you!!!
He is now officially a co-opted Cannucklehead.

Vive l'Empereur!

[TexanCowboy]

SUPER FRISIAN EMPIRE FTW!

[Borys]

Ahoj!
A POD which changes the history of all of Western Europe is one single Y chromosone - have Charles the Nutter have a son, who also has a son, and who begets a son - you catch the pattern?
To simplify things in the south do a swap - Lotharingen for Burgundy.
Today these lands -
Netherlands + Belgium + Luxemburg + Lorrain + Atrois and the Somme valley = 35-40M people

But like I said - you'd have to re-rewrite everything from 1477 onwards - weaker Habsburgs, weaker France, probably no Italian wars - not to mention the excitement when the main line of the Valois dies out ... to keep the two countries separate, I'd suggest the Burgund line to go prot (just like the Bourbon line did), and then be sidelined by the Bourbons who were quicker to convert ("Paris is well worth a Mass") ...

Borys

[Nobody]

I think the idea of an independent "Elsaß-Lothringen" is worth a though.
France still could have lost the 1870 war and these three provinces, but there could be more options how, and for the future.

Anyway, here is my "maximum NPC proposal" with neutral Netherlands, Belgium, Great Luxemburg, Elsaß-Lothringen and Switzerland.


I'm fine with either solution, but what do others think?

[Guinness]

I think this is OK.

[Carthaginian]

Hmmm... minimal direct PC nation interaction- I like.
Will help keep tensions down at home.

[Korpen]

I think the idea of an independent "Elsaß-Lothringen" is worth a though.
France still could have lost the 1870 war and these three provinces, but there could be more options how, and for the future.

Anyway, here is my "maximum NPC proposal" with neutral Netherlands, Belgium, Great Luxemburg, Elsaß-Lothringen and Switzerland.


I'm fine with either solution, but what do others think?

I do think it looks a bit weird with Elass-Lothringen as an independent, either Germany took it after a 1871 war, or it did not (like Bismarck wanted) and Alsace-Lorraine with its iron mine and German-speaking population is still a part of France.
I have a really hard seeing an independent Alsace-Lorraine in any believable scenario without re-writing most of Europe's history. If it was part of France, its legal status would matter little, it would be land stolen.
I do think it a bit contrived to create a tiny NPC only to try and get rid of a border 8especilly as the military effect of such a state would be minimal).

An unrelated issue: the Nordic kingdoms also claims Jan Mayen and Svalbard as territory.

[Jefgte]

For me, Elsas-Lothringen is not realist.

- Alsace Lorraine are Germany provinces since the 1870 war.
- Switzerland, Belgium, Netherland & Luxembourg are neutral.


Jef

[Jefgte]

From the French Foreign Office:

"If you believe that this narrow strip of land will stop the barbarian hordes from the east, allow me to doubt..."
;D  ;D  ;D


Jef