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  1. Germaniac

    No WWI: impact on the Ottoman Empire

    Without the support of the Turkish leadership, it’s impossible. I believe any hope of an Ottoman Identity dies with that war. It’s like asking the average American in 2001 to turn the other cheek. The Turks saw the Balkan war as a final betrayal by the minorities of the Empire and that the...
  2. Germaniac

    No WWI: impact on the Ottoman Empire

    Had the Ottoman Empire survived to the present day, in the form you lay out, it would be much more powerful economically, culturally, and militarily than the Saudis/Kuwait/UAE/Qatar combined. Though the Ottomans had lost the Balkan War in 1912-13, they were not necessarily "in decline". The...
  3. Germaniac

    A better Ottoman Navy for WW1

    Conversion to Oil would occur later, maybe in the 30's. Its unlikely the Ottomans would scrap a ship like the Blucher, even if it was outdated even when purchased. So, like the Averoff in OTL, it will likely have a rebuild and will be converted to Oil at that point. Regarding the Germans, the...
  4. Germaniac

    A better Ottoman Navy for WW1

    Yes, the Imperial Arsenal could theoretically build ships, but it would need serious modernization. The Abdul Kadir class in all honesty isn’t a bad design, incorporating a lot learned from British shipbuilders who came to survey the shipyards in the 1890’s, but construction was done on the...
  5. Germaniac

    A better Ottoman Navy for WW1

    That’s going to be Anglo-Persian Oil’s income, not what the Ottomans will receive. But even then, the Ottomans are still a great power, and contrary to popular understanding the Ottomans had excellent credit. The financial reforms since 1881 had been comprehensive, and if the Ottoman...
  6. Germaniac

    A better Ottoman Navy for WW1

    In my opinion there is only one ship that’s reasonably available and would be a game changer for the Ottomans, the Blucher. The ship is practically pointless for the Germans, and is arguably more than a match for the Averof. Had they really pushed the Germans I believe they would have sold it...
  7. Germaniac

    A better Ottoman Navy for WW1

    For the most part this is correct. Everyone knew the oil potential in the region, or at least strongly suspected. Abdul Hamid used this as a bargaining chip to balance priorities he had, mostly resolving foreign damage claims related to the 1897 repression of Armenian populations in...
  8. Germaniac

    A better Ottoman Navy for WW1

    The problem with oil extraction in the middle east is that the companies who had the rights (first it was deutche Bank, which then transferred to Turkish Petroleum, which became the Iraqi Petroleum Company) had little incentive to build the infrastructure and extract the oil due to the extremely...
  9. Germaniac

    Germany without Austria-Hungary in WWI - are they better off?

    I’m including attacking through Poland in my calculation of the Russian ability to supply and maintain an additional army. Sure, they could throw multiple armies into the region paradox style, but they can’t support them.
  10. Germaniac

    Germany without Austria-Hungary in WWI - are they better off?

    Russia avoided building up infrastructure in the border regions and already faced significant difficulties maintaining supplies for two armies let alone six. They would be able to at most maintain a third army in the region, though even this would likely be enough to swamp the 8th Army (which...
  11. Germaniac

    What happens to the Austrian monarchy in a Greater German Empire?

    There was no history of a King of Bavaria until 1806 either. I doubt a Hapsburg will remain as the head of state of Austria if they aren't granted a Kingship to be on at least equal level of Bavaria, Saxony, and Wurttemberg.
  12. Germaniac

    What happens to the Austrian monarchy in a Greater German Empire?

    I actually think it would be the opposite. I think Archduke Joseph August, Palatine of Hungary, would be more likely to take the Hungarian throne in such a scenario. His branch of the family had resided in Hungary since his grandfather (5th son of Leopold II) was named Palatine. Karl would...
  13. Germaniac

    What would government be like in a surviving Ottoman Empire?

    I agree, it entirely depends on how ranging from a centralized militarized stratocracy to a Liberal parliamentary democracy, its all about the journey. Most likely though your run of the mill Parliamentary system with a figure head sultan and a very independent military.
  14. Germaniac

    Falkenhayn's Spring Offensive

    Well there's alot to unpack there, and the situation is entirely different than OTL. In this case it wont likely be a 'grand offensive' instead something directed at either Amien or Hazebrouck.
  15. Germaniac

    Germany strong arms Austria-Hungary into compensating Italy for Bosnia

    The only concessions the Italians would accept were Libya or Albania. The Austrians will never willingly allow the Italians to have sole influence over both sides of the Adriatic so Albania is a non starter, not to mention the Ottomans won't give it up without a fight. Libya is more possible...
  16. Germaniac

    Could the Ottomans have federalised?

    Perhaps the two groups could come to some agreement at the Congress of Ottoman Liberals in 1902. If Ahmet Riza, who was far too extreme in his views at the time (especially his ties to Comte and Positivism), was pushed aside in favor of a less rigid individual maybe the two sides could see past...
  17. Germaniac

    If the Ottomans had sided with the Entente in WW1, how much longer would the Sick Man hold on?

    The Ottoman army by this time would be perfectly capable of putting down rebellion. Without the War it’s very unlikely the Armenians suffer a similar fate, even then outright rebellion was unlikely. The Arab community supported the Ottoman state. There were rebellious Arabs to the south in Yemen...
  18. Germaniac

    If the Ottomans had sided with the Entente in WW1, how much longer would the Sick Man hold on?

    Understood, though I disagree that they were not capable of surviving post 1908, but by a 1913 POD I think they cannot survive indefinitely.
  19. Germaniac

    If the Ottomans had sided with the Entente in WW1, how much longer would the Sick Man hold on?

    If the Ottomans aren't busy falling apart I suspect the Rashidi (Jabal Shammar) will continue to be supported by them. With Ottoman support I doubt the Saudi's will be able to unify the peninsula and instead we may have a Rashidi Arabia instead of Saudi.
  20. Germaniac

    If the Ottomans had sided with the Entente in WW1, how much longer would the Sick Man hold on?

    Even if the Arabs were to eventually gain their independence from the Empire, and that is a strong if, this alternate 'Ottoman Turkey's' borders would likely include northern Syria and Northern Iraq (they will fight to the end to retain that oil). Think modern Turkey with all their nationalists...
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