David S Poepoe
Banned
The inspiration for this AH involving the AH Empire was a recent release by Avalanche Press Games:
http://www.avalanchepress.com/gameImperialNavy.php
There are about ten scenarios given and I've picked to develop those that have the AH Empire fighting Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy and eventually sending warships east to assist the British in the Far East.
So far I've adopted a POD at about 1906, tho may back that up to 1904 or 1905. From looking thru past threads and my own deductions I'm looking at the AH Empire bowing out of the Great War sometime between 1916 and 1917. It is important for it to exit before the US enter with Wilson and his ideas of self-determination. I will have to mix in the Sixtus Affair.
In order to get the AH army off onto a better start, I am considering that both Hotzendorf and Moltke the Younger actually discuss and confer on military matters before 1914. Coordinated moves at the beginning of the war with Russia helps mitigate the capture of so many AH officers and men by the Russians at the the Battle of Lemberg.
AH concentrates primarily on Russia at the beginning, leaving forces just to occupy Belgrade for the time being. Once Russia is pushed back AH forces are moved to crush Serbia. Bulgaria is also enticed to join in exchange for Serbian Macedonia.
The Austro-Hungarian annexation of Valona earlier gives it a naval base capable of launching attacks into the Mediterranean and also keeps Italian, French and British forces from evacuating the retreating Serbian army and government. Unable to advance thru neutral Greece the Serbs accept an armistice with the Austrians and they are forced out of the war.
The Italian front sees the AH adopt a defensive position as Italy hurdles itself against fortified positions in Trentino and along the Isonzo. Austrian forces are pulled together and launch a massive invasion across the Isonzo that pushed the Italian army back in retreat. Within a few days the Austro-Hungarian fleet mounts an amphibious assault on Venice and successfully seize the city. The reeling Italian army finally digs in its heels at Padua on the Bassano River. The government in Rome also collapses and Austria seeks an armistice with the new government (Nov. 24 1916).
The death of Franz-Josef brings Karl to the throne who begins seeking a way to end the war or at least end Austrian involvement. Under his insistence Bosnia-Hercegovina, with the exception of a few islands and ports, will be ceded to Serbia in order to secure a peace treaty.
At the insistence of Admiral Haus at the outbreak of the war shipyard works have not been enlisted into the army so the K.u.K Navy is able to build and complete the improved-Tegetthoff class battleships - the Kaiser Franz-Josef class.
*******
Well, that is as far as I've developed the concept. I'm thinking that before the Austrians end their portion of the war the Russians will launch an offensive that will drive as far as the Carpathians in order to take the Hungarians down a few notches.
Undoubtedly the will be a reconfiguration of the AH Empire and it may be more a federal organization than Austro-Hungarian-Slav.
The Germans just get the same drubbing they did historically and Russia collapses into Communist chaos. Poland is reconstituted, tho without any lands from AH.
AH is a participant at the Washington Naval Conference in 1922 and accepts partity with France and Italy.
In this ATL there is no Anschluss between Germany and Austria-Hungary to the embarassement of Hitler. Also the Sudetenland crisis never occurs - or it is a trigger that sets off the Second World War. Germany invades the Sudentenland and then Poland and then the rest unfolds as IOTL.
Still thinking things out a bit and willing to listen to the ideas of others.
http://www.avalanchepress.com/gameImperialNavy.php
There are about ten scenarios given and I've picked to develop those that have the AH Empire fighting Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy and eventually sending warships east to assist the British in the Far East.
So far I've adopted a POD at about 1906, tho may back that up to 1904 or 1905. From looking thru past threads and my own deductions I'm looking at the AH Empire bowing out of the Great War sometime between 1916 and 1917. It is important for it to exit before the US enter with Wilson and his ideas of self-determination. I will have to mix in the Sixtus Affair.
In order to get the AH army off onto a better start, I am considering that both Hotzendorf and Moltke the Younger actually discuss and confer on military matters before 1914. Coordinated moves at the beginning of the war with Russia helps mitigate the capture of so many AH officers and men by the Russians at the the Battle of Lemberg.
AH concentrates primarily on Russia at the beginning, leaving forces just to occupy Belgrade for the time being. Once Russia is pushed back AH forces are moved to crush Serbia. Bulgaria is also enticed to join in exchange for Serbian Macedonia.
The Austro-Hungarian annexation of Valona earlier gives it a naval base capable of launching attacks into the Mediterranean and also keeps Italian, French and British forces from evacuating the retreating Serbian army and government. Unable to advance thru neutral Greece the Serbs accept an armistice with the Austrians and they are forced out of the war.
The Italian front sees the AH adopt a defensive position as Italy hurdles itself against fortified positions in Trentino and along the Isonzo. Austrian forces are pulled together and launch a massive invasion across the Isonzo that pushed the Italian army back in retreat. Within a few days the Austro-Hungarian fleet mounts an amphibious assault on Venice and successfully seize the city. The reeling Italian army finally digs in its heels at Padua on the Bassano River. The government in Rome also collapses and Austria seeks an armistice with the new government (Nov. 24 1916).
The death of Franz-Josef brings Karl to the throne who begins seeking a way to end the war or at least end Austrian involvement. Under his insistence Bosnia-Hercegovina, with the exception of a few islands and ports, will be ceded to Serbia in order to secure a peace treaty.
At the insistence of Admiral Haus at the outbreak of the war shipyard works have not been enlisted into the army so the K.u.K Navy is able to build and complete the improved-Tegetthoff class battleships - the Kaiser Franz-Josef class.
*******
Well, that is as far as I've developed the concept. I'm thinking that before the Austrians end their portion of the war the Russians will launch an offensive that will drive as far as the Carpathians in order to take the Hungarians down a few notches.
Undoubtedly the will be a reconfiguration of the AH Empire and it may be more a federal organization than Austro-Hungarian-Slav.
The Germans just get the same drubbing they did historically and Russia collapses into Communist chaos. Poland is reconstituted, tho without any lands from AH.
AH is a participant at the Washington Naval Conference in 1922 and accepts partity with France and Italy.
In this ATL there is no Anschluss between Germany and Austria-Hungary to the embarassement of Hitler. Also the Sudetenland crisis never occurs - or it is a trigger that sets off the Second World War. Germany invades the Sudentenland and then Poland and then the rest unfolds as IOTL.
Still thinking things out a bit and willing to listen to the ideas of others.