ZimbabweSaltCo
commented
3 years ago This is being discussed internally and the start of the 2WK will be reviewed. But thanks for your feedback though.
Closed Muke1995 closed 3 years ago
ZimbabweSaltCo
commented
3 years ago This is being discussed internally and the start of the 2WK will be reviewed. But thanks for your feedback though.
HOI4 version:1.10.4 Kaiserreich version:0.16.1
Suggestion for change: For this change to be made, the Nancy region can remain in French hands, Dunkerque can come back to France if not planned already, but the previously mentioned regions, among the regions Burgogne, Plateau Lorrain, Hainaut Francais and Pas-de-Calais, have to be demilitarized(reasoning will come later). The chain will start with the decision to ban French Organisations in Germany sometime in 1938. While that decision only pertains to German held Alsace-Lorraine, Luxemburg and(if still in German sphere) Wallonia, Commune of France, always on guard for a new German invasion, takes it a sign of imminent attack and quickly marches into border areas, remilitarizing them. They will of course make it clear that they will not tolerate fellow Frenchmen being oppressed, and can start funding resistance movements in Alsace, Luxemburg and Wallonia. After some time passes, they can make a claim for Alsace-Lorraine, and can demand it. However, for Realpolitik reasons, Canada and the rest of Entente powers, can start negotiations with Germany in order to guarantee the integrity of their borders. If Germany accepts these approaches, the Halifax Conference will start, and the event chain will proceed and end in the same manner as currently is in the game, with either rejection, or agreement in favour of either Reichspakt or Entente. Agreement would enable a decision for Canada to immideatly join the Second Weltkrieg as soon as France is in war with Germany, with the other effects of the Halifax Conference being activated in the process.
In the meantime, France will be informed of the negotiation results, and if accepted, they can press claims anyway and start Second Weltkrieg early, or back off, deciding to build up further. After that, France and Germany will work on supporting and suppressing the resistance movements, respectively.
After at least a year later, Germany would get fed up with the constant incidents and can decide on holding massive maneuvers on the French border, as a show of force, with French deciding to do the same. The "Maneuvers in Elssas-Lothrigen/Franche-Comte" will play out in the same manner, with a slight difference: The provocatory moves and heckles from the French side result in some German troops firing on the French troops in several areas, with varying casaulties on both sides.
The CoF government, regardless of who got elected, takes this as a last straw, and presents an ultimatum with a list of demands to the German government, demands ranging from apologies and compensation, to demanding the Alsace Lorraine region and demilitarization of the Rheinland. Germany would have an option between accepting none of the demands, some of the demands, or all but the harshest demands(the last two), with varying impacts on Political Power and Stability. Either way, COF would consider the ultimatum rejected and declare war, starting the Second Weltkrieg.
Reasoning: One of many complaints i saw is that the "Alsace-Lorraine or war" excuse for starting the 2WK is just that, an excuse to start a war where millions of lives would be lost, and it just paints CoF as an unjust aggressor, even with "Revanchisme" involved. Even the "Danzig or war" thing that started WW2 is also in a way an excuse, but it was actually a long build up of events that culiminated in the start of the one of the deadliest conflicts ever. First, my reasoning in the French border being demilitarised and then remilitarized later is a reference to the Rheinland being demilitarized and later remilitarized with little consequences. I'm not sure why the Germans wouldn't impose such restrictions on France after winning WW1, considering that the regions can and would be extensively fortified, and the COF does have a focus and 2 regarding that. With the battles such as Verdun being in living memory of many, it would make sense why would the Germans demand that no military assets or fortifications would be on the French/Belgian-German border. After all, the demilitarization of Rheinland was demanded for that reason OTL. The French would be careful not to antagonize the Germans, at least not until they feel "forced" to act. Second, my reasoning that the Halifax Convention would start before the 2WK is the same reason why the British and French stepped in to protect Poland. While in OTL, the reason was that Hitler was shown not to be trusted and would continue to conquer nations willy-nilly, France and Britain decided to step in, making it clear that any further expansion would result in war. In KRTL however, the Third Internationale would likely grown stronger over the 2 years (1936-1938), and Entente knowing in the off-chance that if the 3I does go to war and conquer Germany, their chances of winning would be miniscule, no matter the preparations made. On the other hand, 3I being busy in Germany would give them a chance to strike, and get their homelands back while British and French forces are being bogged down in Germany. While they are technically opposed, they have the same enemy, and the French will know: Press it further, and this means war. OTL, the British-French guarantees of Poland forced Hitler to delay the invasion. Here, the Entente guaranteeing Reichspakt would delay the French invasion. Third, Alsace-Lorraine or War has the same energy as the Danzig or War, both times the invader started the war when they felt ready. However, while the build up and the events happening up to the Invasion of Poland are known everyone who has done research, i don't have the same feeling that something, anything is happening until the moment shots are fired. The suggestion i made would provide more insight on what is going on, and would provide with at least an answer to "Why would Commune of France would decide to invade then, and not any other time". WW1 started pretty much the same way, an incident that got out of hand, and all sides took it as an excuse to settle their scores. Just like the 2 world wars in our timeline were a result of long series of buildups that culiminated in a spark and a final demand, i don't see why the Second Weltkrieg would be any different.
I would like to know what you think about this.