Future Predictions From France in 1939

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#possiblehistory #futurepredictions #alternatehistoryofeurope #alternatehistory #France #ww2
Eastory's French plans to win WW2:
• "Brilliant" plans to w...
What does the future hold. This is a question that is asked daily by millions of people. But this is not a question that can be contained to the present. We as historians have amazing powers of hindsight to look at the past with. This is great for understanding the past, but it also means that we are limited in the realistic stories we can construct from the past. So in this series I will be making alternate histories from the perspective of people from the past. I will base my analysis on just the situation in the year and place I choose, ignoring any event that cannot be reasonable predicted from that starting year and location.
In this video we will be looking at history from the perspective of France in 1939. WW2 has just begun with Germany declaring war on neighboring Poland, and France and Britain can no longer stand idly by and watch it happen. But what was France's plan to achieve victory, and how might they have predicted Europe to turn out afterwards?
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[@possiblehistory]

Thank you so much for watching! To support the content consider leaving a like an a comment to help against the algorithm, and subscribe for at least one (alternate) history video every single week!

[@mrvk39]

Would you consider doing an episode on what would happen if Jogaila, the last pagan "king" of Europe, were to marry a Muscovite princess and accept Orthodoxy vs. marrying a Polish princess and becoming the King of Poland and a Catholic? This step led to the formation of the Polish-Lithuanian Union, which was at one point the largest continental European state (and quite progressive with constitutional monarchy and some religious freedoms) but was eventually destroyed and divided between Russia, Prussia and Austro-Hungary. What would happen if, instead, he or his descendants were to become Russian tzars (there was a civil war shortly after and an opportunity to take Russia). How would history change by a Lithuanian-Russian Union? Could this make Russia less backwards and more oriented towards the West? The effects of it could change the possibility of Russian Revolution, rise of Nazism and the existence of the Cold War and even now, the war in Ukraine.

[@mrvk39]

I live in NYC and often walk in Central Park by the statue of Jagiello there. It was on a loan from Poland for the 1939 NYC Fair but of course .. 1939 changed everything and the statue was never returned.

[@ChariTheAlternate]

Can you do the same but for Germany in 1941 ☻️

[@somedude7701]

What track is playing in this video? You know, it's not enough to know the name of the artist. I want to know know the name of the track as well. It would be really great if you would post more information about the music. Thanks in advance

[@SirBoggins]

I'd like to see one from Poland, considering how the war started from there.

[@Mscislaus]

It was mainly the Romanian Bridge Strategy.

[@Lp-army1]

@@Mscislaus and then what their new borders ect

[@Ocelot835]

​@@Mscislaus Before WW2 they also had a small period of warm relations with Nazi Germany - after customs wars and border disputes of 1920's it was shock for everyone when Hitler and Piłsudski signed non-aggression threaty in 1934 that peacefuly resolved former hostilies. I don't think its bold to presume at that time that Polish-German relations will only get better and not end up in open conflict.

[@aleksanderwielopolski8205]

@@Ocelot835 France never intended to back Poland anyway, which was visible already in the Treaty of Locarno France signed with Germany in 1925. Piłsudski knew how worthless the french guarantees are. When on 23 April 1934 the french minister of foreign affairs Louis Barthou tried to persuade Piłsudski that France will always back Poland, Pilsudski just laughed at him and said "No no, trust me, you will most certainly back down. Maybe you (a polish singular version of "you") won't want to back down, but in such case you will resign either have a stroke in the parliament". But even then, it came down to just not getting at hostile relations with Germany, to don't be used as a sacrificial lamb by the west. Piłsudski warned his successors that Poland shoudn't under any circumstances enter the war first. They did continue to have relatively peaceful relations with Germany, but once Germany started throwing demands toward Poland, they chose to completely ignore Piłsudski's earlier warnings about the west.

[@concept5631]

Agreed

[@msmith1890]

This series on what the future would be from the perspective of the past is one of the best series on KZbin.

[@DOSFS]

Another oopsie for France in OTL is Belgium's king breaks the alliance and declared neutrality, which means the plan for pre-plan and positioning of French troops in Belgium's defensive line is completely screwed. When the war starts, France & British needs to rush forward too but they are too slow and committed too many troops into Belgium. But anyway great video as always! I would like this kind of scenarios more in the future!

[@pierreemilienlewislecadre6428]

also the british did tell france to not strenghten their border with belgium as they view it as a futur menace the british being afraid of anything that might be a continental hegemony

[@beefyblom]

The Belgian king explaining why throwing away the alliance with France is a good idea:

[@Yuri_Burger]

This guy is what i want, instead of those political youtubers calling themselves “alternate history youtubers”

[@bluewatson4341]

Could you do one on Germany in 1940? It’d be interesting to see what the German perspective was on their “inevitable” victory. Great video!

[@kaliningradtoczechrepublic8162]

theres tons of videos like this. Its basically just a "What if Germany won ww2" scenario

[@saccorhytus]

I agree with the guy above. Literally just search up “what if Germany won WW2”. It’s literally been done to death. I don’t get why people still ask for this.

[@NoNameAtAll2]

their*

[@LilyLinko]

IMO, it'd be more interesting to discuss the minor Axis powers' ideal goals, like Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria. Especially considering that they all rather claimed each other's territories.

[@wewuzaryans]

​@@acevant7535TBH if Germany won they would've been the soviets in our timeline and collapse in 40-50years

[@arthurbriand2175]

It would be interesting to do this scenario from the pov of a major power in 1789 Europe before the Revolution. No one can predict how some social tenisions in France is going to set the continent ablaze. Maybe from the perspective of Austria, Russia or Prussia to mix it up a little

[@diegoyqulki]

Yeah a prussia with warsaw spain with the americas and a Portugal with brazil...

[@hispania_nova]

Russia may go along with the Greek Plan, Spain MAY unite with Portugal (a real possibility at the time because as Charles III planned by marrying the Bourbons and Braganzas), the British could attempt something against the US, and honestly don't know about France. The HRE would continue existing but much more dividing because of Prussian power.

[@dengronebaronen5260]

What if Sweden won the great northern war.

[@SirBoggins]

Y E S

[@RayFog1]

People have been asking for this for awhile…

[@SirBoggins]

@@RayFog1 Especially this guy

[@Alex-yy5wo]

Yes

[@fallout44454]

It would have given us a few more decades but that's about it.

[@philguer4802]

As a french in 1939,I agree with your forecast.

[@trashedhead]

Nice video, I've really enjoyed these videos focusing on the perspectives of different nations before the war. Another cool one could be what the colonial powers predicted for the future of their empires after the war

[@zooman_expeditions8984]

Thanks yet again Possible History for this amazing video! ❤

[@danielsantiagourtado3430]

What if Austria Won the War of Spanish Succession? And thanks for the video!

[@maelisoard541]

Austria have won

[@axelemperorofthehelveticst5531]

@@maelisoard541 well yes and no because while france did put a bourbon in the spanish throne the french had à threatie where they could not claim the spanish throne

[@camdenkeeton2411]

Really great video!! I really liked the one video about the dangers in the Darkness, you should do another one like that! Other ideas: - What if the Mongol Empire never existed? - What if the Berging Land Bridge never existed - What if Britain wasn’t an island? - What if the Sahara Desert never existed?

[@chienbanane3168]

I also would be really interested in "what if the Mongol Empire never existed?"

[@afisto6647]

It is more complicated than "France don't want to attack meanwhile Germany was in Poland". The British Prime Minister Cabinet threatened France from drop them or even join the Axis between 1936-1938 if France pushed to far into Germany. Britain goal was never to defeat Germany but in reality to destroy both France and Germany to rule alone.

[@edelweiss7928]

Nonsense, the goal was always to reinforce their world order and destroy Germany’s attempt at a new one

[@Predanator99]

It fills me with joy to see you getting more and more financial support and being one of the first (maybe the first? 😂) to support the best alternate history channel by far. 😊

[@ChancellorMarx]

I find it somewhat strange that whenever France in the early 20th century is discussed, the extreme political instability that the country suffered greatly from is never mentioned. Not only in this video also in relation to the First World War and how close the French army was to a total revolt. I think these are very interesting aspects that, in my opinion, are neglected in alternative history. Nonetheless, this is a good video

[@me67galaxylife]

Once again with the myth… so much close to revolts that they continued to fight the Germans that tried to take advantage of the mutinies… and failed. Because the soldiers still fought back. The majority of them protested against the war not to surrender, but to get competent generals and such instead of costly offensives that didn’t work

[@jackbonhomie]

If Britain got Hannover it'd take the Kiel canal as well. I'd like to see your predictions of what marxists would think about the future (maybe before the soviet union exists). IIRC they believed industrialised countries would become socialist, and that could change quite a bit.

[@Delgen1951]

Marx throught out his life ather he wrote the Communist Manifesto would bravelu proclaim at the start of each war (starting with the American Civil War) that the revolution had begun. He did not belive that it would happen in the undeveloped nations like Russia or China, but rather the industrial nations like America, UK, France, or Germany.

[@Ocelot835]

As an idea, it would be interesting to hear your thoughs about future world predictions from perspective of Soviet citizen in the year of 1988: Gorbachev's Perestroika are still ongoing but its not clear how it would affect other socialist regimes of Eastern bloc or how dramatically balance of power would be changed in the next couple of years.

[@zombiedalekweck2243]

Finnish people when they realise that the French perspective of the Winter War was them losing: 😢😢😢😢😢😢

[@titanicbigship]

Oh

[@ALMAZ157]

What if WW2 started when Lithuania refused to give up Memel (They had same agreement as Polish had with Allies)

[@Anton43218]

What if the union of the 3 romanian principalities under Michael the Brave persisted into the future?

[@auhbean6572]

Great video as always, keep up the good work :)

[@enderallgames8716]

Hi, Possible History, I love your videos and I have some alternate history ideas that you could turn into videos: *What if Argentina was still an economic powerhouse?* *What if the british kept Hong Kong?* *What if Japan’s Lost Decades never ocurred?* *What if germany never reunified (west germany and east germany never united)?*

[@notdpanda9525]

You missed Japan's war in the East for this timeline's WW2. I think that's a wildcard, with Japan still trying to conquer China.

[@bobbertrobbert6282]

If you ever add on to or redo this video you should cover what the French might have predicted from Japan, China, and America

[@perseo7954]

What about a "Future predictions from 1540 Spain"?

[@xenotypos]

Well done overall. But when you talk about ressources, I think you underestimate a bit the population advantage of Germany compared with France. Sure Britain was there too, but 1. Britain always took time to mobilize, the small professional army wasn't a threat 2. Germany has Italy. In terms of population, unless the Soviets join the allies, the Axis are actually advantaged. Natives from colonies just weren't deployed the same way and in the same numbers. France actually knew they'd be overwhelmed by German numbers in the long term, that's why some specific strategies to avoid casualties were privilegied (but those weren't very effective to win...).

[@-Kc1937-]

Bruhh you've grown so much bro i remember when you only had 5k subs last year! Congrats :3

[@juleslandry7585]

Thanks a lot, this is really brillant!

[@tachankskang]

"The french plan, realistically, didn't call for the survival of poland" - Extremely common French L

[@DaDa-ui3sw]

Lol

[@tim_vergos]

Well, that's a british L as well then.

[@me67galaxylife]

It’s called strategy, something that you can’t understand

[@ghostramen7002]

This is a terrifying timeline.

[@me67galaxylife]

And how so ?

[@ghostramen7002]

@@me67galaxylife the French would be more powerful.

[@me67galaxylife]

@@ghostramen7002 wow. really shaken.

[@ghostramen7002]

@@me67galaxylife I know, right.

[@goodstuff8156]

> Predictions of the future from French POV > France wins and dominates everything Kek

[@konduktorpklpriv3133]

Nice video, i think it's one of your better ones

[@tamaz88]

What if Hungary became independent in 1848?

[@Quickshot0]

This certainly seems like an option France would have tried for, though it wouldn't be surprising if the UK tried to gain some connections around Europe as well, they never did like the continent to dominated by any power.

[@ZarexianMapper]

And then they lived happily ever after until a new far-left or far-right government is elected in Germany which would align themselves with the Soviet Union. I could also see other nations like Italy, Hungary and Bulgaria forming an unholy alliance to get rid of French influence. So if this happened I'm sure WW3 would have happened at some point.

[@celdur4635]

Do one for Brazil, Argentina, Chile in 1900 and Colombia, Peru in 1800s.

[@xxklesx1]

Think that could have led to two possibilities. A balkanization of Germany, with constant instability but no danger to people outside. Or a communist revolution that would have pushed Germany into the arms of the Soviet Union and caused this plan to backfire. Consider the latter to be much more likely, considering how strong communist organizations still were in the post-war period. This would probably have led to a "red" europe. But French plans were usually not clever, since it was the Treaty of Versailles that led to the Second World War in the first place.

[@felixjohnsens3201]

Yes, most likely all of Germany would have fallen to communism...

[@dominicadrean2160]

If there was one country you could be king or queen of in the Middle Ages or the Renaissance which one would it be

[@bunniifangz]

16th century Spain

[@TheSwedishHistorian]

spain seems cool. Its also good climate. That or a hansburg in austria

[@patrice-the-gaul]

If France becomes master of the continent, I could see their relations with Britain quickly deteriorating.

[@nailil5722]

England's plan has always been to weaken European Continental powers throughout history. In this instance France was the lesser evil compared to Germany

[@Dentritic-ey8ok]

Nah i dont think so it would be extremely Bad for their control and world relations

[@joaogabrielimperial7777]

there's the red empire to east

[@fawkewe]

I think Germany wouldn’t be separated into more than 2 states because the ussr would probably invade a Germany with 1870 borders.

[@shimogane2474]

I want to see a Future Predictions from Germany in 1924. Why 24? Because it was when the Weimar Democracy was at its peak. The first economic desaster was solved last year, and Hindenburg didnt won elections yet, that happened next, or 26 I dont know excactly. So this year is, like, the only year we had a stable social democratic leaded democracy, because hindenburg wanted to set up another monarchistic system.

[@Mini17]

11:01 Snap back to reality

[@lucasworth5903]

this comment should get the appreciation it deserves

[@trambolo]

excellent as always

[@Tno_is_a_great_mod]

The line in the middle of Hungary is so infuriating

[@KnockoffBird]

Thats... a lake

[@Ostvalt]

So border gore in hoi4 is historically accurate?

[@JLAvey]

Who would have known France was such an optimist in 1939.

[@CryBaby482.02]

Love this!!

[@Benwut]

homeboy really just made prussia come back and thought we wouldnt notice💀

[@stargazer-elite]

Woah Italy looks so strange when you put it up like that since it already looks like boot

[@jonass.7668]

If the french would take over the rhineland, they wouldn't take modern day rhineland-Westphalia, as you drew it on your map, they would take everything on the left (west) side of the rhine

[@이동연-c6d]

France got high 😂😂😂😂

[@nadri3335]

I dont think Spain would align with France after the civil war as they fought over against a lot of spanish communist just for winning that war, and france is plaged with communist parties. Also for Italy, taking side with france would make their expansionist ideas in yugoslavia be rejected from France, and it would be stupid to side with them if you can persuade the other eastern europe states to get to align themselfs with you in order to gain some territories.

[@sofiyums]

In this post-war world where France dominates Europe, what would Britain do? Despite being allies against Germany for the war, I doubt Britain would be too happy with going back to the days of a France-dominated Europe, so would Britain perhaps seek to go through with the idea of an Imperial Federation as a counter-balance of power? The only other alternatives would be closer ties with America and/or the USSR, and neither of those seem that useful in this context (America would be sick of European affairs and the UK/USSR would never get along post-WW2).

[@scvboy1]

You should do a video on what is the Soviet Union (and maybe even Warsaw Pact) survived into the 21st century.

[@bastian182]

Can you do a future prediction from Weimar Republics perspective 1929. I would specifically use that time because there Germany hasn't been controlled by "the mustache man" and the authoritarian President Hindenburg hasn't abused his powers yet, who is also from my point of view responsible for the end of the Weimar Republic, even before "the mustache man" came to power.

[@user-vs8kj7pl8p]

Creative new idea, I like it

[@harrisonshone7769]

I think this would depend on when in 1939 you are writing this. For instance, January and September are going to get very different results.

[@That1Polish]

My main question with this scenario is what about Japan? What happens with them?

[@carlosvalerochavez3045]

I have and ASB (Alien Space Bats) scenario: What if Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and Belarus SOMEHOW manage to keep their nukes ? Along with the ICBMs and bombers

[@23GreyFox]

France declares war on Germany, France: "Why do they invade us?"

[@marcostvr]

What if Austria allied with France after the end of the Franco-Prussian War?

[@TheDethBringer666]

no wonder they lost

[@thenamesianna]

As a Vietnamese living in French Indochina in 1939, I think this is a very reasonable prediction.

[@Schattennebel]

I guess in that timeline an old german song called "Was ist des Deutschen Vaterland?" would be become modern again.

[@huskadog7748]

Do saxony 38 bce

[@Potocalter]

10:34 Romania not being in the Latin bloc is sad

[@tompatterson1548]

I probably would've predicted Poland and Germany to work together more. Maybe they could carve up lithuania together?

[@KanJonathan]

What if Mechelen incident didn't happen and OKW retained Fall Gelb?

[@duckduck4073]

3:37 I think you meant to say World War 2

[@gtaakuma4514]

I believe that the return of germany to a pre 1870 form would be unlikely. Its more likely that regions like prussia bavaria and the rhine will become independent

[@alfredosauce1]

What If the Maginot line was longer?

[@saintbread5080]

I feel like in a scenario like this, the Soviet Union and Germany would trade early on until the Soviets reformed their military.

[@flazedog1647]

I like this series

[@angrymaninapandamask6432]

Hoi4 peace deals be like

[@melindagreer4177]

The French wanted to bring a Tazer and cuffs to a Tank fight.

[@Floridamantryinglife]

This peaceful music makes floridaman wanna form the German confederation

[@fetobukanovskyficato3404]

Hi

[@ShadowSkryba]

So, Italy or Poland next?

[@TheFoxCake1]

Would be cool to see USSR 1936 predictions of future world

[@Poctyk]

Imperialism colapses (it's inevitable after all) and they extend their concentration camp first to western Europe, and then using German industrial might to the rest of industrialized states (read Britain, Japan and USA)

[@philguer4802]

Something like the Morgenthau plan may be put into place.

[@emperor6878]

I feel like someone will make a HOI4 mod for this

[@joaogabrielimperial7777]

9:33 i think poland will be bigger

[@dominicadrean2160]

What if the Byzantine Empire survived

[@vitoanania6042]

Don't have enough heart to watch that video :(

[@apineapple3177]

Am I the only one who’s going to question the ussr getting all of Bulgaria

[@cross0128]

What if the Norman Invasions of Ireland failed

[@JJ-sf6sz]

Can you do russia or germany from 1914

[@dominicadrean2160]

What if France was divided after the Napoleonic Wars and everyone got a piece that would be interesting especially because of Austria Prussia and Russia in their coming wars in the next few decades

[@bigenglishmonkey]

then the USA would be carved up a bit too if that happened, so it would possibly be a smaller US than what we know today.

[@CalvinNoire]

I'm not an expert, this is just my head cannon for what would happen. So what if the Congress of Vienna was more harsh on France? The reason why France got minimal damage, is because the countries who participated wanted a big strong france so they could ally with and beat each other up, but what if they didn't do that? Well first are the border changes, UK might want Normandy from France, and Spain would also want to maybe get southern france as well, maybe Prussia could have gotten Alsace Lorraine, and Sardinia also would want a piece of France as well, and maybe even releasing a few countries from France. This would result in a pretty weak France, like, so weak, Italy would possibly be less under the influence of Austria, since there is no need because France is pretty weak, Austria might have gotten Venice still, but if they were expansionist, they could have gotten influence over italy like in our timeline. I don't know what would happen to the disputes over Poland and Saxony, though they will probably go the same route possibly.

[@bigenglishmonkey]

@@CalvinNoire this is why I mentioned the USA, wellington said we cant take parts of the USA while stopping the powers of europe carving up France, which britain was trying to prevent, for the whole balance of power thing. If france is carved up so is parts of the USA so it's more wide spread than just europe. Unless you have an idea how that would go differently?

[@CalvinNoire]

@@bigenglishmonkey sounds like an interesting idea, relations between the UK and USA was not so good during this period (war of 1812 cough cough). Interesting to think of what would have happened to the balance of power in this universe, possibly more wars?

[@bigenglishmonkey]

@@CalvinNoire possibly, or possibly a team up?, it could have been a case of the other powers carve up france, because of Britain in america, and instead the war of 1812 becomes an 1800s liberation of france to reset said balance. Theres a lot of possibilities to think off, even one where canada is gifted to america in exchange for help against the other powers for example. The more I think about it the more i actually want to hear about this idea now, depending on where you branch off really makes things interesting.

[@slayride136]

Interesting

[@artlemagne]

i don't know about the fascist dicatorships of italy and spain joining frances entente.

[@ZarexianMapper]

Yeah. A key question when talking about such coalitions would be: if the main threat is defeated who are defending against?

[@ZarkinDrife]

What if Australia won't the Great Emu War.

[@marym7104]

Within 4 hours!

[@Olive0378]

yessssss content

[@zarlg]

This would have been great. If only France had had some more stable leadership in the 30s.

[@xornxenophon3652]

Very, very unlikely. I do not see why fascist Spain and fascist Italy should join France in any political endeavor. I also do not see how France should be able to protect eastern Europe against the SovietUnion, especially if they have to fear that Germany joins the communist league.

[@Taipei_103]

Petain is still alive, he'll destroy Germany and become a French hero on the same level as Napoleon.

[@arthurbriand2175]

More likely Charles de Gaulle would become the hero. He had some truly inspired insights into tank warfare and some minor victories in 1940 on the front. Pétain was quite old, retired and already a hero. Maybe he could have led a national Union government as the figure everyone agrees upon. But probably no actual battle planning for him.

[@Taipei_103]

@@arthurbriand2175 This de Gaulle guy sounds interesting, I'll be following his career with interest.

[@Mr.DalekLK]

The French have predictions today too ...

[@-JBYT-]

I'll be a loser if i call him a sigma but he actually is for shouting out Eastory

[@Shtephen]

Nice

[@kannan260479]

ottomans had a claim to africa in the berlin conference. but they got nothing. thus i want a video where the ottomans got their claim in africa