What if the German Empire Survived?

Before the outbreak of World War I, Germany was under the rule of the German Empire, governed under the near absolute reign of Kaiser Wilhelm II. And, though the Empire had managed to bring Germany into the forefront of not only Europe, but the world, by the end of World War I, the German people had overthrown it, instead replacing it with the Weimar Republic, whose weak governance would lead to its own demise. But, what if that changed? What if, in an alternate timeline, the German Empire survived? Enjoy!
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Video Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
0:30 Background
6:41 Scenario

[@JoshSullivanHistory]

...and they STILL demonetized it.

[@Wendeta-hq2cp]

Btw where did the dehydrations thing come from? It's funny, but it feels out of left field.

[@Lukdnuke_Narson]

Hope it gets resolved

[@FREEJERVSALEM]

rip

[@conneranderson219]

Sorry man YT hates monarchies

[@bonesyjonesy716]

Talked about history man, what do you expect? Lol

[@JohnSmith-rk7zy]

Based second Reich appreciator .

[@commandergreetv753]

👍

[@CoconutMall-uv8lc]

I hate how people accociate the 2nd Reich with the 3rd Reich, the Germans of ww1 did what other people were doing but got all the blame

[@commandergreetv753]

@CoconutMall-uv8lc I 100% agree. I always try telling people that but they mostly just ignore it (even here in Germany)

[@msmith1890]

What if the German, Russian and Habsburg Empires all survived WWI? Great video.

[@nordicchief]

One possible way would be the Holy Alliance would be restored in a new alliance plus and the empires would be democratic, since Italy was on the winning side and the March in Rome will lead the rise of the fascism in Italy, it would be part of the Allies nowadays, the Spanish Civil would be won by the Carlists and communism would rise in United States by the assassination of Franklin D. Roosvelt and a communist uprising would make the federalist movement and the Silver Legion would work together but eventally the counter uprising would fail, Alaska and Hawaii would be independent and the federalists and fascists would escape to Puerto Rico

[@georgeadamsii7777]

A couple of points: 1) Wilson didn't just want to get rid of the Kaiser but monarchy itself. He wasn't willing to negotiate with any form of Germany (or Austria, or Hungary) that still had a monarch. 2) The other German Kings, Grand Dukes, Dukes and Sovereign Princes didn't owe fealty to the German Emperor. If that had been a condition of German Unification then it wouldn't have happened. The office of President of the North German Confederation was linked to the King of Prussia, so when the southern German states basically joined the NGC it was decided to rename the NGC to the German Empire and rename the NGC President to German Emperor (not Empire of Germany or Emperor of Germany). There's a lot of great political wrangling by Bismarck and Crown Prince Friedrich to even pull off this name as King Wilhelm hated it and wanted nothing to do with it. Like the NGC President before it, the German Emperor was a first among equals situation. 3) Assuming Wilson can be brought down a notch from his "All Monarchies Must Die" stance (and he wasn't excluding Great Britain from that either), I doubt the Allies would have accepted Prince Eitel Friedrich as Regent. He fought in the war and he didn't have the best reputation. Max of Baden's plan was to have either Empress Victoria Augusta (who would naturally refuse and gone into Exile with her husband) or Crown Princess Cecilie serve as Regent for her underage son Prince Wilhelm. 4) Technically, the German Empire was more democratic than Great Britain, as a higher percentage of the population had the right to vote. The issue was the three tiered voting system in the largest state of Prussia (2/3rds of the German Empire's land area). The individual German states retained day-to-day control of their Armies (which only came under the Emperor's direct control in times of war) and other such powers. Only the German Navy was a Federal level armed force in peace time, which is why it had to go on a PR campaign for it's expansion (see: German Navy League).

[@rocketpigu]

Drrr

[@karlfranzemperorofmandefil5547]

2) isn’t exactly true. They didn’t have direct feudal fielty to him yes, but they in 1871 official gave up all rights of sovereignty to him.

[@danielsantiagourtado3430]

Very happy to see you again josh! Suggestion: What if Queen anne' s son william survived? No union with hanover.

[@Huesmann49]

Fantastic idea

[@domenstrmsek5625]

What if Türkiye become communist becouse Soviets "help" Türkiye gets independence

[@ryamsosohbajjaikoasknd]

What if the Spring Offensive succeeded and Germany was able to, in the closing months, make a more favourable treaty to end the war?

[@user-og8zt7bi2z]

Hey Josh. I had a crappy day and this makes it a little easier. Keep doing what your doing man.

[@JoshSullivanHistory]

Thanks mate, it’s wonderful to know that my stuff can help people like yall, a little bit goes a long way

[@DocTheNotable]

I watch a few history videos with nazi flag in the gray footage yet not demonitized

[@ekralj4316]

Finally my favorite what if came back.Idea what if France helped rebels in Habsurg monarchy in 1664.

[@nl396]

Woodrow Wilson was one of the most evil men in history.

[@JoshSullivanHistory]

I wouldn’t call him evil, but this was one of the things that I hate that he did

[@nl396]

@@JoshSullivanHistory He showed 'The Birth of a Nation' at the white house and supported a certain group who's name I can't say here.

[@sasi5841]

​@JoshSullivanHistory he's one of the few president's that's universally hated regardless of political vews.

[@Pioneer_DE]

Why? I keep hearing this but as a german I never understood why.

[@brandonmikhailov3569]

@@Pioneer_DE He helped destroy the German Empire and paved the way for the rise of Bolshevism and National Socialism

[@jim-es8qk]

It did. It's called the EU. They finally managed to achieve all their objectives without firing a bullet.

[@TheAmericanCrusader]

Suggestion: What if France stayed neutral in the American Revolutionary War?

[@InfernosReaper]

The US Revolution loses and France doesn't bankrupt itself, so no French Revolution and likely no Haitian Revolution either

[@dinodhanushyt]

Then definitely Britain would win

[@mohamedamaan6157]

Great video Can you make one where the kingdom of prussia survives as a monarchy after ww1

[@jayfreechavez0000]

Prayers for the restoration of all German Monarchs

[@swallowxx]

why

[@finn-fv9ju]

thanks for this ive been waiting so long for this video

[@ovince7987]

I still don't understand This hatred for Wilhelm II, I thought Lavader had already made It clear in his nearly 2 hour long essay that Wilhelm was innocent during his entire reign. It's heartbreaking 😞 In case that you are curious the video in question is "The Peace Kaiser: The Innocence of Kaiser Wilhelm II"

[@zawwin1846]

Except he was responsible for all the deaths and destruction due to his incompetence. He wanted to be free of Bismarck and become his own man so he got it. Just happened he got poor leadership skill and couldn’t hold his military in check.

[@ovince7987]

@@zawwin1846 here we go... Watch the video first, then you try again here later...

[@amxelcbis4464]

​​@@ovince7987 he's right. wilhelm was too in over his head. he only realized how srong he was when he was already living in exile in the netherlands. when bismarck was dismissed, he famously predicted the fall of wilhelm nearly to the month

[@Memelord1117]

​@@zawwin1846Bismark was getting too old by then.

[@CamLeMan1309]

@@amxelcbis4464not really, the war wasn’t his fault, just Germany honoring its pact, and everything the Kaiser did, Bismarck disagreed. EVEN WHEN, Wilhelm tried to actually tried to do something that was good for the German people and non-Germans, Bismarck disagreed and would even send out a few squads to kill innocent bystanders. I am not sure if this is all that happen, I’m going off of standard memory

[@SunilDachmann-mg7mm]

I like your historical analysis of things that happened before the scenario

[@texastacoss]

What useful content you provide, Josh Sullivan. We truly did need the 205th German Empire alternate history scenario

[@lordprimus2410]

The German Empire was a federal absolute/constitutional monarchy, it had a parliamentary system called the Reichstag. If the German Empire survived, I don't believe that the Allies would have left it alone if the Great War still had happened. I would instead argue that if Germany not entered on the side of the Austrians, the Empire would have survived. Also I read in the comments section referring to the German Empire as the Second Reich, that is not true. the Nazis made that up to legitimise their power over Germany and to claim territory in Europe.

[@JoshSullivanHistory]

If you watch the video, you’ll see that I’m exploring if the monarchy had survived under a liberal democratic regime, as was attempted before the German revolution in order to appease Western demands for a democratized Germany.

[@lordprimus2410]

@@JoshSullivanHistory I know and understand that, I was merely making a statement, not trying to criticise. Your video is fantastic, and Yes I did watch it.

[@lordprimus2410]

@@JoshSullivanHistory now tthat I'm thinking about it, I think the excuse that "President Wilson will only negotiate with democratic nations" to be total bull, the British Empire was also a monarchy with a parliamentary system and the United States only entered the war on the side of the Allies until late into the war. President Wilson could have asked that the power of the Kaiser in government and made into a proper constitutional monarchy, that makes sense to me because that would mean that the monarchy would survive but the crown would hold no power or authority. influencing a government from outside to change from a monarchy into a democracy sometimes leads to anarchy and some amount of chaos is guaranteed considering that Prussia was a strong military power in Europe and Prussia used that power to maintain a strong centralized government and to form the German Empire which is a successor of Prussia. but I digress. I apologise if this seems like I'm ranting or trying to argue.

[@Mikachu000]

Superb video!

[@garolka]

The legend is back 🎉🎉

[@savageace2983]

What if Bavaria won against Austria in the Spanish war of Secession

[@DonnchadhDirrane-te4vy]

The king is back

[@DarthDread-oh2ne]

Great job with the video.

[@TGCB_]

Great video!

[@darthrevan5200]

Why not just taking a step back and make Wilhelm II listen to Bismarck. And the German Empire never leaves a triparty alliance with Either Uk or Russia. That would keep the Empire intact and the emperor in position, maybe keeping the German Empire's Superpower state.

[@danielsantiagourtado3430]

Welcome back Josh ❤❤❤❤❤

[@PrussiaAustriaConfederal]

Mein Kaiser! Amazing vid Josh!

[@orirotem2298]

Good content

[@joshuayang0331]

dehydrations!

[@nord_anon4406]

Howdy, Josh.

[@mattthesilent777RED]

Why not Crown Prince Wilhelm?

[@JoshSullivanHistory]

Crown Prince Wilhelm renounced his rights to the throne alongside his father

[@youthoughtaboutit6946]

You know, I’ve always wondered what the function of the sub-monarchies within the German empire was, but could never seem to find a satisfactory explaination, at least not in English.

[@DanielWelsh-pr5xi]

it would be so epic

[@fedefox7418]

Can you do what if the spartachist uprising succeded?

[@thorpeaaron1110]

A truly goated timeline.

[@Romanball5677]

Suggestion: what if Martians invade during the napoleonic wars

[@fakedutch_]

I guess the funny mustache man actually becomes a painter in this timeline

[@mathieuleader8601]

never heard of the name Eitel till now

[@dylantriantis6005]

Here’s another one for this time period: What If the Treaty of Versailles wasn’t so harsh?

[@BubbaJ18]

Great video!! My only question is why Kaiser Friedrich IV and not Wilhelm III?

[@JoshSullivanHistory]

If I were to guess, Crown Prince Wilhelm was more closely tied to his father, being his heir, so the liberals would want to find someone that wasn’t as closely tied. And plus, Crown Prince Wilhelm renounced his succession rights along with Wilhelm II.

[@VoidballNotUploading]

@@JoshSullivanHistory though i may not be relevant or a part of this conversation, i would personally say that there were other candidates in this scenario, and Eitel Friedrich would not be one of them, as Eitel Friedrich had no children as a result of a divorce or so iirc, so he would have no heir presumptive. Crown Prince Wilhelm could not be crowned, yes, though he did have children by 1918, so they could also appoint Crown Prince Wilhelm's eldest son, Prince Wilhelm (as an alternative Wilhelm III), who was born in 1906, meaning that he was 12 as of 1918, but under a regency until he is 18. another choice would also be Wilhelm II's younger brother, Prince Henry (as Kaiser Heinrich I), who despite not having a much longer lifespan after 1918, had more in common with Friedrich III iirc, so he would likely work as a candidate.

[@The-Army-Snake]

Where’s the what if part? You just gave history for 8 minutes and spent the rest of the time explaining how it’d happen with next to no time being devoted to discussing the results.

[@JoshSullivanHistory]

cause it wouldn’t be very fun to have to say that the war would likely end up going similarly to our own timeline as Germany is defeated and ends up having the monarchy abolished regardless

[@The-Army-Snake]

@@JoshSullivanHistory then it was a bad scenario to make a whole video on.

[@akuljbaba5914]

nice

[@Ipolitelyaskyoutodie]

Josh, make an what if the carlists took over Spain or I’ll take away your wolfram buying license

[@bionicleanime]

Next/future video "what if the Brazilian Empire survived aka Emperor Pedro II was never overthrown?"

[@Freki8]

I have a question why did you make Eitel Friedrich the Kaiser because he wasn't the firstborn so it's unlikly that he would have become the Kaiser. In know that this is a finctional scenario but i wanna know why you made him the Kaiser.

[@Radishindependent]

what if wilson just accepted to negotiate with germany as it was

[@trainlover74]

I would like to make a request if it's possible could you do a video if the British empire did not collapse

[@justinhammer3196]

What a chubby little kaiser!

[@worldfacts5298]

should really make a video on if Belisarius had reforged the western Roman Empire

[@derkurier2710]

There are some things I don't quite agree with. The push for the Kaiseres "full power" would come during the great depression as "popular" as the Monarchie was many did still blame it for the living conditions during and after the war and with the Boom of the Golden 20's many would be content with the Kaiser just being there as fore Austira there is still a strong possibility that Austria joins Germany to be Greater Germany and the war with Poland would at worst lead to war with France because depending on when and how Germany demands the return of Prussia from Poland England may still the policy of Appeasement and with no Suddenten Crises and Czech Annexiaon and Poland having the USSR on its border they may just hand it over if the Germans agree to secure there independence from Russia! but over all good Video

[@morsecode980]

One question: why Prince Eitel and not the crown Prince Wilhelm? Was there a reason Baden skipped over him?

[@JoshSullivanHistory]

If I were to guess, it would be that, since Crown Prince Wilhelm was Wilhelm II’s heir, he was more closely tied to Wilhelm II, engaging more in the old regime, which they wanted to avoid

[@derkurier2710]

Because he was Hated by EVERYONE

[@akramgimmini8165]

Unser platz unter der Sonne

[@SolidAvenger1290]

I guess Josh & everyone hasn't heard of the Hearts of Iron 4 Kasierreich timeline?

[@aldmeripatriot7703]

What if Austria united the Holy Roman Empire?

[@VoidballNotUploading]

actually, Eitel Friedrich had no children as a result of a divorce or so iirc, so he would have no heir presumptive. it would make more sense for Crown Prince Wilhelm to be crowned, as he was the Crown Prince and was the eldest son of Wilhelm II, and he also had children by 1918, so they could also appoint Crown Prince Wilhelm's eldest son, Prince Wilhelm (who was born in 1906, meaning that he was 12 as of 1918), but under a regency until he is 18. another choice would also be Wilhelm II's younger brother, Prince Henry (as Kaiser Heinrich I), who despite not having a much longer lifespan after 1918, had more in common with Friedrich III iirc, so he would likely work as a candidate.

[@paulinalevina9690]

0:21 Dehydrations

[@masscreationbroadcasts]

Damned Wilson...

[@MafiaSalty]

What of the country the republic of rif survived?

[@gamergumilyov8579]

I like to think that the 50's could've had a cold war between germany and france

[@JSC_66]

"paved the way for DEHYDRATIONS" darn the people are thirsty

[@mathiaspoelman1493]

So Wilson was even more pig-headed than I thought...

[@RacerA8]

Hi man, could I try and turn this into a hoi4 mod (try)

[@oooshafiqooo]

3:40 wait isnt Germany already a Constitutional Monarchy before the war? (It was semi constitutional monarchy anyway soo 🤔😄😅)

[@3chmidt]

Yes

[@GamerBob123]

"Erm we must demonetize history 🤓" -KZbin

[@Kaiser_Wilhelm_IV.]

Sorry, but why would they crown the Kaiser's second son, Prinz Eitel Friedrich, instead of my mate, the crownprince's eldest son, Prinz Wilhelm? I understand that they'd want to rule out the crownprince because of his involvement in the Great War, but Eitel Friedrich had no children at all and was involved in the war himself. The crownprince, on the other hand, had 4 sons at the time already. And a regency for the young (12 years old by the end of the war) princeling would be exactly what the democratic-liberal fractions would love to achieve.

[@VoidballNotUploading]

lol, we literally thought of the same thing, almost the exact same comments, just a bit different in few ways a coincidence, am i right? also decided to subscribe to your channel since why not

[@user-yl8cx9iq2d]

What if Indian National Army successful capture North East India in 1944 can you in future

[@Luke-mo3qo]

The only plus side I could see of the German monarchy actually surviving and coming back to power in this scenario is that there would be no Holocaust

[@tanarur4707]

What if the Sixtus Affair succeded?

[@fannarh]

Germany in WW2 with all the Jewish scientist working for them and be able to incorporate and get help from nation freed from Soviet Russia, they would probably win the war in the east and never involve USA with the European theater.

[@randombelugaman]

idea: what if the Second Mexican Empire (The Habsburg one) Survived?

[@rezaganjizadeh4263]

heil mein Kaiser

[@brothers_of_nod]

The Kaiser should have kept his throne.

[@youthoughtaboutit6946]

“Dehydrations” Considering the picture of people at those “camps” was that meant to be a dark joke?

[@JoshSullivanHistory]

It’s a long running joke that I use, and I just had to use it to, unsuccessfully, get around demonetization

[@epok7272]

Based video

[@Swagwagon-py9yw]

Somebody remonotize this man

[@Classical4Piano]

Nah he's a garbage human. His 'possible history is garbage video' just shows how hypocritical this guy is

[@MrShaneVicious]

Did we just forget about Crown Prince Wilhelm?? Eitel Frederick is the 2nd son

[@The_Enlcave]

W

[@donsena2013]

Do you possibly mean : “What if the German Empire Had Survived?”

[@Dabkiller59]

germany wilding frfrfr

[@lrl2394]

What if Sablin succeeded

[@Carpediem357]

Honestly I think we ahould use their other names: 3rd Reich, Greater German Reich, or use it's party name

[@JoshSullivanHistory]

lol they’d probably still demonetize me even just for that

[@Carpediem357]

@@JoshSullivanHistory if they somehow get mad at those names the less used ones KZbin are snowflake idiots

[@3chmidt]

German monarchy never was absolute tho, it was always constitutional and federal, with Wilhelm II giving the parliament full reign before ww1, not even doing something against the SPD, which Wilhelm didn't like. Russia was an absolute monarchy.

[@sourpusstv7984]

Source?

[@sovietPOUGAMERtank]

Noice

[@frankmurillo33st69]

Wat if the Mexican empire survived Emperor Maximilian nd president Juarez worked together?

[@alvinhuynh3666]

What if the Nguyen dynasty survived?

[@Usonan-Foderation2016]

Yay..?

[@madisonhasson8981]

The sailors weren't the first communist revolutionaries that started a socialist/communist revolution inside of WW1 Germany.

[@randomguy6152]

What if Crassus and Publius conquered Persia making a third sphere in the civil war This could have been done like Trajan by going through Armenia and then blitzing the capital before Parthiaan forces unite due to the Persia Satrapy military system. Crassus had support of the Greeks within Persia who were still a massive minority at this time. Greek cities joined him for slight victorys, if he were to actually do a competent campaign he could have started uprisings of anti-Persis cultures or at least have gained the support of the Greeks

[@alfrancisbuada2591]

Kaiserreich Timeline

[@matejskejic8710]

I thought this was a hoi4 video

[@LaQuack306]

If the German royal family was reinstated to day I can see it being more like the British royal family more of a public figure than a ruling party. quack quack I’m A duck quack quack quack

[@aaronfire359]

When anyone talks about monarchs loosing authority and the growth of democracy it makes me wanna throw up 🤮

[@nikostsiantas4060]

I have seen a big issues with the wau you organise your video the way you explain our timelines event takes too long when you can easily shorten with losing much substance .

[@JoshSullivanHistory]

Believe me, I tried to shorten the background. This was the shortest and most concise I could make it.

[@Usonan-Foderation2016]

Why'd you put Weimar Reichsadler?😭😭😭

[@JoshSullivanHistory]

cause democratic regime

[@im_theodore]

What if Germany had a succesful communist revolution?

[@dogancanozgokceler3234]

But What hallen orther German Monarc Familys

[@kommandantgalileo]

Gott Mit Uns!

[@KingRichardDeLeonheart]

Dehydration

[@Fensenjan]

Time east video I don’t recommend anyone watching it