Plausibility Check: A new German capital in Czechia?

[futurist]

Basically, there are two ways for this scenario to work:



The first scenario involves Germany allying with Russia and partitioning Austria-Hungary together with Russia, Serbia, Romania, and perhaps Italy in an alternate World War I. After the German-Russian alliance wins this alternate World War I, Germany annexes German Austria, Czechia, Pressburg/Bratislava, the Burgenland, and perhaps Slovenia as well. Afterwards, in order to Germanize Czechia, Germany decides to relocate its capital to somewhere in Czechia. This is also a vanity project for the German Kaiser.



The second scenario involves Hitler dying in mid-1939 and having his successor Goering cancel the planned German invasion of Poland. In this scenario, Germany already has Czechia--which it then proceeds to outright annex. Afterwards, in order to Germanize Czechia, Germany decides to relocate its capital to somewhere in Czechia. This is also a vanity project for Hermann Goering.



Anyway, how plausible is this and which city in Czechia would make the best capital for a Greater Germany?



Any thoughts on this?

[lordroel]

Apr 21, 2018 1:49:05 GMT futurist said:

Basically, there are two ways for this scenario to work:



The first scenario involves Germany allying with Russia and partitioning Austria-Hungary together with Russia, Serbia, Romania, and perhaps Italy in an alternate World War I. After the German-Russian alliance wins this alternate World War I, Germany annexes German Austria, Czechia, Pressburg/Bratislava, the Burgenland, and perhaps Slovenia as well. Afterwards, in order to Germanize Czechia, Germany decides to relocate its capital to somewhere in Czechia. This is also a vanity project for the German Kaiser.



The second scenario involves Hitler dying in mid-1939 and having his successor Goering cancel the planned German invasion of Poland. In this scenario, Germany already has Czechia--which it then proceeds to outright annex. Afterwards, in order to Germanize Czechia, Germany decides to relocate its capital to somewhere in Czechia. This is also a vanity project for Hermann Goering.



Anyway, how plausible is this and which city in Czechia would make the best capital for a Greater Germany?



Any thoughts on this?

Why would you move to a new capital witch is smaller than Berlin which has the capital of Brandenburg/Prussia/German Empire  and has almost 4 million people living.

[stevep]

It does seem unlikely that they would move the capital from Berlin, the historical centre of Prussia which is also still by far the most important part of the Reich, to a relatively small and largely non-German region. Prague has a lot of historical importance but it doesn't compare in the past couple of centuries to Berlin. Also all the established government infrastructure is in Berlin already and would have to be moved or recreated in Prague. [Which I think would be by far the most practical site in Bohemia.]

[futurist]

Apr 21, 2018 9:28:22 GMT stevep said:

It does seem unlikely that they would move the capital from Berlin, the historical centre of Prussia which is also still by far the most important part of the Reich, to a relatively small and largely non-German region. Prague has a lot of historical importance but it doesn't compare in the past couple of centuries to Berlin. Also all the established government infrastructure is in Berlin already and would have to be moved or recreated in Prague. [Which I think would be by far the most practical site in Bohemia.]

Please keep in mind, though, that in addition to having the effect of helping to Germanize Bohemia (since a lot of Germans are going to move to Prague if it becomes the German capital), moving the German capital to Prague could also symbolize Germany's southern expansion and the completion of German unification. Indeed, moving the German capital out of Prussia could send a signal to people in other German states that they are not second-class citizens of the German Reich. In other words, the symbolism of doing this is very potent.

[futurist]

Apr 21, 2018 7:18:35 GMT lordroel said:

Apr 21, 2018 1:49:05 GMT futurist said:

Basically, there are two ways for this scenario to work:



The first scenario involves Germany allying with Russia and partitioning Austria-Hungary together with Russia, Serbia, Romania, and perhaps Italy in an alternate World War I. After the German-Russian alliance wins this alternate World War I, Germany annexes German Austria, Czechia, Pressburg/Bratislava, the Burgenland, and perhaps Slovenia as well. Afterwards, in order to Germanize Czechia, Germany decides to relocate its capital to somewhere in Czechia. This is also a vanity project for the German Kaiser.



The second scenario involves Hitler dying in mid-1939 and having his successor Goering cancel the planned German invasion of Poland. In this scenario, Germany already has Czechia--which it then proceeds to outright annex. Afterwards, in order to Germanize Czechia, Germany decides to relocate its capital to somewhere in Czechia. This is also a vanity project for Hermann Goering.



Anyway, how plausible is this and which city in Czechia would make the best capital for a Greater Germany?



Any thoughts on this?

Why would you move to a new capital witch is smaller than Berlin which has the capital of Brandenburg/Prussia/German Empire  and has almost 4 million people living.

1. To help Germanize Czechia.
2. To move Germany's center of gravity further to the south--something which has value after Germany's southward expansion into Austria, Czechia, and possibly Slovenia as well.
3. To send a message to Germans outside of Prussia that they are equal citizens of Germany and that Germany is not merely Greater Prussia.

[lordroel]

Apr 21, 2018 18:53:08 GMT futurist said:

Apr 21, 2018 7:18:35 GMT lordroel said:

Why would you move to a new capital witch is smaller than Berlin which has the capital of Brandenburg/Prussia/German Empire  and has almost 4 million people living.

1. To help Germanize Czechia.
2. To move Germany's center of gravity further to the south--something which has value after Germany's southward expansion into Austria, Czechia, and possibly Slovenia as well.
3. To send a message to Germans outside of Prussia that they are equal citizens of Germany and that Germany is not merely Greater Prussia.

What about Vienna as capitol, i know its not in Czechia.

[futurist]

Apr 21, 2018 18:56:04 GMT lordroel said:

Apr 21, 2018 18:53:08 GMT futurist said:

1. To help Germanize Czechia.
2. To move Germany's center of gravity further to the south--something which has value after Germany's southward expansion into Austria, Czechia, and possibly Slovenia as well.
3. To send a message to Germans outside of Prussia that they are equal citizens of Germany and that Germany is not merely Greater Prussia.

What about Vienna as capitol, i know its not in Czechia.

It's too far to the south. Also, Austria is already heavily German and thus there is absolutely no need to further Germanize it. Plus, moving it to Vienna might be seen as being too much of a slap in the wrist to the Prussian Junkers. I mean, they are going to be pissed off either way, but Prague would probably be much more tolerable for them.

If it's moved to Vienna, the Prussian Junkers are going to think that the German Kaiser wants to recreate the Austrian Empire, but without a large part of its non-German-majority territories.

[lordroel]

Apr 21, 2018 18:59:46 GMT futurist said:

Apr 21, 2018 18:56:04 GMT lordroel said:

What about Vienna as capitol, i know its not in Czechia.

It's too far to the south. Also, Austria is already heavily German and thus there is absolutely no need to further Germanize it. Plus, moving it to Vienna might be seen as being too much of a slap in the wrist to the Prussian Junkers. I mean, they are going to be pissed off either way, but Prague would probably be much more tolerable for them.

If it's moved to Vienna, the Prussian Junkers are going to think that the German Kaiser wants to recreate the Austrian Empire, but without a large part of its non-German-majority territories.

So Prague is a safe choice.

[futurist]

Apr 21, 2018 19:02:43 GMT lordroel said:

Apr 21, 2018 18:59:46 GMT futurist said:

It's too far to the south. Also, Austria is already heavily German and thus there is absolutely no need to further Germanize it. Plus, moving it to Vienna might be seen as being too much of a slap in the wrist to the Prussian Junkers. I mean, they are going to be pissed off either way, but Prague would probably be much more tolerable for them.

If it's moved to Vienna, the Prussian Junkers are going to think that the German Kaiser wants to recreate the Austrian Empire, but without a large part of its non-German-majority territories.

So Prague is a safe choice.

Yeah, it sure looks like it.

Also, would Germany be able to get several million Germans to move to Prague in this TL?

I mean, if one includes the Sudetenland, Czechia was around 30% German in 1920. That's about 3 million out of a total of about 10 million. For Germans (as in, ethnic Germans) to achieve a majority in Czechia, they would need to increase their population there by 4 million (assuming that the rest of the population in Czechia remains the same--which certainly isn't guaranteed). Can Germany do this?

[raunchel]

I could imagine it if Bohemia is drawn more into the HRE at the start of the Thirty Years War. Or before that of course. Then you could see the Emperor staying there more frequently (an alternative is that the protestants win at White Mountain). Either way, if it's closer to the empire, you could see it germanise more, and Prague could be a useful city as a capitol after real unification.

[futurist]

Apr 21, 2018 19:11:05 GMT raunchel said:

I could imagine it if Bohemia is drawn more into the HRE at the start of the Thirty Years War. Or before that of course. Then you could see the Emperor staying there more frequently (an alternative is that the protestants win at White Mountain). Either way, if it's closer to the empire, you could see it germanise more, and Prague could be a useful city as a capitol after real unification.

A PoD that far back could completely butterfly away German unification to begin with, though.

[raunchel]

Apr 21, 2018 19:15:53 GMT futurist said:

Apr 21, 2018 19:11:05 GMT raunchel said:

I could imagine it if Bohemia is drawn more into the HRE at the start of the Thirty Years War. Or before that of course. Then you could see the Emperor staying there more frequently (an alternative is that the protestants win at White Mountain). Either way, if it's closer to the empire, you could see it germanise more, and Prague could be a useful city as a capitol after real unification.

A PoD that far back could completely butterfly away German unification to begin with, though.

It certainly would butterfly away the unification that we know, but there could still be one, or at least, a centralisation of the empire.

[futurist]

Apr 21, 2018 19:17:03 GMT raunchel said:

Apr 21, 2018 19:15:53 GMT futurist said:

A PoD that far back could completely butterfly away German unification to begin with, though.

It certainly would butterfly away the unification that we know, but there could still be one, or at least, a centralisation of the empire.

Yes, but it would be too distant from our TL and thus not as relatable.

[raunchel]

Apr 21, 2018 19:18:55 GMT futurist said:

Apr 21, 2018 19:17:03 GMT raunchel said:

It certainly would butterfly away the unification that we know, but there could still be one, or at least, a centralisation of the empire.

Yes, but it would be too distant from our TL and thus not as relatable.

That's very much true, but it's the first thing that came to mind.

[futurist]

Apr 21, 2018 19:21:26 GMT raunchel said:

Apr 21, 2018 19:18:55 GMT futurist said:

Yes, but it would be too distant from our TL and thus not as relatable.

That's very much true, but it's the first thing that came to mind.

Well, it's certainly a good scenario. Just not as relatable as some of the other ones in this thread.