Afghanistan Enters WWI on the Side of the Central Powers

[futurist]

What if Afghanistan would have entered World War I on the side of the Central Powers like many Afghans (including many people at the Afghan court) wanted?

Any thoughts on this?

[lordroel]

Jun 19, 2016 1:49:18 GMT futurist said:

What if Afghanistan would have entered World War I on the side of the Central Powers like many Afghans (including many people at the Afghan court) wanted?

Any thoughts on this?

We would see the Third Anglo-Afghan War much earlier than when it happen in OTL.

[futurist]

Jun 19, 2016 8:32:31 GMT lordroel said:

Jun 19, 2016 1:49:18 GMT futurist said:

What if Afghanistan would have entered World War I on the side of the Central Powers like many Afghans (including many people at the Afghan court) wanted?

Any thoughts on this?

We would see the Third Anglo-Afghan War much earlier than when it happen in OTL.

Yes; correct! However, Britain would have Russia (Afghanistan's northern neighbor) on its side in this scenario. Of course, on the flip side, less Indian troops are going to be available to help Britain fight in other theaters/fronts of World War I.

[futurist]

For the record, here is an ethno-linguistic map of Afghanistan:

[futurist]

Does anyone here think that Britain will be able to successfully create a large-scale rebellion among one or more of the ethnic groups in Afghanistan during World War I in this scenario just like Britain successfully did with the Arabs in the Ottoman Empire during World War I in real life?

[lordroel]

Jun 22, 2016 7:31:15 GMT futurist said:

Does anyone here think that Britain will be able to successfully create a large-scale rebellion among one or more of the ethnic groups in Afghanistan during World War I in this scenario just like Britain successfully did with the Arabs in the Ottoman Empire during World War I in real life?

Would the British try to remove the Afghanistan ruler Amir Habibullah Khan (ruled 1901–19).

[futurist]

Jun 22, 2016 14:03:45 GMT lordroel said:

Jun 22, 2016 7:31:15 GMT futurist said:

Does anyone here think that Britain will be able to successfully create a large-scale rebellion among one or more of the ethnic groups in Afghanistan during World War I in this scenario just like Britain successfully did with the Arabs in the Ottoman Empire during World War I in real life?

Would the British try to remove the Afghanistan ruler Amir Habibullah Khan (ruled 1901–19).

Possibly--if someone else in Afghanistan doesn't already kill him beforehand (after all, killing him in 1915 or 1916 rather than in 1919 might be a great PoD for an Afghan entry into World War I in the first place).

[stevep]

I can't see the Afghan government being interested in going to war with Britain at the time that Britain is allied to Russia. They know they can survive by playing each other off against the other but clashing with both simultanously is asking for serious trouble. Both could invade and/or seek to prompt internal unrest against the current regime.

[futurist]

Jun 23, 2016 16:50:46 GMT stevep said:

I can't see the Afghan government being interested in going to war with Britain at the time that Britain is allied to Russia. They know they can survive by playing each other off against the other but clashing with both simultanously is asking for serious trouble. Both could invade and/or seek to prompt internal unrest against the current regime.

It states here that both Nasrullah and Amanullah (Amir Habibullah's brother and son, respectively) supported the Niedermayer-Hentig's Mission's desire for Afghanistan to enter World War I on the side of the Central Powers, though:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niedermayer%E2%80%93Hentig_Expedition#Afghan_intrigues

[lordroel]

Jun 23, 2016 16:56:42 GMT futurist said:

Jun 23, 2016 16:50:46 GMT stevep said:

I can't see the Afghan government being interested in going to war with Britain at the time that Britain is allied to Russia. They know they can survive by playing each other off against the other but clashing with both simultanously is asking for serious trouble. Both could invade and/or seek to prompt internal unrest against the current regime.

It states here that both Nasrullah and Amanullah (Amir Habibullah's brother and son, respectively) supported the Niedermayer-Hentig's Mission's desire for Afghanistan to enter World War I on the side of the Central Powers, though:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niedermayer%E2%80%93Hentig_Expedition#Afghan_intrigues

It would not end well, the Afghan Army has to fight the British-Indian Army and even the Russian Imperial Army.

[futurist]

Jun 23, 2016 16:58:58 GMT lordroel said:

Jun 23, 2016 16:56:42 GMT futurist said:

It states here that both Nasrullah and Amanullah (Amir Habibullah's brother and son, respectively) supported the Niedermayer-Hentig's Mission's desire for Afghanistan to enter World War I on the side of the Central Powers, though:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niedermayer%E2%80%93Hentig_Expedition#Afghan_intrigues

It would not end well, the Afghan Army has to fight the British-Indian Army and even the Russian Imperial Army.

Completely agreed.

However, Afghanistan might (at least for a brief period of time) benefit from Germany's victory over Russia in the East.

[lordroel]

Jun 23, 2016 17:09:25 GMT futurist said:

Jun 23, 2016 16:58:58 GMT lordroel said:

It would not end well, the Afghan Army has to fight the British-Indian Army and even the Russian Imperial Army.

Completely agreed.

However, Afghanistan might (at least for a brief period of time) benefit from Germany's victory over Russia in the East.

But the Russian Imperial Army might do better in Afghanistan, especially if it gets direct help from the United Kingdom operating out of British-India.

[stevep]

Jun 23, 2016 16:56:42 GMT futurist said:

Jun 23, 2016 16:50:46 GMT stevep said:

I can't see the Afghan government being interested in going to war with Britain at the time that Britain is allied to Russia. They know they can survive by playing each other off against the other but clashing with both simultanously is asking for serious trouble. Both could invade and/or seek to prompt internal unrest against the current regime.

It states here that both Nasrullah and Amanullah (Amir Habibullah's brother and son, respectively) supported the Niedermayer-Hentig's Mission's desire for Afghanistan to enter World War I on the side of the Central Powers, though:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niedermayer%E2%80%93Hentig_Expedition#Afghan_intrigues

  They may have done but Habibullah stated very clear reasons why a small, land-locked state totally surrounded by the territory of a very large alliance shouldn't go to war with it.  It would have caused a drain on British and Russia forces but wouldn't have done Afghanistan any good and I think the Emir realised that.

  It may be that Nasrullah, who later plotted to replace his brother was thinking primarily of that, i.e. 'prompting' himself to the top spot.  Ditto with his younger son Amanullah prehaps.

[futurist]

Jun 23, 2016 17:11:18 GMT lordroel said:

Jun 23, 2016 17:09:25 GMT futurist said:

Completely agreed.

However, Afghanistan might (at least for a brief period of time) benefit from Germany's victory over Russia in the East.

But the Russian Imperial Army might do better in Afghanistan, especially if it gets direct help from the United Kingdom operating out of British-India.

It doesn't matter if Russia will withdraw from World War I at Lenin's instigation, though.

[lordroel]

Jun 23, 2016 17:12:33 GMT futurist said:

Jun 23, 2016 17:11:18 GMT lordroel said:

But the Russian Imperial Army might do better in Afghanistan, especially if it gets direct help from the United Kingdom operating out of British-India.

It doesn't matter if Russia will withdraw from World War I at Lenin's instigation, though.

When is the date that Afghanistan Enters WWI on the Side of the Central Powers, is it 1914, 1915, 1916 ore 1917.