What if the United States Joined the Central Powers?

[RagingBarbarian]

I was reading some text on the United State's position before joining the allies in World War I. The U. S could have easily joined the Central powers had Germany not made so many dipolomatic blunders, such as unrestricted submarine warfare. The United States was angred by britian blocking trade routes and other naval dipolmac. had the British increased these anti-trade restrictions, reducing the Lucrative European trade the U.S carried out, the U.S would have been forced to declare war on the allies and join the central powers. Many people don't know that at the start of the war the U.S was leaning in both, sides had the circumstances been different the U.S might have joined the Central power.
How would this have affected the War's outcome, and the history of the world?

 

[Archer 007]

The US wouldnt have joined the Central Powers. The nation was highly isolationist at the time. The US eventual support of the Allies came from a 300% trade boost with them and almost no trade with Germany.

 

[RagingBarbarian]

I'm not asking whether the U.S would have joined or not. What if they had joined?

 

[pawpaw]

Originally posted by RagingBarbarian
I'm not asking whether the U.S would have joined or not. What if they had joined?

well the blockade would been impossable to inforce as the u.s. naval trailed only england and germany. a u.s./germany fleet was more than a match for england. if england could not control the sea lanes here war production would of dropped to nothing. france left alone on the western front would of collasped.

 

[Androrc]

Not really. You're forgetting the French navy factor here. Also, remember that at the time, only 3% of the world's natural resources were produced on colonies. England could survive without trading with colonies, although if they lost control of the sea, the invasion of England would be pretty easy. Also, England had lots of coal, actually so much of it they used to export it to France.

 

[joycem10]

Great Britain may have survived the loss of natural resources from the colonies, however, its agricultiral production was insufficient for its population. Great Britain was relaint on food imports. An effective blockade may have starved Great Britain out of the war.

 

[Androrc]

Yes, but again you're forgetting the French navy. USA's navy wasn't a match for any of them alone, and together with Germany they still weren't a good match - after all, France and Britain were sea empires. And don't forget USA was not very strong at the time, all it did was unbalance the war. Britain could not blockaded.

 

[joycem10]

I was merely responding to your contention that England could survive in the war without trade based upon her natural resources. Quite simply, she likely could not have.

Im not making any assertions regarding the viability of a blockade against Great Britain, merely its effect if successful.

 

[Ancient Grudge]

Your forgetting britains two power standard, even with the combined fleets of the U.S.A and Germany, Britain would of had more ships (the whole point of the two power standard Britains navy to be as big as the second and third largest in the world)plus adding in the French...

 

[joycem10]

Once again, Im not saying that a blockade would have been successful, just what its effect would have been.

 

[pawpaw]

battleships 1914;

england--34
german--24
u.s.--8
france--4

england/france hold a 38 to 32 advantage but are required to keep some in the med. sea too, so they were about equal

 

[rilnator]

My God! just when you thought you'd heard the most outlandish 'what if' on the civ fanatics forum, along comes..... What if America allied with Germany during WW1.

 

[Mongoloid Cow]

What comes next - What if America allied with germany during WW2?

 

[Anubisdk2]

Originally posted by rilnator
My God! just when you thought you'd heard the most outlandish 'what if' on the civ fanatics forum, along comes..... What if America allied with Germany during WW1.

I am not a big "what if" fan, but I will interject my 2 cents here.

First, all of you will agree that America is a land of immigrants. And some of these immigrants still had strong ties to their homeland. There was sympathy for the Germans in WWI in America. I didn't do a poll or have I ever seen one, but I do know that people in America supported Germany. However, most of the people were still isolationists or supported the Allies. But there definately was pro-German feelings in America during WWI.

Now, saying that, adding to what you have said before, America of course was not powerful yet, but we were getting there. The turning point in WWI was not a battle, but in fact the USA declaring war on Germany. The reason for this is our economic force and our productive capabilities. I don't have the numbers off the top of my head, but countries like Romania (not sure if that is a correct example, but you will get the point) had a bigger Army than the USA did. But once we got our "motor" running, we were able to get it in gear.

That being said, I think IF the US would have joined the Central Powers, it would have been a long, drawn out war. We could have had problems with Canada (perhaps) and getting all those men over to Germany or to the UK or France would have been hard when you are going there as a enemy across British Naval Waters. But even if you go past that, I think it would have shifted the momentum back to the Central Powers.

But as said before in previous posts, there were just TOO many mistakes by the Germans and TOO many reasons why declaring war against the Allies would have been costly.

But those of you who completely dismiss it, I understand your point, but please do not forget the feeling at the time. Today, I am an American, even though I have Croatian roots, but I am not overly sympatheic to Croatia. However, back then, some people had just gotten off the boats from Europe and they would have been pro-"their country".

 

[Jelciakajo]

Originally posted by pawpaw
battleships 1914;

england--34
german--24
u.s.--8
france--4

england/france hold a 38 to 32 advantage but are required to keep some in the med. sea too, so they were about equal

That's quite interesting. Did the Russians or Japanese have any battleships?

 

[Androrc]

I think the Russians lost lots of them to the Japanese... They never were a sea power anyway... About Britain: Yes, I believe they would pretty much have to surrender if they were heavily blockaded. If they didn't, since they already lost the control of the seas they would soon be invaded.

 

[Ruchelli]

I feel that due to the almost complete failure of the Maginot line France would have soon been out of the war. England for some time was also on the brink of colapse. Remember, that the usa tanks defeated the German tanks not because they were superior tanks, but because they were produced in superior numbers. Had germany not had to fight the USA they could have concentrated their efforts else where. Say the Russians for example. I find it quite odd that over hundreds of years conquerers attempt to take Russia in winter and are forced to retreat. God bless the allies! Down with Central Powers.

 

[joycem10]

ruchelli, i think you are referring to WWII. THis thread concerns WWI.

 

[Adler17]

If the US were on Germany´s side the whole sitution would be another. The British now had to fight with another enemy on another front. Their fleet now had to protect their convoys much more than before. The US fleet might not been able to beat the British in an open fight but as fleet in being they would have devided the British fleet. And with only 8 ships less the British and German fleets were both equal. Because the German ships were better built, had better grenades and better crews Germany would have won the battles against the British. Even if the British would be very defensive they would have to hold their troops in England fearing an German/ US invasion. Without the British the French would have to surrender making the way clear for the US to find a base in Europe. Even if Canada declaered war on the US and not a single GI entered European territory with the industrial help of the US Germany would have no blockaded Britain even more than 1917. Now the British would have to surrender or starving.
Russia had also up to 8 battleships, but they lost many dreadnoughts in the war or shortly after. Only 4 ships remained until ww2 started and one of them was sunk there.
Japan had also BBs but I doubt they would have declared war on the US. Italy had no ships available. They had not enough ship to cope with the Austrians so...
This war was decided by the US. A neutral US would have meant the loss for the Entente. Only with their help they won.

Adler

 

[Androrc]

That's true. Until the US entry in the war it was balanced and unmoving.