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I mean you'd think between China and Japan and the South American nations some nations would have wanted to jump in on the Central Powers' side in case they won so they could get a favorable settlement.
Japan was on the Entente's side and took advantage by gobbling up some German pacific territory.
Italy was tending towards the central powers and may have entered the war on their side if Austria-Hungary ceded some of their territories along the italian border.
Norway and Sweden and The Netherlands were somewhat allied with Germany and could have been persuaded to join the central powers. Switzerland also.
The fact that they weren't were a combination of diplomatic failures by Germany and the lack of enough will and motivation by the other countries. But they make good "what if" scenarios. In particular - Italy and Switzerland. People don't realize how close they were to joining the Central Powers. But, even the Ottoman Empire (on the Central Powers side) and Italy (on the Entente side) did not enter the war right away, and by 1915 it was clear the war was bogged down into a bloody trench war of attrition. Who would have wanted to enter that?
Germany also made some efforts in Mexico of course, you know about the Zimmerman telegram.
I mean you'd think between China and Japan and the South American nations some nations would have wanted to jump in on the Central Powers' side in case they won so they could get a favorable settlement.
Well I know Argentina was an essence an English colony at the time. China really wasn't in any position to launch foreign wars after the dissoultion of its empire.
It just didn't make any practical sense for peripheral countries or countries with little at stake to enter the war. If you were in the Western Hemisphere you ran the risk of running afoul of the USA. Besides there was money to be made as a result of the vaccum created due to production disruptions during the war.
I mean you'd think between China and Japan and the South American nations some nations would have wanted to jump in on the Central Powers' side in case they won so they could get a favorable settlement.
In case they won, indeed! Had they won, you can be sure that they would have discovered many eager new "friends."
In case they won, indeed! Had they won, you can be sure that they would have discovered many eager new "friends."
I know, but what would the johnny come latelies get? A Channel Island that the Germans would occupy on their behalf if they were lucky perhaps?
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