Imperial Germany

>he more or less stuck his nose in every European crisis in order to gain 'muh place in the sun.'
Trying to become a naval/colonial power was so idiotic... Nations should focus on further developing in the directions where they already have an advantage. The only exception is nations that have such huge power bases and advantages (such as the US) that they can afford to do everything at the same time. Trying to compete in an arena where you are fundamentally outmatched is a classic geopolitical mistake.

Wilhelm II's autistic diplomacy

I will continue to spam Turpitz until he becomes the meme he deserves to be.

>Surrounding himself with yes men and ultra-nationalists
man, so much this. bernhard von bulow was total and complete dumbass, almost literally seethe with rage whenever i read about yet another of his endless bumbling fuck ups.

>it's over, Tirpitz. I have the thalassocracy
>you underestimate my production capabilities
>don't try it
>[ANGLO-GERMAN NAVAL ARMS RACE]

Just about
>Let's make sure we're surrounded on both sides by enemies
>France is already our rivial so let's break the good will founded by bismark with russia and make them our enemies as well
>Let us piss of Britain and try and build our navy rather than expand our impressive army
>Speaking of which we should have more colonies
>Also how bout we ally a fucking corpse and someone who wants a piece of that corpse
>Get on friendly terms with sick man of Europe he seems lively
>At war on too many fronts better declare war on Portugal and piss off the USA even more

It's doesn't matter what Germany had going be it population, army, or industry it's just fucking moronic to think your country could take on the entirety of Europe (they sure as shit where fighting Austria Hungary's incompetence), then some, and win.

God i wish Napoleon won

kek

they never should have took alasce lorraine

Everyone likes to lay the blame on Willy, but really Germany was on a crash course for disaster as soon as the Zollverein went into effect.

You're better off blaming Admiral Mahan.

Allowing inferior germans to make decisions.

Prussia and not Austria.

lol no

The thing is Germany was going to become the most powerful nation in Europe if, as you said, just minded their own bussiness. They had the most literate population and their industry was nearly surpassing that of Britain. They're the definition of wasted potential.

Even though 1880-1914 was the most 'profitable' time for imperialism what the other European powers had was centuries of development whilst Wilhelm tried to nab any power he could get because he was salty about his deformed arm and developed a inferiority complex cause his great aunt or something was the British monarch

Fucking tell me about it!

Hammer and Anvil Speech 1899:
> 'we, have the right to a greater
Germany, not in the sense of conquest, but indeed in the sense of peaceful extension of our trade and its infrastructures.'
>Goes on to piss off every European state with intervening military

1918, battle of jutland

>AH
>sunking ship
France was one more of a sunking ship

They had a weak democracy, a divided society and a low birthrate

The war saved France

>>Goes on to piss off every European state with intervening military

For example? The Morroco Crisis was hardly a military intervention

is it weird that when i read about napoleon i am a francophile but when i read about the prussian army im a prussophile?

at the very least, the germans should not have completely bungled the management of alsace lorraine.

I'm the same way, although much of the Prussian story pre Old Fritz is boring as hell, outside of the Great Elector and Frederick William I.

>Wilhelm II

yeah prussian history is dull during the margraviate period and anything pre-army with a state period

Lots of places.

But I still find it amazing that one-on-one Germany could have beaten any other European power in a heartbeat.

Around here.