Timeline (Plan 17 Succeeds)

Overview

 * At the beginning of the First World War, Plan 17 of the French army succeeds, and Germany is succesfully invaded in the first months of war in 1914. The French dissolve much of western Germany in France, and establish protectorates in the remaining parts of Germany. Part of Austria-Hungary is taken by the French too, who divide the country between themselves and Russia by the Treaty of Salzburg. Northwestern Germany and Schleswig-Holstein become part of Britain as a reward for their help on the Western Front with their British Expeditionary Force. East Prussia becomes part of the new established state of Poland.

Overview

 * The United States, fearing a Francophone world, establish a League of Nations in 1915. France, Britain, Russia and the United States become leading powers in this league. One of the first deeds is tracing the borders of Eastern Europe again, one of the main requests of the USA and Woodrow Wilson in particular. After uprisings in Russia trigger a civil war, China and Japan both conquer most of Siberia. Newly Bolshevik Russia fights China in a civil war, and takes over Siberia and Mongolia. Peace is restored at the Treaty of Warsaw, 1919. At the same conference, the leading powers decide to give the League of Nations an peace army, consisting of troops provided by all members, to claim territories that are under dispute. This makes the League of Nations so powerful, that it eventually governs large, almost uninhabited parts of the world, such as huge parts of the Sahara and Central Asia, as well as Siberia and parts of equatorial Africa.

Overview

 * After various discussions over attempted revolts in the 1920s and 1930s in many colonies, the colonialist powers gradually make their colonies independent. Portugal, Spain and the Netherlands are not very eager too give up their colonies. After threats of France in 1938, the Netherlands give in and make Indonesia, Papua and Suriname independent. Portugal insists in keeping their colonies. Great Britain fails to settle peace between France and Portugal, and a small French invasion of the Portuguese colonies follows. Portugal and Spain don't agree, and start a war against France in 1940. France invades Catalonia and eventually takes over Spain with help of the United States, who want to end the conflict as soon as possible, in order to prevent escalation and a possible Second World War. Portugal remains independent, but under heavy influence of France. The French make Basqueland independent in 1943, and keep Spain for themselves.

Overview

 * Possible future dispute areas are handed over to the League of Nations after decolonization. These so-called "mandates" have self-governance in a limited degree, and are merely likely to trigger war, than to prevent war. Despite this possible bonfire that can be lit by a spark, the world remains more or less free of war until 1984, when a border clash between India and China escalates. India, comprising the whole of former British India without Burma, is a weak state, divided in Islamic and Hindu regions. OTL Pakistan, called the Western Islamic Provinces, is one of the potential threats of a civil war in India. China invades the Western Islamic Provinces in 1985, and settles peace in 1987, after it gained OTL Bhutan, Kashmir, Sikkim and Nepal.

Overview

 * OTL space race started in the 50s. However, the space race in TTL starts only in the 90s, when the first home computers come into existence, and many new innovations such as the cellphone are beginning to become popular. Russia, China, France and the USA all try to set a man on the moon, and eventually France succeeds in 2003 with help of Great Britain. Meanwhile, internet has come into existence, and many of the former colonies start to reach a satisfying level of development. In 2005, Yemen and Hejaz (OTL West Saudi-Arabia) unite, and in 2008 a revolt in South Africa triggers chaos, and a dictature is started in South Africa.