Kaiserreich a TL: the Essays

Portugal had Declare War to Germany do several reasons
and had own west Front line with Troops between British and Belgium Frontline Section. (and in Afrika fighting Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck)
Also a Russian between Britisch and French section but this was dimatel by French after Russian Revolution in January 1917.
this two were weakest link in that Frontline, what German Army used in 1917 offensive in TL

Why the relation between USA Britain deteriorate tell second and third Essay from there view.

2. WHY stay America out of the war ?

The main reason was the Monroe Doctrine, on USA not interfering in Europans affairs, so long European not interfering in US affairs.
Other reason in this case is Woodrow Wilson,
Considered by most historians today as one of the worst presidents in United States history.
Not only he introduced racial segregation into United States, his imperialistic foreign policies, let to the Mexican War of 1917.
In 1914 Wilson declare US neutrality in the Great War, for his own interest to be elected for second term.

After the presidential election of 1916, Wilson went for aggressive approach on the Great War.
But with limited success, Capital Hill was divided in several fractions,
In general all were united behind the Monroe Doctrine, but:
Most Republicans wanted remain neutral, because of them became rich with War in Europe,
Theodore Roosevelt could have change this, sadly he was killed during Presidential election in 1912.
The Democrat’s were also divided, the souther states supported president Willson
While the east coast fraction who wanted to engage and support openly the Irish civil war.
Another issue was that were no incidents with germans, Wilson could use as excuse.
They stop to attacking US merchant ship in 1916. either German sank passenger ship, it almost happen with RMS Lusitania but the Submarine had run out of Torpedoes and needed to return to Germany.

Then happened Mexico War in 1917.
It started as internal conflict between revolutionaries and the Mexican government.
But as this escalated to a Civil War, Two Fractions expanded their action into the United States of America.
The so called Segranistast commit ethnic cleansing and murder against every American in Mexico and US border,
The other Villanistas raided United States towns and took hostages.

United States government was forced to sent the military into Mexico hunting them down.
With little success to make matters worst they were attacked by the Mexican regular army,
William Hearst who try to protect his business interest in Mexico, started a media campaign.
His the yellow press heating up to situation, until capital Hill declare war on Mexico !

Mexican generals and their army were no match against the US military who made a fast victory.
Then problem started, wen the Mexicans began a bloody guerrilla warfare against occupation of the US forces!
Then happen a pandemic in USA of deadly flu like disease that spread fast into Mexico
and label as „Mexican Flu“ by the Media
(The decease origin was in a US military camp Funston in Kansas, were personal spread it into Mexico)
US Army were fighting a war in Mexico there couldn't win and most in USA put the blame on the President „Imperialistic“ politic.
For Pres. Wilson this was a disaster, for His planned US involvement in the War in Europe was now impossible,

In Germany a Arthur Zimmerman burn his notes and letter, with proposal for Mexico to join the Central powers and declare war on USA.

In the meantime diplomatic tensions rising fast between the British Empire and United States of America, because of several points:
The British Navy see blockade what's is a hindrance for the free trade of USA with Europe, despite USA was during the Great War, Neutral.
The other issue what's the involvement of Irish American in the Irish Civil War and there US fraction supported with money, weapons and Manpower to the Irish revolutionaries.
Also suspecting the British government that the USA had also deliver weapons to the Hindu uprise in India. On the other hand American politicians blaming Britain try to drag the United States into the War in Europe.

This and the Belford incident, where a British warship accidentally shot an American freighter on way to Sweden, were half of the crew died, because the US Captain ignored any order to stop by HMS Belford.
What Let to the American's Politicians and Bankers taking action against the British Empire.
On October 1917 Group of American freighters protected by US Navy arrived at the Sea blockade.
With the orders to sank every British ship that tries to stop them !
In Mean time US bankers demanded immediate repayment of their War Credits to Britain ! after successful Operation Georg by Germans,

The British government gave in to the demands of Americans.
It was first time that a World Power was brought to it’s knees by Economic, not War efforts…
In mean Time Woodrow Wilson try to put his version on the World, but do bloody War in Mexico tarnished his reputation.
He demanded to be part of the Potsdam conference, what the Germans decline.
he was eider ignore or laugh at his proposals like League of Nations to prevent future wars.
Woodrow Wilson died of stroke in White House 1918.

His legacy was introduction of state-racism in USA, a Failed attempt of US Imperialism
and national trauma called „Remember Mexico !!!“ that pushed USA further into Political Isolation.

Steve beat me to most of the points, but they fail any measure of plausibility.

If, as the title implies, this is a means to getting a Kaiserreich end point, then it is a good try, but a vain effort, as the entire geopolitical set up of the HoI4 mod is of the same historical character as the game itself - a extremely artificial and contrived scenario with barely a fig leaf of historical veracity. If not, then please excuse my dalliance into Paradox’s nonsense.

The British didn't have issues that egregious in 1917 and the Anglo-American rapprochement was too mutually advantageous and developed to be randomly thrown down the well.

That being said, you are going about things in the right way. So:

1.) What is the end point you want? A surviving German Empire or something a bit more than that?
2.) How flexible are you willing to be and how far back are you willing to go?

Broadly speaking, you can achieve a surviving German Empire with an end to the war in 1915 or so. Once we get past the blood and treasure of 1916, it is very difficult.

If you clearly identify what your objective is, then your readers are going to potentially cut you some slack if it is a means to an end. Thus, if the point is an exploration of the German Empire after a shorter WW1, then people aren't going to be too focused on how you achieve it. I've had an idea for some time about Italy staying out and a resultant decision in the East.

On the other hand, if you want them to win in 1917, when they had been battered firmly into the defensive and only recovered for their doomed last gasp offensives of 1918 because of the fortuitous collapse of Russia, then you might be pushing too hard.

You can have a surviving German Empire easily.

However, a France of any flavour as one of the WW2 big bads is a very, very stiff task. To do so after a WW1 defeat anywhere close to @ is next to impossible. The simple reason why is geography, whereby Germany and Britain have it wrapped up.

To then have Not Nazi Germany merrily dominate the world and withstand an Anglo-American bloc during a decades long Cold War is simply impossible. Consider Tooze on the attempt of Nazi Germany to make war using looted Europe and still coming up short.

1.) Minor tactical changes in 1914 could work, but the key is to get in before the blood really starts flowing.

2.) French users on other forums have the politics right, but the politics don't matter a thing when the real sinews of 20th century industrial war are National Wealth/GDP, Industrial Production, Maximum Military Manpower and Trade, in turn feeding Science. France has too small a population to support a superpower level armed force, which is what it would need to hold off Germany and Britain. They are too poor to sustain an industrial war when cut off from supplies from the rest of the world by the RN. They are a bit more than Italy - not a great threat in and of themselves.

3.) The French could fight against Britain and Germany for maybe 24 months if everything fell in their favour. This is not drawn from post facto rationalisation, but what the French knew themselves. As a result, they are unlikely to go full 'Monsieur Hitler avec le rouge beret et la baguette soupçonneusement phallique' in a realistic timeline. Even taking on Germany with Britain as a friendly neutral is extremely unlikely to the point of next to impossible.

But what of the Soviets? They weren't rated as the Russian steamroller of 1914, due to the failure of the latter.

The Soviets, on the other hand, did have the capacity to take on a German state and beat it, in time. They have the sheer mass, industry and wealth.

I don't think you can get France to play the kicking boy in any halfway realistic scenario. A German-Soviet War with the Americans and British friendly to Germany can be done.

There really isn't a viable possibility of a Germany vs the USA + British Empire cold war. The latter are too wealthy, powerful and advanced to be countered with a Middle European bloc, especially when oil is taken into account.