The closing counterfactual asks whether Holtzendorff could have redirected German naval policy quickly enough to make Germany Britain's muscular ally before the outbreak of war. The scenario considers Britain, Germany, Austria-Hungary, and perhaps Italy aligned against France and Russia. Italy would be more likely to remain in the Triple Alliance if Britain joined it. The question links naval policy to coalition politics and invites viewers to judge whether a 1913 change of leadership could have altered the path to World War I.
Notable Point · 53:10-54:31
A 1913 muscular-ally counterfactual
The closing question asks how the alliance system might have changed if Holtzendorff had replaced Tirpitz in 1913 and tried to align Germany with Britain before war began.