smn said:
Well, it kept Austria from defending it's allies when Poland invaded Brandenburg. Simply by placing enough troops on the border. Then again, it was Austrias choice not to risk more and act anyway.
Agreed on the fact that Brandenburg wanted Poland dead or diminished. Quite natural of them to do so. Pretty much disagreed on the rest. Poland was a massive superpower, the sort of power that could not be defeated by any of its neighbours alone. This war would have brought it down to rational levels, but left it still a force big enough to be recognized.
Very true.
As Brandenburg it is natural for me to want to expand at their expense.
While I did not necessarily want them dead, at least not on the short- and middlerun I did want all german provinces from them for understandable reasons. I agree with Fred, however, that as of yesterday evening Poland was doomed. It´s backbone was broken, it´s power severly diminished.
The only thing which could have saved Poland would have been to ally Sweden.
That´s something which actualy surprised me, Fred. Didn´t you try to ally Sweden? It´s the logical thing to do.....and had you done it....neither I nor Russia would have had any chance at all against you....
As for Austria :
After the austrian betrayal and all the times the Archduke had let all of us down (refusing to come to our defense when we were attacked) it was no secret that we all wanted it severly punished. I had no trust for the austrian perm, which imho was totaly justified in view of his later actions. So we acted against Austria, yes.
Then again : Last week Smn offered an honourable 1-on-1 against Austria and what happened? It´s perm said "he had to go" and left.....leaving Smn stranded with Tilly wasting year for year - hardly a fair way to deal with Austria´s own mistakes.
Now yesterday Austria got defeated after a long and bloody war in which we all had suffered a lot and then W. decided to quit - at which point I got severly mad. I apologize for my tone but not for my intention in this matter.
I just find it beneath total lowness to leave after ruining ones country and thus cowardly fleeing from the consequences of one´s own mistakes.
After all : It was W´s decision to betray us. He must have know what the consequences would be. IMO it was Austria´s CENTRAL mistake to betray us and ally with Poland. It was VERY imprudent for so obvious reasons as that Austria, in the thick of things, cannot afford to piss of so many powers - not when the OE is also knocking at the doors of Vienna.
So in conclusion : I do not view any whining about Austria as justified.
Poland, on the other hand, fought both with honour and fierceness. To them we remain deeply respectful.
