Okay, for the response to this. All comments are OOC, of course.
I think so many things have changed in Europe since the end of 1917 that the "German threat" really holds about as much water (from the French point-of-view) as a cullender. IC, the French see Belgian attitude towards Germany as fanatical: they seem incapable of adjusting to the reality of changing circumstances. Belgium desires the French to spearhead a bulwark against the German threat - but the Belgians seem unable to identify what the true nature of that threat actually
is. Perhaps even more irritating to France is that Belgium has many times taken stances which Paris feels undermined what the Belgians seemed to be asking France to do: for instance, forming the personal union with the Netherlands, which was busy in setting up a nice three-front situation vis-a-vis France in the form of AEGIS. It may not have been the Belgian intentions - the French are well aware Belgium was no signatory to that treaty - but the end result is the same. Amusingly, it seems ironic that the Belgians have taken such a shine to a monarch who the French perceived as pro-German and anti-Entente during the Great War.
The way I see it, the point of divergence in Wesworld comes not in the events of treaties and such, but rather in the way the national narratives of the Great War have been told by the major combatants. Germany's narrative is not of defeat through betrayal, as it was in OTL. In France, the war is seen as the disastrous designs of European absolutist monarchs who desired to extend power against "weak" democracies (and constitutional monarchies). That's probably shared in some way or another by Russia, Atlantis, and Germany - maybe even Italy - though I can't speak for them, of course.
The current French government would absolutely love to increase their ties with Belgium, but they don't like the idea of Belgium trying to get them into fights with Germany - and that's what it felt like through the 1930s. And the closer Belgium gets to the Dutch, the further they'll get from France. (Full unification with the Dutch, as I recall being mentioned once or twice, would be very unpalatable indeed in Paris.)
As long as it's OOC, I'll explain my out-of-character reasoning for the last five to eight years of French policies. First, I took up France shortly after Bruce took up Germany, and part of my objective - which I stated to Bruce beforehand - was to challenge the German economic powerhouse which was showing up. Second, once I'd had a few months running France, I started to get a bit irritated at the concept that France and Germany *had* to be enemies. Why should that be? This is a naval sim, and a war against Germany holds very little hope of naval action that would feel unique and fresh to me. I have to look outside Europe before I see things interesting enough to focus on. Working that into my first point, I'm trying to bank French power and prestige into building up the Empire - and using the Empire to keep France competitive with Germany and Britain in the continent. As France and Germany are the two hardiest republics of Europe, it's only appropriate IMHO that they develop both a closer partnership and a bit of a keener rivalry.
Now, as to the military aspects of a theoretical tussle between France and Belgium (with, or without friends)...
So, earlier this year I started on this project, trying to discern how Belgium would try to protect itself when Germany corrupts France and they invade.
Even though both France and Germany have spent the last two years drawing down their military forces in Europe, a move being shared by the UK, I believe...
Given the populations and the economy, there is no hope should it come to that.
Pretty much, yes...
if you're Belgium, you've seen WWI and Verdun's fortresses hold off the Germans
Well, that's not really what happened in Wesworld. Unlike OTL, more than half of the war was fought with maneuver by the Army of the Orient. When the French, British, and Canadians started to apply the Russian and Atlantean tactics to the Western Front, they saw the Hundred Days.
1.Unlike the Netherlands pill-box belt on the border, the proposal in this case is more modest. Static defensive emplacements in the interior of the nation, forming 'Citadel Towns'. allowing the Active Army to fall back, and reserve elements to form on these locations. These location will shield Brussels and Antwerp, while interdicting major supply corridors. These Citadels should combine predesignated defensive works, current and potential airfields, a battery or more of the longest reaching indirect artillery for fire support, several batteries of anti-tank and anti-aircraft guns, and machine guns. Large fortifications would likely be targetable by mass air attack, so these should be sited in individual emplacements. The possibility of naval gun turrets in reinforced concrete emplacements is being explored. Any individual emplacements should be designed somewhat larger than currently needed, to allow for future upgrading at minimal cost.
From the point of view of the French Army, making "Citadel towns" would border on the tactic of using civilian human shields: it's intentionally putting fortifications in civilian areas in order to force fighting in built-up areas. The most likely French response would be to give civilians a week to evacuate, then firebomb the town to expose bunkers and fortified buildings. If a few non-citadel towns get wiped out along the way, well...
4.Plan for manuever warfare : An armored reserve force, capable of quickly counterstriking on interior lines can lead to local firepower superiority. The current tank destroyers are excellent defensive assets and dispersed companies should be amalgamated into larger formations, more capable of countering Franco-German armored formations.
Seems logical to group your armour. Seems futile against the numbers France alone could bring to bear, let alone Germany.
6.Plan to contest air superiority. While the numbers of the French and German Air Forces are overwhelming, the infrastruture to project those forces is less daunting.
More daunting than you might think. The Armee de l'Aire currently fields around eight hundred single-engine fighters and four hundred bombers in Zone Nord-Est, all capable of a combat radius covering parts or all of Belgium. There are grass scatter-fields, a radar network, and several thousand troops whose job it is to build new airfields.
Further, a large number of the French and German airforce is multi-engine planes which require many times the manpower, maintenance and production base that a simple fighter does.
Fortunately, France and Germany have many times the manpower, maintenance, and production base.
Doesn't stop France from fielding over five thousand single-engine aircraft. Granted, not all in the Metropole, but...
8.Propaganda : There must be every effort to increase Franco-Belgian links and fraternity, as well as to highlight the German history. Tourism, commerce, history, exchange students, all things we should highlight via a Cultural Ministry.
The German tourism board seems to be covering German history quite adequately.
If Belgium wants to increase Franco-Belgian links and fraternity, they could start by not aiming a divide-and-conquer message at them...
9.Economics : The Franco-German automobile transport system should not avoid Belgium. Routing it through the low countries will link it to the great ports, and increase mutual trade and understanding.
At the present time no plans have been made in France to expand the French autoroute system, but Paris would be open to discussions.
The three defensive lines would require the construction and emplacement of 224 FRC 240L35 siege howitzers, 224 Cockerill 155mm M1924, 448 Australian-style 4.7/50 AT guns, a further 448 FRC 90L50 AA/AT guns, and about 896 Schneider 37mm AAMGs, a £103.686 million project for the weaponry alone, consuming 19,317 tons of high quality steels.
A bit of a steep price to pay when the countries its supposedly aimed at protecting from are
downsizing their armies. When will the Belgian citizens start wondering why their government seems so out of step with the situation in the rest of Europe?