This alternative history map shows the German Empire in 1910, but unified by Austria instead of Prussia.

The main point of divergence of this map is placed long before, in 1809, during the Napoleonic Wars. The battle of Wagram ends in a harsh defeat for Napoleon. This defeat leads to a remarkable twist in the situation and, with the coalition growing with Napoleon former allies, France is finally defeated in 1810.

Austria is considered as the main architect of this victory and will have a great influence during the Congress of Vienna where European borders will be redesigned. For Austria it's the opportunity to make its return in the German area and to claim the leadership in Germany. From this moment, the Austrian policy will focus on the West instead on the East.

During the Congress, Austria obtains large parts of France, formerly owned by the Habsburg-Lorraine for the most part, to protect Europe from every future French aggression. To consolidate the Austrian Empire, many territories are annexed, including Bavaria (Maximilian I receiving the kingdom of Italy in compensation), and the Würtemberg (Frederick I receiving the newly created kingdom of Franconia in compensation). To compensate the loss of the Austrian Netherlands (joining the Netherlands), Austria also obtains the Rhineland.

An Austro-Prussian agreement neutralises Prussian ambitions in Germany : In exchange for the acceptance of the Austrian leadership in Germany, Prussia receives all the Austrian territories in Poland and the Austrian support for taking all Poland. By a promise to abdicate Hungary at his death for a different heir in order to definitively separate Austria from Hungary, Francis II convinces Russia to accept the situation and to renounce the Polish throne. Actually, if Austria turns away from the Balkans it's a very good thing for Russia... Of course the UK isn't satisfied with that, but the UK remains alone on this question.

Also, Moravia is given to Hungary to eventually minimise the proximity between Austria and Prussia.

So, at the death of Francis II, in 1835, Hungary obtains its independence by passing to a different Habsburg than Austria. However, before accepting to keep its promise, Austria obtains from Hungary the transfer of some Hungarian territories to Austria, in order to protect Vienna.

In 1840, Belgians revolt against the Netherlands. They want to be placed under the protection of Austria. Austria accepts, but the UK doesn't. The Belgian question is finally resolved (after tensions between the UK and Austria and a short war between Austria and the Netherlands), during the Conference of London, in 1842 : Austria obtains Belgium but not the Flanders and, of course, not Antwerp, the both becoming a British protectorate. In compensation, Austria obtains Frisia (and especially an access to the Rhine mouth), occupied since the war with the Netherlands.

In 1847, a civil war breaks out in Switzerland. Austria, which wants to enlarge the path linking the eastern and the western parts of the empire, seizes the opportunity and acts to worsen the conflict. This worsening gives to the Austrians a reason to intervene with their allies (Sardinia and Italy), and Switzerland is finally divided between them.

Prussia hasn't renounced to unite Germany under the Prussian rule. 3 years after the Schleswig war, Prussia tries to take the leadership in Germany by declaring war to Austria. Sure about their military strength, Prussians are however frankly defeated by an Austria highly industrialised, with a modern army and the support of most of the German states. At the end of the war, there is no obstacle on the road of the German unification under Austria, and the German Empire is proclaimed in Berlin, capital of the defeated Prussia, in 1868.





Note :

The Congress of Vienna was so harsh with France not only because Austria has played the most important role in the final victory, using this at its profit. Actually, Napoleon managed to escape and to go in America, where he formed a new army and then he exploited the war between the US and the UK to rebuild its empire in America.

During the Congress, allies were terrified by the possibility of his return and being harsh with France was seen as a good protection against him.

So this alternative history about Germany sets in a similar world than my map about Napolia (zalringda.deviantart.com/art/N…)... A similar one, but not the same however because some details don't match (Wagram is a victory in the universe of Napolia for example).