Strong player at Austria and Germany feels threatened by them?

Basically he says "let's assume for the sake of argument that Germany wants a weak Austria." There could be any number of reasons for that, like the one Tantris gave. Perhaps there is a very weak Austrian player and Germany fears that other nations will feast on Austria's corpse. Any disbalance could be a reason to do it.

I was going to say Western Triple, but it isrally the opposire. You want the east in chaos, and a strong Austria can do that.

But Germany wouldn't be able to hold anything it would get from engineering the Austrian collapse. The best thing for a German victory is an Austria strong enough to keep the east from resolving too quickly. The only reason I could see any early German harassing of Austria is if Austria is strong *and the others in the east are weak* - in which case this is meant to keep Austria from running away with the game by 1905-06.

But the core problem is that by devoting a substantial effort to capturing and retaining Austrian holdings, Germany becomes less able to win itself. It's not enough for Germany to sabotage Austria to stay ahead of Austria; in the situation I mention above (where Austria is going to steamroll the southeast), Germany might be preventing an Austrian win, sure, but that's not going to matter much if, say, England or France - who have no real reason to fear this consequence - decide to pounce on Germany while Germany's attention is divided.

All this seems equipped to do is:
(a) Accelerate the resolution of the east without affecting the west, assuming the east is relatively balanced in terms of player strength or that Austria is weaker than the other eastern players. This means that Germany gets crushed by Russia shortly afterward, in all likelihood, whether the midgame moves to R/T or R/I.
(b) Keep the east mired while distracting Germany; this does keep the midgame from resolving with a strong Russia, which helps Germany, but does so by making an E/F significantly more likely.

Basically in short, all I can see happening from this is an empowered E/F or R - the two biggest threats to Germany's existence. So I'd have to say that it's not a good idea. There may be some circumstance where it could work, but I'd have to think that even if it does work that there would be some better choice.

You have the element of surprise with such an opening though.

"You have the element of surprise with such an opening though."

Of course you have surprise. Austria would have the element of surprise if he opened to Bohemia and had Russia support him into Munich. Just because its possible doesn't make it a good decision. Besides, taking an Austrian center effectively cedes England control of Scandinavia, guarantees France three builds, and puts you in the delicate position of trying to hold on to a far flung army in Vienna while France undoubtedly builds two more armies.

I was being a little sarcastic honey.

I'm sorry honey, I didn't mean to get upset. You know I'd never really hurt you, right? I just got this temper, ya see, and sometimes I get upset easy, like when you start talkin' back.

I STILL LOVE YOU

just differently

<....waiting for the right moment to jump in to the pool...>

*pushes krellin into the pool*

Pool is empty.

<--- Bounces like most of the checks he writes these days...

Oh dear, I leave for a few hours and suddenly a pool party starts. :(

I generally have to agree with PE, just also adding on that if I saw this happen, I would be damned surprised (not that I haven't seen Germany and Austria attack each other).

krellin your name is this way -->
<-- way that not

I'm left handed...???

Your arrow is pointing in the wrong direction [Insert witty pun about arrows and limp penises]