Funny thing the scenario you put forward in the last part is exactly how Marx envisioned the transition from capitalism to socialism (iirc, communism was seen as a possible stepping stone). Thus he expected it to happen in heavily industrialized nations like Germany or UK back when he was writing.

Supposedly Lenin was able to meet Marx once before the latter died, and asked Marx about his opinion on bootstrapping Russia straight to socialism. Marx thought it a folly as the nation lacked the industrialization that Marx figured was a prerequisite.