Deleted member 1487
In my recent readings, I've finally started to peruse my copy of "If Germany Attacks", which ironically is all about the German defensive efforts in WW1. In goes into glorious detail about the evolution of German defensive doctrine during the war, covering several major campaigns, including the Somme, 3rd Ypres, and one of the battles of the Champagne.
http://www.amazon.com/If-Germany-Attacks-Military-Library/dp/0837150299
During the section about the theory behind the Hindenburg line and the internal conflicts over doctrine, the author mentions that the line was never truly assaulted in a way to test whether it was a valid concept. OTL the Hindenburg line was broken after the German army had already been defeated in the field and their reserves used up. As a result the line was never tested as the creators had intended.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindenburg_Line
So I'd like to start a discussion to satisfy a musing of mine:
What if in 1918 the Germans didn't launch their offensives and held behind the Hindenburg line?
The scenario would have to be a bit different than OTL for a number of reasons to make things more 'interesting'. Let's say the US is not involved and cuts loans to the Entente, which would lessen their material advantage over the Germans.
Furthermore lets say the Germans never tried the Hindenburg Program (http://books.google.com/books?id=2Y...EwDTgK#v=onepage&q=hindenburg program&f=false), which means the population, though hungry, isn't starving and coersion of labor doesn't cause large strikes. Therefore Germany has about 10% more material and about 150,000 more men of the 20-40 age group for the army.
How would the battles turn out once the Brits and French tried to have a go at the German positions? Let's say they are about 40% weaker materially to be generous, but have not lost the manpower in the OTL German offensives.
I have my opinions, but I'd like to hear yours first.
Edit:http://www.diggerhistory.info/images/asstd/trenches.jpg
http://www.amazon.com/If-Germany-Attacks-Military-Library/dp/0837150299
During the section about the theory behind the Hindenburg line and the internal conflicts over doctrine, the author mentions that the line was never truly assaulted in a way to test whether it was a valid concept. OTL the Hindenburg line was broken after the German army had already been defeated in the field and their reserves used up. As a result the line was never tested as the creators had intended.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindenburg_Line
So I'd like to start a discussion to satisfy a musing of mine:
What if in 1918 the Germans didn't launch their offensives and held behind the Hindenburg line?
The scenario would have to be a bit different than OTL for a number of reasons to make things more 'interesting'. Let's say the US is not involved and cuts loans to the Entente, which would lessen their material advantage over the Germans.
Furthermore lets say the Germans never tried the Hindenburg Program (http://books.google.com/books?id=2Y...EwDTgK#v=onepage&q=hindenburg program&f=false), which means the population, though hungry, isn't starving and coersion of labor doesn't cause large strikes. Therefore Germany has about 10% more material and about 150,000 more men of the 20-40 age group for the army.
How would the battles turn out once the Brits and French tried to have a go at the German positions? Let's say they are about 40% weaker materially to be generous, but have not lost the manpower in the OTL German offensives.
I have my opinions, but I'd like to hear yours first.
Edit:http://www.diggerhistory.info/images/asstd/trenches.jpg
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