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Chapter 1 - Ol' Turner, the Father of the 20th Century
Some say that 20th century was shaped by the decisions of maniacs and people plunged into perilous times. But in reality the 20th century was shaped by the quick actions of one man on a normal day in 1915. A man by the name of William Thomas Turner, captain of the renown Lusitania, a British merchant ship which regularly transported cargo and passengers from Liverpool to New York. On May 7th, his whole crew was put to risk after a German U-Boat was in miles range of firing at them. His years of experience not only averted the crisis but saved 1,962 lives on the ship, 128 of which were Americans. And not only did he save those Americans but the countless thousands who would've died in the Western Front if the U.S. government decided to intervene into the war after the sinking that could've happened. Turner's decision to make a risky turn to Queenstown, Ireland changed the world for years to come.
It might've seemed insignificant at the moment, but the RMS Lusitania arrived in Liverpool in May 9th, 2 days after the close call. Turner reported his narrow escape to Arthur Mather the mayor of Liverpool, as the message slowly went up through the ranks until notifying the Prime Minister, Herbert Asquith. The British government were shocked and worried that the Lusitania, one of their best merchant ships, was put at risk because of lousy safety instructions. In a month the Ministry of Defense and Admiralty were able to team up with Parliament to create a whole new set of mandatory instructions when out to sea in the war zone. Though the British were skeptical that this would possibly make it harder for the U.S. to join, they got it passed, making harsh restrictions on the freedom of sailors sailing to neutral countries.
1915 continued with astounding victories for the Germans on land but not at sea. While the Western Front resulted in a continued stalemate, the Eastern Front experienced extreme pushes into Russian land as cities such as Warsaw and Grodno. Bulgaria also joins the Central Powers and finally creates a decisive victory in Serbia with Austria. Italy aligns with the Entente in late May and help Allied naval gains in both the Mediterranean and North Seas. Unfortunately for Germany though, the U-Boat campaign started turning sour due to the failure to find and sink cargo ships, and British ships starting pushing towards the German coast, threatening a strong blockade. Yet the Central powers stayed strong. Many countries around the world kept their neutrality, not even coming out on who they support. Woodrow Wilson in fact stayed mostly quiet on Germany, even complimenting German-Americans' patriotism to their ancestral country.
"I think a curse should rest on me — because I love this war. I know it's smashing and shattering the lives of thousands every moment — and yet — I can't help it — I enjoy every second of it."
- Winston Churchill, 1916
1916 was the year of bloodshed. The war became grimmer as each day passed. The British blockade had officially started, creating a sudden shortage of German imports from other countries. The Battles of the Somme and Verdun had birthed some of the bloodiest military confrontations in human history, and introduced the tank into warfare. And the Ottomans were slowly being pushed back in the Middle East by the British. Slowly but surely, the Germans were starting to be pushed a bit too hard.
-----
Note:
And there is my first chapter! Not much was changed, only how the German navy was flipped on its back after this TL's early failed U-Boat campaign, and the obvious non involvement of the U.S. But this whole chapter is to explain the POD into detail (which is Turner's decision to seek haven in Queenstown, which was actually suggested but abandoned because of Turner's early confidence) and set up the rest of World War I for the extended and more bloody version of what's going to happen. Europe will be forever changed by this even bloodier war. Besides, if you have any quarrels, all critiques are appreciated. I hope this was a decent first chapter and have a good day!
- BenDaCoolGuy
Ol' Turner, the Father of the 20th Century
Some say that 20th century was shaped by the decisions of maniacs and people plunged into perilous times. But in reality the 20th century was shaped by the quick actions of one man on a normal day in 1915. A man by the name of William Thomas Turner, captain of the renown Lusitania, a British merchant ship which regularly transported cargo and passengers from Liverpool to New York. On May 7th, his whole crew was put to risk after a German U-Boat was in miles range of firing at them. His years of experience not only averted the crisis but saved 1,962 lives on the ship, 128 of which were Americans. And not only did he save those Americans but the countless thousands who would've died in the Western Front if the U.S. government decided to intervene into the war after the sinking that could've happened. Turner's decision to make a risky turn to Queenstown, Ireland changed the world for years to come.
It might've seemed insignificant at the moment, but the RMS Lusitania arrived in Liverpool in May 9th, 2 days after the close call. Turner reported his narrow escape to Arthur Mather the mayor of Liverpool, as the message slowly went up through the ranks until notifying the Prime Minister, Herbert Asquith. The British government were shocked and worried that the Lusitania, one of their best merchant ships, was put at risk because of lousy safety instructions. In a month the Ministry of Defense and Admiralty were able to team up with Parliament to create a whole new set of mandatory instructions when out to sea in the war zone. Though the British were skeptical that this would possibly make it harder for the U.S. to join, they got it passed, making harsh restrictions on the freedom of sailors sailing to neutral countries.
1915 continued with astounding victories for the Germans on land but not at sea. While the Western Front resulted in a continued stalemate, the Eastern Front experienced extreme pushes into Russian land as cities such as Warsaw and Grodno. Bulgaria also joins the Central Powers and finally creates a decisive victory in Serbia with Austria. Italy aligns with the Entente in late May and help Allied naval gains in both the Mediterranean and North Seas. Unfortunately for Germany though, the U-Boat campaign started turning sour due to the failure to find and sink cargo ships, and British ships starting pushing towards the German coast, threatening a strong blockade. Yet the Central powers stayed strong. Many countries around the world kept their neutrality, not even coming out on who they support. Woodrow Wilson in fact stayed mostly quiet on Germany, even complimenting German-Americans' patriotism to their ancestral country.
"I think a curse should rest on me — because I love this war. I know it's smashing and shattering the lives of thousands every moment — and yet — I can't help it — I enjoy every second of it."
- Winston Churchill, 1916
1916 was the year of bloodshed. The war became grimmer as each day passed. The British blockade had officially started, creating a sudden shortage of German imports from other countries. The Battles of the Somme and Verdun had birthed some of the bloodiest military confrontations in human history, and introduced the tank into warfare. And the Ottomans were slowly being pushed back in the Middle East by the British. Slowly but surely, the Germans were starting to be pushed a bit too hard.
In the next year, tides had finally begun to turn. Though the Russian Revolution started, which ended the Tsar's rule over Russia and created a democratic provisional government. Germany had a little bit of breathing space on the Eastern Front. But on the Western Front the Entente had finally been able to push back German lines a bit, but with a cost. The French army had started mutinying because of what seemed to be never ending indecisive battles. The Brits had the whole weight of the Western Front on their shoulders. But it wasn't as bleak as many suggest, the German navy had been on full retreat ever since their lost at the battle of Jutland and unrestricted submarine warfare had ended in a waste of German resources. But everything got worse in October. October was the month that kept the war running for another 2 gruesome years. October was the last streak of luck for the Central Powers. -----
Note:
And there is my first chapter! Not much was changed, only how the German navy was flipped on its back after this TL's early failed U-Boat campaign, and the obvious non involvement of the U.S. But this whole chapter is to explain the POD into detail (which is Turner's decision to seek haven in Queenstown, which was actually suggested but abandoned because of Turner's early confidence) and set up the rest of World War I for the extended and more bloody version of what's going to happen. Europe will be forever changed by this even bloodier war. Besides, if you have any quarrels, all critiques are appreciated. I hope this was a decent first chapter and have a good day!
- BenDaCoolGuy
- BenDaCoolGuy
- Word Count: 870