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There are several French victory scenarios even with Joffre in command. The French fifth army could have beaten the German 2nd at Guise or the Gap at the Marne properly exploited. Replace Joffre and King Albert with someone competent and a French victory is easy

T He Russians annihilated the Austrians in six weeks. The Germans were a different matter. Even in 1915, all the Germans could do is chase the Russians around Poland. In 1916, the Russians we're back in force. The main problems they had were: Incompetent allies- France should have won the...

Alexeseyev calculated you would need 12 divisions in the north supported by the fortresses. Remember, the Russians are moving 1-2 divisions a day into Poland. They leave their forward bases on August 15 to invade Germany. If they are on the defensive, the Germans won't get there until the 1st...

It comes back. There's no need to send seven armies south. It's way overkill. If they send 15 divisions south they could be assured of trapping the Austrians. They would still have enough in the north to keep the 8th army busy. Once the 9th army assembles, a strike north would be possible...

French seeking refuge for the BEF in Maubeuge. The fortress may hold out a little longer but the BEF will surrender. The cleanest is for Castelnau to abandon Nancy like he planned until being over ruled by Joffre. As Joffre wrote in rejecting the request: If Second army withdrew, it would...

Germany has very few options after the Marne. They must save the Austrians so they strike at the Russians. They can't force a decision but they prevent a collapse He could have done it on his own. He actually pushes into the gap but the advance is slow Silly. This merely requires that he...

And yet when Moltke wants to go ahead with the attack, it is the Kaiser who overrides him and writes to his cousin. Only when the British decline his offer does the Kaiser let moltke do as he pleases

Plan XVII was bad because Joffre underestimated the German army by about 24 divisions which of course is what is being sent East. Yes, the Ardennes offensive is poorly executed. The French quickly learn their lesson- see Joffre's general order of August 16th. The French give up the Alsace...

Gorlice Tarnow is not a Russian disaster. The Russians retreat but are still in the fight as the Brusilov offensive shows. 1915 is a disaster for Germany though. While she chased the Russians around Poland, the British were able to build a respectable army. Allied and American war...

It's what he really wanted to do but the French government overrode that out of political concerns. The Germans don't know this and have to prepare for the worse. The French can change their minds as well.

The problem is the Germans must defend against the French coming through southern Belgium and Luxembourg whether they do or not. The consequences are just too severe. The Belgians may or may not resist, the Germans don't know. That resistance might be effective or not, the Germans don't know...

So you argue for a replay of the Battle of the Ardennes. That's fine. What are the 4and 5th armies going to do when the French 5th slams into their flanks? Why does Britain care? Belgium neutrality served as an excuse for some. Without the balance of power supporters, the liberal cabinet...

And if Britain doesn't? The only alleged benefit of an East first is British neutrality. Unfortunately, the Kaiser is convinced the British will attack no matter what. See for example his marginal notes on July 29. He will act on that basis.

There is a reason the Germans went West. The reasons are obvious to those trained in the arts of war And what about the Belgian Luxembourg border? What if France goes through there? They just waltz to Coblenz and bag all the Western Armies. Are you going to argue that Germany can lose the...

Sorry for the brief answer before but the essence of the problem was the Germans could never make an Eastern attack work. Moltke wrote to Conrad in 1909 that the defense of the West would take so much that the remaining forces would'hardly suffice to force a decision on Russia. It is often...

The Germans war gamed this as the French outflanking Metz and driving to the Rhine on M45. Around here the Germans win a great victory

Quick and easy:. French drives the BEF through the Gap at the Marne turning the flanks of 1st and 2nd German armies. That will lead to a general collapse of the German army in Northern France. Even if they stabilize the situation, the Germans will be pushed far back. The affect on neutrals...

The only post 1917 departure would be American accepting unrestricted submarine warfare. It's possible but a longshot

France is not an option. : Instructions to the German ambassador in Paris: You are to inquire if the French would like to be neutral in the upcoming struggle. If the answer is yes, then you are to inform them that we require they turn over Toul and Verdun as a guarantee. Don't see that one...

This is the fatal flaw with East first plans. The Germans don't know if the Belgians are willing and able to defend them selves. They have to deploy forces to protect against a strike through Belgium. Beck put 16 divisions north of Metz to meet this contingency. The French can simply ignore...