Germany had really, really inept allies in World War I. The Austro-Hungarian Empire was no exception. By the time the First World War came around, the Austro-Hungarian Empire demonstrated repeatedly that its military was very sub-par and repeatedly required German assistance throughout the war to achieve major breakthroughs (Italy, Serbia, Russia, all these major breakthroughs had German leadership). So, I have a challenge. With any POD imaginable (I don't care how early it is, even if it's in the 1800's), try and have Austria-Hungary have a competent army. By competent, I mean as good as France's in the middle or end of the war or as good as Russia's. Side note, why did the AH army never improve throughout the war? I'm aware that France in the beginning of the war was absolutely awful and charged into battle wearing bright red and blue uniforms with marching bands and took heavy casualties in the outbreak of the war, but they managed to change greatly to the point where they were able to withstand a German offensive at Verdun in 1916. Why was France able to change its military greatly in a short amount of time, but AH wasn't? If AH's army is as good as Russia's or France's (mid-late war), does this result in a Central Powers victory?