The original request was to use one point of divergence from OTL.
I proposed Falkenhayn deciding to attack Russia rather than setting up a battle of attrition at Verdun.
Another possibility is Petain convincing Joffre to withdraw from the East bank of the Meuse at Verdun once the Germans attacked and conducting a fighting withdrawal on the West bank. In effect the salient at Verdun is reduced and the line straightened with much smaller losses than occurred in OTL at Verdun.
The knockon effect of the Verdun withdrawal may be to change the mindset of the Allies (especially the French) from offensive action to preserving resources by tactical withdrawals and only attacking when the tactical situation is very favourable.
The Western Front still is a war of attrition but stretched over a long time since the huge losses of the set piece battles don't happen.
I'd like to make a comment about Cambrai. The tank attack did rupture the front and it was intended a division of cavalry would push through the opening to expand the breakthrough. It never happened - the cavalry sat on their bums and did nothing save for a weak company sized reconnaissance. The German counter attack at Cambrai should have given the Allied senior commanders pause for thought - the German Army used stormtroopers in large numbers with accompanying artillery - the front was completely ruptured but the attack led nowhere since the Germans seemed content to recover the ground lost in the tank attack.
Charlie
I proposed Falkenhayn deciding to attack Russia rather than setting up a battle of attrition at Verdun.
Another possibility is Petain convincing Joffre to withdraw from the East bank of the Meuse at Verdun once the Germans attacked and conducting a fighting withdrawal on the West bank. In effect the salient at Verdun is reduced and the line straightened with much smaller losses than occurred in OTL at Verdun.
The knockon effect of the Verdun withdrawal may be to change the mindset of the Allies (especially the French) from offensive action to preserving resources by tactical withdrawals and only attacking when the tactical situation is very favourable.
The Western Front still is a war of attrition but stretched over a long time since the huge losses of the set piece battles don't happen.
I'd like to make a comment about Cambrai. The tank attack did rupture the front and it was intended a division of cavalry would push through the opening to expand the breakthrough. It never happened - the cavalry sat on their bums and did nothing save for a weak company sized reconnaissance. The German counter attack at Cambrai should have given the Allied senior commanders pause for thought - the German Army used stormtroopers in large numbers with accompanying artillery - the front was completely ruptured but the attack led nowhere since the Germans seemed content to recover the ground lost in the tank attack.
Charlie
