AHC: WWI Germany wins on Western front but loses in the East

In OTL Germany and AH managed to win on the Eastern Front, knocking Russia out of the war. However, they eventually lost the war by losing in the West. What POD could change the war so that the Central Powers win in the West but eventually are defeated by the Russians? Also, what would a peace deal from this situation look like. You can use a POD before the war but it cannot be delayed past 1918.
 
In OTL Germany and AH managed to win on the Eastern Front, knocking Russia out of the war. However, they eventually lost the war by losing in the West. What POD could change the war so that the Central Powers win in the West but eventually are defeated by the Russians? Also, what would a peace deal from this situation look like. You can use a POD before the war but it cannot be delayed past 1918.
The Russians were too backward and unstable to successfully win against Germany alone. It would have to require several significant changes before 1900 in order for the Russians to defeat the Central Powers.
 

Deleted member 1487

Theoretically I suppose you could have Verdun work as planned, the French fall apart and bash themselves to death on the Meuse, while Russia first knocks A-H out of the war with the Brusilov Offensive, while then the Brits are rushed into launching the Somme too early to help the French and suffer disaster there. So while Germany is winning in the West, Russia is racking up victories in the East, but due to commitments in the West fighting the Brits and French to death, in the East the Russian Steamroller incrementally gathers steam over 1916 into 1917. So by 1917 the French are in full revolution, not the Russians, while the Brits are so badly hobbled and trapped trying to contain the French Revolution, that they effectively are out of the war, but the Russians then are able to focus their full strength on Germany and thanks to their successes aren't in a state of revolution and are pushing into Germany by the end of 1917.

How's that? Not sure it would work out quite that way IRL, but maybe as a series of unlucky events all around?
 
Theoretically I suppose you could have Verdun work as planned, the French fall apart and bash themselves to death on the Meuse, while Russia first knocks A-H out of the war with the Brusilov Offensive, while then the Brits are rushed into launching the Somme too early to help the French and suffer disaster there. So while Germany is winning in the West, Russia is racking up victories in the East, but due to commitments in the West fighting the Brits and French to death, in the East the Russian Steamroller incrementally gathers steam over 1916 into 1917. So by 1917 the French are in full revolution, not the Russians, while the Brits are so badly hobbled and trapped trying to contain the French Revolution, that they effectively are out of the war, but the Russians then are able to focus their full strength on Germany and thanks to their successes aren't in a state of revolution and are pushing into Germany by the end of 1917.

How's that? Not sure it would work out quite that way IRL, but maybe as a series of unlucky events all around?
This is good. It could work. My main concern is with all the new German soldiers who could be turned around to fight the Russians after France falls.
 

Deleted member 1487

This is good. It could work. My main concern is with all the new German soldiers who could be turned around to fight the Russians after France falls.
That's the issue, the French army doesn't just disappear until it's too late, then there is the issue of the Brits and the Germans needing to lock down a lot of manpower securing the Western Front plus the collapsing Habsburg border if not major parts of their empire.
 
All you have to do, really, is switch the First Battle of the Marne and the Battle of Tannenberg. The Marne is somewhat easier; just have the famous taxis carrying 6000 soldiers not reach the front in time and you most likely have a German victory. This allows the Germans to keep up the momentum in the West and most likely take Paris. While that would be a massive blow to French morale, I tend to doubt they would surrender. Most likely trench warfare still develops west of Paris and the WF remains a, albeit more successful and eventually victorious, manpower hole for Germany.

The East is a bit different. Tannenberg was lost not just due to superior German supply, but also a lack of effective communication between Russian armies, due to technological problems and personal animosity between Rennenkampf and Samsonov. The first and most important thing is to replace Samsonov. While inarguably brilliant, he was untested and difficult personality-wise. The second thing is to fix Russian communications; better ciphers, a more extensive telegraph system, probably other things I haven't thought of. With both of these together, the 8th Army is most likely forced to retreat, if not destroyed, by superior Russian numbers. Then you have a huge advancing force in Ostpreussen and some serious forward momentum for the Russians.
 
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