Say that Germany never launches their counter attack in A-L(Like the Schlieffen plan called for), Belgium lets French forces enter their country when Germany sends their ultimatum to Belgium and France sends it's own left wing in(Soon backed by the BEF) containing Germany in Belgium, Russia wins at Tannenburg pushing the Germans back farther and Italy joins the allies before October(Not sure how plausible this is). Austria still fails to knock Serbia out and Russia still defeats Austria in Galicia.
Before the end of the year the Germans and Austria see that Austria is too over extended to keep fighting and that Germany has failed on both fronts. The CPs ask for an armistice and get a "fair" peace.
Could this have happened? General thoughts?
There might be some inherent flaws in this.
First - war by timetable:
Moltke insisted on the assault on the western front as scheduled because the timetables of troop trains could not be altered and thus mobilized troops not shifted to counter Russia! The commander of the planning office some weeks later demonstrated otherwise having put his office to draw up a contingency timetable.
The French would probably face the same type of difficulties at least needning a few weeks or possibly more to come up with a new timetable to march into Belgium instead of using Plan 17.
Then you just have BEF landing in Belgium and a few French reserve corps joining them, if the French command allows this.
Russian win at Tannenberg??? How??? Other commanders, better communications etc.
German artillery could deliver a much bigger punch than the Russians and they were fighting to stop the Cossac's entering Holy Prussian Soil!
I don't see Italy joining either party at this time. If the triple alliance are in worse conditions than OTL certainly not. Allies on the win - probably won't invite the Italians (I might be wrong on this one) Where's the need for more to take part in the spoils?
If the triple alliance ask for a cease fire and peace during 1914 - why not? Nobody's worn way down at this time, well down to ask an armestige but not in hunger and total defeat, so I guess it be granted by the Entente to be worked out at a conference.
So I don't see a Entente victory in 1914, but if - war just might be ended.