Alternate World War 1

Do you think this is viable or not

  • Yes

    Votes: 4 44.4%
  • No

    Votes: 5 55.6%

  • Total voters
    9
I understand that this has probably already been mentioned however this is my summarization of world war 1 in an alternate scenario. Basically france is annoyed at germany and wants alsace lorraine back they cant invade germany straight through however because germany has built a huge number of forts along the french border so to avoid these france decides to invade through belgium which had previously denied military access this prompts great britain to join in with his cousin against the french. Russia accepts frances call to arms and joins in against the germans and british.
 
The violation of Belgium by France is technically possible, although it would be better if France used its reserve divisions on the front line from the very start and mobilised more than 5 armies. Politically I don't think the scenario is possible because the French were politically opposed to going through Belgium and the British had been cosy-ing up to France in the decade before the war so wouldn't turn on them just because they went at Germany through Belgium.
 
I do also think that this scenario is very unlikely and only would be possible under extreme french revanchisim which would have to be very high to violate an aliance and belgian neutrality
 
Requires some very deep PoDs in the 19th Century to get to this point.

I would point out the Germans did have some effective fortifications on the western frontier. Those at Metz were extensive & well built. They were also made economical by routing the high capacity railways between France and Germany through the region covered by this group or system of fortifications. It was not necessary to cover the entire frontier. Another set of forts covering Strausberg added depth to a western front defense. If a French army is to advance north into the Rhineland towards the Ruhr, or cross the Rhine & head east securing Metz and Strasberg is essential, otherwise the French lack effective railway transport and are trying to supply modern 20th Century armies with horse wagons.

Sending a left wing on a flanking maneuver to the north around the Metz fortress complex finds a few low capacity railways in the Ardennes. Like the Germans the French must swiftly eliminate the Namur and Liege fortification groups and restore the high capacity railways that routed through those regions. To resolve the fortification problem the French must either invest in heavy siege artillery, appropriate ammunition, and artillery tactics. Or develop some sort of system of Sappers/Pioneers and tactics that will rapidly defeat these fortress systems.
 
I do also think that this scenario is very unlikely and only would be possible under extreme french revanchisim which would have to be very high to violate an aliance and belgian neutrality

The French army did look more than once at the advantages, at least of a short maneuver across the south edge of the Ardennes and Luxembourg. Understandably the political problems were difficult. Specifically convincing the Belgians to remain neutral while a foreign army marched across the south eastern corner.
 
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