Inspired by the massive 50 pages thread on a Germany that respects Belgian neutrality in an ATL I want to talk about the iconic front of WW1 in a very different scenario.
The scenario: Due to some non specified POD the OHL and the Kaiser decide to follow a different strategy ITTL.
- 3 armies in the East (2 used defensively in Eastern Prussia, 1 supposed to conduct an offensive into Silesia)
- Belgian neutrality is respected
Now my question is: How would the Western Front play out?
I don't care about your opinion on British neutrality. If you think Britain would stay neutral, fine. If you think we would still see a BEF, fine.
Tell me about where the French army and the Germans (+ a possible BEF) are fighting. How are they fighting?
1) Is the whole war a massive multi year slog on the Franco-German border?
2) Is France going to mirror OTLs Germany with an offensive into Belgium and the use of gas?
3) Is the war turning into a "Sitzkrieg" once the French realize that they won't break through the Franco-German Border?
4) Are the Germans doing something unexpected?
5) Is France going to break through German defenses, deep into Alsac-Lorraine ?
6) Something else entirely?
I have a hard time picturing this Western Front because it would be fairly different from the Western Front of OTL which was so important for popular image of WW1. I mean I can somewhat imagine what happens in 1914. But what about 1915, 1916, 1917 or even 1918 if the war is that long.