Best Last Chance for the CPs to Win?

Anaxagoras

Banned
Alexander Kerensky takes Russia out of the war before Lenin gets into power, negotiates as white a peace as possible with Germany, and the Germans gain the manpower needed to exploit the collapse of the French mutinies at a time before the Allies amassed the kind of offensive doctrine that led to their OTL victory.

For the most part, the French units which mutinied did not throw down their arms and refuse to fight altogether. They simply refused to attack. Had the Germans mounted a major offensive in late 1917, I think the French soldiers would have resisted as strongly as they did throughout the war.
 
For the most part, the French units which mutinied did not throw down their arms and refuse to fight altogether. They simply refused to attack. Had the Germans mounted a major offensive in late 1917, I think the French soldiers would have resisted as strongly as they did throughout the war.

I just noted the best chance, not that this best chance would mean they'd actually win. ;)
 
Alexander Kerensky takes Russia out of the war before Lenin gets into power, negotiates as white a peace as possible with Germany, and the Germans gain the manpower needed to exploit the collapse of the French mutinies at a time before the Allies amassed the kind of offensive doctrine that led to their OTL victory.


Are we assuming US belligerancy?

The crucial point was that OTL the French had hope. They knew that they had only to "hang in there" long enough and sooner or later American manpower would win it for them.

Without that, the only way to win is to actually beat the Germans - to eject them from France by offensive action. And by May 1917 many if not most French soldiers seem to have come to believe (rightly or wrongly) that this was impossible. How long will even defensive fighting continue with troops in that frame of mind?
 
The best chance was winning the Race to the Sea in 1914 and holding Cap Griz Nez. The last chance, probably deciding against Verdun and kicking some serious arse in the East instead.
 
The best chance was winning the Race to the Sea in 1914 and holding Cap Griz Nez. The last chance, probably deciding against Verdun and kicking some serious arse in the East instead.


well, they did this later on, after the entene bled white in the west.

sure, no verdun helps, but also if the germans had reduced the number of enemies (like serbia, rumania, italy)...

if the germans drop verdun and use the troops in italy, the chance that they crush the italians are good.

with italy out of the war in early 1917, serbia in mid 1916 etc, the germans could reduce the number of frontlines, also, if needed they could use supply of these nations (at last, i doubt the germans would have any problems to use supply the italians need)
 
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