Challange: WWI Ending in status quo?

A challange to you folks here, as my knowledge of WWI is still at current not high enough to be willing to try this.

What would it take for World War I to end in a return to status quo, with neither side being declared the winner or loser.
 
Well, preserving American neutrality is one of the big things you need to look for, as their is no way for the Allies to really lose once American troops start filling trenches that would have become vacant otherwise.

Of corse, the hard part after that is to find a way for the UK and France to keep their financial house together to keep fighting the war. They were starting to run out of the funds necessary to keep fighting, and they were running out of the collateral necessary to receive foreign loans.

So those are the two main obstacles you need to overcome to have a draw in WW1.
 

Germaniac

Donor
Well for status quo the POD has to be in 1914. By the time the Russians retreated across poland there was little chance of a status quo in the east unless the west collapses, which means no status quo.

If it does somehow happen there still winners and loosers.

Great Britain - Winner, kept the balance of power in Europe (for however a short period)

Germany - Neutral, While proving itself a world power, it could not overwhelm France and could not claim European Hegemony. It now has to deal with the massive issues facing the nation which were put on hold by the war.

France - Looser, Could not reclaim its position as the dominant european nation, did not rectify the losses of the Franco-Prussian war. The people of France will see this as the Second defeat in half a century. May go extremist.

Austria-Hungary - Loser, Ever growing dependence on Germany, Nationalist movements across the nation, and the Austro-Hungarian treaty is coming up soon.

Russia - Looser/winner, The failures of the state become apparent, the tide of revolution cannot be halted however, in this scenario it may be more likely that a democratic government takes hold.

Ottoman Empire - Big Winner, probably the best situation that could happen for them. Without the war the arab revolts can be put down, the junta will fall and a more democratic government will likely arise. As oil money starts coming in the Nation will become wealthy and will provide a much more advanced and stable middle east (likely first world)
 
Well for status quo the POD has to be in 1914. By the time the Russians retreated across poland there was little chance of a status quo in the east unless the west collapses, which means no status quo.

If it does somehow happen there still winners and loosers.

Great Britain - Winner, kept the balance of power in Europe (for however a short period)

Germany - Neutral, While proving itself a world power, it could not overwhelm France and could not claim European Hegemony. It now has to deal with the massive issues facing the nation which were put on hold by the war.

France - Looser, Could not reclaim its position as the dominant european nation, did not rectify the losses of the Franco-Prussian war. The people of France will see this as the Second defeat in half a century. May go extremist.

Austria-Hungary - Loser, Ever growing dependence on Germany, Nationalist movements across the nation, and the Austro-Hungarian treaty is coming up soon.

Russia - Looser/winner, The failures of the state become apparent, the tide of revolution cannot be halted however, in this scenario it may be more likely that a democratic government takes hold.

Ottoman Empire - Big Winner, probably the best situation that could happen for them. Without the war the arab revolts can be put down, the junta will fall and a more democratic government will likely arise. As oil money starts coming in the Nation will become wealthy and will provide a much more advanced and stable middle east (likely first world)

I may have to do some heavy WWI research, just so I can come up with a plausible timeline for this.
 
I'm not sure if that's really the only analysis. By 1917, and particularly the winter of 17/18, the blockade of Germany (even without American ships) was proving enough to cause economic harship and starvation in Germany, and to cause supply troubles. Russia was doomed of course, but it could be said that a stalemate may involve gains in the East for Germany, but with the flip side of having to compromise on the colonies and Alsace-Lorraine (Plebiscite most probably). The Arab revolt is too far gone by this point to regain the Hedjaz, but Iraq and Syria could remain under nominal Ottoman control rather than being taken from her outright. A-H could very possibly collapse after the war if the Hungarians start getting uppity.
 
Well, preserving American neutrality is one of the big things you need to look for, as their is no way for the Allies to really lose once American troops start filling trenches that would have become vacant otherwise.

Of corse, the hard part after that is to find a way for the UK and France to keep their financial house together to keep fighting the war. They were starting to run out of the funds necessary to keep fighting, and they were running out of the collateral necessary to receive foreign loans.

So those are the two main obstacles you need to overcome to have a draw in WW1.
What if Wilson tells the German Ambassador that the USA will probably enter the war unless the Germans agree a peace and tells the British that there is no chance of the USA going to war while he is in charge?
 
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