Challenge: The Great War, 1914 to 1917

Thande

Donor
Thought we might as well have an open-ended challenge. This, of course, comes from that much-abused-by-the-British-Education-System last episode of Blackadder.

How can we have a WW1 that ends in 1917 but in much the same circumstances as OTL - pyrrhic Entente victory, Russia in chaos, punishing treaty exerted on the Central Powers, Austria-Hungary and the Ottomans shattered?
 

Germaniac

Donor
Well have a competent Russian Leader in charge of the second army in the Battle of Tannenberg. There you go. Russians suceed in invading east prussia, germans forced to send more troops east, russians get trounced eventually because of there lack of adequete arms. Basicly war goes basicly the same save for the fact the germans were forced to, in the begginging, send even more troops to russia. The man power drains faster so the entire war goes the same but faster
 
Thought we might as well have an open-ended challenge. This, of course, comes from that much-abused-by-the-British-Education-System last episode of Blackadder.

How can we have a WW1 that ends in 1917 but in much the same circumstances as OTL - pyrrhic Entente victory, Russia in chaos, punishing treaty exerted on the Central Powers, Austria-Hungary and the Ottomans shattered?

International Marxists believing that European events have reached the criticial turning point, they assassinate Kaiser Wilhelm II, attempt a Parisian coup which fails, and stage labour strikes in England.

Germany sues for peace, Britain and France panic in fear of the reds and agree?
 

Deleted member 1487

If the US doesn't enter the war at all, one might see a negotiated peace in 1917-8. Churchill and several other British writers talk about this negative influence of the US on history.
 
How can we have a WW1 that ends in 1917 but in much the same circumstances as OTL - pyrrhic Entente victory, Russia in chaos, punishing treaty exerted on the Central Powers, Austria-Hungary and the Ottomans shattered?
Would you be willing to let Russia survive until the war's end (you can throw it into revolution later, similar to OTL Italy), it all doable. For example, less devastating campaign of 1915 leaves Russian army in better shape and allows Russia to devote more resources to it's "Constantinople landing" plan (planned for summer 1917, moved to summer 1918 in 1915). Brusilov delivers heavier blow to Austro-Hungary in 1916. Russians land @ Constantinople in 1917 and bring Ottoman Empire down. It frees up some experienced Russian troops and triggers a chain reaction (Austria comes down next, unable to resist well-trained and experienced Constantinople Marines, it allows Russians to move more troops to deal with Germany). War is over at 11th hour of 11th month of 1917 AD.
 
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