Das Gryphon :A Great War Vikibox TL

Oh snap, the Great War finally begins! I'm surprised it stayed mostly the same, alliances-wise, but the British neutrality (for now at least) is very interesting. Looking forward to the next update

Yeah, I was conflicted in how I wanted to go about the Great War, though I thought that the problems that had come from the Balkans would be mostly the same following 1908[Bosnian Crisis] and 1913 [Balkan Wars]. Issues such as the North Epirus Crisis happened OTL but I made it a lot more open so leading to further annoyance by the Balkan people by outside influence. Yeah Britain has no reason to get involved. They and the French have had a rough couple of years while relations with Germany have gotten better. Neither side has requested nor done anything to warrant British involvement so they are happy just to produce goods and sell them to the highest bidder.
 
Speaking for Italy; oh well...if my assumptions that the war against the Ottoman has done better than OTL is correct, in the sense of more quick and ended by 1911 this mean a lot of changes as the war will not be so economically draining for Italy (aka less social troubles and more fund for the armed forces) and many of the politically changes will not be there, Giolitti will still be prime minister by the time of the August Crisis (and more importantly his trust in the armed forces will remain), the division among the socialist will be much much less great (it will probably explode later) and Cadorna will not be chosen as new Chief of Staff for the Army (in OTL was nominated due to not having nothing to do with the war in Libya.
In general while Vienna will make some noise about Italy remain neutral...well, it's exactely what they want as OTL, due to the fact that if Italy partecipate in the war they will be 'forced' to compensate them due to art.7 while if they remained out of the fray, well they can make them accept a 'fait accomplit' or just give them the spare change against massive gain.
 

[Chapter IV: 1914]




Part Two: War from August – December 1914.



The Great War [1914]
The Great Powers of Europe had begun the Great War. However even in the early stage of the conflict there was a clear difference between the Western and Eastern Fronts. This was highlighted in the relative attitude that each nation had put upon the war. For example upon the outbreak of the war and the German declaration of war the Emperor Wilhelm endorsed a national plan of focussing on Russia whist defending against the French on the western front. He refused to follow the Schlieffen plan for worries of stirring Britain a nation that he had spent years pulling them close towards Germany. However this did create some problems in the German military command, created by this change with military personal being shifted to one front or the other to cover this plan. The majority of Germany’s focus was aimed at removing Russia from to conflict in connection with the Austro-Hungarians who would push into the Balkan state of Serbia and into Eastern Ukraine. The war was seen with delight by many in the German Empire, seeing it as the perfect opportunity to show of the might of Germany against the might of the Franco-Russian Alliance.

In the following months it looked more and more certain that the United Kingdom would stay out of the conflict. What the nation had to deal with was its official position in the war, that though they would not fight it militarily where would they stand of trade or arms. The first laws to be enacted restricted the attempts by many on both the French and German behalf to sign up in volunteer legions to fight in the Great War. It was an attempt by the British Government to stop British people to fight on the front lines which could lead to British fighting each other, however there was an exception made on ‘British’ volunteers in non-combat roles such as working in volunteer hospitals. This later practice was eventually stopped in early 1915. Britain would continue to trade basic goods between the nations though restricted to export of arms. The majority came through food goods to Germany. These goods would first go to Denmark before moving south into German ports due to worries about the French Navy in the North Sea – which was seen as a confusing affair by many of the British readers. The United States had more ‘let Europe deal with its own problems’ approach to the great war. President James ‘Champ’ Clark was firmly committed to keeping the United States out the mess; he had already been dealing with his own problems such as the ensuing Mexican revolutionary wars. If anything this attitude Britain a stronger stance as the US would have a more focused look at the isle as the continent fell into conflict.


“Let them fight. We will continue to grow in strength without. We will show those bickering nations across the way to true representation of progress.” – Section of James ‘Champ’ Clark’s speech in Washington D.C, August 29th 1914


Eastern Front [1914]
The Austro-German Alliance’s focus against Russia was that of Poland. Their arm’s pressed into the Russian Poland. Here they found fierce resistance by the Russian troops that had been stations here helped by the sudden disorganisation of the German forces as new and poorly equipped troops launched an attack. The German troop’s poor organisation would lead to the early defeats of the German army and blame would fall down on the German General who were eager to quickly push back the Russian Bear out of Poland. However what would occur was would be a positive of the Germans as the Russian poor lines of logistics, such as their railway systems were not well developed enough to confidently cover the defending troops in Poland. Russian attempts of a counter-attack were easily bushed off by General Hindenberg at the Battle of Tannenburg [Sept 11th-15th] and the following the Battle of Lamja [Sept 21st-23rd]. The German defence of East Prussia came to an end by early November and launched its own counter attack against the Russian Empire. One arm moved into the Baltic and the other into Northern Poland in the hopes that Austro-German Forces would be able to surround Warsaw. The German forces in East Prussia would find themselves fighting pockets of Russians which had been trying to regroup following their own failed counter attacks which lead to the Battle of Gromin [Sept 29th-30th]

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The southern Austro-German Army launched their attacks north, with the German Ninth reaching the city of Ivangorod [Deblin] by October 4th slowly closing the pocket of defending Russian troops around Warsaw. Here forces were the combination of German and Austro-Hungarian which had mixed issues such as communication between the two empires both having their own reason to be seen as the one that had defeated the mighty Russia. Attacks out of Austrian Galicia were found to be difficult following the initials Austrian fall back to the Carpathian. Here Russian found its most success of the early war in the Carpathian Campaign. With the help of their Serbian allies who were pulling military resources of the Austro-Hungarian’s in their unsuccessful first invasion of Serbia the Russians were able to get a firm foothold on the Carpathian foothills in Galicia. The Russians forces were able to successful hold out against Austro-Hungarian attacks at the First Battle of Tarnow [September 22nd-27th]. Once again the issue of supply would play against the Russians as with the onset of winter, food, clothing and equipment became scares for many in the Russian army occupying Galicia. However with the creation of an offensive by Austro-German pushed to Russians back only 20-30 miles before they were stopped on mass by more Russian soldiers and the winter weather though the city of Tarnow was lost to the Russian forces at the Second Battle of Tarnow [November 8th-19th].

“To the east fighting; to the west living.” Saying Amongst the German Soldiers, c.1914

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Western Front [1914]
In comparison to the Eastern Front the Western Front was relative quiet and lacked the large movements which characterised the east. Wilhelm III was happy for his generals to dig In against French forces opposite them. He was confident that the French would either surrender following the Russians defeat or collapse under the might of the united forces of Austro-Germany fully bearing down on them. Both sides did attempt to push into each other’s territory although they would only take several miles or so of land which wasn’t helped the terrain on the region which failed to allow for the large sweeping movements of the east. There had been many arguments between Wilhelm and his western generals. Many wanted to push quickly into Belgium to catch to French by surprise, quickly reaching Paris and ending the war – such as what happened with the Franco-Prussian war. Wilhelm refused to allow this who was still clinging onto the hope of brining Britain into the war on his side. Tensions between the Emperor and his staff were further strained following the defeat of a contingent of the German Navy against the French at the Battle of the Pass [September 1st-2nd]. Granted the German Navy that had been attacked was not at full strength, nor was it considered a fair fight by many in the German admiralty it was still deemed an embarrassing defeat by the Germans at the Hands of the French. The French navy had pushed the German close against the French close before being hit by French coastal guns in combination of French Naval guns. The escaping German ships were harassed by French Submarines leading to the sinking of 2 ships.


“I have returned to England following my trip from Albania covering the occupation there to be waiting for another ship that will send me to Norway, then through to Denmark to cover this new war – ‘The War to end all war’s’ – they are calling it in London. I guess it’s easy for those folks they’re not having their son’s and father’s sent off to war, however knowing England and it’s attitude I doubt they’ll miss this opportunity to get involved. At least the past few days rest here has done me some good, though as expected the talk is solely on the continent something especially moving to Dover awaiting my ship to carry me to Oslo. The talk was on the fighting between French and German ships in the Channel which I’ve been told by many of the locals that they had all gathered to watch the attack. Here to hoping that they leave my ship alone tomorrow morning!


New York seems so far away. I’m looking so much towards returning and to my Beloved Anne. I’ve had enough of war and I feel this new one has only just begun.” – Journal Entry of Thomas Muller, Reporter from the New York Times, September 6th 1914.



On land the sides had shifted into firing artillery shells at each other while German Zepplins had started to bomb French encampments and towns along the Franco-German border, this would lead to the French attempting to design their own ‘Zepplins’ to counter Germans. The Franco-German lines of battle would be pushed up by the Germans to the Moselle River while the French were able to push towards the upper Rhine, just south of Freiburg where both armies used the rivers to entrench themselves. The largest battle between French and German forces happened at the Siege of Nancy [September 13th- 4th October] which ended in a French Victory as they repulsed German attempts at taking the city. Though the German Government tried to repress information flowing front the fronts but it wasn’t enough for those at home not to notice the contrast in successes. The government however used this to spur on further support by drafting more into the German army, though suggesting that those on the western were outnumbered by that of the French.


Winter Campaign [November-December 1914]
By early November Russia had control over a small corridor to their troops around the Warsaw pocket in which the united Austro-German forces wanted to desperately. close in time for winter. Tsar Nicholas II who had been embarrassed by their utter collapse in western Poland and East Prussia demanded to his generals that the corridor was to remain open forcing more troops into the region. This became the primary focus for the Austro-German troops; offensive plans into Austrian Galica were put on hold leading to the City of Przemysl falling to the Russian forces in Mid-November, reinstating some Russian faith in the Tsar and Generals. The corridor slowly closed from November to December, issues of supply for both sides suffered the resilience and success of offensive and defencing attitudes. By December the Russian Military looked to allow the Warsaw gap to close – wanting for focus their defencing lines in the Carpathian Mountains hoping to pin Austro-Hungarian forces there. This caused some arguments between competing Generals with some wanting to pull resources to defending the Baltic States, which gained the Tsar’s support with a look to defending the capital at Petrograd [Renamed from St Petersburg in September 1914]. Generals von Hindenburg and von Mackensen met and shook hands on December 22nd as the corridor closed at Wegrow.


The French and Germans on the Western Front’s winter was dominated by further massive artillery barrages with attempts by the Germans to push up the Rhine River valley to liberate French held Mulhouse and drive into France at Belfort at the demands of Wilhelm III to be in France by Christmas. The German soldiers found themselves easy targets for the well-entrenched French defenders. Weather made it difficult for German Zeppelins to bomb French targets or German planes to scout ahead to see the encamp enemy. The relatively small line of attack on the western front suited the defender more so than the attacker, making it hard for anyone to make any gains. That considering many Soldiers from both sides would have preferred the western front as for the most part it considered of guarding trenches looking across at the enemy on the other side.
 
Hmmm. French submarines? Perhaps they sink a British passenger liner causing them to join the war on Germany's side

Yeah, though its not much of a spoiler as I had previously mentioned this in a pervious post but the French Submarines [Which they decided to focus on against the German Navy] might have some issues when it comes to British Transports - either passenger or tradeships
 
Yeah, though its not much of a spoiler as I had previously mentioned this in a pervious post but the French Submarines [Which they decided to focus on against the German Navy] might have some issues when it comes to British Transports - either passenger or tradeships
Wow.

I mean..... How exactly does France plan to explain that away?
 
Wow.

I mean..... How exactly does France plan to explain that away?

Well OTL France had submarines in World War One and I wouldn't think it would be much of a stretch for funding to be pumped into the French Navy following their spats with the UK coupled with their obvious growing Freindship. Not that France was ever aiming to compete with that of Britain but they wanted to further secure their waters from powers such as Germany now under the premise that they would possibly without Britain.

How strong is the anti monarchy in Russia
Not that strong, but much more defeats, that's going to change rapidly.

Knightmare would be correct on that statement the level of Anti-Monarchy groups would be pretty much on a similar level
 
Well OTL France had submarines in World War One and I wouldn't think it would be much of a stretch for funding to be pumped into the French Navy following their spats with the UK coupled with their obvious growing Freindship. Not that France was ever aiming to compete with that of Britain but they wanted to further secure their waters from powers such as Germany now under the premise that they would possibly without Britain.
I meant more them blasting a British ship into debris.
 
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