alternatehistory.com

What if the Germans, instead of wasting 4 corps of experienced infantry at the 2nd Masurian lakes battle instead used their extra forces to launch an earlier Gorlice-Tarnow to relieve Przemysl?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Bat ... rian_Lakes
Despite the Wiki-entry's repeating of the false claims of Hindenburg-Ludendorff, less than 50,000 prisoners were actually taken and losses among the experienced soldiers committed was atrocious in the winter weather. It also did not clear East Prussia of Russian troops. There was a better target, Przemysl, which would help their ally, hurt the Russians and maintain Austro-Hungarian prestige, which was vital for keeping Italy out of the war.

If launched in February, the operation would still suffer from the weather, but if launched at the right place with proper Austro-Hungarian support, i.e. Gorlice-Tarnow instead of through the Carpathians, it would save Austrian troops form winter attrition and really not add anything to German losses compared to the historical outcome of the winter campaign in East Prussia.
Also, by letting Brussilov attack unopposed like he was trying to, he would have separated his flank from the Russian 3rd army, just like what happened in April, which made it a real possibility that he could be cut off in the Hungarian plain.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gorlice%E2 ... _Offensive

If launched, there was a very real chance of the combined power of Austria (as yet undiminished by the Carpathian offensives) and Germany breaking the Russian siege of Prezemysl just in time before food runs out. The attack would set the Russians back to the San and allow the fortress complex to serve as a base for future operations in May. Though unlikely to hurt the Russians as bad as the historical Gorlice-Tarnow, mainly due to the weather allowing the Russians to slip away, as the CPs will not be able to truly exploit their breakthrough, it will be worth it, preventing the loss of over 120,000 Austrian troops at Przemysl and the wasteful attacks in the Carpathians that Conrad von Hötzendorff launched to relieve it throughout the winter.

So what does everyone think about this?
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