How stong would the armies of Europe be in 1914-1918 if there was no outbreak of war?

Simply put, does anyone have any idea how strong everybody's military would be during the WWI period if there wasn't a war? I'm currently working on a story where the war starts in 1915, and it would be a big help. Plus, I'm sure others would like to know also.
 
Simply put, does anyone have any idea how strong everybody's military would be during the WWI period if there wasn't a war? I'm currently working on a story where the war starts in 1915, and it would be a big help. Plus, I'm sure others would like to know also.

One year's difference probably doesn't change too much - they'll just end up calling out the next year's classes. I don't think one year's population growth produces much change, proportionately or otherwise; and the military developments of one year of peacetime (as compared to the developments during the war) wouldn't be much either.

The only place I can see the year's space being a difference would be at sea, but I don't know enough about the British / German shipbuilding programs to comment. P? ;)
 
The issue is not the size of the armies, because if the war has not erupted, they will be more or less the same size as the year before. The issue is the size of the manpower pools, which in OTL had been significantly depleted in 1914. With war erupting one year later, the massive slaughterhouses of 1914 simply open one year later.
 
ACtually, it may be that one year is enough to make some difference in the devolpment of the Haber process. So even if butterflies take away the Antwerpen nitreates ( more than likely ), Germany doesn't have to surrender after 6 month for lack of ammo.
 
Yes, one year is probably of not much difference. Entente is still not ready to start first, and Germany had not yet lost its advantages. But France would probably have more troops from returning to 3-year conscriptions. Russia is still in the middle of reorganisation and building infrastructure in western provinces (which would not be complete until 1917 at the very least). UK is building battleships like hell (3 to each 2 german if I remember correctlly), but will they manage the costs? With Ireland troubles and all.
 
Irish Home Rule would probably have gone though, which means there would quite possibly be an Irish civil war at this point and the Brits would be too busy to get involved with WW1
 
Irish Home Rule would probably have gone though, which means there would quite possibly be an Irish civil war at this point and the Brits would be too busy to get involved with WW1
Nah, they will, by all accounts, still partake in WWI; the alliances and so on force them. OFcourse, the British Empire would have to divide divert some forces, although not all that much. Ireland had an even smaller population back then.

An Irish alliance with the Central Powers would be wickedly awesome, though.
 
Nah, they will, by all accounts, still partake in WWI; the alliances and so on force them. OFcourse, the British Empire would have to divide divert some forces, although not all that much. Ireland had an even smaller population back then.

An Irish alliance with the Central Powers would be wickedly awesome, though.

I agree with you as to WW1, but you rather misunderstand the Irish situation. Bizarre as it sounds, Britain (well, given the Unionism rife in the British army, Irish troops with UK government authority) would be fighting the Unionists, unless the Conservatives had somehow come to power in the intervening year(very unlikely). The Unionists had apparently bought weapons from Germany illegally before the war, however, so...

Ulster alliance with the Central Powers!

Although to be honest that's not likely: probably the threat to Britain would cause, as it did here, a ceasefire and non-sectarian rush to volunteer.
 
I think you've also go to look at the political changes by 1915. The Socialists were making gains in both Paris and Berlin, as well as in other capitals. They were certainly not for the continuation of the armaments race. Also there is the fiscal problems there are a few governments that were worried about the eventual costs of the rearming finally coming due.
 
Depends. I can't see the British Army being increased since it wasn't OTL even in spite of the (arguable) war scares in the years leading up to the war. Maybe the Terriers, the compromise, would be in better shape with an extra year, but maybe not. The Royal Navy would be marginally better placed in battleships, IIRC those under construction 1914-15 under pre-war building programmes were consistently exceeding Germany's.

As to the continental powers, unless some shift in emphasis in production, I can't see it having much if any impact: another class of young conscripts, but equally another class of older reservists paying off. Maybe a few more aircraft in use.
 
Osmans could have stayed out of the war. Imperatritsa Maria battleship (commissioned 1915) could butterfly the whole Geben affair (including "Sevastopol wake-up call" and Osman government DoW-ing Russia while looking at the Geben's main guns) away. Not a given, but a chance
 
It would make a gigantic difference to the Ottomans and Balkan nations, who were rebuilding their militaries after the Balkan Wars. I'm (not surprisingly) more familiar with the Ottomans, but the Bulgarians would have had a lot of the same issues.

The army was in the process of being totally restructured in 1914 and its reorganization was not completed by the time war was declared. Another six months would have seen the Ottoman army far more capable than it was in Nov 1914. In addition, the more of the Baghdad RR completed, the better for the empire's ability to shift forces from theater to theater.

Russia was also rapidly gaining in strategic mobility with the construction of strategic railways - a year would make a significant difference.

Navally, the Ottomans would have received Erin and Agincourt (Reşhadiye and Osman-i Evvel), plus a number of large destroyers, which would have made a big difference in people's calculations as well, paricularly Greece's and Russia's.

Most likely it would mean the Ottomans would not enter the war at all, but if they did, they would have more impact.
 

Markus

Banned
Simply put, does anyone have any idea how strong everybody's military would be during the WWI period if there wasn't a war? I'm currently working on a story where the war starts in 1915, and it would be a big help. Plus, I'm sure others would like to know also.

No idea except Russia will benefit most from any delay. IIRC they had just begun a masive programm to increase the quality and quantity of their armed forces. Ohh, they had 4 BC and 3 BB under construction.
 
In addition, the more of the Baghdad RR completed, the better for the empire's ability to shift forces from theater to theater.
Whe Also have the Completion of the Damascus-Mecca Railroad -- Helping solidify Ottoman control of the Hajji.
 
It would make a gigantic difference to the Ottomans and Balkan nations, who were rebuilding their militaries after the Balkan Wars. I'm (not surprisingly) more familiar with the Ottomans, but the Bulgarians would have had a lot of the same issues.

The army was in the process of being totally restructured in 1914 and its reorganization was not completed by the time war was declared. Another six months would have seen the Ottoman army far more capable than it was in Nov 1914. In addition, the more of the Baghdad RR completed, the better for the empire's ability to shift forces from theater to theater.

Russia was also rapidly gaining in strategic mobility with the construction of strategic railways - a year would make a significant difference.

Navally, the Ottomans would have received Erin and Agincourt (Reşhadiye and Osman-i Evvel), plus a number of large destroyers, which would have made a big difference in people's calculations as well, paricularly Greece's and Russia's.

Most likely it would mean the Ottomans would not enter the war at all, but if they did, they would have more impact.

Ah, finaly a major change. Too bad it is moot in my story idea, but I like it nonetheless!
 
Top