Here's a question for a timeline I've been working on, but haven't wokred on since early October. Basically, how can WWI become a stalemate. From what I know, it would have to involve increasingly indecisive battles on the western front, mutinies in the army, and unrest at home, like protests, rioting etc (some of the latter spearheaded by Communists).
But the question is, how would this all start? I was thinking the U.S. not entering the war, but I've heard allot around here that the U.S. remaining neutral (at least militarily, what with supplies still being shipped to the Allies) would mean a Central Power's victory, probably due to Germany's gains on the Eastern front, plus all the food from Ukraine. Is this all the case? Any feedback?
If you just mean a negotiate peace, you don't even need to change a battle. People were calling for negotiate peace in non-censored media by the end of 1915. The war had already done more damage than the ACW, the only comparable war in living memory. All countries have internal issues. Falkenhayn wanted a separate peace with one Entente power. All it really takes is one power (I would use Tsar for TL) deciding we have to serious negotiate a peace deal. You could do this any time in 1916. Once the Tsar told France/UK that Russia could not stay in the war, the mechanics of a negotiate settlement become easy.
Note: It helps to know if you want any particular deal, since battle could easily change the details. But in broad terms, you can either start with status quo prewar or date of cease fire. In 1916, we are likely looking at a buffer state of Poland and Lithuania in the east. The haggling is who runs it. Serbia has to be made "free enough" to be face saving. France has to decide if it wants to regain all of prewar France or keep colonial gains. Belgium Congo for Belgium freedom is often discussed on this board. There are lots of issues such as Belgium armed forces and forts, but once an Entente member makes a serious public peace offer, it would be hard for the CP to reject. For Example, Germany gets its African Colonies back plus Congo (MittelAfrika to claim a win). The new French border is the old border. Buffer state of Poland helps Germany and A-H. Some compromise on Serbia (Swiss or Belgian model). IMO, the reverse is also true, but the details would be slightly different.
There was a belief that a serious peace offer would collapse internal morale. I don't really buy this argument, but they seem to back then. who knows, maybe it was true. Any serious offer has to be followed with a major offensive if rejected.
Now you may want the war to drag on to the point all sides are forced to take an offer. As other listed, the USA not entering is a good one to make this happen, but you will get a CP win negotiation. Not a full ToV, since London will not fall, but you will know who wins. You can look at the late parts of my TL to see my take in one scenario. It is about 10 pages from the end of the TL, right before I start all the ship stuff.
But you may not want this one, and have something where there is not clear winner. Now I think we can safely assume Russia loses Poland in most of these plans, but it does not have to be a German client state. USA not entering is too strong. One choice is the USA enters later. But this is a delicate POD. Very easy to get strong CP win. So lets look at how to help win with smaller POD's.
1) You need A-H in war longer. You need more food for this one. Romania not entering the war is a good POD. You can do this with the Brusilov offensive not being a big success. Other ways too. It should buy A-H another year. And potentially free up A-H armies for the Western Front. But if the USA enters on time, it may not be enough. Depends on butterflies, and there are a lot of them. Falkenhayn stays in power, most likely is the big one. This gets complicated.
2) It helps if Ottomans are doing better. Canceling Gallipoli is the obvious choice, but it presents a lot of butterfly issues. And may even help Entente win war faster. But we have other choices. Have Bulgaria enter the war faster and thereby knock out Serbia faster adding connections from Germany to Romania. Or have Romania allow unrestricted weapons movement to the Ottomans. This makes Gallipoli work better for the Ottomans. If you have the offensive in the east not happen, you may prevent the fiasco in the east.
3) A Russian admiral almost attacked Sweden. Have this happen. It is a subtle POD, but with the right butterflies, may get you what you want. You will weaken Russia gains in Galicia in 1914/15. Russia may lose Aland. Russia will always have to keep more units in Finland. Add in likely butterflies such as butterflying Romania entering war or have Bulgaria enter sooner, and you may well get what you want.
What exactly was the POD you were looking at?
I don't no why, mabye because of how over the top (another unintentional pun