Italy joins the Entente in 1914

  • Thread starter Deleted member 1487
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Deleted member 1487

What if Italy joins the war for the Entente in 1914? The POD being that Libya is not invaded in 1911, which allows the army to maintain its readiness for war up through 1914. So assuming Italy gets a sweetheart deal from the Entente, similar to the OTL promises in 1915, plus continues to stoke its hatred for AH during the period that OTL Italy was at war with Libya, what effect would it have on the war?
My theory is that the AHs would actually do better in the long run, as it would prevent the AHs from attacking both Serbia and Russia at the same time. Romania sits out 1914 for the same reason it did OTL: its dying Monarch was a German noble who refused to go to war with his own people.
The AHs remain on the defensive on all fronts and waits for the Germans to come to their aid.
Italy is weaker than OTL 1915 even with not having gone to war in 1911, as they still don't have enough artillery, even less heavy artillery, and next to no modernized equipment.
AH sitting on the defensive and utilizing their fortifications and engineer-built field works would allow them very early on to preserve their prewar army and expand on it like they were never able to do OTL. Their opponents expend their strength on serious defenses/terrain (Alps for Italy, Danube for Serbia, and the San-Dniester for Russia).

Initially Germany is not effected much, as AH still holds down the same number of troops as OTL, with the possible exception of one small Russian army, but gains an much more effective ally that hasn't spent all its strength in stupid offensives they could not afford. Come 1915 the Central Powers are much better positioned to take the offensive than OTL.
What does everyone else think?
 

nastle

Banned
Will the italian navy help in hunting down the Goeben and breslau before they drag turkey on the side of germany ?
Italian army might be used against german colonies and they may ask for a share e.g in Tanzania and togoland
 
This is an interesting question. Does the lack of a libyan war, and loss of the dodecanese to italy change anything in the ottoman empire? If the ottomans swing to the entente, or even stay neutral, i would say the CP are in deep trouble long term.
 
This is an interesting question. Does the lack of a libyan war, and loss of the dodecanese to italy change anything in the ottoman empire? If the ottomans swing to the entente, or even stay neutral, i would say the CP are in deep trouble long term.

Very. It's been said that the closing of the Straits did much more damage to the Russians than anything the Ottomans could have done in the Caucasus.
 
Well, the problem is that without the war over Libya relations with A-H are somewhat better (not very much but just a little better) and the chief of State is not that bastard of Cadorna (who get the place because was not involved in the Libyan mess) but Alberto Pollio who was pro-cp and the situation of the italian armed forces much better, yes Italy compareted to the other nations lack artillery and other equipment but the war with Ottomans was really draining (one of the reason that partecipate in the initial stage of WWI was ruled out by everyone here whatever alliance Italy was).
But going with the OP, the problem is that for A-H to use this kind of strategy (defensive on all front) she needs a lot of hindsight and to put the predominant offensive thinking of the time on hold (a not so little feat) and frankly i don't see the Germans very happy of this kind of fight because left to them all the burden of the attack
Personally i think that if Italy immediatly declare war to them, they try immediately to attack so to punish the traitorous ally and attack Russia as OTl and try to stay on the defensive on Serbia
 
If Italy entered the war in 1914 the Austro-Hungarians will be in a spot of trouble. The Austrian Army is not really equiped to fight a three front war. They will most likely adopt a defensive position against Italy since they are relying upon (eventual) German support against Russia once France is knocked out. Things may work for a while if they also go on the defensive against Serbia and concentrated on holding the Russians in place until Germans turn on Russia.
 
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