In honor of the 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme I thought I would pose a WW1 topic I've been throwing around. Specifically, how long would the Great War lasted without American OTL entry.
The POD proposed is that rather than sign off on unrestricted submarine warfare in January 1917, the Kaiser balks. No subsequent plans or timetables are launched using Admiralty promises.
Specifically, thinking of impacts this will have on 1917 events such as the February revolution and subsequent provisional Russian government and the 1917 mutiny of French troops, will or how much will this change the length of the war?
Other factors that be considered that pertain to the questionable ability of both sides to maintain the war of attrition in light of no American Spring 1917 entry:
Likelihood of American entry at later date (if say Germany could not avoid USW at later date).
Increasingly serious problem of German food supplies.
Morale of sailors within the German fleet(s).
Role of troops in East that in OTL were moved East for Spring offensives (18).
Changing strategy of Germany on Eastern front in light of no unrestricted warfare planning.
Deteriorating Austrian (Charles I OTL) and/or Russian (October Rev) government readiness for a separate peace.
I realize various topics on non-American WW1 but this simply asks for the implications if the decision in January were switched given important timing in relation to other unrelated but critical 1917 happenings.