Looking at how things "should have gone", who was more likely to win WWI in 1914?

Who was more likely to win the war in 1914 quickly?

  • Germany KOing France

    Votes: 12 63.2%
  • Russia overrunning Germany

    Votes: 1 5.3%
  • Russia overrunning Austria-Hungary

    Votes: 2 10.5%
  • Other

    Votes: 4 21.1%

  • Total voters
    19
I personally believe that there is simply no way for a quick end to the war in 1914. Not with the massive gap between military technology and doctrine.

The Germans may have come close to Paris in OTL, but the French field armies were far from being defeated. The Russians surprised the Germans in Prussia at first, but the simple fact is that defending armies in 1914 had an overwhelming advantage over the attackers. This is shown most obviously in the Serb and Galician fronts; the Russians were conpletely smashed when they attacked Austro-Hungarian positions, but it turned into a disaster for the latter when they counter-attacked, while the KuK armies lost to the Serbs decisively, and when the Serbs launched an offensive, they were utterly routed. Hell, the Western Front is just as much of an example since the Entente failed to retake French lands until the later stages of the war.
 

tenthring

Banned
Germany was the only country with a good shot at a quick victory in 1914. I don't believe the Russians could have gotten to Berlin.

I'm don't think they could take Paris in 1914. However, if they had given up on Paris they could have taken objectives that would have won them the war long term. Also, the Austro-Hungarians could have made a lot better choices as well in the first few months.
 
Russia didn't have a plan to take Berlin, it did plan to send 9th and 10th Armies into Silesia but this wasn't properly formed in the final plan 19 variant of June 1914. I don't think they had a plan to KO AH either.

In contrast Germany's plan did take it to within artillery range of Paris' suburbs as well as offering a couple of fleeting opportunities to really kick the bejesus out of both the BEF and 5th French Army. So if all the holes in the Swiss cheese lined up then this is the plan most likely to end the war quickly.
 
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