Mackensen/von Seeckt replace Falkenhayn in 1916?

  • Thread starter Deleted member 1487
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Deleted member 1487

What would happen in WW1 if the Mackensen/von Seeckt duo replace Falkenhayn instead of Hindenburg/Ludendorff?
 
Do we have any ideas about what Mackensen's re grand strategy were? On the personality level von Seeckt is very different from Lewd & Dwarf (almost opposites) so the Big Decisions would be coming from Mackensen with von Seeckt concentrating on the operational/tactical details.
 

Deleted member 1487

No idea TBH. Likely more in line with Falkenhayn than the Duo.
 
Were they interested to take on the job in the first place?
And what would be the POD to buttefly away the Dynamic Duo?
 
No idea TBH. Likely more in line with Falkenhayn than the Duo.

Then we are indulging in pure speculation.

If the Dynamic Duo are still alive then they would be continuing to campaign for their own ascendancy.

I don't think Mackensen would try to seize the degree of power that the Duo did for several reasons incl. not being able to get away with it.

However on the Eastern vs Western strategy the dynamic is that M achieved his prestige in the East which argues against him abruptly morphing into an ardent Westerner. So I see Judgment still being shut down.

As for USW that's a coin toss IMO
 
So, Hindenburg is overrun and killed by a wisent during one of his frequent hunting trips in Augustów Forest. Subsequently, Ludendorff is sent to the Western Front and given a division.

Mackensen is as good as a figurehead as H. was. He's an unrestrained monarchist, but less popular than H. was. (Beating the Russians in Poland and conquering Serbia is nothing compared to liberating East Prussia, at least in most Germans' perception.) Thus, the Kaiser will be happy.

Seeckt is more of an operator than L. was. (L. was kind of a logistic genius, able to find reinforcements where others found nothing. His operator was Hoffmann.) But his weakness is a certain disdain of logistics.

Seeckt's ability to disregard the politicians is on record. So, he may be as unruly as L. was. But he also may be able to see that the admirals are lying about success in USW. As architect of the victory at Soissons, he is at the root of the realisation that decisive breaktrough in the west is impossible.

Concentration on Eastern Front and OE, no USW, perhaps a quick campaign to push Italy out of the war.
 
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