One Admiral's Fatal Mistake

During Admiral von Essen's expedition, the main force of the Swedish navy was conducting exercises in the Stockholm archipelago. Admiral von Essen sent a destroyer squadron that was to mine the southern aproaches to the Stockholm archipelago - if the operation continued, it might have encountered the main force of the Swedish fleet and suffered badly since they were carrying mines on their decks. They were to attack lighthouses, telegraph stations and lay mines that woudl sink any ships retreating damaged from Fårösund.

Fårösund itself at this time had 8x57mm M/92 guns and 6x17cm M/69 (of which only 2 were ever manned since they were hopelessly outdayed) protecting two mine lines. I have a hard time thinking Fårösund can do any kind of damage to von Essen's squadron, as he can easily stay out of the range of the guns and away from the mines and still pummel the coastal station and the single old steam screw sloop.

Sweden entering the war would mean 10 or so less Russian divisions on the Eastern Front at all times - which would probably mean that the Ottomans and Austro-Hungarians suffer less. If the Austrians do not lose Przemysl, they will be in a MUCH stronger position, which might convince Italy to stay out. And if Italy stays out, Austria-Hungary is stronger still, which will probably butterfly the defeats in the Brusilov offensive - Russia doing much worse might cause Romania to choose the Central Powers and go after Russia for Moldavia rather than Austria-Hungary for Transylvania, which would help the Central Powers situation immensly.
 
I think that in this update, the Swedish are being much too successful already in August and September. For one thing, the Swedish mobilization would take time and going onto actual offensive on the Finnish mainland before the winter would already set in seems unlikely in my view. There is, IMO, a certain sense of recklessness in this.

An invasion of Åland might be more plausible, though even it seems to happen too easily ITTL - surely the Russians would commit more effort to hold on to the islands than the lacklustre response we can read between the lines in the update. After all, the Russian fleet would still be stronger than the Swedish alone, and if the Germans are not involved in the invasion, the Swedish would likely not brush the Russians aside so easily in the waters around Åland. Now, if a large part of the German fleet sorties as a feint towards the Gulf of Riga, for example, to draw the Russian main force away... Then the Swedish might have an easier a time around Åland at least temporarily. But it is another question whether the Swedish would be ready for such an attack only a few weeks into the war, in terms of military planning, mobilization and logistics, and also conceptually and politically. It would be really early days for Sweden as an actual aggressor in a shooting war, something Sweden would have last tried a long time ago.
 
I think that in this update, the Swedish are being much too successful already in August and September. For one thing, the Swedish mobilization would take time and going onto actual offensive on the Finnish mainland before the winter would already set in seems unlikely in my view. There is, IMO, a certain sense of recklessness in this.

An invasion of Åland might be more plausible, though even it seems to happen too easily ITTL - surely the Russians would commit more effort to hold on to the islands than the lacklustre response we can read between the lines in the update. After all, the Russian fleet would still be stronger than the Swedish alone, and if the Germans are not involved in the invasion, the Swedish would likely not brush the Russians aside so easily in the waters around Åland. Now, if a large part of the German fleet sorties as a feint towards the Gulf of Riga, for example, to draw the Russian main force away... Then the Swedish might have an easier a time around Åland at least temporarily. But it is another question whether the Swedish would be ready for such an attack only a few weeks into the war, in terms of military planning, mobilization and logistics, and also conceptually and politically. It would be really early days for Sweden as an actual aggressor in a shooting war, something Sweden would have last tried a long time ago.

Sweden did issue a general mobilisation on the 2nd of August 1914, fearing the Russian mobilisation on the 31st of July, so Sweden should have forces ready by the time Admiral von Essen attacks.

6 line divisions and 1 cavalry divisions, with 6 further reserve divisions being set up (OTL they were not fully set up until 1916, but the end of 1914 would be likely in a war situation).

Åland did OTL not have a Russian military presence until 1916, but I agree that the Russian navy would contest the islands much more hotly unless the Hochseeflotte did something about it.
 
Sweden did issue a general mobilisation on the 2nd of August 1914, fearing the Russian mobilisation on the 31st of July, so Sweden should have forces ready by the time Admiral von Essen attacks.

6 line divisions and 1 cavalry divisions, with 6 further reserve divisions being set up (OTL they were not fully set up until 1916, but the end of 1914 would be likely in a war situation).

This is what I would suspect as well: Sweden would in terms of troops and logistics, etc, have the capability for an invasion of Finland, or parts thereof, in the end of 1914 or in early 1915. But then the winter conditions and sea ice, especially would probably postpone any serious action until the summer of 1915.


Åland did OTL not have a Russian military presence until 1916, but I agree that the Russian navy would contest the islands much more hotly unless the Hochseeflotte did something about it.

Certainly now that Sweden is in the war, the Russians would expedite their remilitarization of the Ålands. That would involve, I think, sending at least a small amount of infantry and artillery to the main island, as well as building minefields in the waters off Åland in the fall of 1914. A more aggressive presence of the Russian fleet would also be expected around the Ålands area, in comparison to the OTL. In 1915, expect what happened IOTL with building coastal artillery and bringing naval units in the area, creating naval aviation bases, etc, to happen quicker than was really the case. The Russians would not be clueless about the strategic significance of the islands, and ITTL they are part of the first line of defence in the system created around the imperial capital.
 
This is what I would suspect as well: Sweden would in terms of troops and logistics, etc, have the capability for an invasion of Finland, or parts thereof, in the end of 1914 or in early 1915. But then the winter conditions and sea ice, especially would probably postpone any serious action until the summer of 1915.

Certainly now that Sweden is in the war, the Russians would expedite their remilitarization of the Ålands. That would involve, I think, sending at least a small amount of infantry and artillery to the main island, as well as building minefields in the waters off Åland in the fall of 1914. A more aggressive presence of the Russian fleet would also be expected around the Ålands area, in comparison to the OTL. In 1915, expect what happened IOTL with building coastal artillery and bringing naval units in the area, creating naval aviation bases, etc, to happen quicker than was really the case. The Russians would not be clueless about the strategic significance of the islands, and ITTL they are part of the first line of defence in the system created around the imperial capital.

Considering the full mobilisation on the 2nd of August of both the army (6 divisions and a cavalry division) and Landstormen, Sweden should have troops to occupy Åland and perhaps make some attacks on Tornio to secure a crossing of Torne Älv before any operations in 1915.

Åland as a forward Russian naval base is a nightmare for Sweden, and the outmost effort would be taken to neutralise it as such as quickly as possibly, especially considering the Russians will be strengthening the defences as quickly as possible.
 
Eastern Front
Eastern Front


Russian troops.jpg


Russian troops in Galicia

East Prussia


On August Russians led by generals Paul von Rennenkampf and Alexandr Samsonov invaded East Prussia. During August both generals were able to expel Germans led by general Maximilian von Prittwitz. Soon military leadership replaced him by generals Paul von Hindenburg and Erich Ludendorff. They planned counter attack and begun operation to expel Russians from East Prussia.

On August 17 Germans met Russians near city of Allenstein. There Germans crushed Samsonov's troops and later he commited suicide. Russians lost 35000 men and Germans only 10000.

During September Germans fought against Russians on Masurian area. Russians fought bit better than at Battle of Tannenberg but Germans were still victorious and Russians had withdraw. Soon East Prussia was liberated from Russians.

Galicia

Austria-Hungarian army wasn't so good as German army. It was badly outdated and lacked of effective leadership. So it fought quiet badly against Russians despite that parts of Russian army was deployed to Finland. Russians invaded Galicia quiet easily and caused large damage for region. Austrians had withdraw when Russians advanced and Russians took easily Fortress of Lemberg on seventh of September.

Loss of Lemberg caused much confuse in Vienna and in Berlin their allies were pretty worried about Austrians. So them had send more troops support Ausrians. On September 28 Russian begun siege fortress of Przemyśl. Fortress was captured back by marshall Svetozar Boroević von Bojna on December 8. Russians were expelled from Galicia on next February.

Poland

On early October Germans stepped to Poland. Germans tried get Poles rise to rebel against Russians. Poles didn't love czar and disliked Russians but they didn't like Germans either. Some Poles joined to Germans. Many nationalists hoped independent Poland with its old borders. But Germans had bit different plans for Poland. On June 1915 whole former Congress Poland was on hands of Germans and Austrians. Soon they begun plan future of Poland. Finally they decided to create formally independent but strongly German dominant Kingdom of Poland. Parts of the country would become part of Germany and these areas would be germanised. Plan for distant future was slow germanisation of Poland and then annex that. On third day of February 1916 Germany declared Kingdom of Poland which was recognised only by Central Powers.

Baltics

Germans begun conquest of Baltics on November 1914. On January Germans captured Kaunas and Vilnus. Then Germans advanced to North and on August almost whole Baltics was captured. During Autumn Germans begun plan new vassal states there. On February 10, 1916 Germans founded Kingdom of Lithuania and United Duchies of Baltics. To thrones of both nations were installed German princes.
 
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ITTL the building of the Murmansk Railway will probably be seen as more important and get more resources from the get-go. If they start construction already in 1914, it might be completed by the spring of 1916.

Any chance that the Swedes (and/or Germans operating from Sweden) could overrun northern Finland and sever the MR or prevent its ever getting completed?
 
Any chance that the Swedes (and/or Germans operating from Sweden) could overrun northern Finland and sever the MR or prevent its ever getting completed?

Considering it is over 300 km from the Swedish border to the White Sea, as the crow flies, over very difficult terrain with few to none decent roads on the way, I don't think the idea of sending any serious expedition up there would be appealing in the early part of the war. The Swedish-German force's lines of supply alone would be something I'd not want to think about.

I believe that these troops would very likely be more useful somewhere else.
 
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NoMommsen

Donor
@Lalli ... about "Eastern Front"
...
...
Did you ever bothered reading about what happen and when it happen IOTL ? Sry, but ... me think : NO
 
Considering it is over 300 km from the Swedish border to the White Sea, as the crow flies, over very difficult terrain with few to none decent roads on the way, I don't think the idea of sending any serious expedition up there would be appealing in the early part of the war. The Swedish-German force's lines of supply alone would be something I'd not want to think about.

I believe that these troops would very likely be more useful somewhere else.

True. Lapland isn't easiest place to trepass. Terrain and not roads. And winter might bring its own difficulties. German-Swedish troops are more useful somewhere else.
 
Baltia

Germans begun conquest of Baltia on November 1914. On January Germans captured Kaunas and Vilnus. Then Germans advanced to North and on August almost whole Baltia was captured. During Autumn Germans begun plan new vassal states there. On February 10, 1916 Germans founded Kingdom of Lithuania and Duchy of Baltia. To thrones of both nations were installed German princes.
What the heck is a "Baltia"?
 
What the heck is a "Baltia"?

Small mistake from me. Should be Baltics.

And anyway, I have made some mistakes on writing and planning and things not seems fit very well to my plans there. So this is going now permanent hiatus. I might try re-write this on future.
 
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