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Please imagine a little twist of fate when in 1914, the list of Russian commanders were made known and when commander of the first army is made known, being Alexei Brusilov.

So when in the end of august the first and second army are advancing in EastPrussia it is Samsonov advancing on the south and Brusilov in the north. In Gumbinen he defeated the Germans and the Germans retreated westwards, in panic. Brusilov ordered the reconaissance force on horses (planes which had this purpose were solely sent to Galicia by some reason) to follow the retreat as close as possible. After a few hours the reconaissance troups returned and said the Germans were fleeing. Brusilov ordered his troops to advance as fast as possible.

The Germans tried to retreat further, but were being attacked by a combined first and second Russian army. Ludendorff brought a message to Berlin that the Eastern front was collapsing calling for troops from Belgium brought to the East Front.

The German head of staff knew that the Schlieffen plan had failed and recommended Wilhelm II to sue for peace.

So if all this happened would we indeed have a WWI which lasted only a few months, everything being over with Christmas? Or would the Germans have something else in store....
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