TL: The War of Dogger Bank, or the Anglo-Russian War - Version 2
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1906 Part Two - General Winter
I hope everyone is having a happy Christmas!
1906 Part Two - General Winter
July: Second Battle of Smolensk: The Soviet advance against Byelorussia grinds to a halt amid strong Byelorussian defences running from Vitebsk then along the Dnieper River
July: Battle of Voronezh: Baiov’s army, disorganised after its hasty retreat to Voronezh barely manages to hold of the Kuban Army’s first assault on the city. However, Baiov’s forces sustains major losses in two successive attempted counteroffensive against the Republicans.
July: The Ottoman conquest of Armenia is completed. In accordance with their earlier agreement in Azerbaijan, an oil pipeline from Baku to the port of Trabzon begins construction
August: The German Empire steps up its involvement in the Russian Civil War, sending the 35. Division to aid the Byelorussians in their defence of Vitebsk. The French step up their shipments of supplies to the Republicans in the Kuban, with plans to ship the 2nd Foreign Regiment to the area.
August: Battle of Voronezh: Having reorganised for another attack, von Kaulbars feints an attack towards Voronezh in order to draw out the predicted counterattack by the Soviet Guards. The plan works, as Baiov rashly orders his forces forward against the supposedly weakened Republicans. The Republicans cut off the overextended Soviet Guards, and destroy 40,000 of Baoiv’s army, of which the majority are taken prisoner or desert. Baoiv is left with 40,000 men facing the 80,000 strong Kuban Army.
August: Battle of Perm: A determined attack by Soviet Guards drives the Tsarist Armies from Perm briefly, but a counterattack retakes the city for the Tsarist once again.
August: Second Battle of Smolensk: Trotsky launches another attack at the Byelorussians, this time attempted to break the Byelorussian lines at Rechytsa but is once again unable to cross the Dnieper.
September: Battle of Voronezh: Baiov is unable to prevent Voronezh from falling to a fresh Republican assault, leaving the road to Moscow wide open. Due to his failures, Baiov is sacked, and replaced by Vladimir Smirnov, who begins to fight a delaying action against the quickly advancing Republicans, aiming to stall them for long enough until the onset of winter.
September: In order to hopefully revitalise the strained Soviet economy, Martov implements the policy of Market Socialism, which allows private individuals to own small businesses, while also maintaining the full nationalisation of large industries. Further, the Soviet government established quotas on peasant farms, in the form of financial incentives for a percentage of grain grown (to be paid once the civil war was over), to hopefully mitigate the beginning effects of famine.
September: Second Battle of Smolensk: With the Byelorussian lines showing signs of cracking under Soviet pressure, the Germans send the rest of XVII. Armeekorps in the form of the 36. Division. These substantial German reinforcements cause Trotsky to call of his offensive and dig in for the winter.
October: The 2nd Foreign Regiment arrives in the Kuban to begin fighting alongside the Republican armies.
October: Battle of Voronezh: Von Kaulbars halts his offensive around 350km south of Moscow. A lack of supplies and worsening weather forces the Republicans to dig in for the winter.
November: With the Soviets gone from Ukraine, a civilian government is set up in Kiev. They immediately ask Germany to send advisers to create a modern army for Ukraine
December: The fortress of Sevastopol along with the rest of the Crimean Peninsula, having been fully cut off from the Soviets for months, surrender and defect to the Republican government
1906 Part Two - General Winter
July: Second Battle of Smolensk: The Soviet advance against Byelorussia grinds to a halt amid strong Byelorussian defences running from Vitebsk then along the Dnieper River
July: Battle of Voronezh: Baiov’s army, disorganised after its hasty retreat to Voronezh barely manages to hold of the Kuban Army’s first assault on the city. However, Baiov’s forces sustains major losses in two successive attempted counteroffensive against the Republicans.
July: The Ottoman conquest of Armenia is completed. In accordance with their earlier agreement in Azerbaijan, an oil pipeline from Baku to the port of Trabzon begins construction
August: The German Empire steps up its involvement in the Russian Civil War, sending the 35. Division to aid the Byelorussians in their defence of Vitebsk. The French step up their shipments of supplies to the Republicans in the Kuban, with plans to ship the 2nd Foreign Regiment to the area.
August: Battle of Voronezh: Having reorganised for another attack, von Kaulbars feints an attack towards Voronezh in order to draw out the predicted counterattack by the Soviet Guards. The plan works, as Baiov rashly orders his forces forward against the supposedly weakened Republicans. The Republicans cut off the overextended Soviet Guards, and destroy 40,000 of Baoiv’s army, of which the majority are taken prisoner or desert. Baoiv is left with 40,000 men facing the 80,000 strong Kuban Army.
August: Battle of Perm: A determined attack by Soviet Guards drives the Tsarist Armies from Perm briefly, but a counterattack retakes the city for the Tsarist once again.
August: Second Battle of Smolensk: Trotsky launches another attack at the Byelorussians, this time attempted to break the Byelorussian lines at Rechytsa but is once again unable to cross the Dnieper.
September: Battle of Voronezh: Baiov is unable to prevent Voronezh from falling to a fresh Republican assault, leaving the road to Moscow wide open. Due to his failures, Baiov is sacked, and replaced by Vladimir Smirnov, who begins to fight a delaying action against the quickly advancing Republicans, aiming to stall them for long enough until the onset of winter.
September: In order to hopefully revitalise the strained Soviet economy, Martov implements the policy of Market Socialism, which allows private individuals to own small businesses, while also maintaining the full nationalisation of large industries. Further, the Soviet government established quotas on peasant farms, in the form of financial incentives for a percentage of grain grown (to be paid once the civil war was over), to hopefully mitigate the beginning effects of famine.
September: Second Battle of Smolensk: With the Byelorussian lines showing signs of cracking under Soviet pressure, the Germans send the rest of XVII. Armeekorps in the form of the 36. Division. These substantial German reinforcements cause Trotsky to call of his offensive and dig in for the winter.
October: The 2nd Foreign Regiment arrives in the Kuban to begin fighting alongside the Republican armies.
October: Battle of Voronezh: Von Kaulbars halts his offensive around 350km south of Moscow. A lack of supplies and worsening weather forces the Republicans to dig in for the winter.
November: With the Soviets gone from Ukraine, a civilian government is set up in Kiev. They immediately ask Germany to send advisers to create a modern army for Ukraine
December: The fortress of Sevastopol along with the rest of the Crimean Peninsula, having been fully cut off from the Soviets for months, surrender and defect to the Republican government
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I'm surprised the Germans haven't just straight up invaded to ensure a compliant Russia
I hope the republicans or the soviets win. I dont want a German Puppe government.
1907 Part One - Race for Moscow
Update!
I'm sure we all know where this is going......
Please comment thoughts and feedback!
1907 Part One - Race for Moscow
January: With the Soviet Armies seemingly on their last legs, the Germans successfully convince Sakharov to launch an offensive towards Moscow, with the German XVII. Armeekorps leading the way. The Germans aim to capture Moscow before the Republicans can. The offensive is scheduled for early April.
January: Similarly, Republican armies under Von Kaulbars prepare for an offensive north to take Moscow before the Byellorussians can. Their attack is scheduled for late March.
January: Despite the food situation improving due to the policy of Market Socialism, the Soviets are nevertheless in a dire state. Trotsky convinces Martov that Moscow must be defended to the last man. The idea is to slowly fall back to Moscow (which will be a fortress), making both the Tsarists (Byellorussians) and the Republicans pay with every drop of blood.
February: The Dowager Empress Cixi dies from a stroke, prompting large scale unrest within the Qing Empire. The Tongmenghui launch several uprisings in Southern China, while Qing armies are paralyzed due to confusion and disorganization.
February: With the Soviets seemingly on their last legs, delegations from France, Britain and Japan meet in London. Concerned about the possibility of a German puppet Russia, the British and Japanese pledge to support France should the civil war in Russia escalate into a war with Germany.
March: With Qing rule now falling apart, Yuan Shikai’s new Army marches on Nanjing and proclaims Yuan the new President of a Republic of China with German support. The Guangxu Emperor and the infant Pu-yi are exiled to Japanese controlled Manchuria. However, the republican revolt in Southern China continues with the Japanese sending supplies and arms. Further, Western China descends into Warlord-ism.
March: Battle of Moscow: Von Kaulbars launches his offensive north towards Moscow. With another regiment of the French Foreign Legion supporting the charge, the outgunned and outnumbered Soviets are forced to fall back north with the republicans advancing at a steady pace, with only the spring mud providing a major obstacle.
April: Battle of Moscow: The Byellorussians begin attacking in the direction of Smolensk. With Soviet reserves having been mostly diverted south to meet the Republican offensive, the Byellorussians quickly break through the Soviet lines and take Smolensk by mid-April. Again, the spring mud prevents the Byellorussians from advancing any faster.
April: Battle of Moscow: With news of the Byellorussian advance, the retreat from Republican forces turns into a rout as morale collapses. Many Soviet soldiers' defect to the Republicans.
April: Facing minimal resistance, Tsarist armies in Perm once again begin advance east.
April: France begins secret negotiations with Italy, promising Italy their claims on Trentino, Istria and the Dalmatian coast should Italy join France in a war with Germany.
May: Japan formally annexes Manchuria
May: Yuan Shikai begins a campaign of securing Northern China under his rule. By this point the Tongmenghui are in full control of Southern China and have set up a government led by Sun Yat-sen based out of Guangzhou.
June: Japan sends military advisers to the Sun's government in Southern China.
June: Battle of Moscow: With Soviet armies retreating in all places, Trotsky places his reserves within Moscow for a final defense of the city. The defenders of Moscow are mostly revolutionaries who were veterans of the May revolution in 1905. Martov moves his government to Nizhny Novgorod and prepares to fight on from there. By the end of June, the Byellorussians are in Vyazma, while the Republicans take Ryazan and Tula. Moscow is within reach for both armies...
I'm sure we all know where this is going......
Please comment thoughts and feedback!
1907 Part One - Race for Moscow
January: With the Soviet Armies seemingly on their last legs, the Germans successfully convince Sakharov to launch an offensive towards Moscow, with the German XVII. Armeekorps leading the way. The Germans aim to capture Moscow before the Republicans can. The offensive is scheduled for early April.
January: Similarly, Republican armies under Von Kaulbars prepare for an offensive north to take Moscow before the Byellorussians can. Their attack is scheduled for late March.
January: Despite the food situation improving due to the policy of Market Socialism, the Soviets are nevertheless in a dire state. Trotsky convinces Martov that Moscow must be defended to the last man. The idea is to slowly fall back to Moscow (which will be a fortress), making both the Tsarists (Byellorussians) and the Republicans pay with every drop of blood.
February: The Dowager Empress Cixi dies from a stroke, prompting large scale unrest within the Qing Empire. The Tongmenghui launch several uprisings in Southern China, while Qing armies are paralyzed due to confusion and disorganization.
February: With the Soviets seemingly on their last legs, delegations from France, Britain and Japan meet in London. Concerned about the possibility of a German puppet Russia, the British and Japanese pledge to support France should the civil war in Russia escalate into a war with Germany.
March: With Qing rule now falling apart, Yuan Shikai’s new Army marches on Nanjing and proclaims Yuan the new President of a Republic of China with German support. The Guangxu Emperor and the infant Pu-yi are exiled to Japanese controlled Manchuria. However, the republican revolt in Southern China continues with the Japanese sending supplies and arms. Further, Western China descends into Warlord-ism.
March: Battle of Moscow: Von Kaulbars launches his offensive north towards Moscow. With another regiment of the French Foreign Legion supporting the charge, the outgunned and outnumbered Soviets are forced to fall back north with the republicans advancing at a steady pace, with only the spring mud providing a major obstacle.
April: Battle of Moscow: The Byellorussians begin attacking in the direction of Smolensk. With Soviet reserves having been mostly diverted south to meet the Republican offensive, the Byellorussians quickly break through the Soviet lines and take Smolensk by mid-April. Again, the spring mud prevents the Byellorussians from advancing any faster.
April: Battle of Moscow: With news of the Byellorussian advance, the retreat from Republican forces turns into a rout as morale collapses. Many Soviet soldiers' defect to the Republicans.
April: Facing minimal resistance, Tsarist armies in Perm once again begin advance east.
April: France begins secret negotiations with Italy, promising Italy their claims on Trentino, Istria and the Dalmatian coast should Italy join France in a war with Germany.
May: Japan formally annexes Manchuria
May: Yuan Shikai begins a campaign of securing Northern China under his rule. By this point the Tongmenghui are in full control of Southern China and have set up a government led by Sun Yat-sen based out of Guangzhou.
June: Japan sends military advisers to the Sun's government in Southern China.
June: Battle of Moscow: With Soviet armies retreating in all places, Trotsky places his reserves within Moscow for a final defense of the city. The defenders of Moscow are mostly revolutionaries who were veterans of the May revolution in 1905. Martov moves his government to Nizhny Novgorod and prepares to fight on from there. By the end of June, the Byellorussians are in Vyazma, while the Republicans take Ryazan and Tula. Moscow is within reach for both armies...
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1907 Part Two - A shattered peace
Update! From now on for the Great War, I will be doing updates by theatre.
As always feedback and comments are appreciated!
1907 Part 2 - A shattered peace
July: Battle of Moscow: After a brief respite to let supplies catch up to them, the Byellorussians open the Battle of Moscow with a short but fierce artillery bombardment on Soviet lines at Mozhaysk. The Soviets manage to hold for 5 days but end up crumbling under Byellorussian pressure. The Soviets attempt to mount another defence at Kubinka, but are unable to and instead dig in at Odintsovo and the outskirts of Moscow. From the south the Republicans manage to establish bridgeheads over the Oka River at Stupino and Kolomna. The Republicans secure Domodedovo by the end of the month.
July: The first skirmishes between the Chinese Revolutionary and Chinese Republican armies happen as the two sides clash in Southern China. While the Revolutionaries are better equipped, the Republicans have better leaders and training. As such no side gains the upper hand.
August: Battle of Moscow: The Byellorussian and Republican advance slows considerably due to fierce house to house fighting. Losses are high on both sides, as the defending veteran Soviet guards contest every bit of ground. Despite this, both the Byellorussians and the Republicans reach the Moskva River at Ramenki and Brateyevo District respectively.
September: Battle of Moscow: While the Battle for Moscow continues to rage on, the first shots between Byellorussian and Republican forces occur as they clash at Obruchevsky District. Unintentionally, the German 36. Division and the French 1st and 2nd Foreign Regiments fire upon each other in a fierce battle in Vorontsovskiy Park, which results in stalemate and both sides nearly shattered.
September: September Crisis: With news of the clash between French and Germans in Russia, tensions skyrocket in Europe. Media in both France and Germany call for war to be declared. The last straw occurs when Kaiser Wilhelm II speak against the “French menace” and calls for the need to settle the “Russian question” once and for all. On the 29th of September, with no sign of a solution, Germany begins the mobilisation of its armed forces. France, Great Britain and Austria-Hungary quickly follow suit.
October: In accordance with plans drawn up by Field Marshall von Schlieffen, the Germans invade Luxemburg, Belgium and the Netherlands on the 11th of October without a declaration of war. Advancing quickly over Limburg and Belgium, the German army under von Moltke the younger aimed to outflank the French Army in Lorraine and hopefully destroy it.
October: Belgium and the Netherlands declare war on Germany. France, Great Britain, Japan and Austria-Hungary follow up with their own declarations of war a day later.
October: Battle of Liege: The Dutch are unable to hold Limburg and are pushed back over the River Meuse. The main Belgian defence line, centred around Liege, manages to hold the Germans as they lack enough heavy artillery to break through the Liege fortifications. However, German troops flank around the north of Liege from Limburg and cut Liege off from reinforcements. Despite this, Liege only surrenders by the end of October, giving the Western Entente enough time to establish a defensive line running from Charleroi to Eindhoven to the Dutch New Waterline.
October: Battle of Moscow: With the outbreak of war, German and Austro-Hungarian armies begin deploying to the front in Russia against both the Soviets and Republican Armies. However, the outbreak of winter means that no offensives can reasonably occur until the next year. Despite this, the Battle of Moscow continues, with the Soviets completely withdrawing over the Moskva River, leaving the Central Powers and Western-Entente forces to fight over the Southbank.
October: With German General von Mackensen in Republican China as an advisor, the Revolutionary Chinese government covertly joins the Entente and asks the Japanese to invade the Republicans from Manchuria. The Japanese offensive is scheduled for April next year.
October: Great Britain begins a naval blockade of the North Sea in an attempt to starve the Central Powers of resources. With the British having 5 Dreadnoughts built and 7 under construction, the Germans cannot hope to break the blockade (with only 1 Dreadnought built and 4 under construction).
October: France begins occupying German Kamerun while Britain begins occupying Tanganyika, Togoland and Sudwest Africa. Resistance is fairly limited in the German colonies.
November: Battle of Liege: Having taken Liege despite heavy losses, the Germans continue their offensive in an attempt to take Brussels and Antwerp, splitting the Entente from the Dutch. However, the Germans are disorganised and have lost their momentum, while the Entente are heavily dug in, with machine gun emplacements and trenches quickly becoming a common sight along the Western front. The Germans suffer heavy losses for very little gain.
November-December: Japanese and British marines begin occupying German colonial holdings in the Pacific. Troops from British Australia begin a campaign to bring German New Guinea
December: The Western front settles along a line of trenches and fortifications beginning at Utrecht, then to Eindhoven, Charlerois, Sedan, and along the Franco-German border.
As always feedback and comments are appreciated!
1907 Part 2 - A shattered peace
July: Battle of Moscow: After a brief respite to let supplies catch up to them, the Byellorussians open the Battle of Moscow with a short but fierce artillery bombardment on Soviet lines at Mozhaysk. The Soviets manage to hold for 5 days but end up crumbling under Byellorussian pressure. The Soviets attempt to mount another defence at Kubinka, but are unable to and instead dig in at Odintsovo and the outskirts of Moscow. From the south the Republicans manage to establish bridgeheads over the Oka River at Stupino and Kolomna. The Republicans secure Domodedovo by the end of the month.
July: The first skirmishes between the Chinese Revolutionary and Chinese Republican armies happen as the two sides clash in Southern China. While the Revolutionaries are better equipped, the Republicans have better leaders and training. As such no side gains the upper hand.
August: Battle of Moscow: The Byellorussian and Republican advance slows considerably due to fierce house to house fighting. Losses are high on both sides, as the defending veteran Soviet guards contest every bit of ground. Despite this, both the Byellorussians and the Republicans reach the Moskva River at Ramenki and Brateyevo District respectively.
September: Battle of Moscow: While the Battle for Moscow continues to rage on, the first shots between Byellorussian and Republican forces occur as they clash at Obruchevsky District. Unintentionally, the German 36. Division and the French 1st and 2nd Foreign Regiments fire upon each other in a fierce battle in Vorontsovskiy Park, which results in stalemate and both sides nearly shattered.
September: September Crisis: With news of the clash between French and Germans in Russia, tensions skyrocket in Europe. Media in both France and Germany call for war to be declared. The last straw occurs when Kaiser Wilhelm II speak against the “French menace” and calls for the need to settle the “Russian question” once and for all. On the 29th of September, with no sign of a solution, Germany begins the mobilisation of its armed forces. France, Great Britain and Austria-Hungary quickly follow suit.
October: In accordance with plans drawn up by Field Marshall von Schlieffen, the Germans invade Luxemburg, Belgium and the Netherlands on the 11th of October without a declaration of war. Advancing quickly over Limburg and Belgium, the German army under von Moltke the younger aimed to outflank the French Army in Lorraine and hopefully destroy it.
October: Belgium and the Netherlands declare war on Germany. France, Great Britain, Japan and Austria-Hungary follow up with their own declarations of war a day later.
October: Battle of Liege: The Dutch are unable to hold Limburg and are pushed back over the River Meuse. The main Belgian defence line, centred around Liege, manages to hold the Germans as they lack enough heavy artillery to break through the Liege fortifications. However, German troops flank around the north of Liege from Limburg and cut Liege off from reinforcements. Despite this, Liege only surrenders by the end of October, giving the Western Entente enough time to establish a defensive line running from Charleroi to Eindhoven to the Dutch New Waterline.
October: Battle of Moscow: With the outbreak of war, German and Austro-Hungarian armies begin deploying to the front in Russia against both the Soviets and Republican Armies. However, the outbreak of winter means that no offensives can reasonably occur until the next year. Despite this, the Battle of Moscow continues, with the Soviets completely withdrawing over the Moskva River, leaving the Central Powers and Western-Entente forces to fight over the Southbank.
October: With German General von Mackensen in Republican China as an advisor, the Revolutionary Chinese government covertly joins the Entente and asks the Japanese to invade the Republicans from Manchuria. The Japanese offensive is scheduled for April next year.
October: Great Britain begins a naval blockade of the North Sea in an attempt to starve the Central Powers of resources. With the British having 5 Dreadnoughts built and 7 under construction, the Germans cannot hope to break the blockade (with only 1 Dreadnought built and 4 under construction).
October: France begins occupying German Kamerun while Britain begins occupying Tanganyika, Togoland and Sudwest Africa. Resistance is fairly limited in the German colonies.
November: Battle of Liege: Having taken Liege despite heavy losses, the Germans continue their offensive in an attempt to take Brussels and Antwerp, splitting the Entente from the Dutch. However, the Germans are disorganised and have lost their momentum, while the Entente are heavily dug in, with machine gun emplacements and trenches quickly becoming a common sight along the Western front. The Germans suffer heavy losses for very little gain.
November-December: Japanese and British marines begin occupying German colonial holdings in the Pacific. Troops from British Australia begin a campaign to bring German New Guinea
December: The Western front settles along a line of trenches and fortifications beginning at Utrecht, then to Eindhoven, Charlerois, Sedan, and along the Franco-German border.
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So the Great War begins....this has the potential to be a massive clusterfuck for everyone involved. I don't envy Taft when he becomes President; he's going to have a mess on his hands.
Germany doesn't have the Haber process yet at this point. Unless they break the stalemate fast and win they are doomed within a year at most. Either way it won't be a Great War as big as in OTL.
Attacking Belgium per the Schlieffen plan was a very dumb move; it antagonizes the British and makes it harder to gain sympathy from neutrals. the Kaiser would have been better off staying on the defensive in the west.
What I wonder is how far will the war spread? We have the Japanese ready to go on the offensive. The Ottomans will surely seek to capitalize on Russia's woes, the Italians might seize the opportunity to attack Austria-Hungary and the Balkans are a powder keg next door to a raging fire.
What I wonder is how far will the war spread? We have the Japanese ready to go on the offensive. The Ottomans will surely seek to capitalize on Russia's woes, the Italians might seize the opportunity to attack Austria-Hungary and the Balkans are a powder keg next door to a raging fire.
This is essentially why Germany went through the Benelux. They needed a quick victory, not because of a war on two fronts, but because they didn’t have access to enough reserves of nitrate and ammonia to fight a long war.
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1908 Western Front Part One - Back and Forth
Update!
1908 Western Front Part One - Back and Forth
January: With reserves of nitrates and ammonia running out, Germany needs to break the western front stalemate quickly. Karl von Bülow, the new Chief of the General Staff (Moltke the Younger having been dismissed for his failure), devised a new ‘war winning’ offensive designed to split the British and French from the Belgians and Dutch. Attacking west, the Germans planned to take Brussels and Antwerp, before moving on to Ghent and Lille and driving to the coast. A follow up offensive would knock the Dutch out of the war once they were cut off from the rest of the Entente armies. Bülow aims to have this achieved by June, with the offensive scheduled for late March.
January: The Entente similarly are devising plans. While the British want to remain on the defensive for the moment in order to build up their army, the Belgians and Dutch are crying for an offensive to liberate their occupied lands, while the French want the fighting to remain on foreign soil. In the end, it is agreed for two offensives to be launched in April, one from Eindhoven in the direction of the River Meuse, and the other from Sedan in the direction of Rochefort.
February: The pre-dreadnought SMS Schleswig-Holstein is sunk in a naval engagement in the southern North Sea. Fearing the loss of more capital ships, the Imperial German Navy dials back patrols in the North Sea.
March: With the seeming weakness of the Central Powers in the Western front, the Entente finally convince Italy to join the war on their side to gain their claims on Austria-Hungary. Italy immediately attempts an offensive in Trentino but fails to advance with heavy losses.
March: Battle of Brussels: The German offensive begins with a day-long barrage of 2000 artillery guns (mostly 15cm sFH 02s) concentrated east of Leuven. With Entente reserves concentrated elsewhere, the Germans are able to break through the Entente lines after five days of heavy fighting. The Entente withdraws towards Brussels.
April: Battle of Brussels: The German offensive stalls in front of Brussels. By this time Entente reserves have stopped the Germans and Bülow is unable to breakthrough once again.
April: Battle of Weert: With German reserves diverted to Brussels, the Dutch begin their offensive towards the Meuse. However, they lack sufficient artillery to break through and suffer immense casualties as a result.
April: Battle of Bouillon: The French offensive however, takes the Germans by surprise, who believed that an offensive in the Ardennes was unlikely. As a result, the French break through easily and advance north.
May: Battle of Brussels: Having failed in his objectives and faced with enemy offensives, Bülow orders the German army to fall back to shorten his line.
May: Battle of Weert: Advancing only five kilometers and suffering tens of thousands of casualties, the Dutch call off their offensive
May: Battle of Bouillon: The French continue advancing, taking Libramont-Chevigny in mid-May. However, their advance begins slowing due to stiffening German resistance.
May: Battle of Gorizia: The Austro-Hungarians launch an offensive against the Italians and make headway towards the Tagliamento River.
June: Battle of Bouillon: The French offensive finally stops at Saint-Hubert. The French dig-in and hold off against multiple German counter-attacks until the front-line settles.
June: Battle of Gorizia: The Austro-Hungarians reach the Tagliamento River but do not cross it.
1908 Western Front Part One - Back and Forth
January: With reserves of nitrates and ammonia running out, Germany needs to break the western front stalemate quickly. Karl von Bülow, the new Chief of the General Staff (Moltke the Younger having been dismissed for his failure), devised a new ‘war winning’ offensive designed to split the British and French from the Belgians and Dutch. Attacking west, the Germans planned to take Brussels and Antwerp, before moving on to Ghent and Lille and driving to the coast. A follow up offensive would knock the Dutch out of the war once they were cut off from the rest of the Entente armies. Bülow aims to have this achieved by June, with the offensive scheduled for late March.
January: The Entente similarly are devising plans. While the British want to remain on the defensive for the moment in order to build up their army, the Belgians and Dutch are crying for an offensive to liberate their occupied lands, while the French want the fighting to remain on foreign soil. In the end, it is agreed for two offensives to be launched in April, one from Eindhoven in the direction of the River Meuse, and the other from Sedan in the direction of Rochefort.
February: The pre-dreadnought SMS Schleswig-Holstein is sunk in a naval engagement in the southern North Sea. Fearing the loss of more capital ships, the Imperial German Navy dials back patrols in the North Sea.
March: With the seeming weakness of the Central Powers in the Western front, the Entente finally convince Italy to join the war on their side to gain their claims on Austria-Hungary. Italy immediately attempts an offensive in Trentino but fails to advance with heavy losses.
March: Battle of Brussels: The German offensive begins with a day-long barrage of 2000 artillery guns (mostly 15cm sFH 02s) concentrated east of Leuven. With Entente reserves concentrated elsewhere, the Germans are able to break through the Entente lines after five days of heavy fighting. The Entente withdraws towards Brussels.
April: Battle of Brussels: The German offensive stalls in front of Brussels. By this time Entente reserves have stopped the Germans and Bülow is unable to breakthrough once again.
April: Battle of Weert: With German reserves diverted to Brussels, the Dutch begin their offensive towards the Meuse. However, they lack sufficient artillery to break through and suffer immense casualties as a result.
April: Battle of Bouillon: The French offensive however, takes the Germans by surprise, who believed that an offensive in the Ardennes was unlikely. As a result, the French break through easily and advance north.
May: Battle of Brussels: Having failed in his objectives and faced with enemy offensives, Bülow orders the German army to fall back to shorten his line.
May: Battle of Weert: Advancing only five kilometers and suffering tens of thousands of casualties, the Dutch call off their offensive
May: Battle of Bouillon: The French continue advancing, taking Libramont-Chevigny in mid-May. However, their advance begins slowing due to stiffening German resistance.
May: Battle of Gorizia: The Austro-Hungarians launch an offensive against the Italians and make headway towards the Tagliamento River.
June: Battle of Bouillon: The French offensive finally stops at Saint-Hubert. The French dig-in and hold off against multiple German counter-attacks until the front-line settles.
June: Battle of Gorizia: The Austro-Hungarians reach the Tagliamento River but do not cross it.
Germany needs a miracle and fast.
Maybe the French accidentally piss off the US and cause them to enter the war
Maybe the French accidentally piss off the US and cause them to enter the war
I cannot imagine how the French could manage that, they must know Germany is doomed in a long war (German nitrate issues were well known, maybe not the exact stocks but certainly in broad terms) and so have no reason to do anything desperate.
The French and British would never start un-restricted submarine warfare, there aren't enough German merchant ships left to justify it and they know they would lose out massively if it started. Probably similar thinking on gas, the Germans were most desperate (and had the better chemicals industry) so used it first, the Allies wouldn't open that pandora's box.
Spring 1909 is probably pencilled in for the final victorious offensive, the Germans will be out of nitrates, the British will have expanded and trained up their larger army and all the lessons from this years campaign learnt. Just hold on till then and don't do anything stupid should be the plan.
The meme lives on
. This time though, the roles are reversed, which makes it extra funny.I suspect when historians look back on this period, they will on Germany's decision to fight in the west as one of the worst acts of folly of all time. Regarding Nitrates, I would think Germany was depleting its stockpiles in the Eastern Front already; expanding the war and invading Belgium was utterly stupid.
If they win, it'll be a masterful use of their depleting resources to win the war before they risked being undermined and destroyed.
If.
Before they were at war with Britain and just fighting in the East, they could stll import nitrates. For all we know Germany might have more reserves of it than in OTL 1914 due to realizing how much bigger than projected the expenditures are and made sure to buy a lot.
What certainly WAS stupid, was risking with with the UK knowing how important nitrates are and not having access to synthetics, but well nations do stupid stuff all the time. Hardly unrealistic.