End Game:
1916 had been a great year of battles that seemed to decide the war. The french were not yet beaten though. Even as the odds seemed to shift against them, they still had the ability to inflict defeats on the Central powers. The germans had limited resources to devote to beating france with their commitments in Russia, especially following the losses during the bitter struggle in Alsace. However, with the entry of the Italians and the massive french casualties over the course of the war, a french victory was impossible.
As 1917 began, many politicians in Britain campaigned ruthlessly to involve their country in the war. However, without provacation, it was unlikely that they would be joining in. The Italians began the campaigning season by using marines to capture corsica. Many of the inhabitants viewed the take over favorably as they were sick of war. Italian colonial forces managed to push into tunisia with little resistance and began plans to integrate it into Italian holdings. The fighting in the alps did not go as planned. First, the cold weather created large problems for the italians. The reserves were underequipped and many suffered frostbite. Also, the lack of modern artillery hampered many attacks and left many young men dead. The french though overextened fighting on so many fronts, were able to hold the line in the mountains relatively easily as they were experienced and had a several powerful forts assisting them. A breakthrough here was unlikely.
The germans were in a much better position as they had rolling plains ahead of them. Despite several river obstacles, their opponent was demoralized and disorganized. Many of the attritted units from the fall campaign were transfered east to retrain and absorb new recruits while several veteran units came west. By march, as the italian offensives were reaching their peak, the germans unleashed their "peace" offensive. They were aided by a new gas known as 'mustard' gas, which the new french gas masks were unable to protect against. This, combined with the new flamethrower, caused unbelivable terror in the new french troops and colonials, who broke when confronted with these brutal inventions. By april both verdun and Rheims had fallen and the river marne was crossed. The french armies seemed to melt away before the germans as men began to desert in great numbers. On several occasions reenforcements were heckled as strike breakers and told to go home and leave the 'great swindle'. The soldiers had spoken and refused to die in a lost war.
By June the ceasefire had been declared. The french had given in and with that the war was over. Many older frenchmen wept openly as the germans marched through Paris, reminding them of the prussians taking the city in 1871. The germans and italians met at versailles to write up the peace and when the terms were decided on, summoned the french delegates to sign. As it stood, the french were to give up franche-comte to the germans and lost the iron mines at brewy-longwy (sp?) for 15 years. The annexation of Luxembourg was to be recognized. An indemnity would be paid to cover german war costs. The colonies in Indo-china and the pacific colonies would be surrendered to the germans, while tunisia would become french. Nice, Savoy, and Corsica would become italian and the navy would have to give up half of their ships to the central powers. Also, the borders would be demilitarized for 100 miles. The country would be occupied until all of the terms had been met. This humiliating peace would be signed on July 3rd at Versailles and by the 4th the politician who signed it would be murdered by nationalists. Predictably the republic fell yet again in france and civil war seemed to be in the offing. But german troops helped restore order and soon the 4th republic was formed.
In russia, the situation had calmed down significantly as the insurrection had be brutally put down by 1918. The russians had enough of Tzars, so the 1st republic was formed when the surviving members of the Duma reassembled and set about creating a constitution. For the moment, peace prevailed across Europe. But it had come at a steep price. The cost had been high with about 9 million deaths distributed as follows:
France-1.3 million
Germany-1 million
Italy-300,000
AH-700,000
Serbia-150,000
Ottoman empire-400,000
Bulgaria-25,000
Russia-5 million
The russian civil war was the largest cause of deaths and is commonly grouped with the Great European war as an extension of the conflict. By the end Germany had come to dominate Europe economically, much the chagrin of Britain, but had the added burden of watching over their former enemies to prevent a resurgence. Their ally AH, was tetering on the edge of dissolution with the death of the Emperor and the desire of the Hungarians to finally be free of Vienna. Eventually, by 1920 the forces of nationalism had finally won out and the Hapsburg empire imploded. Hungary continued to dominate croatia, slovakia, slovenia and the entire dalmatian coast. Poland happily annexed the polish minority of AH. Austria and Czechia remained together, but during the confusion the emperor, Karl, fled the country as rumors of a revolution ran rampant. In his absence, a junta was formed by former military officers. They promptly asked Germany for admittance into the empire. After much backroom dealing, it was decided to let them in. However, Britain nearly declared war over this Anschluss of Austria and Czechia. But with both Russia and France in no shape to fight, the challenge was dropped after a fee in the shape of money, older naval ships and several islands in the pacific were handed to Britain. Italy also inherited the southern tyrol. Despite complaints about Istria, Hungary held onto the city. As this last upheaval ended, it seemed that Europe had finally achieved a new balance that left the former allies out in the cold. But dark clouds were gathering as several nations waited for a chance to restore their power.