alternatehistory.com

Peace negotiations began on December 22, 1917, a week after the conclusion of an armistice between Russia and the Central Powers, at Brest-Litovsk (modern Brest, Belarus, near the Polish border). The Germans were represented officially by Foreign Secretary Richard von Kühlmann, but the most important figure in shaping the peace on the German side was General Max Hoffmann, Chief of Staff of the German armies on the Eastern Front (Oberkommando-Ostfront). Austria-Hungary was represented by Foreign Minister Ottokar Czernin, and from the Ottoman Empire came Talat Pasha. The Germans demanded the "independence" of Poland and Lithuania, which they already occupied, while the Bolsheviks demanded "peace without annexations or indemnities" — in other words, a settlement under which the revolutionary government that succeeded the Russian Empire would give neither territory nor money.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8a/Armisticebrestlitovsk.jpg

OTL Treaty of B-L.

We all know how that bold part worked out for the Russians as Germany enforced its views by marching into the Ukraine, the Baltic states and Belarus which they annexed in the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, an enormous concession for Lenin and his merry band. The Germans of course lost this empire in the Treaty of Versailles and this chunk of territory was too big anyway since it took the Germans 1 million men to occupy it. Suppose the Soviets accept the original peace in their crappy military situation and peace is made around December 1917 or January 1918.

Poland and Lithuania become independent German puppet states and the 1 million they needed IOTL to occupy their gains can mostly be sent west. What effect does this and more prep time have on the spring offensives of 1918 if they occur? Is there an opportunity for a late CP 'victory'?

Thoughts or suggestions?
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