General Zod
Banned
Continuing the exploration of better Alliance deals for the German Empire in WWI, it is the turn of the other obvious choice, Russia.
ITTL a Russo-German-Italian Alliance block solidifies vs. an Anglo-French-Austrian-Ottoman Entente, later possibly joined by the British and the Japanese. Bulgaria, Romania, and Greece join the Alliance as junior partners. Secret treaties are drafted by the Alliance for the partition of the Habsburg and Ottoman Empires, as well as standing protocols to transfer Russian and Italian troops on the French front, to send Russo-German troops to help defend the Italian coasts as it may be necessary, and for cooperation of the HSF and the Baltic Russian Fleet. And yes, Italy is true to her alliance.
The PoD might either be that Bismarck develops severe doubts about the long-term solidity of the Habsburg Empire, so he favours Russian interests in the Congress of Berlin. An enraged A-H, feeling betrayed, breaks the Dreikaiserbund and allies with France, while a grateful Russia forges a solid alliance with Germany and Italy.
Alternatively, but IMO this is less satisfactory PoD, the stillborn 1905 Russo-German alliance Treaty of Bjorko actually gets enforced by Czar Nicholas II, in one of his rare steely spine moments, so its leads to a rearrangement of the alliance system in Europe, with France and Austria allying.
How do you think the relationship pattern of the Great Powers would unfold, from this rearrangement ? Which is the sparking point for WWI, and how would it unfold ?
ITTL a Russo-German-Italian Alliance block solidifies vs. an Anglo-French-Austrian-Ottoman Entente, later possibly joined by the British and the Japanese. Bulgaria, Romania, and Greece join the Alliance as junior partners. Secret treaties are drafted by the Alliance for the partition of the Habsburg and Ottoman Empires, as well as standing protocols to transfer Russian and Italian troops on the French front, to send Russo-German troops to help defend the Italian coasts as it may be necessary, and for cooperation of the HSF and the Baltic Russian Fleet. And yes, Italy is true to her alliance.
The PoD might either be that Bismarck develops severe doubts about the long-term solidity of the Habsburg Empire, so he favours Russian interests in the Congress of Berlin. An enraged A-H, feeling betrayed, breaks the Dreikaiserbund and allies with France, while a grateful Russia forges a solid alliance with Germany and Italy.
Alternatively, but IMO this is less satisfactory PoD, the stillborn 1905 Russo-German alliance Treaty of Bjorko actually gets enforced by Czar Nicholas II, in one of his rare steely spine moments, so its leads to a rearrangement of the alliance system in Europe, with France and Austria allying.
How do you think the relationship pattern of the Great Powers would unfold, from this rearrangement ? Which is the sparking point for WWI, and how would it unfold ?