WI: Earlier American intervention in WWI

Let's say somehow America was drawn to the war by the end of 1914. How much does this influence the war? Does it lead to a quicker victory in the Western front? How much can industrial production increase? Can the Americans pull off their frankly massive victory in IOTL WWII?

Bonus points if the Americans are led to intervene in the Ottoman Empire.
 

jahenders

Banned
America still takes some time to ramp up, but their presence is felt by mid/late 1915, both on land and sea. The war in the West is definitely a quicker Entente win, but the US is probably not as animated about the war as in WWII so production won't ever quite grow that much.

Significant US action against the Turks seems a stretch, but the US could certainly be involved in the Pacific and South Atlantic vs german raiders).

With more, longer involvement, the US will play a more active role in the peace process.

Though the US will still definitely draw down after WWI, they're generally better prepared for WWII.

Let's say somehow America was drawn to the war by the end of 1914. How much does this influence the war? Does it lead to a quicker victory in the Western front? How much can industrial production increase? Can the Americans pull off their frankly massive victory in IOTL WWII?

Bonus points if the Americans are led to intervene in the Ottoman Empire.
 

Anaxagoras

Banned
This makes an early peace more likely. The Germans kept the game going as long as they did because they thought that still had a chance to win. They thought unrestricted submarine warfare might do the trick and were willing to pay the price because they thought they could win before American resources could be fully brought to bear. Their new offensive tactics in 1918 were their last card to play, and they knew it. When that failed, and with massive American forces now coming into action, their will to continue the war collapsed.

If the Americans are in by the end of 1914, with Russia still strong on the Eastern Front, the Germans will know that they have no chance and would try to cut a deal while they still hold significant enemy territory as bargaining chips. A 1914 entry would also still be within the window in which a status quo ante bellum peace might still be possible, but by 1916 each side will be determined to fight it out to the bitter end rather than have suffered so many casualties for nothing.
 
Another plausible way is for the Venezuelan crisis to sour relations between the US, Britain and Germany to the extent that the Latin American nations begin seeking patronage from Germany or Britain, which drags America into the war earlier.
 
Let's say somehow America was drawn to the war by the end of 1914. How much does this influence the war? Does it lead to a quicker victory in the Western front? How much can industrial production increase? Can the Americans pull off their frankly massive victory in IOTL WWII?

Bonus points if the Americans are led to intervene in the Ottoman Empire.

A larger relationship with Russia pre-WW1 along with the already strong UK Relationship might affect this

Also. Perhaps the US caught the Germans siding with the Spanish or something along those lines during the Cuba thing - "Remember the Maine" - perhaps evidence emerges after the event that the sinking of the USS Maine (now thought to have suffered a coal bunker fire initiated Magazine explosion) was the result of German Agents setting off a mine in Havana Harbour - true or false - it polarises US opinion against Germany and later in 1914 after Belgium is invaded and the US's principle allies are involved in the war - the US too declares for the Entente!
 
Why does it always have to be on the side of the Entente? British fumbeling of the Blockade matter may also be considered.

Yes I know... but only seeing one side, when the OP is not that specific, seems to be lacking.
 
You need a much earlier unrestricted submarine warfare and Zimmerman Telegram, although Zimmerman was not Foreign Minister in 1914. Even if TR was president, you need to move public opinion.
 
The only thing American troops being on the western front in 1914/15 will do is lead to more dead Americans. I can't see more troops making a huge difference to the war in the west until later on - It's not really a numbers game at that time.

The material advantages are immense, obviously. And it would be interesting to see how they could affect things if they contribute men to the Italian front or the Balkans.
 

Nestor

Banned
Bonus points if the Americans are led to intervene in the Ottoman Empire.

That makes me wonder, why didn't the Americans declare war on the Ottoman Empire IOTL? It irks me that they declared war on Austria-Hungary and sent troops to fight them even though they really didn't do anything against America, while they didn't do anything against the genocidal Ottmans.
 
This makes an early peace more likely. The Germans kept the game going as long as they did because they thought that still had a chance to win. They thought unrestricted submarine warfare might do the trick and were willing to pay the price because they thought they could win before American resources could be fully brought to bear. Their new offensive tactics in 1918 were their last card to play, and they knew it. When that failed, and with massive American forces now coming into action, their will to continue the war collapsed.

If the Americans are in by the end of 1914, with Russia still strong on the Eastern Front, the Germans will know that they have no chance and would try to cut a deal while they still hold significant enemy territory as bargaining chips. A 1914 entry would also still be within the window in which a status quo ante bellum peace might still be possible, but by 1916 each side will be determined to fight it out to the bitter end rather than have suffered so many casualties for nothing.

The US would have a heck of a time getting up to speed, it would be some considerable time before they had enough troops in the fight to make a difference. (Probably a little slower than iOTL, even, because the generals were probably thinking about what would be needed in the intervening couple of years.)

I doubt Germany would give up that quickly. Remember, iOTL, they engaged in a major offensive timed to be before the US arrived in force. They might try the same here. Almost certainly would, IMO.

Of course, that might just make them lose faster.

Still, I can't see a settlement before 1915 or, more probably, 1916.

OT3H, given that the US came in earlier and that the Entente wasn't as badly drained (of men, materiel and money), I could easily see a much more lenient peace. Reparations. Probably some minor loss of territory. But not as restrictive as OTL's Versailles.
 
That makes me wonder, why didn't the Americans declare war on the Ottoman Empire IOTL? It irks me that they declared war on Austria-Hungary and sent troops to fight them even though they really didn't do anything against America, while they didn't do anything against the genocidal Ottmans.

I believe that the AH Empire declared war on the U.S., and the U.S. actually tried to get them to rescind their declaration before following suit and declaring war against AH Empire. Besides, I don't believe that the U.S. made more than marginal combat actions against Austria/Hungary. I believe that the bulk of its military power was sent to the Western Front/France.
 
Not Henry G said:
Are there any TLs on this? There was "Welcome to Roosevelt's Class" or something a while back, but it died out.

Yes, mine, but don't look for it any time soon- war goes worse for the Germans at sea, they are forced to resort to unrestricted submarine warfare sooner, bringing the Americans in two years earlier, and they have the beginnings of a deployable army in place by the time of Verdun.

The British army moves north, the Americans take over the gap between the two, the original Flanders 1916 plan is used by the BEF, and the Americans have to put their attack in across the fields of the Somme.

Against an unbroken, un- attrition- wearied German Army, with the tactical attitude the Americans came in with, it's going to be worse than the Battle of the Frontiers.

"The innocent confidence they had begun with was bled and battered out of them, and replaced with a terrible hate."

After the mauling the AEF gets at the hands of Army Group Rupprecht, A negociated peace becomes much less likely.

America is going to be shocked, and angry. The higher a price the Germans make them pay to learn the trade, the angrier they're going to get.

Much more likely to be demands of unconditional surrender than an early, negociated peace. At least in that TL.
 
Top