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The way I understand it, German planning leading up to WWI believed that the Russians were ultimately the greater threat, and sought to eliminate France first, leading them to violate Belgian neutrality and bring Britain into the war, which accentuated the natural disadvantage of a two front war. After initial gains in 1914, they drew back to defensible positions and shifted focus to the East for 1915. Eventually, Russia proved to be the weak link in the Entente, and broke first, and Germany couldn't resist the allied advance in 1918.

What if the Germans kept a defensive stance in the West from the beginning, simply holding the heavily fortified Franco-German border, leaving Belgium untouched, and instead sought decision on the Eastern Front from the beginning? If Britain didn't enter the war for Belgium's sake, would we see a Battle of the Atlantic between Germany and France, and if so, would submarine warfare draw Britain or America in on its own? Would it be necessary if the German surface fleet could decisively defeat the French? Could Russia be knocked out of the war more quickly if the Germans were swinging for the fences in the East from Day 1?
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