I think so. It is obvious that Turtletaub has just run out of Ideas.
even inserting himself into the narrative of the story by making himself an extremely minor character
Okay. This guy is clearly running out of ideas. In the First World War (he calls it the Great War in the book, apparently changes his mind), France stands firm and Russia collapses. Then in the Second World War, France collapses, and Russia stands firm.