You mean strong-arming Austria-Hungary to accept Russian dominance on the Balkans? It's possible, if Austria-Hungary fails to break out its isolation, but unlikely since the French (because of Germany) and British (because of Russia) would be eager to back up the Dual Monarchy.
Not without a war, and we're back at square one.
In theory, yes. The League of Three Emperors was essentially that IOTL. The troubles began when the league fell apart.
Ofcourse, strictly going by the OP, A-H is screwed, albeit I would say that trade with France and by extension Britain would be still possible. Italy alone cannot really challenge the Austro-French dominance of the Mediterranean Sea. You might say, that France couldn't really commit to the region, since they would also have to deal with the Germans in the North, but I don't think that would be the case. If the Germans don't want to stir up the hornets' nest, they would better stay clear from anywhere near the Channel.
I would agree, if it would be Austria alone, but you have to take into account the French Mediterranean Fleet as well.
I'm not at all convinced about these "favourable terrain conditions". Not just Galicia, Vorarlberg is gone in five minutes too if Germany thinks it's worth the bother of sending a battalion or two. Good luck holding Salzburg. And more importantly, what significant terrain obstacles are there in the way of a push down the Danube from Bavaria towards Linz, and eventually Vienna?
Is this allied aid "pouring" through the Adriatic ports - do they have any kind of useful capacity or transport links at this time? How long does it take to suppress the Italian navy to the point where it's capable of no more than nuisance raiding?
Bregenz and Donbirn might fall, but the rest of Voralberg would be really difficult to capture because of all those mountains.
If defensive positions are established at the city, I'm pretty sure it could be held, since the Alps would make it near impossible to threaten it from the sides. Meanwhile, urban warfare heavily favours the defender. In the setting of WW1, when the defender already enjoys a stupid amount of advantage, I think it's not unthinkable that the city would hold.
Well for one, the left bank of the Danube in Upper Austria is rather hilly, which could offer favourable defensive positions. On the other hand, the plain area between the right bank of the Danube and the Alps is quite narrow, any advancement would need to deal with harassment from the mountains and the other side of the Danube, so even that area wouldn't be that suitable for a breakthrough.
Ofcourse they have. Both Triest and Fiume are extremely well connected into the railway network of the Dual Monarchy and should have adequate capacity to handle the incoming allied troops and materials.
Well, my very first comment was written under the asumption that Italy would stay out of the war. If they do join the war though, even then, I don't think the Italian Navy would actually dare to leave port in face of such an one-sided situation. If Britain is also among the participants of the war, then there would be the problem of coal too for the Italians.
No, it doesn't.
I.e. most of the population and all of whatever industry there might have been at the time
So what? A few thousand farmers & cows.
Interesting point and now you mention it, I can't actually think of any major urban battles in OTL WW1. A Leningrad at this point might be just as much of a shock as the Western Front was. In any case, all the industry is within artillery range of the enemy & therefore written off.
True. The attacker would be building a heck of a salient with impregnable hills on both sides. Otoh nobody in September 1914 knew it was going to come down to static lines & attrition (and in the east it never did to quite the same extent); I can't see a thrust toward Linz not being attempted.
Yes, that's, true, but maintaining the rest of Voralberg is still useful, since it keeps the connection with Switzerland wider (through Liechtenstein)
That's true for OTL, however an Austria-Hungary that managed to develop a hostile relationship with Germany might try to develop alternative internal routes or expand the capacity of existing ones before the war, since such weakness would be plain to the eye even without any hinsight.
I don't remember Salzburg being a notable industrial hub, so perhaps that's not too huge of a loss.
Ofcourse, but such thrust would benefit Austria-Hungary, if it would somehow allow them to give the Germans a bloody nose early on.
Ofcourse, I agree. This is an absurd and impossible situation. Austria-Hungary certainly shouldn't allow itself to go down a path like this.
True, and given a couple of years lead time a railway through Pustertal and/or road improvements on the Grießen and Thurn passes would be obvious steps to take. Still gonna be hard put to match the capacity of the main line up the Inn through Rosenheim & Kufstein though.
