What if the Austro-Hungarians put the Eastern Front first?
Deleted member 1487
At this point he is commanding a corps or small army 'group' meaning a corps plus some various units. During the Winter of 1915 OTL he ended up commanding an adhoc unit during the battle of Limanova and ITTL did something similar. He will be a corps commander during TTL's version of Gorlice-Tarnow.
Deleted member 1487
The Bulgarians do attack, but are hastily trying to influence the campaign before the Serbs can get away. Their limited mobilization doesn't allow them to really influence the campaign very well.
Because of the Gallipoli invasion there won't be a Salonika here.
Deleted member 1487
Would anyone be interested if I were to restart this TL? I'm not happy with the current version, because its too wank-y for the Austro-Hungarians compared to how the POD would likely have turned out.
I've had one PM about my TLs and this is the one I have the most interest in writing ATM.
I've had one PM about my TLs and this is the one I have the most interest in writing ATM.
Don't know about wank-y, we held out a long time and fought bravely, despite losing almost all the regular army and lots of rolling stock right at the start. Without that, the improved quality and especially the logistics will add up.
I, for one, would be delighted to see good old Austria do better.
I, for one, would be delighted to see good old Austria do better.
Deleted member 1487
No doubt, but the disadvantage of being further from supply centers ITTL by winter 1914-5 will have an impact as well.
Otherwise that sounds like a yea to me.
Frankly i don't found it excessively wanky, but for added realism i will just get one or two stupid blunder for the CP (they can be minor or major...you are the author so it's your choice) as both side had plenty of this.
I vote yes, after all this is one of the inspiration for mine
Ditto, always nice to see Austria-Hungary do better and not seemingly being automatically written off as completely doomed.
Deleted member 1487
elkarlo
Banned
Didn7t the Russian fleet tend to run back to port at any sign of sub activity, real or imagined? They really lacked initiative OTL
Elkarlo,
If you go back to page 9, post 166 (I think). I give a quick summary of the OTL Black Sea battle, in it I state the following:
"Though, the merchant raiding in the Black Sea was not very effective, the Russians were terrified of German subs and devoted a lot of destroyers to sub hunting missions. However, the sea planes always seemed to spot subs near Sebastopol."
So, yes the Russian's were very cautious of German/Central Power submarine usage. Also, I was going to mention that Wiking started a new WW1 thread, but I noticed you are already posting in it. I look forward to your future posts.
If you go back to page 9, post 166 (I think). I give a quick summary of the OTL Black Sea battle, in it I state the following:
"Though, the merchant raiding in the Black Sea was not very effective, the Russians were terrified of German subs and devoted a lot of destroyers to sub hunting missions. However, the sea planes always seemed to spot subs near Sebastopol."
So, yes the Russian's were very cautious of German/Central Power submarine usage. Also, I was going to mention that Wiking started a new WW1 thread, but I noticed you are already posting in it. I look forward to your future posts.
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elkarlo
Banned
Another interesting question is Gallipoli ITTL. I think the Entente will see the need to open up the straits and possibly remove one of Russia's enemies (the Ottomans) even higher ITTL, however, the Ottomans have probably not lost ~250 000 men and most of their pre-war officers in the Caucasus campaign and will thus be better off to face the Entente. They had their best troops, best commanders and were very close to their best infrastructure and supply sources OTL - if/when Bulgaria joins, they might actually take the Ottomans up on their OTL offered divisions (the Ottomans had huge problems transporting and supplying troops in Caucasus and Palestine, so they offered to lend the Bulgarians some divisions against Serbia and the Salonika Army OTL).
I look forward to hearing more on this TL.
but I bet they will still attack the Suez like a bunch o' loons.
Actually the Ottomans did not really care about the Suez. It was the German officers attached to the Ottomans that pushed for that. The Ottomans wanted to gain lands in the Caucasus. Though, getting Egypt would be great, the Ottomans did not view it as realistic.
The German's however, felt it was imperative to get the Suez. To hurt British supply lines (unlikely), prestige, and most importantly for post war trade (Ottoman controlled Suez is more favorable for their shipping).
elkarlo
Banned
That is true. They did drill the wells for the Ottomans. I just didn't know it was the Germans pushing for this so hard.
Anyhow, it was bungled about as badly as an operation can be.
And yes, the ottomans really wanted the Caucuses, they seemed obsessed with them.
Deleted member 1487
IIRC the Ottomans were not that interested in the Caucasus, but it was Enver Pasha's obsession, so being the most powerful of the Young Turks and the driving force behind the German alliance, was able to get his way very often, especially as war minister.