Bavarian Raven
Banned
...another thing to think about, denmark, and the rest of the northern scandinavian countries, will they throw their lot in with germany or stay neutral?
...another thing to think about, denmark, and the rest of the northern scandinavian countries, will they throw their lot in with germany or stay neutral?
The strength of covering forces is certainly up for debate. The OTL ones were (Derived from John Ellis & Michael Cox, The World War I Databook, 2001 edition, Aurum Press):
GHQ Reserve (Warsaw Area): 6 Infantry Divisions, 2 Schützen Brigades and a Caucasian Cossack Division
North Western Front:
1 Army: 6 Infantry Divisions, 1 Schützen Brigade, 3 Cavalry Divisions and 1 Independent Cavalry Brigade
2 Army: 10 Infantry Divisions and 3 Cavalry Divisions
South Western Front:
En route from Caucasus: 2 Infantry Divisions and 1 Cavalry Division
4 Army: 6 Infantry Divisions, 1 Schützen Brigade, 3 Cavalry Divisions and 2 Cavalry Brigades
5 Army: 10 Infantry Divisions and 6 Cavalry Divisions
3 Army: 12 Infantry Divisions and 4 Cavalry Divisions
8 Army: 9 Infantry Divisions, 2 Schützen Brigades and 2 (later 5) Cavalry Divisions
7 Independent Army: 4 Infantry Divisions
TOTAL:
NW Front: 16.5 Infantry Divisions, 8.5 cavalry divisions
SW Front: 38.5 Infantry Divisions, 20.5 cavalry divisions
The forces covering Finland, the Caucasus, Romania and Japan, and still organising amounted to:
13 Infantry Divisions, 4 Finnish Schützen Brigades, 2 Turkish Schützen Brigades, 2 Caucasian Schützen Brigades, 3 Cavalry Divisions, 1 Caucasian Cossack Division, 17 Reserve Infantry Divisions, 4 Turkestan Rifle Divisions and 11 Siberian Rifle Divisions (these last 15 were at home stations). Most of the above had joined the field armies by the battles of OTL of November '14. However, this amounts to . . . the 17 Reserve Infantry Divisions, as the rest of this stuff is scattered about the Empire, protecting against various stuff.
Tbh, I tend to get a bit confused looking at Russian deployment schedules, because they make every other army's numbers pale into nothingness. So excuse any mistakes I make!
Likely that the Balkans will be pretty complex and convoluted.
The big problem would be the US. Very difficult to see them on the anti-British side due to the latter's naval superiority. Historically the main gripe with Germany was its use of unrestricted U-boat warfare and the resulting civilian losses. In an Anglo-German alliance that side will almost certainly have naval superiority and hence it could well be the French that are using subs. Also the sheer amount the allies had bought from the US meant that there were vested interests in the US in joining the allied side. Again, with British naval superiority its unlikely that the opposing faction will be buying more than the allies from the US. Especially since the more urban and industrial nature of both Britain and Germany make them better customers for the US goods, overwhelmingly agricultural and raw material at this point. Not saying the US will join a grand Anglo-Saxon bloc but difficult to see them joining the opposing side, especially early on.
A lot of other variables depending on individuals, national viewpoints etc. For instance, with a desire to reclaim the 'lost provinces' would the French attack via Belgium, into A-L or both?