The First World War had taken a completely different turn following a sudden change of policy by Tsar Nicholas II of Russia.
In real history, the Russian army had dutifully defended its alliance with Britain and France and rushed to the Eastern Front, but Nikolai, also known as Stalin, did not trust the Western capitalist countries such as Britain and France. Just as the West had sought to bring down both the Nazis and the Soviet Union in the historical World War II, he wanted to use the war to push forward with domestic reforms while also trying to bring down both the German Empire and Britain and France on the Western Front.
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Let's go back in time a little bit.
"Yessssss!"
At the German General Staff, a man was looking up to the sky and pumping his fist in excitement. His name was Helmuth Johann Ludwig von Moltke (Moltke the Younger), Chief of the German General Staff. He was the nephew of the famous Moltke the Elder.
In his hand he was clutching a telegram containing important information that would determine the outcome of this war.
--- The Russian Empire's army is not fully mobilized. It is confirmed that they will not enter the war.
Moltke the Younger and his military entourage were in high spirits after hearing this. The reason, needless to say, was that the war situation had improved since Russia had effectively decided not to enter the war.
"Now our country doesn't have to fight on two fronts. The entry of Britain into the war was a miscalculation, but it's nothing compared to Russia's withdrawal."
At that time, the mobilizable forces of the main Allied powers were: Great Britain 6 million, British colonies 2.5 million, France 8.4 million, Italy 5.6 million, and Russia 12 million, while the Central Powers had 13 million, Germany 7.8 million, Austria 7.8 million, and Turkey 3 million.In terms of total mobilized forces, the difference in military strength was overwhelming: approximately 40 million vs. 25 million.
Of course, numbers alone do not determine the outcome of a war, but experts generally believe that if the war dragged on, the Central Powers would be at a disadvantage against the Entente Powers, who had nearly twice the military strength.
However, unlike in real life, the reincarnated Stalin avoided all-out war with Germany and instead stuck to a show of making token attacks to protect the alliance.
At most, they harassed Armenians by sending military supplies to Serbia or weapons to incite a war of independence among Armenians in the Ottoman Empire.
This was the best news for the German army. If the Russian Empire did not join the war, the difference in military strength would be almost even: 28 million for the Entente vs. 25 million for the Allies. Even if other Entente nations such as Serbia and Japan were to join, the German army would still be able to fight on equal terms.
As a result, Moltke changed the distribution of his east-west troops from the historical Aufmasch II West (Western Front: Eastern Front = 8:2) to Aufmasch I West (Western Front: Eastern Front = 10:0), which was more faithful to the Schlieffen Plan on which it was based.
Furthermore, in real life, the Austro-Hungarian Empire was forced to fight on three fronts, dividing its forces between Russia, Serbia, and Italy; however, with the end of the Russian offensive, about 30% of the Austrian forces that had been heading to the Eastern Front were instead directed to the Western Front.
This completely reverses the difference in military strength.
"Our forces have a numerical advantage on the Western Front. We should be able to take Paris by Christmas."
That day, when German Emperor Wilhelm II visited the General Staff, Moltke confidently promised victory.
"I see... That's good to hear. I want to return the soldiers to their families as soon as possible."
With a look of genuine relief on his face, Wilhelm II thought of the soldiers who would be fighting hard on the front lines. There was no trace of the "imperialist" Wilhelm II that appeared in newspapers and parliament.
A man with the same face as the tough and warlike Kaiser Wilhelm II, but with a gentle and compassionate gaze - this was the true identity of German Emperor Friedrich Wilhelm Victor Albert von Prussia.
"What is the situation with the French army?"
"Haa. With Russia deciding not to go to war, they must have realized they are at a disadvantage and are instead on the defensive."
The French war plan, Plan 17, called for the 1st and 2nd Armies to be stationed in Alsace-Lorraine, the 3rd and 4th in the Ardennes, and the 5th Army to the Belgian border. In a sort of French version of the Schlieffen Plan, the 5th Army would hold back German forces in Belgium while the rest of the army invaded German territory.
In actual history, the French army was in crisis after failing to break through the defensive line of the German 6th Army, and also losing Belgium, but here too the influence of Stalin's alteration of history was evident.
"Is France... planning to abandon Belgium?"
Moltke's expression was a little surprised at the Emperor's tone. He respected his lord's pure character, but as chief of staff, he wished he could face reality a little.
"You're right. French Chief of Staff Joffre has abandoned Plan 17 and is moving his Second and Fourth Armies to the Ardennes and the Belgian border, respectively."
In response to Moltke's simple affirmation, Wilhelm II muttered with a sad look on his face, "I have done a terrible thing to the Belgian people."
After all, Belgium was not a party to the war in the first place. It was caught up in a dispute between Austria and Serbia, which had nothing to do with the country, and then its territory was overrun by Germany for the unilateral reason that it was in a good position to invade France.
Naturally, the Belgian people were furious. King Albert I declared, "Belgium is not a road, it is a country," and called on the military to fight to the end, believing it was the duty of the royal family to protect the country.
However, there is no way that a small country like Belgium can defeat a great power like Germany, and it is on the verge of being abandoned by its reliable ally, France...
"Please treat the prisoners with care..."
"Your Majesty, I understand your feelings, but--"
"I know that. I am the Kaiser of Germany. If my soldiers are in danger, I will not hesitate to annihilate them with poison gas..."
After receiving assurances from Kaiser Wilhelm II, Moltke finally let his frown fade, although he was not without remorse for violating Belgium's neutrality.
But more than that, this war was out of the ordinary in every sense. New weapons such as machine guns and barbed wire appeared one after another, and soldiers were dying at an unbelievable rate. Germany's victory was likely to be unshakable, but the situation was not one in which they could let their guard down even for a moment.