Never mind parts 3 and 4, this is already a fascinating alternative history. A quick war on the eastern front; Russia defeated (again), humiliated (again), but not crippled as a state and its capital not starved for years (so forced into a more meaningful constitutional settlement but without Bolshevism or even abdication?); Germany triumphant but caught between even stronger German chauvinism and the massive Polish (and Jewish) populations it now has to govern; France screaming with rage at la perfide Albion for not backing them up, 'remember Fashoda' resurrected in a hundred African skirmishes (or perhaps a western front fought in Alsace-Lorraine and SW Germany?); the question of Home Rule for Ireland tearing Britain apart as the dominions look on in horror, without an external war to distract everyone; American isolationism prevailing (or not?) for another decade without German submarines to provoke her; the Austro-Hungarians still probably a basketcase but at peace when Karl succeeds, with time to pursue his dream of a multinational federation. And that's without getting into the Italians or Turks. You just wrinkled my brain.
That's assuming that in this alternative history there still a Battle of the Marne to fight. If Germany decides to deploy East instead and have the rest of their forces sit along the Franco-German frontier rather than launch the modified Schlieffen Plan, should a Battle of the Marne occur, it'd be more likely to occur from a prolonged period of fighting due to French recalcitrance than it would be German aggression, as in our timeline
Yes, but.... Germany lost the War when it was defeated on the Marne. It should have said oops and done a deal. But it was too late to stop.
I would reply, but, for fear of spoiling the plot, must stay my pen until after I have posted Parts 3 and 4. :o)
Never mind parts 3 and 4, this is already a fascinating alternative history. A quick war on the eastern front; Russia defeated (again), humiliated (again), but not crippled as a state and its capital not starved for years (so forced into a more meaningful constitutional settlement but without Bolshevism or even abdication?); Germany triumphant but caught between even stronger German chauvinism and the massive Polish (and Jewish) populations it now has to govern; France screaming with rage at la perfide Albion for not backing them up, 'remember Fashoda' resurrected in a hundred African skirmishes (or perhaps a western front fought in Alsace-Lorraine and SW Germany?); the question of Home Rule for Ireland tearing Britain apart as the dominions look on in horror, without an external war to distract everyone; American isolationism prevailing (or not?) for another decade without German submarines to provoke her; the Austro-Hungarians still probably a basketcase but at peace when Karl succeeds, with time to pursue his dream of a multinational federation. And that's without getting into the Italians or Turks. You just wrinkled my brain.
That's assuming that in this alternative history there still a Battle of the Marne to fight. If Germany decides to deploy East instead and have the rest of their forces sit along the Franco-German frontier rather than launch the modified Schlieffen Plan, should a Battle of the Marne occur, it'd be more likely to occur from a prolonged period of fighting due to French recalcitrance than it would be German aggression, as in our timeline