User blog comment:Duchland/The Two Great Wars in one?/@comment-1683439-20100913200349

It would be difficult, as the beginning of WWII was heavily reliant on the end of WWI.

The Treaty of Versailles (end of WWI) was highly extortionate towards Germany, which led to a completely crippled German Economy. Hitler managed to place the blame on Jews, Gypsies, Communists and Foreigners (et cetera); and then the Nazi Party were elected.

Meanwhile, the post-WWI economic boom fuelled the Roaring Twenties, which eventually led to the Great Depression. Without the Depression, I doubt that the Nazis would take control in Germany; or the Fascists in Italy.

I suppose if Franz Ferdinand wasn't assassinated until around 1918-1925; the First World War would look pretty different, and different Alliances would be drawn up. And if certain countries became Economically crippled, they might join the Central/Axis Powers, which could extend the length of the War.

And Hitler and Mussolini might eventually come to power anyway, which would, in a way, combine WWI and WWII into a single conflict.