The War to End all Wars

== The War to End all Wars==

POD
In Sarajevo, 1914, Gavrillo Princip's pistol misfires, wounding his hand. The Archduke is unharmed, he is not even made aware of the event. The Austro-Hungarian Empire does not declare war on Serbia

Ascendancy of Franz Ferdinand
On 31 November, 1916, Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria dies. (10 days later than in OTL, due to lack of stress caused by war.) Ferdinand organizes a mass hunt in honor of the Franz Joseph, involving the death of over 2000 animals.

He immediately orders the construction of 10 Dreadnaught-class warships, of German design, with British consultants.

Naval Arms Race
Germany continues to build warships, increasing its number of dreadnaughts, destroyers and submarines by fifty percent. The British respond by developing a force of dreadnaughts nearly the size of the French navy. By 1917, their navies are both at double their OTL 1914 levels.

Russian Revolution (1918)
The Russian Revolution occurs, one year behind schedule. For the first two years, the revolutionary Red Army is brutalized by Imperial forces. The death of Vladimir Lenin in 1920 results in an uproar, leading to a total revolt. The Czar's allies (Britain and France) contribute troops to aid the regime. The International White Army, British Regulars and French poilu, fight the Socialists back. However, the Winter and Spring of 1921 teaches the European powers several lessons on outdoor survival and maintenance of weapons in poor conditions. The British also realize a need for increased infantry firepower. The Canadian Volunteer Corps purchases Remington Model 8 Semi-automatic rifles, winterizing and mud-proofing the weapons, they use them to great effect. The British and French armies purchase them from the FN company in Belguim. They nearly defeat the Red Army in Summer of 1921.

Covert Triple-Alliance Action
The German and Austro-Hungarian Empires contribute proffesional officers to train the Red Army, as well as German machine guns and rifles. The 'Entente' powers learn of this, and fund, supply and train Yugoslav nationalists and German Dissidents.