Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-10975360-20131129121937/@comment-69.49.217.245-20141130171027

GunsnadGlory wrote: No, Germany totally could have won. Russia was utterly ineffective, and Britain did jack in the first few months, which is when the war could have been won- when it was straight Germany on France. If Von Kluck hadn't turned, Paris would have fallen without a fight, the French armies would have been encircled- Cannae, indeed.

With France done, Britain negotiates some sort of peace settlement, probably removing any restrictions on the German navy, in exchange for Belgian neutrality. Russia and A-H duke it out. Most likely result, mass uprisings in both nations, and neither one survives the war. The Schlieffen Plan, was a brilliant plan to bring down the French, however, Germany did not have the manpower, to do a double encirclement, like Hannibal did at Cannae, besides the Germans were expecting a swift campaign and be in Paris before the leaves fell. Which I think the book said, about Schlieffen's plan, Hannibal won the battle, but Rome won the war. But, the technology of the time outsurpassed, the generals on both sides's mindset. I read an article the other day, saying that Britain joining the First World War was "the biggest error in World History, the historian that argued for it, said that the British would of been content with German Victory, he has some interesting points, however, Britain's foreign policy would not, for more than 200 years, its foreign policy was to remain on top, to maintain a balance of power, a lot of time was keeping France at bay, but when Germany got stronger, and unified in 1871. The British saw them as a threat. Granted, I see the reasoning by the historian's argument, if Britain stayed out, they would not have as bad of troubles economically and socially, as the war did in real life, hastened the downfall of the British Empire. I think Germany could of won, if Kaiser Wilhelm, didn't invest resources into the German Navy, and kept the resources for a land war, if he done that Germany would of won.