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Possibly but that was ahead and they still had problems with deep internal divisions, [especially in Austria] limited education levels and weaker government structures.

It may not have been clear how disorderly the situation was during much of this period although the assorted militaristic elements seem to have crushed opposition pretty quickly. Well they still had the most powerful economy in Europe with a lot of scientific expertice. If they had tried...

There is still the potential for continued conflict since it was still only an armistice. Active is probably the wrong word but both sides had to prepare for a continuation of the war. As pointed out the allies were willing to allow imports of grain but not in their shipping in case that was...

Not really as given the stance, especially in Germany that the war might be resumed Germany is as much an active war zone post 11-11-18 as Belgium or Poland for instance were during it. Actually the allies did have the ability to enforce the treaty of Versialles and that might well have...

Interesting thanks. OK thanks. I still suspect that attempts to support offensive advances will inflict heavier losses because the units involved will be more exposed and also probably under greater pressure to get the supplies to the advancing forces. The Hindenburg Programme was what...

Interesting argument but never heard of it before. It might be the case although a rural recruit might have less resistance to disease and in poorer areas a poorer diet so not sure it always applies. The problem was that the Germans had a large battleship construction programme until the...

Some interesting points there and the civil war was overall far worse for Russia than WWI. As I understand it the limitation on the German army was manpower because the leadership wanted to recruit only from those they thought reliable, especially the many peasant and small farmers rather...

Actually no from what I understand it. About the only good thing the Bolsheviks did was to greatly expand education. I think for a good chunk of the cold war the USSR was producing more engineers and scientists than anywhere else in the world. Of course given the corruption of the Soviet...

On this last point very doubtful. There was a raw growth of the Russian economy but by some measures it was only just about keeping ahead of the population growth. Also a lot of the basis for a powerful military is already beyond imperial Russia as it requires decently trained and motivated...

That would make WWI, in anything like the form we know it extremely unlikely. Germany wouldn't risk war with France and Russia without Austria and if Russia from ~1916 onward got too aggressive it would push Britain into the opposing camp, especially if as a result of the pressure from the east...

raharris1973 Like Bubba I don't know enough to say in detail. From what I have heard he was distinctly hostile to the power of the Hungarian aristocrats and the problems they caused the empire so you could see fireworks if he gained power prior to those Ausgleich cost-sharing negotiations of...