Reincarnated as Nikolai II

Though the military is full of corruption and fraud, there still exists minimum planning.

For example, France's Plan XVII for war against Germany.

Though they're now moving even their capital after losing the last border battle and being pushed back continuously, anyway France had plans too. Until getting beaten by the Prussian strong army.

Same for us. Long before Brusilov's appointment as offensive commander-in-chief, we Russia also had plans against Germany.

Of course, we didn't schedule train tickets by the minute and densely mark troop movement routes on maps like Schlieffen, but we had not one but two.

First, Plan A.

If Germany attacks France first, block Dual Monarchy forces coming up from southwest with one army group while advancing maximally into East Prussia.

Next is Plan G.

If Germany and the Austro-Hungarian Empire unite to come east. Focus on defense sending forces to Warsaw within two weeks.

Can be pushed back to before Warsaw. Since there are barely any railways or fortresses beyond there anyway.

Then in Plan G's case, does Russia just watch doing only defense until France defeats Germany? Ah, that's not it.

Plan G presented by Grand Duke Nikolayevich and Infantry General Pyotr Palitsyn right after the Russo-Japanese War adds one goal beyond Warsaw's perimeter defense.

Constantinople. Yes, Istanbul with the Bosphorus Strait.

To military strategists then, when Russia opened war with Germany, it wouldn't be strange to be bitten from anywhere else.

Japan in the Far East.

Sweden in the north.

Romania in the southwest.
Enjoy new stories from empire

Ottoman Empire in the Black Sea.

China in the east.

Normally the smaller Balkan nations wouldn't dare raise their heads in defiance against the mighty Ottoman Empire, with its centuries of dominance over southeastern Europe. However, the empire's precarious position during World War I - particularly its strained alliance with Germany and increasing pressure on multiple fronts - created a unique window of vulnerability. The empire's military resources were stretched thin, dealing with British forces in the Middle East and Russian advances in the Caucasus.

So the Balkan leaders presented a cunning strategic proposal: while the Ottoman forces were occupied defending their vast territories across multiple fronts, they would focus their combined military might on a single, crucial target - Constantinople. The ancient city, straddling Europe and Asia, represented both the symbolic and strategic heart of Ottoman power. Taking it would deal a devastating blow to imperial authority while requiring relatively modest military resources compared to a broader campaign.

"However, Plan G was scrapped and the front unfolds close to Plan A."

Moreover, one thing Russia absolutely never expected.

No, just one fact that throws all tactical and strategic thoughts in tens of thousands of Russian officers' heads into the gutter.

"Now that war's broken out, France is retarded."

At least by Russian army standards, the French army was strong.

Napoleon's Grande Armée.

Allied forces that united many origins from France, Poland, Austrian Italy, Bavaria, Saxony, Switzerland and more, an army that conquered standing on the European continent.

The Grande Armée's prestige was such that even after a century, the Russian army took pride in being the only army to stop the Grande Armée at its peak.

Though this could be dismissed as a century-old story, at least until the Russo-Japanese War the quality difference between French and Russian armies wasn't even comparable.

Those descendants of Napoleon, those who claimed to inherit that Grande Armée.

After sacrificing one neighbor country to buy time, they gave up their border, handed over northern industrial regions, and now seem about to give up even their capital.

They seem ready to give up everything except France's southern granary region.

"General Kuropatkin, how many forces has France lost?"

"Not exact but seems minimum 450,000. A quarter of forces disappeared in a month of war."

"The British army."

"BEF said they'd send four corps... Not even two corps by our standards."

Our 1 division has 16 battalions.

Germany's 1 division has 12 battalions.

And Britain those navy one-trick bastards' 1 division equals about 6 of our battalions in numbers.

'...6? Really 6?'

No, from the start it's not even division organization. By infantry standards, they count two battalion-level units gathering as one regiment.

Those regiments gather to name division or corps.

Then what are those island bastards' claimed 'corps'?

"They promoted some commanders from regular regiments and rifle brigades to division and corps commanders."

"They must be unfamiliar with not just corps but division organization too. From the start, calling regional militia and civilian volunteers army means their organization is a mess."

"Corps-level command, that is, lieutenant general position itself is an unfamiliar concept to them. Current British army ranks and positions don't match. Makes no sense from a mere colonel becoming major general overnight when war breaks out and leading a division."

I know the British army quite turned over their army with the so-called Haldane Reforms from 1907 like Kuropatkin implementing military reforms here.

But if those are the results.

"...France must block German forces alone."

"Must see it as unrealistic for Britain to organize expeditionary force and save France in short time."

Without others' help, France must overcome that Germany alone.

'...If by chance they lose even Paris.'

Then there's really no Poland or whatever.

British bastards said with their own mouths they could easily dispatch 700,000, but actually organizing BEF was only 150,000.

Moreover, British Secretary of State for War General Kitchener even expressed opposition to sending all 150,000.

By September, France barely had any counterattack.

They finally allowed enemy advance to 40km before Paris, which was just a day or two's distance for German forces.

By this point, words couldn't help coming from our side too.

"...Though early for peace talks, we might need to prepare for France's surrender."

"Foreign Minister Sazonov's words are right. France is an extremely centralized state. Paris should be seen as France. If they lose such Paris... They'll surrender ultimately like the last war."

"Capital relocation is already confirmed. According to Foreign Ministry, refugee columns form lines and Governor-General Gallieni prepares final resistance in Paris."

The officials weren't wrong.