God Save the Tsar!

[The Mikado]

What do you see happening if Russia promptly negotiated a separate peace in September 1914 in the aftermath of the destruction of the Russian Second Army at Tannenberg?

Someone a bit more creative than myself could turn that into a compelling timeline, one that detailed the (short-term) survival of one of the world's most vile regimes, Tsarist Russia.  Needless to say, the spectre of 1905 would've been brought up immediately, and Tsar Nicholas would've probably had to brutally suppress a revolt.  France, exhausted after a narrow victory at the Marne, would've been overrun in all probability, leading to a favorable peace deal for the Germans.  The Russians would get off relatively lightly (much more lightly than Brest left them in OTL), with possession of the Baltics continuing and possibly even Finland.  Of course, this scenario leaves the Ottomans intact and still a hostile (and reviving) anti-Russian force.

Anyone want to assume the reins from here?

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Vile yes, but compared to what happened to the Russia afterwards, Nicholas was much preferably in terms of the body count. In terms of other things there is the possibility of Alexi dying leaving Nicholas heirless and the potential for a fight between Grand Duke Michael and Grand Duke Cyril for the throne. Its possible that had the progress made during the period from 1907 and 1914 continued which saw strong agricultural yields and increased production levels due to the reforms of Stolypin from 1907 to 1911 as well as rapid  industrialization that Russia could have emerged stronger later in say the 1920's. The Russian I think minister of Finance said Russia must avoid war at all cost till 1917 and at the very earliest 1915. There was also the beginnings of what could have become a functioning Parliament had Nicholas been pushed aside  (in typical Russian fashion and someone more moderate ascended the throne) following the defeat and subsequent Revolution in your scenario.

A don't see how the Ottomans could have been "reviving" even in German victory. And I could easily see the Russians wiping them out in the 20's. The Russias were quite successful facing the Turks and had they been the only enemy they would have one convincingly. However facing three different Countries on its borders Russia's weak economy, backward technology, and poor developement of tactics eroded them and led to their defeat.

[The Mikado]

A don't see how the Ottomans could have been "reviving" even in German victory. And I could easily see the Russians wiping them out in the 20's. The Russias were quite successful facing the Turks and had they been the only enemy they would have one convincingly. However facing three different Countries on its borders Russia's weak economy, backward technology, and poor developement of tactics eroded them and led to their defeat.

Ottomans had been rapidly modernizing since the Constitutionalist coup a few years before the war.  Those efforts would've continued in the years following the war.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

The Battle of Tannenberg was a disaster for the Russians, but the contemporaneous Battle of Galicia against the Austrians had been a resounding success for Russian Arms.  It's going to need a more substantial butterfly than Nicholas II developing cold feet to end the war on the Eastern Front in 1914.

[The Mikado]

The Battle of Tannenberg was a disaster for the Russians, but the contemporaneous Battle of Galicia against the Austrians had been a resounding success for Russian Arms.  It's going to need a more substantial butterfly than Nicholas II developing cold feet to end the war on the Eastern Front in 1914.

Fine.  How about the French losing at the Marne and the Germans putting away the war early?

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Keep posts on topic!  I just deleted four posts and issued three infractions. (The only one to be deleted without an infraction was loling at the trolling.)

[Bo]

Keep posts on topic!  I just deleted four posts and issued three infractions. (The only one to be deleted without an infraction was loling at the trolling.)

I already put Derek's posts in the Goldmine, though. Thank goodness I did that just in time.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

The Battle of Tannenberg was a disaster for the Russians, but the contemporaneous Battle of Galicia against the Austrians had been a resounding success for Russian Arms.  It's going to need a more substantial butterfly than Nicholas II developing cold feet to end the war on the Eastern Front in 1914.

Fine.  How about the French losing at the Marne and the Germans putting away the war early?

Its possible.

Though a much better scenario would be the US intervening in 1915 and tipping the balance towards the Allies before the Russian Revolution could have taken place. There certainly was ample justification after the Lusitania (sp?) and other similar incidents to do so.

Or a more aggressive campaign against Austria in 1916, knocking them out of the war.

And finally, if Nicholas had caved in and allowed the moderate Tsarists in the Duma to have a greater impact, some of the disastrous appointments that Nicholas made like Sturmer, and Protopopov would not have been made and better decision made with regards to supply and organization. Though even more competetant regimes like Kaiser Wihelm's couldn't survive. 

Then there are the scenarios going back and changing more of history like Alexander III living and leading the country in WWI. He was only, I think 50, when he died in 1894. Rasputin never would have gotten anywhere close to being in a position of influence as Alexander would have either executed or exiled him. However 1905 would have taken the real bloody route and Russia would have still been a completely absolute monarchy. And not the pseudo-parliamentary in name only monarchy that it was.

Then the final one is Alexander II not being killed in 1881 but dieing in say 1885 or 1890 providing him the opportunity to create a Duma much earlier and giving it time to get up and running effectively.

I wish I could develop on yours our one of mine more. Maybe this weekend I will see what I can do.