Jarms48 t1_j27x74a wrote on December 30, 2022 at 7:41 AM

Reply to comment by Arisdoodlesaurus in Did Italy made a mistake by joining the Entente in 1915 during World War One? by Top_Moment4144

Well, I wouldn’t say it did nothing. It tied up a lot of manpower. Something like 4 million men died, half of which were from the Central Powers. If Italy remained neutral that frees up at least 2 million Austrian soldiers to be deployed elsewhere.

Again, that’s just the dead. Not the entire force that was deployed there.

Arisdoodlesaurus t1_j27ygzc wrote on December 30, 2022 at 7:57 AM

I didn’t say it did nothing. I said it did very little to change the outcome of the war. Even if the Austrians had the extra men and resources, they lacked proper leadership and overall resources to change the entire course of the war

krieger82 t1_j28788z wrote on December 30, 2022 at 9:54 AM

I disagree. While they may have had inadequte leadership, the strategic advantage of having an additional 3 million troops available. While perhaps inferior to the German army, what would have happened if the Austrians could have relieved the entire German force fighting in Russia? The Austrians were more than capable enough o handle the Russian empire, at least defensively in 1915. With the forces freed up from the Russian front, things on the Western front would have looked quite grim for the Entente in 1915-1916.

Usernametaken112 t1_j28ippq wrote on December 30, 2022 at 12:22 PM

You're caught up on the number "3 million" as if quantity of bodies is the deciding difference in strength between combatants. That's not how war works at all.

J_Bard t1_j28ve72 wrote on December 30, 2022 at 2:19 PM

3 million soldiers isn't a number you can just brush off as irrelevant either, though.

Arisdoodlesaurus t1_j2ejnwa wrote on December 31, 2022 at 5:59 PM

Its not irrelevant. Three million soldiers on a whole new front definitely did impact the war albeit lightly considering the fact that the CP were doomed at the onset. By 1916 any sign of CP victory was absent

Usernametaken112 t1_j291s32 wrote on December 30, 2022 at 3:07 PM

I never said nor implied it's irrelevant. I said it's not the defining factor of a militaries strength. Not sure why you're assuming it's either everything, or nothing.

Independent_Owl_8121 t1_j296lfm wrote on December 30, 2022 at 3:41 PM

Their leadership, when their lines were not overstretched and resources split, could perform well enough. Certainly well enough to fight the Russians who were the worst combatant in a scenario where the Austrians have their full army.