-An Unexpected Choice-

In 1914 and 1915 the Central Powers held the upper hand.

　With Russia effectively deciding not to enter the war, the German army captured Paris, the Austro-Hungarian Empire conquered most of the Balkan Peninsula, including Serbia, and with Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire joining the war, Germany succeeded in connecting all of its allies by land route.

"The 3B policy has become a reality!"

　Kaiser Wilhelm II declared the completion of the Empire's long-term strategy, which he himself proposed, called the "3Bs" policy, which linked Berlin, Byzantium, and Baghdad, and promised eternal prosperity with the birth of a self-sufficient economic zone stretching from Europe to the Middle East.

　However, the Russian Empire's offensive made it clear that this was only a fragile glory standing on thin ice.

　After more than a year of careful preparation, the Russian army launched a large-scale offensive in 1916, almost destroying the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the second largest in the world after Germany, and dominating Eastern Europe in one fell swoop. They also launched a large-scale offensive against the Ottoman Empire in the south, with their large army approaching the capital, Istanbul.

　But the Central Powers' misfortunes did not end there.

"--The Kingdom of Italy joins the war on the side of the Allies!"

The Central Powers were hit hardest by the entry of Italy into the war, which turned the balance of power around in an instant. Austria was barely able to hold its own by taking advantage of the rugged terrain of the Alps, but it was on the brink of collapse.

　**

　The Italian entry into the war had thrown the German General Staff into chaos, and Kaiser Wilhelm II and other government leaders were anxious about the destruction of their country.

"I see, Italy..."

　Wilhelm II sighed at the Kingdom of Italy, which had broken the pre-war alliance treaty and swarmed like hyenas. He looked completely depressed, and his proud beard seemed to be drooping.

"I guess it can't be helped... after all, this world is a dog-eat-dog world."

"Your Majesty!"

　Hindenburg rebukes him in a harsh tone. The situation is already tense, and if the emperor, the supreme authority, complains, it will affect morale.

"I'm sorry, Chief of Staff. But is there any way to turn the situation around for our isolated country?"　

"I'm currently convening all staff members to discuss this."

　Hindenburg also knew that the war situation was nearing its worst. Although Italy was a relatively small power, its entry into the war would put Austria in a pincer movement with Russia to the east.

　Furthermore, the situation in the Ottoman Empire was worsening, with a large Russian army advancing on the Anatolian Peninsula toward the capital, Istanbul, and in the Middle East, British troops were inciting local people.

(If we don't hurry, Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire will fall...)

　However, the German army was not completely without a plan. Chief of Staff Falkenhayn intervened.

"The Russian military continues to make rapid advances, but it is clear that they are overstretching themselves, including Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and Turkey."

　Even though Russia has a large military force, occupying such a large territory would require a considerable number of garrisons. In addition, a two-front war in Eastern Europe and the Middle East would place a heavy burden on Russia's logistics, which is more of an agricultural country than an industrial one.

"According to our spies, supplies at the Russian front are gradually being slowed down. This, in turn, has led to increased local procurement, which has caused growing discontent in the occupied territories and intensified the activity of anti-Russian guerrillas."

　The activation of guerrilla forces in occupied territories causes great damage to supply networks. The largest infrastructure supporting logistics in this era was the railway, but it was difficult to defend the entire length of the railway network, and even a lightly armed guerrilla blowing up a railway line could cause serious shortages of supplies on the front lines.

In addition, all the countries that Russia occupied were underdeveloped agricultural countries. Even before guerrilla activity, many areas did not even have proper roads or railways. Strangely, the current situation of the Russian Imperial Army was somewhat similar to that of the German Army at the beginning of the Great Patriotic War.

　Looking at the map, Falkenhayn pointed to a spot in Eastern Europe.

"We can still fight...! Just one more push, just one more push――――"

　Just one more push. The groundwork for that has already been laid. Now it's our turn to corner Russia. The name of that groundwork is:

"...Romania"

　That day Hindenburg wrote in his diary:

"Never in world history has such a small country been given such an important role. Germany and Austria found their fate in the hands of a country with a population only one-twentieth the size of theirs."

　＊＊＊

　At the time of the outbreak of the war, King Carol I, who ruled Romania, was a member of the German imperial family, the House of Hohenzollern, and therefore Romania was originally a member of the Triple Alliance led by the German Empire, including the king's homeland, Prussia.

However, when the new King Ferdinand I ascended to the throne in 1914, Romania, influenced by the new Queen Maria, granddaughter of Queen Victoria, rapidly began to lean towards the Allied side. In Romania, both the Allies and the Allies tried to enter the war, and the main issue at stake was the possession of Austrian Transylvania, which Romania desired.

"...At this point, there's no other choice."

　These were the words of the secret agreement made in Bucharest when, at the instigation of Germany, Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph II finally renounced his claim to Transylvania.

　With the eastern half of Austria's territory, including Transylvania, occupied by Russia, Austria was on the brink of national annihilation and had no way to resist.

"As of this day, August 31, 1916, the Kingdom of Romania declares war on the Russian Empire!"

　Due to the fact that Russia had long been showing signs of wanting to acquire Romanian Bessarabia, that Russia, which currently controlled Transylvania, was attempting to establish a puppet government there, and that Britain and France, both of which had a reputation for breaking treaties, might renege on their promises regarding the ownership of Transylvania, Romania ultimately decided to join the war on the side of the Central Powers, contrary to actual historical fact.

(Anyway, Britain and France are far away and there is no way they can come to Romania. Russia is a formidable enemy, but it seems they have overextended their front lines and are at a dead end...)

　The Russian army deployed in Eastern Europe totaled about 2 million troops in Poland and Hungary, while Germany and Austria had about 1.5 million troops to oppose them. Moreover, the latter had an advantage in that they had shorter supply lines, and in fact the Russian army was struggling to advance due to lack of supplies.

　What would happen if Romania, with its army of 600,000, were to enter the war in such a situation?

(If the 1 million Russian troops in Hungary are caught in a pincer attack from the east and west, the situation on the battlefield will be reversed in an instant...!)

　--That was how it should have been.