Reincarnated as Nikolai II

A telegram came from Billy.

He’d been sending telegrams to prevent war several times since the 23rd, but when I issued mobilization orders to respond to the ultimatum, Billy became urgent too.

He seemed truly unwilling to war with Russia.

Though I drew a line saying mobilization measures were limited to the Dual Monarchy, Billy seemed to find it hard to believe.

Our week-long unceasing telegrams ended there.

July 28, the Austro-Hungarian Empire began bombarding Belgrade along with declaring war.

Now neither he nor I can pull back.

August 1. Billy, based on treaty, finally sent me a declaration of war and proclaimed general mobilization.

August 2, France also proclaimed general mobilization.

And the same day, August 2.

German forces stepped into Luxembourg.

Britain was still silent.

==

Though I somewhat knew, I immediately felt how much of a mess this war was once it broke out.

To what extent? Even after declaring general mobilization, countries don’t know who they’re fighting.

"Opening the Balkan front so suddenly? Does Emperor Joseph truly think I’ll stay still?"

Austro-Hungarian forces advanced to Belgrade from July 28, leaving minimal defense on the Polish border.

Germany’s London Ambassador Prince Lichnowsky reported to his country that ’Britain’s participation is uncertain due to Irish crisis.’

Germany issued general mobilization but still wasn’t certain if full-scale war with Russia would open.

Original history’s Russia also initially planned to just beat up the Dual Monarchy not Germany, France half-doubted ’Surely those bastards won’t really kill Belgium?’ and Belgium thinks no one will touch them if they declare neutrality.

While all telegrams in St. Petersburg were about to burn out from overload, France decided to pull their border back 10km to avoid full-scale war with Germany.

"These bastards still haven’t come to their senses. After even issuing general mobilization, they waste a day and kilometers of front line like this?"

And the next day, August 3.

Germany’s response to France’s diplomatic overtures was unambiguous and devastating. Rather than engaging with the conciliatory gesture, they executed their long-planned military strategy.

By launching a massive invasion through neutral Belgium on August 4, 1914, violating the Treaty of London and shocking much of Europe. The German forces, led by Chief of Staff Helmuth von Moltke, poured across the Belgian border with overwhelming force.

Evidence strongly suggests the Belgium invasion had been methodically planned and prepared for at least three weeks prior, with detailed logistics, troop movements, and supply lines carefully arranged. German forces had pre-positioned artillery, ammunition, and other military supplies near the Belgian border while maintaining a facade of diplomatic normalcy. This preparation aligned perfectly with the infamous Schlieffen Plan, which had been developed years earlier specifically to enable a rapid thrust through Belgium to outflank French defenses.

However, making the 75-year-old London Treaty meaningless, Britain could do nothing and France was still insufficiently prepared.

And this was above all a clear signal to me.

’The Schlieffen Plan.’

That plan uncertain from Luxembourg was essentially confirmed fact through Belgium’s invasion.

"Chief of Staff. From this moment, appoint General Brusilov as Commander-in-Chief and issue offensive orders."

"Understood."

Tick. Tick.

For some reason, it felt like a 50-day countdown was ringing in my ears.

==

Russia and France had continuously checked and exchanged military power since their alliance.

According to the 1911 Franco-Russian Military Agreement, when France and Germany begin war, Russia must attack Germany within 15 days. The reverse is also true.

France’s expected time to complete initial general mobilization is 16 days. They were confident they could organize 25 corps excluding reserve divisions.

Conversely, Russia’s time to complete general mobilization is about 2 months.

Instead, partial conscription and active army movement was expected to take 5 weeks.

The two countries didn’t just check their own armies.

In 1911, with Russian War Ministry and French Army Commander-in-Chief gathered, the two countries expected Germany would take minimum 9 to 15 days to complete general mobilization. Forces about 1.9 to 2.1 million. Similar to France.

However, reality was different.

Though war officially started with shells exchanged between the Dual Monarchy and Serbia on July 28, German forces invading Belgium on August 4 clearly showed.

They prepared in advance. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Otherwise, their reserve divisions surely established for wartime stepping into Belgium can’t be explained.

"Fucking bastards! They secretly issued conscription orders!"

"They prepared alone then struck with war declaration!"

"Too many enemies! Retreat! Retreat!"

Yes. As of August 4, Germany was already conducting war with 1.9 million troops secured.

Considering the era, perfect collaboration between crazy administrative speed and high-level military.

Given the Dual Monarchy had 450,000, France had 1.29 million though couldn’t send to front while conscripting, Belgium 186,000, Serbia 190,000, Germany’s power shown right at war’s start had to be overwhelming.

Britain? Britain also has 120,000 ground forces, but must be excluded as they show no signs of sending them yet.

And Russia.

"First-class reserve mobilization complete!"

"First Army through Ninth Army organization complete!"

"Active army concentration in Warsaw complete!"

Same day August 4, completed first-class reserve mobilization filling 3.4 million organization.

This was an incomprehensible phenomenon even for Aleksei Brusilov who had been waiting for orders from above.

"Major General Lavr G. Kornilov, now I see we prepared before German forces."

"Since we started troop movement a month ago, isn’t it similar?"

"No, if German forces decided on war as soon as Crown Prince Ferdinand died, enemy forces should be packed in the east too."

Currently Russia has completed organization from First through Ninth Army.

Though not all deployed to this Poland front yet, it won’t take long.

Organization and deployment.

The problems armies suffer most immediately when war breaks out.

Starting war with those problems nearly solved is beyond enormous merit - it’s equivalent to holding initiative rights.

’7th Corps, 8th Corps, 12th Corps, 24th Corps, and beyond that educational battalions, aviation detachments, spark units, auxiliary units, telegraph units, engineering units and numerous other units compose it.’