One last Note for August 1. The Germans and Turks sign a secret alliance. This will have serious consequences later on.
Italy also declares that it will not honor its treaty commitments to Germany and Austria-Hungary, using the rationale that because the Germans declared War on Russia first that they are off the hook. Later on they will entertain offers from both sides, essentially selling themselves to the highest bidder.
“What fresh hell is this?”
"A man who picks a cat up by the tail learns something which he can learn in no other way." - Mark Twain