[Forum Game] - World in Revolution: 1920 Mk. II

[Noco19]

The Zamboni Attack on Il Duce​

On October 31st, 1926, Bologna, Italy was in a festive mood as the city hosted a grand parade commemorating the March on Rome and those brave Fascists who participated. Much to their further joviality, Il Duce, Benito Mussolini, was in attendance, a guest of immense honor. However, not all attendees had celebration in mind, specifically, one Anteo Zamboni.

Zamboni was not the usual suspect for anti-state action; he was but a youth of fifteen. However, this boy harbored hatred against the tenets of Fascism, and through extension, Benito Mussolini and the State. Zamboni subscribed to anarchism, an ideology greatly repressed by the rising Fascists for it preached against the very totalitarian measures that Fascism was built upon. Thus, Zamboni had resolved to strike off the head of the snake of Fascism, both the face, voice, and soul - Benito Mussolini.

Positioning himself within the crowd, Zamboni waited for an opportune moment, found in the conclusion of the celebrations. As Mussolini and the procession met the corner of Via Rizzoli and Independence Street and slowed to turn, Zamboni emerged brandishing a firearm, taking aim at Mussolini, and firing a single shot. However, within this moment, police sergeant Vincent Acclavi noticed Zamboni extending his arm to open fire and delivered a sharp blow to the would-be assassin's arm, disrupting his aim. The bullet would take a downward path, piercing through Mussolini's lapels, leaving him unharmed, which many would take as an act of God.

The consequences of Zamboni's act would be swift. Within moments, Zamboni would seized by the nearby cavalry officer arlo Alberto Pasolini and engulfed by a swarm of Blackshirt squadristi. Anger at this transgression permeated through the crowd as the young boy was beaten and lynched on the spot.

What marks this as a pivotal point in Italian history was the political impact. Mussolini, using the attempt as leverage, formally banned all opposition parties, though Italy had been a de-facto single-state party since the rise of the Fascists. In the same year, an electoral law abolished parliamentary elections. Instead, the Grand Council of Fascism selected a single list of candidates to be approved by plebiscite. The Grand Council had been created five years earlier as a party body but was "constitutionalized" and became the highest constitutional authority in the state. Although the Grand Council could theoretically be the sole check on Mussolini's power, Mussolini determined the agenda and meetings of the Grand Council, effectively making it dependent on his decision. Young Zamboni had effectively created the opposite action he desired.

 

[Bonecracker(NL)]

Trials for Treason: Mustafa Kemal's dirty work

In early 1927, Kemal was mostly alone at Chankaya with his drinking companions, casual women, court of journalists and intellectuls, his amenable ministers, and Ismet. Since his assumption of dictatorial powers and his smothering of the oposition, his old friends appeared seldom at the drinking table. This was not a healthy seclusion, as he became prone to suspicions played up by those who wished to use them to take out their own opponents. It left him out of touch with the country, where poverty was rife and the Independence Tribunals spread fear and resentment. THe opposition was driven uinderground and the more reputable leaders were exploited by unscrupulous adventurers. It created an atmosphere in which plots inevitably thrive.

The initial plotters were men of scant account. Small fish, with personal grudges against the Gazi. One of the ringleaders was Ziya Hurshid, a swash-buckling adventurer from Trebizond, seeking vengeance for the murder of his friend Ali Shükrü by the head of the presidential guard. He had led the attack on the government, with a strong undertone against Kemal, in the debate that followed it. This was the culmination of a long-standing fued. When Kemal returned to Ankara after he had beaten the Greeks at Eskishehir, Ziya did not go out to cheer him on but instead went inside and wrote on a blackboard: "The nation creates its own idol and then worships it"

His hatred and, frankly, jealousy of Kemal had grown into a determination to kill him by the end of 1926. Mobilising a pair of desperadoes, a Laz and a Georgian from the Black Sea mountains, he started to explore ways to do so. He reconnoitred the parliament building and speculate as to the chance of tossing a bomb from the stranger's gallery across to the President's box. He opened a hole in the roof from which to shoot at him. He contemplated a raid on a cabinet meeting, but found security too tight. Ambushing him outside the Anatolian hearth would be impossible, for there was no cover in the nearby cemetery and the trees were barren. Also, Kemal was too hedonist to emerge before daybreak.

Among Ziya's confederates was Colonel Arif, the boon companions of Kemal throughout the War of Independence, whom he had afterwards made deputy for Eskishehir. He had since grown disgruntled through his failure to make good in politics and through an instance of corruption which had turned the President against him. A further conspirator was Abdulkadir, a former governor of Ankara. But the most influential was another, Shükrü, a former Minister of the Union and Progress PArty, who had been notorious for his komitaji methods and his association with a terrorist committee during the Young Turk period. Shükrü had quarreled openly with Kemal, whose henchmen had been treating him roughly. For instance, in a brawl in a restaurant one evening they threw plates at him.

Shükrü was in league with dissident elements in Istanbul, notably with a former CUP boss, Kara Kemal. Here, where the party still survivied underground and the press had outspoken habits, Kemal had many old enemies, and the arbitrary acts of his Independence Tribunals had brought him renewed unpopularity. Shükrü hoped also that as a former minister he'd get support from the more disgruntled progressives.

The plot would come to being in Izmir, where the Gazi would exit his train on his journey to Istanbul next July. The Laz and the Georgian, joined by 'Pock-marked Hilmi' smuggled weapons from Istanbul to Izmir by using Shükrü's parliamentary privilege of exempting his baggage from police inspection. The crime scene was chosen at a point where three narrow streets met, and where Kemal's procession would thus drive slowly on the way to the hotel. Here they would shoot the Gazi with revolvers and throw grenades hidden in bouquets. Having killed him they would escape to the harbour where a fourth henchman, a Cretan, would wait to sail them to Istanbul where they'd seek an alibi.

However, not all did according to plan. The abrupt departure made the Cretan suspect the authorities learned of the plot, and they seemed to be confirmed by Kemal's arrival being postponed for a day. To save his own skin, and perhaps his conscience, he went to the police and divulged the whole story. The governor acted at once. Ziya Hurshid was arrested at midnight in his hotel, the Georgian and the Laz in a hotel nearby and the pock-marked assassin at his house. Ziya made no attempt to evade arrest, nonchalantly handing to the police a revolver from under his pillow and two bombs from under his bed.

Kemal himself reached Izmir the next day and behaved as though nothing had happened. He had delayed his arrival from Balikesir, which may have saved his life, for no other reason than an instict which may have been a presentiment. For suspicions of some such plot were for ever in his mind, reinforced by the reports of his secret police who had been shadowing Ziya for a while now. He was received enthusiastically by the people of Izmir who had read of the plot and the arrests from an official communiqué and were crying for the blood of these miscreants. Crowds surged around his hotel, where he deplored to the journalist that this should occur in Izmir of all places, which he had delivered from the Greeks. But such lowly attempts could not extinguish the flame of the Revolution.

The Gazi then summoned Ziya Hurshid under guard to the hotel where, coldly polite, he reminded him of their collaboration in the revolutionary struggle and asked why he had now plotted against him. Ziya admitted he was the ringleader, and the next day made an official confession to the police. He pleaded for mercy, but Kemal replied that the law must take its course independently. The Gazi also summoned one of the assassins, who was brought before him unaware of his identity. The man admitted he had intended to kill Mustafa Kemal because he was a bad man who did harm to the country, he was told. He also confessed he was paid to do so. Kemal asked how he would kill this 'Mustafa Kemal' if he didn't know this man. The Assassin replied that someone would point him out. Kemal then stood up, handed the assassin his revolver, and spoke unto him. "I am Mustafa Kemal. Take his revolver and shoot me. Here and now." The assassin dropped to the floor, perhaps by being confronted with the difficulty of killing, perhaps by Kemal's bravery, and sobbed.

It was clear that the plot had been the work of no more than a dozen men, led by Shükrü, Ziya and Arif, who later delcared they did not think it would materialise. It was largely personal, and could be handled by criminal justice. The culprits were common komitaji, and several of them had open charges. The perpetrators were brigands, the ringleaders unreputable politicians. Their sentencing would be enough to take care of this or to dissuade further attempts on his life. But for Kemal, this was not enough. He would blow the incident out of proportion to make it seem like a major political conspiracy. It would be the final battle between him and the opposition. Kemal would take the Komitaji, the CUP, and Enver's corpse on for the last time.

The Independence Tribunal was summoned to Izmir from Ankara on a special train. Its president, as in the Kurdish trials, was 'Bald' Ali, who concealed his merciless nature behind a kind and distinguished exterior described by a Scotsman, Ambassador Ronald Lindsay, as if he was an elder of the kirk. His chief partner in crime -or justice- was his namesake, 'Kiliç', 'Sword' Ali. He was Kemal's most ruthless henchman, a man who disarmed by his bonhomie, knew his master's mind and stopped at nothing to do his bidding.

Between the two of them a formidable number of arrests was sanctioned in a matter of days. Those accused were not just those involved in the plot, but also twenty-five deputies, mainly former CUP associates such as Javid, Dr. Nazim, Abdulkadir, who nearly made it to the border in an oxcart, and Kara Kemal, who evaded arrest for a while but he was found trying to run away into hen coop and shot himself. But they also included military personell, some of them former members of the moderate progressive party, such as Kazim Karabekir, Refet, Ali Fuad, Rüstü Pasha, and Mehmet Arif, but also Dr. Adnan and Rauf Bey, who were charged in absentia.

The Alhambra Cinema was used for lack of a court room, and one of the screening rooms was used as a holding cell for all the accused. Between the subdued hum of voices from the boxes around they awaited the tribunal to arrive. They did, and solemnly marched to the front of the room as the crowd fell silent. The tribunal quickly went to work, and held an impressive show trial. From their indictment and opening statement, as well as a statement to the press by Ali, the line of the prosecution became evident; The Progressives were to be nailed with the responsibility. The Unionists, in the person of Shükrü, Javid and Kara Kemal, had linked up with them to pursue their counter-revolutionary aims. They wanted to assassinate the president and bring themselves to power. The Progressives, in a 'sleep of ignorance', had allowed their party to be used as a Trojan Horse for these activities. If the generals would've seen what was happening, they would not be in their plight. But they didn't, and they were guilty by association.

As much as Kemal loathed them, his enemies were now at the mercy of the methods used by Abdul Hamid and the Committee before him. Witnesses were largely dispensed with, and the accused were treated simply to an interrogation and arrangement by the judge. Faced with this joke, the generals did the only thing their honour could survive and refused to plead or defend themselves. The interrogation of the actual culprits, Ziya Hurshid and Shükrü, failed to provide evidence against the generals. Ziya, with a sang-froid almost amounting to insolence, admitted his guilt and that his act, 'of course', had a political meaning. Ali Fuat, Rauf, or any other progressive would admit ties.

Ziya Hurshid and the would-be assassins, Gürcü(Georgian) Yusuf and Laz Ismail​

The trials at Izmir lasted for three weeks. Kemal watched it closely, but stayed at the Cheshme seaside resort to maintain an appearance of impartiality. But soon enough the verdicts rolled out. Ziya Hurshid, Shükrü, Arif, Abdulkadir and seven others were condemned to death. Javid and Dr. Nazim were to be tried at Ankara and executed later. The generals, as heroes of the war of independence, were acquitted - their arrests had been widely unpopular. Some measures were taken, as Rüstü Pasha and Mehmet Arif were later spared death and promoted away. "Thank God, who has returned our Pashas to us!", they shouted. But nevertheless, Kemal's remaining enemies were either exiled or hanged. Ziya Hurshid gave the money in his wallet to the prison governor's brother, as the price of a decent grave. Javid, of whom Kemal exclaimed 'A man like that deserves to be hanged!' early in the war bantered with the hangman to the point of making him nervous, dying with a smile on his face.

Kemal was satisfied with the work of the tribunal, but after reading the reports he told Kiliç Ali the whole affair had been 'very disagreeable'. The Independence Tribunals rifted with the government early in the trials, it made Kemal more and more unpopular, and could act as a power parallel to that of the state if it wanted to. It was a threat to be quickly stopped. One evening at a party in Çankaya, The Gazi casually remarked to Bald Ali that he decided to abolish the courts. Ali replied he would study the question and furnish the matter with a report. But Kemal was adamant. 'I have studied the question myself and from tomorrow your tribunal will no longer exist!' Its abolition was confirmed the next day by the party caucus. The members of the tribunal, who for two years had tasted irresponsible power had returned to being ordinary deputies. The negative impact on Kemal's image was quickly mended too, as the treaty of Telafer was made public and the Turkish people exploded into a frenzy of nationalism. The 'reign of terror' was no longer necessary, and the country was celebrating. Kemal's dirty work was done.

 

[Haresus]

 

[Frymonmon]

Events of the World: 1927​

Europe

In London, the Progress Agreement of British Borneo is signed, with the United Kingdom investing a large amount of money into the Kingdom of Sarawak, for the interest of paying down debts incurred by the Rajah. While some of the debt would remain extant, for the most part it would be paid off.

The Representation of the People (Equal Franchise) Act 1927 was passed by the British Government to little fanfare. Despite the very positive aspects of the law, which allowed women over the age of 21 to vote, so long as they met the same conditions as men, there were many groups within the United Kingdom, mostly men, that were appalled at the new law, and pledged to support any party that would take the vote away from women. While none existed, many said they simply would not vote in future elections, something that might disproportionately affect the Conservative Party.

The Government of Ireland announces the new “Gaeltacht,” or Irish speaking region, which was to ensure that the Irish language would be used in the Republic, and officially encouraged alongside English. In a show of cooperation between Sinn Fein and Todhchaí na hÉireann, Eoin MacNeil and Robert Barton bring forward the MacNeil-Barton Bill, which aimed at making Gaelic as the primary language of the Republic, and requiring all elected officials to be fluent in Gaelic in order to run for office. Almost as soon as the bill was introduced, the controversy and backlash was fierce. Thousands across Ireland protested for the lack of protection for English, and accused the government of trying to construct a country that didn’t exist. English was the dominant language, and they wished to see it remain as so. Several politicians, most of whom only knew a small amount of Gaelic, declared that this nationalist fervour could not continue. There were even reports that reprisals were being made against those who in favour of abandoning English, and in the interest of civil order, the bill was dropped, while Martial law was declared in three cities.

In an attempt to try and ensure that the focus was placed on the United Kingdom and not the conflict of language within the country, the Irish Government announced a massive trade war against the United Kingdom. Tariffs were spiked on British coal, steel, iron, cotton, and cars. Unfortunately for the government, Sinn Fein TDs began to add even more punitive restrictions, this time hitting Northern Ireland directly, banning all ships built in the United Kingdom, as well as raising tariffs by one hundred per cent on Northern Irish agricultural goods. Despite being opposed by the moderate members of society, the measures passed, harming both the United Kingdom and Ireland.

With a growing focus in France on partnerships between the public sector and the private sector, the government seeks for an ever greater portion of private funds in hydroelectric power, giving private companies public funds for construction, so long as they adhered to several government standards. Construction was expected to pick up across the nation with this new announcement, while the reaction to this move was mostly positive.

Through political endorsements and several minor legislative gestures, industrial standards, organised mostly by corporation owners and agreements with union members, are slowly established across major French industries. Small tax breaks were given to those that did sign up for this system, and while legislation was unable to pass that would ensure these standards were mandatory across all of France, it was becoming clear that this legislation would soon arrive, with many companies signing up solely for the tax benefits they would bring.

War taxes in Spain were cut to pre-war levels, slashing the highly unpopular measures off the books, while at the same time attempting to show that the unpopular war was over, and that victory was sustained. The first move by the government was to try and re-invest the money into Ciudad Real, where local opposition to the war had manifested into a general anti-government riots, claiming that the money used for these improvements had been stolen from the Spanish people, that all it would do is give the money more war to kill more Spanish boys in failed attempts at warfare.

With the situation quickly began to tumble out of control, with riots breaking out in cities across the country. In Madrid, the government announced a state of emergency, and called out the military to try and suppress this rebellion. In a shocking move, Miguel Primo de Rivera announced that he was not going to turn his weapons against the people, instead he announced that the rule of the civilian government was now over, and deposed the Prime Minister using military police, jailing him in a fortress outside Madrid. The King, wishing to try and stay in power, offered Primo de Rivera the position of Prime Minister, one that he accepted, establishing military control over the country.

The announcement of Primo de Rivera’s coup.​

Companies in Austria are increasingly being bought out by German companies at a frenzied pace, sublimating many of Austria’s larger industries into the German economy, giving companies such as Krupp, Daimler-Benz, and IG Farben a massive amount of power in the Austrian economy. This was not to say that the changes were negative however. Large increases in employment and productivity were experienced alongside these changes, both in Germany and Austria, and many economists felt that this trajectory lead towards a unification of the Austrian and German economies into one within a decade.

While small-scale investments into the army were being floated by President Lettow-Vorbeck, and widely supported by the right-wing in the country, the Weimar Coalition, which sought to adhere to the Versailles Treaty as closely as they could tolerate, was weary of any further investment into army projects. Regardless of several attempts to motivate spending into the German army, the Weimar Coalition stood firm behind their desire to remain free from military influence, greatly harming their own electability for a nation that wished to show its glory once more.

While the Weimar Coalition was uncertain of the outcomes of their refusal to offer more money to the Army, they seemed to be equally confused in trying to motivate Germans to buy government bonds at low interest rates. The German banking sector was still fragile at best, and was prone to some shaky months on the markets. In the United States, which for the most part controlled interest values on all bonds, saw the move with confusion, and underwent a re-evaluation of German financial stability, but seeing no merit behind the proposed changed that the government wished to do. While Germany was now running a surplus and stable, many wished to see this feat repeated over a long period of time, to be sure of the continuing stable prospects of the country.

The 1927 Elections in Germany were welcomed by parties on all sides of the political divide, with the exception of those that still harboured anti-Republican sentiments. With the Republic increasingly popular, it seemed as if the old ways of Empire were no longer salient with most Germans. Campaigns were run across the country, and while the results began to trickle in, it was by an decisive margin that showed that the German public was on a different trajectory than previously imagined. The SPD easily claimed the largest party in the Reich with 116 seats, with the shocking victory of the Wirtschaftspartei, which gained a total of 83 seats. Zentrum held on to 62 seats, while the DVP claimed 58. The DNVP, in a dramatic showing, only gained 53 seats. The KPD took 31, with the DDP gaining 24. The BVP took home 21, while the NSDAP was able to capture 14. Other parties and independents took 29 seats, and many felt that a right-wing Government, composed of Republicans, was soon to be created.

As part of a continued series of reforms in Sweden, increases in pay for teachers were mandated, along with some changes in the links between the “Realskola” and the “Folkskola.” The standards for passing through the Folkskola was changed, lowering the required time in it to four years, while allowing for a longer period of stay in the Realskola. Girls’ schools were also money to ensure that they were taught important knowledge about the domestic sphere, and given practical skills that would be useful for them in the future. Like most things that came from the leftist Government, the measure was highly popular amongst the population.

While much of the actions of the Social Democratic had been successful, an initiative to begin state investment into various industries has several unintended consequences. As the factories that receive government money began to pad their own profits and earning with the money, their competitors notice a drop in their own profits, running large-scale losses in trying to keep up with the government-backed companies. While the government had a large amount of control over these companies, mostly ensure that a profit was made while at the same time having a very good workforce, private companies accused the government of picking favourites and driving their private companies out of business.

In a continued sign that Italy was following a “Revolution of Production,” Benito Mussolini orders that industrialisation on a wide scale of the entire Italian State should be undertaken in the most rigorous of standards. Large-scale funding operations were authorised, focusing on heavy industry. The most important of which, as deemed by Mussolini, was the construction of steel mills in southern Italy, to try and ensure both industrial jobs and and good paying work would be provided for the citizens.

Mussolini in a rally for support of his Industrial policies.​

The creation of a large amount of factories was not simply going to solve the problems that Italy faced alone, however. One of the major new projects that Mussolini also committed the Italians to was the construction of long and modern railway lines in southern Italy, linking Rome and Naples in several different matters and areas, to aid in both civilian and military traffic. The Ferrovie dello Stato, Italy’s state railway company, was quick to begin expanding into the countryside and to Naples, eager to please Mussolini, and to enable Italy to rise to new heights.

With such a focus on Transylvania and Romania, funds were scarce for the Hungarian Government. Instead of purchasing large amounts of farm machinery to mechanise agriculture in the nation, instead small amounts of bribes were sent to German companies to open up factories in Hungary, so long as the prices were lowered a small amount. While the move was seen with concern in Paris and London, it was clear that Hungary was slowly becoming integrated into the German sphere once more.

With the massive failures in the previous years over the country’s handling of agricultural matters, a new committee was created in Belgrade that would oversee the formation of a new agricultural policy. Instead of simply attempting things as they came to the minds of the lawmakers, it was determined that a specific research and study would be done upon the effects and progress of any new system implemented, a step in the right direction for public policy in Yugoslavia.

With a focus on the poor shape of the Yugoslav Army, military minds within the country began to gather information on potential suppliers for the Yugoslav Army, seeing as they currently were using old French weaponry, or Serbian weaponry left over from the end of the War. While there were several potential areas that were appealing to the Yugoslavs, a decision was put off for a later time.

In Transylvania, despite the affirmations of the Dresden Declaration, the borders remained fluid and active. Transylvanians, that was to say former Romanians, felt that being with the new state would safeguard them against Communism. Given the large amount of Transylvanian differences from Romania, many politicians wished to separate from Romania proper, despite whatever the document from Dresden stated. After constant fighting along the lines Hungarian forces, which remained within the Dresden lines, watch as the Transylvanian Army, funded by Hungary, surged into Romania, establishing a new border along the pre Great War-era frontier. The Transylvanian flag was seen flying across the region, as a surge of anti-Romanian feelings were recorded by all of those who were documenting the ongoing breakup of the country.

With the ongoing conflict with the Soviet Union, research was poured into the development of new weaponry and vital defensive tactics to use against the invading Soviets. The war itself, however, was not popular. Much of the blame was leveled against the leadership, for initiating the end of the “Hungarian problem” and escalating the war against the Soviet Union, with continued delusions of grandeur. An educational programme was forced through during the year, teaching Romanian and Romanian only to illiterate children and those living in rural areas, as a measure to try and ensure that they would become loyal wards of the state. The continued loss against the Transylvanians began to strengthen radical right-wing Romanians that sought to cast the Hungarians out of Transylvania, to restore the integral unity of Romania once more, and to make a peace with the Soviet Union - only before they would seek to capture more and more territory.

With the “Manifesto of the Romanian Nation” published at the beginning of Spring, local pro-Romanian militias began to operate in Transylvania and Romania under the auspices of the newly-formed “Iron Guard” headed by Corneliu Zelea Codreanu, and supported by Ion Antonescu, a veteran of the War who had advocated for Romania’s capture of Transylvania. While the Iron Guard advocated for a new structure of the state, there wasn’t any declarations of statehood, only that the current Kingdom’s government was to be “dissolved” for their “crimes against the Romanian nation.” The government, refusing to step down, was increasingly unable to deal with the unfolding crisis, as soldiers defected or were killed in battle against the Iron Guard, the Soviets, or the Transylvanians.

The front lines along the Prut River remain mostly static, however. The Soviets do not launch any attacks into Romania, and the Romanians do not attempt to send an assault over the river. With both sides engaged in trench warfare, the casualties were mounting, but the Soviets began bombing runs into Romania, destroying homes, hospitals, railways, roads, child care centres, military establishments, and strategic economic locations. The method behind the Soviet attacks was to ensure that the enemy was demoralised and destroyed to the point that they could no longer wage the war against them, although the Romanian Air Force was able to hold the Soviets at bay many times.

Romanians fighting along the front.​

The Baltic Pact was signed between Poland, Latvia, and Estonia, bringing all of the nations closer together in economic terms, along with bringing the Polish Army to these countries. Lithuania, the only excluded power, began to invest more into their own military establishment, after it was made public that the Polish had resisted the Lithuanian entrance into the Pact. In what was surely a completely unrelated incident, the French administration in Memel came under attack by members of the “Lithuanian Rifleman’s Union,” which declared a free Klaipėda. The Lithuanians, quickly moving to restore order, declared that Klaipėda and Lithuania were now united. The French administration announced the results to be valid, flaring opinion in Germany over the territory, as Germans began to abandon it in droves.

With the Communists seemingly on a rise, the Polish government begins a massive new crackdown on “unhealthy” portions of the society. Across the country, socialists, communists, anarchists, and those expected of having ties with the Soviet Union were rounded up and arrested, to be placed on trial for their crimes against the Polish state. If found guilty of a low-level crime that was not an immediate threat to the state, they would be sent to a work camp, and those crimes which were indeed a threat, were simply shot. All landing that criminals owned was taken and redistributed to “Patriots of Poland,” all of them Catholic. While the full details of the crackdown was unknown, it was clear that Roman Dmowski and his Popular National Union (ZLN) were in firm control of the country.

Despite the fact that Leon Trotsky had landed in Vladivostok, after talks between Trotsky himself and Stalin in Moscow, Trotsky was seen leaving the country with several of his followers, destined for Germany, but now acting under the auspices of a much more greatly funded Communist Internationale. From Germany, it was determined that Trotsky and his followers were destined for Brazil, to begin operations in South America.

In the Soviet Union itself, Stalin announced the formation of the Five Year Plan, a scheme to rapidly industrialise the Soviet Union. In order to begin with this new process, the collectivisation programme that had been running on a voluntary basis was now ramped up in Ukraine and Southern Russia, forcing people on to collective farms, and selling wheat that they produced on the international market for the acquisition of capital. The money was thus invested into buying industrial machinery from Germany, moving around peasants, and resturing the country’s internal power. With a focus on becoming a fully industrial nation in the span of five years, the plan was ambitious, and few believe it would be able to succeed. Nevertheless, railway construction was underway across the country, bottlenecks were being electrified, electricity was coming to more and more Soviet households, and for the first time the Soviet Union was beginning to seem as if it was a modernising country.

Middle East, the Mediterranean, & Central Asia

The administrative overhaul that had been talked so much about in the previous years was finally rolled out in Bulgaria, to little fanfare whatsoever, given the fact that many people were still interested in invading Romania to reclaim lost territories from them. Regardless, if the Bulgarians did plan on embarking on any warfare, they were shrouded with the fact that their government was highly efficient.

After such a lengthy period of time, the education reforms that have been slated to be implemented for half a decade are introduced in Bulgaria. Coming off the equally uninspiring reforms to the administration, secondary education was made so that it was no longer required, but the secondary schools and universities that did exist within Bulgaria were considered some of the best in the region. The long-term planning resulted in some of the best names in education deciding to settle in Sofia for the country’s new policies towards education. While it removed a large section of the population from the educational sphere, so that they may farm, those that did remain were expected to gain a very top education.

The people of Mosul had taken a decision and shown their support for the Republic. Or, more precisely, the wealthy pro-Ottoman elite of Mosul had taken a decision on behalf of the entire region. The transition was supposed a huge celebration in Mosul but apathy wasn’t something the Kemalists had expected. The Arabs and the many Kurds didn’t want to take part in the scheme, and many pro-Turkish residents were appalled to see the rest of the province had been given to the Iraqi. The diehard nationalists in Turkey proper expected the country to expand further, to take all of Mosul and wanted Batum, Antioch and parts of Bulgaria to be reintegrated within Turkey as well. It was a disappointment for Mustafa Kemal, and it appeared that the people of the new province would prove difficult to rule. Nevertheless, the Mosul oil fields would greatly benefit the country.

With this in mind, and partly to accommodate the growing Pan-Turkic wing of his party, the Turkish leader gave money, houses and a new homeland to the Turks of Romania. Gagauz and Turks had lived in the region since it had been dominated by steppe nomads during the middle ages and if a community had only solidified in Bessarabia under Ottoman rule, the people the Turkish government tried to attract felt like Romania was their home. The Turks left South Bessarabia en masse, Transylvania was a disputed region and its minorities had suffered and the inhabitants of another disputed piece of land feared what would happen to them. The Gagauz didn’t feel Turkish - they considered themselves a part of the Turkish peoples but didn’t identify with Anatolian culture - and were too afraid of what the Soviets would do to their families if they dared leave Bessarabia. The Turks of Dobrudja thus settled in Mosul and relations between newcomers who received state help and the locals began to sour.

In the rest of Iraq, the uprising continued. London tried to contact other Hashemites who would volunteer to become puppet rulers but Damascus could count on the loyalty of the members of the House of Hashem - and also gave them high pensions to ensure their continued loyalty. London didn’t wish to relinquish the territory and brought reinforcements to the region, and made Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, emir of Kuwait, King of Iraq. The legal situation was complicated, as Damascus claimed that the British troops were there only because the treaty they signed with Syria allowed them to and said that the troops that were stationed in the Iraqi protectorate were now on Syrian land. Meanwhile Britain appointed a governor in the region and announced it was administrating the region on behalf of Al-Sabah. For a few weeks, the situation remained blurred until the Syrians decided to truly support the Iraqi insurgents.

The Iraqi pretender backed by the British.​

The rebels received arms and money, and volunteers - endorsed by the Syrians - harassed the British, although they didn’t manage to make them leave the country. The governor wanted to fight those brigands, and while the local leaders of rural Iraq were made administrators and members of the Parliament, the cities remained firmly controlled by the English troops. The Syrians then recruited more men, and created a real army, that was supposed to fight the Saudi but instead was expected to fight for Baghdad. For the British army, the situation was simple: more men needed to be sent to fully take control of the territory, or the Syrians had to be stopped diplomatically. But even with Kuwaiti aid, the opposition they met among the population coupled with direct Syrian aid meant that the insurgency was getting out of their hands.

In Syria proper - or recognized Syria as the Arabs considered Iraq a part of Syria - the agricultural output continued to improve, with fine tobaccos grown on the coast and sold to France, in a bid to make frenchmen more aware of Syria. Oranges and dates were sold on the markets of Marseilles and Orange, and the support agricultors received truly benefited the entire country.

Troops from Damascus and beirut were scheduled to be sent to the Hejaz to fight the Saudi but after staying there for six months - and the Frenchmen meeting opposition as they were soiling Islam’s holiest ground - they returned to their garrisons. The Saudi hadn’t used this occasion to destroy the fledgling Hejazi state yet.

Birth certificates were implemented in Iran. Many pondered if this was a move to modernize the country and to give every man a real identity. Unfortunately, the details weren’t hashed out and by the end of the year, the Shah received a certificate attesting of a birth for each child that had been born in 1927. A bit overwhelmed, and angry, he decided to review the policy at a later date.

Persians hoped to get closer to another reformist country, Turkey and plans were laid down for a railway line to connect Tehran with the Mediterranean sea. But as the Turks weren’t in a hurry to begin the works, the Iranians instead focused on the Transiranian that was accomplished by the end of the year, and hailed as a major success by the people, that kept supporting their Shah. An easier access to the sea from the North would also help the Persians export their oil, although a direct link to the Mediterranean could have made things even easier.

Africa

Serious concerns are raised about Ras Tafari’s health, as he suffers yet another bout of the flu. Concerned ministers carry out the functions of government however, showing that the state was capable of functioning despite his incapacitation.

North & South America

Despite the economic slowdown in Canada, the government authorises money to be released to ensure that all the goods that would normally be sold to the United States would be bought by the Canadian government. Inspite of the fact that newsprint and other wood-based products had no market in Canada, the government decided that economic growth should continue, no matter how unfeasible that growth was. A new construction industry was flaring up for warehouses to hold thousands upon thousands of kilos of newsprint and other wood products, but many didn’t believe this trajectory was feasible.

In a conflict between the Dominion of Newfoundland and the Canadian Province of Quebec over the exact border between the two polities, the Privy Council was forced to get involved. The Canadian Government, which insisted that the secondary, “Line B” was the official boundary, Newfoundland argued that the current border was enshrined in the Canadian Constitution, and truly the official barrier between the two nations. The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council found both that Newfoundland was in the right, and that the Province of Quebec had occupied a small triangle-shaped portion of territory of Newfoundland, which was transferred to the Dominion by the end of the year.

The increased involvement of the United States in activities in Latin America, along with the continued concern about nations abroad, Japan and Europe namely, the American Government announced that the Department of the Army would be gaining an increase in their budget, to use in order to gather new equipment, and to begin designing new weaponry, and introducing new training tactics.

With the United States announcing for an aid package to be sent to the Mexican government in fighting the Cristeros, their main policy was quickly laid out in this uprising. Despite the fact that they quickly announced that they sought to offer to mediate on both sides of the issue, attacks by the Cristeros became fierce, hitting on the government on all sides, forcing them to take drastic action, releasing the army to clamp down on Cristeros movements and militia, which only caused a further flare up in violence. American weapons began to flow liberally to the south, getting in the hands of both government and Cristeros forces.

Anti-Government Cristeros readying for battle.​

While Cristeros activity was high across the country, it was profound in the northwest portions of the country, with the government having to string up the insurgents along the main thoroughfares to try and intimidate the local population into supporting the government, or at the very least, not bringing up arms against it. The problems with this, however, came to bear in the fact that it galvanised opposition to the government, as the brutal war began to spiral out of the sporadic fighting it had been before.

President Borno of Haiti announced that planned elections for the year were canceled, announcing that his Presidency would be continued indefinitely, declaring that the United States Occupation had brought Haiti out of the problems that it had faced prior, but a large population inside the country wished to see the progress that had been made be destroyed. With the tacit approval of the American government, Borno jailed his opposition, declaring them to be anti-Haitian, and even going as far as to claim that they were interested in white domination of the country, despite Borno himself being of partial European descent.

With National Land Surveys being conducted in Sierra Sur, close to Santo Domingo, the Dominican Government was pushing to ensure that more people would come to the region and cultivate it. With the instability in Brazil, several of the oligarchs packed up their own belongings, taking some of their best workers with them, and more importantly their money, into the Dominican Republic to establish new coffee plantations in the eastern portions of the country, the location of the largest sedentary population. Hundreds of Brazilian refugees were welcomed into the country, as they began to settle problems arose with large portions of the peasantry, who cultivated lands now claimed by Brazilians, causing the Army to be called in several occasions to evict them. The loudest critic of this policy was Commander-in-Chief of the Dominican Army, Rafael Trujillo, but the evictions continued regardless. It was rumoured, however, that Trujillo no longer trusted the President, Vasquez, for this policy.

President Vasquez and Commander Trujillo.​

With the cratering government support in Brazil, the government began a frenzied attempt to shore up their own support, breaking from the highly successful “Coffee and Milk” policy that had been a measure of stability in the country since the downfall of the Empire. While they appealed to the Coffee Oligarchs, who were now leaving in droves, problems were arising in the rest of the country, as the rank and file members of the military abandoned the government, and riots escalated out of control.

A last ditch attempt to sway the population towards their side was made by the government, asking for time for vague reforms to be given, with the promise that the government wouldn’t ignore the will of the people, but at the same time, the coffee oligarchs would have their own say in the affairs of government.

For many Brazilians, this was the last straw. Demanding change, immediately, the Minister of Finance, Getúlio Vargas, was able to command the respect of thousands of members of the scattered mobs of southern Brazilians, announcing that he understood their problems, that a National Revolution against the landed elite was needed. Sounding much like the Communist Revolutionaries in Europe, Vargas was able to sweep to power in the South, declaring himself President of Brazil. Both Washington Luís and Artur Bernardes were found dead, shot by revolutionaries. General Augusto Tasso Fragoso and his army of dissidents marched into São Paulo and declared the old Republic abolish. Taking control of the government, he declared the Revolution complete, and transferred power to Vargas only a few weeks later. In a matter of cruel irony, a large amount of American assistance for the government appeared in Brazil several hours after General Fragoso took power, which was eagerly accepted. In a speech, President Vargas declared himself “eager and willing” to work with the United States of America.

Getúlio Vargas and his soldiers, before marching on São Paulo.​

While the state-owned YPF was considered to be an invaluable asset to the Argentine government, it had a long history of being ineffective and managed poorly. The ongoing opposition to the YPF by the President was profound, with his constant distrust of the organisation, it seemed unlikely that it would be able to get the passage of an act that released government funds for the creation of a new refining facility in the port of Ensenada. It seemed that so long as President Norberto Piñero was in power, YPF would gain no new facilities.

President Piñero was interested in a greater connectivity across the nation, seeking to expand Argentina’s railway network even further than before, establishing connections with its neighbours, which would more importantly bring with them trade ties. Argentine businesses would be able to expand into Paraguay and Uruguay, as well as Chile and Brazil, but both nations seemed hostile towards Argentine expansion into their own land, coupled with the fact that their railway connections did not coincide with their own existing plans.

Asia

The Rural Reconstruction Movement gained momentum in 1927 and modern sanitation system, easy to build and to maintain, were built all over the country. At the same time, peasants were given more efficient crops and taught simple methods to improve their output. Jimmy Yen’s movement was officially backed by many warlords and tolerated by all, and this meant he was able to enlarge its reach greatly. yen himself became immensely popular and some saw him as a messenger from God, creating a strange cult that believed Jimmy Yen was a reborn Jesus.

The Movement had a deep impact, and the landlords themselves came to like the ones who freely assisted the Chinese and helped them while the politicians stayed concerned by their petty squabbles. And this was an important support during an electoral year. The party the warlords who endorsed the movement, Yan Xishan and Chen Jiongming, were supportive of, the China Public Interest Party, was often seen as the political arm of the Movement. When the elections results were known, the party had gained 102 seats. The Young China Party, close to Zhang Zuolin and desiring modernization through force if needed for the country, gained 83 seats, proof that the Manchurian warlord was liked by the ruling class. The Progressives managed to hold power in some region, but with 231 seats were a shadow of their former selves, with no unity, and most of the time they were simply the cronies of local warlords. The KMT gained 8 seats, mostly in the South out of respect for Sun, but some of its members ran among the Chinese Peasants' and Workers' Democratic Party. 63 of these nationalists ended up elected, a sign of a revival of the ideas of the May Fourth movement, created by the unending feuds. Many independents were elected, but most of them joined the Progressives and the a sizeable share of the remaining ones were unionists and political leaders close to the illegal Communist Party. The industrial cities had shown their support for them, and they had gained 28 seats.

In Indochina, joint public and private investments continue at a frenzied pace, offering new deals towards the Ford Motor Company over the acquisition of rubber for their cars in France and across Europe.

With the new ships finished, the country supporting as many vessels as it was allowed to, the Japanese fleet was arguably the best one in the Pacific. Some admirals boasted that even if the Americans had prepared for it, taking Hawaii was easily feasible by the IJN. While this might be an overstatement, the impressive work the IJN did with its carriers and the battlegroups it established were considered a benchmark by all observers. The discipline of the IJN and its brand-new planes that were used in extensive exercises made quite the impact on the military attaches of Italy, France, Britain and the United States, that understood their countries were lagging behind Japan. The results of the training conducted by the Combined Fleet was what its commanders expected to be: flawless.

The movement launched to empower New Zealand continued as tax cuts were given and loans were floated to develop Auckland. The ambitious plans, that meant to make Auckland the most important city of the Pacific, might not realize but New Zealander industry was growing every day and the successful public-private policies were unparalleled, except maybe in France.

A footwear factory in Auckland​

It was quite the euphemism to say if there was a sector that didn’t take off, it was the pharmaceutical one. The government had already tried to turn new Zealand into some sort of floating drugstore but it was simply too far from Britain for that to be successful, and British firms kept producing their medicine in England. On top of that, the continued efforts to develop a sector that could compete with American drugs was worrying some magnates in New York. After all, those who doubted that Virginian cigarettes were good for the health could only be anti-American. Overtime, the new Zealander found itself unable to get loans at usual rates and was forced to pay more for its debt, just as its last pharmaceutical enterprise was closing down.

The Australian elections confirmed the current coalition, although it lost power. The Nationalists lost a seat and ended up with 26. The country party was split between progressives and the rest of the party and ended up with 11 seats, the Progressive taking a single one. Labor also suffered, with only 17 seats. The Communists continued their progression greatly thanks to wide Comintern support. They ended up close to dominate the industrial centres of the East, with 16 seats a mere seat away from overtaking the Laborites. Four independents, mostly Westralians who wanted to split from the communist hotbed that was the east, were also elected.


Other Notable World Events

• A war erupts in Mexico, when Catholic rebels attack government facilities, after the government placed heavy restrictions on the Catholic Church.
• The first transatlantic telephone call is made via radio from New York City to London.
• A military rebellion is crushed in Lisbon, Portugal.
• An earthquake in Yugoslavia kills 100.
• A diamond rush in South Africa includes trained athletes that have been hired by major companies to stake claims.
• The U.S. Federal Radio Commission begins to regulate the use of radio frequencies.
• A Richter Scale 7.6 magnitude earthquake kills at least 2,925 at Toyooka and Mineyama area, in western Honshu, Japan.
• The first armored car robbery is committed by the Flatheads Gang near Pittsburgh.
• Fritz Lang's culturally influential film Metropolis premieres in Germany.
• The U.S. Bureau of Prohibition is founded, under the Department of the Treasury.
• Bell Telephone Co. transmits an image of Herbert Hoover, the Secretary of Commerce, which becomes the first successful long distance demonstration of television.
• The Royal and Parliamentary Titles Act 1927 renames the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland as the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The change acknowledges that the Republic of Ireland is no longer part of the Kingdom.
• The first Volvo automobile rolled off the production line in Gothenburg, Sweden.
• The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 strikes 700,000 people in the greatest natural disaster in American history.
• João Ribeiro de Barros becomes the first non-European to make a transatlantic flight, flying from Genoa, Italy, to Fernando de Noronha, Brazil.
• Philo Farnsworth of the United States transmits his first experimental electronic TV motion pictures, as opposed to the electromechanical TV systems that others had used before.
• The Australian Parliament convenes for the first time in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. Previously, the Parliament had met in Melbourne, State of Victoria.
• U.S. Army aviation pioneer Major Harold Geiger dies in the crash of his Airco DH-4 airplane, at Olmsted Field, Pennsylvania.
• Charles Lindbergh makes the first solo, nonstop transatlantic airplane flight, carried out from New York City to Paris, France, in his single-engined aircraft, the Spirit of St. Louis.
• A magnitude 8.6 earthquake in Xining, China kills about 200,000 people.
• Nearly 600 members of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers and the Institute of Radio Engineers view a live demonstration of television at the Bell Telephone Building in New York City, just over a year after John Logie Baird of Scotland had first demonstrated an electromechanical television system to the members of the Royal Society in London.
• Clarence Chamberlain and Charles Albert Levine take off from Roosevelt Field, New York, and fly to Eisleben, Germany, in the Wright-Bellanca WB-2 Columbia aircraft Miss Columbia, two weeks after Charles Lindbergh's historic solo flight.
• Peter Voikov, the Soviet ambassador to Poland, is murdered.
• A total eclipse of the sun takes place over Wales, northern England, southern Scotland, Norway, northern Sweden, northmost Finland, and the northmost extremes of Russia.
• An earthquake strikes Palestine, killing around 300 people. The effects are especially severe in Nablus, but damage and fatalities are also reported in many areas of Palestine and Transjordan such as Amman, Salt, Jordan, and Lydda.
• DeFord Bailey is found dead after a shooting carried out by members of the Ku Klux Klan.
• The Simon Commission is formed.
• U.S. President Calvin Coolidge announces, "I do not choose to run for President in 1928."
• A hurricane hits the Atlantic Provinces of Canada, causing massive damage and at least 56 deaths.
• The New York Yankees complete a four-game sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates in the World Series.
• Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands opens the Meuse-Waal Canal in Nijmegen, Holland
• Following 19 years of Ford Model T production, the Ford Motor Company unveils the Ford Model A as its new automobile.
• The U.S. submarine S-4 is accidentally rammed and sunk by the United States Coast Guard cutter John Paulding off Provincetown, Massachusetts, killing everyone aboard despite several unsuccessful attempts to raise the submarine.
• The Voluntary Committee of Lawyers is founded to bring about the Repeal of Prohibition in the United States.
• The first Japanese commuter metro line, the Ginza Line in Tokyo, opens.
  

GM Note: Try to send your Asian orders early if possible, I’ll be busy next week-end.

 

[Frymonmon]

Countries of the World: 1928

​

Argentina
Overview: Presidential Republic
Population: 12.341 m.
Gross Domestic Product: $ 49,626 m.
Trade: $ 6,074 m.
Economy: Semi-Industrial, Expansion, Market Economy
Economic Sectors: 38% Services, 15% Industry, 47% Agriculture & Resources
Government
Total Balance: $ 77.80 m.
Total Income: $ 5,680 m. 15.16% Average Tax Rate
Total Expenses: $ 5,602 m.
National Treasury: $ -30,588 m. BB Credit Rating
Government Spending
Infrastructure: (2/5) Average, 1.56% of GDP
Administration: (3/5) Average, 1.60% of GDP
Education: (2/5) Average, 1.56% of GDP, Semi-Public
Health & Welfare: (3/5) Poor, 0.29% of GDP, Private
Miscellaneous: 0.82% of GDP
National Defense: Army: 1.07% of GDP, Navy: 1.59% of GDP, Air Force: 0.00% of GDP | Total Military Deployments: 0.00% of GDP
Army: (1/5) Good, 1918 Technology
10 Infantry divisions, 0 Special divisions, 0 Armoured divisions
Manpower: 914,988
Navy: (3/5) Good, 1923 Technology
0 Aircraft Carriers, 2 Battleships, 0 Battlecruisers, 9 Cruisers, 14 Destroyers, 0 Submarines
Air Force: (1/5) Failing, 1912 Technology
0 Fighter Wings, 0 Fighter-Bomber Wings, 0 Bomber Wings
President: Norberto Piñero
Played by: alexander23

Australia
Overview: Parlimentary Democracy
Population: 6.272 m.
Gross Domestic Product: $ 31,748 m.
Trade: $ 4,622 m.
Economy: Newly Industrial, Expansion, Market Economy
Economic Sectors: 43% Services, 13% Industry, 44% Agriculture & Resources
Government
Total Balance: $ 399.65 m.
Total Income: $ 4,600 m. 18.02% Average Tax Rate
Total Expenses: $ 4,200 m.
National Treasury: $ -28,358 m. BB Credit Rating
Government Spending
Infrastructure: (2/5) Good, 1.40% of GDP
Administration: (1/5) Good, 1.37% of GDP
Education: (1/5) Good, 1.37% of GDP, Semi-Public
Health & Welfare: (2/5) Good, 0.56% of GDP, Mostly Private
Miscellaneous: 0.68% of GDP
National Defense: Army: 1.73% of GDP, Navy: 1.61% of GDP, Air Force: 0.46% of GDP | Total Military Deployments: 0.00% of GDP
Army: (2/5) Excellent, 1920 Technology
8 Infantry divisions, 0 Special divisions, 0 Armoured divisions
Manpower: 618,879
Navy: (2/5) Good, 1920 Technology
0 Aircraft Carriers, 0 Battleships, 1 Battlecruisers, 5 Cruisers, 7 Destroyers, 6 Submarines
Air Force: (4/5) Failing, 1918 Technology
1 Fighter Wings, 0 Fighter-Bomber Wings, 0 Bomber Wings
Prime Minister: Stanley Bruce
Played by: 99KingHigh

Brazil
Overview: Presidential Dictatorship
Population: 32.049 m.
Gross Domestic Product: $ 31,140 m.
Trade: $ 3,726 m.
Economy: Agrarian, Stagnation, Market Economy
Economic Sectors: 47% Services, 7% Industry, 46% Agriculture & Resources
Government
Total Balance: $ -484.53 m.
Total Income: $ 3,807 m. 18.61% Average Tax Rate
Total Expenses: $ 4,292 m.
National Treasury: $ -23,565 m. BB Credit Rating
Government Spending
Infrastructure: (1/5) Poor, 1.79% of GDP
Administration: (3/5) Poor, 1.89% of GDP
Education: (2/5) Good, 2.71% of GDP, Mostly Public
Health & Welfare: (3/5) Failing, 0.34% of GDP, Private
Miscellaneous: 1.06% of GDP
National Defense: Army: 1.17% of GDP, Navy: 1.39% of GDP, Air Force: 0.00% of GDP | Total Military Deployments: 0.00% of GDP
Army: (3/5) Poor, 1916 Technology
8 Infantry divisions, 0 Special divisions, 0 Armoured divisions
Manpower: 2,620,835
Navy: (2/5) Average, 1919 Technology
0 Aircraft Carriers, 2 Battleships, 0 Battlecruisers, 2 Cruisers, 10 Destroyers, 0 Submarines
Air Force: (1/5) Failing, 1912 Technology
0 Fighter Wings, 0 Fighter-Bomber Wings, 0 Bomber Wings
President: Getúlio Vargas
Played by: baboush

Bulgaria
Overview: Constitutional Monarchy
Population: 5.683 m.
Gross Domestic Product: $ 6,844 m.
Trade: $ 512 m.
Economy: Agrarian, Boom, Market Economy
Economic Sectors: 41% Services, 7% Industry, 52% Agriculture & Resources
Government
Total Balance: $ 191.75 m.
Total Income: $ 1026 m. 19.86% Average Tax Rate
Total Expenses: $ 834 m.
National Treasury: $ -2,979 m. BB Credit Rating
Government Spending
Infrastructure: (4/5) Failing, 1.40% of GDP
Administration: (3/5) Average, 1.70% of GDP
Education: (4/5) Good, 1.15% of GDP, Semi-Private
Health & Welfare: (3/5) Failing, 0.27% of GDP, Private
Miscellaneous: 0.91% of GDP
National Defense: Army: 2.87% of GDP, Navy: 1.91% of GDP, Air Force: 0.00% of GDP | Total Military Deployments: 0.00% of GDP
Army: (4/5) Average, 1918 Technology
1 Infantry divisions, 0 Special divisions, 0 Armoured divisions
Manpower: 487,232
Navy: (3/5) Failing, 1918 Technology
0 Aircraft Carriers, 0 Battleships, 0 Battlecruisers, 0 Cruisers, 0 Destroyers, 1 Submarines
Air Force: (1/5) Failing, 1918 Technology
0 Fighter Wings, 0 Fighter-Bomber Wings, 0 Bomber Wings
Tsar: Boris III
Played by: MastahCheef117

Canada
Overview: Parlimentary Democracy, Dominion of the United Kingdom
Population: 10.801 m.
Gross Domestic Product: $ 52,498 m.
Trade: $ 5,409 m.
Economy: Semi-Industrial, Expansion, Market Economy
Economic Sectors: 62% Services, 6% Industry, 32% Agriculture & Resources
Government
Total Balance: $ 318.28 m.
Total Income: $ 4,610 m. 10.72% Average Tax Rate
Total Expenses: $ 4,292 m.
National Treasury: $ -13,026 m. AA Credit Rating
Government Spending
Infrastructure: (2/5) Average, 1.76% of GDP
Administration: (3/5) Average, 1.80% of GDP
Education: (1/5) Good, 1.51% of GDP, Public & Private
Health & Welfare: (1/5) Average, 0.68% of GDP, Mostly Private
Miscellaneous: 0.94% of GDP
National Defense: Army: 0.52% of GDP, Navy: 0.49% of GDP, Air Force: 0.00% of GDP | Total Military Deployments: 0.00% of GDP
Army: (3/5) Good, 1917 Technology
3 Infantry divisions, 0 Special divisions, 0 Armoured divisions
Manpower: 1,003,377
Navy: (1/5) Average, 1918 Technology
0 Aircraft Carriers, 0 Battleships, 0 Battlecruisers, 2 Cruisers, 4 Destroyers, 4 Submarines
Air Force: (1/5) Failing, 1912 Technology
0 Fighter Wings, 0 Fighter-Bomber Wings, 0 Bomber Wings
Prime Minister: W. L. Mackenzie King
Played by: TJDS

China
Overview: Paper Democracy
Population: 484.988 m.
Gross Domestic Product: $ 279,911 m.
Trade: $ 34,189 m.
Economy: Agrarian, Stagnation, Market Economy
Economic Sectors: 8% Services, 3% Industry, 89% Agriculture & Resources
Government
Total Balance: $ 8,167.12 m.
Total Income: $ 22,414 m. 13.17% Average Tax Rate
Total Expenses: $ 14,246 m.
National Treasury: $ -36,866 m. B Credit Rating
Government Spending
Infrastructure: (2/5) Poor, 0.88% of GDP
Administration: (1/5) Poor, 0.85% of GDP
Education: (1/5) Poor, 0.34% of GDP, Mostly Private
Health & Welfare: (4/5) Failing, 0.17% of GDP, Private
Miscellaneous: 0.53% of GDP
National Defense: Army: 1.08% of GDP, Navy: 0.13% of GDP, Air Force: 0.02% of GDP | Total Military Deployments: 0.24% of GDP
Army: (2/5) Average, 1916 Technology
86 Infantry divisions, 0 Special divisions, 0 Armoured divisions
Manpower: 58,796,372
Navy: (2/5) Average, 1915 Technology
0 Aircraft Carriers, 0 Battleships, 0 Battlecruisers, 6 Cruisers, 9 Destroyers, 0 Submarines
Air Force: (1/5) Failing, 1910 Technology
1 Fighter Wings, 0 Fighter-Bomber Wings, 0 Bomber Wings
Leaders: Cao Kun
Played by: Stormbringer

Czechoslovakia
Overview: Presidential Republic
Population: 14.721 m.
Gross Domestic Product: $ 34,902 m.
Trade: $ 3,682 m.
Economy: Semi-Industrial, Expansion, Market Economy
Economic Sectors: 51% Services, 20% Industry, 29% Agriculture & Resources
Government
Total Balance: $ 478.36 m.
Total Income: $ 3,851 m. 11.91% Average Tax Rate
Total Expenses: $ 3,373 m.
National Treasury: $ -12,214 m. A Credit Rating
Government Spending
Infrastructure: (3/5) Average, 1.90% of GDP
Administration: (2/5) Excellent, 2.23% of GDP
Education: (1/5) Average, 1.08% of GDP, Semi-Private
Health & Welfare: (3/5) Average, 0.38% of GDP, Private
Miscellaneous: 1.05% of GDP
National Defense: Army: 1.75% of GDP, Navy: 0.00% of GDP, Air Force: 0.49% of GDP | Total Military Deployments: 0.00% of GDP
Army: (3/5) Good, 1919 Technology
11 Infantry divisions, 0 Special divisions, 0 Armoured divisions
Manpower: 1,155,381
Navy: (1/5) Failing, 1912 Technology
0 Aircraft Carriers, 0 Battleships, 0 Battlecruisers, 0 Cruisers, 0 Destroyers, 0 Submarines
Air Force: (2/5) Average, 1918 Technology
1 Fighter Wings, 0 Fighter-Bomber Wings, 0 Bomber Wings
President: Tomáš Masaryk
Played by: nachopontmercy

Dominican Republic
Overview: Presidential Republic
Population: 1.723 m.
Gross Domestic Product: $ 1,636 m.
Trade: $ 237 m.
Economy: Agrarian, Stagnation, Market Economy
Economic Sectors: 35% Services, 3% Industry, 62% Agriculture & Resources
Government
Total Balance: $ -31.38 m.
Total Income: $ 174 m. 14.54% Average Tax Rate
Total Expenses: $ 205 m.
National Treasury: $ -2,976 m. BB Credit Rating
Government Spending
Infrastructure: (4/5) Poor, 0.19% of GDP
Administration: (2/5) Average, 0.20% of GDP
Education: (4/5) Poor, 0.07% of GDP, Mostly Private
Health & Welfare: (4/5) Failing, 0.07% of GDP, Mostly Private
Miscellaneous: 0.18% of GDP
National Defense: Army: 3.56% of GDP, Navy: 0.00% of GDP, Air Force: 0.00% of GDP | Total Military Deployments: 0.00% of GDP
Army: (3/5) Failing, 1908 Technology
1 Infantry divisions, 0 Special divisions, 0 Armoured divisions
Manpower: 247,901
Navy: (3/5) Failing, 1905 Technology
0 Aircraft Carriers, 0 Battleships, 0 Battlecruisers, 0 Cruisers, 0 Destroyers, 0 Submarines
Air Force: (1/5) Failing, 1900 Technology
0 Fighter Wings, 0 Fighter-Bomber Wings, 0 Bomber Wings
President: Horacio Vasquez
Played by: Magister

Ethiopia
Overview: Absolute Monarchy, Regency under Ras Tafari
Population: 8.321 m.
Gross Domestic Product: $ 6,441 m.
Trade: $ 700 m.
Economy: Agrarian, Stagnation, Market Economy
Economic Sectors: 21% Services, 1% Industry, 78% Agriculture & Resources
Government
Total Balance: $ 31.99 m.
Total Income: $ 368 m. 9.39% Average Tax Rate
Total Expenses: $ 336 m.
National Treasury: $ -2,920 m. B Credit Rating
Government Spending
Infrastructure: (2/5) Poor, 0.18% of GDP
Administration: (1/5) Poor, 0.17% of GDP
Education: (1/5) Poor, 0.07% of GDP, Mostly Private
Health & Welfare: (4/5) Failing, 0.03% of GDP, Private
Miscellaneous: 0.49% of GDP
National Defense: Army: 1.33% of GDP, Navy: 0.00% of GDP, Air Force: 0.00% of GDP | Total Military Deployments: 0.00% of GDP
Army: (3/5) Failing, 1908 Technology
2 Infantry divisions, 0 Special divisions, 0 Armoured divisions
Manpower: 1,222,332
Navy: (3/5) Failing, 1905 Technology
0 Aircraft Carriers, 0 Battleships, 0 Battlecruisers, 0 Cruisers, 0 Destroyers, 0 Submarines
Air Force: (1/5) Failing, 1900 Technology
0 Fighter Wings, 0 Fighter-Bomber Wings, 0 Bomber Wings
Empress: Zewditu I
Played by: Duke of Britain

France
Overview: Parliamentary Republic
Population: 41.738 m.
Gross Domestic Product: $ 176,855 m.
Trade: $ 25,217 m.
Economy: Semi-Industrial, Boom, Mixed Economy
Economic Sectors: 48% Services, 19% Industry, 33% Agriculture & Resources [Industry Standards 2]
Government
Total Balance: $ -2,877.49 m.
Total Income: $ 28,346 m. 17.28% Average Tax Rate
Total Expenses: $ 31,223 m.
National Treasury: $ -289,944 m. AAA Credit Rating
Government Spending
Infrastructure: (2/5) Good, 2.58% of GDP [+2 in 1 year] [Private Dams 2]
Administration: (1/5) Excellent, 2.76% of GDP
Education: (2/5) Good, 3.10% of GDP, Mostly Public
Health & Welfare: (4/5) Average, 1.97% of GDP, Public & Private
Miscellaneous: 1.34% of GDP
National Defense: Army: 1.76% of GDP, Navy: 1.10% of GDP, Air Force: 0.57% of GDP | Total Military Deployments: 0.52% of GDP
Army: (2/5) Excellent, 1924 Technology
62 Infantry divisions, 0 Special divisions, 1 Armoured divisions
Manpower: 1,108,046
Navy: (2/5) Good, 1922 Technology
1 Aircraft Carriers, 6 Battleships, 0 Battlecruisers, 26 Cruisers, 42 Destroyers, 16 Submarines
Air Force: (1/5) Good, 1920 Technology
50 Fighter Wings, 0 Fighter-Bomber Wings, 1 Bomber Wings
President: Gaston Doumergue
Played by: Harpsichord

Germany
Overview: Parliamentary Republic
Population: 65.996 m.
Gross Domestic Product: $ 279,631 m.
Trade: $ 22,674 m.
Economy: Semi-Industrial, Boom, Mixed Economy
Economic Sectors: 47% Services, 16% Industry, 37% Agriculture & Resources
Government
Total Balance: $ 3,163.80 m.
Total Income: $ 39,037 m. 16.85% Average Tax Rate
Total Expenses: $ 35,873 m.
National Treasury: $ -245,408 m. A Credit Rating
Government Spending
Infrastructure: (4/5) Average, 2.36% of GDP
Administration: (2/5) Good, 2.47% of GDP
Education: (4/5) Average, 2.36% of GDP, Semi-Public
Health & Welfare: (4/5) Poor, 1.28% of GDP, Semi-Private
Miscellaneous: 1.22% of GDP
National Defense: Army: 0.20% of GDP, Navy: 0.31% of GDP, Air Force: 0.00% of GDP | Total Military Deployments: 0.00% of GDP
Army: (4/5) Good, 1918 Technology
10 Infantry divisions, 0 Special divisions, 0 Armoured divisions
Manpower: 3,847,181
Navy: (4/5) Average, 1918 Technology
0 Aircraft Carriers, 6 Battleships, 0 Battlecruisers, 6 Cruisers, 12 Destroyers, 0 Submarines
Air Force: (3/5) Average, 1920 Technology
0 Fighter Wings, 0 Fighter-Bomber Wings, 0 Bomber Wings
President: Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck
Played by: Mathrim

Greece
Overview: Constitutional Monarchy
Population: 6.743 m.
Gross Domestic Product: $ 14,424 m.
Trade: $ 1,461 m.
Economy: Semi-Industrial, Boom, Market Economy
Economic Sectors: 34% Services, 7% Industry, 59% Agriculture & Resources
Government
Total Balance: $ -161.50 m.
Total Income: $ 1,614 m. 15.85% Average Tax Rate
Total Expenses: $ 1,776 m.
National Treasury: $ -7,821 m. BB Credit Rating
Government Spending
Infrastructure: (3/5) Poor, 0.99% of GDP
Administration: (1/5) Average, 1.05% of GDP
Education: (2/5) Poor, 0.58% of GDP, Semi-Private
Health & Welfare: (2/5) Poor, 0.39% of GDP, Mostly Private
Miscellaneous: 0.60% of GDP
National Defense: Army: 2.62% of GDP, Navy: 2.47% of GDP, Air Force: 0.68% of GDP | Total Military Deployments: 0.48% of GDP
Army: (1/5) Good, 1915 Technology
7 Infantry divisions, 0 Special divisions, 0 Armoured divisions
Manpower: 158,555
Navy: (4/5) Average, 1916 Technology
0 Aircraft Carriers, 0 Battleships, 0 Battlecruisers, 5 Cruisers, 9 Destroyers, 2 Submarines
Air Force: (4/5) Poor, 1913 Technology
1 Fighter Wings, 0 Fighter-Bomber Wings, 0 Bomber Wings
Monarch: Constantine I
Played by: videonfan

Hungary
Overview: Constitutional Monarchy
Population: 8.602 m.
Gross Domestic Product: $ 19,747 m.
Trade: $ 1,916 m.
Economy: Semi-Industrial, Boom, Market Economy
Economic Sectors: 45% Services, 7% Industry, 48% Agriculture & Resources
Government
Total Balance: $ 12.14 m.
Total Income: $ 2,370 m. 17.61% Average Tax Rate
Total Expenses: $ 2,358 m.
National Treasury: $ -12,563 m. B Credit Rating
Government Spending
Infrastructure: (1/5) Average, 1.71% of GDP
Administration: (4/5) Poor, 1.67% of GDP
Education: (1/5) Poor, 0.61% of GDP, Mostly Private
Health & Welfare: (4/5) Failing, 0.30% of GDP, Private
Miscellaneous: 0.92% of GDP
National Defense: Army: 2.60% of GDP, Navy: 0.00% of GDP, Air Force: 0.00% of GDP | Total Military Deployments: 0.00% of GDP
Army: (3/5) Good, 1920 Technology
8 Infantry divisions, 0 Special divisions, 0 Armoured divisions
Manpower: 366,254
Navy: (3/5) Failing, 1918 Technology
0 Aircraft Carriers, 0 Battleships, 0 Battlecruisers, 0 Cruisers, 0 Destroyers, 0 Submarines
Air Force: (1/5) Failing, 1918 Technology
0 Fighter Wings, 0 Fighter-Bomber Wings, 0 Bomber Wings
King: Mátyás III
Played by: tyriet

Ireland
Overview: Republic
Population: 2.911 m.
Gross Domestic Product: $ 9,962 m.
Trade: $ 783 m.
Economy: Semi-Industrial, Expansion, Market Economy
Economic Sectors: 42% Services, 5% Industry, 53% Agriculture & Resources
Government
Total Balance: $ 88.14 m.
Total Income: $ 1,127 m. 16.03% Average Tax Rate
Total Expenses: $ 1,039 m.
National Treasury: $ -562 m. A Credit Rating
Government Spending
Infrastructure: (1/5) Good, 1.79% of GDP
Administration: (1/5) Average, 1.62% of GDP
Education: (2/5) Poor, 0.89% of GDP, Semi-Private
Health & Welfare: (1/5) Poor, 0.58% of GDP, Mostly Private
Miscellaneous: 0.89% of GDP
National Defense: Army: 4.55% of GDP, Navy: 0.00% of GDP, Air Force: 0.00% of GDP | Total Military Deployments: 0.00% of GDP
Army: (1/5) Good, 1922 Technology
6 Infantry divisions, 0 Special divisions, 0 Armoured divisions
Manpower: 290,127
Navy: (4/5) Poor, 1917 Technology
0 Aircraft Carriers, 0 Battleships, 0 Battlecruisers, 0 Cruisers, 0 Destroyers, 0 Submarines
Air Force: (1/5) Failing, 1918 Technology
0 Fighter Wings, 0 Fighter-Bomber Wings, 0 Bomber Wings
President: William T. Cosgrave
Played by: Dadarian

Italy
Overview: Constitutional Monarchy
Population: 40.709 m.
Gross Domestic Product: $ 135,629 m.
Trade: $ 13,235 m.
Economy: Semi-Industrial, Boom, Market Economy
Economic Sectors: 56% Services, 14% Industry, 30% Agriculture & Resources
Government
Total Balance: $ 1,309.42 m.
Total Income: $ 16,037 m. 16.31% Average Tax Rate
Total Expenses: $ 14,728 m.
National Treasury: $ -108,527 m. A Credit Rating
Government Spending
Infrastructure: (1/5) Good, 1.89% of GDP
Administration: (1/5) Average, 1.71% of GDP
Education: (2/5) Poor, 1.26% of GDP, Public & Private
Health & Welfare: (1/5) Poor, 0.61% of GDP, Mostly Private
Miscellaneous: 0.93% of GDP
National Defense: Army: 1.34% of GDP, Navy: 1.04% of GDP, Air Force: 0.14% of GDP | Total Military Deployments: 0.14% of GDP
Army: (1/5) Excellent, 1921 Technology
39 Infantry divisions, 0 Special divisions, 0 Armoured divisions
Manpower: 2,085,496
Navy: (4/5) Average, 1918 Technology
2 Aircraft Carriers, 3 Battleships, 0 Battlecruisers, 18 Cruisers, 42 Destroyers, 7 Submarines
Air Force: (3/5) Average, 1918 Technology
2 Fighter Wings, 0 Fighter-Bomber Wings, 0 Bomber Wings
Monarch: Victor Emmanuel III
Played by: Noco19

Japan
Overview: Constitutional Monarchy
Population: 60.781 m.
Gross Domestic Product: $ 130,365 m.
Trade: $ 13,642 m.
Economy: Semi-Industrial, Boom, Mixed Economy
Economic Sectors: 53% Services, 23% Industry, 27% Agriculture & Resources
Government
Total Balance: $ -5,923.75 m.
Total Income: $ 17,025 m. 15.31% Average Tax Rate
Total Expenses: $ 22,949 m.
National Treasury: $ -195,473 m. A Credit Rating
Government Spending
Infrastructure: (4/5) Good, 2.70% of GDP
Administration: (3/5) Good, 2.64% of GDP
Education: (1/5) Good, 1.51% of GDP, Semi-Private
Health & Welfare: (3/5) Average, 0.96% of GDP, Mostly Private
Miscellaneous: 1.23% of GDP
National Defense: Army: 1.05% of GDP, Navy: 3.42% of GDP, Air Force: 0.27% of GDP | Total Military Deployments: 0.45% of GDP
Army: (1/5) Good, 1919
32 Infantry divisions, 0 Special divisions, 0 Armoured divisions
Manpower: 5,294,518
Navy: (4/5) Excellent, 1923 Technology
3 Aircraft Carriers, 9 Battleships, 6 Battlecruisers, 50 Cruisers, 144 Destroyers, 80 Submarines [ +1 Aircraft Carrier in 1 Year]
Air Force: (1/5) Average, 1925 Technology
5 Fighter Wings, 0 Fighter-Bomber Wings, 0 Bomber Wings
Monarch: Emperor Taishō
Played by: etranger01

New Zealand
Overview: Parlimentary Democracy, Dominion of the United Kingdom
Population: 1.441 m.
Gross Domestic Product: $ 8,472 m.
Trade: $ 565 m.
Economy: Newly Industrial, Expansion, Market Economy
Economic Sectors: 42% Services, 11% Industry, 47% Agriculture & Resources
Government
Total Balance: $ 160.90 m.
Total Income: $ 1,132 m. 16.13% Average Tax Rate
Total Expenses: $ 971 m.
National Treasury: $ -6,361 m. A Credit Rating
Government Spending
Infrastructure: (3/5) Average, 1.60% of GDP [+1 in 1 years.]
Administration: (2/5) Good, 1.72% of GDP
Education: (3/5) Average, 1.28% of GDP, Public & Private
Health & Welfare: (2/5) Average, 0.94% of GDP, Semi-Private
Miscellaneous: 0.87% of GDP
National Defense: Army: 3.37% of GDP, Navy: 0.00% of GDP, Air Force: 0.00% of GDP | Total Military Deployments: 0.00% of GDP
Army: (2/5) Average, 1922 Technology
2 Infantry divisions, 0 Special divisions, 0 Armoured divisions
Manpower: 141,078
Navy: (3/5) Poor, 1916 Technology
0 Aircraft Carriers, 0 Battleships, 0 Battlecruisers, 0 Cruisers, 0 Destroyers, 0 Submarines
Air Force: (1/5) Failing, 1912 Technology
0 Fighter Wings, 0 Fighter-Bomber Wings, 0 Bomber Wings
Prime Minister: Gordon Coates
Played by: Julius Maximus

Persia
Overview: Military Dictatorship
Population: 13.301 m.
Gross Domestic Product: $ 13,906 m.
Trade: $ 1,581 m.
Economy: Agrarian, Boom, Market Economy
Economic Sectors: 45% Services, 3% Industry, 52% Agriculture & Resources
Government
Total Balance: $ -246.66 m.
Total Income: $ 975 m. 9.51% Average Tax Rate
Total Expenses: $ 1,222 m.
National Treasury: $ -12,173 m. BB Credit Rating
Government Spending
Infrastructure: (4/5) Poor, 0.83% of GDP
Administration: (2/5) Poor, 0.79% of GDP
Education: (1/5) Poor, 0.31% of GDP, Mostly Private
Health & Welfare: (3/5) Failing, 0.14% of GDP, Private
Miscellaneous: 0.50% of GDP
National Defense: Army: 2.24% of GDP, Navy: 0.00% of GDP, Air Force: 0.00% of GDP | Total Military Deployments: 0.00% of GDP
Army: (3/5) Poor, 1919 Technology
5 Infantry divisions, 0 Special divisions, 0 Armoured divisions
Manpower: 1,173,684
Navy: (1/5) Poor, 1910 Technology
0 Aircraft Carriers, 0 Battleships, 0 Battlecruisers, 0 Cruisers, 0 Destroyers, 0 Submarines
Air Force: (1/5) Failing, 1905 Technology
0 Fighter Wings, 0 Fighter-Bomber Wings, 0 Bomber Wings
Regent: Reza Pahlavi
Played by: Pirate

Poland
Overview: Presidential Republic
Population: 29.164 m.
Gross Domestic Product: $ 71,598 m.
Trade: $ 6,089 m.
Economy: Semi-Industrial, Boom, Market Economy
Economic Sectors: 57% Services, 15% Industry, 28% Agriculture & Resources
Government
Total Balance: $ -874.39 m.
Total Income: $ 8,768 m. 15.71% Average Tax Rate
Total Expenses: $ 9,642 m.
National Treasury: $ -44,387 m. BBB Credit Rating
Government Spending
Infrastructure: (4/5) Average, 1.74% of GDP
Administration: (4/5) Average, 1.74% of GDP
Education: (4/5) Average, 1.39% of GDP, Public & Private
Health & Welfare: (2/5) Poor, 0.60% of GDP, Mostly Private
Miscellaneous: 0.90% of GDP
National Defense: Army: 3.86% of GDP, Navy: 0.00% of GDP, Air Force: 0.26% of GDP | Total Military Deployments: 1.14% of GDP
Army: (3/5) Excellent, 1922 Technology
56 Infantry divisions, 0 Special divisions, 0 Armoured divisions
Manpower: 1,201,561
Navy: (3/5) Average, 1919 Technology
0 Aircraft Carriers, 0 Battleships, 0 Battlecruisers, 0 Cruisers, 0 Destroyers, 0 Submarines
Air Force: (3/5) Average, 1919 Technology
1 Fighter Wings, 0 Fighter-Bomber Wings, 0 Bomber Wings
President: Roman Dmowski
Played by: Shynka

Romania
Overview: Constitutional Monarchy/Fascist Dictatorship
Population: 12.528 m.
Gross Domestic Product: $ 11,877 m.
Trade: $ 1,577 m.
Economy: Agrarian, Expansion, Market Economy
Economic Sectors: 40% Services, 4% Industry, 56% Agriculture & Resources
Government
Total Balance: $ -1,720.84 m.
Total Income: $ 1,373 m. 15.31% Average Tax Rate
Total Expenses: $ 3,094 m.
National Treasury: $ -18,950 m. B Credit Rating
Government Spending
Infrastructure: (2/5) Average, 1.66% of GDP
Administration: (3/5) Average, 1.70% of GDP
Education: (3/5) Average, 2.04% of GDP, Mostly Public
Health & Welfare: (1/5) Average, 1.29% of GDP, Public & Private
Miscellaneous: 0.86% of GDP
National Defense: Army: 5.84% of GDP, Navy: 1.99% of GDP, Air Force: 0.00% of GDP | Total Military Deployments: 0.30% of GDP
Army: (2/5) Good, 1918 Technology
14 Infantry divisions, 0 Special divisions, 0 Armoured divisions
Manpower: 990,962
Navy: (2/5) Average, 1917 Technology
0 Aircraft Carriers, 0 Battleships, 0 Battlecruisers, 2 Cruisers, 6 Destroyers, 0 Submarines
Air Force: (1/5) Poor, 1912 Technology
0 Fighter Wings, 0 Fighter-Bomber Wings, 0 Bomber Wings
King: Ferdinand I/Iron Guard
Played by: Sealy300/PotatoMan

Sarawak
Overview: Monarchy, Protectorate of the United Kingdom
Population: 0.378 m.
Gross Domestic Product: $ 389 m.
Trade: $ 28 m.
Economy: Agrarian, Stagnation, Market Economy
Economic Sectors: 51% Services, 1% Industry, 48% Agriculture & Resources
Government
Total Balance: $ 8.16 m.
Total Income: $ 26 m. 11.81% Average Tax Rate
Total Expenses: $ 17 m.
National Treasury: $ -97 m. B Credit Rating
Government Spending
Infrastructure: (4/5) Failing, 0.74% of GDP
Administration: (3/5) Failing, 0.72% of GDP
Education: (1/5) Failing, 0.14% of GDP, Private
Health & Welfare: (1/5) Failing, 0.14% of GDP, Private
Miscellaneous: 0.45% of GDP
National Defense: Army: 0.70% of GDP, Navy: 0.00% of GDP, Air Force: 0.00% of GDP | Total Military Deployments: 0.00% of GDP
Army: (3/5) Failing, 1903 Technology
0 Infantry divisions, 0 Special divisions, 0 Armoured divisions
Manpower: 36,624
Navy: (1/5) Failing, 1902 Technology
0 Aircraft Carriers, 0 Battleships, 0 Battlecruisers, 0 Cruisers, 0 Destroyers, 0 Submarines
Air Force: (1/5) Failing, 1900 Technology
0 Fighter Wings, 0 Fighter-Bomber Wings, 0 Bomber Wings
Rajah: Charles Vyner Brooke
Played by: Groogy

Soviet Union
Overview: Communist
Population: 150.674 m.
Gross Domestic Product: $ 125,838 m.
Trade: $ 4,880 m.
Economy: Agrarian, Boom, Planned Economy, Five-Year Plan (1/5)
Economic Sectors: 38% Services, 10% Industry, 52% Agriculture & Resources
Government
Total Balance: $ 4,413.36 m.
Total Income: $ 50,482 m. 61.06% Average Tax Rate [New Economic Policy]
Total Expenses: $ 46,068 m.
National Treasury: $ 919 m., $ -33,793 m. in Tsarist Debt, Cannot Borrow
Government Spending
Infrastructure: (2/5) Average, 7.37% of GDP
Administration: (3/5) Poor, 6.48% of GDP
Education: (1/5) Poor, 7.34% of GDP, Mostly Public
Health & Welfare: (2/5) Failing, 6.70% of GDP, Mostly Public
Miscellaneous: 4.39% of GDP
National Defense: Army: 3.37% of GDP, Navy: 0.59% of GDP, Air Force: 0.15% of GDP | Total Military Deployments: 0.21% of GDP
Army: (3/5) Poor, 1919 Technology
148 Infantry divisions, 0 Special divisions, 0 Armoured divisions
Manpower: 2,823,691
Navy: (4/5) Poor, 1919 Technology
0 Aircraft Carriers, 4 Battleships, 0 Battlecruisers, 3 Cruisers, 25 Destroyers, 14 Submarines
Air Force: (4/5) Poor, 1918 Technology
3 Fighter Wings, 0 Fighter-Bomber Wings, 0 Bomber Wings
Chairman: Joseph Stalin
Played by: KeldoniaSkylar

Spain
Overview: Constitutional Monarchy
Population: 23.073 m.
Gross Domestic Product: $ 64,512 m.
Trade: $ 6,620 m.
Economy: Semi-Industrial, Boom, Market Economy
Economic Sectors: 53% Services, 6% Industry, 41% Agriculture & Resources
Government
Total Balance: $ -108.54 m.
Total Income: $ 4,863 m. 10.32% Average Tax Rate
Total Expenses: $ 4,972 m.
National Treasury: $ -27,928 m. A Credit Rating
Government Spending
Infrastructure: (3/5) Poor, 1.17% of GDP
Administration: (2/5) Average, 1.27% of GDP
Education: (1/5) Average, 0.99% of GDP, Public & Private
Health & Welfare: (4/5) Failing, 0.43% of GDP, Mostly Private
Miscellaneous: 0.65% of GDP
National Defense: Army: 1.25% of GDP, Navy: 0.98% of GDP, Air Force: 0.00% of GDP | Total Military Deployments: 0.00% of GDP
Army: (1/5) Good, 1917 Technology
18 Infantry divisions, 0 Special divisions, 0 Armoured divisions
Manpower: 1,764,890
Navy: (4/5) Poor, 1916 Technology
0 Aircraft Carriers, 3 Battleships, 0 Battlecruisers, 6 Cruisers, 14 Destroyers, 4 Submarines
Air Force: (3/5) Failing, 1915 Technology
0 Fighter Wings, 0 Fighter-Bomber Wings, 0 Bomber Wings
King: Alfonso XIII
Played by: Kaiserohab

Sweden
Overview: Constitutional Monarchy
Population: 6.108 m.
Gross Domestic Product: $ 26,264 m.
Trade: $ 3,022 m.
Economy: Semi-Industrial, Boom, Market Economy
Economic Sectors: 52% Services, 10% Industry, 38% Agriculture & Resources
Government
Total Balance: $ 200.84 m.
Total Income: $ 4,091 m. 18.26% Average Tax Rate
Total Expenses: $ 3,890 m.
National Treasury: $ -19,359 m. AA Credit Rating
Government Spending
Infrastructure: (4/5) Average, 1.74% of GDP
Administration: (3/5) Good, 1.87% of GDP
Education: (2/5) Average, 1.99% of GDP, Mostly Public
Health & Welfare: (1/5) Good, 1.43% of GDP, Public & Private
Miscellaneous: 0.86% of GDP
National Defense: Army: 1.03% of GDP, Navy: 3.56% of GDP, Air Force: 0.75% of GDP | Total Military Deployments: 0.14% of GDP
Army: (1/5) Average, 1915 Technology
5 Infantry divisions, 0 Special divisions, 0 Armoured divisions
Manpower: 434,303
Navy: (1/5) Average, 1918 Technology
0 Aircraft Carriers, 0 Battleships, 0 Battlecruisers, 17 Cruisers, 28 Destroyers, 14 Submarines
Air Force: (1/5) Average, 1919 Technology
2 Fighter Wings, 0 Fighter-Bomber Wings, 0 Bomber Wings
King: Gustaf V
Played by: Haresus

Syria
Overview: Constitutional Monarchy
Population: 2.622 m.
Gross Domestic Product: $ 3,788 m.
Trade: $ 338 m.
Economy: Agrarian, Boom, Market Economy
Economic Sectors: 51% Services, 2% Industry, 47% Agriculture & Resources
Government
Total Balance: $ -139.50 m.
Total Income: $ 190 m. 7.93% Average Tax Rate
Total Expenses: $ 330 m.
National Treasury: $ -1099 m. B Credit Rating
Government Spending
Infrastructure: (3/5) Failing, 0.48% of GDP
Administration: (2/5) Poor, 0.53% of GDP
Education: (2/5) Failing, 0.09% of GDP, Private
Health & Welfare: (1/5) Failing, 0.09% of GDP, Private
Miscellaneous: 0.30% of GDP
National Defense: Army: 5.25% of GDP, Navy: 0.00% of GDP, Air Force: 0.00% of GDP | Total Military Deployments: 0.08% of GDP
Army: (2/5) Poor, 1913 Technology
4 Infantry divisions, 0 Special divisions, 0 Armoured divisions
Manpower: 196,948
Navy: (2/5) Failing, 1908 Technology
0 Aircraft Carriers, 0 Battleships, 0 Battlecruisers, 0 Cruisers, 0 Destroyers, 0 Submarines
Air Force: (1/5) Failing, 1910 Technology
0 Fighter Wings, 0 Fighter-Bomber Wings, 0 Bomber Wings
King: Faisal I
Played by: XVG

Turkey
Overview: Presidential Republic
Population: 13.862 m.
Gross Domestic Product: $ 12,786 m.
Trade: $ 1,354 m.
Economy: Agrarian, Boom, Market Economy
Economic Sectors: 48% Services, 5% Industry, 47% Agriculture & Resources
Government
Total Balance: $ -299.05 m.
Total Income: $ 1,690 m. 20.12% Average Tax Rate
Total Expenses: $ 1,989 m.
National Treasury: $ -15,905 m. BB Credit Rating
Government Spending
Infrastructure: (1/5) Poor, 1.36% of GDP
Administration: (3/5) Poor, 1.44% of GDP
Education: (4/5) Failing, 0.53% of GDP, Mostly Private
Health & Welfare: (3/5) Failing, 0.51% of GDP, Mostly Private
Miscellaneous: 0.85% of GDP
National Defense: Army: 3.28% of GDP, Navy: 0.60% of GDP, Air Force: 0.00% of GDP | Total Military Deployments: 1.32% of GDP
Army: (1/5) Average, 1919 Technology
8 Infantry divisions, 0 Special divisions, 0 Armoured divisions
Manpower: 1,274,035
Navy: (2/5) Poor, 1912 Technology
0 Aircraft Carriers, 0 Battleships, 0 Battlecruisers, 0 Cruisers, 2 Destroyers, 0 Submarines
Air Force: (1/5) Poor, 1915 Technology
0 Fighter Wings, 0 Fighter-Bomber Wings, 0 Bomber Wings
President: Mustafa Kemal
Played by: Dutchbag

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Overview: Constitutional Monarchy
Population: 45.154 m.
Gross Domestic Product: $ 212,183 m.
Trade: $ 31,309 m.
Economy: Semi-Industrial, Boom, Market Economy
Economic Sectors: 61% Services, 14% Industry, 25% Agriculture & Resources
Government
Total Balance: $ -5,535.77 m.
Total Income: $ 29,505 m. 15.16% Average Tax Rate
Total Expenses: $ 35,040 m.
National Treasury: $ -424,415 m. A Credit Rating
Government Spending
Infrastructure: (3/5) Excellent, 2.04% of GDP [Cape to Cairo Railway 1]
Administration: (1/5) Excellent, 1.94% of GDP
Education: (4/5) Good, 2.10% of GDP, Semi-Public
Health & Welfare: (1/5) Good, 0.71% of GDP, Mostly Private
Miscellaneous: 1.00% of GDP
National Defense: Army: 0.81% of GDP, Navy: 2.93% of GDP, Air Force: 0.37% of GDP | Total Military Deployments: 0.11% of GDP
Army: (3/5) Good, 1919 Technology
34 Infantry divisions, 0 Special divisions, 2 Armoured divisions
Manpower: 3,939,618
Navy: (1/5) Excellent, 1920 Technology
3 Aircraft Carriers, 20 Battleships, 11 Battlecruisers, 54 Cruisers, 183 Destroyers, 152 Submarines
Air Force: (2/5) Good, 1919 Technology
36 Fighter Wings, 0 Fighter-Bomber Wings, 1 Bomber Wings
King: George V
Played by: Sneakyflaps

United States of America
Overview: Presidential Republic
Population: 122.708 m.
Gross Domestic Product: $ 922,667 m.
Trade: $ 133,336 m.
Economy: Newly Industrial, Boom, Market Economy
Economic Sectors: 60% Services, 21% Industry, 19% Agriculture & Resources
Government
Total Balance: $ -5,031.85 m.
Total Income: $ 60,993 m. 6.91% Average Tax Rate
Total Expenses: $ 66,025 m.
National Treasury: $ -408,483 m. AAA Credit Rating
Government Spending
Infrastructure: (2/5) Excellent, 1.53% of GDP
Administration: (3/5) Excellent, 1.56% of GDP
Education: (4/5) Good, 1.17% of GDP, Public & Private
Health & Welfare: (3/5) Excellent, 0.94% of GDP, Semi-Private
Miscellaneous: 0.66% of GDP
National Defense: Army: 0.10% of GDP, Navy: 0.47% of GDP, Air Force: 0.09% of GDP | Total Military Deployments: 0.00% of GDP
Army: (2/5) Excellent, 1922 Technology
13 Infantry divisions, 0 Special divisions, 1 Armoured divisions
Manpower: 10,764,632
Navy: (3/5) Excellent, 1925 Technology
3 Aircraft Carriers, 21 Battleships, 0 Battlecruisers, 32 Cruisers, 175 Destroyers, 57 Submarines [+5 Cruisers in 1 year. +1 Aircraft Carrier in 3 years. 1 Partially Completed Aircraft Carrier.]
Air Force: (2/5) Good, 1922 Technology
35 Fighter Wings, 0 Fighter-Bomber Wings, 2 Bomber Wings
President: Calvin Coolidge
Played by: jacobl-Lundgren

Yugoslavia
Overview: Constitutional Monarchy
Population: 15.022 m.
Gross Domestic Product: $ 16,793 m.
Trade: $ 1,805 m.
Economy: Agrarian, Stagnation, Market Economy [Agriculture 1]
Economic Sectors: 47% Services, 5% Industry, 48% Agriculture & Resources
Government
Total Balance: $ 87.39 m.
Total Income: $ 1,676 m. 13.22% Average Tax Rate
Total Expenses: $ 1,589 m.
National Treasury: $ -7,678 m. A Credit Rating
Government Spending
Infrastructure: (3/5) Poor, 0.99% of GDP
Administration: (3/5) Average, 1.10% of GDP
Education: (3/5) Poor, 0.79% of GDP, Public & Private
Health & Welfare: (1/5) Poor, 0.37% of GDP, Mostly Private
Miscellaneous: 0.60% of GDP
National Defense: Army: 3.78% of GDP, Navy: 0.00% of GDP, Air Force: 0.79% of GDP | Total Military Deployments: 0.00% of GDP
Army: (1/5) Average, 1915 Technology [Modernisation 1]
16 Infantry divisions, 0 Special divisions, 0 Armoured divisions
Manpower: 1,111,904
Navy: (1/5) Poor, 1916 Technology
0 Aircraft Carriers, 0 Battleships, 0 Battlecruisers, 0 Cruisers, 0 Destroyers, 0 Submarines
Air Force: (4/5) Failing, 1917 Technology
1 Fighter Wings, 0 Fighter-Bomber Wings, 0 Bomber Wings
King: Peter I
Played by: Ekon

Colonial Holdings

Spoiler

French Africa
Population: 37.588 m.
Gross Domestic Product: $ 24,962 m.
French Levant
Population: 0.461 m.
Gross Domestic Product: $ 0,603 m.
French Indochina
Population: 24.883 m.
Gross Domestic Product: $ 19,526 m. [Rubber Investment 2]
French Caribbean
Population: 1.306 m.
Gross Domestic Product: $ 1,298 m.
Italian Africa
Population: 1.231 m.
Gross Domestic Product: $ 1,274 m.
Italian Albania
Population: 0.973 m.
Gross Domestic Product: $ 874 m.
Japanese Korea
Population: 16.490 m.
Gross Domestic Product: $ 19,642 m.
British India & Asia
Population: 335.253 m.
Gross Domestic Product: $ 219,361 m.
British Africa
Population: 7.816 m.
Gross Domestic Product: $ 8,743 m.
American Philippines
Population: 11.224 m.
Gross Domestic Product: $ 15,172 m.

 

[Haresus]

Official Swedish statement on Lithuania and Memel/Klaipėda​

Rumours of an almost Jingoistic attitude regarding the recent Klaipėda events have worried the Swedish government heavily, and recent talks with our Lithuanian counterparts have concluded that there is a justified fear of rash foreign intervention of an invasive nature into matters that should be settled by cooler heads. The disorder in Klaipėda was solved thanks to the efficient intervention of Lithuanian military, and we believe that this swift action saved lives that would otherwise have been lost due to the following chaos and disruption. The joining of Klaipėda into Lithuania is simply a natural and organic order of events that we can hardly blame them for. Already many years ago it was decided that there would be a referendum held in 1935 that would finally decide if Klaipėda would join Lithuania or not. It is our firm belief that Lithuania is willing and able to uphold that promise in their current position and hold the promised referendum in 1935.

We believe that the League of Nations will find this to be a perfectly agreeable compromise, and we already see that the French administration is positive to the current Lithuanian operation. In order to discourage foolish interferences that would destabilise this already disarmed situation, we will station a task force under Rear Admiral Charles de Champs outside the coast of Klaipėda. The Lithuanian government has agreed to this course of action, and we hope that the future negotiations proceed with great care. Our negotiations with Lithuania have so far been smooth and consistent, and we strongly believe that a peaceful resolution is achievable here.

Östen Undén, foreign minister of Sweden.

 

[sealy300]

((Fry, just to confirm this, I am in a civil war now, no?))

 

[Mathrim]

((and at war with most of your neighbours, yes. Potat is playing the Iron Guard))

 

[sealy300]

Regatul României
Kingdom of Romania

"Nihil Sine Deo"
Trăiască Regele​

The Treaty of the Prut​

Article 1

All armed Conflict between the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics and the Kingdom of Romania will cease

Article 2

The Kingdom of Romania will ceed all territory North and East of the River Prut, and said river will become the official border between the two nations.

Article 3

A Non-aggression pact will be signed for a period of 10 years, the subject of which will involve the de-militarization of the River Prut on both sides and an agreement to not act militarily against the other nation..

[X] The Kingdom of Romania
[-] The Union of Socialist Soviet Republics

 

[Dadarian]

The Fallout of the MacNeil-Barton Scandal; 1928​

The MacNeil-Barton Bill was the synthesis of the work of dozens of Irish academics, who saw the continuing collapse of the Gaelic language as a threat to Irish history. In what became eventually seen as a bill created with no real understanding of the state of Ireland. The outcry against the bill as it was being discussed was unprecedented, as Irishmen and women protested in the street in defense of the English language. These protests then encouraged the TDs that represented them (usually Anglo-Irish who knew no Irish Gaelic) to violently attack the bill as a threat to the nation. These protests were recorded in the journal of Collins as being highly surprising, as the nationalist fervour that swept the nation into being was expected to continue into the realm of language. "The actions of these TDs, violently defending the language of the oppressor, shows a previously unknown spit in the nation. I see men who I sat side by side shooting the English and trying to create a free nation now defending the language of the same enslavers because of the opinion of their electorate. Men whom I know wish Gaelic to become the primarily language have been browbeaten by the mob. Truly I know how the Senate of Rome became mired in the mud of the mob. God give me the strength to make my nation what it deserves to be."

The journal of Michael Collins, published by his family C. 1985​

However even with these words Collins conformed to the words of rioters. He used his clout to forced the bill to be dropped, abandoning hopes for now of a Gaelic revival. Although holding onto government by a comfortable level, Collins was bound by the opinion of the parliament and this scandal was enough to shake what seemed as his iron grip on the reins of government. To turn the eye of the public away from the actions of his minister, he opened the parliament with a white paper on further tariffs to be applied to Britain in defense of Irish industry. Eager as ever to dig the knife deeper into their English enemy, the TDs agreed to raise tariffs on all goods coming in from Britain. The decision that had the biggest impact however was to raise tariffs on Northern Irish grains to 100%, making them unsellable in the Republic and is thought to be one of the main reasons why Northern Ireland experienced an economic downturn in 1927.

This was not the end of the impact of the failed bill. Unsurprising to anyone, Minister Barton announced his resignation a few days after the collapse of any support for his bill. Despite calls to dissolve the Ministry of the Irish, Collins went ahead and appointed Douglas Hyde, founder of the Gaelic League and a defender of the Irish Language Movement. Hyde, a political movement and admired by both de Valera and Cosgrave, was seen as an acceptable choice. Barely surviving the scandal and fearful of forcing another election, Collins was at the mercy of the parliament, even vocal minorities.

Douglas Hyde, the new Minister of the Irish​

President of Dáil Éireann: W. T. Cosgrave (Todhchaí na hÉireann)
Taoiseach: Michael Collins (Sinn Fein)
Minister for Finance: Sean MacEntee (Sinn Fein)
Minister for Home Affairs: Austin Stack (Sinn Fein)
Minister for Foreign Affairs: Count Plunkett (Sinn Fein)
Minister for Defense: Cathal Brugha (Sinn Fein)
Minister for Labour: Helena Moloney (Sinn Fein)
Minister for Industries: Ernest Blythe (Sinn Fein)
Minister for Local Government: Richard Mulcahy (Sinn Fein)
Minister for the Irish: Douglas Hyde (Independent)

 

[Groogy]

Dekri diraja dari Astana
Royal Decree from the Astana​

His Higness, Rajah of Sarawak has decided in his wisdom to create the policy of Sungai Raja, The King's Rivers. One of the defining landscape features of Sarawak has always been its extensive network of rivers. And for the Dayak and Malayan tribes living in the Kingdom they use them as their preferred way to travel as they reach everywhere and its easier than walking. The Rajah with his new policy decree's that the state shall adopt this as the primary way of transportation of the Kingdom and shall put considerable efforts into promoting it.

While in the more developed and flatter lands of Europe they lay roads and travel by automobiles, some still with horse and carriage. Vyner has decided to adopt the land of Sarawak and utilize the transportation network that already exists however improve on it where need be. The rivers are all naturally made and as such some of them are dangerous or right out impossible to traverse safely. Some are slower to traverse because of streams or the dangers of the landscape. As such His Highness and the Astana shall invest a lot of effort and investments into improving the major rivers in use and the smaller ones that leads to important settlements of the Kingdom. The policy of Sungai Raja has as its aim to connect together the Kingdom of Sarawak and the distant goal of that "Kutching shall be no longer than a day away" for any subject of the Rajah.

With improving upon rivers includes also building smaller docks at every settlement making transportation of goods produced by local tribes easier to get on their boats and transport to the nearest outstation for trading. However the major cost will be landscaping of the area near the rivers to create new shorter paths and the creation of Cara Raja, The King's Path. A series of passages shall be dug out between the rivers that flow out to the coast. Using these passages a smaller boat will be capable of traversing all the way to Kutching from as far away as Miri making it essentially possible to travel to any point in the Kingdom without risking the perils of going out to sea.

The King's Path(Click for full size)​

The King's Path shall go all the way from Claudetown and Miri, pass by Niah and continue to the river of Breaker's Bay. From there to Fort Keppel passing by the Lighthouse of Kedurong Point. Continuing up the Bintulu River and crossing over to Kakus River to eventually reach the town of Belaga. Pass trough the great rivers of Balui and Rejang down to Fort Emma, Fort Brooke and the city of Sibu. It will divert of to Kanowit River passing Mount. Sadok and with a new passage to Sekrang River reach Fort Alice and the settlement of Simanggang. From there it travels down towards the sea but turn at the Outpost of Lingga to continue its path inland again. It will pass the Selantik Coalfields and the Semunjan Coalmine before it eaches Kuching.

Luckily most of these rivers are already in heavy use and in order to not be overambitious the Astana tries to follow the already established routes as much as possible as they build new improvements and passages along the Cara Raja.

Signed by His Higness, Charles Vyner de Windt Brooke, Rajah of Sarawak

​

 

[Dadarian]

The Rise of Irish Reaction; 1928​

The MacNeil-Barton Bill had many unintended consquences, many of which were against the expressed purpose of the written bill. However perhaps one of the more important outcomes, if slightly drawn out, is the rise of Irish Reaction Movement. The actions of Collins in scapegoating the English and using foreign tariffs to distract the parliament from the scandal created a ultranationalist faction to form within the Sinn Fein and the Todhchaí na hÉireann. Led by noted Collins enemy and conservative reactionary Kevin O'Higgins, this faction came to include members of both main parties and many members of the military. Though a small minority it became swiftly the most vocal in parliament, often shouting down the one member of the Irish Labour Party until he stopped coming to parliament sessions in March of 1928. Technically not an official party, the fluid nature of the parliament of Ireland allowed the block-like voting of the faction to be considered a de facto but not a de jure party. Eventually taking the name of the Ceann Eire [Tr: One Ireland] Movement, it became the focus of much of 1928.

Kevin O'Higgins, leader of the Ceann Eire​

Most likely to spite Collins, O'Higgins constantly badgered the Taoiseach for not focusing on meaningless domestic issues like taxation and the status of the Irish language, he and his followers constantly agitated for the removal of the English from Irish lands. It did not help that the head of the Garda Síochána [Tr: Guardians of Peace], the paramilitary police of the Irish government, was openly supportive of the Ceann Eire. Eoin O'Duffy, a key Collinist ally during the Revolutionary War and a close friend of his went so far as to create the Army Comrades Association, an extra-parliamentary security organisation to operate within the Republic and Northern Ireland defending the Irish people. An admirer of Mussolini, O'Duffy required all members to wear a distinctive blue uniform, eventually leading to their more well known name of the Na Léinte Gorma [Tr: Blueshirts].

A Blueshirt march in Cork C. 1928​

This organisation quickly came under the fire of more moderate and socialist members of the Sinn Fein. Seeing this wave of reaction as a threat to the domestic growth and productivity of the nation (both economically and socially) these men and women came to oppose all the bills presented by the Ceann Eire on the issue. A much larger faction of parliament (and most likely holding more public support) this faction, which became known by themselves as the Poblachtánaigh [Tr: Republicans], sought to calm the nation as opposed to the Ceann Eire. The Poblachtánaigh and the Ceann Eire became a symbol of early Irish politics. Blatantly ignoring standard party politics, these two factions were the driving the force behind the Irish state, even as it threatened to break it apart.

Concerning the Irish Government itself, it became an interest mix of socialists, moderates and expansionists. The leadership in the form the President was dedicated to the Poblachtánaigh cause alongside the Ministries of Finance, Foreign Affiars, Labour and the Irish. However the Ceann Eire had managed to get to many of the nepotistic appointments made by Collins in 1925. Former freedom fighters like Stack, Blythe, Brugha and Mulcahy were swayed by the nationalistic fervour of O'Higgins in seeking to retake their lost lands. Only Collins remained above the fray, mostly because he wanted a united Ireland but was tempered by the requirements of state.

President of Dáil Éireann: W. T. Cosgrave (Todhchaí na hÉireann - Poblachtánaigh)
Taoiseach: Michael Collins (Sinn Fein - Independent)
Minister for Finance: Sean MacEntee (Sinn Fein - Poblachtánaigh)
Minister for Home Affairs: Austin Stack (Sinn Fein - Ceann Eire)
Minister for Foreign Affairs: Count Plunkett (Sinn Fein - Poblachtánaigh)
Minister for Defense: Cathal Brugha (Sinn Fein - Ceann Eire)
Minister for Labour: Helena Moloney (Sinn Fein - Poblachtánaigh)
Minister for Industries: Ernest Blythe (Sinn Fein - Ceann Eire)
Minister for Local Government: Richard Mulcahy (Sinn Fein - Ceann Eire)
Minister for the Irish: Douglas Hyde (Independent - Poblachtánaigh)

 

[XVG]

Regarding the situation in the Kingdom of Iraq

​

With great sorrow Damascus and the whole Sham follow the plight of the Arab people of Iraq. Mosul is brought back under the Turks, from whose Empire it was liberated only a few years ago. In the referendum, only the elite of the society of Mosul had a say, and that elite hadn’t yet changed to the new post-Ottoman reality. And now, the Arabs of Mosul must bear the costs of this shortsightedness on behalf of London regarding their Mandate, as totally new peoples have been welcomed by the Turkish Republic to settle in this Arabic city, threatening its Arab roots.

Facing this sad event, the King of Iraq, Abdullah ibn Hussein, brother to the King of Syria Faisal ibn Hussein, decided to abandon his throne and abdicate in favor of Faisal, my King. The Arabs of Iraq are crying for an Arab unity, which can protect at least what is left of their land. Thus as a Syrian and a proud Arab, I must conclude that Faisal is indeed the rightful King of Iraq, and I am certain that all people of Sham and Iraq agree with me.

Regrettably we must conclude that the British shortsightedness and ignorance didn’t end in Mosul. London decided to completely disregard the will of Abdullah and the Arab people of Iraq. First they tried to hand the Iraqi crown to members of the House of Hashim, but failing due to them having a real comprehension of dignity. Instead an illegal pretender and usurper, the Kuwaiti Emir al-Sabah has declared himself the King of Iraq, and apparently London has decided to bring its support behind this man. Thus it is only logical that the tribes of Iraq rise up against this man, who is a foreigner to their country. And Damascus stands behind the tribes in their struggle.

At this point I find it prudent to remind Britons, that even though our criticism upon the policies of London has been rather harsh, the Syrians still have respect for them. The Arab Revolt was generously supported by London, which will never be forgotten. This only adds to the sadness of Arabs, as we thought of London as our friends. King Faisal’s father King Hussein of Hejaz was once one of the greatest friends of London in the region. Thus I can assure that my King Faisal in his capacity as the rightful King of Iraq offers his full co-operation to London and the British Mandate administration and hopes that the usurper al-Sabah can soon be declared illegitimate by them, and Iraq and Syria brought closer together, as we Arabs deserve.

London hasn’t yet lost the Arabs, and let us pray to God they will soon understand the complexity of the situation, and hear the voices of the Iraqis, before the land falls to total chaos.

Hashim al-Atassi, Prime Minister of Syria, for Faisal, King of Syria and Iraq

 

[Noco19]

History of Italy; 1920 - Present​

The Giolittian Era (1920 - 1922)

The Biennio Rosso; 1919-1920

Prime Minister Giolitti's Condemnation of the French Republic; 1921​

Italian Fascism (1922 - Present)

March on Rome; 1922

Recognition of the Republic of Turkey and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics; 1922

The Lingotto Car Factory; 1923

Treaty of Venice; 1925

The Kingdom of Albania and its Italian King; 1925

Opera Nazionale Balilla - Fascists of Tomorrow!; 1926

Zamboni Attack on Il Duce; 1926

Italian Foreign Ministry Statement on International Happenings; 1928

Italian Recognition of the Romanian Iron Guard

The Lateran Treaty

Italo Balbo - Aviator Extraordinaire; 1931-1933​

 

[Ab Ovo]

Republic of Lithuania
Lietuvos Respublika​

My fellow Lithuanians,

Under the past regime, Lithuania suffered many indignities. The failure of the coalition government to stem the actions of the communists which they so shamefully loosed onto Lithuanian streets or act effectively against the Bolshevisation of Lithuania has proved that they are not willing to govern according to the democratic will of the people nor are they able to govern in an effective manner. The time for ineffectual governance and the game of musical chairs which has thus far prevailed in our government, with cabinets collapsing as soon as they are seated, is over.

Already the Nationalist Union government has taken firm steps to restore the glory of the Lithuanian nation. Klaipéda, so cruelly wrested from the bosom of the nation by the Teuton foe, has been joyously welcomed into the patrimony of Vitys. Far from a rogue of diplomacy as some may make us out to be Lithuania is merely correcting a historic injustice. The people of Klaipéda embrace their Lithuanian brothers and cry out that they may remain with the motherland, governed from Vilnius rather than faraway Paris. Stretching out their arms they cry, Lietuva, Tévnye mūsu!

But Lithuania is not Russia. She is not Germany. No colonial oppressor is she. In line with the statement issued by our good friends in Sweden, Lithuania while administering Klaipéda in the interim does agree to hold the referendum as scheduled, confident that Klaipédia will return as a son to his mother. As well I am pleased to announce that with the help of the Kingdom of Sweden Lithuania shall be considering social democratic reforms in the future. While some of the manifestly harmful policies of the coalition such as amnesty for Bolshevists will be rescinded, it is not the intention of my government to smother the democratic will of the people. Finally I am pleased to announce the appointment of Juozas Tūbelis as Prime Minister, assured that he will serve admirably in such a position.

Tegul mélie Lieutvos, dega mūsu sirdyse;

Antanas Smetona,
President of Lithuania

 

[Mathrim]

Deutsches Reich
German Reich

Deutschlandlied

On the Lithuanian seizure of Memelland

The region of Memel has been unlawfully seized by Lithuanian authorities after what can only be described as an unlawful hostile take-over. The Governing Commission wasn't unanimous to accept such a transfer of sovereignty, neither were the signatory powers of the 1922 Treaty on the status of the region. Lithuanian hold on the region is thus illegal and the persecutions the German residents are facing are wholly unacceptable.

The Reich doesn't trust the dictatorial regime in Lithuania with the preservation of the rights of the German majority in the region and doesn't consider the 1935 referendum as the sole relevant point concerning Memel's status. As such, we give the Lithuanian authorities twenty-four hours to restore the status quo and wholly withdraw from the region. Should they fail to do so, the Reich will act to protect the lawful order in the region.

Gustav Stressemann, Reichskanzler
Dem Deutschen Volke​

 

[jacob-Lundgren]

The current brewing crisis around Lithuania is considered a non-issue for the United States and we are taking a neutral policy on this crisis. The continued mess in Europe seems rather well to justify the policy of refusal to join the League of Nations and the isolationist path the United States is currently on. It is important that a proper degree of flexibility exist to keep the United States safe, as such that does not mean the defenses will be made too weak or that we will refuse to consider worthwhile treaties with other nations. It is my hope that negotiations this year can allow for an expansion of the naval limitations treaty agreed upon a few years ago. While nations with armies continue to utilize them in aggressive manners, naval power can be limited and has so far of late been more responsibly used by the nations in the treaty. It is possible that a further reduction in the chance of a naval arms race can lead to relaxed tensions and a more friendly atmosphere outside of the current hot spots in the world.


Calvin Coolidge ~ President of the United States of America

 

[Ab Ovo]

​

Addressed to His Excellency, Gustav Stressemann;

After due consideration, the Republic of Lithuania formally rejects the German ultimatum. Lithuanian administration over the Klaipéda region exists purely to provide order and stability in a region that had become chaotic, not to annex the region or persecute German minorities. The Republic has received private assurances of support from the French in this matter, who recognise the correctness of Lithuanian actions, and will not be cowed by jingoistic threats. Stability is not a crime, and the rash German attempts to threaten and provoke free nations -- reminiscent of their behaviour during the Great War -- should be condemned by all civilised nations.

Furthermore the Republic would welcome Swedish military assistance in order to safeguard our sovereignty and that of our administration over Klaipéda.

Stasys Lozoraitis,
Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Republic of Lithuania

 

[Haresus]

Official Swedish statement on the German Ultimatum​

Confirming our suspicions, the German government has issued a harmful and rash ultimatum that will not solve the Klaipeda situation in any way. The German government should immediately back down and rescind their ultimatum from what would otherwise be a calm and rational negotiation. We call upon the governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the French Republic to join us in condemnation of the German actions and to support the rightful Lithuanian control of Klaipeda.

Furthermore, we shall immediately answer the Lithuanian call for help and deploy a significant part the Swedish army in Lithuania, to deter the beginning of violence and destruction in this area. The Swedish Task Force under Charles De Champs has been authorised to protect Lithuanian property with lethal force.

Östen Undén, foreign minister of Sweden.

 

[m.equitum]

REPÚBLICA DOMINICANA
Dios, Patria, Libertad​

ON THE REVOLUTION IN BRAZIL
Hopeful Signs amongst Unwelcome Hints of Socialism
​

It is with pleasure that the Dominican Republic extends to Your Excellency, President Vargas, our congratulations on the successful revolution in Brazil. Our Foreign Service has closely observed the developments in your country and notes that the overthrow of the Luís Government and the installation of yourself in the esteemed presidential post marks the end of the political dominance of Brazil’s agrarian elite. Some of these oligarchs have found a new home in the Dominican Republic and, as such, will be able neither to undermine your government nor hinder the far-reaching political transition taking place in Brazil.

Brazilian Coffee Barons and Dairy Oligarchs starting a new life in the Dominican Republic​

In addition to conveying our felicitations, the Dominican Republic is keenly interested to learn the nature of the socialist principles that seemed to play a central role in the recent Brazilian unrest. The communist rhetoric that surrounded Your Excellency’s rise to power can, we hope, be dismissed as an exercise in oration rather than any indication of policy. It is immensely pleasing to understand that, despite the anti-elite revolution, the Brazilian Government remains “eager and willing” to work with the United States of America, the beacon of freedom to the western hemisphere and the world.