We have updated our Community Code of Conduct. Please read through the new rules for the forum that are an integral part of Paradox Interactive’s User Agreement.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly. You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
My quote thing is busted on the IPad at the moment so no whimsical comments on extracts today.
That beings said, the president is perhaps very lucky his vice turned out to be 'the devil's drink'. Made it so much easier for me...er, the doctors, to fix.
And turkey is doubly lucky to have such a whimsical aspect of Kelebek taking an interest in them. Mind you, it will invariably begin to grow displeased if they continue to insist 'he' is 'going places' for 'them'. It's one half of an eldritch abomination from another universe for crying out loud. It's like director krenic coming to Vader's home, yanking him out of the tub and bitching to him about being kicked off a project the sith lord disagrees with and whining about a man Vader personally despises . Half choked to death is being luckily let off there.
I guess that's why Japan is doing so well at the moment. They treat their demonic advisor with highest honour (strangely enough, given Kelebek's deep knowledge of Shintoism.)
Well, I'll have to make sure Kaya doesn't get too prescriptive with Kelebek then: I was thinking of him more as "the Kompositor" - a sinister but real-life villainous and amoral senior operative with S.I.T.H. with a scary mythical status. Those in-camera vignettes either part of the legend, or even the result of demonic visions seen only in his own fertile imagination!
Clearly, he will have to be carefully managed, lest Kaya become a victim of the creature he tries to control. And isn't that always the problem when you summon a demon?
Even though I know it is impossible I am somewhat rooting for a heroic Greek freedom fighter to strike a symbolic blow against the regime.
Such things aside I remain impressed by the AI tag teaming you to stop the Turko-Soviet alliance, both Japan and Germany benefit by having the Soviets distracted (somewhat) in the Caucasus' by the invasion happy Turks and they are acting to try and keep that distraction in place. Sometimes the AI manages to do things that aren't deeply stupid and this is one of those occasions.
Indeed, Kaya's apoplexy over this egregious Japanese fifth column campaign is becoming as much of a health problem for him as Ataturk and his cirrhosis! If he doesn't watch out, it will be Inonu (rather than a demonic Kelebek) who will be looking to get rid of him!
If it comes to joining the war by design later (as opposed to being attacked and having no choice anyway), then I'd be very much happier doing it with factional allies, of course. So yes, the AI is doing a surprisingly good job thwarting my crafty scheme. I wonder if it applies a weighting for such efforts based on the 'size' or power of a potential target, as well as its proximity to joining a rival faction? In any case, it won't stop me trying - and hoping they will have better use for their LS later as war approaches than using it on me. Also, given at the moment Axis influence punches at over 28 per month when it is on, compared to about 12 for Comintern alignment, it has a disproportionate effect, which I'm hoping starts to reduce soon, but am not sure about.
The Greeks themselves have been pretty quiet after a few early revolts. But Kaya and Ogel are both pretty concerned about the prospects of violent agitators and assassins around the lightning rod of Foundation Day for the Glorious Union. They expect more to be seen out in the provinces than in the capital of Turkey itself, but they need to be careful.
Well, I'll have to make sure Kaya doesn't get too prescriptive with Kelebek then: I was thinking of him more as "the Kompositor" - a sinister but real-life villainous and amoral senior operative with S.I.T.H. with a scary mythical status. Those in-camera vignettes either part of the legend, or even the result of demonic visions seen only in his own fertile imagination!
Clearly, he will have to be carefully managed, lest Kaya become a victim of the creature he tries to control. And isn't that always the problem when you summon a demon?
The Vader analogy is appropriate here, because in that universe too Imperial officers didn't understand why Vader was even there or why he held such rank or power over everyone when he wasn't a part of the Empire's military. Those under the Sith Lord's command quickly found out why but for others, especially those like Tarkin and higher ups, found themselves treating a demi-god level force user like a chew toy for all their complaints and power plays within the empire. And were then astonished when he flicked his finger and crushed their windpipes.
His cover story is I think probably what you say people in this universe think is the truth: he's a very powerful government agent with unlimited authority and no oversight but obviously a mortal man...right? Whereas on occasion he/it just slips a little and indicates exactly what sort of creature the Turks have bound themselves to in order to rule the world.
I would throw you the bone of 'he's a normal human the devil possess on occasion' but I've already got it down in my head canon that Kelebek never possessed a human before Stellaris. He doesn't need to, we're far too easily corruptible for that. Since it is your AAR though, and this aspect of Kelebek is clearly on the mischievous Loki side of chaotic evil, do what you will. Just remember that Kelebek will make fools suffer gladly.
Moving on...what's the impact of this Japan/Germany tag-teaming? Is it going to adversely affect the time when you can join the Comintern? Presumably Germany cant keep it up for much longer but Japan might be staying neutral towards Turkey for a while.
The Vader analogy is appropriate here, because in that universe too Imperial officers didn't understand why Vader was even there or why he held such rank or power over everyone when he wasn't a part of the Empire's military. Those under the Sith Lord's command quickly found out why but for others, especially those like Tarkin and higher ups, found themselves treating a demi-god level force user like a chew toy for all their complaints and power plays within the empire. And were then astonished when he flicked his finger and crushed their windpipes.
His cover story is I think probably what you say people in this universe think is the truth: he's a very powerful government agent with unlimited authority and no oversight but obviously a mortal man...right? Whereas on occasion he/it just slips a little and indicates exactly what sort of creature the Turks have bound themselves to in order to rule the world.
I would throw you the bone of 'he's a normal human the devil possess on occasion' but I've already got it down in my head canon that Kelebek never possessed a human before Stellaris. He doesn't need to, we're far too easily corruptible for that. Since it is your AAR though, and this aspect of Kelebek is clearly on the mischievous Loki side of chaotic evil, do what you will. Just remember that Kelebek will make fools suffer gladly.
Moving on...what's the impact of this Japan/Germany tag-teaming? Is it going to adversely affect the time when you can join the Comintern? Presumably Germany cant keep it up for much longer but Japan might be staying neutral towards Turkey for a while.
Re Kelebek: he has to have a start somewhere - and remember he started here as an anti-Persian Turkish nationalist . But perhaps the extra-game canon is able to contemplate inspirations or earlier manifestations of the Red Butterfly Composer before the Stellaris universe - after all, his malign force is, presumably, eternal? Any name assigned by humans is surely only anthropomorphism anyway, trying to make pathetic human 'sense' of something both senseless and beyond their senses to fully comprehend?
Kelebek, being a Turkish word, perhaps gives a clue to an example of earlier stirrings. But in this more prosaic, practically-oriented and less metaphysical alt-world of TT 1939, the demons are in human form, and abound around the world (alas, as they did in OTL). So the Kelebek here uses the title as a nom-de-guerre, and can be inspired by but not the direct personification of the Kelebek I gladly bequeath to you for a bigger, badder, alternate future world!
As to Japan and Axis political interference, I welcome it as a challenge and yet another uncertainty that makes this story different to the 'usual' one for HOI3, in addition to playing a non-major going in a less obvious direction. I still think we'll get there eventually, but the strategic uncertainty this persistent intervention poses is both immediate and realistic for the leadership of the new Glorious Union. It could be a very close run thing, and if we are still held out of the Comintern by the time France falls (assuming that happens around the usual time), then the period mid-1940 to mid-1941 (again, assuming normal Barbarossa initiation) could be a very nervous one for Turkey.
While the densive lines are based on a worst case of having to fight the Fascists with only the Allies as co-belligerents, the chances are greatly improved is the Soviets are already engaged to take the heat off. We can always align with them eventually for the final victory push if we are really badly delayed, but that is based on the assumption we last long enough to join!
1
Reactions:
Chapter 54: A New Sun Rises for Civilisation (28 January 1939)
Chapter 54: A New Sun Rises for Civilisation (28 January 1939)
28 January 1939 – Foundation Day
The day dawns cold but clear in Ankara. Security teams have fanned out around the capital, especially at transport hubs and along the parade route and locations where official gatherings will take place.
Ankara Railway Station early on the morning of 28 Jan 39. Thousands of people have been flocking to the capital all week for the Foundation Day festivities. This very modern Art Deco station building was built in 1937 to accommodate the increase of railway traffic and has become a landmark of the city.
The flag of the Turkish Republic and of the new Union of Glorious National Republics fly in pairs, side by side around the capital and in cities throughout the new Glorious Union.
And posters of the nation’s leaders are prominently displayed.
Braanszon Guildenstern has used some of his old contacts back in the States to ensure Inönü makes it onto the cover of Time Magazine.
Ceremonies
In the morning, formalities begin with the ceremonial opening of the new Union Boulevard by Atatürk, through which the parade will later pass and be reviewed jointly by him and Inönü.
Next, Inönü is formally sworn in that morning as the Milli Şef (National Chief) of the Union of Glorious National Republics. The seventeen other National Premiers, who will form the Council of Premiers of the UGNR, are also sworn in. The Union will not have a separate legislative body or assembly of its own, at least not at this early stage of the its existence.
Ismet Inönü is sworn in as Milli Şef of the Union of Glorious National Republics, 11:00 am, 28 January 1939. The flag next to the Union Flag is that of the CHP (Turkey’s ruling political party).
A rousing rendition of the İstiklâl Marşı is then sung. The İstiklâl Marşı (Independence March) is the national anthem of the Republic of Turkey (and will remain as that for the UGNR). It was officially adopted on 12 March 1921 - two-and-a-half years before the 29 October 1923 establishment of the nation - both as a motivational musical saga for the troops fighting in the Turkish War of Independence and as an aspirational anthem for a Republic that was yet to be established.
For the non-Turkish speaking attendees, translations of the İstiklâl Marşı were provided by the Propaganda Department in a range of languages. Here is the English version. The lyrics seem very appropriate for the Turkey of this alt-world and its new Glorious Union.
(1:14 min)
From Wikipedia. A nationwide competition was organized in 1921 by the Turkish National Movement - an independent and self-organized militia force led by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. It was waging a lengthy campaign for independence against both invading foreign powers and the Ottoman Court itself, due to the latter being seen as treasonous and complicit in the partitioning of the Turkish homeland in the aftermath of the 1920 Treaty of Sèvres. The goal of the competition was to select an original composition suitable for a National March, intended to both motivate the militia forces fighting for independence across the country and to provide inspiration and pride for a new homeland that would be established once victory was achieved.
A total of 724 poems were submitted. Mehmet Akif Ersoy, a well-known poet of the period, initially refused to participate due to a monetary prize being offered in the competition, but was subsequently contacted and convinced by the National Parliament to submit a poem and disregard the reward. The resulting ten-stanza-long poem written by Ersoy was recited to the National Assembly by representative Hamdullah Suphi, on March 1, 1921, where it was unanimously adopted by the deputies following evaluation by a parliamentary committee. The prize of the competition was later bestowed on a society of veterans.
Shortly thereafter, twenty-four composers participated in another competition arranged for the selection of a musical composition that would best suit the elected anthem. The Committee, which was only able to convene in 1924 due to the 1919-1923 Turkish War of Independence, adopted the music composed by Ali Rıfat Çağatay.
This early composition by Çağatay lasted only six years. In 1930, a new composition by Osman Zeki Üngör, virtuoso composer and the first conductor of the Presidential Symphony Orchestra of the Republic of Turkey, was adopted as a permanent musical arrangement by Parliament.
Atatürk’s Foundation Day Speech
Atatürk then makes his main set piece for the Foundation Day celebrations: a major speech on ‘The Founding of the Union of Glorious National Republics’. It is both broadcast and recorded by Guildenstern’s Public Information team, for newsreels, re-broadcasting and printing as a major part of the information campaign that will support the introduction of the Glorious Union and foster a new Turkish-led supra-national narrative.
Ed: this speech has been directly adapted, with as little editing as possible, from Atatürk’s famous speech on the tenth anniversary of the founding of the Republic of Turkey, which for narrative purposes here was delivered in different (though no less inspiring) form back on 29 October 1933.
The original speech said of 1933: “We are in the fifteenth year of our war of liberation”, referring to the aftermath of their defeat in the Great War in 1918. This liberation has now become, since 1936, the Path to Glory, thus the speech here refers to the twenty-first year of that journey in early 1939.
The Turkish Republic and Nations of the Glorious Union!
We are in the twenty-first year since we first stepped out on our Path to Glory. This is a great day marking the Founding of our Union of Glorious National Republics. May it be celebrated.
At this moment as a member of the great Turkish-led Union, I feel the deepest joy and excitement for having achieved this happy day.
My citizens,
We have accomplished many and great tasks in a short time. The greatest of these is the Turkish Republic, the basis of which is the Turkish heroism and the great Turkish culture. We owe this success to the cooperative progress of the Turkish nation and its valuable army.
However, we can never consider what we have achieved to be sufficient, because we must, and are determined to accomplish even more and greater tasks. We have raised our country to the level of the most prosperous, civilised and powerful nations of the world. We shall endow our nation with the broadest means and sources of welfare. We shall raise our national culture above the contemporary level of civilisation, in accord with all the Glorious National Republics that now make up this Union.
Therefore, we should judge the measure of time not according to the lax mentality of past centuries, but in terms of the concepts of speed and movement of our century. Compared to the past, we shall work harder. We shall perform greater tasks in a shorter time. I have no doubt that we shall succeed in this, because the Great and Glorious Turkish Republic that leads this Union is of excellent character. The Turkish nation is intelligent, because the Turkish nation is capable of overcoming difficulties of national unity, and because it holds the torch of positive sciences.
I must make it clear with due emphasis, that a historical quality of the Turkish nation, which is an exalted human community, is its love for fine arts and progress in them. This is why our national ideal is to constantly foster and promote, with all means and measures, our nation’s excellent character, its tireless industriousness, intelligence, devotion to science, love for fine arts and sense of national unity throughout the Turkish Dominions that join us today in this Glorious Union. This ideal, which very well suits the Turkish nation, will enable it to succeed in performing the civilised task falling on it in securing true peace for all mankind.
The Great Turkish Nation and its Glorious Union!
You have heard me speak on many occasions over the last twenty-one years promising success in the tasks we undertook. I am happy that none of my promises have been false ones which could have shaken my nation’s confidence in me.
Today, I repeat with the same faith and determination that it will soon be acknowledged once again by the entire civilised world that the Turkish nation and its Glorious Union, which has been progressing towards the national ideal in exact unison, is a great nation. Never have I doubted that the great, but forgotten, civilised characteristic and the great civilised talents of the Turkish nation, will, in its progress henceforth, rise like a new sun from the high horizon of civilisation for the future.
The Glorious Union,
I express my heartfelt wish that you will celebrate, after each decade elapsing into eternity, this great national day, in greater honour, happiness, peace and prosperity.
How happy it is to say that I am a Turk!
Following the short speech, broadcast to the Nation, the Union and the World, President Atatürk and the newly inaugurated Milli Şef Inönü review the Foundation Day military parade, taking the salute as the proud veterans of the 1937-38 Wars of Establishment march pass in review order.
Foundation Day Parade, 28 January 1939. A little afternoon rain is not enough to dampen the spirits of the people and is nothing for the veterans of the mountains of Yugoslavia and Iran.
Atatürk and Inönü take the salute. On this first Foundation Day
parade, special dispensation is made for the standard of the Glorious Union to take pride of place on the reviewing stand.
This is all the exertion Atatürk can take for now. He retires to the Presidential Palace – and the ministrations of his doctors – for the rest of the day.
Security Concerns - the Cockroaches Within
With the parade over, it is time for some political formalities to take place. But as Inönü heads back from the parade, Interior Minister Kaya takes him aside for a hurried consultation.
“Milli Şef,” he starts in a tense voice. “Our head of personal security for today, ‘Capo’ Luca Brasi, believes he has uncovered a possible plot.”
“Yes,” responds Inönü curtly, no stranger to dark and difficult doings. Or alliteration. “What is it?”
“He found a suspect the ‘Kelebek Kompositor’ has since interrogated,” he begins uneasily, looking over his shoulder superstitiously as he mentions this codename. “He was unable to obtain any significant details, but we must be careful. Look what happened with the Black Hand in 1914 – we wouldn’t want a Second Great War to start the same way!”
“Well, I certainly wouldn’t want to play the part of the Arch-Duke in that scenario!” observes Inönü dryly. “Does Kelebek think he can get any further information out of this traitor?”
“Highly unlikely,” says Kaya. “When I asked the same question, Kelebek responded ‘Alas, the first interrogation was a little too much for him: dead men tell no tales!’”
“Very well then, double the guards for all further meetings this evening, but everything goes forward as planned,” determines Inönü. “We cannot show weakness in the face of these cockroaches!” He strides off, as if along his own personal Path to Glory.
The ‘Türkiye Büyük Millet Meclisi’ Plot of 28 January 1939
The first meeting is back at the Türkiye Büyük Millet Meclisi (Grand National Assembly building), a formal gathering of the Council of Premiers of the Glorious Union or, as Inönü likes to call it, the “18 families of Turkey.”
The Grand National Assembly Building. The immediate environs have been cleared due to the latest security scare. The military cordons off the area for a block in each direction. All entrants to the meeting are thoroughly searched. No-one will get through!
The secure room where the Council meeting is to be held is on the top floor of the Assembly building. A band is playing and women are milling about the busy room full of National Premiers. Josip ‘Joey’ Zasa, the newly appointed Premier of Albania, enters. Inönü does so shortly afterwards, accompanied by the hulking presence of Luca Brasi. On Inönü’s arrival the band stops playing and the women are ushered from the room. Luca nods at Joey Zasa – he knows him from the ‘old days’, when Zasa was an ‘enforcer’ for the Italian crime families in Albania. They are not friends. With Inönü’s patronage, Zasa has since come up in the world. He’s an ambitious man who is now suspected of using his new found power for his own purposes, which may not coincide with those of the Turkish ruling party.
Once the room is cleared of all but those at the meeting, Premier Osvaldo Altobello of Montenegro begins proceedings. He is considered the elder statesman of the Balkans and a long-time supporter of Turkey. He claims to have been dying for at least 10 years, but seems to keep going along quite happily. He gives a good impression of being the kindly old uncle, peacemaker and wise advisor. But to think of him as only these things would be a grave underestimation of his abilities and influence. Altobello has been elected Deputy Chair of the Premier's Council, which makes him the master of ceremonies for this meeting.
Osvaldo Altobello, Premier of Montenegro, seen at Glorious Union Foundation Day celebrations shortly before the 28 Jan 39 Council of Premiers meeting.
“Milli Şef Inönü,” Altobello starts. “We entrusted you to manage our interests in the Balkans. It's not even two years now and you have conquered the Balkans and made all of us rich and powerful. Bravo, Milli Şef Inönü!”
The room applauds Inönü. Joey Zasa gives a half-hearted clap.
“Thank you,” responds Inönü. “Friends, I have come here to advise you our business together is just started. We have prospered, but now it is time for Turkey to cement its predominance in the relationship between us.”
There are murmurs of protest.
“That's it,” says Inönü simply. “But I do have a little surprise.” He nods to Brasi, who produces a bunch of envelopes from his jacket.
“Your new stipends," says Inönü as the envelopes are handed around. “I thought I'd cut through all the red tape so you can get your money right away.”
This news is met with a more positive response.
“Five hundred million lira!” exclaims one Premier.
Luca is passing out envelopes around the Council table.
“Not everyone gets the same,” notes Inönü.
“Nothing for you,” Luca whispers into Joey Zasa’s ear as he passes behind him.
“It depends how much you have contributed to the cause, and how long for,” Inönü finishes.
The Premiers all marvel at how much they have just received, "Wonderful! Woah! Teşekkür ederim!"
“Milli Şef Inönü, this is really generous!” says one Premier effusively.
Josip ‘Joey’ Zasa, Premier of Albania. Pictured here back in Tirana at an Italian community parade (itself cause for suspicion), with some of his Macedonian, Montenegrin and Italian ‘crew’ (or 'wise guys') in early January 1939, before he departed to Ankara for Foundation Day.
“My supporters have done much of the hard work; taken many risks,” says Zasa bitterly. “All to make the Union successful in Albania and the wider Balkans, for the rest of you.”
“You all know Joey Zasa,” says Inönü. “He is, I admit, an important man. His picture is on the cover of the New York Times magazine. He gets the Esquire magazine award for the best-dressed Balkan Premier! The newspapers praise him, because he hires minority Macedonians into his administration, which shows he has a good heart. He is famous. Who knows? Maybe one day, he will make all of you popular.”
“It's true,” says Zasa suavely. “I make more of a şık figür[stylish figure], that is my nature. But I also want to make a move into more autonomous national administration for my Albanian National Republic. I'd like to get a little medal from the President too. Sure, I take the Montenegrins and Macedonians into my organisation, because, that's Albania!”
“And you guarantee, they don't deal with the Italians in your neighbourhood?” presses Inönü, getting more pointed now.
“Let me talk to him, let me talk to him,” suggests the elderly Altobello, playing the peacemaker between two ‘good friends’ of his.
“Who can refuse Premier Osvaldo Altobello,” accedes Inönü with forced grace.
In the meantime, the Premiers are passing around a tray full of gold jewelry and pearls, and each takes one.
“Joey...” Altobello’s voice is heard being raised from their quiet huddle.
“NO!” Zasa exclaims, turning to the rest of the Council in an aggressive stance. “I say to all of you, I have been treated this day, with no respect. I've earned you all money and influence. I've made you rich, and I asked for little. Good. You will not give, I'll take! As for 'Milli Şef' Inönü, well he makes it very clear to me today, that he is my enemy. You must choose between us.” Zasa seems to be making a power play, but surely he cannot hope to prevail against Inönü and the rest of the Council of Premiers …
Zasa storms out. Premier Altobello chases after him: “Hey Joey - no - Joey - no - Joey!” He looks back to Inönü as he leaves the room. “We can reason together - Ismet, Ismet - please, let’s agree, huh?”
“No, Altobello.” Inönü’s response is firm, frosty and final. Altobello exits the room, still trying to reason with Zasa.
The meeting starts to break up in disorder. A deep rumbling can be heard in the background. It resolves into the sound of an approaching aircraft … at the same time (unseen by its remaining occupants), the doors to the Council Chamber are being locked from the outside by a length of chain and padlock one of Zasa’s aids has brought with him, ostensibly to secure his briefcase of classified documents (and thus making it past the bag inspection on the way in).
The sound of the aircraft gets louder and louder. Luca, looking out the window, sees it is a large, low flying civilian floatplane, heading straight for their corner room. It looks like it has been rigged with large machine guns or canon under each wing …
“Run, it’s a hit!” he shouts, making straight for Inönü. He grabs him and tries to open the chamber door, but it is heavily reinforced and will not budge even against his desperate efforts.
A picture of the kind of plane used in the attack on the Council of Premiers meeting on 28 Jan 39. The CANT Z.509 was a three-engined Italian floatplane developed for use as a mail-plane. It is also operated by the Italian Air Force, but this one was in civilian colours. It has a range of 3,748 km, so could have come from almost anywhere in Europe, especially if it refuelled at sea on the way over.
In the air outside, the pilot presses his firing button and four heavy calibre cannon burst into life …
… and then jam after only a few rounds are fired! Try as he might, he cannot get the improvised gun system to operate. It had worked so well in the practice firing! He turns away desperately, making for the country and heading west for the sea. He is soon pursued by two Curtiss Hawk 3s of the Turkish Air Force, scrambled to apprehend this daring would-be assassin.
Here is the fate the Council of Premiers narrowly avoided, as imagined by the ambitious - but now compromised - Joey Zasa. He has imagined the helicopter after reading some futuristic reports about designs for this new kind of flying machine.
Warning, it’s the Godfather, so there will be blood and violence:
(2:08 min)
Zasa makes his escape before the Premiers are released and can report his treachery. Altobello stands in the Assembly lobby, looking shocked and confused. Inönü swears the other Premiers to secrecy and carries on for the rest of the day as if nothing has happened. A media blackout on the episode is imposed and all details covered up: Intel Head Ogel is very good at that sort of thing! Zasa is declared to have been exposed as a gangster, drug dealer, embezzler and in league with illegal Italian interests in Albania (all undoubtedly true). A new (and thoroughly compliant and well vetted) Albanian Premier is appointed.
The aircraft used in the attack fled west, but was overhauled by the fighters sent to apprehend it. The pilot refused to yield, even after warning shots were fired. The fighter pilots were left with no choice but to shoot it down. The plane crashed in a spectacular fireball in the mountains: little useful information will likely be found from that source, but the site will be explored for clues. The complexity of the plot and the equipment employed suggest this is no simple or low-level conspiracy. Serious resources, organisation and backing are involved: no-one believes Zasa could have mustered all this himself.
This episode is seen as yet another lapse by Interior Minister Kaya: had the jury-rigged firing mechanism on the plane not malfunctioned, most or all of the Council of Premiers, including Inönü, would have been butchered. At the least, such a bold and destructive attack at the heart of Turkey and the newly established Glorious Union would have been seen as a stunning slap in the face for Turkey and its Union. While the affair has been largely hushed up and ‘alternative facts’ provided by the state-run media, it shows the Path to Glory has many potential potholes along the way.
But the Foundation Day show goes on! The evening finishes with a Gala State Reception. The next day will be given over to diplomacy, with the various meetings set up by Aras with foreign Leaders and their representatives taking centre stage. And investigations into this dastardly plot.
Coming Up: The repercussions of the ‘Türkiye Büyük Millet Meclisi Plot’ will be felt for some time yet. Who else was involved – surely it must have been someone more substantial than that jumped-up pezzonovante Zasa? Was it an internal job, the Italians (in revenge for Turkey’s annexation of Albania), or even the Japanese Kempeitai, whose overseas espionage arm has been so active of late? Perhaps the Perfidious Greeks? We will find out more about Japan in the next instalment, as we will the public information campaign launched by the Propaganda Department and the diplomatic discussions that followed the day after the formalities of Foundation Day.
Re Kelebek: he has to have a start somewhere - and remember he started here as an anti-Persian Turkish nationalist . But perhaps the extra-game canon is able to contemplate inspirations or earlier manifestations of the Red Butterfly Composer before the Stellaris universe - after all, his malign force is, presumably, eternal? Any name assigned by humans is surely only anthropomorphism anyway, trying to make pathetic human 'sense' of something both senseless and beyond their senses to fully comprehend?
Kelebek, being a Turkish word, perhaps gives a clue to an example of earlier stirrings. But in this more prosaic, practically-oriented and less metaphysical alt-world of TT 1939, the demons are in human form, and abound around the world (alas, as they did in OTL). So the Kelebek here uses the title as a nom-de-guerre, and can be inspired by but not the direct personification of the Kelebek I gladly bequeath to you for a bigger, badder, alternate future world!
Indeed, much like doctor who this one is going to have a lot of incarnations and internal consistency is something to be mocked and laughed a thing in this case.
Ankara Railway Station early on the morning of 28 Jan 39. Thousands of people
have been flocking to the capital all week for the Foundation Day festivities. This
very modern Art Deco station building was built in 1937 to accommodate the
increase of railway traffic and has become a landmark of the city.
Highly unlikely,” says Kaya. “When I asked the same question, Kelebek responded ‘Alas, the first interrogation was a little too much for him: dead men tell no tales!’”
Kaya didn't feel like sharing the offhandedly comment "But I suppose if you wanted me to bring him back..." as he didn't want to entertain such foolishness in front of the minister. Even if he was secretly afraid that Kelebek might not have been joking.
and then jam after only a few rounds are fired! Try as he might, he cannot get the improvised gun system to operate. It had worked so well in the practice firing! He turns away desperately, making for the country and heading west for the sea. He is soon pursued by two Curtiss Hawk 3s of the Turkish Air Force, scrambled to apprehend this daring would-be assassin.
This episode is seen as yet another lapse by Interior Minister Kaya: had the jury-rigged firing mechanism on the plane not malfunctioned, most or all of the Council of Premiers, including Inönü, would have been butchered.
Thank you mate, I can never be sure if the background, characterisations and sub-plots add interest or are distracting, but I enjoy writing them and it has grown as the AAR has progressed, especially when there isn't much combat or other action going on. Whether it's in game occurrences that spark a story, or something one of you guys say (thanks to you for sparking the dreaded Red Butterfly/Kelebek, El Pip for the latest Joey Zasa sub-plot and markkur for a few as well - I think something he said once led to the Apotheosis of Sukru Ali Ogel). Or the inspiration of movies I like and in whose scenes I see something apposite for the story.
Just as a history of the period is missing something if it only talks about the battles, so too I think does a story written as a contemporaneous narrative (as this one is) miss something if I as the writer don't try to put some historical context and people (real and fictional) in it. And a sense of the events happening and making news at the time. Like, even to someone who has actually read a fair bit about WW2 and it's lead-up, taking just a 'Wikipedia-lite' approach to day by day news of the time has opened my eyes to many things I wasn't aware of during this period. These were understandings and knowledge people of the time had, and without even a cursory flavour of them, an alternate history approach will fall a bit short.
That's one of the things I like about your approach to Albion, done in a different way about a different game to be sure, but going into details and characterisations that make the story more real. I guess people who don't like the approach won't read us, but we hope to entertain and inform those who do (and have some fun creating our own worlds and sharing them with others ). I also like 'straighter' gameplay AARs too, and when I started this one I thought it was going to be more like that, but my weird cast of characters ended up having different ideas . markkur's crazy UK Motorway didn't need such artifice: there was so much chaos and madness that things like 'Springtime for Hitler' or the Atlantic City Massacre simply weren't necessary. As for El Pip's Tiso and Tuka, well, their own Kafkaesqe and never-ending purgatory (even purgatory is meant to end eventually - even if not well) in Slovakia, with hip-flasks and zany Paradox research for inspiration, show what you can do with hardly any gameplay at all!
Enough literary philosophy and self-indulgent meandering for now . Back to the world of Ataturk, Inonu, Kaya, Ogel, Brasi, Kelebek, Zasa, Altobello, Vito Ceylan, Lord El Pip (and his whiskey allowance), appeasers, Evil Fascists, Elephant-mounted machine guns, the Comintern (always just out of reach), cheesy actors, amoral admen, Kempeitai (always too close), S.I.T.H. Agents and all the other strange characters travelling along alt-Turkey's Path to Glory: and it's only January 1939! What will it be like when the real Second Great War starts!? Long live the Glorious Union!
I'm looking forward to rereading this at some point because of all the evolution that's occurred throughout the work. You are right about the seemingly forgotten and insignificant things that people do not learn about but we're actually some of the most important developments of the entire period. Like jerry cans and proper shovels, blood transfusions and penicillin (or how to mass produce it anyway). The development of duvets and the abandonments of blankets for use in bed also came about here.
I'm looking forward to when I can talk about how the wheelbarrow and the chimney were invented in the Middle Ages and allowed for pretty much the rest of the history of architecture and engineering to exist. Aside from an age of empires game I once played however, the former is rarely mentioned and the latter not at all.
Though in this AAR the strategic situation alone is pretty interesting and different, with no one really knowing what is going to happen next. So we are, quite brilliantly, in the position of people from that time period and it allows a great deal more sympathy for people who lived within it...cos we don't really know what's going to happen either.
Looking forward to whatever happens next.
Another great update...you know, you might end up "feeling" totally blitzed by...a massive dose of war reporting. 30s art-deco is quite addicting.
Btw, TY for the high-five friend. With the "historical tres-amigos" (you three) a brass-tacks dude like myself doesn't stand a chance. My mental gymnastics, if they work-out today, are inside Poetry and little where else. For this old buzzard, diversity of intent, is what makes the wider AAR-land so appealing. Just wish I was in better health to enjoy more of the many efforts. Thankfully with you three...I don't have to venture far.
On the available evidence I would suspect the Germans. It's an overly elaborate, needlessly complicated plan that depends on countless things going absolutely right or, as we saw, it fails spectacularly. Those features were a hallmark of the German intelligence services and indeed many other parts of the German state at the time. Mark my words, German plot.
For the other candidates, a Japanese pilot would never have accepted failure, when the guns jammed they'd have crashed the plane into the meeting room to ensure their mission succeeded. The Italians would have to be really stupid to do it this way; the Z.509 was in theory only in Italian service so all the evidence points back to them, but if you are going to use a plane that massively implicates you why not use a properly armed one? This way has all the risks of being caught for absolutely no advantages, the Italians had many problems at the time but utter, relentless stupidity wasn't one of them. For an insider what's the advantage of taking out all the puppet heads, they just don't matter. You want Inönü and there will be easier and more certain ways to make a 'hit' on him.
I am delighted this made it into the AAR and I look forward to seeing which party (the Germans!) are responsible and what Inönü does in response.
On the available evidence I would suspect the Germans. It's an overly elaborate, needlessly complicated plan that depends on countless things going absolutely right or, as we saw, it fails spectacularly. Those features were a hallmark of the German intelligence services and indeed many other parts of the German state at the time. Mark my words, German plot.
For the other candidates, a Japanese pilot would never have accepted failure, when the guns jammed they'd have crashed the plane into the meeting room to ensure their mission succeeded. The Italians would have to be really stupid to do it this way; the Z.509 was in theory only in Italian service so all the evidence points back to them, but if you are going to use a plane that massively implicates you why not use a properly armed one? This way has all the risks of being caught for absolutely no advantages, the Italians had many problems at the time but utter, relentless stupidity wasn't one of them. For an insider what's the advantage of taking out all the puppet heads, they just don't matter. You want Inönü and there will be easier and more certain ways to make a 'hit' on him.
I am delighted this made it into the AAR and I look forward to seeing which party (the Germans!) are responsible and what Inönü does in response.
Some very good deductions there El Pip. But you can be sure, like any mafia-espionage-nationalist insurgent whodunnit, there will be pink herrings, red herrings and double-bluffs galore before the true plotters are uncovered. And getting to the bottom of it could get very sticky (literally) for some characters.
We will see what both the 'hard' and 'soft' evidence is (not sure if anything useful will emerge from the crash site investigation, bearing in mind we must use contemporary technology and procedures that might have been available to the Turkey of this alt-world). And the investigations, counter-measures and other ploys will involve the full might and ugliness of the Glorious Union's security apparatus at home and abroad. But they are up against some pretty nasty state and non-state adversaries too. It's not going to be pretty, and Inonu is not in a lenient mood right now.
1
Reactions:
Chapter 55: A Long Three Days in Ankara: Japan's Rise, Diplomacy, Plots, Propaganda and Revolt (29 to 31 January 1939)
Chapter 55: A Long Three Days in Ankara: Japan's Rise, Diplomacy, Plots, Propaganda and Revolt (29 to 31 January 1939)
A Newsreel Prologue to Lighten the Pathe-Tone a Little
Ed. It is our advantage to be able to look back at the events of this period with 20/20 hindsight (although the alternate nature of events can vary things a little). Our predecessors had no such advantage – as seen here! The dress apparently designed in 1939 for Madonna in 2000 is pretty ‘on-trend’. I am also impressed with the mobile phone predicted here for the ‘man of the future’. And I want to a) get one of those hats, and b) be able to wear it confidently in public without being hauled off for a ‘psychological assessment’! But perhaps not the ‘candy for cuties’ – No, not that kind of ‘candy’!
So in between all the grim and glorious events depicted here, please enjoy this opportunity to look back at those looking forward …
(1:36 min)
Special Report – Japan and the Rise of Expansionism to 1939
[Ed. Adjusted a little towards the end to accommodate in-game alt-world variations, such as the early end of the Second Sino-Japanese War. After a very short back-history, it concentrates on the 1930s and the HoI3 ‘Road to War’ period of 1936 onwards. Also, because there is no in-game indication of them – visible to Turkey anyway – clashes with the Soviets, especially the ‘Battle of Lake Khasan' in 1938, are not included.]
Meiji Restoration and the Great War. The Empire of Japan (Dai Nippon Teikoku, literally "Greater Japanese Empire") has existed as the Japanese nation-state since the Meiji Restoration in 1868. Imperial Japan's rapid industrialisation and militarisation under the slogan Fukoku Kyōhei(“Enrich the Country, Strengthen the Armed Forces”), led to its emergence as a world power and the establishment of a colonial empire. Japan entered the Great War on the side of the Allies, declaring war on Germany on 23 August 1914 and seizing the opportunity of Germany's distraction with the European War to expand its sphere of influence in China and the Pacific.
Early Drivers of Expansionism. Despite the introduction of democratic government and universal male suffrage from 1925, economic and political turmoil in the 1920s led to the rise of militarism, eventually culminating in Japan's membership in the Axis alliance. The main goals of Japan's expansionism were acquisition and protection of spheres of influence, maintenance of territorial integrity, acquisition of raw materials and access to Asian markets. Western nations, notably Great Britain, France and the United States, had for long exhibited great interest in the commercial opportunities in China and other parts of Asia. These opportunities had attracted Western investment because of the availability of raw materials for both domestic production and re-export to Asia.
In the 1920s and 1930s, Japan needed to import raw materials such as iron, rubber, and oil to maintain strong economic growth. Most of these resources came from the United States. The Japanese felt that acquiring resource-rich territories would establish economic self-sufficiency and independence, and they also hoped to jump-start the nation's economy in the midst of the depression. As a result, Japan set its sights on East Asia, specifically Manchuria with its many resources. Japan needed these resources to continue its economic development and maintain national integrity; it chose to do this through direct conquest rather than through trade.
Conquests in Manchuria and Inner Mongolia. In 1931, Japan invaded and conquered northeastern China (Manchuria) with little resistance. Japan then established a puppet regime it called Manchukuo and installed the last Manchu Emperor of China, Puyi, as the official head of state. Jehol, a Chinese territory bordering Manchukuo, was later also taken in 1933. In 1936, Japan created a similar Mongolian puppet state in Inner Mongolia named Mengjiang (Mengkukuo). With rich natural resources and a large labour force in Manchuria, army-owned corporations turned it into a solid material support base for the Japanese military.
Japanese troops enter Mukden (Shenyang) on 18 Sep 31, following the so-called ‘Mukden Incident’, when an explosion destroyed a section of railway track near the city of Mukden. The Japanese, who owned the railway, blamed Chinese
nationalists for the incident and used the opportunity to retaliate and invade Manchuria. However, others speculated that the bomb may have been planted by mid-level officers in the Japanese Army to provide a pretext for the subsequent military action.
This shows the kind of 5th column action Japan is capable of. Might they have extended their range … to Ankara on 28 Jan 39?
Militarism on the Rise. On 26 February 1936, a coup d'état was attempted (the 'February 26 Incident'). Launched by the ultranationalist Kōdōha faction within the military, it ultimately failed due to the intervention of the Emperor. Kōdōha members were purged from the top military positions and the Tōseiha faction gained dominance. However, both factions believed in expansionism, a strong military and a coming war. Furthermore, Kōdōha members, while removed from the military, still had political influence within the government. The state was being transformed to serve the Army and the Emperor.
Second Sino-Japanese War of 1937-38. Japan invaded China proper on 6 September 1937, attacking Chiang Kai-shek's Nationalist China and their puppet ally Shanxi. The Japanese followed up their declaration of war on China by joining the Axis on 16 September 1937. The Chinese capital of Nanjing fell in November 1937 and Shanxi surrendered on January 1938. By 28 February 1938, Japan held over half of China’s major cities and on 24 March 1938 China sued for peace with Japan. The price was the cession of a large amount of their coast [the Seize the Chinese Coast event]. Further details of the settlement can be seen in Chapter 43 of this chronicle.
[Ed. In OTL the war started on 7 July 1937 and was a three-way conflict including the Communist Chinese of Mao Zedong. It became a stalemate and continued into WW2, proving an enormous drain on the Japanese Army, manpower and resources. The Axis was formed by the Tripartite Pact between Germany, Italy and Japan on 27 September 1940. In the TT alt-world, Italy joins the Axis on10 March 1938, right after Germany’s annexation of Austria, but six months after Japan.]
(1:35 min)
Current Position. Our Defence Attaché in Tokyo reports that the Japanese look to have taken advantage of the almost full year of peace since their victory against China by continuing to rearm. Intelligence Chief Ögel reports we have few details and no active spy network in Japan (it would be costly to establish, they are very far away and it would have no effect on their political intervention against us). He provides what information he has in graphical form to the Cabinet, including their current Government appointments. Foreign Minister Aras notes the Japanese Foreign Ministry and agents of the Kempeitai (Japan’s leading military security and secret police arm at this time) have been unusually (and surprisingly) diligent and effective in their information operations against us in recent months, putting a serious obstacle in the way of our alignment to the Comintern. Interior Minister Kaya looks very uncomfortable at this point, avoiding eye contact with his Cabinet colleagues and offering no comment. Turkey is the only country Japan is influencing: this can’t be a coincidence and must be attributed to our recent expansion and efforts to join the Soviets.
A comparison to OTL, as near as I could make it, just out of interest. In this case, these alternative appointments are taken to be part of the alt-world.
29 Jan 39 – A Day of Diplomacy
Just like a good Mafia wedding, the important business is always done in the side-meetings in and around the celebrations. The same is true of the Glorious Union’s Foundation Day. Having impressed everyone with the pomp and ceremony of the day before, Inönü and Foreign Minister Aras host a series of discussions the next day with various VIPs and foreign representatives in Turkey’s modern Foreign Ministry building. Security is very tight after the disturbing events at the National Assembly the day before – which remain largely unknown, though there are some rumours floating around. And some foreign powers will have a fair idea about what happened from their own intelligence sources - while some may have a very good idea, but of course will not reveal it that easily!
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Ankara, January 1939.
Earlier in the month, Aras had invited a range of key interlocutors for yesterday’s celebrations and today’s meetings, both to reinforce the power and legitimacy of Turkey’s new political structure and for the chance to exchange views and persuade potential partners. Not all came, but many did.
Our Partner and Ally, Romania, is represented by their Prime Minister, Constantin ‘Dinu’ Bratianŭ. A good friend of Turkey, he once again pledges Romania’s friendship and allegiance. Their substantial military forces will prove useful in the dark times to come: they will fare even better if they no longer have to guard their border with the Soviets. And will have a far better chance of surviving a German onslaught if the Soviet Union is a formal ally by that time. If not, then we will appreciate their sacrifice and loyalty and do our best to win back their lands from the foul Nazi pestilence.
Our old friend and ally, Romanian Prime Minister Dinu Bratianŭ, attending Foundation Day celebrations in Ankara. Pity about that prior pledge to the Soviets about Bessarabia, but a deal is a deal. At least they keep Transylvania!
Britain is a particular target of our diplomatic charm offensive and will continue to be. Alas, with Chamberlain our approaches may have been politely received and we’ve been given a far freer hand than we might have expected from a stronger and less distracted British leader, but the current UK government is at pains to maintain a very neutral stance. They don’t want to offend ‘Herr Hitler’. So, it is fine for their PM and Foreign Secretary to visit Hitler and Mussolini in their lairs (as they did late last year), but not to send a ranking Government minister to our splendid celebrations! May the thousand camels' flees find a happy home in their underwear.
But, while we only got their Ambassador on an official basis, we did manage a diplomatic coup: the good offices of our private strategic advisor, Lord El Pip, and the close attentions of our very diligent ambassador in London, have secured attendance by Sir Winston Churchill! He is on a fact-finding tour as a ‘private citizen’, but is given VVIP treatment and a meeting with PM Inönü himself. Discussion of course centres around the (as Churchill and Inönü both see it) inevitable threat of general war in Europe. Inönü explains the rationale of Turkey’s actions to establish the Glorious Union and diplomatic alignment to the Comintern: while our country respects the might of the British Empire and its Royal Navy, the existential threat to Turkey will be land-based and will come from Germany. Without Russia in the war, we are afraid the Calistar Line will not be enough to preserve the Turkish Motherland.
Churchill and Inönü meet for strategic discussions, Ankara, 29 January 1939. Afterwards, Churchill is taken on a guided tour of the old Gallipoli battlefield and the Calistar Line.
No pledges or deals are made: Churchill is only visiting in a private capacity. He knows not to make or infer such offers and Inönü knows not to ask - directly. It is enough that frank views are exchanged, understanding promoted and possibilities for the future hinted at. But in the meantime, the oil will be withheld from the Fascists and flow to those who stand against them. And both Turkey and Britain, even under Chamberlain, prepare for the day when that monster will need to be confronted and slain. That is enough for now.
Ed. For an interesting discussion on Churchill and Turkey (and of course, it's only one person’s view in an article I happened upon via Google), readers may care to look at this article https://richardlangworth.com/turkey. Some of the events or perspectives described there would look a bit different in this alt-world (especially re Turkish restraint and Greece, while the 1938 remarks on Atatürk’s death – as Mark Twain would put it – are somewhat premature in this time line), but it provides a little context for and insight into Churchill’s complicated and enduring relationship with Turkey. You will see that there is firm basis for Churchill meeting with Inönü: though I’ve brought it forward four years, to be sure. Take it all with a grain of salt, I’m just doing a little bit of light justification to show such a meeting, if actively and graciously sought by the Turkey of TT1939 (and with Atatürk still alive as well) is at least plausible. And that’s enough for me, the guiding Grey Force of this alt-world.
Our good relations with the US, combined with their recent reluctance to involve themselves in world affairs beginning to moderate somewhat (at least at the official level), have led them to send an eminent representative: General George C Marshall, Secretary of State [in this alt-Jan 39]and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs. [Ed. Yes, El Pip, OK, I know this wouldn’t have worked in the real OTL, but this is a Paradoxical world, in which I will assume whatever constitutional or legislative bars may have existed in this case do not in the TT alt-world. I’ve got to play with the cards I’m dealt! Just like Tiso and Tuka in yet another alt-world. The Secretary of State thing for Marshall is just a few years ahead of it time.] At least is wasn’t US Vice President John Nance ‘Cactus Jack’ Garner [quaintly termed ‘Head of Government’ under the uniform HoI3 government system], known as a ‘pig-headed isolationist’. He was the one who described the Vice Presidency as being “not worth a bucket of warm piss” [Ed. apparently watered down by others when quoted subsequently as “warm spit” by the fogies of yesteryear].
As Secretary of State, Marshall is known as an ‘ideological crusader’. His attendance here is a major PR victory for BJ Guildenstern, who has helped lobby for the visit through a positive press campaign in the US on Turkey’s behalf. Now, ‘Crusader’ is of course not a very popular term around these parts, but he doesn’t describe himself that way and we get the drift of what it means for us. Marshall is accompanied by one of our old friends, Professor Markkur, the US-based head of the Balkan Institute of Strategic Studies. His work on the Balkans in general and Turkey in particular has earned him an expert consultancy at the Department of State on ‘Turkish Affairs’.
George C. Marshall in 1939 (b. 31 December 1880). An American warrior- statesman of great power and influence and a privilege to have him in Ankara. He, Atatürk and Inönü share something in common in that regard and are of a similar generation (all born in the early 1880s). Along with Churchill and Litvinov, Marshall is one of the big drawcards to the Foundation Day activities – public and private. We are aware he convened a private meeting with Churchill during his stay, but it was held at the US Embassy in Ankara so we were unable to eavesdrop!
The purpose of the meeting with Marshall is to assure him that we see Fascism – whether in Europe or Japan (the latter of which strikes a chord for both countries) - as an ideology well worth crusading against. And that if it ever comes to it, Turkey would be happy to fight against it in tandem with the US. He is more reticent than that, of course, but again, this is about sowing seeds for later. Alas, our charm offensive is also not enough to persuade the Americans to sell us any equipment licenses to upgrade our obsolete Curtiss Hawk 3 fighter planes: we have been trying for some time to upgrade them to Curtiss P-36s, but Marshall advises this is still ‘impossible’.
The Curtiss P-36 Hawk. This is what we want for our Air Force, not its now antiquated bi-plane predecessor, the Curtiss Hawk 3!
The Soviets send their Foreign Minister Maksim Litvinov, on his second trip to Turkey in recent years. The talks are practical and (mainly) friendly. His fellow ‘biased intellectual’, Turkey’s Foreign Minister Aras, explains the trouble we have been having with Japanese-sponsored agents and their lap-dogs. This has slowed down our hoped-for closer alignment to the Comintern, though Litvinov is assured we remain determined to see this program through. But he is cagey and gives the impression the Soviets may have other than Fascist fish to fry at the moment – though they still clearly hate them. He also reminds Aras of the pledge on Bessarabia: and is assured we will enforce this bargain on the Romanians if the Soviet Union chooses to declare it. We can’t afford to antagonise them, even if it will be painful for our Romanian ally. Litvinov congratulates Turkey on achieving its Glorious Union and notices some of the similarities (indeed tributes) to Soviet nomenclature and organisation. But he also points out the differences (especially in the politics of it) and that given the current distance of Turkey from joining the Comintern, they will believe our promises when they see them demonstrated.
Soviet Foreign Minister Maksim Litvinov arrives in Ankara, 28 Jan 39. And is that the mysterious GRU agent ‘RoverS3' in the background, standing just – as always – out of shot?
On this visit, Litvinov is accompanied by a quiet and mysterious officer who is introduced as Vladimir Net-Nazvanija (clearly a cover name). Intelligence Chief Ögel believes this is agent ‘SkitalecS3’ - which translates as ‘RoverS3’ - of the GRU. The GRU is the Soviet’s highly secretive Main Intelligence Directorate - or ‘Fourth Department’ - of the Defence Ministry, Glavnoye Razvedyvatel'noye Upravleniye in Russian, hence GRU. RoverS3 is clearly here to assess Turkish military capabilities and preparedness, in case they have to either oppose or work with us in the future. We believe he would have been a keen observer of the military parade, but somehow we were never able to track him during his stay. Only one photo was (purportedly) taken of him as he headed off on his business in Ankara, but it doesn’t tell us much about his identity. We presume he has been sent to personally consult with and provide direction to the Soviet’s GRU plants in their Ankara embassy. Of which we suspect there are quite a few, who we tolerate in view of our alignment trajectory. If anything, we want to impress the Soviets that we would be a capable ally – and a difficult foe.
A hurried picture, allegedly of Soviet GRU agent ‘RoverS3’, taken on the night of 29 Jan 39, just outside the Soviet Embassy. His tradecraft was very thorough and he was careful never to give our observers a clear view. All our photographer could catch was his shadow!
The German Ambassador makes a perfunctory appearance at the ceremonies for Foundation Day but is – naturally – not asked for diplomatic discussions the next day. They still haven't forgiven us for the state sponsorship of Springtime for Hitler. Nor would he have been expecting an invitation. And it didn't help that Lorenzo 'LSD' St. DuBois was doing a stand-up comedy routine ('Hitler in your Living Room') in Ankara nightspots during the celebrations, reprising his now iconic character. There is always plenty of new material to hand.
LSD now rivals Chaplin as a satirist of the Nazi demagogue. Movie offers surely beckon.
Italy, on the other hand, despite recent events, still maintains good relations with Turkey. Though the identification of the aircraft used in the attempted assassination plot of the day before (an Italian aircraft, used principally in the Italian Air Force and Postal Service) has Ögel asking a lot of questions. Nothing of course is given away to Count Ciano, the Italian Deputy Foreign Minister [Ed. In game, Mussolini is of course minister of almost everything, including foreign affairs, but is highly unlikely to have attended this get together, so I have sent his son-in-law as Deputy Minister to represent him, given his OTL role as Foreign Minister].
Ciano is of course charming and polite, and makes no mention of anything untoward having happened the day before. And of course, the Turks will not show their hand until they are ready. Which in the early days of this whodunnit, they are very far from being. And like their Italians counterparts, they prefer their revenge dish to be served cold. Ciano does however register Italy’s continuing displeasure over the absorption by Turkey of Albania and (arrogantly and insultingly, in Turkish eyes) asks after Josip 'Joey' Zasa, the now fugitive former Premier of Albania. He hints that Italy believes the charges against him are contrived and politically motivated, saying Zasa had been most solicitous of the Italians still living in Albania and had given many Italians – it appears mostly from Sicily – gainful employment in his local administration.
Gian Galeazzo Ciano, 2nd Count of Cortellazzo and Buccari (b. 18 March 1903) has been Deputy Foreign Minister of Fascist Italy from 1936 and is Benito Mussolini's son-in-law. Ciano
volunteered for action in the Italian invasion of Ethiopia (1935–36) as a bomber squadron commander. He received two silver medals of valor and reached the rank of captain. Upon his highly trumpeted return from the war as a "hero" in 1936, he was appointed by Mussolini as Deputy Foreign Minister. At least, for this visit, he has done away with the flamboyant uniform and black shirt.
France only sends its ambassador: relations are still frosty due to the continuing negotiations over the Hatay Cession in French-occupied (as Turkey sees it) Syria, so there are no separate discussions. Japan’s Ambassador was encouraged by the Turkish Foreign Ministry to fall unexpectedly ill and would have been subtly but firmly turned away had he tried to attend. Kaya is extremely suspicious of them and, though he has no firm evidence as yet, strongly suspects Japanese Kempeitai involvement in the recent plot. No-one is sure whether he’s onto something, or if it is just a combination of his usual paranoia plus his continuous failure to stop Japanese disruption of Turkey’s diplomatic alignment efforts.
Kaya is also worried about his main rival for the job of Interior (Security) Minister, the well-known, powerful and ruthless 'back-stabber' Mahmud Celal Bayar. Kaya’s shoulder blades get itchy every time Bayar is around: perhaps, if Kaya is unable to help solve this latest plot soon, Bayar’s counter-espionage skills could be valued more highly than Kaya's own positive influence on national leadership as a ‘man of the people’ (little do they know).
The only two current choices for Interior Minister.
Many other dignitaries and representatives from other countries, far and wide, attended Foundation Day, but the above are the most significant of those that did - or were turned away. Another busy day in Ankara ends, once again with more questions raised than answered.
30 Jan 39 - Plot Analysis
Inönü convenes a special Cabinet Security Sub-committee meeting with Kaya, Ögel and a few trusted advisers, to discuss initial leads and the way ahead for the highly sensitive (and closely held) investigation into the Türkiye Büyük Millet Meclisi Plot. Inönü's newly appointed ‘personal security adviser’, his ‘illegitimate’ nephew Volkan (or ‘Vinnie’) Mancini, sits in on the meeting. His mixed Turkish-Italian parentage, propensity for merciless violence and fierce family loyalty make him a risky but logical choice in these troubled and treacherous times (where alliteration lurks menacingly behind every door).
Volkan ‘Vinnie’ Mancini, Inönü’s nephew and new ‘personal security adviser’, replacing the role filled temporarily by Luca Brasi these last few weeks. What he lacks in experience and mature judgement, he makes up for in bold and merciless violence and a strong sense of family honour.
“We understand Zasa is fleeing to one of his strongholds back in Albania. We believe the plan was to wipe out many of the Premiers, either kill you or at least turn the Glorious Union into tatters and then Zasa would do deals with the rest,” says Kaya as he delivers S.I.T.H.’s initial assessment of the conspiracy. “The idea would be to offer all the National Republics far greater autonomy under either a new leader, or with you and our ailing President given little alternative."
"The method of the hit was designed to undermine Turkish central authority at the very time we were seeking to promote it, and undermine unity when we were so actively and publicly promoting it. We can’t rule out that uprisings in the republics may have been planned to follow the hit, to further destabilise the Union and increase pressure on whatever of the central Turkish Government remained.”
“And where is our old friend and ally Premier Altobello now?” asks Inönü.
“He’s with his daughters in Istanbul,” answers Kaya. “He says his health is suffering and he's going to retire to Podgorica.”
Montenegrin Premier Altobello, reportedly shocked after the events of 28 January 1939, now recovering, tended by his daughters, in Istanbul. Is it all too much for him in his advanced years? He sends Inönü his best wishes, hoping he will have the health to see out his little remaining time to witness Turkey and the Union, with Inönü at the helm, firmly on their way along the Path to Glory.
Ögel reports next. “We have no hard evidence yet, Milli Şef. Our investigators are now at the crash site of that Italian float-plane, but it will be some time before they are able to report and it was a big impact and explosion, though we hope to get some clues eventually. As to who could be behind it? Well, the main Axis powers, acting separately or even in collusion, would certainly have the motivation and capacity to back something like this. Zasa knew about the meeting, but we can’t rule out further internal participation in the plot, whether in the wider Glorious Union or even from within Turkey itself, given their plans."
"Then you have the various disgruntled nationalist minorities we have brought into the Union: the Albanians of course, but also the Greeks, some of the former-Yugoslavs and the Iranians are all suspect on that score. And then there are Zasa’s known connections to Italian – especially Sicilian – underworld figures, who would have their own reasons for resenting us. They want to advance their criminal interests throughout the Balkans and could use the new Glorious Union construct to feather their nests, while they 'dip their beaks'. It could be one, some or all of the above!”
“Yes. Joey Zasa would never try to pull something like this off without backing,” states Inönü with conviction. “He’s just muscle, he’s an enforcer – he’s nothing. He doesn’t have the wit for that seaplane attack. He doesn’t even have the ambition to wipe out the whole Premiers’ Council – and he certainly lacks the taşaklar!”
“I say we hit back and take him and his organisation out!” interjects Vinnie.
Inönü leans over towards Vinnie and says, quietly: “Never let anyone know what you’re thinking.” His young nephew has much to learn. He then addresses the rest of the group. “All right, let’s get a message to Joey Zasa. I respect what he’s done. The new tries to overthrow the old, it’s natural.”
“How can you do business with this guy!” exclaims an agitated Vinnie. He is still upset at the impudence of this upstart Joey Zasa, his disrespect for Inönü and how close he came to taking down his adored Uncle.
Vinnie harbours a deep grudge against Joey Zasa and vice versa. A few months earlier, while working for Zasa in Albania, he fell out with Joey after he heard him bad-mouthing Inönü within the Albanian administration. This came to a head in a meeting between Zasa and Inönü, when Vinnie was asked by Inönü to make up with Zasa after peacefully (he thought) settling the dispute between them. Vinnie ended up biting off a chunk of Joey’s ear after the latter whispered ‘Bastardo’ into his as they embraced! Inönü has hired Vinnie because, rather than despite, this indiscrete but very loyal episode. He hopes in time to teach him the ‘family business’ of leadership, politics and hard deal-making. And of course discreet violence.
“I’m a politician and the National Chief now - first, foremost,” continues Inönü, ignoring Vinnie. “I want no further internal conflict with anyone.”
“Well, you can tell Zasa from me, he can either live, or he can die!” interjects an exasperated Vinnie.
“Volkan, will you SHUT UP!” shouts Inönü, finally losing his cool. Vinnie leaves the room.
“That’s it,” finishes Inönü. Then, after a short pause, shaking his head. “Joey Zasa. He can’t be doing this alone. Ugh – just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in! Kaya, get a message to Zasa, see if he will deal. We need to calm things down and then get to the bottom of this. Ögel, explore all the foreign lines of inquiry we can. Luca Brasi is heading back to Rome soon. When he gets there, have Ambassador Ceylan brief him on a special task I have for him.” He hands over some sealed orders to Ögel.
They all leave the room. There is much to be done and a sense of threat and uncertainty will hang over them until they can work out the mysteries of this plot and destroy any internal threat that remains. No-one can be trusted at the best of times. But now, trying to get the new Glorious Union settled down, while war clouds gather around the world and the Father of the Nation lies gravely ill and living from day to day, is definitely not the best of times!
31 Jan 39 - Revolt and Propaganda
News Report: Washington DC, US. President Roosevelt held a meeting with several powerful senators in the Oval Office and said that “the safety of the Rhine frontier does necessarily interest us.” When asked if he meant that he considered the Rhine frontier to be America's frontier, the President said he did not, but “practically speaking if the Rhine frontiers are threatened the rest of the world is too.” Someone at the meeting leaked the details to the press, resulting in a wave of alarmist articles warning the American public, which mostly favoured isolationism at the time, that Roosevelt was prepared to entangle the country in a European war.
President Roosevelt at a press conference, trying to calm the waters after a damaging leak from a supposedly ‘private’ White House meeting with selected US Senators. This is how it was done in the old days: notebooks in the Oval Office, at the President's desk!
Leaks from the White House – a scourge of US politics in 1939! This further reinforces why Marshall was so cautious and non-committal during his recent visit.
Revolt. And if recent events weren’t enough to unsettle the fledgling Glorious Union, a serious rebellion breaks out in Vlasenica, in south of the Bosnia-Herzegovina GNR. The rebels are operating near some of the famous battlefields of last year’s war. The 2/1 Independent Cav Bde is sent to restore order. Kaya wonders whether this uprising is linked to the recent plot: perhaps this group was so militant it decided to rise anyway. Will others follow suit soon? Whatever the motivation of this group, they look like they mean business and this will play into Zasa’s hands (and more importantly, those of his as-yet shadowy and unknown backers).
Propaganda. To help counter this potential disquiet and malaise, as yet confined to the inner sanctums of the Turkish government, the Propaganda Department rolls out its multi-faceted information campaign around Turkey and throughout the wider Glorious Union. This is done in print; through coordinated speeches by national and local leaders; and via the innovative use of the moving picture. They show patriotic newsreels of Atatürk’s speech; the grand parade and events of Foundation Day; and other patriotic music, messages and exhortations to build Turkey and the Glorious Union into an unassailable military and economic power.
The innovative information campaign reaches out into small towns and even villages across Turkey – some have never seen a moving picture before and the effect is deeply impressive for them. The campaign is less organised and effective out in many of the National Republics – especially the newer and less developed provinces – but attempts are made by the regional governments to promote the benefits of a strong Glorious Union, as best they can.
The next project, being led by Persephonee (and with some advice from her fellow-countryman Lord El Pip) is to devise a Turkish equivalent of the Soviet Stakhanovite movement to improve the national work ethic. We can’t afford to have the people now bask in the glory of peace and empire when an existential Fascist threat lies just over the borders of the Turkish Balkan Dominions! The Path to Glory still stretches into the misty future: we can’t pause idly along the way. The Soviets have helpfully brought over some examples of their propaganda to provide some inspiration.
An ‘export version’ Stakhanovite poster, made for Estonia: “Stakhanovite model Soviet worker guarantees the continuing peace!”. Perhaps we can substitute some Fascist leaders into the rather nasty-looking little inset.
Coming Up: Turkish Security forces attempt to unravel the conspiracy, while feelers are put out to Zasa: in part to calm the situation at a difficult time, but also to see if they can learn more about his backers. The rebellion in Former Yugoslavia must be put down quickly, while Japanese influence continues to set back Turkey’s Comintern alignment plans. In world events, Germany appears to be ‘turning the screws’ on Poland, while the hyenas continue to pick away at the beleaguered Czechoslovakia, led by the German overlords. And what will Luca Brasi’s mission be once he arrives back in Rome? On the home front, infrastructure planning and construction is now all the rage – good for jobs and economic growth, too – while improving the equipment of the Armed Forces is another high priority, given ever-present manpower restrictions.
On this visit, Litvinov is accompanied by a quiet and mysterious officer who is introduced as Vladimir Net-Nazvanija (clearly a cover name). Intelligence Chief Ögel believes this is agent ‘SkitalecS3’ - which translates as ‘RoverS3’ - of the GRU. The GRU is the Soviet’s highly secretive Main Intelligence Directorate - or ‘Fourth Department’ - of the Defence Ministry, Glavnoye Razvedyvatel'noye Upravleniye in Russian, hence GRU. RoverS3 is clearly here to assess Turkish military capabilities and preparedness, in case they have to either oppose or work with us in the future. We believe he would have been a keen observer of the military parade, but somehow we were never able to track him during his stay. Only one photo was (purportedly) taken of him as he headed off on his business in Ankara, but it doesn’t tell us much about his identity. We presume he has been sent to personally consult with and provide direction to the Soviet’s GRU plants in their Ankara embassy. Of which we suspect there are quite a few, who we tolerate in view of our alignment trajectory. If anything, we want to impress the Soviets that we would be a capable ally – and a difficult foe.
A hurried picture, allegedly of Soviet GRU agent ‘RoverS3’, taken on the night of 29 Jan 39, just outside the Soviet Embassy. His tradecraft was very thorough and he was careful never to give our observers a clear view. All our photographer could catch was his silhouette!
I love the picture, and the code name. You better tolerate Soviet influence and espionage, especially by 'SkitalecS3', he has untold powers, and might invade your precious Turkey, if not in this timeline, in an other one... Anyway he wishes you good luck with joining the Soviet Union to fight Fascism, your ambivalence towards capitalism still disturbs him, but that's a secondary concern right now... This photographer must be a very skilled spy if he got that close, or he thinks he got that close.
'SkitalecS3' will neither confirm nor deny; whether this is a picture of his shadow, whether he was in Istanbul, or whether he even exists for that matter...
Inönü explains the rationale of Turkey’s actions to establish the Glorious Union and diplomatic alignment to the Comintern: while our country respects the might of the British Empire and its Royal Navy, the existential threat to Turkey will be land-based and will come from Germany. Without Russia in the war, we are afraid the Calistar Line will not be enough to preserve the Turkish Motherland.
Oo...I bet Churchill loved that. The Turks telling him his navy would be of little use to them in the Great War coming against Germany and it was going to be the armies of the world that would get all the credit (and most of the hardship)...AND THAT THEY ARE REINFORCING THE DARDANELLES?
Oh, and the soviets are better than the English.
There aren't enough whiskey bottles in the world to make him swallow that this softly.
As Secretary of State, Marshall is known as an ‘ideological crusader’. His attendance here is a major PR victory for BJ Guildenstern, who has helped lobby for the visit through a positive press campaign in the US on Turkey’s behalf. Now, ‘Crusader’ is of course not a very popular term around these parts, but he doesn’t describe himself that way and we get the drift of what it means for us.
Depends whether we can convince him that the world would be a much better place if 'someone' could impose a bit of order in the Holy Land. Not the isolationist, noninterventionist Americans you understand but someone nearly as good. Someone a yank could trust...
I'm pretty sure that they will be literally the only one of the allied countries (should they join the war) that will even try to stand up to turkey's demands at the end...Mayberry France too but I don't really count them. If they manage to hold onto anything at all I'll be amazed.
We are aware he convened a private meeting with Churchill during his stay, but it was held at the US Embassy in Ankara so we were unable to eavesdrop![/QUOTE]
Oh yea of little faith, pop round S.I.T.H. HQ at midnight (you know, the one next to the crossroads?) and have a look at the file. No spoiler story but they have been two busy little bees working around their Queens behinds.
The German Ambassador makes a perfunctory appearance at the ceremonies for Foundation Day but is – naturally – not asked for diplomatic discussions the next day. They still haven't forgiven us for the state sponsorship of Springtime for Hitler. Nor would he have been expecting an invitation. And it didn't help that Lorenzo 'LSD' St. DuBois was doing a stand-up comedy routine ('Hitler in your Living Room') in Ankara nightspots during the celebrations, reprising his now iconic character. There is always plenty of new material to hand.
I had forgotten about that. You better make sure the Nazis don't get alhold of those guys. I imagine their deaths would be long, painful and possibly public.
...huh. That's...interesting. So what are they doing with their border patrol now then?
I have literally no idea why they'd bother to waste resources keeping up relations with you...unless they are afraid you might declare war and the other axis won't help them and that you might win. That's...interesting.
And if recent events weren’t enough to unsettle the fledgling Glorious Union, a serious rebellion breaks out in Vlasenica, in south of the Bosnia-Herzegovina GNR. The rebels are operating near some of the famous battlefields of last year’s war. The 2/1 Independent Cav Bde is sent to restore order. Kaya wonders whether this uprising is linked to the recent plot: perhaps this group was so militant it decided to rise anyway. Will other follow suit soon? Whatever the motivation of this group, they look like they mean business and this will play into Zasa’s hands (and more importantly, those of his as-yet shadowy and unknown backers).
Thought I'd share a tidbit about Marshall...it seems that Orson Welles was very close to FDR and went on to serve in some capacity; anyway, when asked during a much later interview; who impressed him in the U.S. leadership? He responded; "General Marshall." (offering no other names) "One time, there was a high-level meeting taking place and an American service-man happened to catch a glimpse of Marshall. The young man was so excited he came in the meeting-room and Marshall quickly saw him and retreated some distance to talk with the young man and did so for some minutes...that's the kind of leader that Marshall was."
Oo...I bet Churchill loved that. The Turks telling him his navy would be of little use to them in the Great War coming against Germany and it was going to be the armies of the world that would get all the credit (and most of the hardship)...AND THAT THEY ARE REINFORCING THE DARDANELLES?
Oh, and the soviets are better than the English.
There aren't enough whiskey bottles in the world to make him swallow that this softly.
Depends whether we can convince him that the world would be a much better place if 'someone' could impose a bit of order in the Holy Land. Not the isolationist, noninterventionist Americans you understand but someone nearly as good. Someone a yank could trust...
I'm pretty sure that they will be literally the only one of the allied countries (should they join the war) that will even try to stand up to turkey's demands at the end...Mayberry France too but I don't really count them. If they manage to hold onto anything at all I'll be amazed.
Heh! One always advises the application of a large grain of salt at these international meetings. Then there is what's said vs what's done. But in the end they will take what ally they can get, no matter what the gift wrapping looks like . Remember, from 1941-45, Uncle Joe and the Soviets were the brave Allies in the East, getting vast amounts of lend-lease etc. They even side-lined Patton after he seemed to not mention them warmly in a speech in England! And in this game (unlike in real life) the US seems not to want to intervene anywhere much .
Though yes, if we can beat the Germans together, there could be reckoning at the end with the West, but they don't know that (and it would only be for artificial game score/objective purposes). And it looks like Kelebek briefed you before you 'komposed' your report based on their conversation anyway .
Thought I'd share a tidbit about Marshall...it seems that Orson Welles was very close to FDR and went on to serve in some capacity; anyway, when asked during a much later interview; who impressed him in the U.S. leadership? He responded; "General Marshall." (offering no other names) "One time, there was a high-level meeting taking place and an American service-man happened to catch a glimpse of Marshall. The young man was so excited he came in the meeting-room and Marshall quickly saw him and retreated some distance to talk with the young man and did so for some minutes...that's the kind of leader that Marshall was."
Interesting snippets re Marshall. My own knowledge of him from past reading is similar. He was one of the most impressive leaders of the war, so the chance to include him in a meeting to talk turkey in Turkey was one I just couldn't pass by, no matter how unlikely it may have been in OTL. This is a privilege one has as AAR writer - so long as you can make it at least vaguely plausible!
Interesting snippets re Marshall. My own knowledge of him from past reading is similar. He was one of the most impressive leaders of the war, so the chance to include him in a meeting to talk turkey in Turkey was one I just couldn't pass by, no matter how unlikely it may have been in OTL. This is a privilege one has as AAR writer - so long as you can make it at least vaguely plausible!
Agreed. "If" he was to have any more interplay...make it all about Generalship and zero politics. That's another thing that impressed me too, he had the sense to understand his role of "service" had nothing to do with which party-hearty was in power. <imo> We'd have to Imagine such a stance today. <imo> I think he must have taken the "older George's warning" to heart' "...the bane of the spirit of Party" (Farewell-address-1796)
I must in jest implore you to write shorter chapters, as trying to get caught up on this AAR after some time away has been a truly Sisyphean effort!
On a side note regarding the event responsible for the death of Ataturk (or not, in this alt-history!), I recall from some discussion about the HPP mod that events in HoI3 reset their timer when the game is saved and reloaded. Since the mean time to happen for the death of Ataturk is 6 months, and you've mostly been playing it seems in 1-2 month increments, it may be that the event has yet to fire because of this. I've had some issues like this in a NatChi campaign where the war with Japan started early and the death of Hu Hanmin never fired due to my playing in few-week increments while at war. Well, it is what it is!
As for the present strategic situation, Minister Kaya might consider making a request for some of the Turkish leadership to be redirected towards some international spying efforts in Japan with the intention of infiltrating and dismantling their domestic spy network via counterespionage efforts. This could cause them to use some of their own leadership to rebuild their domestic spy agency, easing the diplomatic pressure back home in Ankara.
We have a problem in turkey that we are currently at the centre of attention for a lot of poeple and are acting as such but will soon (we hope against hope) be sidelined in the war. If we aren't, then we're going to get battered. If we are, then we are going to have time to solve this niggling domestic spy problem and the attempts at axis seduction will probably halt. But there's still so much hinging on what Hungary will do, what Italy will do. We have various strategies and possibilities mapped out but there's still little indication of where the hammer is going to fall.
Truly, this is a fascinating experience, especially in a HOI AAR.
Well, I'll have to make sure Kaya doesn't get too prescriptive with Kelebek then: I was thinking of him more as "the Kompositor" - a sinister but real-life villainous and amoral senior operative with S.I.T.H. with a scary mythical status. Those in-camera vignettes either part of the legend, or even the result of demonic visions seen only in his own fertile imagination! 
