Tides of War - AAR

[unmerged(1633)]

France​

The Phoenix​

From Ashes a Rebirth​

1868 – 1878​

France has long been stuck with a massive and hostile border. Our enemy to the east is one with who we do not and did not wish to ever have to face in all out war. Once before we had trumped them. When the winds of war blew strong from the east, over barren steppe and to the doors of great powers we had trounced the Prussia armies at Saarbucken. Still we would come out of the war with great respect for our foes. These were not barbarians, they were not weak; this was an enemy for whom we must prepare. For one day we would fight them, and on that day the rivers would run red and the collective moans of a generation would fill the air.

1868 crept forward. Frankly France had reached the end of its latest period of ascendancy. We knew this fact and our enemies knew this fact. The new world held no regard, no fear and no honor for the France that had ruled by whim for 30 years. Prussia was strong, Russia was weak and France; our glorious land had fallen behind. Our industry barely held the vaulted position as leader in the world. And our army, though large was no match for the technological marvels that Prussia and Sweden could, and would, throw at us.

When war came it was not for us though. It was a relief, a blessing and like the sweetest song of the day. Austria had moved on the Osmanli and the Swedish and Prussian forces had moved in step. Britain, never far from a conflict immediately moved in, making quick swipes at the invaders, of the maulers of all that was glorious in the east. So with relief we let the months flow, never wanting to join in combat with the people to the east. Though Italy would try some small bit to make us pick up arms, we refused to. It was not for France to fight.

“It is not time”, we said.

In fact…

We were sorely afraid.


Humiliation

On June 5th, 1870…

The Dragon ascended…

War was declared between Prussia and France; the war we had never wished for, the war we had hoped never came was here and we knew it was a sheer inches from a death knell for France. On the 6th Prussia called its allies. On the 7th we, reluctantly, called ours…

A mistake, one for which our consciences would pay for in the years to come.

Already we knew that our armies, short of conscripting the 1.2 million men we had prepared for just this occasion would never stand up to the Prussian armies. So mobilization was announced and when the 600,000 Prussian troops poured across the border we retreated our advanced for of 260,000 to Paris. Sore afraid were we that it would be cut of and decimated. There in Paris with 580,000 men we huddled, afraid one and all behind makeshift fortifications. There we waited for news. What would the wind bring? When would it bring it? What of France? Where was God when his people needed him?

All to soon the news was to arrive; death moves swiftly it seems. Before our drafted troops could even be mobilized, Prussia had cut over 250,000 of them off from ever fighting for their country. Their armies were swift. Burdened down by artillery, one would have thought them lumbering behemoths, incapable of the lighting quickness for which they slashed across the countryside. Before even three months were up the east of France was gone, swallowed into a wasteland of blood and tears.

When our recruits finally arrived at their muster points they found a massive task before them. No more was our original idea of breaking of the Prussia supply lines and then advancing west even an option. Paris was almost surrounded on three sides and we had not even managed to form a cohesive force. So they marched. In hundreds, in thousands in tens of thousands and even in hundreds of thousands the troops of France marched west. Picking up those they could as they advanced. Paris was being shelled, German troops were in the burbs, and God had turned his back. Now must the French man, the French patriot fight for his home; against odds he knew, from the depths of his soul, were too much.

Busting through the Prussian lines a force 750,000 strong fought their way into Paris. Relieving the defenders, making a force to be reckoned with, only to find that every which way we surveyed did Prussia hold a force to be reckoned with. We were trapped, surrounded. No food, no munitions, nothing would make it into Paris. We now had a sea of German gray spread between us and any hope of salvation. When the Prussians in their calculating intelligence left us an opening, they knew we must take it. Though we sent only 120,000 into the hole, our plan being to lure the Prussians into a hopeless assault on Paris and then turn those troops back.

No it was not to be so. Prussia stopped our small advance, closed off the supplies again and then Prussia assaulted. How they did smash against our lines. From the onset it was obvious.

Our troops were tired, hungry and lacked all hope. Prussian troops, through horrendous loses drove us back. First the burbs fell yet again, then the inner city. Finally, when all seemed lost we gave up hope. Waving the flag of surrender, we… heads bowed in shame, asked for the lives of our troops. We were lost, they day was done and France was ascending no more.

Prussia would give us our lives and our troops their own lives. They would take much of our lands, much of our wealth and all of our honor and they would depart. With us had fallen Egypt. Again struggling under the bonds of oppression from abroad, they had been sacked by Sweden and much had been taken. Rome had been seized. We had failed in every regard, not just ourselves, but also those nations who had long since trusted us….

…

Paris, France, and all that was good had fallen.

May 14, 1871… France was dead and the German Dragon had ascended.


Despair and a Mexican Adventure

How we schemed to rebuild our confidence. China, would that be an apt conquest? No their armies were weak, but massive. The Netherlands who had betrayed us for the caress of Prussia? No, we were not ready for another European war; we might never be ready again. And besides, they were allied with Scandinavia and Germany. Mexico…. Mexico would be our redemption!

Or so we thought…

The war in Mexico was easy. October 7th, 1871 brought our declaration of war; the same day would bring Russia’s and all her allies. What we sought to do was now but a distant dream. Sure we could and WOULD bring stability to Mexico, but along with it came war with our long time ally Russia.

Our armies advanced rapidly through both the northern areas of Mexico and those south of our zones of control. Smashing through the weak armies we made steadily for Mexico City. With the entirety of southern Mexico in our grasp we established our own puppet ruler in Mexico and set our armies for home.

It was at this time though that Finland, little Finland, was sacking Paris. Before our troops could even return home the city had fallen for a second time. So it was that, in shame, our ships, and the first contingent of 260,000 men they carried (while an additional 220,000 waited in Mexico for the ships to return) spotted the coast of Brittany…

And the enemy, which lay waiting for us…

Union Jack unfurled…


To Life Through Death

The waiting British navy shelled our ships horribly, men dying throughout the fleet and our obsolete ships splintering like matchsticks. But the fleet made the safety of shore and our army was unloaded. There we waited, blind to the movements of our enemies, as we tried to guess were Britain would land her men. Normandy would receive the first blood.

Forever it seemed we fought the first landings. British troops were bloodied and thrown back to the sea, but still they landed, still they come on. British, Scottish, Irish, Indian; like the whole world had risen up upon us, seeking to smother our nation under sheer numbers.

After a few months of bloody but highly victorious fighting we were given rest for but a few weeks. Thankfully Finland, whose occupation of Paris we had finally gotten a chance to deal with, gave us peace. Then like a storm, rising horrible and fierce, off the North Sea and sweeping down into the idyllic fields of France came the British hordes. Over 300,000 men landed in Brittany and another 200,000 in Dunkurst. Our armies had to choose which to fight and so we moved west into Brittany, choosing to strike the strongest first. The battles here were massive, but again we were hugely victorious. Within six months the battle for Brittany had been won.

But the worst was yet to come. Paris had fallen again. A third time in as many years had we failed to protect our city. Now the once great city, nowhere near its past greatness, Notre Dame a pile of rubble, the Union Jack flying from every height, had fallen to the British, to Satan himself. Turning our armies east we marched resolute toward the gravesite of our honor, buried, torn up and buried again, a fresh cadaver that was spit upon by the entire world.

Again it took us another six months to clear out the British from the northeast. And by the time Dunkurst was freed we were receiving peace offers from every which side. Except of course from Britain, who still had one last MASSIVE punch to throw. We knew we could never win against the massed power of Britain simply by defending, so we began to modernize our navy in order to take the fight to them. 18 ironclads were commissioned, with 20 commerce raiders, 35 transport ships and an ungodly amount of support ships.

But our attention would be diverted. Britain landed again, this time with 400,000 troops south of Brittany. Our armies marched southwest again and met the British foes. But by this time their number was over 1 million soldiers and we were forced to flee. We were now forced to call upon our people again; again we must send them to die. But they were tired, they were without hope (69% War Exhaustion) and not only was our army showing it now, but revolts were rising everywhere and our economy was on the brink of collapse.

Within mere months of the call it did collapse. Much was lost; our country was falling apart about us. And now, struggling against near overwhelming odds, we had to right the ship. So our troops set out. Sweeping along the coast of Normandy, from the cut off positions in Brittany and west from Orleans, we moved on the massive British armies. Our armies met victory wherever they turned, but still it would be nearly two years before the west of France was clear. Again dead littered our people’s fields and again debt stifled the economy.

But victory was at hand. After moving north to wipe out a few more invasions we demanded war indemnities from Britain, and unbelievably we got them. Immediately France received some 125,000, another 65,000 the next month and between 22,000 and 30,000 from there on. With the war over, we returned our people to the fields and began rebuilding the shattered economy. Paying off almost the entirety of our debt, we even traded bought Nice from Italy for 170,000 (with which Italy could pay off the entirety of its debt).

Though our country and especially our capitol are in a shambles, we have come through the fires. We have seen death and been reborn. The old France is no more and we have no idea, no more than the rest of the world, what the future will bring, but we know that after surviving the very fires of hell themselves, we will be more than strong enough for whatever may come our way.

 

[Traveler]

Italy​

1871-1884​

After the war for German Unification we strove to pay off the enormous debt incurred from our part to hold the Austrian hordes at bay. Our nation for the first time in our history had taken part in a Great War as a major participant. Granted we weren’t fighting in the main theater of war but our forces were pitted against another great power. We held our own and our Naval forces dominated the inferior Austrian navy. Although our people had to endure rationing and inflation brought on by the cost of war, their pride swelled at the power of our military.

The Bitter Truth :

Sadly our honor was tarnished by the despicable act of the Scandinavians. Long have we been at odds with these northern people. We had tried to find avenues of common ground in the hopes of building better relations. Alas their latest cowardly strike against us has permanently set our two nations as bitter foes. With the theft of our honor at the moment of our greatest military achievement, our course for the future has been set.

Renewed Determination :

The returning soldiers filled the factories and returned to the fields. The war debt would have to be paid down and our military modernized. The people answered the call and across the nation a new sense of urgency filled the masses. Once again our allies proved to be very generous with a huge donation to help pay down our war debt.

The debt was paid off in record time and our resources, turned toward our rail system which was improved to level four across our entire country. Resources were also poured into the navy which began to buy huge quantities of materials for future use in modernizing our fleet. More divisions were added to the ranks as well. A large surplus of monies and supplies were set aside for any future conflicts to ensure our nation could sustain a longer campaign.

The Tides of War Rage Once More :

All was going very well, when word came that France was having trouble with the English Empire. Soon France was embroiled in all out war with the Brits and embraced for the monumental conflict that was sure to come. Unwittingly we were drawn into the conflict. France offered to allow us to bow out, fearing the coming conflagration might wreck both our nations. We decided to stand with our long time friend and figured if they fell then we would too.

The Brits began to amass a mighty army across the English channel from the French coast off Normandy. The French could do nothing but wait for the inevitable crush from the British as French navy was inferior to theirs at the time. In an effort to draw attention from the French coast our fleet was dispatched to harass the smaller British task forces in the Mediterranean. Our fleets efforts hoped to cause the British to consider their undefended holdings there

The Italian Fleet was successful in sinking several older British ships before more modern and larger task forces appeared in the Med. Our fleet was forced into port near Palermo. Even though our fleet was out of action our plan worked. The British troops remained in Southhampton as their ships patrolled the Med. The French were elated as the delay of the invasion had allowed them to re-equip their fleet and commission newer modern Iron Clads.

With new confidence in their naval prowess the French sailed into the Mediterranean to challenge the British task forces there. The French fleet met a large British Task force off the coast of Sardinia where a huge naval battle ensued. Our fleet sailed out to join the French off Sardinia in this engagement to determine the fate of the Mediterranean. Months passed as the British moved task force after task force into the battle. We had sustained considerable losses as had the French but these paled in comparison to the titanic losses the Brits were enduring. Dominance of the Mediterranean, nay of the world was at stake as the once mighty British were faltering.

The Battle of Sardinia was over and the remnants of the British task forces in the Mediterranean worked desperately to escape. Our fleet was put to anchor in Savona to repair as the French did as well. The British aura of invincibility had been smashed. The whole world stood stunned as the once dominating power the United Kingdom projected across the globe had now been eclipsed. The British were now completely unable to launch their planned invasion of France as they had to determine where our combined forces would strike at their vulnerable holdings around the world.

The End of an Era :

The Germans once hemmed in by the mighty British navies saw an opportunity to be free from their yoke, sent the most modern naval force in the world to challenge the now faltering Brits. The British realizing their dire straights sent an enormous fleet to meet the small German fleet in the English Channel. In a true sense of irony the French joined with the Germans in the mother of all naval engagements in the English Channel. The British fleet numbered over 120 warships to the combined French and German fleet of 26. The more modern French-German fleet dominated the action but the sheer number of British ships threatened to overwhelm them. Our fleet was dispatched with haste to aid in the Battle for the English Channel. Our fleet of 11 ships were added to the French-German fleet and totaled 20 ships against the now 78 British ships.

memorable moments from the conflict

The combined might of the New allies proved to be too much for the British and their fleet was utterly destroyed. All of the British Empire was at risk even the British Isles. The Germans and French landed huge armies on the British mainland to put this once mighty imperialist empire to rest. We did our part by making landings in the Mediterranean lands held by the Brits and quickly seizing them. We also invaded the British held Ivory Coast to put even more pressure on her crumbling empire.

With the combined might of Three Great Powers the United Kingdom submitted and sued for peace. Small parcels from among her many holdings were divvied up amongst the victors. Although the land gained was not substantial the loss in power of the Brits was the true prize.

...

 

[Lotus Lo]

Germany May 17th, 1871 – Feb. 16th, 1884
game is in 1886, but this AAR is only to 1884. will do the other in combination with the next session. and yes, this one is waaaay too long in coming.... that nasty four letter word... lazy

Overview of the World 1871
Overview of the World 1884

Overview of Germany 1871
Overview of Germany 1884


The Unification of Germany was a glorious day. It ushered in a new era of German prosperity. It also catapulted Germany into the preeminent land power in Europe. The real rival to German power was now the navies of the world. This was a major priority for the German Leadership. The leading scientists of the land were all directed to work upon new naval advancements.


In 1874 Germany had only 4 Ironclad Ships. This was compared to some 40+ MO/IC of the UK Navy, the 10+ in the French Navy, the 5+ in the Italian Navy, and the 4+ in the Dutch Navy. At this point it was decided that no catch up would take place, rather a leapfrog strategy was employed. With the recent advancements of the leading scientists, bigger and better things were on the horizon, with a 10 year plan implemented to have the next class of ships (CL) put to the seas. This would give us an edge on the seas, then building up the German Navy until it was ready to strike.


Well, the Navy made wonderful strides and finished with 6 Cruisers about one year ahead of schedule. At this time in 1873 the UK had DoW’d France. While not unhappy about the war (it was the 2nd! DoW from UK France had received since 1871) it was a chance to bring down the UK fleet and let our flags rule the waves like it currently does on the continent.


With this in mind we sent delegates to the French letting them know of our plan to join them and bring down the UK. They of course were happy to get any relief, as was noticed when they brought in the Italians. The DoW was given and the 6 CL, 4 IC and 4 MW, along with French and later Italian help sank ship after ship of the British in the English Channel.


Meanwhile, an invasion force was prepared. Consisting of 3 Army Corp (each comprised of 8 inf-a, 1 inf-hq and 1 inf-e) the landings were in SE England. The French landed a sizable force in SW England. Linked up, the combined forces continued north, quickly swallowing up England, with Ireland in the process as peace came.


Invasion of UK 1882

Invasion of UK 1883


For the Italians troubles they gained some lands in the Mediterranean, while the French got peace and war indemnities. Germany had no terms of her own, only the destruction of the UK Navy. So once France and Italy were out of the war, we accepted the first peace settlement that came out of London. This netted us some various colonial holdings around the world. This war had lifted the clouds and earned Germany’s rightful place under the sun.


This was all done with minor effort. The real effort and focus of the country was to turn its war-debt laden country into a powerhouse to make the world envy us. The infrastructure towards the end of the 1860’s was starting to be neglected, and during the late 1870’s it was put back up to snuff, with some parts just recently coming close to fully upgraded (lvl 5).


Also central to the economic plan was to reorganize the factories. Expanding of the profitable luxury items and the closing down of the low end basic goods was implemented. New goods became available, like electric gear, telephones, and automobiles. Each was given importance in the new economy (although autos make hardly any money).


Reduction of crime was also seen as key. Corruption was robbing the coffers of the nation and lining the pockets of criminals, all to the detriment of the German people. While the original goal of getting rid of crime had come and gone (1867), the Government still continued to get rid of the last elements. By 1884 Germany was nearly crime free, with only one province having some crime.


Now, in order to implement all these strategies and garner our place in the sun we needed to make sure that the German boarders were secure. Before the War of Unification we had a small fort system. By 1884 the borders with France, Poland and Lithuania were all upgraded to the most modern of standards (lvl 3). While the boarder with the Dutch was upped to a modest system (lvl 1) as recent signs pointed of a shift of Dutch policy. (HOL was ai’d during the last of these two sessions) Before the Dutch troops were not to be seen on the boarder, however, recently they had started to man the border. This was followed by a revoking of the Military Access granted so long ago to the Dutch.


The border with the French was seen as the most important border to Germany’s security. This was to be manned by 4 Defense Corp (1 inf-e, 4 inf-a), one for each province/fort. The Eastern border was seen just as a precautionary incase Germany ever fought against Russia again. The Dutch border was manned by 6 Defense Corp (1 inf-e, 1 inf-a). Each border section was also backed up by a Variable Reactionary Force (1 inf-hq, …?).


Now that the economy has been chugging along at a good pace and the real threats to German leadership are no longer viable, the attitudes of the people shifted some and the Liberals came into power, supplanting the long held reign of the Conservatives. The Liberal hold however is tenuous, leading polls only by 5% in the last 2 elections.

edit: added the two pics of the Invasion of UK... forgot I had them!
edit2: fixed date of invasion pics from 70's to 80's

 

[unmerged(1633)]

France​

Tides​

The Enemy of My Enemy...​

1878 - 1884​

Still France wanders, unable to regain a place in the world. We have seen massive defeat and massive victory in just a few years, but we have also seen millions dead and our cities put to the flame. Our country was stumbling forward and we where struggling to hold the reins of power.

Following the victorious war with Britain, our industry was developed and pushed forward, resulting in huge debts but also in massive improvements in infranstructure and developement. By 1880 we were wondering what would be done with the nearly 450,000 in debt, but were still fairly confident as our improved industrial capacity allowed us to fully fun crime prevention and social services and still make money.

All that was to change

War with Britain

On May 27th, 1880 Britain declared war on France. Our request for aid was sent out to Italy who immediately accepted. Returning our fleet from China, we set out to refit our ships in Marseille, getting them ready for the battles to come. The 16 ironclads in our fleet (build during the first war with Britain) would now get a chance to test their meddle in battle, but first they had to get to a civilized port intact and be made ready.

The trip up west Africa was harrowing, and nearly a dozen raiders were lost, but all 16 ironclads and 12 raiders made it through, as well as about 40 obsolete wooden ships. Porting in Marseille, we began repairing our fleet and sending communiques to Italy. A plan was made to wipe out the British wasp nests in the Mediteranean. Meanwhile our armies were holding off the sporatic British landings in Normandy.

We began building a massive fleet for what was expected to be a long war, adding 35 ironclads to our forces. And our small fleet, in conjunction with the Italians began to prowl the Mediteranean Sea, sinking what British ships we could find. The Battle of Sardinia would find us all on its own though.

First meeting the British fleet of the southern coast Sardinia, we engaged in battle with them. Like our fleet, they were made up in large part of obsolete ships with a few modern ships to pack a serious punch. Our fleet engage them as we both moved west, and fought them until the Italians were able to join. Together the combined fleets hammered the British squadron, until it was reinforced by another squadron, which when the then hammered upon.

Again we had effectively achieved victory when yet a third squadron of British ships arrived. Now we began to fear, sure the had not been many ironclads and still weren't many ironclads in the battle, we had been outnumbered 3 and 4 to 1 in what was efectively three strung together engagements. And so, though the order for retreat was but a moment away fro days, the British Mediteranean fleet was hammered into submision.

Enemy of my enemy

It was now that we began receiving word from germany that they would like to help us in the struggle. So while our two nations worked out the details, the battle in the south continued to be fought. After both our nation and Italy had repaired our ships, we set out to permanently clear the Mediteranean; and to do that we set our eyes on Malta. With a small fleet ported in Malta, it was a placer the needed to be taken. The Italian forces landed first, but they were having a hard time of it. So it was that when the 130,000 French troops landed the island fell quickly and the fleet was flushed out into the open seas and destroyed.

About this time Germany entered the war. Moving their small but modern fleet into the English channel, they began landing troops. We would join them ourselves in but a few months. Together between France and Germany more than 700,000 men were landed upon the British shores. The first months of battle in southern England were massive, losses ran into the hundreds of thousands, but the British technologically inferiority displayed itself time and time again. When the Germans finally advanced behind the lines were we currently engaged the British and took London, it stabilized our lines out of Cornwall (they had landed and based in Suffolk). While Germany swept up through eastern England, we moved to cut of Wales.

Though we operated as allies, one could see the land race as we moved to cut each other off in Britain. Finally though Germany ended up with most all of Scotland and all of England east of London, we had seized Wales and western England, as well as southwest Scotland. Now Germany suppressed the remainng British fleet and the invasion of Ireland began.

At this time though it was but a waiting game. Italy wanted the British Mediteranean and so we waited for them to grap up all the areas. Finally, after a tough battle in Acre, the Italians had what they wanted and wrested it from Britain at the peace table. We took massive war indementies and Germany took the last, many small islands in the British Empire. It was a stunning victory and none of the victors had faired far better than anyone else in the peace arrangements, leaving none feeling slighted.

So it was that our nation and Germany ended our brief alliance and the troops moved back to the French and German border.

 

[King of Men]

Scandinavia​

1878-86 : Conquest and Unrest​

Though counted among the Great Powers, it was undeniable that the military strength of the Union rested on German, not Nordic, arms. The kings of Sweden had followed a shrewd policy of avoiding all-out conflict with European Powers (with a single exception in the disastrous Crimean War), while picking up colonial territories whenever possible. That policy had borne great fruit; but the fact remained that, at its full mobilised strength of forty divisions, the Scandinavian army was about the size of Germany's standing regular force. The Navy, in spite of sporadic efforts at modernisation, remained the oldest in Europe, reliable enough at ferrying troops to colonial conflicts, but totally unable to dominate, or even contest, the Baltic. The basic war plan, as a wit on the General Staff put it, remained "bite their ankles; stay out of Germany's way."

These years, however, saw Scandinavia distracted by internal troubles, and unwilling even to look for weak ankles to bite. Staying aloof from the struggles of the other Powers, her divisions were deployed to quell dissidents and rioting workers. Although hardly a match for the recent Troubles in Russia, the disturbances were nonetheless a source of great concern for the government; after all, who knew when some foreign Power might decide to profit from the workers' unrest?

In truth, the workers had a point; the strength of the Union rested on their labour and their willingness to die in the Union's wars, yet they were denied a voice in the government. Still, old habits die hard. The Riksdag, the Court, and the General Staff were filled with old men, who did not take easily to suggestions of giving peasants an equal hearing. Thus the first attempt at quelling the disturbances was to declare the long-awaited war on Annam. Indo-China had been a recognised sphere of interest for Scandinavia since the eighteen fifties; it was time to translate interest into action, lest another Power take advantage. Besides, as General Wittenberg of the General Staff growled, "What this nation needs is a short, victorious war to stem the tide of revolution."

The war was both short and victorious, and valuable resources were added to the Scandinavian domains. However, the "tide of revolution" was not to be halted by such means. Indeed, the well-informed, literate proletariat of Sweden were only further incensed by what they recognised as a cynical manouevre to blind them to very real concerns.

It was this fact which caused King Carl to realise that the old days were irrevocably past. "If we can no longer beat them down," he argued to the reactionaries of his government, "then we must permit them to join us." The announcement of full suffrage (for males at least 21 years of age) was made on December 1, 1887, with elections to be held the following year. The effect on the unrest was immense and immediate. Although out-and-out Communists still preached Red Revolution, the great majority of the workers were no longer listening; indeed, several cities saw spontaneous celebrations in the streets, with crowds cheering King Carl.

With workers and nobles on the same side, who would dare stand in Scandinavia's path?

 

[Traveler]

Italy​

1884-1886​

After the Crushing victory over the British by the combined forces of the Germans, French and Italians we sought to increase our navy. With the power of the British severely diminished we recognized an opportunity to improve our standing in the world by building ten more Iron Clad type war ships.

Austrian Aggression :

No sooner was our new ships given their first orders that Austria declared war on us. These foes have constantly hounded us throughout our history. They may have initiated this most recent conflict but we were determined to finish it and put an end to their tyrannical reign. Our first goal was to seek out and destroy their navies. In short order the Italian Mediterranean Fleet met the Austrian navy in the Adriatic Sea. The older Austrian navy was no match for our modern ships and was completely destroyed. The Austrians lost the ability to maneuver with the loss of their navy.

Soon our Far East Fleet caught the Japanese navy near the Western Sea of Japan. Once again our modern ships proved their superiority and swept the seas of any trace of the Japanese. Interestingly with the loss of their navy 130,000 Japanese forces were marooned on Cheju after a recent landing to take that island. The commander in charge of our forces in the far east was content with letting them stay isolated on the island. They were no threat to us as they had absolutely no chance of leaving the island.

A Hard Fight :

Finally The Army of Modena began landing on Japans northern provinces. Our commander unfortunately underestimated the number of forces the Japanese and Austrians had in Japan. Soon our army was fighting for it’s existence when confronted with over four hundred thousand Japanese and Austrians. We used our naval advantage to save our army from utter destruction several times. With the battle for Japan requiring more and more of our forces the fight against the Austrians in the Alps became a holding action.

It wasn’t until the Germans joined the fight against Austrian aggression that our stalled offensive was given new life. The Germans swept into Austria conquering most of their lands swiftly. The Austrians were caught off guard as their forces fell quickly to the superior German army. Soon all of Austria was under German control with a few provinces along the Adriatic falling to us. The German juggernaut soon found it’s way to Japan, putting the finishing touches on the monumental conflict to end Austrian Imperialism. The Germans were a welcome sight but the majority of enemy forces fell in our theater of operations. Two colossal battles were fought in Nemuro and Hakodate that completely destroyed the combined forces of the Japanese and Austrians. The Austrians had no armies, no navy and all their lands were now under German and Italian control.

a few shots of major battles from the conflict


The Cost of Freedom :

Over one hundred and fifty thousand Korean conscripts and eighty thousand Italians gave their lives for this endeavor. We did however sink thirty eight foreign war ships and decimate over four hundred and thirty thousand enemy forces. German and Italian representatives met to discuss freeing as many people from under the Austrian boot as possible, to ensure they threatened neither of us again. The Austrian held Japanese lands would be returned to the Japanese. We would then free the Bosnians, Serbs, Croatians, Bulgarians and Romanians. Although the Italian people paid a heavy price for freeing the Balkan nations and Japanese occupied lands, our losses were tempered by the prestige we gained.



...

 

[Lotus Lo]

Germany Feb 16th, 1884 – Sept 1st 1893

Stats of the World 1893
Overview of Germany


The beginning of this latest era in German history started off with a war started by France (ai’d this session). The French tried for some nine months to attempt to break the through the line of forts in Alsace-Lorraine . They were well manned and the three assaults upon the forts met with heavy casualties for the French. Over the course of the war it was estimated some 800K French soldiers died. We only lost around 60K. The end of the third failed assault saw the French looking for a return to status quo peace. We took it, for the German people had no desire to invade.

This wasn’t the only war that the French got into. They declared war upon China again. The French will one day pay if they keep up their attempts to master the Far East. Fortunately they only gained one district from the war.

In the fall of ’85 the Austrian went to war with the Italians. The Austrians brought in their empire, while Italy chose to stand alone. The Austrian fleet was quickly sunk by the Italians. Over the winter the government decided to take advantage of the situation and declare that the Austrian Balkans would be free. This allowed the government to say it upheld in principle its end of a long ago bargain struck with the Russians: getting the Balkans independent.

So it was in that the spring of ’86 Germany declared upon Austria. The war lasted just over two years. A critical blunder was an expedition that was sent to Japan was critically needed in Bohemia, along with an overall underestimation of the Austrian forces forced our nation to mobilize. So it was that the new goal of the war was to occupy the Austrian Empire and dissolve it. Japan would regain all their lands. Slovenia, Bosnia, Serbia, Croatia, Bulgaria, and Rumania were granted their independence. The South Asian states of Kashmir, Afghanistan, Kalat, and Makran were released from satellite status. Our cousins, who for the last twenty years have been in sore need of being roped in, were just that: roped in. There is now no question as to who leads the Germans.

With the recent introduction of the new advanced warships, a new naval race was undeclared. After the sinking and trashing of the UK Navy, the seas were no longer the master of any one nation. The four CL ships that made it through the UK war cut the waters of the Atlantic with no rival. Thinking we had a comfortable lead on the new naval race, it came to our surprise that the Spanish had twelve CA while we only had eight BB and four CL! The UK navy was also quickly building back up their navy, this time with BB and CA. Italy was quickly building up a new modern navy too.

This Naval build up was not done to the detriment of the Army. Recently the Dutch have been placing nearly 700K on our common border, and our relations with them are iffy at best (ai’d). The Dutch/French border has been upgraded and the entire West Wall is garrisoned by 264K at all times (60% mil maint). This is in addition to the 760K reserve forces that can be called up in a matter of months. Our strike capabilities have also been increased. As it was this defense, along with minimal defenses against Austria and Russia, left only four Army Corp to project power with. This was upgraded recently with the addition of forty new infantry divisions, half artillery, half guards.

The controlling of the seas became a vital necessity since the colonial acquisitions received from the UK needed to be protected. With a navy that can control the seas and a powerful army along with a few well placed bases Germany can easily project its power in Africa and Eurasia.

 

[King of Men]

Scandinavia​

1886-96 : Reconquest!​

The far-flung conquests of Sweden, and later Scandinavia, had not wholly healed the loss of Finland. That ancient dominion, conquered by the kings of Sweden before the Crusades, still threatened to disgorge Russian troops from bases only a few hours' sail from Stockholm itself. Thus, when dissatisfaction among Swedes in the Grand Duchy brought forth a Union Party, whose goal was the restoration of Swedish overlordship, King Karl was willing to hear their demands.

The problem of Russian power remained. However, in these days the Russians had troubles of their own, an over-ambitious social program having crippled their economy. The fate of Finland was the least of their concerns. Thus, when Germany offered to compensate the Czar for the loss of Finland - with the unspoken threat of the German legions hovering in the background - the Czar was willing to listen. A pretext was found in a border disturbance, and the mutual-defense treaty with Finland was unilaterally ended.

King Karl was not slow to take advantage of this. Two days after the first train load of gold had left for St. Petersburg, he drafted the Proclamation of Reunion :

We, Karl, by the Grace of God King of Sweden and Norway, King of Jerusalem, King of the Wends and the Goths, Crown Prince of Denmark, Duke of Zululand, Protector of Tunis and Libya, Emperor of Indochina, and Ruler of the Lower Nile, do hereby proclaim :

That inasmuch as Vladimir, Grand Duke of Finland, has shown himself unable to maintain order in Our ancient Dominions,

and that the said Grand Duke has refused our kindly offers of aid in his time of troubles,

and moreover has treated Our emissaries with discourtesy and contumely,

We find it necessary and good that the said Grand Duke, and his heirs in the male or female lines forever after from this date, shall be removed from the rule of Finland, never to have power over that people again.

Further, inasmuch as Finland is rightfully a province of the Swedish Crown, We do hereby proclaim that Our rule over that land is restored, never again to be undone until God, in His good time, calls all Nations and Kingdoms to account.

Therefore, We call upon the people of Finland to welcome Our armies as liberators. Do not seek to resist them, but welcome them as your brothers, with bread and salt. The day of freedom is at hand.

Karolus Rex.

The occupation was swift and easy, with very few Swedish casualties; although the regular armies of the Grand Duke were true to their salt, and fought bravely, the common people of Finland did not rise to resist the invader, as he called upon them to do. (Not one partisan! The game engine apparently agrees with my propaganda.)

The other nations of the world, however, were not sitting quite idly by while this happened. Italy, in particular, still smarting from the Sack of Rome, threatened war; and even as the fighting in Finland died down, troops were being ferried to Africa, while - with generous German subsidies - the keels of a modern fleet were laid. But other concerns intervened : For Austria, humbled but not crushed, announced the re-annexation of Croatia. Germany, content that the German people acknowledged her their leader, was unwilling to aid Italy against Austria a second time - indeed, since Austria was allied to Scandinavia, and Scandinavia to Germany, any aid would more likely go the other way. Nonetheless, Austria had been badly weakened, and Italy could call on France and Spain, while none knew what the Bear might do. The world thus trembled on the brink of another Great War - which was fortunate for Scandinavia, since a war together with Germany and Austria, even against France and Spain in addition to Italy, looked far more promising than one against Italy alone.

However, it was not to be : Austria and Italy resolved their differences peaceably, and the Scandinavian colonies in Africa again looked threatened. Work on the new battle fleet was given the highest possible priority; but with all the effort in the world, it would still take years before it was ready. But again, fate intervened on Sweden's behalf : For Spain declared war on the United States. The tangled web of alliances was particularly complex here, for France, though allied to Spain, had guaranteed American independence, and was thus forced to declare a pro forma war on her erstwhile ally; while Italy's honour required her to declare an equally pro forma war on France. Thus Scandinavia could shelter for yet a while in the lee of Great Power quarrels.

But this state of affairs could not last forever. Stockholm rang to the sound of shipwrights' rivets, and King Karl paced sleeplessly in his palace. Would the new Navy be ready when the blow fell? If not, the gains of a century might easily be lost.

 

[unmerged(10052)]

Austria

The Unification Party:

It was a great day for Austria indeed. The day when the people cried out in one voice for a government elected to serve them. A government that would work for the benefit of the people. And so in the fall of 1893, the Unification Party was elected into power. In one single night the Hapsburgs fell from power and the people took it. From this point on the Austrian people would rule the nation of Austria. Now the government would have one goal in mind. The Unification of the Austrian Empire.

The Unification of Scandinavia:

Tensions in the world grew, as Sweden started its campaign to unify Scandinavia. Finland could no longer control itself on its own, and Russia had washed its hands of the whole matter, so Sweden took up the noble cause of freeing its Scandinavian brothers from their troubles. Italy protested the matter, while France started its own campaign in China. Spain even set its sights on its own target, the USA. Europe was immersed in chaos.


The First Step:

War on Croatia was the first step in the unification of Austria. Coastal lands from Croatia would open Austria to the world, and the resources gained would benefit its industries. But before our glorious armies could finish of the Croats, Italy intervened, threatening war if we didn’t stop. And Austria, being in no condition to take up arms against a great power on her own, backed down and went to the bargaining table.

Negotiating over the Balkans:

After weeks of debate Italy and Austria were finally able to negotiate over the Balkans. Austria would be allowed to take back its lands in Croatia and Serbia, while Bosnia government would be placed under the control of an Austrian governor. Romania would be discussed over later, and Austria was given permission to remove the Ottoman Turks out of Europe once and for all.

Another Delay:

The great campaign experienced another delay, as the Dutch declared war on Austria without cause, forcing us to temporarily abandon our attack on Bosnia. Virtually no fight of any kind took place between Austrian and Dutch forces, and Parliament had repeatedly sent envoys to The Hague to end hostilities. The Dutch however would hear none of it.

War in North America had all but ceased, and the French had turned their eyes to more promising prospects. France declared war on the Netherlands in 1897, and the Dutch finally had a nation to attack. Dutch forces poured into the French lands and the French army pulled back drawing Dutch forces more inland in an attempt to cut them off and encircle them. But they failed. The French armies were delayed, and the Dutch continued their advance. Within months they were in Paris. The French reserves were mobilized, but it was too late. All nations came to the aid of France, but all was in vein. Even Austria made an attempt to assist a nation that came to Austria’s aid.

At the request of the Austrian Parliament, France dispatched 6 troop transport vessels to ferry Austrian troops to the French theatre. 5 divisions, 60,000 newly trained troops were loaded on to French ships and set sail for Amsterdam. Tragedy struck however and all of Austria was in tears. A spy in the French navy had leaked news of the reinforcements coming to Frances aid and a Dutch fleet was waiting for the transports off the French coast. The fleet could not retreat and all 60,000 men were lost into the sea. Austria could take no more losses and accepted peace with the Dutch.

Continuing our Campaign:

While the French were being driven back, Austria continued its campaign of unification. Bosnia was attacked and overrun. An Austrian president was put in charge of Bosnia and all of her territories were released to Bosnian control. Serbia was next. Her land had been taken without any trouble. No forces to meet us, no rebellions to quell. And Serbia was release back under Serbian control with only two provinces left to govern. Austria had settled for four of her provinces…..for now.

Too much death to come:

It is August 1898. The century is almost over, and a new century is coming. Much work is left to be done. Croatia and Serbia must be finished off. Romania is still independent, and the Balkans are still under Ottoman control. France is almost completely overrun by the Dutch, it’s only a matter of time before they are finished off. England has been lost to the Germans. All this chaos and war, but no end is in sight. Hopefully the Austrian people will vote to assist France again. The new army has nearly finished its training, and will be ready to help. What does the future hold for Austria and her people? After our campaigns are finished, will we finally see peace?

 

[Traveler]

Italy​

1886-1898​

After many years of internal strife a new leader came to power in Russia and our old friendship began to flourish again. France began to take steps to repair their economy which had fallen into major disarray. Spain was emerging as an extremely powerful nation with new energy focused on raising their nation to renewed prestige. Germany was the undisputed super power with an immense naval force and massive land army. Scandinavia continued to snatch provinces around the glob during conflicts in which they wisely entered when the opportunity was right.

The cost of freeing the Balkans and the Japanese from the Austrians was a heavy burden our country was willing to take. Italians rallied to the flag as our armies reformed and our navy modernized. Since the war against Austria and England our relationship with Germany grew stronger. Our two nations were committed to freeing all those people held under the boot of imperialistic nations.

Liberating Lands from the English :

Noticing the power of Germanies modern navy our embassador was able to secure technical designs which would allow us to create these new types of warships. It wasn’t long before our powerful industries began to churn out Battleships and Heavy Cruisers. Two fleets were designed around these warships to project our power in the Mediterranean and the Far East.

No sooner had our fleets been sent on their first patrols, Spain declared war against the English. These modern warships proved to be too much for the British as we swept their ships from the oceans and seas. The Spanish began to make landings in England as The Army of Modena stationed in the Far East began to liberate lands in Burma. The Armies of Roma and Sardinia fought in Africa crushing the British expeditionary forces there. After some time the British realized they had no chance and sued for peace, granting Spain and us large portions of their African holdings.

An Old Enemy Reborn :

Toward the end of our conflict with England a radical new government came to power in Austria. Without delay the new leadership sent it’s military across the border into Croatia. We were dumb founded by this move. What manner of insanity would prompt the Austrians to strike out and have them believe they could just retake the Balkans after so recently losing them. We wasted no time sending them a very strong message stating we would not just stand by as they crushed these helpless new governments.

Reluctantly the ultraist leadership in Austria ceased it’s advance into Croatia and stood down. German emissaries worked feverishly to prevent another conflict between our two nations which helped to avoid hostilities. Talks began between our two governments with the Germans mediating. Through many hours of negotiation a few points were agreed upon with the more difficult items put aside for future talks.

Global Conflict :

Once again we found ourselves in conflict with England as well as the United States of America and Mexico. Unfortunately France ended up siding with the US in this conflict as they had guaranteed their independence. Obviously we did not want to fight the one nation that had stood by us throughout our many years of struggle and dispatched an emissary to make peace.

Once again our navies would prove to be pivotal in our victories to come. We used our fleets to blockade the Mediterranean and stopped several enemy fleets with transports loaded with invasion troops. Soon our dominance in the Med would no longer be challenged allowing us to bring our fleets to bombard our enemies lands as we went on the offensive.

After some fighting in Africa the English sued for peace conceding more lands to Spain. We then made landings in Mexico and began to encircle the capitol when they sued for peace giving us several provinces along there western coast. With the English and Mexicans subdued we brought our forces against the US.

The Road to Peace Only Grew Longer :

Our field commanders felt the best way to fight the States was to draw their forces away from their capitol then using our naval power make landings and seize their capitol forcing them to the peace table. The US had a much larger land force, which would prove extremely challenging for our forces. Much to our chagrin France declared war on the Netherlands who had been growing increasingly antagonistic toward the French. As we fought in the US seizing Florida, the French plans of turning the Dutch flanks failed and things looked bad for our friends.

some photos from the war department

What the French lacked in military prowess they surely made up for in fostering good relations with world powers. Russia and Spain were the first to rally to Frances aid. They offered hundreds of thousands of forces for the cause. Tied up in our current conflict we could only offer half our transport fleet to help Russia ferry it’s troops to the battles in France. Unfortunately once the Russians entered the fray they asked for us to honor our alliance with them and declare war on the Dutch. Honor bound we accepted, but now our holdings in Korea were in jeopardy.

With most of our forces fighting in the US and half our transport fleet under Russian control we are indeed in a very bad spot. We must finish this fight with the US so we can send forces to help in France as well as protect our interests in Korea. Reports from our garrison in Korea indicate the enemy forces forming on the border number into the millions.




...

 

[King of Men]

Scandinavia​

1896-1902 : Triumph and Disaster​

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream -- and not make dreams your master;
If you can think -- and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings -- nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run --
Yours is the Earth and all that is in it,
And -- which is more -- you'll be a Man, my son!​

In these years the King and Government of Scandinavia had good cause to recall the words of Kipling, for they met, indeed, with Triumph and Disaster enough to choke any nation.

Victoria, by the Grace of God Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Empress of India, and Defender of the Faith, had ruled the waves too long, and grown fat and complacent in the doing. When the Federal Republic of Greater Germany demanded colonial concessions, the British refused, and war naturally ensued - a war in which Scandinavia had much to lose, but everything to gain.

In the peninsular heartland, the war was hardly noticeable to the common citizen of Scandinavia. A few landing by Dominion troops were swiftly repelled, and the Germans threw an iron guard around the long Norwegian coastline - aided by the first modern Swedish ships, Panserskipene Sverige, Norge and Danmark.

However, the colonies faced a long, exhausting struggle; Swedish Indochina, in particular, was swiftly invaded, and its small garrison under General von Aschberg forced to retreat by overwhelming British numbers. Nonetheless, this brave army put up a solid struggle in the jungles of Annam, managing to hold the British advance to a crawl until relief from Europe could arrive. The Battle of Hue, in particular, was a great defensive success, giving the British a bloody nose and considerably dampening their desire to advance.

In Africa, things were going much better; an advance out of the Duchy of Zululand, reinforced by troops from Egypt, soon brought most of South Africa under control. Meanwhile the Germans, with utter control of the sea, were not only gobbling up every African colony, but also contesting the British Isles themselves. That was indeed a struggle, perhaps the hardest ever fought; for the English refused to surrender; they fought over every village until it lay in ruins, and every hilltop was contested as bitterly as though its loss meant the immediate end of the war. The British had failed in Africa; they had failed on the seas and oceans; they could not yet take to the air. But they defended their island, whatever the cost might be : They fought on the beaches; they fought on the landing grounds; they fought in the fields and in the streets; they fought in the hills. But in the end, the Germans had the mastery.

The peace was fairly gentle, when compared to the harshness of the war : Burma was signed over to Sweden, large parts of Africa given to Germany, and the primacy of Germany in European affairs recognised. For Sweden, though, this was a major triumph. At a stroke, tens of millions of people had been added to King Oscar's subjects, along with vast, wealthy lands. Swedish Indochina in 1900. The long-awaited annexation of Cambodia was a mere anti-climactic afterthought by comparison.

But the next war was not to be so fortunate. Italy, long a diplomatic foe of Scandinavia, bereft of the African lands she felt should have been hers, and smarting from the Sack of Rome, had at last gained a promise of neutrality from Germany - a quid pro quo for not supporting Britain. Austria was busy in the Balkans; thus when the Italian ambassador delivered the declaration of war, Scandinavia stood alone against the storm.

The Scandinavian holdings in Korea, unguarded, were first to fall. But in Indochina, the powerful armies that had broken India's martial races stood to meet the Italians, and defeated them utterly; after the first probing attacks lost ten divisions, the Italians did not attempt to renew combat in this theater. In Africa the battle went, at first, in favour of the Northmen, who by clever maneuvering managed to trap and destroy Italy's Colonial Cavalry Corps, and occupy large parts of Tripoli and the whole of Togo. But the Italians, with complete control of the Mediterranean, could pour in troops in the hundreds of thousands, and the Scandinavians, encumbered by their heavy artillery, were surrounded and destroyed in their turn.

However, these colonial campaigns were but skirmishes, compared to the main battle. For the Italians now landed on the Scandinavian peninsula itself. The brave Swedish Navy tried briefly to contest the landing; but, outnumbered by more than three to one, was swiftly forced to retreat into harbour and remain there for the rest of the war, mourning the loss of Panserskip Norge.

Italian control of the seas was now complete, and landings in Trondhjem were unopposed at first. But, forewarned by the Germans (whose neutrality was perhaps not quite perfect) King Oscar had taken the drastic step of calling up the Reserves, and half a million Swedes, Norwegians, Finns, and Danes flocked to the colour to defend their ancient homelands. The Italian regulars could not stand against those numbers; they were driven back in disarray, their control of Norway and western Sweden reduced to a pocket in the mountains around Christiansand. From that mountain fastness, however, it proved difficult to dislodge them; and now Italy, too - realising that the struggle would be hard and costly - called on her reserves.

With more troops landing in Bergen daily, the Scandinavians were pushed back into Sweden. At this point, a line in the mountains of the Keel should have been established; for if Scandinavia could only hold out until the new Dreadnought-class ships came on line, control of the sea might be regained, and negotiations could proceed from a position of some strength. (Desperate overtures to the other Great Powers for aid had met with uniform rebuff; the best that could be hoped for now was a relatively mild peace). Alas, in the heat of battle, the thought of a stable defensive line did not occur to the General Staff. In their eagerness to destroy the invader, the entire army of Sweden was poured into Falun, where a small Italian detachment had been cut off and looked vulnerable.

This was a subtle and cunning trap. The Italians were indeed vulnerable; but while they were being destroyed, the rest of their army swung in behind the Scandinavian attack, and cut off their line of retreat. They then reinforced their comrades; what had looked like a comfortable five-to-one superiority suddenly became equal odds - and then, as Swedish boys died before the machine guns, two-to-one against. Only four tattered divisions escaped.

There was no choice but to ask for peace, and hope that the protector power of Germany could keep it from becoming too harsh.

Negotations are proceeding; details in the next AAR and in the Dip thread. Ooh, cliffhanger!

 

[Lotus Lo]

Germany Sept 1st 1893 -- March 14th, 1902

Stats of the World 1902
Over view of Germany


The past decade found some interesting things take place. The Naval Race of course is still in full effect. Germany proudly leads, but not by a large amount. Spain has become a challenger on the seas. Its recent militaristic path has made our country quite nervous. It has swallowed large tracks of land in South America, Africa, and now India.

Italy has begun a campaign of liberation in Africa. They have created the state of Sokoto out of previously held British lands. They are expanding its influence and might by giving more territory to it, making it a large African Nation. North Africa is now being reshaped into Italy’s image at the peace table, taking lands long held by Scandinavia.

Russia has been quietly investing foreign money into its internal growth. They are slowly requiring lost lands from the Collapse it experienced forty years ago. A watchful eye is being kept out for the Russians. An extremely large force was seen near the border for putting down revolts.

France has gone about and taken more lands of the Chinese to develop the world coal industry. This has had plenty of time to go on, and should be soon going back to the Chinese. France has also been waging war upon Central American nations, looking for Prestige in the eyes of the World!

Austria (ai -->human) is now much more in line with German leadership; however, they are a bit of a fledgling nation. There is a growing outward sympathy towards the plight of our southern brothers. New programs are being enacted to improve Austria internally. Germany will see its southern brothers back into Great Power status.

As for Germany, we have waged another war with the UK and gained more lands in West Africa as a result. The main thrust of the war was to get Scandinavia a powerful position in South East Asia, to help protect those lands from the influences of the French, Spanish, and Dutch. We were also forewarned of Italian plans of kicking Scandinavia out of Africa, so we wanted to make sure Scandinavia would not be a neutered country after losing Africa.

Our economy is doing well, with some expansion of key factories. Some reorganization still needs to be done, and will be finished soon.

Questions lie ahead…. Spain is fast becoming a rival on the seas, France is continually defying by conquering more East Asian lands, and Russia, well, always be wary of an injured bear! Germany is undoubtedly number one, but her allies are thin….

 

[King of Men]

Sweden​

1904-1906​

Though Sweden had surrendered, and peace talks were being held in neutral Paris, the war was not to end so swiftly. Russia, desiring the return of FInland, and seeing Scandinavia weakened, declared war and began moving troops into ungarrisoned Finland. Meanwhile, the French - who had not been consulted on this grand strategy - were preparing a blow of their own. In June of 1904 they declared war on Germany.

Germany, who had been hoping to build a friendship with Italy by permitting a colonial war with Scandinavia, were caught off guard, but rallied magnificently. The attack of several million Russian troops through Poland was contemptuously beaten aside; French troops attacking the Siegfried line in the West were slaughtered by the tens of thousands; and Italy, coming up through the Alps, was stopped on the border with vast losses.

But the entry of Spain, with her modern navy and vast army, tipped the balance. The land fortresses known variously as 'barrels,' 'tanks,' and 'those damn new-fangled things' drove deep into Germany's lines, though at an incredible cost in lives. Germany, which had stood alone against three Great Powers, was at last forced to ask for terms.

The delay, however, had saved Scandinavia from the worst her enemies could have done. Exhausted by her two million dead, Russia asked only for a war indemnity - a desperate attempt to regain even the precarious prewar stability. Italy, faced with a Scandinavia that was mobilising the vast manpower resources of Indochina, and the possibility that Germany would no longer remain neutral in favour of a Power that had betrayed them, was forced to drop the worst of her demands.

The peace, therefore, was harsh, but not unbearably so. Tunis, Algerie, the Upper Nile, and Zululand were all lost to Italy; but there was no war guilt clause, and no crushing reparations payment, as had been the original Italian demands. Indochina remained in Scandinavian hands, ready to supply soldiers by the hundreds of thousands; Israel, too, remained a Scandinavian possession.

Though the lost lands were extensive, they were for the most part thinly populated; they had been a necessary step in the building of the Scandinavian Empire, but could now be discarded without terrible ill effects. Scandinavia, though humbled, remained a Great Power; and her people had been sent a terrible message by the defeat and occupation. There would be no further talk of pacifism and neutrality in Riksdag, Allting or Storting.

This new spirit was first expressed by the annexation of the rump state of Finland; bankrupt and corrupt, Helsinki fell to Swedish-Indochinese troops a few days after the declaration of war. The navy was rebuilt, the battleships Norge, Sverige and Danmark being replaced by newer models, and a fleet of cruisers ordered to support them. Dozens of new Indochinese divisions were raised, equipped with the latest artillery.

With peace in the air, Germany decided to continue its project of dismantling the British Raj, and very kindly invited her Scandinavian ally to grab a share of the spoils. This time there were no mutterings of 'leave well enough alone;' the economy needed coal and everybody knew it, and Australia had coal. The was was short and victorious, ending with the annexation of a third of Australia and parts of northern India. In the new expansionist spirit gripping Stockholm, no-one objected to the obvious need to annex Nepal, Bhutan and Sikkim to link the Indian possessions with the Indochinese ones. Scandinavia was once more a power in the land.

New order in India

Swedish Australia

Finland at last!

 

[unmerged(30416)]

Screens say more then words:

Spain 1884-1906:

 

[unmerged(11148)]

Russia​

The Great War​

Scandanavia had fallen in their war against Italy. Our small ally had soundly defeated the Scans in the field all across their European and African territories. Germany lay quiet amidst the devestation after being isolated politically before the war. Finland lay bear and undefended. The chance at retrieving the Finnish state was within the scope of what military leaders deemed exceptable.

The Russian General Staff met to discuss the situation. It was determined that any move to retrieve Finland as a result of Italian conquests would be met with strong German resistance. There was no way that the Germans would allow us to use Italian occupation as a leverage to get the Scans to relinquish Finland. The solution was a united war to soundly defeat Germany.

Diplomates were sent to Italy, Spain and Austria. Italy and Spain jumped at the chance to bring the Giant down a couple pegs. Austria agreed to neutrality only if Germany were to be the agressor. Hmmm how to get Germany to be the aggressor. A mighty task that.

Russian diplomates in Stockholm, Rome and Berlin were quick to throw up a smoke screen of pacifism and demands for an end to the war between Italy and Scandanavia. All the while urging the Italians to demand always more than anyone would agree to. Each concession was to be met with more demands. Eventually Germany would go to war to stop the destruction of her ally.

Disaster strikes as the Scans cave into all demands. WIth no time to generate any new demands and our Italian and Spainish allies demanding quick action it is determined that Russia and her allies shall enter a war as the agressors. As such we entered into a formal agreement with the italians which brought us into the war against Scandanavia. The message was denounced as a misunderstanding and that the DOW was not part of the alliance and that Scandanavia and Germany should disregard the declaration as well as accidental movement of troops into Scandanavian territory. The troops were immediately removed back to their starting point.

Russia asked her allies to be patient as she deployed 3.5 million men that she had been building up for such an eventuality. Trained in secret beyond the urals the troops were given their Deployment Orders and sent to predesignated provinces. 1 million would face the Austrians should they get involved. 500,000 were sent to Finland and 2 million to Germany.

Everything since the return of the Czar to the political head of the Government had been in preparation for this clash with the Prussian war machine. The use of our satellites and barriers to Germany advances left on two small provinces for her forces to attack through. The affective bottle neck was the Key. So another million men were called up and the Mobilization orders were given.

Six months later all forces were in position and prepared to move across the border into Germany and Scandanavia. France moved first. Her Prime Minister and long time Russian friend had been MIA for some time. The new Government was distant and aloft. DOWing Germany without so much as a by your leave. Well this was a way to DOW germany without bothering to with propaganda to get public opinion into the war. Russia must honor her alliance.

Russian blood flowed freely. Austria refused the call of her allies as her PM was out of the country and the war barred any return. SO the 1 million men holding across the border were ordered through Poland to attack Germany's underbelly. The forts along the Germany border were magnificient testamonts to Germany forethought. However, Russian generals knew that they would bleed themselves dry against them. The plan was to attack through Poland into less defended provinces. Break through and force the Germans into having to take the iniative by attacking Russian soil. This would then trigger the next phse of cutting off their forces by retaking the provinces behind them. Decimate the armies on russian soil and occupy Prussia.

Germany knew she had better troops, Russia knew that she knew. Russia knew she had more troops and Germany knew that she knew this. The plans were set on how to deal with each others advantages and weaknesses. Unfortunately the Germans could afford a war of attrition. The Russian army could handle it. The economy could not. After depolying the reserves Russia had 5 million men in service and a million in the reienforcement pool and her economy shuddered at trying to support such a number. With $5,000 a day in deficit the economy groaned.

Russian forces met Germany's finist all across the polish frontier. Russia fared the worst. Italy and Spain had yet to commit forces to the war. Italy was focused on finishing the occupation of her mortal enemy Scandanavia. Russian forces quickly occupied all of Finland and quickly reordered those forces south against Germany. Spain continuted to await their mighty tanks.

Suddenly Spain DOWed Austria to get land into Germany or so they said. Russia found herself with a hostile Austria. Not too much of a problem as the 1 million men ordered at the onset of hostilities were finally ready and deployed for action against Austria. It was a quick war that Russia loathed to fight. She moved quickly and with great force in the hopes of getting a quick peace to ensure that there was limited loss of life for the Austrians. Italy struck Austria and quickly occupied lands that gave a corridor into Germany. Russia was offered peace and a large section of eastern Austria. This was declined and Austria was offered peace for Military Access. She accepted. Italy sought peace for the territories she held and got it. Spain continued the war after large gains and finally accpeted peace winning large concessions of land.

The time had finally come for a united attack against Germany. Russia had lost some 1.5 million men in her war against Germany. Serious deficiencies had become apparant in the military growth strategy that had been utilized over the last couple years. Men had been trained to a certain degree but no where near the level needed to fight a modern war. Machine guns ruled the battlefield rather than strength of number. Germany was making great gains in her attempts to bleed the largest army ever assembled.

Spain and Italy entered the southern German front. Their gains were limited. The great tank army of the Spainish could do little to overcome German military superiority. The losses on both sides were great and apparantly equal. Germany had more troops to lose and as such seemed unworried. Even when the French finally got involved. Though their war attempts were nominal and quickly abandoned they were able to hold significant forces in western Germany.

Russia had finally created a plan to destroy the highly mobile Germany army. With the help of Italians coming in from the north and the spainish and Italians in the south Germany began to bend. It was finally apparant that Germany would lose the war. Talks were begun even with very little German territory occupied. Germany sought to keep her economy and her people intact.

Peace would come to Russia at a great price. Some 2 - 3 million men dead. A war debt over $5,000,000 and growing. Even with the War Indemnities being paid by both Germany and Scandanavia the loss was over $4,000 a day. The army was demobilized and slashed by over 1.5 million. The army maintance and budget for the education were slashed only to have the amount lost per day to drop to $1,800. Finnish lands lay in Scandanavian hands and the last bit of free Finland had to be abandoned to them also. Finland finally was wiped off the map.

All the war aims of the government were unachieved. All the gains in the economy since the return of the Czar were destroyed. Only god could save Russia now. War indemnities will not be enough to reduce the debt enough to a point that Russia will be able to make a daily profit. IF there is time and luck Russia will use her still powerful army to reincorporate the lost territories that had been released during the first great collapse. The added industry might very well help the great bear. Time will tell.

 

[Traveler]

Italy​

1898-1906​

In the most recent years we had fought successful wars against England and Mexico. Currently at war with the United States of America. France had started a war against the Dutch which proved to be disastrous. The Russians joined the conflict to help France calling on us to assist.

Fighting the Good Fight :

Now an active participant in the conflict to save France from the Dutch hordes we had to act fast. Most of our armies were already committed to the fight in the States. Fortunately for us our campaign in the States caused considerable losses for the US, which brought them to the peace table eager to end the war.

Our troops were quickly dispatched to return to Italy for the fight to free France. Before our armies arrived home the Dutch struck, crossing from their occupied French provinces into the northwestern part of Italy. The Dutch advanced quickly across our undefended provinces, which proved to be there undoing. The Army of Modena returning from the States landed in Massa, then quickly moved north cutting off the Dutch invaders supply lines. Along with a Russian expeditionary force the Dutch force was surrounded then completely wiped out.

This proved to be the turning point as the Dutch were losing on all fronts with fresh Spanish and Russian troops attacking them from all sides. Seeing their inevitable defeat, the Dutch sued for peace with the French. The war was over, peace was finally achieved and rest for our weary armies was finally at hand. Italy performed well, fighting against several nations on every continent across the globe.

Sweet Revenge :

For years our diplomats had been working towards the goal of securing neutrality from many European nations in a conflict we wanted with Scandinavia. This was growing increasingly difficult as Scandinavia had been infuriating many powerful nations who longed to strip them of their over sees possessions. Finally our emissary from Germany gave us the news we longed for, ...they would remain neutral.

The hour of vengeance was upon us. The treacherous Scandinavians would pay for defiling our capitol. On January 18th 1901 the Declaration of War was delivered to the Scandinavians as the Army of Sardinia landed in Bergan. We would fight Scandinavia on three fronts. Fifty thousand landed in Tunisia opening the African front, two-hundred thousand in Norway which would be the Scandinavian front and finally one-hundred thousand in Scandinavian controlled Anam establishing the Asian front. Another eight-hundred thousand reserves would be called up to aid in the cause.

In Asia the Army of Roma met a foe worse than could be imagined. The jungles were home to pests that wreaked havoc on our ranks as thousands fell ill. The enemy sealed their fate cutting supply lines encircling the weekend army then cutting it to shreds.

In Africa our forces faired much better seeking out the Scandinavian defenders relentlessly. After many years of desert fighting Africa was free of any Scandinavian presence.

In Scandinavia the Armies of Sardinia and Modena fought an incredible campaign across their mountainous country. The Scandinavians fought the hardest here, which was understandable. The deciding battle came on February 1992 in Ostersund. The Bulk of the Scandinavian armies descended on the Army of Modena as they attempted to control the province. Our field commander quickly recognized the opportunity to use this battle to end the fighting in Scandinavia.

The Army of Sardinia was rushed into Ostersund to help contain the Scandinavians as the rest of our forces worked to encircle Ostersund and cut all supplies leading into the province. Once encircled and all supplies cut, there would be no chance of escape for the Scandinavian forces fighting in Ostersund. We then ordered an all out offensive to finish off the now trapped Scandinavian forces. The toll paid in Ostersund by the Scandinavians was merely a down payment for their treachery. With their army in Scandinavia destroyed their back was broken and they could not resist us any more. Soon our victorious armies would be marching through the streets of Stockholm. Unlike the Scandinavians though our armies would not leave so quickly, until we collected the balance of our due reward.

Pandoras Box Was Opened :

With our victory in Ostersund our allies could no longer contain their eagerness to join the fight and expand the conflict. For many years Russia, Spain and France planned for the inevitable finale showdown with the Germans. Still smarting from her loss to the Germans, France longed to regain their prestige with a victorious campaign. Russia had hordes of soldiers and knew letting them sit idle could only create trouble for their shaky government. Spain only saw an opportunity to wrest more lands from another nation to increase their ever growing empire. The endeavor to exact revenge on our arch enemies would be the spark for this long anticipated conflict.

The French jumped first declaring war on the Germans which was honored by the Russians and Italy. Spain declared war on Austria bringing Russia and Italy in as well. Russia initially made gains against Germany using Poland as a corridor into weekly defended German provinces. Spain went after Austria with a vengeance crushing her defenders mercilessly.

After many months of fighting, Germany was beginning to push Russia back. France made absolutely no progress against the heavily fortified German defenses along their common border. Spain didn’t seem to be concerned with Russia’s plight or were just too preoccupied with their campaign against the Austrians. It was at this moment we decided to betray the Germans. We had told the Germans, Italy would never raise arms against her. With Russia being pressed hard by the Germans we felt compelled to help.

We pushed into Austria and secured a corridor to allow Russian troops to move into the lightly defended southern provinces of Germany. Spain finally made peace with Austria and joined the fight against Germany. With the corridor I had made Spain began to move forces into Germany with Russia. Spain also brought her navy up into the Baltic to assist us with moving Italian forces into Denmark where we could open a northern front into Germany. Once Germany received reports of Italian forces crossing into Kiel in the north and Augsburg in the south, they sent a stinging dispatch to our nation demanding an explanation for such treachery.

The Stain of Deceit :

The Italian president did not realize how powerful this rebuke would effect the nation. Our honor and integrity had been soiled, finding ourselves caught in our own machinations. We misled Germany, drug our allies into a fruitless conflict and occupied Scandinavia for years after they had already given up. Italy would have to end this conflict and hope we could right some of the wrongs wrote by our actions.

We asked for peace with Germany and got it. Russia sued for peace and was paid indemnities by Scandinavia and Germany for the millions she lost. Spain sought peace and managed to wrest many German held African provinces. We gave Austria back those lands we took from her for the corridor into Germany. Finally we made peace with Scandinavia dropping most of our demands and only asking for control of their African provinces which would be freed by us.
Italy set about freeing those African nations as agreed to. Lands were added to Sokoto and Egypt. Aidjazair and South Africa were freed.

A Renewed Purpose :

The Dutch declared war on France toward the end of the conflict with Germany, prompting them to seek a white peace with Germany. The French who made no ground against the Germans found no such trouble with the Dutch. The Dutch had miscalculated the French and paid dearly. After brutal fighting, the Dutch gave France all but five provinces becoming a mere shadow of her former self.

The Dutch still had many over sees possessions. We saw this as an opportunity to expand the control of Egypt and free more African people. Italy declared war on the Dutch in July 1905. Most of the fighting was done in Korea. The Koreans fielded close to a million men, but Italian machine guns would prove too much for them. Four-hundred thousand Koreans and forty-thousand Dutch would die trying to stop Italian advances. Once Seoul fell the Dutch sued for peace. In November 1905 the Dutch surrendered all of their African and Korean provinces to us. With these new provinces we added land to Egypt and freed Ethiopia.

Of the European nations only Austria seemed willing to work with us, allowing Italy to help with their coming war against the Ottoman Empire. Our relations with our old allies were now strained and Germany distanced themselves from us. We had brought ourselves to this low place and would have to live with it.

 

[unmerged(30416)]

The world in 1912:

 

[King of Men]

Scandinavian Empire​

1906-1912 : Retrenchment​

With Australia providing about one-fourth of the coal the Scandinavian economy needed (a great improvement on the zero that had previously been the case) the expansionist tendencies of the Imperialist faction in the Swedish government were, for the time being, satisfied. However, knowing that tensions in Europe had by no means been settled by the inconclusive Italian War, they embarked instead upon an enormous military buildup. The regular army before the Italian War had been of twenty divisions, with fifty in reserve. By 1910, the regular army was fifty divisions strong, drawing upon the vast manpower reserves of Indochina and experienced from a brief skirmish with France, resulting in the transfer of some Moroccan provinces and the liberation of the Wallonian lands by Germany. Meanwhile the navy was being improved with German monies; although there was no hope of catching up with Italy and Spain, the most likely enemies in a naval war, at least Scandinavia could build a fleet sufficient to support the German Hochseeflotte.

By 1910 these programs, as well as widespread modernisation of the railroad network and fortification of the Finnish border, were well underway, and the Imperialist faction was looking for a place to test its new strength. However, few places remained open for exploitation. South America was a Spanish domain; Africa was under Italian protection, and Scandinavia was not yet ready to offend either of those Powers. China, though, benefiting from German protection, remained nearly intact, and their southern provinces, bordering on Indochina, produced considerable silk and tea. Further, Germany proved willing to relax her protection when it was her only ally that wished to conquer parts of China. Thus armies were marched to the Indo-Chinese border. With so many soldiers, many of whom - Thais, Vietnamese, Laotians - had no cause to love the Han, there was not even a need to manufacture a border incident; they occurred quite naturally.

A small colonial war
The attack began in November of 1910; the Chinese soldiers, though brave and numerous, stood no chance against modern artillery and rifles. Indeed, the attack went so well that, for a brief moment, dreams of wholesale annexation were dreamed in Stockholm : Why, after all, should not a Bernadotte sit upon the Dragon Throne? A reason why quickly appeared in a communication from Germany, however. Spain would be bad enough; war with the German Federation was not to be contemplated.

Germany continued to support limited border adjustments in the south, over Spanish objections; however, southern China contained no coal. Now, coal had not been an objective in the initial planning, which had focused on silk; but the glittering prospects so briefly appearing had whetted Imperialist appetites, and various plans were put forth to carve strange borders out of the Chinese landscape.

That turned out not to be necessary, however. Japan, though a nominal Chinese ally, had been ignored thus far, since they had no navy; what they did have was coal, on their southern island of Kyushu. Two army corps, therefore, were detached from the
Chinese front and sent to Japan, where they swiftly achievedconsiderable success.

Spain, however, was becoming more and more vocal in her objections to the Chinese campaign, to the point of demanding a peace with no annexations. This was, naturally, rejected as outrageous by the Scandinavian government, after first assuring German support for the project. Spain, however, was adamant, and indeed added a demand that Scandinavia sell her remaining outposts in Africa. This transaction had been attempted several times by Spain; now, however, they spoke of a forced sale at a dictated price, with their navy to back up their demands.

This, of course, was not acceptable to King Oscar and his government. The shadows of war were once again drawing over Europe.

 

[Lotus Lo]

Germany March 14th, 1902 – May 10th, 1912

Stats of the World 1904 Peace


With the war raging on between Italy and Scandinavia, our people were nervous of an attack from the long ago enemy alliance of France and Russia. People looked to the east and west, wondering if they were going to have to defend their position as the Leader of the World. Tensions rose, and men prepared.

Unannounced to the public, the Government had prior knowledge that its recent Purchase of Finland monies had gone towards rearming the Russian Army (RUS accidentally sent a secret message to all. oops!). It alerted us to a massive Russian buildup; however we had still put faith in our diplomatic efforts and as thus were a little caught off guard when the war came…

In the summer of 1902, the French declared war upon Germany. This set about the alliance system, getting Russia and Italy to join the French. Our troops were sufficiently in place on the Western Front that no attack came. It was the Eastern Front, the Russians, which came crashing into East Germany like a tidal wave of humans. Some 3-4 million men were thrown at our ranks. Most went through the neutral satellite nation of Poland, trying to hit directly into Posen and Schlesien.

Our men gave a very stiff response, holding the line against massive numbers. Superior German engendering saved the day. The Russians kept on stretching the line, occupying half of the state of Schlesien before the Front stabilized. For the rest of 1902 and into 1903 the Russians kept up the attack, sending massive charges that never broke the line.

It was around the fall of 1902 that Spain declared war upon the Austrians. They called for help, but could not aid them. For the course of the year, and well into 1903, the Spanish, along with the Italians and the Russians, destroyed the Austrian armies. This allowed the enemy alliance a way to extend the lines of the Eastern Front all the way to Switzerland.

In 1903, the Spanish Navy, along with the Italian navy, began to attempt to break into the Baltic Sea. Many of our ships were lost; in fact more of our ships were sunk than enemy ships. This naval game played on for several months, with our successful goal of stopping any invasion of the coast. It was not noticed until the early on in 1904 that their goal seemed not invasion, but the transfer of Italians from the Scandinavian Peninsula onto the Jutland Peninsula.

In the early spring of 1904, the Russians launched a major assault, consisting of nearly 3 million men, across the whole Front. This exposed a weakness in Bromberg, where only a thirty thousand were defending. Troops were rushed to help defend, but it was clear that a break, the first break, on the Eastern Front was about to happen. Along this time, the Italians, around 400 thousand, were launching a new Northern Front from Denmark, and the Spanish, around 1 million, were gaining some territory in Bavaria.

While the German economy was still in very good shape, the massive amounts of life being lost were just too much to take. Soon, with the breaching of the line in Bromberg, Germany would be overrun, and the white flag was raised.

Peace came at the cost of giving up Mali, Ivory Coast, Upper Cameroon, and Volta to Spain. War Indemnities would be paid to Russia for the next three years.

Many millions of men had perished in this war (adjusting for growth, an estimated 4.4 million Germans died). The German Navy was brought down to the size of Spanish Navy. Total population in the colonies lost were 3-4 million.

The German people felt betrayed. Long had we worked towards peace and agreements that would save the lives of people of the world. This had been smashed, and a new reality stared Germans in the face.

Over the next three years, we focused on getting the economy healthy again, and pay the reparations to the Russians. Later in the decade, we found ourselves at odds again with the United Kingdom over its rule of India. Several states were absorbed, and some became satellites of the German Empire.

Then along came the Spanish and their boasting of freeing the Flemish and Dutch from French rule. This was applauded by the powers of Europe, only leading to a carving up of southern France, with the Flemish and Dutch stuck under French rule. The Spanish either couldn’t or wouldn’t go through with the announced war intentions. This was remedied by Germany, with a full occupation of France, leading to the release of Wallonia and Flanders as German satellites, and the Netherlands whole again.

The people of Germany are prepared for whatever comes in the next decade. Spain is becoming a rival power, and is becoming hostile towards Scandinavia’s war with China. France is mostly a weak nation and not worth worrying about. Russia is still a formidable enemy, with her vast army. Italy has wrested control of Manchuria and seems to have disregarded our long friendly relations.


edit: fixed the 'crashing' link

 

[Traveler]

Italy​

1906-1912​

Italy continued to prepare for war alongside Austria in order to free the Balkans and some African states from their backward rule. We had recently acquired the technology to construct a new weapon of war known as a tank. Our General Staff saw the immense potential of this new weapon after hearing of its impressive performance with the Spanish against Germany in the last Great War. Our industry was pushed to the limit to field over 20 divisions with tank support with many more on the way.

A Common Cause :

Austria was ready and with our forces pre-positioned the Ottoman Empire was quickly subdued. Interestingly enough the United Kingdom declared war in an effort to aid the Ottomans. They played a very small part and after sinking several of their ships in the Mediterranean England sued for peace. The Ottoman Empire was utterly crushed and gave us the lands we needed to release the nation of Tripoli.

The World in Flames :

Austria was satisfied with it’s gains and together we would strike at the Ottoman Empire once again to achieve the freedom of those oppressed in Arabia and around the Black Sea. The rest of the world apparently went mad. Spain controlled most of South America, South Africa and was taking parts of Asia. Then Spain inexplicably attacked France a long time ally, stating they wanted to free the Dutch.

Spain never achieved that goal but did manage to keep several French states along their northern border. Germany then came in and completely occupied France freeing the Dutch and satelliting several smaller states that were once French. Russia then attacked and took most of French North Africa and French held Chinese provinces. France was severely weakend after these attacks and may never recover.

Scandinavia, like a cancer, spread across the Oriant into India and China spreading with no end in sight. Italy planned to free Korea but with the unchecked expansion of our most hated rivals the idea would be preposterous. Germany once a champion of freedom, had changed tunes and was now spreading their influence across the world like a giant grey cloud.

Our Darkest Hour :

Without warning Russia declared war on us. This was the proof that all sanity had left Europe. We hoped to just hold our ground until a white peace could be achieved, but the United States of America joined Russia. The combined attacks, although minor, began to wear on the peoples endurance. After years of repelling the two great powers we saw no end in sight. A plan was drawn up to stab at Russia first with which we had borders to maneuver from. Then we would strike at the United States once Russia was subdued. Obviously the plan didn’t work out as easily as it had been intended. Italy fought an extremely brutal war against the Russians in China with hundreds of thousands of Russians dying. Finally we achieved peace, but at an extremely high cost against a once mighty ally.

Now with Russia out of the picture we could exact our revenge against the United States. Our nations frustration from our poor decisions in the last Great War and the recent dismantling of our closest allies, would be poured out on the States.