The Raging Storm - Gameplay Thread

[Lumine]

The Raging Storm

A continuation of The Gathering Storm (1933-1940)

The Cast:

German Reich: Chancellor Alfred Hugenberg (Mr. X)
United States of America: President William Borah (S019)
British Empire: Prime Minister Winston Churchill (Dkrol)
Soviet Union: Chairman Genrikh Yagoda (Spiral)
Empire of Japan: Prime Minister Hajime Sugiyama (Lakigigar)
Republic of France: Prime Minister Charles Maurras (YPestis)
Kingdom of Italy: Duce Benito Mussolini (KaiserDave)
Republic of China: Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek (Kuumo)
Republic of Turkey: President Ismet Inonu (LouisvilleThunder)
Union of South Africa: Prime Minister Jan Smuts (Ishan)
Kingdom of Hungary: King Otto II Hapsburg (AverageFoodEnthusiast)[
Polish Republic: President Adam Koc (Windjammer)
Kingdom of Bulgaria: Tsar Boris III Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (OBD)
Commonwealth of Australia: Prime Minister Billy Hughes (GoTfan)
Kingdom of Spain: Generalissimo Francisco Franco (NYE)

[Lumine]

A Brief History of WW2

1938 - 1940

Max Alpert's Kombat, Wikimedia Commons

Prelude to War

The outbreak of renewed conflict in Europe can be linked directly to a series of developments in Central and Eastern Europe, which opened up major oportunities for ambitious powers to exploit... and for consolidated powers to try and contain. With the continent having narrowly averted war following the successful German Anschluss, the resulting economic fall-out from the Third Balkan War (1934-1937) crashed the Romanian and Czech economies. In the latter's case, and in spite of an international aid package, political deadlock and the fear of an incoming fascist or communist victory at a snap General Election led to a coup d'etat by General Jan Syrovy. Failing to seize control over the whole nation, ethnic resistance soon turned into civil war.

The Czechoslovak weakness, in turn, created a major opportunity for Berlin. Soon afterwards, the Reichswehr and the Royal Hungarian Army invaded Czechoslovakia, resulting in an immediate declaration of war from Britain and France. Eastwards, the rapid turnover of Soviet leaders following the fall of Josef Stalin (1936) saw the capture of political power by Marshal Mikhail Tukhachevsky, the Red Napoleon. Tukhachevsky, seemingly judging Europe to be ripe for the International Revolution, targeted Romania. Around the same time as the Panzers rolled into Czechoslovakia, the Red Army's armored fist punched its way across the border.

With the war in the East still ongoing, and as Duce Mussolini led the international response against the Soviet intervention, a three-way conflict had begun. Although all conflicts had separate dates, historians pointed to July 1st, 1938 as the start of World War Two.

Western Front: Hugenberg v. The Allies

1938 - Keen to secure the rapid victory that had eluded Germany in 1914, Chancellor Hugenberg sent the Reichswehr into another "mad dash" though Belgium to invade Northern France, taking utterly ruthless actions to secure victory. Knocking the Netherlands out of any intervention by bombing the Dutch dykes - killing untold numbers of civilians - and having the Reichswehr deploy poison gas in a large scale (including new and mysterious gasses), the Germans achieved initial success: much of Belgium was overrun, and a war of movement across Northern France left them at the gates of Paris.

Stunned by the failure, the Daladier government collapsed and the capital was evacuated. The rest of the year saw the Allies successfully containing the German advance - with General Giraud earning acclaim - as the BEF arrived, the Kriegsmarine was damaged, and the Belgains remained in the fight. Germany, however, scored a major success by launching a surprise air campaign in Britain.

1939 - Elevated to the Premiership due to battlefield success, Henri Giraud kept France together for a whole year amidst near unprecedented carnage. Use of chemical warfare on both sides as well as trench warfare saw a repeat of Verdun and the Somme, with the Germans pushing towards the Loire only to come close to disaster as their lines of communication between Paris and Belgium were almost cut off. Eventually, the Germans averted disaster, forcing the Franco-Belgian forces and the BEF back in the north. Crucially, a series of revelations regarding General Giraud's supposed cooperation with the Soviet Union brought down his government, and saw Marshal Pétain elected President.

1940 - Having promised "Peace with Honor", Pétain negotiated a Treaty of Paris with Chancellor Hugenberg, bringing an end to French participation in the war. Although many colonies had to be given up, Pétain had managed to retain Alsace-Lorraine, earning him much acclaim as the relationship with London became strained. Sensing British vulnerability, the new Spanish government - led by General Francisco Franco after a military coup - declared war on Britain and laid siege to Gibraltar, with the Royal Navy blockading Spain from the Atlantic. Although the BEF was forced to withdraw as Belgium was overrun, the British did strike back: their first aerial campaign into Germany caused encouraging damage, and all the colonies Germany had taken from France were rapidly seized as Berlin had no means to garrison them.

Balkan Front: Neverending Quagmire

1938-1940 - Only a year after the Third Balkan War came to an end, the Kingdom of Bulgaria struck against Greater Serbia, the ethno-nationalist replacement for the defunct Yugoslavia. Having scored significant success at the start after seizing Skopje and most of Macedonia, months of trench warfare ensued, only broken after the Serbians were finally expelled from the region in early 1939. Already embittered over the loss of Croatia, the revanchist colonels of the Greater Serbia regime staged a coup, turning General Mihailovic into the new Regent and pushing the nation into a near suicidal drive to avenge defeat.

For their part, the anti-Serbian powers had organized under Mussolini's leadership into the League of Rome. Despite ongoing struggles with major partisan activity in Croatia, the League struck at Serbia in a full-scale invasion in the Fourth Balkan War (1938-1939). As chemical warfare, ethnic cleansing and such other atrocities became more and more commonplace, Serbia went down after months of struggle, resulting in untold casualties and the utter destruction of much of the nation. The costly defeat allowed the League to partition Serbia again, installing former Crown Prince George as King of a rump state. In the aftermath, the League - and particularly Italy - now have to contend with ceaseless ethnic and partisan strife.

Eastern Front: Tukhachevsky's Legacy

1938 - Contrary to expectations, both Berlin and Moscow struggled with their goals, if in different ways. It took Germany six months to put down the defiant Czech resistance and finally occupy the nation, while the Red Army's invasion of Romania proved to be a very costly failure as the Romanians put up a fierce resistance and caused significant casualties. Soon, Bucharest found allies willing to assist. The Eurasian Alliance started to intervene in their behalf, resulting in a war of intrigue between Turkey and the Soviets in the Middle East and Central Asia featuring ethnic uprisings and a bloody campaign in Armania. A Polish intervention in Ukraine, in the meantime, crashed directly into a second Red Army offensive personally led by Marshal Tukhachevsky, pushing the Poles back.

1939 - On the verge of success after seizing Lithuania from the Poles, invading Southern Poland and reaching the gates of Bucharest, the Soviet Union took a series of heavy blows: Tukhachevsky was targeted in a concerted assassination campaign and eventually hunted down. Bucharest held as Germany intervened with mass chemical aerial bombardment. The Soviet Baltic Fleet faced initial success, only to be smashed later on. Finland staged an intervention, capturing the lightly defended Leningrad. And, about to be destroyed in the largest encirclement in history by Polish armored forces, the Red Army in Poland had to withdraw back to Ukraine.

Tukhachevsky's foresight, however, had concentrated Soviet units in Romania once again, finally breaking through, seizing Bucharest and executing King Carol II. Further Soviet offensives had also seized most of Afghanistan and led to an invasion of Turkey, all while Atatürk's forces threatened Baku in the Caucasus. In an act of revenge, the Soviet Air Force bombed Konigsberg with chemical weapons, causing panic in German cities. Taking over from Tukhachevsky, the new Soviet leader Lev Kamenev quickly reduced the number of fronts: Finland left the war after making gains in East Karelia, and the Antalya Accords secured peace between the Eurasian Alliance and Moscow by trading Romania (to be Soviet-run) for Afghanistan (returning to royal control).

Kamenev then singled out Germany as the Soviet Union's true enemy. The Red Army under Trotsky, Zhukov and Rokossovsky concentrated again, sidelining Warsaw and storming East Prussia to fight its way to Berlin. In the largest campaign in history, hundreds of divisions fought in the Battles of the Danzig Corridor as the anti-communist international forces (Polish, German, Hungarian, Spanish and international volunteers) forced the Soviets back. And, against the odds, Royalist forces in Romania kept control over the remnants of the army, keeping up the struggle.

1940 - Mimicking Kamenev's Berlin offensive, Hugenberg gathered three million men in a push to the East after the Peace of Paris. Having to evacuate East Prussia, General Zhukov - taking over the assassinated Rokossovsky - was also forced to abandon Lithuania, but the Red Army was able to withdraw safely - if battered - into Belarus. The victorious anti-communist forces, however, were suddenly struck with a series of diseases. As the Poles remained unable to push into Ukraine from the South, Kamenev courted opposition once again by shortening yet another front: in a controversial treaty, the Royalist forces in Romania were allowed to regain control over the nation, if at the cost of having to embargo the Berlin-led nations and thus cut off the oil supply route to Ploiesti.

Asian Front: Birth of an Empire

1937 - Following distinct phases of limited warfare - and much discord among warlords - due to the general Chinese rejection at the initial peace struck between Nanjing and Tokyo, the renewed alliance of Generalissimo Chiang and Field Marshal Zhang Xueliang (The Young Marshal) struck against Japan in early 1937. Despite a marked failure to capture the heavily fortified Shanghai, resulting in repeatedly failed offensives, Zhang experienced some success in northern Manchukuo, opening up a foothold through the mountains.

1938 - As part of his multiple offensives, Marshal Tukhachevsky intervened in the Far East by signing a non-aggression pact with Japan. The Red Army then captured Xinjiang and setting up a pro-Soviet puppet regime, and the allied Communist Mongolia struck Zhang's forces from the rear. Over the rest of the year, the Chinese held the line at great cost, being forced to give up the Shanghai campaign as the subsequent Japanese offensive took significant ground. The first two offensives against the capital of Nanjing, however, failed to capture it.

1939 - In an odd "shift" of alliances, Nanjing and Tokyo reached an utterly unexpected agreement (the "Treaty of Tokyo") to focus instead on the Soviet Union. As part of it, now freed Chinese forces entered Mongolia and crushed the Soviet regime in Xinjiang, all while Japanese forces struck against Vladivostok and Sakhalin. But it was not to last. Underestimating the extent of resistance from the Generals to ending the war in China, Emperor Hirohito was arrested in a coup d'etat and a regency installed under Prince Yasuhito. With General - now Field Marshal - Sugiyama seizing control over the
military regime, the Empire of Japan decided it was time to attack on all fronts.

Securing a rapid peace with the Soviet Union, the Japanese sent renewed offensives against China, recovering territory lost by the Treaty of Tokyo but failing to seize Nanjing. Sugiyama, however, did not just target China: in his mind, the weakened British Empire was ripe for the taking. In a series of major naval offensives - which pushed the Empire to the near limit of its logistics - Malaya, Burma and New Guinea all fell to Japan. Britain, in the meantime, was further weakened by the start of a large Indian Uprising led by Subhas Chandra Bose's INC.

1940 - As the Japanese offensive into China continued to stall with Nanjing still out of their reach, Marshal Zhang, who had accepted a peace in the first place, successfully led a counter-push into Manchukuo, taking Harbin and forcing puppet Emperor Puyi to flee to Korea. Naval landings into Hong Kong, expected to be an easy matter, were contained by the mass intervention of NRA troops, signaling the start of cooperation between London and Nanjing. In the meantime, the Japanese captured Borneo and most of the Dutch East Indies, securing two vital sources of oil. Crucially, Tokyo decided to target the British Raj, securing Burma after a brutal campaign and approaching the frontlines of the Bose-led rebels. After a series of naval enagements, Japanese troops landed on Ceylon.

[Lumine]

Atatürk, the man who took on Britain and won

JULY EVENTS

The Great Turk is dead!

Atatürk dead at age 59, passed away in his sleep,
Prime Minister Inonu takes over as Acting President,
Turkey and Eurasian Alliance in shock as crowds mourn

It was a persistent commentary among those in Mustafa Kemal's entourage that it was a miracle that their President had been able to carry on for so long despite a worsening health and a truly grueling schedule. In truth, Atatürk had started to change his infamous - some would say hedonistic - lifestyle a few years ago, a choice which in all probability extended his lifespan. But his body, perhaps pushed too far due to the stress of the Oil Crisis and the brief war with Soviet Union, finally gave up. On July 3rd, while staying on Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul the Great Turk died in his sleep. He was 59 years old.

Having built a somewhat secular Turkish Republic step by step out of the ashes of the Ottoman Empire, Atatürk successfully threw himself at international politics during the last decade, achieving monumental success. Ankara more than punched above its weight thanks to the presidential charisma, which saw the formation of the Eurasian Alliance, the remilitarization of the Bosphorus, the nationalization of the Iraqi and Iranian oil industries and the downfall of Neville Chamberlain, and more recently, survival against the odds while having to fight Tukhachevsky's Soviet Union. While a number of failures are also to be counted (including Armenian and Kurdish unrest, as well as the loss of Egypt as a partner), Atatürk dies from a position of strength.

Prime Minister Inonu, already confirmed as the official successor a few years ago, has just ascended the Presidency, and will be expected to preside over a massive state funeral. Where President Inonu goes next remains to be seen, but unconfirmed reports from Ankara indicate that Atatürk left the CHP with a "political will" of sorts...

The Soviet Spinning Wheel

NKVD and military depose Kamenev-Zinoviev dvoika,
Third Soviet coup since 1936, state paralyzed due to infighting,
GKO Vice Chair Yagoda seizes power, can he restore Soviet fortunes?

An unidentified high ranking Soviet official - said to be living in exile - was rumored to have joked recently that the Soviet Politburo was starting to resemble a spinning wheel, particularly as leader upon leader took over the leadership of the State. The quote is particularly relevant as the Soviet Union faces its third coup d'etat since 1936, installing the fourth leader in as many years to try and become the disappeared Stalin's true successor (if not in ideology, at least in power). The precedent is not encouraging: Kirov found himself deposed and executed; Tukhachevsky was killed by assassins; and now GKO Chairman Lev Kamenev has been taken into NKVD custody and sent to Lubyanka Prison alongside fellow ally and Soviet President Grigory Zinoviev.

Seizing power via a political arrangement after Tukhachevsky's murder, Kamenev was said to have invested significant effort in consolidating power through peaceful means, cutting deals with key factions rather than resort to the sort of purges Stalin and Tukhachevsky relied upon. More controversially, Kamenev drastically reduced the number of active war fronts through diplomacy, surrendering ground in return for a clear shot at what he identified as enemy number one: Germany. Despite this domestic success, Kamenev's hopes were crushed following the Battles of the Corridor and the recent withdrawal of the Soviet army back into Belarus, raising the prospect of an anti-Communist invasion of the Soviet Union.

Crucially, a recent arrangement has seen the return of Romania to the Royalists, a deal which caused far more anger among Tukhachevsky loyalists than the GKO Chairman envisioned. Reports are still unclear, but it appears that a rowdy session of the Congress of Soviets called for Kamenev's dismissal. Following failed attempts to bring the NKVD and the military - both also heavily influenced by Tukhachevsky loyalists - on side, Kamenev was arrested alongside Zinoviev. Whether it was done organically or not, the coup was led by GKO Vice Chairman Genrikh Yagoda, who had steadily consolidated power ever since Stalin's dismissal. By all accounts, it is Yagoda who know leads the increasingly confused and paralyzed Soviet state, and it will be up to him to lead the USSR out of a difficult - but under no circumstances hopeless - spot.

Maurrassisme awakens

President Pétain entrusts Front de la Liberté with the government,
Right-wing integralist intellectual Charles Maurras to become PM,
But can he command a majority of the National Assembly?

In the aftermath of a stunning victory for the pro-peace parties - as well as the right-wing outfits - in the 1940 French General Election, President Philippe Pétain had several potential roads ahead of him, with observers widely predicting that Pierre Laval would finally achieve his dreams of power after being thwarted by General Giraud before. It was not to be. Rather than find a solution around the winners of the election, the far-right Front de la Liberté, Pétain outright entrusted them with the reigns of government, appointing renowned intellectual and known monarchist Charles Maurras (72), of the Action Francaise movement, to lead the government.

Maurras, who has been deaf since his youth - raising the prospect of a different government spokesman - is at the same time a talented writer who is a member of the Académie française, and an infamous political provocateur, having led the action of far-right leagues in unyielding opposition to the Daladier government. Not known for the friendly disposition towards Germany held by many of his colleagues in the Front de la Liberté, Maurras' appointment signals the consolidation of power by the reactionary right in France, but it also raises interesting questions about France's position after the Peace of Honor and its attempts to rebuild itself after sustaining major losses.

[Lumine]

Turn IX: Late 1940

The Cast:

German Reich: Chancellor Alfred Hugenberg (Mr. X)
United States of America: President William Borah (S019)
British Empire: Prime Minister Winston Churchill (Dkrol)
Soviet Union: Chairman Genrikh Yagoda (Spiral)
Empire of Japan: Prime Minister Hajime Sugiyama (Lakigigar)
Republic of France: Prime Minister Charles Maurras (YPestis)
Kingdom of Italy: Duce Benito Mussolini (KaiserDave)
Republic of China: Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek (Kuumo)
Republic of Turkey: President Ismet Inonu (LouisvilleThunder)
Union of South Africa: Prime Minister Jan Smuts (Ishan)
Kingdom of Hungary: King Otto II Hapsburg (AverageFoodEnthusiast)[
Polish Republic: President Adam Koc (Windjammer)
Kingdom of Bulgaria: Tsar Boris III Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (OBD)
Commonwealth of Australia: Prime Minister Billy Hughes (GoTfan)
Kingdom of Spain: Generalissimo Francisco Franco (NYE)

Economic Performance:

Kingdom of Italy: High
Union of South Africa: High
United States of America: High
Polish Republic: Moderate
British Empire: Moderate
Empire of Japan: Moderate
German Reich: Moderate
Kingdom of Spain: Moderate
Commonwealth of Australia: Moderate
Republic of France: Weak
Soviet Union: Weak
Republic of Turkey: Weak
Kingdom of Bulgaria: Weak
Kingdom of Hungary: Weak
Republic of China: Very Weak

Popularity:
King Otto II: Very High
Chancellor Hugenberg: High
Prime Minister Smuts: High
President Koc: High
President Borah: High
Tsar Boris III: High
President Inonu: Moderate
Duce Mussolini: Moderate
Prime Minister Maurras: Moderate
Prime Minister Churchill: Moderate
Chairman Yagoda: Low
Generalissimo Franco: Low
Prime Minister Sugiyama: Low
Prime Minister Hughes: Low
Generalissimo Chiang: Low

Mobilization Level:
Total Mobilization: None
War Mobilization: Republic of China, Empire of Japan, Soviet Union, Polish Republic, German Reich, British Empire, Commonwealth of Australia, Kingdom of Hungary, Kingdom of Spain
Partial Mobilization: Kingdom of Italy
Conscription: Republic of France, Republic of Turkey, Kingdom of Bulgaria
Volunteer Army: United States of America, Union of South Africa
Demilitarized:

[Lumine]

German Reich:

Chancellor,

Much like in early 1918, the German spirit has prevailed in closing down a front, ending - at least for now - the spectre of the two-front war. Such a strategic achievement has, however, not come cheap. Losses in the West have been significant, hospitals are filled with men with chemical burns, the blockade is still a reality, and the peace terms have struck many - including the Kaiser - as overtly lenient to the French. And still, it is undeniable that your accomplishments have pushed you at the forefront of German statesmen and leaders, up with Bismarck himself. Germany now stands as the strongest power in Europe, leading a large anti-communist coalition that stands right on the borders of the Soviet Union. What follows now, Chancellor? Will you cross into the steppes as Napoleon and Charles XIII? Or will you seek to deliver the finishing blow on the British Empire?

British Empire:

Prime Minister,

Amidst scenes of gloom and despair in the House of Commons, a ray of hope shines through. Following the "Failure is Not an Option" speech, Parliament's will to defy the odds and fight to the bitter end has been strenghtened. With the hawks firmly in control of the Cabinet, there won't be scenes like those of France... at least for now. The BEF was saved, the Royal Navy and the RAF stand strong and proud. But the challenges are immense. India burns as the jewel of the Empire faces the threat of Bose and the Japanese. Franco's forces besiege Gibraltar and threaten to close the Mediterranean. Hong Kong resists solely due to Chinese Nationalist support. And Australia also stands on the verge of invasion. Plainly, the British Empire is now fighting for its life, but you are not a man to give up at the first sign of trouble. Can you turn the tide?

Republic of France:

Prime Minister,

At long last, power. This decadent and hopeless Republic has finally seen fit to reward your patriotism and intellect, and that most impressive of heroes - the divine surprise, Maréchal Pétain - has seen fit to appoint you to lead the government. And by the looks of it, to decide on the future too, for the Marshal isn't particularly interested on details. France is now spared the worst after an advantageous peace, but several regions are utterly devastated and now poisoned with chemicals. Not only that, the National Assembly retains a strong left-wing presence, and it is isn't clear how you can build a stable parliamentary majority... if you want to indulge in democratic pretenses, that is. What is the path forward?

United States of America

Mr. President,

You have been renominated for a second turn, and whatever the differences that may exist between progressives and conservatives, the party seems reasonably united heading into the November election. But the Democrats, though hopelessly divided, have stunned the world with a fresh, energetic candidate and a clear contrast with the Administration. Hugely popular before, it isn't clear how the German victory in France and the Japanese mad dash across Asia and the Pacific will impact the American public, and whether this will breathe life into the Willkie campaign... or kill it at the start. Whichever the case, you must now decide how to run your reelection campaign, what to stand on, and how to deal with foreign events before and after the election. Will you seek to talk the tightrope, or will you take risks in fighting Willkie?

Soviet Union

Comrade Chairman,

As the NKVD clean the blood from the Kremlin and prepare to tighten the screws on Zinoviev and Kamenev at Lubyanka Prison, you are now supreme master of the USSR, backed by your loyal intelligence service and, as of now, hopeful Tukhachevsky loyalists and the battered Red Army. You have risen steadily, accumulating power and influence, but it is not an enviable position to be in. Tukhachevsky's westward offensive concludes for now with the Red Army back in Belarus and Ukraine. The Congress of Soviets still holds power, and it is angry at the Romanian deal. The state itself is paralyzed due to a lack of firm and stable leadership, preventing the nation from unleashing its entire potential. And Herr Hugenberg sits in Berlin with a large coalition army at his back, poised for invasion. But things have been grim before. Can you,lead the Soviet Union to victory?

Kingdom of Italy

Duce,

The opposition stands cowed and broken, Bocchini's OVRA having cleansed and purged the streets of much of what stood in the way of the successful continuation of your work. There have been consecuences, however. The International Olympic Committee will soon consider an urgent motion to suspend the 1940 Olympics in response to the violence, which would make the major investments become, if not useless, virtually unusuable. Other democratic regimes recoil at the use of violence, and are considering their own measures. The Vatican may be contained for now as well, but the Church is unlikely to be a willing partner in the future. And perhaps most decisive of all, the Treaty of Fiume leaves you with a Balkan Empire, but one filled with unwilling subjects.

Empire of Japan

Prime Minister,

The flag of the Empire flies across two continents, and the borders of the Japanese Empire have reached an extention never dreamed of before. From Ceylon to Port Moresby, Imperial soldiers fight in the beaches, jungles and forests of Asia and Oceania, battling the colonial empires and their troops with distinction. And yet the signs of overextention are there, with a merchant navy which struggles to supply so many fronts - let alone bring back raw materials from your new conquests - and the ever present danger of new foes joining in the struggle. For now, you are able to threaten British India and Australia, and keep a knife at China's throat despite the Manchurian debacle. As you decide on how to move forward, domestic concerns also require attention, including whether to hold a General Election.

Republic of China

Generalissimo,

Another year, another vicious campaign. Instead of the long peace that was intended, the Japanese treaty has resulted in yet another war as the IJA takes back much of what it conquered. With all sea and land routes cut - most recently the Burma Road - procuring appropiate military supplies and keeping the NRA well supplied to fight becomes a nightmare of a challenge. And yet your troops fight and make a stand, surprising many by fiercely resisting the latest offensive as Nanjing, yet again, refuses to give up the fight. Marshal Zhang has also found a major opportunity, having broken through at Manchuria in a direct threat to the crumbling Japanese puppet state. And the Japanese have also been frustrated in Hong Kong, which is now defended by British and Chinese forces fighting together. What comes next?

Polish Republic

Mr. President,

At long last, the Red Army has been pushed back from much of Poland, and a major opportunity is on the horizon. For the first time in twenty years, an anti-communist army could march into the Soviet Union and end the war for good. But the challenges are still daunting. Much of eastern Poland is devastated by the war and poisoned with chemicals, and recent epidemic outbreaks among the troops in Lithuania and East Prussia threaten to reduce the offensive capability of the men. And yet, those closest to Pilsudski urge you to move forward, to kick the door in and bring the hated Communist state into a fiery end, with Poland being, if not the strongest force, at the very least the heart of this improvised effort with Budapest and Berlin. What will you do?

Republic of Turkey

Mr. President,

The Great Turk, the Father of the Nation, is gone. Turkey mourns the loss of Atatürk, and it will be up to you to determine just what kind of a funeral he deserves. Thankfully for you, the late President made it clear that you would be his successor, ensuring there is no meaningful opposition as the CHP-controlled National Assembly votes for you to take over the Presidency. And yet, there are many questions out in the air. Who to appoint Premier, for one. How to deal with the past tensions with Britain and the Soviets for another. And more important still: how to keep the Eurasian Alliance together without Atatürk's charisma, particularly since King Faisal of Egypt and Reza Shah of Iran could well try to claim the moral leadership of the alliance. How will you act as you take office?

Kingdom of Spain

Generalissimo,

Spain is now at war, although the first few encounters have not gone as perfect as many wished. Gibraltar resists - though the officer corps is sure it is soon to break - and the Royal Navy has placed a naval blockade, significantly restricting vital imports that the nation needs to sustain a war economy. Aside from deciding how to continue the war, you must make vital decisions as Spain becomes a Kingdom again and the ailing King - and his family - arrive in Madrid for your Constitutional Convention. Which parties will participate? Will you tolerate the left even as the armed revolt continues in some regions of the country? And what sort of Monarchy and Constitution you wish for Spain?

Union of South Africa

Prime Minister,

Though dispensing with the formalities, South Africa is now at war, with the 1st South African division distinguishing itself in the Orleans campaign against the Reichswehr. For better or worse, South Africa has sided with King and Commonwealth, and with the next General Election scheduled for this year, you must now face the public's verdict. After eviscerating the opposition last time around, the National Party has recovered some strength in the face of anti-immigration - particularly anti-Jewish - backlash, and its domination on rural areas ensures its overepresentation in the electoral system. Giving up the prospect of expansion on the mandates for now on will also have a price, and though the attitudes of the public towards the war are unclear, the Nationals will clearly be running on neutrality. The chance is there for you to consolidate your position as South Africa's most prominent and powerful leader... or for years of success to find an unexpected roadblock. What will you do this year?

Kingdom of Hungary

Your Majesty,

Some of the early challenges of peace have been further dissipated, but Hungary's position remains one to be carefully considered. For one, after several years on the throne, you remain unmarried, with Archduke Robert as your heir. The Banat and captured lands are poisoned with the Serbian chemical, making farming an unlikely proposition. The Hungarian Army is weakened after campaigns in France, Poland, Lithuania and Serbia. The economy howls for mercy after endless war, being held together only by mobilization and enormous foreign aid from Berlin and Rome. The Slovaks expect full independence still, and Ukrainians are but an uneasy partner. Moscow remains a threat, even as the prospect of an invasion of the Soviet Union grows on the horizon. What will you do?

Commonwealth of Australia

Prime Minister,

Despite early signs of panic, your energetic measures have prevented a deeper crisis as Australia stands on the brink of invasion. Parliament has been reassured by your firm commitment not to evacuate the government, and local industry is being mobilized as the Australian divisions make their way back. And yet, decisions await. Will you hold the election despite the threat of Japanese invasion? How far will you dare take the emergency measures and the increasing need for energy resources to keep the industries running? And, perhaps most decisively: if the Japanese do land, how will Australia proceed with its attempts at resistance?

Kingdom of Bulgaria

Your Majesty,

At long last, the Serbian War is seemingly over. While resistance may remain in the field, your biggest foe has been all but eliminated, making continued control over Macedonia all but certain. The IMRO and Ivan Mihailov now expect you to uphold your end of the bargain, granting autonomy whilst keeping Macedonia within the Bulgarian state. As the old government returns to office with a reduced majority, domestic challenges flare up again. The lack of connection with Romania across the Danube, for one. The rise on anti-semitism on the other, with the Prime Minister resisting pressure to adopt restrictions on Bulgarian Jews. The damaged state of the economy, undermined by years of endless and costly warfare. A large military, which is increasingly hard to fund and equip. Just like the Hapsburgs, victory has given you political capital to act. What will you use it for?

[Lumine]

World War II - Late 1940

List of Conflicts:

Great Eastern War Soviet Union vs. German Reich, Polish Republic, Free City of Danzig,  Kingdom of Hungary, Kingdom of Spain (1939 - Present)

German-Entente War British Empire (UK, Canada, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand) and Belgian Congo vs. German Reich, Kingdom of Hungary, Kingdom of Spain (1938 - Present)

Pacific War: Empire of Japan, Kingdom of Thailand, Indian National Congress vs. British Empire (UK, Australia, New Zealand, British Raj)

Third Sino-Japanese War: Empire of Japan, Manchukuo vs. Republic of China vs. Northern Coalition vs. Southern Coalition

Chinese Civil War: Republic of China vs. Northern and Southern Coalitions (1939 - Present)

The Armies of the World:

Army Size / Manpower Available / Morale and Quality

British Empire: Medium (RAF/RN demands) / Medium / High
United States of America: Small / None (Volunteer Army) / Medium
Japanese Empire: Large / Substantial / High (Recent victories)
Republic of France: Medium / Medium / Low
Kingdom of Italy: Medium / Medium (Partial Mobilization) / Low (Balkan attrition)
German Reich: Very Large / Substantial / High
Soviet Union: Large (recent losses) / Near bottomless / Very Low
Kingdom of Spain: Medium / Substantial / Low
Republic of Turkey: Medium / Substantial / Medium
Commonwealth of Australia: Small / Medium / High (defending homeland)
Republic of China: Very Large / Near bottomless / Low
Union of South Africa: Small / Small / Medium
Kingdom of Bulgaria: Small / Small / High
Polish Republic: Large / Medium / High
Kingdom of Hungary: Medium / Medium / Low

The Navies of the World:

Capability / Size

British Empire: Carrier-based / Very Large
United States of America: Carrier-based / Very Large
Japanese Empire: Carrier-based / Very Large
Republic of France: Battleship-based / Large
Kingdom of Italy: Battleship-based / Large
German Reich: Battleship-based / Medium
Soviet Union: Battleship-based / Small
Kingdom of Spain: Battleship-based / Small
Republic of Turkey: Battleship-based / Small
Commonwealth of Australia: Cruiser-based / Medium
Republic of China: Destroyer-based / Small
Union of South Africa: Small vessel-based / Very Small
Kingdom of Bulgaria: Small vessel-based / Very Small
Polish Republic: Non-existent
Kingdom of Hungary: Non-existent

The Air Forces of the World:

Quality / Size

German Reich: First-Rate / Large
British Empire: First-Rate / Large
Japanese Empire: First Rate / Large
Republic of France: High Quality / Large
United States of America: High Quality / Medium
Kingdom of Italy: High Quality / Large
Soviet Union: Medium Quality / Large
Polish Republic: High Quality / Small
Commonwealth of Australia: Medium Quality / Small
Kingdom of Bulgaria: Medium Quality / Small
Republic of Turkey: Medium Quality / Very Small
Republic of China: Low Quality / Small
Kingdom of Spain: Low Quality / Small
Kingdom of Hungary: Low Quality / Small
Union of South Africa: Low Quality / Small

[DKrol]

Statement from No. 10 Downing Street

Following his meeting with His Majesty The King, the Prime Minister met with the leaders of the major parties of Parliament. The Prime Minister, Mr. Sinclair, and Mr. Cripps have reached an agreement to form a Government in the best interests of the British people and the Empire, which will command an overwhelming, absolute majority in the House of Commons.

Mr. Inskip, Leader of the House of Commons, will introduce a bill, the Parliament (1940) Act, at the next sitting of the House which will extend the life of the Parliament elected in 1936 for an additional two years. The Prime Minister acknowledges the extraordinary action but believes it is in the best interest of the British people to avoid having a divisive, and perhaps indecisive, General Election during a battle for the survival of the Empire.

The First Churchill Ministry
Senior Ministers

The Prime Minister Winston Churchill - Con.
Deputy Prime Minister Archibald Sinclair - Prog.
Minister of Defense Winston Churchill - Con.
Lord Chancellor Viscount Simon - Con.
Foreign Secretary Stafford Cripps - Lab.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Kingsley Wood - Con.
Home Secretary John Anderson - Con.

Minister of Labour Herbert Morrison - Prog.
First Lord of the Admiralty David Lloyd George - Prog.
Minister of Supply George Lloyd - Con.
Minister for Administrative Services Anthony Eden - Con.
Secretary of State for the Empire Lord Halifax - Con.
Minister for Food William Jowitt - Prog.

Leader of the House of Commons Thomas Inskip - Con.
Leader of the House of Lords Walter Guinness, Baron Moyne - Con.
Chief Whip James Stuart - Con.
Deputy Chief Whip Arthur Greenwood - Lab.

[NewYorkExpress]

The Spanish Government has announced elections for Catalonia and the Basque Country will be held in November 1940.

All Parties, with the exception of those who support Catalan and Basque Independence or Autonomy, will be allowed to participate.



All Parties, are likewise invited to discuss the powers of the monarch going forward at the convention, to be held in Madrid in September. The goal of the convention is to produce a hybrid between Japan and the United Kingdom's governmental structures, when discussing the role of the monarchy in the government.

After a document is passed by the convention, it shall be put before the citizenry of Spain. All citizens, age twenty-one and older, shall be eligible to vote in a referendum over whether the document shall be ratified.

Generalissimo Francisco Franco

[DKrol]

Statement from No. 10 Downing Street

The Prime Minister today has confirmed that the elections called for under the Government of India Act scheduled for June 1, 1940 will go ahead as scheduled. Despite opposing the Act in the House of Commons, the Prime Minister believes that it is important for the Government to stand up and honor its promises - the Indian people have been promised a democratically elected lower House and the Prime Minister intends to follow through. The Prime Minister has spoken to the Viceroy, the Marquess of Linlithgow, and confirmed the polling date of June 1. The Prime Minister has also instructed that all parties should be allowed to stand candidates without fear of repercussion or persecution. The election must be an accurate reflection of the will of the mass of the Indian people.

[DKrol]

Statement from No. 10 Downing Street

His Majesty the King has named Leo Amery, Member of Parliament for Birmingham Sparkbrook, as Governor-General and Viceroy of India on the advice of the Prime Minister. Mr. Amery, born in India to British parents, is familiar with the Indian people and provides a fresh face that may be better able to address the ongoing demands of the office. The transfer of power will take place before the June 1 election date.

[At-Large Senator LouisvilleThunder]

The Turkish government now under the leadership of Ismet Inonu shall preside over two state funerals (after a small Islamic religious funeral attended by close family and generals) for Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, first in Istanbul and then in Ankara, with a procession by funeral train. The funerals shall be the grandest of all time funded by the "political will" which granted most of Ataturk's personal wealth to the CHP party fund. Foreign dignitaries from many different nations including all members of the Eurasian Alliance are invited to attend he state funerals. King Faisal of Iraq and Reza Shah of Iran even appeared to shed some tears at some moments during the funerals.

Murals and statues of Ataturk and Inonu are to be constructed in cities and villages all across Turkey. A grand tomb for Ataturk is to be constructed in Ankara.

Excerpt from speech by Inonu at the Ankara state funeral

My citizens of our great Turkish nation!

We come here today to show our respect for the life and service of a truly great Turkish hero. Ataturk was a man who put his dedication to fighting for the best interests of the nation ahead of personal enrichment. That resulted in building true glory for the citizens of Turkey. I have assumed the office of the presidency in a time when there is still plenty to be done to continue our progress in raising the level of development and national strength even higher than the current most prosperous and developed nations in the world. The Eurasian Alliance has a vision where my leadership and judgement can build even more glory than our civilization has ever seen. This requires building upon our more energetic approach in moving forward as a player to be reckoned with in the world compared to the approach of the last several centuries in which dereliction of duty has resulted in the decay of the Ottoman Empire. Turkey today understands that a modern approach to governance and economy is of the utmost importance for building a glorious national future where the whole world shall look to Turkey for the best in all aspects of life.

[PPT Spiral]

Excerpts from Chairman Yagoda's address to the Congress of Soviets, July 1940

Comrades, I speak to you at perhaps the most pressing time our glorious Union has faced yet. I humbly take on this responsibility as Guardian of all our Republics and shall resolutely correct the mistakes of past. Chairman Kamenev, with willing accomplices, turned a blind eye to the subversion unfolding at our very doorstep. All the while, our patriotic servicemen bleeding and perishing for this nation were left to deal with the fallout of ever-shifting campaigns and shortsighted deals. Let it be known, throughout these halls and across the seas: There shall be no more perversion, and there shall be no more failure!

[. . .]

The proletariat of Europe have been increasingly subjugated to the cabal of oafish, fascist brutes leading the charge against the genocide of the Soviet peoples. For years, their aims against us have been made clear. They seek the partition of our lands, the stripping of our resources, the extermination of our identity! You see, these beasts speak only of repression, and of capital. We are deemed mongrels and degenerates unworthy of existence, down to the very last women and children! They believe the East and other impoverished oases to be merely their pawns for exploitation. They are sorely mistaken on all of these counts. Should the Germans and their partners choose to continue on this murderous rampage, they will soon find that the only "liberation" is to unfold at the hands of their very own workers!

[. . .]

While the fascist colonialists boast of their schemes, arrogance shall be their downfall, comrades! In the name of Marx, of Lenin, and of Marshal Tukhachevsky, the USSR shall be unflinching in its commitment to the revolution! From the rugged Caucasus, to the expansive Siberia, to the heart of Russia, we live and breathe as one! The underbelly of the West has now exposed itself, and we shall march to defend our lands and vanquish the rot of these malignant forces once and for all!

Onward to victory! Onward to glory!

[YPestis25]

La Premier Ministre Announces the Mediterranean Games

(Source: Wikimedia)

L’action Francaise - While the International Olympic Committee has seen fit to cancel the Olympic Games, that does not mean that sporting events can no longer be symbols of international brotherhood and friendship. In partnership with our friends in Rome, France and the Kingdom of Italy have agreed to host the Mediterranean Games set in November of 1942. With Marseilles and Rome as host cities, this event shall highlight the strength of Mediterranean and Catholic civilization.

Reports from the Quai d'Orsay indicate that the following nations have agreed to attend the events:

France
The Kingdom of Italy
The Kingdom of Spain
The Kingdom of Hungary
Republic of Turkey
Kingdom of Romania
Republic of Portugal
Kingdom of Greece
Tsardom of Bulgaria

These games shall surely be a magnificent display of athletic prowess and bind together those Latin and Mediterranean nations of Europe.

[Lumine]

The World War

July to December 1940 (Part One)

"(Voice cracks) The Communists are the most inveterate enemies of the Reich at home and abroad; they remain what they are and always were: forgers of lies, masterminds of unrest and upheaval, demons possessed by their poisoned, caustic, satyrical spirit. The infamy and misery that they have spread across this continent, and most recently, to one of our oldest and most distinguished cities, is unforgivable. We say this to the world: wake up! wake up, and mete out to them the punishment they deserve!" (Kaiser Wilhelm III, radio speech after the Ulm attacks)

Western Front

The Siege of Gibraltar

For well over six months, General Montgomery had withstood the siege of Gibraltar and embarrassed Spanish General Queipo de Llano, but it had come at a heavy price. The incessant pounding of the Spanish artillery took its toll, and the overextended British naval resources - already committed on several fronts - made resupplying an increasingly costly proposition. And yet, it became clear later in the year that the possession of Gibraltar was a matter of prestige for both London and Madrid. Whereas the British bolstered the garrison and relieved Montgomery by sending General Harold Alexander, Franco provided Queipo with almost a third of the entire Spanish Royal Army. Thus the forces clashed. Despite dreams of an early victory for the Spaniards, Alexander would prove almost as tough and difficult to crack as Montgomery. For three months wave after wave clashed against the Rock and its powerful defenses, a battle of attrition with disproportionate casualties for the attackers.

Finally, the defensive lines broke, and the cost of resupplying Gibraltar became too expensive after one of the Royal Navy's battleships exploded in flames due to a lucky hit. Under cover of night, Alexander evacuated what he could under a rain of fire, retreating back to Malta. Finally, Spain had avenged the humiliation sustained during the War of the Spanish Succession, seizing the Strait of Gibraltar all for itself. For some, however, the victory felt hollow. Around the same time, the Royal Air Force delivered a few blows of its own, levelling the industrial areas of the city of Bilbao - temporarily disrupting the Spanish iron industry - and conducting successful bombing runs in Cadiz and Marbella that damaged several Spanish vessels.

Now operating from Malta, Tunis - which was greatly reinforced after the British seized it - and Alexandria, Force H proceeded to complement the Atlantic blockade of Spain from the Mediterranean, closing the Strait - itself filled with the wreck of dozens of military and civilian ships sunk in the siege - from the east to all non-British vessels. With only the Suez open for Mediterranean trade, Italy and the Balkans would rapidly experience a substantial economic hit.

The Empire (attempts to) Strike Back

Expelled out of the continent, and though under siege by the Japanese onslaught, the British Empire had made a conscious decision not to let the Germans off the hook for the later part of the year. Ambitious plans were drawn for two naval invasions and a grand aerial raid, all in the hopes of securing a number of strategic goals against what they felt to be a vulnerable front due to German committments to the East. Unfortunately for the British, well over half of the Luftwaffe had been kept in the West, having - perhaps surprisingly despite the closure of the Mediterranean - sufficient oil to operate in the skies. Despite this significant cover, the Luftwaffe proved unable to properly counter RAF and RN efforts in the Pas de Calais, failing to prevent British landings in Nieuwpoort as Viscount Gort landed a corps-sized Anglo-Canadian BEF.

Ecstatic - if exhausted - civilians welcomed the landings, but Gort's attempts at consolidating his position proved challenging. For one, the logistics of a naval invasion - coming from a Britain already overcommitted in terms of equipment elsewhere - were far more daunting than expected, and for another, local German resistance in the area was significant and unyielding. In the end, Gort was left with a smaller beachhead than expected, failing to properly consolidate around the Yser river. Even less successful was a high risk attempt to stage a landing in Germany proper, as heavy Luftwaffe presence easily countered the Royal Navy - left without a RAF fighter escort due to range - and forced them to turn back. Mercifully, British losses were kept at a minimum.

But the symbol of British revenge was the city of Hamburg, which was directly and relentlessly targeted by the bulk of Bomber Command using the failed Bremerhaven landing effort as a distraction. Using new - if inaccurate - incendiary bombs, the RAF wrecked most of the naval installations and heavily damaged the city. Contrary to expectations, however, they failed to completely obliterate the city (thus keeping civilian casualties low), with incendiary munition showing their limitations up to this point.

Eastern Front

4th Battle of the Baltic Sea

Fresh from victory and the destruction of almost half the Soviet Baltic Fleet, the Kriegsmarine - minus those ships damaged by the Hamburg raid - sailed out of port again. With the Lithuanian ports now in firm German-Polish control, the anti-Communist power projection in the Baltic had been drastically improved, and Admiral Lutjens was under orders to destroy the remnants of their foe. Safe in Kronstadt, Admiral Levchenko proved unwilling to accept the challenge this time, being forced to sail only to prevent the Germans from approaching Leningrad too closely. Having accounted for Lutjens's surface vessels and the U-Boat fleet, Levchenko was surprised by the intervention of another submarine squadron, eventually identified to be French. In the end, the Fourth Battle of the Baltic Sea proved inconclusive, with Levchenko's caution and the powerful surface artillery fire from Kronstadt preventing a debacle. Despite new Soviet losses and strategic German control over the Baltic, the surviving core of the Soviet Baltic Fleet lives to fight another day.

The Belarus Campaign

Expelled from Lithuania and almost entirely from Poland, General Zhukov had saved most of his defeated army, pulling it back to defend the city of Minsk. Counting on scores of fresh - if untrained - reinforcements soon to march from the east, and having the Pripyet Marshes on his left (the dividing line between the Northern and Southern fronts in Poland), Zhukov prepared for a German offensive amidst a flurry of orders from Moscow. At it happens, that was exactly where the main blow was coming, with the Reichswehr and half the Polish Army crossing the border into Belarus under Manstein's command. For the Germans, there was no restraint to be found in terms of chemical weapons any more. Sortie after sortie, the Luftwaffe's Flieger Groups deployed tons of chemical bombs over the Soviet columns, causing scores of casualties. Ironically, and as it was shown already in France, the use of chemicals also prevented the use of horses, slowing down the German columns in their effort to secure encirclements.

And yet, anti-Communist divisions marched forward vigorously, forcing the Soviets to deploy their own surprises. For one, the integration of the NKVD and the Army led to vigorous attempts at disruption and deception, which, while only marginally successful, often slowed down advances. For another, the Soviets also dropped any chemical restraints, and made incessant use of minefields, new incendiary weapons - the so called "Yagoda breadbaskets" - and most shocking of all for the Reichswehr: advanced rocketry. The Katyusha, a monstrous self-propelled multiple rocket launcher, often contained the Panzers when attempting their breakthroughs. The campaign, threatening to degenerate into a war of attrition, forced Manstein and Polish General Rommel to be creative. Aerial and armored superiority finally enabled him to encircle the heavily fortified Minsk, only for Zhukov to flee back deeper into Russia.

Manstein followed suit. By the end of the year, after heavy infighting and enormous attrition - with several Panzer divisions left exhausted - Manstein finally reached Orsha and opened the gate to Smolensk. Minsk had fallen at a heavy price, and most of Zhukov's divisions were broken or poisoned. The endless stream of recruits now gathered near Smolensk, but the veterans themselves were gone for now. On the darker side for the Germans, the epidemic outbreaks experienced in East Prussia materialized again in even stronger fashion, resulting in thousands of cases of cholera and typhus.

Soviet Dash, Part I (Galicia)

South of the Pripyet Marshes, months of stalemate after Tukhachevsky's death had turned the frontline into a more secondary front, with the Polish Army - aided by Hungarian and International divisions - shouldering most of the burden as the anti-Communist alliance dreamt of opening the gates to the Ukraine. The increasingly destitute region of Galicia, thoroughly poisoned with chemicals - to the point in which farmers died after eating their own crops - was described by many as a heavily fortified hell. And just as the Axis had focused their efforts up North, Chairman Yagoda had decided on a Southward approach. Matching Tukhachevsky in boldness, and added a reckless ambition of his own that dwarfed that of the Red Marshal, Yagoda focused upwards of two million men (as well as the bulk of Soviet artillery and airforce) in the most daring of offensives: the push westwards... towards Italy.

Stanisław Maczek, Poland's relentless war hero, struck first again, hoping to open the gate to Ukraine. Aided with the same approach of relentless usage of chemical weapons, Maczek and the Polish armored forces smashed into what can only be described as a Red Army horde willing to fight just as dirty, if not more. The battles around Przemysl and Lwow can only be described as sheer and utter carnage. And this time, the Soviets prevailed. Only the timely arrival of dozens of French aerial squadrons and a volunteer corps prevented a collapse, helping Maczek withdraw back to Krakow again. Most of the Polish-built tanks were destroyed in the offensive, but the invaluable Polish veteran manpower was salvaged. And Maczek rebuilt his front, fully expecting the second blow to come after him again. He was mistaken.

Soviet Dash, Part II (Hungary)

The road to Italy, Moscow concluded, passed through Hungary. The nation, already ravaged as a result of the Third Balkan War, had been forced to slowly rebuilt itself with intense foreign investment and aid to remain afloat. For Yagoda, this was the weakest link, although defended by the seemingly impregnable Carpathian Mountains. Instead of pushing deeper into Krakow after opening a wedge between the Polish and Hungarian forces, the Red Army - now led by Gamarnik and a recovered Trotsky  - moved against the latter. Once again, utter carnage followed through. The Red Army forced the Carpathians only after an unthinkable cost, having been forced to gas the Hungarian forts and outposts as the enemy desperatedly withdrew due to orders to save its manpower.

The Hungarians escaped immediate annihilation, but the gates of the Kingdom had been open. Much like the Mongol Hordes in the 1240's, the Soviet divisions entered Hungary in a killing frenzy that dwarfed their fighting spirit against Romania. Blasting loud patriotic music, blowing up supply lines into and out of Hungary north and south - but not east and westwards -, releasing criminals and dissidents, and utilizing chemical warfare in the most brutal way possible, they approached Budapest. The Royal Hungarian Army made its stand backed by the French airmen, but it was not enough. Forced to choose between saving the capital and saving the army from complete destruction, they chose the latter. Retreating north of the Danube - towards Austria and Slovakia - the Hungarian Army saved itself, King Otto having evacuated Budapest with the government and royal family for refuge in Bratislava.

Budapest itself, only recently rebuilt, was not spared. The Soviet Air Force - whose attrition losses were near breaking point - pounded the city with utter mercilessness, turning it into a second Belgrade: a pile of rubble. Having decapitated the government, most of the nation fell into chaos, with Soviet-backed Romanian Communists even forming a breakaway state near Transylvania. Despite the crippling losses - with much of the invasion force already dead, wounded or put on garrison duty - and the vulnerability of the Red Air Force, the Soviets prepared for the last push: crossing the borders of the League of Rome.

The Ulm Attacks

Despite the closure of frontiers to the East, the reopening of the Franco-German border meant renewed trade across a region that had suffered less than Northern France proper, and with it, vital economic movement into the Rurh and the Reich's industrial base in Western Germany. But, as it became clear soon enough, this new economic lifeline also provided new dangers. Over the fall and the start of winter the Abwehr and the German police started stopping different transports near key factories and plants, filled to the brim with chemicals. After arresting and interrogating the culprits - not an easy task - resources were focused in trying to prevent the sort of terror attack that these mysterious foes seemed intent on bringing. In the end, a handful of transports managed to slip past the network.

At least half a dozen industrial plants suffered attacks with mustard gas as the transports detonated, killing hundreds and disrupting production for days or weeks as entire areas had to be cleansed. By far the worst attack took place in Ulm, where the transports set to attack a factory exploded - either accidentally or upon discovery - right in the middle of the city. In scenes resembling Buzau or Konigsberg, thousands of civilians suffocated or died very painful deaths, with thousands more left injured. The attack proved to be a traumatizing event for the Reich, made all the more worse when the Abwehr determined Soviet responsibility in ordering the attacks.

In a subsequent speech, Kaiser Wilhelm wowed to seek revenge, calling on European nations to unite against the Communist threat. In a subsequent - and puzzling - announcement, Chancellor Hugenberg was once again confirmed in his office, with a renewed mandate to continue the war.

Balkan Front

Soviet Dash, Part III (Croatia-Slovenia)

Once again, Trotsky's columns - increasingly ragged, if not outright traumatized - declined to pursue the enemy as the Royal Hungarian Army fled. Neither would they turn south, towards the Serbian territory recently annexed and kept under control by the substantial Hungarian garrison. The march towards Italy continued, this time aiming to punch through the Danube, into Slovenia and Croatia, and then into Northern Italy. And this time, the Red Army finally ran out of steam. It was to be a combination of factors. For one, the sheer scale of the march, increasingly resembling a continent-wide salient difficult to supply even as Hungary was plundered. For another, that crossing Galicia and the Carpathians had already meant hundreds of thousands of casualties. And perhaps more crucial still, that the combined European airpower had pounded the remnants of the Red Air Force into dust, providing key aerial superiority and the opportunity to bomb Soviet columns with chemicals.

That did not mean, however, that the final push did not cause some harm. Much of Slovenia was overrun, allowing Tito's partisans to link with the Soviet vanguard units. Large parts of Croatia were occupied, with only the heavy Italian military presence preventing a final thrust into Zagreb as the HSS was able to regroup and gather its own strength in the mountains. But, in the end, even Trotsky was forced to call off the offensive right before Christmas before it unraveled. Italy's industrial base remained, at least for this year, a step too far. In Italy proper, a sense of panic gripped the nation, with only the recent Night of the Long Knives helping dispel fears of a Communist uprising. The Great Council of Fascism, gathered at the request of Mussolini, wasted no time in future squabbles. Even D'Annunzio dropped his criticism of Il Duce, as the Council unanimously voted in support of Mussolini to lead the fightback against the Red invasion.

The Bitter Peace, Part II

The later part of the year provided some awkward news for Mussolini on account of Swiss newspapers, once again leading the way in journalistic exposes. In this case, detailed reports on the apparent debauchery and/or criminal behavior of King George of Serbia, and the allegation that Serbia and Bulgaria had been on the verge of a reasonable peace, only to be overridden by an ambitious Duce. The news would certainly be badly received among neutrals horrified at the fate of Serbia, but the lack of proper channels for outside information in the Balkans themselves meant no apparent effect for the Italian occupation. In Serbia proper, the decision not to pursue offensives meant no major cost for the Italian Army as their hold over the cities became stronger and King George started gathering collaborations to run some sort of administration, all while the Chetniks welcomed the pause and kept consolidating control over the countryside.

In Bulgaria proper, the incorporation of Macedonia as a highly autonomous region proceeded slowly but surely, with Ivan Mihailov becoming a regional Premier backed closely by Parliament-appointed advisor. A similar tranquility emerged in Montenegro, which was kept reasonably stable when compared to its unrulier neighbors. The ultimate surprise for the Italian Balkan empire, however, came in Albania. Having hoped to stabilize the region and keep the resistance in the mountains down to a minimum, a series of reforms were to be put in place alongside a propaganda drive. But it was not to be. To the shock of the Italian commander, a fierce Albanian counterattack pushed his forces back into Tirana, liberating much of Eastern Albania. King Zog himself emerged at the head of a renewed army, backed with what has been described as foreign advisors or even foreign troops.

[Lumine]

The World War

July to December 1940 (Part Two)

East Asian Front

All's Quiet on the Manchurian Front

Having bitterly fought each other during the early part of the year, Generalissimo Chiang and Marshal Zhang seemingly reached the separate conclusion of wanting to suspend open warfare between the Northern Coalition and the KMT, creating an uneasy yet stable standstill that allowed efforts to focus on the Japanese invasion. This, in turn, might have meant renewed carnage across Manchuria in light of the recent fall of Harbin, but a Japanese unwillingness to commit - despite ceaseless protests from Emperor Puyi in Seoul - and general NRA and Northern Coalition exhaustion as well as war material shortages all conspired it to make it the most unusually quiet front. Thus, during the latter part of the year, mere skirmishes took place as the Japanese rebuilt their defensive lines over eastern Manchukuo and across the Korean border, and launched a number of chemical attacks to keep the Chinese off-balance. Zhang, for his part, had his forces fortify the liberated industrial Manchurian cities as they started producing war supplies for him. Now recovered from his wounds, The Young Marshal has seized Puyi's palace in Harbin, finally returning after nine years of exile.

Trading Blows in Eastern China

Among the several offensives designed by Sugiyama and the Imperial Japanese Army, a renewed push on Nanjing was taken into account. Hoping to encircle the capital - by now a symbol of unyielding Chinese resistance - and thus secure a major strategic goal, the IJA clashed against what ended up being the main NRA effort: three separate offensives in (north to south) Shandong, Henan and Fujian. Up north, the failed Yancheng Offensive of the early part of the year was replaced with a highly successful operation executed by KMT rising star General Xue Yue, bypassing strong Japanese defenses, encircling and virtually destroying an IJA division, and driving a wedge between the Shandong peninsula and the main Japanese central effort at Jiangsu by outright reaching the sea. It was a major success, if at the cost of much of Xue's men due to the shortages of ammunition.

Southwards, the other Chinese flanking move into Fujian province crashed into the Japanese fortifications, the constant engagement making it impossible to attempt the sort of flanking tactics successful deployed by Xue. Although not the sort of crippling failure experienced early in the year on the same spot, the Chinese advance stalled, forcing the NRA to call off the battle before it became a mere issue of attrition. Thus came the renewed push onto Nanjing, a new attempt to cross the highly fortified - and increasingly desolated and destitute - fields that separated the IJA from the Chinese capital. Hoping to have the upper hand through the incorporation of chemical warfare - using the comparatively "softer" chlorine gas -, IJA commanders were stunned when their offensive clashed into a Chinese offensive of their own.

Several fierce and bloody battles ensued, ruining the tempo of Japanese operations and even risking the collapse of the front at a particularly difficult moment. Superior armor and the liberal use of chlorine halted the Chinese at the decisive moment, enabling the IJA to rebuild their lines as the Chinese withdrew to the Nanjing defensive lines. With further Japanese advances unsuccessful and costly, Nanjing survived the year once again.

Fall of the Southern Coalition

Just as the Chinese had focused on the center, so had the Japanese focused on the South, targeting the Southern Coalition directly as the holders of the main surviving Chinese port (Guangzhou). An early break was found when an attempt by the British to reinforce Hong Kong failed, forcing the convoy to turn back to the Indian Ocean due to firm Japanese control over the South China Sea and a reinforced naval blockade of Hong Kong. This was followed by the landing of a Japanese Army into Hainan Island, securing most of the island after a difficult campaign due to intense Chinese guerrilla warfare. In the end, the Southern Coalition forces were pushed to the western half of the island, further reinforcing the Japanese blockade of China.

The main blow was directed at Guangzhou itself, involving the intervention of much of the Japanese air force and the use of Chlorine gas whenever necessary. Lacking the firm leadership of Hu Hanmin, the cabal of Generals leading the Southern Coalition squabbled amongst themselves, wasting valuable time and effort. In the end, the IJA seized the port after a brutal siege of weeks, denying the Generals their main base of operations. Although the Japanese remained far away from additional targets, the capture of the city led to the political collapse of the Southern Coalition. The warlords, lacking an equivalent of Marshal Zhang, dissolved under the protective umbrella of the KMT.

To the east, a final Chinese effort took place from the city of Kunming, seeking to liberate the southern half of Yunnan province and reopen a path into Burma. With the Japanese Army overextended due to their attempted conquest into India, significant ground was gained at first, only for a Japanese counterattack to stall the Chinese offensive. Although, technically speaking, a land link had been reopened, the impassable terrain made it useless to the KMT. For now, the Burma road proper remained in the hands of the IJA.

South East Asian Front

Japanese Invasion of Indochina

By all appearances, the French Colonial Empire had managed to avert the wrath of the Rising Sun, finding a way to coexist with the exponential Japanese expansion through undetermined means. Perhaps rather confident that the status quo would continue, new Premier Charles Maurras sent General Weygand as the new High Commissioner, tasked with the mission of shoring up support for the French colonial administration in light of recent strikes and upheaval. For a start, new legislative assemblies were to be set up following Cochinchina's example, if rather limited - some would say powerless - on their attributions and the franchise for voting. And yet, Weygand's experiment was not to be tried. Taking advantage of previous rights of military access, a combined Japanese and Thai force invaded French Indochina, rapidly seizing Cambodia and most of Laos.

Left with a small French garrison and a substantial - but not particularly reliable - colonial force, Weygand did his best to attempt a resistance. Despite a brave resistance by Admiral Decoux at the Battle of Ko Chang, the Japanese-Thai fleet destroyed the small French East Asian Fleet, enabling a blockade of Saigon and Hanoi. Having expected a rapid campaign, the Japanese were foiled by the terrain, the lack of cooperation by the locals - who resisted both the French and the Japanese - and by mounting overextension of their forces, already committed in China and India as well as other theaters. Forced to rely on the Thai Army, advance was slow, with Saigon and most of Southern Vietnam only falling by the end of the year. Weygand has regrouped with his colonial forces to Eastern Laos and Northern Vietnam, fortifying himself at Hanoi.

End of an Empire

Not being able to expect any reinforcements from the ravaged Netherlands, the Dutch troops still resisting in the Dutch East Indies prepared for a final effort. Unable to assist directly, the British were able to execute a number of raids on Japanese bases across the Dutch East Indies, blowing up several oil convoys and slowing down General Terauchi's offensives. Thus the battle of Java raged as Dutch and Japanese forces battled it out in the jungle, experiencing untold hardships. Despite repeated orders by Governor-General van Starkenborgh to surrender, General Berenschot resisted for several weeks until his men ran out of ammunition. With the surrender of Java, Japan finally seized the resource-rich colony, ending the Dutch Colonial Empire at the cost of now having to garrison and supply an immense area. Perhaps sensing those limits, the Japanese declined to annex the distant West Timor, handing it over to the neutral Portuguese administration.

The Battle for India

In a way, both the British Empire and the Japanese Empire were said to be overcommitted, with one of them forced to sustain several large naval blockades that sapped its naval strength, and other pursuing several land campaigns that strained its logistics to the breaking point. Therefore, the battlefields of India - themselves made infinetly more complex due to the political situation - were to be fought with what both Empires could spare and focus. It would be a question not just of who could focus more resources - at the risk of weakening other fronts -, but more important, who could made better use of what they had. Japan, having the advantage of keeping its naval resources somewhat more focused, struck first across the Indian Ocean.

Despite a growing shortage of troops to stage naval invasions, the seizure of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands proved easy enough. The next effort, therefore, involved the capture of the Maldives, which would further close off the sea lanes allowing Britain to maintain contact with the British Raj. On the British side, however, their intention was the exact opposite: to counter heavily with the Royal Navy to try and see off the Japanese invasion of Sri Lanka. Both navies danced carefully around each other as Admiral Philips attempted to prevent Admiral Nagumo from crossing the Palk Strait, only for Nagumo to push deep into the Laccadive Sea as the Combined Fleet escorted the Nicobar invasion force. Forced to give chase despite an inferiority in carriers, Philips finally confroted Nagumo with backing from land-based aircraft, resulting in the Battles of the Laccadive Sea.

For days Nagumo and Philips clashed in separate encounters, always aiming to give the decisive blow while conserving strength. By the end of the affair, Japan had achieved a tactical victory of sorts, forcing Philips to abandon all hope of reinforcing Sri Lanka as the Royal Navy had to change its HQ for Bombay. Strategically, it was more muddled. IJN losses (including a carrier) oughtweighed British ones, and Nagumo did not dare push onto the Maldives. Over the rest of the year, the Japanese slowly captured most of Sri Lanka in a difficult campaign, without managing to destroy the British forces in the field as guerilla warfare in the rear took its toll on the invaders. For now, General Kuribayashi approaches Colombo, far behind his original schedule.

In India proper, the main question was which offensive would succeed: the British, attemping to close off the major Japanese bridgehead at Visakhapatnam? Or the Japanese, who aimed to connect Calcutta with Burma and lauch a major blow at mainland India? Up north, General Slim eventually ran out of tricks as the pressure from local pro-Bose rebels made his supply lines untenable, the combination of rampant collaborationism - stronger here than in any other Indian region - and Japanese local superiority pushing him back. Once again, Slim saved the British forces from encirclement, but the Japanese forces linked at last with Bose at his Calcutta stronghold.

Down south, several Japanese divisions attempted to push deep into the Madras Presidency under the leadership of the aggressive, daring General Renya Mutaguchi. Dreaming of building a new Empire, Mutaguchi raced ahead despite terrible logistics, as supplying the much smaller invasion force earlier in the year had been barely possible. Eventually, Mutaguchi overextended himself excessively, always under the belief that one more push would make the British Raj crumble. This time, the Japanese overreached. Fresh from his defiant defense of Gibraltar, General Montgomery led the counterattack, dubbed Operation Tiger. Having to make do without naval support, Montgomery contained and defeated Mutaguchi at the Battle of Bezawada.

As the Japanese retreat turned into a rout, a subsequent and key British victory at the Battle of Cocanada sealed disaster for the IJA. Forced to withdraw back into the Visakhapatnam bridgehead, the Japanese dreams of British collapse in India ceased for the moment, as London appeared to have stabilized the situation.

Pacific Front

Fortress Australia

If anyone doubted Billy Hughes' intent to resist and fight to the bitter end, they had underestimated the Australian PM. Rallying the nation with unprecedented mobilization of national resources and various separate plans to defend against a Japanese invasion, Hughes bolstered his previously vulnerable position with the return of the Australian divisions from Europe, and by leaking an alleged Japanese peace offer that most Australians - particularly in Parliament - found offensive. Coming to the rescue, a Royal Navy squadron led by Admiral Louis Mountbatten sought out a decisive fight against Japanese naval forces in the area to disrupt a potential invasion. To Mountbatten's disappointment, there was no battle to be found, a development that signaled the lack of an immediate invasion. The British, however, did found a way to strike a blow: a special squadron - led by Rear Admiral Philip Vian - led a daring raid of the Coral and Bismarck Seas, sinking several Japanese supply convoys into Port Moresby and significantly disrupting IJN logistics in the area.

[Lumine]

End of 1940

In the News:

TIME PERSON OF THE YEAR: William Borah

NOBEL PEACE PRIZE: Not awarded (No suitable candidate)

Oil Production, January 1941

Country

Market Share

United States		57,9% (+0,4)
Venezuela		13,5% (-1,2)
Soviet Union		10,0% (+0,5)
Eurasian Alliance*		9,5% (+1,3)
Mexico		2,4% (+0,2)
Colombia		1,3% (=)
Trinidad (UK)		1,2% (+0,1)
Argentina		1,0% (=)
Peru		1,0% (+0,2)
Japanese Empire		1,0% (+1,0)
Canada		0,6% (+0,1)
Egypt		0,4% (+0,1)
Saudi Arabia		0,2% (+0,2)

* IRAN: 6,0% /  IRAQ: 3,5%

The Sleeping Giant Roars

President Borah takes a stand against Tokyo-Berlin expansionism,
Harsh economic sanctions put multiple countries on a difficult spot,
As Germany reopens the oil lifeline, Turkey closes a key resource

Following the passage of the Neutrality Acts and the repeated struggles of the Borah Administration to get even simple economic or military aid measures passed through Congress, many wondered if the ongoing stalemate in Europe would continue much as it did in the Great War until 1917, when the US' hand was forced and only after a Presidential Election. Contrary to expectations, the deadlock broke during 1940 as German forces closed off their Western Front after reaching an accord with France, and as the Japanese Empire expanded to unprecedented levels, creating the prospect of a Tokyo-dominated Asia as the Philippines - and men like Douglas MacArthur - screamed for action. Having already managed to get aid for anti-communist nations approved, President Borah chose to gamble and escalate.

In a series of stunning measures, all of them taken before Borah faced the electorate in November, Borah made it clear that no further German or Japanese expansion was to be tolerated, framing the whole sanction and aid package as a measure to avoid further confrontation by forcing Hugenberg and Sugiyama into the negotiating table. Crucially for the beleaguered British Empire, a successful accord between the White House and Democrat House Speaker Sumners finally authorized a series of economic loans for the United Kingdom, as well as a series of arms shipments to rearm the British military (the latter of which, however, must be paid upfront at Congress' insistence).

Then Borah dropped the bombshell: the German Reich and the Japanese Empire were hit with the harshest embargo and economic measures ever imposed by the US on a nation not directly at war with: Japanese and German officers were banned from entering US territory, the Tokyo and Berlin ambassadors were recalled, all Japanese and German assets were frozen, German and Japanese nationals would be banned from access to the UK banking services, the seizure, confiscation and liquidation of assets of prominent German and Japanese nationals in the US, and perhaps most decisively: countries that would trade with Germany and Japan in the future would be hit with US sanctions - a major trade cut - as well. Thus Borah drew the battle lines: neutral countries would now be forced to decide whether to trade with the United States... or with Germany and Japan.

The economic impact was immediate. The United States took a quick hit, greatly tempered by the seizure of assets, arm sales, and the continued dominance of the US oil industry. Japan was significantly affected, seeing its oil supply now entirely dependent on the Soviet Union in the short term, and on oil shipments from the recently seized Dutch East Indies - at a time in which the merchant navy is strained to keep large military commitments supplied - for the long term. Germany was hit the hardest, all but ensuring that, even if the British blockade was broken, goods would still not be exported into the Reich. And although the immediate effects on the war industry aren't critical, the fact that multiple nations are now faced with cutting economic ties with Germany or face US sanctions is likely to cause a major headache.

Although it is unknown whether this is directly tied into the US sanctions, Turkey has taken the lead in cutting key exports to the Reich by reducing its Chromium exports - a vital resource for the war industry - up to 90%. Ironically, these measures come just as the Reich has seemingly solved its oil shortage crisis, seemingly gaining enough of a supply line to keep the enormous Axis war machine functioning.

America Elects: 1940

Borah/Roosevelt Jr. survive strong Willkie challenge,
Dixiecrat revolt fails to deadlock the election as Long sides with Willkie,
Isolationist Republicans threaten revolt in Washington D.C.

Following the dramatic DNC and the surprise nomination of Wendell Willkie, many international observers suspected that the Borah-Willkie duel would be defined by foreign policy, and more to the point, by the isolationist (Borah) v. internationalist (Willkie) divide. For others, the election would be defined by the ability of both main tickets to sideline Former President Garner's insurgent "Dixiecrat" revolt, which could deadlock the election and force the Democratic-held House of Representatives to choose the next President. In the end, despite predictions that Willkie would be able to set the terms of the election, observers were surprised by the ailing President Borah's ability to do that instead, mimicking his successful framing of the 1936 contest that secured his narrow victory.

Borah's internationalist gamble was immediately met with harsh backlash among German Americans - previously an important GOP voting block - and the GOP isolationist wing, with the America First movement (who had already decided not to endorse a candidate) issuing out a statement criticizing the President for his "recklessness". And yet, as Borah had perhaps envisioned, Willkie's strong internationalism left little room for the Democratic nominee to criticize the President's decision. If anything, it seemed as if the wind had been taken out of his campaign. With America First not running a ticket - a decision they came to greatly regret - and the Dixiecrat effort being too unpalatable for Northern voters, millions of isolationist voters had nowhere else to go.

It was, however, a dangerous game to play. Effective as Borah's framing was, that of "keep America out of the war, but keep the war from coming to America", it was a balancing act relying on a coalition that he had just broken. Willkie proved the more energetic and charismatic candidate, throwing himself at the campaign trail and scoring key wins when Senator Long brought the Louisiana political machine on board and kept the Dixiecrats from expanding. In the end, Willkie had limited room to push the internationalist argument forwards without issuing calls for actual war, a factor that may have been decisive. Amidst drastically lower turnout - a sign of many isolationists and German-Americans staying home - Borah and Roosevelt Jr. narrowly held onto the bulk of their 1936 states, losing and/or gaining a few as Democrats consolidated.

The Dixiecrat effort had narrowly failed, as Borah had 14 EVs to spare. Willkie graciously conceded, issuing a call for the Democratic Party not to lose its internationalist ethos, and Borah got his second term. He had, however, paid a significant price for it. Republican isolationists would be geared up for a major fight come January 1941, and depressed turnout led to key Senate losses - only tempered by limited House gains - that created a Senate tie. Moving forward, Borah would depend even more on Democratic votes to get an agenda moving forwards.

1940 US Presidential Election:

Party		Votes (%)		EC
Borah / Roosevelt Jr.		46%		282
Wallace / Sinclair		43%		164
Garner / Talmadge		10%		85

Incoming President and Vice President:
William Borah and Theodore Roosevelt Jr. (GOP)

1940 US Senate Election:

Party		Seats
Republican Party		48 (-2)
Democratic Party		48 (+3)
Farmer Labor Party		0 (-1)
Total		96 Senators

1940 US House Election:

Party		Seats
Democratic Party		243 (-7)
Republican Party		190 (+9)
Farmer Labor Party		3 (-2)
Total		435 Representatives

Operation Vendemiaire

Warning of leftist plot, French PM Maurras leads military coup,
A purged National Assembly gives total powers to President Pétain,
French Communists go into hiding, Pierre Laval murdered

In the aftermath of a historic landslide for the French right - which still didn't yield a stable majority in the National Assembly -, President Pétain made it more than clear that he was prepared to take firm action to correct what many saw as decadence deep in the heart of the Third Republic. Daladier had been close - frighteningly so for many on the far-left and far-right -  to stabilizing it and Giraud to saving it, but the near slaughter of yet another generation had proved the crippling blow. Charles Maurras, provocateur extraordinaire, was handed over the reins of power. And Maurras would have no patience for the norms followed by his Republican establishment predecessors. To his credit, Maurras did not even bother with the Assembly. Debate on the new government went on for weeks as the French parliament descended in a wave of procedural chaos, open infighting from the tribunes, and increasingly shady parliamentary tactics, the latter of which were linked by many to Pierre Laval.

Maurras, whose hold on power was effective if not formalized, warned of growing threats to France - many did not notice he never actually said Republic - from foreign-controlled extremists. A few days later, the city of Paris celebrated its ongoing reconstruction after German occupation with a major Peace Parade to celebrate the Franco-German treaty, featuring a large military parade with highly experienced units. Soon afterwards, shots began to be heard around the capital. The radio stations broadcasted a speech from Maurras, stating that a left wing plot to take over the nation had been discovered at the last moment. The National Assembly was on the verge of a PCF takeover, he warned, and left-wing insurgent groups, having already marked many prominent citizens for death, had already shot Laval dead in his home.

Calling on the Army and on "loyal patriots" to save France, Maurras announced the start of Operation Vendemiaire. Over the next couple of days, Paris descended in brutal urban fighting as left-wing or pro-Republican protestors fought Army units and a large contingent of pro-royalist Camelots du Roi militia led by Interior Minister Maurice Pujo, all while a select regiment of Marines stormed and seized the National Assembly building. Facing a disorganized opposition and lacking any restraint - resulting in dozens, if not hundreds of dead - the pro-government forces prevailed, arresting scores of SFIO deputies and leaders, including Leon Blum. In a frustrating turn of events, only a handful of PCF leaders were arrested, with much of the party's internal machinery - Maurice Thorez included - disappearing into hiding and/or exile.

In subsequent days, with the successful consolidation of power in Paris tricking down into the provinces, the military remained loyal to Pétain, with a handful of Republican generals being subsequently arrested. The National Assembly, purged of "disloyal elements" and now fielding an actual right-wing majority, voted - over the protests of Francois de la Rocque - to invest President Pétain with supreme powers and to indefinitely prorogue the Assembly. Pujo consolidated his hold on the new French security forces, with a new organism loyal to Maurras - the DGSI - being formed. And with Pétain uninterested in wielding such powers, it rapidly became clear that Maurras and his core group of royalist hardliners had all but delivered the killing blow on the French Third Republic.

A handful of pro-Republic deputies, unwilling to yield to the outcome of Vendemiaire, have vowed to fight on. Some, like General Giraud, have fled France, their destination unknown.

The Spanish impasse

Constitutional Convention faces major deadlock, lack of consensus,
Dissidents win Basque and Nationalist elections, embarrasing Franco,
Government balances military victories with economic woes

By and large, observers were surprised by Franco's moderation when settling the goals and boundaries for the new Constitutional Convention in Madrid. Outlining that the Spanish Republic would indeed transition back into the Kingdom of Spain as old King Alfonso XIII and the Royal Family settled back in the capital, Franco nonetheless declined the temptation to install the sort of authoritarian or semi-authoritarian regime seen in Italy, Portugal or Hungary that many ardent right-wingers (led by the CEDA and the Alfonsist RE) desired. Instead, Franco proposed a British-style constitutional monarchy, a far more moderate - if prudent - form of government that might well have been seen as an olive branch to moderate Republicans and brought some kind of non-leftist consensus.

That this didn't happen has puzzled many. Far from being a smooth process, the Constitutional Convention has collapsed into a hopeless deadlock as endless votes and procedures prove unable to reach majorities on key subjects, particularly the system of government. The CEDA has split in half between those backing Franco's plans and those demanding an authoritarian government. The Alfonsists battle themselves on who should be king after Alfonso XIII dies, and the Carlists clamor for their claimant to be made monarch. And the Falange, naturally, calls for a Portuguese or Italian-style fascist regime. As the discussion drags on, different culprits are blamed. Some point fingers at Franco, whose moderate approach is at odds with a far-right dominated Convention. Others at the dynastic squabble, which is preventing a quick resolution. And even others talk of bribery and intimidation, suggesting that foreign agents are disrupting the process.

Within this backdrop, the Catalonian and Basque elections came. With the key regional parties barred from standing (including Lliga, the PNV and others) and much of the right resenting the fact that the autonomous governments were not disbanded, turnout cratered. Matters were made worse by the British bombing of Bilbao, which the government in Madrid seemed helpless to contain. In the end, the results proved embarrassing, with center-left Radicals and left-wing independents (not officially banned) prevailing in Catalonia, and the Carlists taking over Navarre and much of the Basque Country as pro-nationalist voters refused to vote at all. This, in turn, raises the prospect of two regional governments hostile to Madrid, which could pose a major problem in the middle of a war.

As for the war itself, the capture of Gibraltar - however costly - has bolstered Franco for the moment, but the victory is to be balanced with other serious concerns. Left-wing militias appear to be gathering strength as reports emerge of growing attacks on military barracks and guard posts, and the British blockade of the Atlantic has all but wrecked the Spanish economy. This, in turn, increases Madrid's dependence on Mediterranean trade, raising the need for urgent exports from Italy, France, Germany or some similar partner to maintain their war effort. General Franco, therefore, faces a most complex situation entering 1941.

[Lumine]

Smuts triumphs, at a cost

South African Premier earns a new term,
Wins by going scorched earth on National Party,
But did something break in South African politics?

Five years ago, Jan Smuts - increasingly seen as a Father of the Nation to the Dominion - had called a snap general election at a particularly unfortunate time for the pro-Berlin opposition National Party, then weakened by association due to the effects of German diplomacy. Smuts had won a resounding majority, forcing the Nationals to slid further into extreme pro-Afrikaner and anti-Britain policies behind the leadership of D. F. Malan. And yet, despite Smuts' personal popularity, the Nationals felt optimistic about the 1940 contest. After all, South African participation in the war behind Britain was highly unpopular among the Afrikaner electorate, and the increased rates of immigration into the Dominion by Smuts also courted much controversy. At the very least, Malan felt, gains would be made.

Malan and his men had greatly underestimated Smuts. Displaying a much greater ruthless than in 1935, Smuts sidestepped the issue of the war and took the campaign directly to the National's playground: race. The entire Dominion was covered wall to wall with incendiary propaganda, portraying Smuts and his South African Party as the true bulwark against "barbaric" black-rule. The National Party, so Smuts claimed, would only hasten the collapse of white civilization in the Dominion through his extreme policies, and only the immigration surge promoted by the SAP would save the prosperous South Africa from "Black tyranny". Malan and his party raged, but there were drowned in a wave of violent, virulent propaganda.

On election night, Smuts not only won his third consecutive majority, but enlarged the gap between the Nationals and the SAP to 23 points. Many historically hostile voters went for the SAP out of fear, ignoring the issue of the war in doing so. The South African premier, therefore, now has yet another term with an unassailable majority behind him. The cost, however, is starting to show. A group of liberal-minded deputies, outraged at Smuts' campaign, are threatening to quit the SAP. The African National Congress, a small organization trying to represent the rights of Black South Africans, has seen its rank swell as its leadership has pronounced Smuts and Malan as "two sides of the same coin". And the National Party, beyond outraged at Smuts, has ruled out any cooperation in the future. Already protests are taking place in South West Africa and the Orange Free State, calling for an end to participation in the war against Germany and Japan.

1940 South African General Election:

Party		Votes (%)		Seats
South African Party		56% (+4)		90 (+8)
National Party		33% (-3)		49 (-8)
Labour Party		8% (-1)		8 (-3)
Others		3%		0
Total				150 MP's

Incoming Prime Minister:
Jan Smuts (SAP)

Incoming Government:
SAP Majority (30 Seats)

A quiet (electoral) affair

Much of Poland goes to the polls to elect a new Sejm,
Opposition continues to boycott, Sanation wins by default,
Koc keeps the factions in line, but what has been the price?

Not long ago, Colonel Adam Koc's existence would not have been particularly noticeworthy to the ordinary Polish citizen. Even as one of the prominent "Colonels" behind the late Pilsudski, much of Koc's work had been undertaken as a civil servant behind the scenes, creating much bewilderment when the bespectacled, grey Pole had been elevated to the top of Sanation. "He won't last long", asserted General Wladysław Sikorski - today one of the main leaders of the opposition -. Against the odds, Koc remains President of Poland, deftly keeping the Sanation factions balanced as the Polish Republic continues to battle the Soviet Union in a deadly conflict that threatens to enter its third year. Despite the temptation to suspend the legislative elections scheduled for 1940, Koc decided to give the greenlight.

Perhaps he need not have bothered. Divided among themselves yet resolute in their disdain for Koc and their dislike for the Sanation regime, the opposition parties announced another boycott, asserting they would not stand until the elections were truly free. The shock Soviet dash to Hungary overran much of Galicia and disrupted elections in Southern Poland. For the rest of the country, Sanation stood alone - aside of ethnic parties - and represented in the nominally non-partisan BBWR. As Zdzislaw Lubomirski, another opposition leader and potential candidate for the 1942 Presidential Election, put it: "Sanation  would have won even if the vote had not been rigged." Although losing a handful of seats to ethnic voters - some of which, such as German Poles, are also pro-Sanation, or at least pro-Adam Koc -, the BBWR retained absolute control over the Sejm.

For now, Koc reigns supreme. But many wonder what exactly has been the price the Polish leader has paid to keep the Sanation faction leaders in line, particularly as the question over the succession rises up in light of the upcoming Presidential contest. Poland is also exhausted, with Southern Poland as a whole devastated by the carnage and the extreme use of chemical weapons, which has increasingly disrupted the nation's agricultural output. And yet it stands against the Soviet colossus, an achievement that many credit the Colonel for.

1940 Polish General Election:

Party		Votes (%)		Seats
BBWR		85%		180 (-12)
Ethnic Parties		15%		27 (+12)
Total				208 MP’s

The Great Rebirth

Yagoda crushes New Opposition faction, former leaders killed,
New GKO Chairman announces national "Great Rebirth",
Can Yagoda's ruthless leadership save the Soviet Union?

“No more perversion, no more failure!” The words echoed across the Congress of Soviets, packed in the unsuitable - and overtly small - section of the Kremlin in which the institution had held its sessions over the past couple of years. Genrikh Yagoda's commitment to the International Revolution earned him the applause of the Tukhachevsky faction, which praised the new leader's commitment to the principles that the Red Napoleon had embodied. The session took place around the same time that the ruthless interrogations of former President Zinoviev and former GKO Chair Kamenev ended, after which both men were immediately executed. The relatively small New Opposition faction that they had left - with around 130 deputies - rapidly split as many deputies were subsequently arrested and charged with involvement in anti-Yagoda plots, or simply fled or went into hiding leaving their seats vacant.

Yagoda, following the example set by Tukhachevsky and Kamenev, did not pursue an immediate and widespread purge. Rapidly the Trotskyites and the Right Opposition alike were integrated into the new regime, with Bukharin being elevated to the ceremonial President, Rykov expanding his brief as the leader of the Congress of Soviets, and Nadezhda Krupskaya making history through her promotion as Yagoda's Deputy GKO Chair, a historic achievement for Soviet women. Yagoda was also aided by the slower splintering of the Tukhachevsky faction, which was not forced to redefine itself and its large majority without the Red Napoleon's charisma. A troika led by Daniil Sulimov, Nikolai Mikhailov and Pavel Yudin, three remarkably young Soviet leaders took over the greater part of the faction, but rabble-rousers like Lev Mekhlis and Boris Sheboldayev formed small groups of deputies of their own.

For his part, Yagoda did not stop at this denunciation of the fascist West and his infamous dash to Italy. In his own words, the Soviet Union needed a "Great Rebirth" to be reborn as a new, more powerful nation. In a highly controversial - and bitterly resisted - move, Yagoda empowered Krupskaya and female Soviet party officers to expand female participation in industry and even into the Red Army. The rehabilitated Anastas Mikoyan, one of the few Stalinist survivors, made a name for himself assisting President Bukharin in the effort to mobilize support for the war effort via propaganda. Entire industries were moved eastwards and beyond the Urals, a gigantic effort which was greatly disrupted by the lack of cohesion of the Soviet bureaucracy and the damage caused by Eurasian intrigues in Central Asia.

With the Congress of Soviets not up for election until 1943 - unless Bukharin calls one - Yagoda has thus far commanded support from the surviving factions, even as they resent some of his most controversial moves. It now remains to be seen whether a faction to support Yagoda can be created from his isolated support in the NKVD and the Red Army, and, of course, what will happen to the leaderless New Opposition and the pro-Tukhachevsky's legislative "warlords".

Indian Elections held!

Despite endless obstacles and invasion, Viceroy Amery holds election,
INC boycott leads to surprise victories by Muslim and Hindutva parties,
Bose's revolt loses steam, but can an Indian government be formed?

Out of all the challenges faced by Sir Winston Churchill, few of them were as dangerous and complex as the Indian situation he had inherited. Most painful of all was the fact that few roads appeared available to neuter Bose's growing rebellion even as much of the INC sat on the sidelines, and those that were open proved to be at odds with Churchill's former record due to his famous revolt over the original Government of India Act. To Churchill's merit, the Prime Minister proved to be as slippery in power as he was principled in opposition. To the welcome surprise of Cabinet, and, it must be said, to the outrage of a few hawks in the Conservative Party, Churchill gave the long delayed elections a greenlight as a last ditch effort.

No precaution was spared. The dull and unimaginative Viceroy Linlithgow was replaced with Leo Amery, close ally and a political animal. The British Army - as far as operations allowed - would police the polling stations and maintain order. And all parties would be allowed to stand. The whole building threatened to collapse crashing down as soon as Nehru and Gandhi confirmed the INC would be boycotting the elections, deriding the whole exercise as the continuation of British rule via Dominion status, and demanding immediate talks - including Bose - regarding independence. But, for once - and in a lucky break for London - Nehru had overplayed his hand, having alienated the more moderate and/or conservative members of the INC with his socialist rhetoric. At least two INC splinters would contest the election, forcing the party to maintain a peaceful boycott rather than to try and disrupt the election process.

Without the INC - judged to command the support of an overwhelming majority of Hindu voters - the election was thrown wide open. Once Indians - many of whom had never voted in their lives - cautiously approached the voting booths, Amery knew the hardest part was over. In the end, turnout reached a few million voters: a pitiful figure given Indias's population numbers, but something of an accomplishment given the war situation and the INC boycott. As several seats were under control of Bose or the Japanese, MP's were designated by Amery in absentia in relation to how the main parties performed.
Although the elections to the Indian House of Commons - Viceroy Amery would appoint the Indian House of Lords - were set to FPTP, the fact that most seats were allocated by ethnicity and the autonomy of the Princely States (who appointed their own MP's and then had them rubber stamped by the electorate) led to fascinating results.

As the smoke cleared, the consolidation of the Muslim vote behind Muhammad Ali Jinnah's All-India Muslim League - with Jinnah's lukewarm loyalty all but preventing a major Muslim revolt against Britain - topped the polls narrowly, winning almost all Muslim seats. Behind came the large bloc of Princely States-designated MPs (led at the HoC by Manubhai Mehta, the democratic-minded former PM of Bikaner), and in a stunning third-place, the Hindu Nationalist (Hindutva) movement of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, the Hindu Mahasabha. In what many describe as an odd turn of affairs, Savarkar and his movement are remarkably pro-British and pro-war effort, while at the same time displaying a virulently anti-Muslim and proto-Fascist ideology. The two Indian National Congress splinters, the liberal Swatantra Party (led by Nehru rival Chakravarti Rajagopalachari) and the conservative Congress Nationalist Party (of Madhav Shrihar) also polled respectably.

Various regional Unionist Parties (coordinated by pro-British statesman Sir Sikandar Hayat Khan) proved to have more disappointing results. Hoping to take over the left-wing vote due to Nehru's boycott, Puran Chand Joshi's Communist Party of India also flopped, with those voters choosing to stay home or actively aid Bose in his quest to free India from the British yoke. The combination of the election and the British military victories at Bezawada and Cocanada have thus reinforced the previously critical position of the Empire in the Raj, which is now to fully transition into the new Dominion. However, Viceroy Amery and Prime Minister Churchill are not yet in the clear. They must now navigate the potential minefield of the new party system, and see if they can find a way for the new Indian politicians to work with each other. 

1940 Indian General Election:

Party		Votes (%)		Seats
Muslim League (Muslim Nationalism)		21%		140
Princely States appointees (Conservative)		19%		111
Hindu Mahasabha (Hindu Nationalism)		15%		76
Swatantra Party (Liberal)		11%		54
Congress Nationalist Party (Conservative)		9%		37
Unionist Parties (Centrist)		6%		28
Communist Party of India (Marxist)		5%		9
Other		14%		44
Total				500 MP's

[Lumine]

Turn X: 1941

The Cast:

German Reich: Chancellor Alfred Hugenberg (Mr. X)
United States of America: President William Borah (S019)
British Empire: Prime Minister Winston Churchill (Dkrol)
Soviet Union: Chairman Genrikh Yagoda (Spiral)
Empire of Japan: Prime Minister Hajime Sugiyama (Lakigigar)
Republic of France: Prime Minister Charles Maurras (YPestis)
Kingdom of Italy: Duce Benito Mussolini (KaiserDave)
Republic of China: Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek (Kuumo)
Republic of Turkey: President Ismet Inonu (LouisvilleThunder)
Union of South Africa: Prime Minister Jan Smuts (Ishan)
Kingdom of Hungary: King Otto II Hapsburg (AverageFoodEnthusiast)
Polish Republic: President Adam Koc (Windjammer)
Kingdom of Bulgaria: Tsar Boris III Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (OBD)
Commonwealth of Australia: Prime Minister Billy Hughes (GoTfan)
Kingdom of Spain: Generalissimo Francisco Franco (NYE)
Portuguese Republic: Prime Minister Antonio de Oliveira Salazar (ChairmanSanchez)

Economic Performance:

United States of America: High
Kingdom of Italy: High
Portuguese Republic: Moderate
Union of South Africa: Moderate
Empire of Japan: Moderate
Commonwealth of Australia: Moderate
Republic of France: Moderate
Polish Republic: Weak
British Empire: Weak
German Reich: Weak
Kingdom of Spain: Weak
Soviet Union: Weak
Republic of Turkey: Weak
Kingdom of Bulgaria: Weak
Republic of China: Very Weak
Kingdom of Hungary: Very Weak

Popularity:
Prime Minister Hughes: High
King Otto II: High
Prime Minister Smuts: High
President Koc: High
President Borah: High
Tsar Boris III: High
President Inonu: High
Prime Minister Churchill: High
Prime Minister Salazar: Moderate
Chancellor Hugenberg: Moderate
Duce Mussolini: Moderate
Prime Minister Sugiyama: Moderate
Chairman Yagoda: Moderate
Prime Minister Maurras: Low
Generalissimo Franco: Low
Generalissimo Chiang: Low

Mobilization Level:
Total Mobilization: None
War Mobilization: Republic of China, Empire of Japan, Soviet Union, Polish Republic, German Reich, British Empire, Commonwealth of Australia, Kingdom of Hungary, Kingdom of Spain
Partial Mobilization: Kingdom of Italy
Conscription: Republic of France, Republic of Turkey, Kingdom of Bulgaria, Portuguese Republic
Volunteer Army: United States of America, Union of South Africa
Demilitarized:

[Lumine]

German Reich:

Chancellor,

As the clock strikes midnight, you have achieved eight years in office. If you survive the year, you'll surpass von Bülow and be second only to Bismarck in tenure. Much has been achieved, but as the war stands at a critical moment, much also remains to be achieved. German-Polish forces have opened the gates of Smolensk, but every meter of Soviet ground leads to heavy sacrifices. The oil supply is open again, but the American sanctions and the Turkish reduction of Chromium supplies threatens the weakened German economy. Your ally Hungary burns as the Red Army rampages its way through, but it may also be just the thing to bring Mussolini into the fold. And the Kaiser, previously so hostile, is now supportive out of sheer horror and outrage from the Ulm attacks. The challenges remain difficult, but you have options in a way you haven't had since 1938. What follows in this struggle for supremacy?

British Empire:

Prime Minister,

Despite a number of military disappointments, the strategic outlook of the war has shown some improvement. The domestic front is kept contained by the large National Government, the United States has finally opened up the arms trade - if at a heavy price to Britain's rapidly decreasing currency reserves -, the blockade stands supreme... and the Japanese have finally been dealt a bloody nose in India. The struggle continues, and it falls upon you to continue the Empire's fightback. Key issues for this year will include whether to give up or commit to the Belgian beachhead, how to reduce the enormous strain on the Royal Navy, and how to solve two puzzles that have come your way: what to do with General Giraud, who has fled to London asking for refuge from Maurras; and whom to appoint to lead the Dominion of India. Will you reward Jinnah's loyalty, at the risk of Hindu backlash? Put Savarkar in, and turn a blind eye to his Fascist ideas? Or work through the patronage of the Princely States?

Republic of France:

Prime Minister,

Last year, you wielded the fickle and unstable power of a Republic. Today, you wield the supreme power of an authoritarian France, prostrated at the feet of Marshal Pétain. Although the recent coup has made you unpopular, the fact that Pétain does not stand in your way leaves you free to transform the state... and perhaps even fulfill your long awaited dream of restoring the Monarchy. There are, of course, other issues to contend with. France is making money from its neutrality, but the intervention in the East and the treacherous invasion of French Indochina by the Japanese force you back into the path of war before the wounds of the last one are closed. Giraud stands ready to make trouble, and the DGSI is having surprising trouble hunting down the PCF. The treat of American sanctions may force you to close trade with Germany. There's also the implied threat of a general strike as an answer to your consolidation of power, and even in the right men like De la Rocque would rather see a different path being taken. What is next for France?

United States of America

Mr. President,

You stand before a crowd of thousands as you deliver a second inaugural address. Despite fears of the GOP being forever shut out of power after 1933', you've managed to revive the party, even if Democrats maintain their hold on the House and have pushed you back into a tie in the Senate. You can tell your body is beginning to give up, but if the worst arrives, Vice President Roosevelt will be there to fight for your legacy... the contents of which you must now clearly determine. You've taken a stand against Tokyo and Berlin, the effects of which remain to be seen. The Philippines, isolated by Japanese conquests, now begs for a stronger American military presence. The economy benefits from neutrality, but Wall Street has had a couple of bad days recently causing some concern. Mexico won't yield still to previous sanctions. What awaits your fifth year in office?

Soviet Union

Comrade Chairman,

The wheels of history have been put into motion, and the Great Rebirth has begun. The Tukhachevsky loyalists embrace you as one of their own after ordering the Red Army to fight its way into Italy, but the war stands at a delicate balance. Just as the Red Army overruns Hungary and crashes into the borders of the Pact of Rome, the perfidious German-Polish Axis fights its way into Smolensk. Female units are starting to reach the battlefields, but the notion of female soldiers causes stormy sessions in the Congress of Soviets as many delegates balk at them. Trotsky is prepared to keep the crusade going, but Gamarnik doesn't like the long flanks of the Soviet spearhead into Central Europe. Perhaps most important of all, you must now start to expand your appeal beyond your NKVD and military powerbase. Will the remnants of the New Opposition be purged? Will you start a faction of your own, or co-opt an existing one? And will you remain content as Chairman of the GKO, or seek another office?

Kingdom of Italy

Duce,

As D'Annunzio himself stated before the Grand Council, never has Europe been thus threatened by the Asian hordes since the time of the Mongols. The Red Menace has brutalized Hungary and smashed into your borders. The crowds panic at the sight of the Red Army, but the recent Night of the Long Knives has prevented fear from turning into terror. Fascism stands united behind you and so does the King, as you face Italy's most difficult moment in the past decade. There are also other vultures out there. Zog has made himself strong in Albania, leading a new army of his own. The Libya Viceroy reports renewed activity in a population which many thought chastized after a brutal repression. And, adding to the complexity of the challenge, the closure of much of the Mediterranean and the threat of US sanctions should trade with Germany continue could do much harm to your economy. Can you, like the Romans of old, smash the enemies of Italy into the ground?

Empire of Japan

Prime Minister,

As Mutaguchi's broken divisions fall back in disarray, the Empire has suffered its most significant defeat in recent memory. Disappointing as that may be, it is but a setback in the building of a major Empire as the Dutch East Indies surrender and much of French Indochina is overrun. Domestically, elections to the Imperial Diet have already been postponed for a year, and there are major questions as to whether elections should be held, and whether you intend to work with the parties or build one of your own. In terms of the war, the sudden and harsh American sanctions have cut a major source of supplies, making you rather dependent on the Soviet Union for trade until the new colonies are ready to supply the Japanese mainland. To make matters somewhat more complex, keeping so many garrisons and armies supplied across the seas uses the very same vessels Japan would use to transport raw goods. You sit in a clear position of strength, but how you choose to use that strength will matter most of all. What will you do?

Republic of China

Generalissimo,

The endless circle of war continues, but China refuses to yield. Although the loss of Guangzhou is painful to the national cause, it has had the unintended effect of bolstering the KMT as the surviving Southern warlords accept protection from Nanjing. This, in turn, leaves Marshal Zhang Xueliang, the Communist strongholds, and Wang Jingwei's defeatist faction as the major internal rivals. In regards to Zhang, a curious development has emerged. The Young Marshal has sent envoys to consider an end of the civil war... provided you can meet his conditions. For one, Zhang would have you commit to retaking Manchuria, even at the cost of other regions. Perhaps more important, Zhang would see you swear - before the entire nation - that no negotiated peace will ever be sought or accepted with Tokyo until the invader has been expelled. Bringing Zhang into the fold could free troops to keep up the struggle... but it might just turn the Sino-Japanese war into a never-ending affair. How will you deal with the Young Marshal?

Polish Republic

Mr. President,

Applause greets you at the latest session of the recently elected Sejm, with German-Polish deputies standing up first as Sanation representatives follow, some with more enthusiasm than others. As the anti-Communist Axis consolidates in further unity and cooperation with new additions and new foreign support, and with Polish troops on the gates of Smolensk. you must also face a series of tough decisions. The Polish Armored Forces, carefully built over several years, have been depleted, forcing you to depend on other nations to build new Polish tanks. Farmers complain as the widespread usage of chemicals poison the crops not just outside Galicia, but across much of Eastern Poland. Refugees from Hungary threaten to flood into Krakow via Slovakia. Lithuania, now under joint German-Polish occupation, may require clarity on its future status. And US sanctions all but ensure no more trade will flow to Poland other than from the Axis. How will you handle these affairs this year?

Republic of Turkey

Mr. President,

As you stare at Atatürk's Grand Tomb in the city of Ankara, a tear streams down your face. Your mentor is gone, but he has been given the funeral he deserved. As the nation has its chance to mourn the Father of the Nation, and bask in the glory and prestige as representatives from countless nations - including Faisal, Reza Shah, and a number of Latin American Presidents - tour the Republic, the time comes to look towards the future. Your bold move on Chromium has put Germany in a tough spot, a move which could spare you from dealing with US sanctions. The Balkans stands in disarray following the Soviet move against the League of Rome, creating new opportunities for the Eurasian Alliance in seeking new partners... or new foes. The political system stands stable after the last election, though that may chance depending on how events develop. What are your next orders?

Kingdom of Spain

Generalissimo,

You celebrate the capture of Gibraltar alongside the King and a number of Generals at a reception in Madrid. It is a joyous time, but it is marred by a series of major difficulties in need of urgent reply. For one, the British blockade has wrecked the Spanish economy, forcing you to depend on nations like France, Italy or Germany for trade, and perhaps even to need subsidies to continue the fight. Catalonia and the Basque Country have elected governments seeking confrontation, all while the CEDA howls for you to suspend regional autonomy, resentment be damned. The Constitutional Convention cannot break the deadock as grave accusations of disruption fly around, and with the King close to death, the issue of the succession stands uncomfortably open between Alfonso's sons on one side, and the Carlist pretender on another. By and large, Spain stands on the side that holds the advantage, but can you sort out these challenges?

Union of South Africa

Prime Minister,

Many congratulations on a historic landslide, a major triumph of the South African Party against the opposition. With this, you have won several more years in government, an unassailable majority and political capital to court controversy, but achievements such as these do not come without a price. The National Party is utterly outraged at the campaign you ran last year, vowing not to cooperate with the government as the Afrikaners protest in South West Africa and the Orange Free State. The liberal wing of your party is disgusted at the content of the campaign, threatening to jump ship and split the party. Black South Africans, thus far quiet and irrelevant, have seen a couple of political groups grow in size, a development in which some in Cabinet see the hand of a foreign power. And with the war in Europe stalled, you must also make a decision on where to send the South African troops.

Kingdom of Hungary

Your Majesty,

As your entourage reaches Bratislava, the Slovakian government receives you with open arms. For the second time, Hungary stands invaded and ravaged, with the damages impossible to calculate behind the enemy lines. The Red Hordes have done to the Kingdom what they already did to much of Romania, and once again Hungary looks to you for leadership. Fortunately, not all is lost. The Axis stands strong and the Soviets have provoked the League of Rome. The Royal Hungarian Army survived destruction, giving you the means to carry on the struggle. And the annexed Serbian lands have not yet erupted in revolt, though that may change. An odd question arises, however. Seeing the success of General Dumitrescu in getting the Red Army to leave Romania alone, some wonder if a pact with the devil may be the best way forward. Will you fight to the bitter end to liberate Hungary, or is there a compromise to be had with Moscow?

Commonwealth of Australia

Prime Minister,

Fortress Australia stands strong and ready, and your personal popularity has greatly increased after successfully rallying the nation to resistance. Having avoided a Japanese invasion thus far in the later part of 1940 has made it possible to further fortify Australia, but, by the same merit, so many months of full economic mobilization have caused major exhaustion and fatigue in the factories, and a ceaseless demand for raw goods from Britain and/or the United States. After suspending the elections for six months, you also need to decide whether to hold them now or seek another postponement.

Kingdom of Bulgaria

Your Majesty,

Just as Bulgaria has started to enjoy peace, the clouds of war have returned to the horizon. Though personally untouched, the other members of the League of Rome have been struck by the Soviet Union, as it has rampaged across Hungary and disrupted Italian rule over Slovenia and Croatia. This, in turn, creates a dilemma. Bulgaria has already achieved most of its apparent goals, correcting several of the humiliations of the Great War and turning it into a credible Balkan power. To fight the Soviet Union would mean further loss of life as the nation seems to enjoy peace. Not to do so would mean abandoning Rome, though some note how Italy left Bulgaria to fight Serbia on its own for quite a while. With the government willing as ever to defer to your judgement, a great responsibility falls on your shoulders. Should Bulgaria go to war once again?

Portuguese Republic

Prime Minister,

After eight years in power - and fifteen since the 1926 coup -, the Portuguese Republic is almost unrecognizable from the mess created by the political parties. Your Estado Novo regime, based on the principles of Catholic Social Teaching, Corporatism and Nationalism, has restored order and stabilized the public finances, allowing Portugal to pay off its foreign debts. This internal stability - only threatened by internal opposition groups and by enormous levels of poverty - contrasts to the chaotic international situation. Although Portugal has benefited in some aspects - with Japan willingly handing over West Timor -, neutrality appears to be just as dangerous as participation, as key strategic holdings like the Azores and the Portuguese Colonial Empire could be seen as vulnerable. Portugal, almost like no other country, has options to choose from. Aside from remaining neutral, it can side with its ancestral ally Britain, at the cost of going to war with Spain. It can side with the Axis against the Soviet Union, but at the cost of a British blockade. It can also seek other blocs, like the League of Rome, or the Ankara-led Eurasian Alliance. Will you pick sides in this war, Prime Minister?

[Lumine]

Napaloni (Jack Oakie) and Slagoda (Charlie Chaplin)

EVENT

The Great Dictators

Chaplin takes US box office by storm with a political satire production,
Biting film mocks Yagoda, Mussolini, Sugiyama and Hugenberg,
Nations must decide whether to show or ban it from their cinemas

After years of production and multiple delays, British comedian Charlie Chaplin was finally able to release his latest film to American audiences, titled "The Great Dictators". A sound film - the first of Chaplin's career -, "The Great Dictators" is a biting political satire and dark comedy which pokes fun at a number of authoritarian rules in Europe and Asia, all famous for their involvement in the recent wars gripping much of the world. By all accounts, and despite courting controversy for its anti-war themes, Chaplin has surprised critics with a strong response by American audiences, turning the film into a major commercial success.

Set in the fictional, neutral nation of Tomania - based on Switzerland -, long-suffering diplomats scramble to put an end to the world-wide conflict, all while four leaders squabble and conspire with each other in a series of increasingly convoluted, ridiculous and/or laughable plots. Chaplin stars as Chairman Slagoda of the Radish Union, supported by Douglas Fairbanks as Chancellor Tanterterg of Osterlich; Jack Oakie as Dikitator Benzino Napaloni of Bacteria; and George E. Stone as Shogun Suki Yaki of the Chopchopian Empire. The movie concludes with the diplomats locking the dictators up in a room until they make peace with each other, leading to a memorable final sequence.

While "The Great Dictators" stands a good chance of being screened across Latin America, European and Asia nations - belligerent and neutral - face the difficult decision of whether to screen such a popular yet subversive film, or whether to rely on censorship to hold Chaplin's "satirical masterpiece" at bay.

[NewYorkExpress]

The New Charlie Chaplin film, The Great Dictator, shall be banned in the Kingdom of Spain.

Generalissimo Francisco Franco

[Lumine]

World War II - 1941

List of Conflicts:

Great Eastern War Soviet Union vs. German Reich, Polish Republic, Free City of Danzig, Kingdom of Hungary, Kingdom of Spain, Republic of France (1939 - Present)

Rome-Moscow War Soviet Union vs. League of Rome (1940 - Present)

German-Entente War British Empire (UK, Canada, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand) and Belgian Congo vs. German Reich, Kingdom of Hungary, Kingdom of Spain (1938 - Present)

Pacific War: Empire of Japan, Kingdom of Thailand, Indian National Congress (Bose) vs. British Empire (UK, Australia, New Zealand, Dominion of India), Republic of France

Third Sino-Japanese War: Empire of Japan, Manchukuo vs. Republic of China vs. Northern Coalition

Chinese Civil War: Republic of China vs. Northern Coalition v. Communist Party of China (1939 - Present)

The Armies of the World:

Army Size / Manpower Available / Morale and Quality

British Empire: Medium (RAF/RN demands) / Medium / High
United States of America: Small / None (Volunteer Army) / Medium
Japanese Empire: Large / Substantial / Medium
Republic of France: Medium / Medium / Low
Kingdom of Italy: Medium / Medium / Low
German Reich: Very Large / Substantial / Medium
Soviet Union: Medium / Near bottomless / Very Low
Kingdom of Spain: Medium / Substantial / Low
Republic of Turkey: Medium / Substantial / Medium
Commonwealth of Australia: Small / Medium / High
Republic of China: Very Large / Near bottomless / Low
Union of South Africa: Small / Small / Medium
Kingdom of Bulgaria: Small / Small / High
Polish Republic: Large / Medium / Medium
Kingdom of Hungary: Medium / Small / Very Low
Portuguese Republic: Small /  Medium /  Medium

The Navies of the World:

Capability / Size

British Empire: Carrier-based / Very Large
United States of America: Carrier-based / Very Large
Japanese Empire: Carrier-based / Very Large
Republic of France: Battleship-based / Large
Kingdom of Italy: Battleship-based / Large
German Reich: Battleship-based / Medium
Soviet Union: Battleship-based / Small
Kingdom of Spain: Battleship-based / Small
Republic of Turkey: Battleship-based / Small
Commonwealth of Australia: Cruiser-based / Medium
Portuguese Republic: Destroyer-based / Medium
Republic of China: Destroyer-based / Small
Union of South Africa: Small vessel-based / Very Small
Kingdom of Bulgaria: Small vessel-based / Very Small
Polish Republic: Non-existent
Kingdom of Hungary: Non-existent

The Air Forces of the World:

Quality / Size

German Reich: First-Rate / Large
British Empire: First-Rate / Large
Japanese Empire: First Rate / Large
Republic of France: High Quality / Large
United States of America: High Quality / Medium
Kingdom of Italy: High Quality / Large
Soviet Union: Low Quality / Medium
Polish Republic: High Quality / Small
Commonwealth of Australia: Medium Quality / Small
Kingdom of Bulgaria: Medium Quality / Small
Republic of Turkey: Medium Quality / Very Small
Republic of China: Low Quality / Small
Kingdom of Spain: Low Quality / Small
Portuguese Republic: Low Quality / Small
Kingdom of Hungary: Low Quality / Small
Union of South Africa: Low Quality / Small

[DKrol]

Statement from No. 10 Downing Street

Today, the Prime Minister and Sir George Courthope, Bt, Secretary of State for Broadcasting and Culture, made a series of three announcements.

First, the film "The Great Dictators" will be allowed to be shown freely and without censor in the British Empire.

Second, the Ministry of Broadcasting and Culture will arrange the return of professional football to the British Isles for the first time since the European War began. Localized leagues will be sanctioned across the country, with a prohibition on traveling more than 45 miles for a matchday in order to conserve fuel and rubber. Crowd sizes will also be limited, to prevent the growth of targets for enemy attacks, in a manner determined by the Football Association. Further, all matches must be played during the daylight, to avoid the usage of large floodlights.

Third, the Football Association is ordered to review its prohibition on women's football. The Prime Minister believes that if women have been contributing to the war effort, at home and abroad, then they should be allowed to play football if they so wish.

The Prime Minister thanks the British people for their ongoing support and loyalty and hopes that these policies will bring some needed joy to their lives.

[DKrol]

Treaty of Bilbao
1. Gibraltar is recognized as Spanish territory.
2. A joint Anglo-Spanish Naval Base shall be established on the Spanish territory of The Rock.
3. The Spanish Kingdom shall compensate the British Empire for damages incurred as a result of the Battle for Gibraltar.
4. The Spanish Kingdom shall enter the European War no later than December 31, 1941.
5. Both the British Empire and the Spanish Kingdom acknowledge and respect the importance of peaceful, unencumbered commerce through the Straight of Gibraltar and will support efforts to that effect.

x
Winston Churchill

[NewYorkExpress]

Treaty of Bilbao
1. Gibraltar is recognized as Spanish territory.
2. A joint Anglo-Spanish Naval Base shall be established on the Spanish territory of The Rock.
3. The Spanish Kingdom shall compensate the British Empire for damages incurred as a result of the Battle for Gibraltar.
4. The Spanish Kingdom shall enter the European War no later than December 31, 1941.
5. Both the British Empire and the Spanish Kingdom acknowledge and respect the importance of peaceful, unencumbered commerce through the Straight of Gibraltar and will support efforts to that effect.

x
Winston Churchill

xGeneralisimo Fransisco Franco