Sweden A Scandinavian power

[chris N]

There would definitely have to be some adjustments in the post war borders. There were people in Courtland that objected to it becoming part of the German Empire. And despite some evidence that Hungary was considering leaving the Empire the future Emperor was doing all that he could to prevent that from Happening. It was becoming clearer that Bosnia was to be spun off as an independent enity perhaps with a Hapsburg on the throne.

[chris N]

It appeared that the allies were getting a little bit ahead of themselves as the Soviets launched a series of "Winter" offensives . These blows were designed to keep the allies of balance. To the South Zhukov launched a hammer blow designed to bring the Red army closer to the Oil fields of the south. He hoped also to force Rommel to follow him rather than continue his attacks. He launched a stunning blow to the Italians which saw their two Armored divisions shattered. The Italian tanks were no match for the T-34.

[bolhabela]

Even if the Hungarians leave the Empire they would not give up lover Slovakia or Felvidek as it contains 80%+ Hungarian majority. Hope the The soviets will be put down for good. An Croatia might want to annex the Croatian parts of Bosnia. This was proposed by the Croatian parliament in OTL after the incorporation of Bosnia but was shot down by the Hungarian parliament.
And hoe did the Italians loose Montenegro and the serbs the Novi sad region?

[chris N]

Kaiser Otto was still working on keeping the Empire intact. He hoped to rally support from elements in Hungary to stop talk of a break away.

Discussion: to be honest the last map was draw up after some discussion with some friend and I think that there will be a major revision. Part of the speculation was that Italy and Serbia clash and as a result the Serbs lost their Macedonia. There was also talk that Montenegro would again become independent. I really seriously looking at reducing the size of Bosnia. Feel free to suggest changes as the war still has a long way to go.

[bolhabela]

Ok. If you decide for the break up of the A-H empire then i suggest:
1)for Austria:Slovenia+Tyrol+Sudetenland
2)for the Cheh republik: Basicaly the Bohemian and Moravian protectorat of WW2
3) for Hungary: present day Hungary+present day romanian countys of Satu Mare, Bihor, Arad, Timis, Maramures, Salaj, Cluj, Bistrita Nasaud, Mures, Harghita, Covasna and Sibiu+ the teritorys absorbed by OTL Hungary from Slovakia in 1938-39 + the Ujvidek region
4) for Croatia: present day Croatia+ the croatian part of Bosnia
5) for Poland: give them Galizia (but not Subcarpathian Ruthenia, that would go to Hungary)
6) for Romania: you could give them pres. day countis of Alba, Caras Severin and Huniedoara.(and Bucovina if the A-H stil posess it.)
7) for Serbia: the Serb part of Bosnia.
8) for Slovakia: present day Slovakia exept the teritorys lost in 1938-39
9) for Germany: parts of the Sudetenland

By doing this way you get a lot of homogenos countrys, nation states with little to non minoritys and no claim to land based on represed minoritis.
Hungary would have a larger minority of romanians and germans. Austria is to far away to the germans to be anexed there as they live mostly in Transilvania and central Hungary. Hungary would have a big minority of romanians to but they would not give up the land to romania so i propose a state financed population exchange program. between romania and Hungary. Hungary would pay for the house, land and buisnes of romanians who wish to resettle in romania at a fair price and the romanians would do the same for the hungarians living on the land given to the romanian kingdome.
Sorry if i focused on Hungary but thats the country whose situation i knw of.

[Reichenfaust]

Austria, and Bohemia-Moravia join the German Empire.

Hungary joins Polish-Ukrainian Commonwealth, become Triple-Commonwealth. Powerful because of member states.

Force the Balkans to unite as one Slavic nation. Keep the peace via population switches to avoid ethnic disagreements. Seriously they are all mostly orthodox, and can get along as long as they work to each others benefits. Make a Federation of the Balkans to make sure there is no one "royal" dominating the throne.

Turkey gets the caucasus, and gets the turkish areas in Russias underbelly.

Britain gets joint rights with the Japanese to former East Siberia for use of Port Arthur, and Vladivostok, jointly with the Japanese to ensure the Russians NEVER have access to a warm water port again.

[chris N]

The Conference on borders was on the verge of becoming a fight when Kaiser Otto of Austria-Hungary arrived with the King of Bavaria. They suggested scrapping the whole idea and starting on those items that everyone could agree about. Sweden's border would shift to the east if the war went well and the Confederation of Poland and the Ukraine would also acquire new borders. In effect Russia would lose its outlet to the Black Sea.
There was some talk of Uniting the Georgian and Armenian states into one and possibly allowing the Muslim states to join with Turkey.
Lebanon would become an Italian Protectorate. Turkey would retain Syria AND Mesopotamia. Saudi Arabia was granted full independence from Turkey.
Jordan ( with larger borders) and Palestine would become British Protectorates.
Greece would be forced to give back part of European Turkey and remove its forces from Asia Minor.
Otto announced that there would be some reforms to the Federal System in his empire. There were now to be a redrawing of some borders.
The question of Transylvania would see some territory changes but mainly it would see a resettlement of the population. Ethnic Hungarians and Romanians would be moved and the cost would be borne by a combination of the Hungarian and Imperial treasures. Ethnic Germans would also be resettled.
Italy agreed to a referendum regarding Montenegro and which family would rule it. Serbia, Italy and Bulgaria would see a commission deal with the question of Serbian Macedonia.

[chris N]

Soviet forces continued to try to keep the allies off balance..At the same time the Soviets were increasing their defenses just in case the allies were able to launch their offensive.
In London a Swedish representative was meeting with the British to begin planning for a joint operation in the White Sea in the Spring of 1942. It was part of a plan for the capture of Arkhangelsk .

[chris N]

The Future Kaiser Otto I was busy playing political hardball with some stubborn Hungarians. The young Crown prince was rallying the people to his cause. His father had been popular in a lot of the Empire especially the West and his Federal reforms had really made the nonAustrians and Hungarians feel that they had a say in the empire. He was forcing the Hungarians to give up a little territory to Romania but at the same time he was assuring them that the Imperial treasury would help in the massive population exchange. Romania would gain some territory but more importantly it would not have a Hungarian or German population and the ethnic Romanians would be home.
The Austro-Hungarian Empire was forging critical ties with the new Polish-Ukrainian Empire. Otto stood with the people of the Grand Duchy that did not want to be adsorbed into the German Empire
The possible post war borders were discussed and some critical changes were showing up.

[bolhabela]

That map is just superb. The Germans might ad to their territory another 1/3 of their current holding. They could populate it by offering free land for germans living in Hungary and for the Volga germans

[chris N]

Most of the Germans that lived in Russia already have fled the Soviet Union. Some arrived in Sweden and some in Germany. You are correct though a lot of the refugees from Russia that ended up in Germany will be offered land back in the conquered territory. It is expected that Germans living in Hungary and Romania will be offered land in the new territory.

[chris N]

The war in the East was continuing with the Soviets attempting to keep the allies off balance. Soviet Intelligence was also attempting to infiltrate the allies and learn as much as possible. The Soviets were also doing everything possible to ferment trouble in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. After all if it could cause division between the Hungarians and the rest of the Empire it is possible that the empire might withdraw from the war. It might also cause a civil war. Imperial Intelligence was being kept busy and it was attempting to forestall any Soviet plans.
Finally in December 1941 two days after Christmas Kaiser Karl passed away. Otto was proclaimed as the new Emperor. Condolences came in from all the
heads of states of Europe.
Otto Quickly preempted the Hungarians by arriving in Budapest and being proclaimed King of Hungary. He then fired the Hungarian Prime Minister and replaced him with one that wasn't plotting against him but who was popular.

[chris N]

Otto had been secretly meeting with a Hungarian ex-patriot, who was living and working in the United States. He appealed to him to return and take an important post in the government. He reluctantly agreed to give it a try for the sake of his Hungarian homeland. He was there when Otto was proclaimed King of Hungary and was asked to come into the room. There were haws and other explanation of surprise when he stepped into the room.

[zeppelin247]

who is it in the photo?

[chris N]

The Hungarian born American Actor Cornel Wilde

[Reichenfaust]

I think Otto trying to get Courtland to stay separate is an asshole move on his part in trying to limit Germany's power in the future, when to stay alive as a nation, the Austrians really need Germany to help them.

[chris N]

The Winter war was tough the Soviets regained some f the land that they had lost and kept the Allies off balance. In the Middle East Zhukov had managed to keep the British and the Germans busy. Two Italian Armored Divisions received a beating from the Russian. So Much so that the Germans had to supply them with Tanks and other equipment..
Germany was busy preparing for the next major counter offensive. The Grand duchy's army was being rebuilt and Germany and Sweden were working together.
Austria Hungary had taken on a lot more responsibility for rebuilding the Polish Ukrainian Military. The two empires were working quite closely.
Skoda was working on a more powerful tank to eventually replace the T-25.

[Reichenfaust]

Hmm to balance Austrian power in Europe, maybe we can see German-Scandinavian union. With the Baltics included of course.

[chris N]

The New Kaiser of the Austrian Federal Empire and King of Hungary realized that he was in a delicate situation. He had just prevented the breakup of the Empire in the Middle of a war with the Soviet Union. He had no desire to end up with a power struggle for the control of Europe with Germany. The Paramount thing was to defeat the Soviet Union and prevent the capture of all of the oil field by the Russians.
Kaiser Otto I was of the opinion that the Alliance should be able to defeat the Soviets but not if it turned on itself. To that end He was working with the Bavarian King Ruphardt to help solve the problems with Kaiser Wilhelm III.
He was also talking to the other Alliance partners Sweden and Polish-Ukraine.
Ther Polish -Ukraine Empire as it was now know wanted o rebuild its military and wanted a new main battle tank. Secretly an agreement was signed to allow a limited production of the T-25 tank by Polish factories under Czech help and supervision.
Sweden was also offered the T-25 to replace the German PzkpfIV.
Talks on the Scandinavian Union had now been underway. It would see the election of a new Parliament with rpresenatives from all of the Nations and the establishment of a unified currancy

[chris N]

Below a look at the proposed changes to the middle East . Note the Western powers have forced Greece to leave Asia Minor and return part of European Turkey.

[chris N]

March 1942 Spring was finally starting to appear as the weather warmed up. The worn out divisions of the German Army had been replaced with newer and better equipped divisions. The Panther II was about to make its appearance on the battlefield. German forces would be co-operating with its allies in a drive for two locations- Moscow and Stalingrad. The thrust toward Stalingrad and the Caucasus region would shut down the Soviet offensive in the Middle East and allow Rommel and the British and Turkish forces to push the Soviets out of the Region. Germany had gained deals with the Turks that would allow joint ventures toward oil exploration. Britain lso would be rewarded by the Turks.
Rolling out of the Swedish Factories was the Skoda designed T-25. The Swedish tank manufacture had made a secret deal with the Skoda works to allow it to build the tank for the Swedish Army

[bolhabela]

ChrisN Could you show us what bounderis emperor Otto proposed in the event of the A-H breaking up?

[chris N]

This is one of the proposed breakup maps of the Empire. I am in the process of revising it again. Bosnia will be smaller as the Croatian and Serbian section are removed.

[chris N]

The Swedish Army had received a lot of the new Skoda designed and Swedish manufactured T-25 tanks. The result was the Swedish Army would enter the next phase of the war with a lot more tanks than had previously been available.
The British and Swedish navies would conduct an amphibious landing on the port of Arkhangelsk . The British would deploy an entire division while the Swedish/ Scandinavian forces would contribute a light Division of Swedish and Norwegian troops ( 5 infantry Battalions, 2 field artillery, 1 AT Artillery, 1 tank Battalion, 1 AA Artillery bn) supported by 2 Battleships, 2cl. 1 AA cruiser, 6 DD, 3 minesweepers.
Sweden was going to mount two other offensive operations.

[chris N]

A look at the border of a possible independent Bosnia in the post war world. Note that the Croatian province and Serbia gain land.

[Reichenfaust]

I think Kaiser Otto is getting ahead of himself, and Kaiser Wihelm III will finally finish what Bismarck started.

[chris N]

Kaiser Otto returned to Vienna to waves of approval from even his critics. He had brought the Empire back together and the reforms that were pushed through seemed to have satisfied even those in Hungary that had considered independence from the Empire. His offer of financial help to settle the problem with Romania and end once and for all the hatred that seemed to go on and on impacting mostly those who had the misfortune to live on the wrong side of the border.
It was time for a meeting of the monarchs of the two largest members of the alliance. Kaiser Otto had already spoken to King George Of Great Britain.
Now was the time to discuss the issue of the war and the future shape of Europe..Kaiser Wilhelm III was known as a believer in the expansion of Germany. Otto did have an ally in dealing with the German Kaiser, the King of Bavaria. He was he who had masterminded the Victory in the West in the last war. He was much more respected by the Army than the current Kaiser.
The Austrian Kaiser had also received the German Crown Prince Louis frederick. They were kindred spirits.It appeared that they say the same vision of a post war Europe. Lous preferred to encourage the Grand Duchy to join the German Empire but not to force tm to join. He looked at the creation of a European Common Market to encourage trade. A dream shared by Otto.

[chris N]

March 21,1942 The Minesweepers had been clearing a path through the Filed to allow the Invasion Fleet into the White Sea. The British Admiral Aboard the HMS Warspite was in charge of the Operation. He had a Swedish liaison aboard his ship and he had a Royal navy team a board the Swedish Bayern class battleship. He was resposnible for landing a joint British/ Scandinavian invasion force. The Swedish-Norweigan force had grown in size and the ivasion force was now truly up to corp size. The RAF and Swedish Air Forces ahd been pounding the enemy.

[chris N]

German Strategic Bombers had started to bomb the plants in the Urals. At the same time the German and Austro-Hungarian Bombers had been pounding Moscow and the Soviet rail system.
The ALlies now began their push to the East The Skoda T-25 proved once again to be the best tank that Skoda had produced. It was knocking out the T-35 and opening holes in the Soviet lines. The Germans and the forces were smashing thier way in a race to the east.

[chris N]

Kaiser Wilhelm III arrived to greet the Austro-Hungarian Kaiser for the First trip to Berlin since the war had begun. World had just arrived that the German Kaiser's oldest son Wilhelm had been killed during the advance to the East. His son's body had been recovered by an Austrian Panzer unit.
The two monarchs met and discussed the death of the German Prince. The German Kaiser was impacted by the loss but was so grateful that his son's body would be coming home to be buried in the family cript.

[chris N]

The Massive push to the east began. Armored and Mechanized units raced to Stalingrad. the goal was to prevent a defense from being organized.

[zeppelin247]

I did not realise Persia was liberated

[chris N]

Ups Map Mistake Will have to correct.

[chris N]

Revised Map. The Battle of Moscow has started with the city cut of.

[chris N]

Marshal Zhukov returned from the Middle East to take control of the Soviet offensive to relieve Moscow. The Red Army and Air Force puled out all of the stops including the use of the new secret IS-1 and the even rarer IS-2.
There giant heavy tanks were able to take hits that might have stopped a T-34. It gave the Panther a run for its money. Only the Panther II was able to stop the tank. It was the biggest tank battle of the war and the Germans were forced to pul back. The ground shook from the impact of the shells.

[chris N]

Situation May 1942

[chris N]

Rommel had gained the upper hand in his war in Turkey. He had Managed to capture the Oil field In Mesopotamia and he had foced the Soviets to withdraw north to their Defensive line. Rommels action had also threaten the Soviet position in Persia and had allowed the British to make some gains.

[chris N]

British troops had finally received better tanks including the new American Sherman as well as the Valentine and the new Cromwell. It was now a slow advance as the Soviets were giving up ground so as to concentrate on the defense of the Motherland.

[chris N]

Marshal Zhukov was a tired man. He had just pulled a miracle out of nowhere by recapturing Moscow. Thus doing the impossible. He was well aware that the Red Army had been stretched to the limit. In order to have a chance he would have to convince the Politburo to support him in a struggle with Stalin. The assets that were in Turkey and Persia would have to be withdrawn it there was to be a chance of getting the Western allies to agree to a peace. He would need the troops to wear them down and inflict serious loses on the enemy. Even he was aware that the chances of victory were getting worse and the ability of the Industry to replace equipment was diminishing. The ISI and II were impressive tanks but they would cost too much resource wise to build. It would be better to get the improved T-34 out. The army was running short on trucks .
The oil filed in Turkey would be out of operation for some time. But now the Germans and the Pole-Ukrainians had captured some of Russia's.

[chris N]

The liberation of the Middle East was on the Verge of completion. Field Marshals Mainstein and Rommel were about to break through the RED Army and link up.

[chris N]

The News that arrived in the capitals of western Europe echoed the victories of the Allies. Stalingrad fell on August 16, Sept 18, Georgia fell after an uprising by the people and German troops from Rommel's command
liberated Armenia. Turkish, German and Italian troops enter the state of Azerbaijan. In Persia Troops from the British 7th Armored division and the Persian Imperial Guard entered the Persian capital. Most of the city was in ruins. There were Persian Communist that continued to fight against the British and the Persian troops. Most of the Red Army was obeying the orders to get back to Russia to help defend it. The new Cromwell ank made its appearance in this fight.

[chris N]

European borders Dec 1942

[chris N]

As one can see by the previous map the 1942 campaign ended with the allies coming close to their goal of finishing off the Soviet Union once and for all. There were some bad breaks and the weather also seemed to turn against them.
As 1942 came to an end the allies started to draw up plans to end the war in the following year. Persia had suffered so much damage that it was incapable of playing any further active role in the war. It did offer to allow the British and Commonwealth forces Air bases to strike at Russia and the right to movie supplies through. Turkey had gained control of some of the Muslim states in the Caucasus region. George and Armenia were now joined as the Christian state in the Caucasus region. Germany maintain a military force in the region and was beginning to train a local military force.

Turkey had agreed to provide an Army for the next phase of the war.The allies had forced the Greeks to withdraw from Asia Minor and allow Turkey to keep its slice of Europe subject to a Peace Treaty. Greece and Italy were suffering from poor relations as a result of being on opposite sides in the war but things settled down.
Otto announced the Resettlement agreement with Romania. It would end the conflict on the border of the Empire. Alos announced was a decision to allow the state of Bosnia to become an independent nation. It had had its borders redrawn so as to reduce the amount of Serbs and Croats to a tiny fraction of the population. One of Ottos relations would become the ruler of the country with its own legislature.
The Former Confederation of Poland and the Ukraine had become the Polish-Ukraine Empire. Part of its Polish Population had moved eastward..
It vowed to continue the War until final victory.
Sweden had affirmed that it was determined to end the threat from the Communist Stat but there was a small group in Denmark that was war weary and Urged that a Political settlement be reached.
On the Soviet Side the Head of the Soviet Secret Police was killed in an ambush. There had been 4 attempts to kill Stalin. The Red Army was the only force capable of holding the country together. Finally a group of members of the ruling body met with Marshal Tukhadevsky, the former commander of the Red Army and urged that he return from exile in Siberia. The Marsahl returned and met secretly with Marshal Zhukov. Plans were formed for a coup to topple Stalin and reach an agreement with the West.

[chris N]

In Denmark delegates from all of the Scandinavian states were meeting to Iron out the agreement for the Scandinavian Union. It would create a new Parliament and strengthen the county's ability to deal with the new world.
Here is another look as a possible Post war Europe:

[Reichenfaust]

Germany should look for a union with Austria. Otto cannot be so vain and prideful as to ignore the facts about his empire falling apart.

[chris N]

Otto is in a strong position. He is riding rising popularity in Hungary, the Czech States and had managed to divest the Empire of Bosnia, with its Muslim population. His Chancellor is a Czech. the Commander in Chief of the Army a Slovenian , the Commander of te hard charging 1st Austro-Hungarian a Austrian. His cousin rules the largest non-Russian Nation in the East.
The economy is doing quite well and like his father he talks to the people. Kaiser Wilhelm III is standoffish and isolated from the public.
Jf anything Otto's action have unified the ountry. Talks of Hungarian succession have vanished.
To the North the Scandinavian Union is coming into being. The new Parliament will be bicammerial and the Prime Minister will be chosen by the Majority Party. A sticking point is over who will be the Chief of state- High King or Emperor. All three Nations will retain their own King.

[Reichenfaust]

Ok, I guess your going for multiple empires, instead of super states, which is still ok. I like it now that you have fleshed it out and stated how Otto's PR is.

[chris N]

Some members of the German government were still attempting to convince the people of Cortland that it would really be a good idea to join the German Empire. They would gain so much. While the German Balts were all in favor of the idea the Latvian and Lithuanians that made up the overwhelming percentage of the population were far from convinced. They remembered being swallowed up in the Russian Empire and treated like second class citizens. While parts of the country had once been part of the Swedish Empire that was too long ago.
There were now Hapsburgs on the thrones of the Austian Federal Empire, Polish-Ukrainian Empire and Bosnia. Montonegreo now had a monarch that was pro- Austrian rather than one related to the Italian Royal Family.
Otto's move to defuse the ethenic problem had worked. It had caused the Imperial treasury a lot of money but more than anything it had stopped the constant problem in translvania .
Germany had taken a keen interest in Georgia- Armenia and there was talk of a German Price becoming the ruler of the new country. Turkey was pleased that it had gained the Muslims in the Caucasus region as well as the oil.
The Turks had been quite willing to give the British Palestine and the Hussiens had gotten Jordan as a Pritish Protectorate. Saudi Arabia had been allowed to go its own way as the Turkish leader felt it was better to reduce the size of the Empire , that was the Turkish Republic than to have to fight a war. When Muslim Clerkic tried to make Turkey in to a Muslim Nation the Turkish leader reacted with force. Turkey ,while musilim would be a secular state not a religious nation. The Turkish ruler knew that his time as the leader of the nation would be over. The stress of the war had worn him out and his health was not as good as it was. He yearned to live long enough so as to sign the pernmanent peace Treaty for Turkey.
The war still was going on and unless things changed 1943 would be the year of final victory.

[Reichenfaust]

Some members of the German government were still attempting to convince the people of Cortland that it would really be a good idea to join the German Empire. They would gain so much. While the German Balts were all in favor of the idea the Latvian and Lithuanians that made up the overwhelming percentage of the population were far from convinced. They remembered being swallowed up in the Russian Empire and treated like second class citizens. While parts of the country had once been part of the Swedish Empire that was too long ago.
There were now Hapsburgs on the thrones of the Austian Federal Empire, Polish-Ukrainian Empire and Bosnia. Montonegreo now had a monarch that was pro- Austrian rather than one related to the Italian Royal Family.
Otto's move to defuse the ethenic problem had worked. It had caused the Imperial treasury a lot of money but more than anything it had stopped the constant problem in translvania .
Germany had taken a keen interest in Georgia- Armenia and there was talk of a German Price becoming the ruler of the new country. Turkey was pleased that it had gained the Muslims in the Caucasus region as well as the oil.
The Turks had been quite willing to give the British Palestine and the Hussiens had gotten Jordan as a Pritish Protectorate. Saudi Arabia had been allowed to go its own way as the Turkish leader felt it was better to reduce the size of the Empire , that was the Turkish Republic than to have to fight a war. When Muslim Clerkic tried to make Turkey in to a Muslim Nation the Turkish leader reacted with force. Turkey ,while musilim would be a secular state not a religious nation. The Turkish ruler knew that his time as the leader of the nation would be over. The stress of the war had worn him out and his health was not as good as it was. He yearned to live long enough so as to sign the pernmanent peace Treaty for Turkey.
The war still was going on and unless things changed 1943 would be the year of final victory.



I think Courtland would be convinced with a solid guarantee of equal treatment of citizenry, no second class feelings or hatred from other Germans.

[chris N]

Germany's Kaiser went to the Grand Duchy to meet with the Political leadership and to visit the troops that had return from the front. While most of the political parties on the right favored bringing Courtland into the Reich the Social-Democrats were not showing that much support for the idea.
Meanwhile the Creation of the Scandinavian Union continued to move forward. The first election for the new Parliament was scheduled for the Spring of 1943. The legislature would meet in Southern Sweden near the border with Norway.

[chris N]

The Winter of 1942-43 did not see a lot of combat operations. The Red Army was trying to rebuild itself after the disaster that occourred during 1942. Those troops that escaped from the Middle East were short on critical equipment. Unfortunately, the Allied bombing of Soviet industry was having a major effect. The Red army was receiving only a fraction of the number of trucks that it needed. So unless it shrunk in size, a lot more of the military would depend upon horses and foot leather. Even in tanks the Soviets were seeing its ability to turn out them decline.
The Red Army's two military leaders believed that the chances for victory were small and one man would have to go if they were to have any chance of getting out of this mess that he had caused. The Man was Stalin.
In Early February 1943 a bomb exploded in the residence where he was staying. . The explosion killed the Soviet Dictator and the NKVD security guard. Reports were that it was a German Bomb that had got him.
While the Luftwaffe was getting the credit the leadership knew that they did not do it as intelligence had not provided enough info to allow such a mission to be planned. Secretly they talked to the Swedish and British Air Force but both denied knowing anything about it.
It would be 2 months before the first bit of information started to make its way up the intelligence net that the death of Stalin might have been cared out by the Red Army.
So the Red Army seized Power . It sent out a diplomatic probe through France about a possible cease fire and peace talks.

[chris N]

The Red Army of 1943 that took to the field was lot smaller than it had been.From nearly 300 divisions of 1941 and 280 of 1942 it was now only 160 divisions strong. Of course there was still a Far Eastern Army but that was down to 2 divisions and 4 Brigades of regulars plus a lot of militia . Still Marshal Zhukov was given the task of commanding the Land forces while the now restored Soviet former Commanding General took the role of Supreme Soviet Commander. He had also the job of running the country. There were going to be a lot of changes. He was already looking at opening up the political process by allowing other political parties. He had replaced the Stalinist with reformers.
Meanwhile the Allies had prepared to renew the war. Sweden would for the most part stand where it was with most of its Army. The Swedish First Army would support the German Allied offensive toward Moscow. The First Army would have 12 divisions( Viking Panzer Division, St Petersburg Panzer grenadier Division,XIX th Corp(3x Estonian Infantry divisions),9th Infantry Division(Finnish Motorized) X Corp (Swedish) and V Corp Finnish.
Germany was deploying 15 Armies totaling 135 German Divisions plus an attached Courtland Corp of 4 Divisions, Austrian Federal Empire had 3 Armies with a total of 27 divisions, Romania had 2 Armies with 16 divisions and the Polish Ukraine Empire had 9 Armies with 45 divisions. Turkey would contribute its 3rd Army with 6 divisions. Britain still had 2 armies in Persia with20 divisions.

[Keezih]

Is Japan not joining in and grabbing some Russian shores in the far East?

[chris N]

I am working on an update for what has been happening in the Far East. Japan is currently at war with the Republic of China. It has been receiving oil from of all country's the Soviet Union. I would expect that that will be coming to an end as a result of the wars disastrous turn.
The commander of the Soviet Far Eastern Forces has been trying to whip the forces that he has into some shape in the event of a war with someone else. The Militia forces have improved and now the NKVD forces have also been put under the Army's command in the Far East.

[chris N]

Far East Spring 1941: To the Japanese Military leadership now would be the perfect time to deal with China. Europe's attention was now focused on the Soviet Union and the trouble in the Balkans. The Commander of the Imperail Japanese Navy was determined to remove the threat that a growing Chinese Navy could be to Japanese interest. The war appeared to go well as Japanese troops crossed the Marco Polo Bridge and there were amphibious landings on the coast.
Japan had signed a non aggression pact with the soviets. It also had signed a secret deal in which the Japanese were sold enough Oil to allow them to fight for over a year..
This meant that Japan would always have more than a six month reserve of oil. The continued to buy as much oil as they could get and even agreed to act as an agent for the Soviets by buying US Made trucks and delivering it to the far East. The result was they got a lot more oil.

[chris N]

China: the Japanese invasion of the country had been met with mixed result. Chinese forces had fought but had withdrawn to prevent encirclement.As a result the Imperial Japanese army had been able to make gains but as the Japanese attempted to move against Shanghai they met stiff resistance. The Chinese Supreme leader allowed 10 of his best trained divisions to be committed to the struggle. These troops were well trained and equipped. They were able to inflict considerable loses on the Japanese.
More Chinese and Japanese forces were pulled into the growing battle.
At Sea the Japanese and Chinese Navies finally clashed . Japanese cruisers escorting an invasion force near Hanan Island were surprised by the appearance of the Chinese capital ships.

[chris N]

The Republic of China was determined to resist the Japanese invasion . The Chinese military was far stronger. After the Crushing of the Communist in China more effort was made to modernize the Chinese Military. The Army still had a German influence although the US was starting to gain more influence since a lot of the Germans had returned home to fight the Soviets.

[chris N]

The Battle of the South China Sea Was the First encounter of the new Republic of China Navy against the Imperial Japanese Navy. The German warships were quite capable.

[chris N]

The Japanese Heavy cruisers were good but they were not designed to fight capital ships. The former German Battlecruiser fired its 11 inch guns and managed to come very close to hitting the cruisers with its firs two rounds. The water pounded the deck from the Near Miss. The Japanese ships rapidly fired back with their 8 inch guns scoring some hits. The Japanese fired their long Lance torps. The Chinese battleship then scored a hit with its twelve inch gun. The cruise was heavily damaged and as a result it slowed to a crawl and was hit by the 11 inch guns of the Battlecruiser. The Japanese cruiser exploded. But the Long lance torps also scored a hit causing major damage.

[chris N]

The Japanese Warships covered the withdrawal of the invasion fleet losing two older destroyers to the Chinese loss of 1 destroyer. Thus the battle ended with 2 Chinese capital ships suffering damage and 1 destroyer lost while the Japanese lost 1 Heavy cruiser and 2 destroyers sunk and 1 heavy cruiser and 1 light cruiser damaged.
Meanwhile the Invasion continued with the Japanese moving into eastern Inner Mongolia.

[chris N]

March 1943 While the War was beginning again on the Russian Front something was happening in Washington, DC. The New Soviet Ambassador to the US had Presented his credentials to President Landon. He had then met ith the Secretary of State and had presented a peace proposal that would end the war in Europe. It would give the allies most of their demands but would require giving back a small amount of the conquered lands. . The Soviet Union would be no more it would be replaced by the Russian Republic. Elections would be held in 6 months . Multiparty would be allowed and the Swiss and US would b be invited to send represenatives to oversee the election.

[chris N]

The US was pushing the Peace proposal in an effort to save lives and end a costly war. The Secretary of State had had a meeting with the ambassadors of Great Britain, Austria-Hungary, Sweden, Germany, Romania, Soviet Union , Courtland and the Turkish Republic. Persia's Ambassador had just passed away after an illness and the government in Persia had not yet sent a replacement.
The War in Russia was continuing and the Red Army was putting up a stiff fight. France joined the US in the Peace effort and the Foreign Minister of the Polish-Ukraine Empire arrived to join the talks.
By may 1943 with the Germans, Swedish and Austrian forces within 5 miles of the suburbs of Moscow an agreement was signed. A Cease fire was to go into effect on May 30th,1943. The allies had in effect won the war. The communist government of Russia had been replaced by a Military government. Lots of White Russians that had been living in exile would be allowed to return to Russia.

[chris N]

Border of Europe after the Peace Treaty

[chris N]

The War in Europe had been one of the bloodiest conflicts since the First World War. It had seen a lot of changes in the Map. Turkey had seen the handwriting on the wall and had granted Saudi Arabia Independence. It had also alow the British to set up the Kingdom of Jordan and Israel. Italy had been rewarded with the Christan protectorate of Lebanon for its help in the War. Germany had gotten some trade agreements and was the protestor of Georgia-Armenia. Turkey got the Muslim state in the Caucasus region.
Persia had gained nothing as it was concentrating on rebuilding.
Germany saw a major expansion of it territorial wise. It also saw what remained of the German population in Russia moving to the new German state. Sweden saw additional territorial gain and the realization of a dream
The Scandinavian Union. As a result it was a major player in Europe and the world.
Austria-Hungary emerged from the War more united as a result of the Emperor moving to end the thorn that always existed between Hungary and Romania. With the Growth of the Polish-Ukraine Empire Austria role in Europe grew with a Hapsburg on the throne of the Second Largest Country in the East.
Germany had not given up lobbying the Grand Duchy of Courtland to join the Empire. The only problem would be that it would be adding a large non-German population to the Empire. This would require some effort to Germanize the region.

[chris N]

There were still a lot of flashpoint in Europe. The Serbs would like to recover the rest of Macedonia(Serbian populated) that was part of the Italian Balkans. It would also like to add Montenegro and Bosnia. The Greeks wanted the rest of European Turkey.
It appeared that the internal pressures in the Austrian Federal Empire had been defused put both Italy and France would like the lands that were populated by ethnic French or Italians but neither desired to trigger a war.
The War in th Pacific had gone on and appeared that it might spill over.

[chris N]

Summer 1941 Far East Japan's invasion of China was proceeding. The Japanese were finding that the cost of the invasion was a lot higher than they had believed it would be. The Imperial Japanese Army had run into a lot of second rate divisions but even these divisions had been better trained and equipped than in OTL. A thrust toward Shanghai had been blunted by some of the best trained Chinese divisions.
At Sea the Republic of China's navy had done very well against the Japanese but that had been Capital Ships against a few cruisers . The Imperial Navy was repositioning itself to be available to destroy its enemy.
In the Air the Imperial Japanese Military had more combat aircraft but China did have a considerable Air Force of its own and had hired American volunteers to improve things.

[chris N]

The United States was not Happy with Japan's war against China. It began to exert what pressure it could short of war. That included economic sanctions. At the same time the US offered to mediate any disputes between the two nations. Great Britain informed Japan that it did not support Japan.France, which was not involved in the war in Europe dispatched reinforcements to the Far East to discourage Japan from moving against French Indo-China.

[chris N]

In 1944 the Grand Duchy and Germany signed the Unification Treaty. It made the Grand Duchy part of the German Empire, with the right to leave.
Below the Revised Map of Europe

[Reichenfaust]

WICKED Chris N, DAMN that is a super Germany. I love that!:D The Polish Ukrainian Empire should be a large player in any post Soviet War Euro talks. The Austrians will probably be the blueprint for federalization of any other countries I think.

[chris N]

Summer 1944 Kaiser Wilhelm III just returned from visiting the grave of his Father Kaiser Wilhelm II. He thought that his father would be proud of him. He had massively increased the side of the German state and had brought a lot of the German people pack into the Reich. Germany was the Greatest Military and economic power in Europe. Together with his old Central Powers Allies it was the strongest Group in Europe. His Son and Kaiser Otto were for forming a great Economic trading group that would encourage trade. He was slowly coming around to that.
the Soviet Union had collapsed thanks to Germany and its allies but the Kaiser was well aware that German Intelligence had said that it was the Red Army that had killed it off. Strange that the defenders of the State had been the force that had allowed it to transition to more of a democracy.
The Russian Federal Republic was still dominated by the military but now it had an elected parliament and there were several political parties. Rumors had it that some of the Romanov family would return to Russia. Some of the Romanov property had been returned to them by the new government.
The Emperor of the largest State in the East after the Russian Federal Republic was busy rebuilding his Country. Volgograd was the city on the border and a major trading Center for the Polish-Ukrainian Empire and the Russian Federal Republic. It appeared that the two Hapsburg ruled Empires were co-operating on a series of economic and military matters.

[chris N]

The Far East 1Fall of 1941- Winter 1941-42. The War in China was bogging down for the Japanese. They were finding that that the Chinese Army was a lot tougher opponent than they had thought. There were three battles for Shanghai and they were fought to a deadlock. The Nationalist would not allow the Japanese to take the City.
In the Air the Japanese tended to dominate but not always. The Nationalist Air Force struck back. Military supplies continued to flow through French Indochina and the Japanese were demanding that the French stop it.

At Sea the two countries navies had continued to clash. Two Chinse capital ships were in Singapore being repaired.

[chris N]

Japan was keeping its eye on what was happening in Europe. As the Spring of 1942 saw the Military situation change. The reverses suffered by the Soviets indicated that Japan had to win a solution in 1942.
The result was they moved to redouble their efforts.

[chris N]

Japan's Military leaders decided to go all out to win the war against China in 1942. Plans were drawn up for another attempt to capture Hanan Island so as to exert pressure on France. In Fact the Army drew up plans for a possible occupation of French Indochina if the French did not close the entry of goods into China of a military nature.

[chris N]

With a flood of Military equipment still flowing into China from French Indochina the Japanese felt that their only option was to strike. They had warned to French to stop. So the Imperial Japanese Army and Navy struck Hard and fast. Four Fleet Carriers escorted by three Battleships, 2 Heay cruisers, 3 light cruisers and 18 destroyers launched a suprise attack.
The Battleship Paris was sent to the bottom of the South China Sea along with a French Colonial cruiser. French aircraft were destroyed on the ground.
more than 30,ooo Imperial Japanese troops were landed in the country. French colonial forces varied in their reaction with the Legionaires, showing that they would resist despite the odds.

[chris N]

Japan had now widen the war by attacking French Indochina. French considered dispatching Its 4 newest Capital ships with Cruisers and the obsolete carrier and destroyers. It also could throw together 3-4 Dem-ibrigades. But it is a long way from france and experts said the chances were not high for Sucess.Below

[chris N]

Japan's 1942 campaign saw considerable gains by the Japanese Imperial Military as they attempted to bring the war to a conclusion. Unfortunately it also saw a major expansion of the war as the Japanese invaded French Indochina in an attempt to cut off the flow of military supplies to the Chinese. The French were even now deploying more forces to the Pacific but France lacked enough carrier based airpower to stand up to the Japanese.
The US began to apply more diplomatic pressure on Japan to end the war and leave French Indochina.
The American public was not prepared to go to war over China or French Colonial territory. The US was preparing for independence of the Philippines in 1942.

[chris N]

The Far East/ Pacific 1942

[zeppelin247]

are the British supplying China at all?

[Keezih]

why doesnt Japan attack Russia?

[chris N]

To begin with remember that this is taking place while Britain is at war with the Soviet Union. Britain has little to spare in the way of Military goods.
Japan will not attack the Soviet Union for the following reasons: 1) Japan has its hands full dealing with China. The Chinese military is a lot stronger than in OTL and 2) Japan has been receiving a lot of oil from the Soviets. So It would be like biting the hand that feeds you.

[chris N]

The Imperial Japanese Navy was quite busy trying to track down the Chinese Navy and supporting operations in China and Indochina.

[Reichenfaust]

Well, Europe/France now has a reason to go to war with China. Also the French were not touched by the war with Russia, so this could see France throwing its might against Japan.

[chris N]

The French Premier was angry at the Japanese but he was also angry at his country's military. It would appear that with the exception of the French Foreign Legion and a few other units in Indochina everyone gave up after the surprise attack by Japan.
Two additional battleships were nearing completion as was an aircraft carrier but that didn't help the situation. France had one aging carrier that was a joke compared to the Japanese. Still France had to do something but the nearest French territory was ether the Island off the coast of East africa or the Island of New Caladonia in the Pacific. Both were too far away to support the French navy. Thus it was to the Americans that the French turned to. The US shipbuilding industry would be able to build them several escort carriers in a short time. True they would be slow moving ships and could only carry 18 aircraft but that was better than nothing. France had also asked to buy one of the American new light carriers. This could carry a lot more aircraft and would be able to keep up with the battleships and battle-cruisers. The US agreed to do both.

[chris N]

The Imperial Japanese Navy was considerably larger than the French Navy and much better trained and equipped to fight in the Pacific and the South China Sea.

[pike]

The french making a move against the japs in the pacific i find that idea rather amusing.

I think the french confrontation with the japs would be highly entertaining. Maybe not so much for the japs if the french and the chinese decied to coordinate naval operations. Miracles do happen.

Eather way things look interesting in the far east. When the rest of the world looks like its being tied in kotes with all them new borders. With the Polukraine confed being the main offender.

Did the Sweds get the USSR islands?

Sad to see the relationship between the germans and the chinese drop off at such a critical moment.:(Oh well.

[chris N]

Sweden gained a lot of territory including all of the Islands west of the border. Germany is so tided up with the war against the Soviet Union that it had been unable to do anything. Remember the events that I am now reporting on in the Far East are taking place at the same time that the war is going on in Europe and the Middle East.
While France does have some military muscle it is considerably smaller than Japan's. If the was had been in North Africa or Europe the French would be better able to project their power. As it is the nearest French base is thousands of miles from the front. France has asked Britain to use facilities in India to allow it to fly aircraft into China.

[chris N]

The US was looking at the possible coming conflict between France and Japan as a great disaster. The French were too far away from bases. Great Britain was secretly allowing the French to fly over the Hump from India. The US had sold the French 12 C-46 and 12 C-47. These were allowing the French to move equipment into southern China. The French would need air support and other things if they were to have any chance. The French were also counting on the Chinese X Army Group. This Army Group had 6 poorly equipped divisions.

[chris N]

The War in the Far East was heating up quite a bit. The French were lobbying the US to sell them more Arms as were the Chinese. At this point the European powers were so busy trying to finish off the Soviet Union that they had nothing to spare in the way of arms for China. The Chinese had turned to the US for planes and other equipment that they could not get.
Chinese factories had turned out copies of the German Panzer II but key parts had prevented production of the Panzer III. Thus China had turned to the US but the Invasion of French Indochina had prevented the delivery from there and direct shipment to China was far too dangerous.
Great Britain had dispatched the Prince of Wales, Repulse and Illustrious to Singapore. It had also requested Australia send a division to Malaysia.
Thus there were only two ways to get goods to China: 1) the Burma Road in Burma or 2) over the Hump. Over the hump was really limited to gasoline, small arms, uniforms, helmets, Ammo, pack artillery.

[chris N]

The Chinese military conducted a counter offensive around the Shanghai region driving the Japanese to the North. Chinese Aircraft attacked Japanese rail communications lines to Manchuria. The Chinese Navy carried out limited attacks on the Japanese blockade with limited success.

The French Naval task force was joined by a second US made Light carrier.
Japan protested the sale of US made arms to France and China.

[chris N]

Summer of 1942 In Europe as one may recall from earlier post the war in the East was turning in favor of the allies and the same was true in the Middle east. Still the events in the Far East did not seem to be registering in the European capitals. There were three European Nations that were following what was happening in asia a great deal . One of those nations was the Soviet Union. The Soviets were hoping that the actions of the Japanese might force the withdrawal of some assets from the war against them.
Britain and Germany were also receiving reports. The German main base in China was now surrounded by the Japanese. Thus there forces were observing what was going on with great interest and sending coded messages back to Germany. The Germans had expanded their defense forces by calling up all German reservist and recruiting Chinese. Thus they had combined with the Regulars in the Far East had 9 Battalions of Infantry and 4 of artillery. The German Commander was being very careful not to trigger a conflict with the Japanese.
Hong Kong for now was safe but its garrison had been strengthen with the arrival of a Canadian Brigade. Thus the Garrison had 1 British, 2 Indian Army , 1 Canadian and 2 British -Chinese Brigades.
The South China Sea was not exactly a safe Zone.

[Reichenfaust]

Wow, its really brewing up in the east. This could be called a World war.

[bolhabela]

What teritory do the germans have in china? Port Arthur mazbe?

[chris N]

Germany has the same colonial base that it did in preWWI. Port Arthur is in Manchuria.
There was an argument within the US Navy over how well the French Chinese Navies would do in the Up coming fight. many thought that they would defeat the Japanese but a Rear Admiral named Chester Nimitz argued that the Japanese held the advantage. The Japanese had more carriers and those carriers had more planes than the French. The French were operating far from the nearest base. In Contrast the Japanese had bases nearby and could readily reinforce there Navy.

[chris N]

The French fleets two elements had now finally arrived off the Coast of Sumatra. France had arranged for the ships to be refueled before they enter the Straits and sailed into the South China Sea. The Chinese agreed to add their two capital ships and the light cruiser and 4 destroyers to the Task force.
Japan's spy network was aware that the Chinese ships were ready to sail and that something was happening. The Japanese had 4 fleet carriers, 4 Kongo class Battleships, 2 Heavy cruisers, 3 light cruisers and 15 destroyers.
The Imperial Navy was prepared to do battel and a second Task Force was enroute with 2 more Battleships and 2 more carriers plus escorts.
It was figured that if the French and Chinese suffered a major loss it would be possible to win the war in 1942 or force a settlement.
Below one of the French Battlecruisers.

[chris N]

Japanese Recon aircraft spotted the Invasion force and 12 Japanese Navy Bombers armed with torpedoes and 12 bombers armed with Bombs were launched from Indochina. The Imperial Navy Carrier Yask Force was alerted and they began to move to the south.
At the same time aircraft from the French Heavy cruiser spotted the Japanese carriers and the Two carriers launched a strike against the Japanese 36 American made TBF Avengers and 24 Dauntless Dive-bombers escorted by 24 Wild cats were launched. The French were hoping for some luck.

[Reichenfaust]

So this will be ATL Marianas turkey shoot? Wih the Japanese carriers I dont see it going any other way, especially with the bomber bases of Japan closer.

[chris N]

The French light carriers had also located the Japanese carrier fleet and had launched every thing that they could from the two light carriers. Thus the strike was on the way. Meanwhile the French invasion convoy with its 1 French fleet carrier and 3 Escort carriers had also launched its strike aircraft toward the Japanese fleet. That added another 35 attack plans and 9 fighters. 6 Wild cats were flying cap and another 6 were readied to launch.
The French flight leader spotted the Japanese bombers and radioed the carriers to launch every ready fighter. He then lead the attack. The wildcats tore into the Japanese Bombers and downed three. Still the Japanese did manage to launch 4 torpedoes at the fleet and some bombs scored near misses. The French Fleet carrier was hit by 2 torps and it was quickly becoming evident that it might not survive. Foue more bombers were downed by the Pluck French fliers.

[chris N]

The commander of the Invasion convoy decided to alter course and head back toward Malaysian waters. The French fleet carrier was sinking. Fortunately most of the aircraft that had been aboard the ship that had launched to protect the convoy had been able to land on the escort carriers.
Still there was a massive amount of Japanese carrier aircraft heading their way. The Warship crews were even now manning the AA guns as were those on the transports and support ships.
Meanwhile the French planes from the two carriers had arrived and were in the process of attacking the Japanese carriers. There were attacked by the Japanese CAP.

[chris N]

Even as the French -Chinese Convoy turned to escape back to Malaysian Water a Japanese Strike was approaching the Japanese force had 18 fighters, 39 dive bombers and 30 torpedo bombers . Most of the aircraft were being held back for a strike against the French light carriers.
Well Japanese fighters spotted the French Carrier Aircraft closing on the Japanese task force. More Japanese fighters were launched and the Battle station command went off in all of the ships. Japanese sailors moved to man the AA guns.
The Zeroes moved to engage and the Wildcats moved to protect the TBF Avengers. The Battle began with the loss of 2 Wildcats to the more experienced Japanese pilots. The Avengers picked the targets including the carrier Akagi and Kaga. A wall of Flak erruppted . Japanese Zeroes moved in to kill the attackers often taking great risk to themselves. The battle seemed to go on forever but in fact in less than 40 minutes it was over. Eighteen of the Avengers had been shot down and anothe 8 were damaged. still 18 torpedoes were launched. The Akagi was hit by two and a destroyer was hit by another. The Kongo took a fourth. The rest missed or failed to explode.
The Dive bombers then struck scoring three hits on the Pride of the Japanese Carrier fleet. Fires broke out and then came the word to abandon ship. The Japanese fighters tore into the Daughtless dive bombers. out of 24 Dive bombers just 8 managed to make it away. The Kongo got hit by a 1000lb bomb. With that the first strike was over. The Japanese launched their second wave to follow the French and more fighter.
The Japanese were in the process of doing this when a lookout reported seeing more enemy aircraft. The strike from the French excort and fleet carriers had arrived.

[chris N]

The Convoy was attempting to make its escape when the Cap spotted the oncoming Japanese aircraft. The Japanese fighters quickly moved to engage the Frenchmen flying the American Wildcats. Both sides showed courage and skill. The Japanese however had been flying combat operations for much longer. 30 dive bombers headed not for the transports but the enemies carriers and the two battleships. The Chinese Battleship uponed up with every AA gun they had. Bombs rained down and the torpedo bombers took their shot. One carrier was hit by two bombs and a torpedo. It was there one minute and gone the next. The French Battleship was hit by two bombs and a torpedo and then another. It began to settle in the water. The German built battleship took a torpedo hit and several bomb near misses but kept firing. It turned its 12 inch gun and fired it at an oncoming torpedo bomber blowing it out of the sky.
Then another escort carrier was hit and started to sink. It was joined by a Chinese destroyer and a Chinese cruiser. A Japanese torpedo bomber crashed into a French destroyer. A cargo ship was hit and sunk.
Six of the Wildcats had been shot down and three more crash landed in the sea. Two Zeros 4 Vals and 4 Kates were shot down and another 9 Japanese attack aircraft were damages. The French battleship was sinking and the Chinese battleship was damaged.
The South China sea was littered with the destruction that had been waged. There was still one more carrier group to be dealt with. And the Japanese could see the French light carriers in the distance. 24 Wildcats attacked the Japanese air armada.

[Reichenfaust]

The Convoy was attempting to make its escape when the Cap spotted the oncoming Japanese aircraft. The Japanese fighters quickly moved to engage the Frenchmen flying the American Wildcats. Both sides showed courage and skill. The Japanese however had been flying combat operations for much longer. 30 dive bombers headed not for the transports but the enemies carriers and the two battleships. The Chinese Battleship uponed up with every AA gun they had. Bombs rained down and the torpedo bombers took their shot. One carrier was hit by two bombs and a torpedo. It was there one minute and gone the next. The French Battleship was hit by two bombs and a torpedo and then another. It began to settle in the water. The German built battleship took a torpedo hit and several bomb near misses but kept firing. It turned its 12 inch gun and fired it at an oncoming torpedo bomber blowing it out of the sky.
Then another escort carrier was hit and started to sink. It was joined by a Chinese destroyer and a Chinese cruiser. A Japanese torpedo bomber crashed into a French destroyer. A cargo ship was hit and sunk.
Six of the Wildcats had been shot down and three more crash landed in the sea. Two Zeros 4 Vals and 4 Kates were shot down and another 9 Japanese attack aircraft were damages. The French battleship was sinking and the Chinese battleship was damaged.
The South China sea was littered with the destruction that had been waged. There was still one more carrier group to be dealt with. And the Japanese could see the French light carriers in the distance. 24 Wildcats attacked the Japanese air armada.

That is a great picture. Is that a converted carrier? Only has what 8 planes?

[chris N]

The Picture is of an Independence class light carrier that I found on the Internet. It was built on the hull of a Cleveland class light cruiser.
The aircraft appear to be TBM Avengers and Hell divers from the latter part of WWII
The Japanese have suffered a serious loss with the loss of the Akagi but so far France had lost even more in this war: 2 battleships (Courbet and Paris) 1 Fleet carrier ( admittedly obsolete) 2 Escort carriers and 1 cargo ship plus an obsolete colonial cruiser and gunboat.
In contrast Japan has lost a Fleet carrier, Heavy cruiser (previous battle) and 2 destroyers. It has also had damage to a battleship and one other fleet carrier.

[chris N]

A dissension now had to be made by the French commander of the Fast attack group. That was to live the two light carriers with a small escort and proceed at maximum speed and hopefully engage the Japanese force and there escorts. It would be 2 French battleships and 2 French Battle cruisers plus a heavy Cruiser and 5 Destroyers against 3 Japanese Battleships (Kongo Class), 1 Heavy cruiser, 2 light cruisers and 8 Destroyers.
There was a chance to destroy a sizable portion of the Japanese Navy if successful but the losses would be irreplaceable.

Meanwhile the French convoy had reversed course and was heading back to Malaysia. The remaining escort carrier refueled the aircraft and sent all the attack planes to a field in Malaysia retaining only the 18 fighters. It would take some time for the Japanese search planes to find them and with luck they would make it to British controlled waters and this safety.

[pike]

If i am not mistaken the Japenese can even less afford the loss of three ships. Than the french can afford to lose a fleet. Given the state of the Jap ecomomy under a soon to be tightened embargo.

[chris N]

Remember in this timeline Japan is still buying oil from Russia but that will begin to change in 1943 when the war in Europe comes to an end by the end of Spring. The US Embargo has just started to tighten. As for the Japanese Imperial Navy it is far larger than the French and it still is producing ships. France has ships under construction but the loss of 2 battleships, a fleet carrier and two escorts carriers hurts.

[chris N]

Japan's Ambassador to the Soviet Union reported that there were problems on the country and it appeared that the Soviet Union was losing its advantage. It recommended that Japan seek to either achieve victory or seek a peace using what advantage it had gained.

[chris N]

A flood of US made Arms was moving up the Burma Road. The Chinese Army received US made 75mm guns, Ammo, mortars, uniforms, Helmets, Bayonets, Rfifles, Machine guns, 100 M-3 Grants/Lees, 100 M3/5 Stuarts, 200 trucks, plus 40mm AA guns and aircraft. The flood of Arms allowed the Chinese 10th Army to move from Poorly equipped to very well equipped.
The Japanese in Indochina had launched a second Bomber strike to deal with the French invasion convoy. The Imperial Japanese heavy cruiser Tone together with the Nagara and 4 destroyers had left Indochina waters for the last reported sitting of the French Convoy.

[chris N]

The Japanese Carrier strike arrived over the Light carrier group determined to destroy then in revenge for the lose of the Akagi. One pilot spotted the Capital ship below. The Battle cruiser had spotted the Japanese and open fire with its AA guns. The French Wildcats swept down to attack the Japanese torpedo bombers. In the first pass they shot down 7 of them and damaged another 5. Then it was a free for all as the Japanese Zeroes moved to prevent further loses. The Chinese had a few destroyers with the group and it joined in the defense of the carriers and the Battle cruiser. The Chinese battle cruiser was able to avoid 3 torpedoes but was hit by a 500 lb bomb. Another 500 pdr hit but the crew of a 4.1 inch aa gun had the satis fation in shooting the dive bomber down. But it was then that luck started to fail the French -Chinese task force. 2 torps and 4 bombs hit one of the light carriers and before anyone knew it the ship explodes and sunk. A Japanese torpedo bomber crashed into the Battle cruiser knocking out one of the 11 inch turrets. A Crench destroyer narrowly missed being hit and took out a Japanese torpedo bomber and then caught a zero attempting to kill a Parachuting Wildcat pilot.. The other Light carrier was Hit causing grave concern. then another 500 pd bomb struck the battle cruiser followed by a torpedo. The Battlecuiser was losing speed. It was down to 21 knots and still losing speed. A Chinese destroyer was hit and started to sink. The battle was over. Out of 24 Wildcats barley 8 were still in the air. The French capitalships had aborted the planned attack so as to resue as many of the allied sailors as possible. The Chines Battle cruiser was down to 18 knots.

[chris N]

The Japanese from Indochina had launched another strike on the now retreating French Convoy. The French were attempting to reach the safety of Malayan waters. Finally one of the Tones Search Planes had located the convoy. The Chinese Battleship was barely able to keep up with the convoy due to damage. This would be the last chance that the Japanese would have. The Tone and the other ships in her group were proceeding at maxium speed for a chance to destroy the convoy and perhaps cause the French to be willing to talk.
Once again Japanese Naval Air Force Bombers armed with torpedoes were closing in. The escort carrier launched all remaining fighters. For the next 45 minutes the combat was fierce as the Japanese pressed the attack and the Wild cats did all they could to stop them. The Japanese managed to launch 5 torps at the battleship and the Chinese captain evaded two of the 5 but his luck ran out. It was hit by 3. Two French freighters were also sunk and the escort carrier was also sunk but 15 Japanese bombers were downed.

[chris N]

An so the Franco-Chinese attempt to strike back at Japan proved to be a disaster. France has just 1 light carrier but still retains 4 modern capital ships. It has no nearby base and Britain will not allow them to remain at Singapore.It will give the allied forces 10 days to carry out repairs before they have to leave. France's choices are to go to New Caledonia Tahiti or its island colony off the coast of Africa.
While Japan has more ships under construction it is clear now that It can not count on receiving large amounts of oil from the Soviet Union. It is also clear that the Soviet Military has been strengthening its defense in the Far East. Japan is now hoping that it can perhaps come up with a peace agreement that would allow it to save face.
It appears that the US Government is going to tighten the embargo that the former Roosevelt administration started. Japan can not afford to start a
war with another power.

[chris N]

Japan now turned to the British in an attempt to reach a peace settlement that might be favorable to them
Japan was willing to remove its forces from Indochina and even most of non Manchurian China. China would have to agree to scrapping of all of its capital ships and no aircraft carriers. China would also face a submarine and bomber restriction.

[chris N]

French forces moved up the Burma Road into China as the French and Chinese prepared to move into Indochina and liberate it from Japanese occupation. Britain began to take an active role in attempting to reach a settlement between Japan and China and France. Surprisingly the talks did make some progress. The Emperor of Japan had finally spoken ordering a serious attempt at ending the war.
Chinese forces had conducted a serious counter offensive pushing the Japanese away from Shanghai.
A Japanese submarine the I-15 sank the Chinese Battle cruiser in the South China Sea.

[chris N]

China had been receiving military equipment from the US.Enough of the equipment had arrived as to change the look of the Chinese Army. Tons of US made arms and equipment was arriving. The Chinese also received nearly 100 P-40 fighters, 36 A-20, 48 B-25 and 48 C-47. All of the additional arms resulted in a greater ability of the Republic of China to mount the offensive. Japan still controlled the seas and thus was able to project power.

[chris N]

The Fall of 1942 did see the Chinese and French forces make a lot of progress. The Chinese 10th Army Aided the French in recovering part of Indochina. Meanwhile the Chinese did hammer the Japanese and made progress in recovering parts of China that had been occupied by the Imperial Japanese Army. Japan still controlled the sea and thus the Japanese had a great advantage. The ability of the Chinese to succeed would not have been possible without all of the military equipment that the Chinese had been able to acquire from the US as well as the help of American Military advisers and the American Volunteer Group.

[chris N]

As one can see by the map by the beginning of 1943 China had recovered a lot of the lost territory. As a result it appeared that a peace treaty was becoming a strong possibility.

[chris N]

By May 1943 the Peace Treaty was signed in London. France had regained its Indochina colony and China had more territory than when the war had started.

[chris N]

Thus 1943 saw the end of the war in the Pacific and the emergence of China as a Power . China had emerged as a united country. The War had weaken Frances position in Indochina. There were some Vietnamese that would seek independence even if it meant armed conflict.
China however would not aid any of these rebels as it fought with the French during the last conflict.

[Reichenfaust]

So Japan was able to maintain Manchuria? Isn't that a little unrealistic. Or will that change later on?

[chris N]

China: The Chinese government was continuing to spend large amounts of money on its military. Arms from the United States now began to arrive directly to Chinese ports. To any intelligence service it was clear that the Chinese believed that the new peace treaty was nothing more than a truce that might last a few years at the most. America had replace Germany as China's chief supplier of Military hardware. China had money but not enough to build both a massive military and a better economy. Thus the Chinese Army was to go from 300 divisions to 259 and plans were to reduce it to 200 before the end of 1943.
China had bought 180 P-47 fighters, 48,B-25,48B-26, 60 C-26, 60 C-47, 48 TBM Avengers, 24 Martin Pb4Y planes. It now had orders for 200 M-4 Shermans, 162 M--24 Chafees and 189 M-3 Halftracks. The orders were stagering.

[chris N]

Indeed it was China's goal to make the map below a reality thus creating a strong and united China.

[chris N]

And so the conflict in the world came to an end. The dust began to settle. Allied observers arrived in the former Soviet Union to make sure that changes were made. Russia had a military government but there would be elections and there would be changes from a one party state to a multiparty democracy of a sort.
The Scandinavian Union was now starting to take shape. And there were still some bumps on the road. Germany was adjusting to its new borders. It colonial outpost in China was changing as the Chinese demanded changes.
Chinese troops moved into Tibet but did not oust its government. They instead just moved to the border.
Japan's military worried that this peace with China was just a truce and it began to prepare the 20 division Army in Manchuria for the next war. newer and better tanks arrived as did aircraft. Japan secretly bought surplus German tanks and ATguns from the arms market and used them to help design Japanese weapons for the next war.

[chris N]

1943-45 was a period of rebuilding in Europe. The new borders caused a lot of adjustments. In addition there were problems. Russia was transitioning from a communist state to a democracy. Although the military seemed to remain in control of the country. The President of the Republic was the former Commander in Chief of the Army and Marshal Zhukov was now the Russian Minister of Defense. Still the former Soviet state did have a new parliament of two chambers. The communist dropped to controlling perhaps just 10percent of the seats. Members of the Former Russian Royal family were allowed to visit and some of their property was sold back to them for a small fee.
Japan and China seemed to be in an arms race. China was importing a lot of arms and also building factories. Japan on the other hand had just started in December 1943 to produce tanks that might have a chance against the US ones. Still production was slowly increasing but the Japanese would not be completely prepared until 1946.

[chris N]

The US Presidential election was coming up in 1944 and there was a question as to what America's position would be in the new world. America had now become China's Armorer and one of its largest trading partner. Still the US was hoping to avoid another war there. Germany was now trying to reinsert itself into China but was finding that the Chinese were demanding contol of the German outpost in China. China was in a stronger position than it had been. The Chinese did express a desire to buy some submarines and the question was whether they would be German or American.
China was scrapping its German built capital ships as it could see no need for them. China planned on a force of some 4 light cruisers, 18-24 destroyers and 18 destroyer escorts, 60PT Boats and 36 MGBs. It also wanted at least 6 submarines and possibly 12 plus some amphibious and support vessels.
A Chinese Marine Corp had been created trained by the US.

[chris N]

Japan was deploying a new designed armored vehicle that would be able to deal with the American M-4 Sherman tank that China was buying. Production of this vehicle started in August 1943.

[chris N]

Japanese experts Knew that they were in a race to rebuild the Japanese Army so that it was capable of fighting the next war.

[chris N]

The rest of 1943 saw Europe adjusting to the new borders. Hapsburgs now sat on the thrones of the Austrian Federal Empire, Kingdom of Bosnia and the Empire of Poland and the Ukraine. Kaiser Otto had managed to do something that his late father had been trying to accomplish the defusing of the border problem with Romania. He had also supported the unification of Poland and the Ukraine. The new Empire to the East had all that was needed to make it a successful state. It also provided both it and Austria a chance.

Germany had emerged from the last war as an even larger country. It now was a major military power. The war had resulted however, in Germany losing it influence in China. It had been replaced by the Americans. The question was would Germany attempt to regain its position or not.
1944 was to see elections in Germany, Russia, the United States, France.

[pike]

More china german involvement would be good.

[chris N]

Germany's involvement in China had suffered as a result of it concentrating on the war with the Soviet Union and its inability to risk a war with Japan at the same time. The result has been China turned to the US for military equipment and American influence has grown.
Still Germany now has a surplus of Military equipment that is becoming obsolete. It had hoped that China might be the market for this equipment but it appears that that is not so. However, Germany did gain a foothold with the agreement to build 3 submarines for China and to help the Chinese build 3 more in China. China also bought 5,000 Panzerfaust for its army and it also looked at buying German Halftracks to argument those perchased from the US.

[chris N]

Russia was reorganizing its military. It was also shrinking it from 300 division, many of them Hollow, to slightly more than 80 full strength divisions. It also created a 60 Battalion Border Guard force. Each battalion consisted of a little over 600 men. They were used to patrol Russia's vast border. Russia created 15 Tank divisions each with 300 tanks and 12,000 men. It also created 15 Mechanized Rife Division each with 150 tanks and 11,500 men, 6x Airborne divisions each with 6,500men, 4 Mountain divisions with 11,000 men and 40 Rifle Divisions each with 12,000 men. Thirty of the Rifle divisions were motorized and 10 were partially motorized. There was a shortage of truck and equipment.
Russia considered it unlikely that there would be another war with the west but it was unsure of Persia, and expanding China and Japan.

[Reichenfaust]

So once again Russia is changing.

[High Plains Drifter]

So once again Russia is changing.

Clearly Russia needs to reduce the burden presented by the size of its army at the end of the war. But with all their man and material losses from both the war itself and the resulting peace treaty, it suggests that the size of the proposed military is perhaps still larger than the current Russian population and economy could reasonably support.

I've really been enjoying this timeline. Thx!

[chris N]

A lot of the Russian Population has fled from the expansion of German and the Polish_Ukraine Empire. Still to some extent you may be right that the new Russian Military's goal of 80 divisions might not be achievable.
The Russian Minister of Defense was finding that at least 10 of the Motorized Infantry divisions had been reduced from a proposed full strength status to Cadre. These 10 divisions were thus reduced to only 3,000 men each. In addition 1 of the Airborne divisions was also reduced to half strength as was a mountain division.
The New Duma was seated after elections which were held in Russia and observed by the US, and the Western Powers. The Communist had controlled all of the seats in the last Duma but in this new Duma they were only able to win 36 Seats. The Cadet Party won 41 seats, Social Democrats 39 and Monarchist 21. Together they Formed the Russian Alliance and controlled a Majority in the Parliament (Duma). The Russian President thus named their selection of Constantine Alexerderovitch as the new Prime Minister. The new Prime Minister wanted to move to a smaller Military so as to rebuild the ountry.

[chris N]

The Russian President and the Minister of Defense met with the new Russian Prime Minister. As a result 5 divisions of Motorized Infantry were stricken from the plans as was a Airborne Division and a Mountain division. 5 more Motorized divisions were reduced to cadre strength. All in all there were no plans to build any Russian Capital Ship. The main base of the Russian Navy would be in the Pacific.

[chris N]

Germany reopened its Embassy in the Russian Republic , The Scandinavian Union members reopened theirs and France had just refurbished their embassy. America had built a new Embassy. Italy also restored diplomatic relations. Talks were held between the Turkish republic and the Russian Republic regarding the restoration of diplomatic relations. In One of his last acts as President Ataturk signed an agreement restoring diplomatic relations. The President knew that his health was failing and he had already prepared a replacement.

[chris N]

The Scandinavian Union was still going through organization problems. The Problem was what powers would the new government have. The new Parliament was baset upon Population (lower House ) And an Upper House that was based upon so many seats per Nation. Created Was a Scandinavian Union Ministry of Defense and A Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Trade barriers between member of the Union were eliminated and there was talk of creating a common currency . The New Union was not eager to do anything that might trigger another war. I also approached the new Russian government with wanting to asure that democracy took root as it felt that that was the best way to make sure that there would not be a third war with Russia.
Denmark and Norway sought to pull the country toward Great Britain.

[chris N]

The Swedish Government proposed the retirement of one of its battleships as a means of saving money. The Scandinavian Join Chiefs were now working on the establishment of a new Navy that would draw strength from all of the member. There were currently plans for some new destroyers and submarines. A Norwegian Admiral had been appointed as Chief of the Union's Coast Guard.

[chris N]

Berlin: An agreement was signed between Germany and the Republic of China regarding the sale of two ex German Navy Type VII submarines to the Republic. Germany would build two more submarines and assist China in the construction of 6 more advanced models in China. It was the largest arms sale to China by Germany since before the War. Germany had also sold some Half tracks and Panzerfaust.
Detroit, Michigan General Motors announced that it would be building a truck plant in China. The Plant was expected to build trucks capable of hauling goods. Some of its production was expected to be for the Chinese Military.
WashingtonDC The state Department announced the sale of construction equipment and further military sales to China.

[chris N]

Japan was attempting to repair relations with the British and event keep good relations with the Russian Republic. The Russian President was not exactly sure what the Chinese were up to and the recent moves by China into Tibet and its continuing arms build up did leave the Russians feeling threaten. There were also some in Germany that felt that Japan would be a better market for German goods than China.

As for Scandinavia it had no desire to get involved in any further conflict.
Scandinavian Merchant ships were currently carrying European good to Japan and China.
The Death of Kemal Ataturk came as a surprise to many of the European leaders. Kaiser WilhelmIII sent his son to attend the furnel of the Turkish leader. A Scandinavian deligation also left to attend.

[chris N]

The New Russian Republic was very interested in improving relations with the Scandinavian Union. With the loss of Arkhangelsk and access to the Black Sea Russia was very dependent upon its Pacific ports for receiving and shipping goods. Thus the new Russian government was very interested in reaching a trade agreement with the Scandinavian Union. Denmark was in favor and Sweden while not warm to the idea agreed to listen. The result was a deligation consisting of the new Unions trade Minster Lars Harmokia /
Talks went on for nearly two weeks leading to an agreement that the Danish born Mister felt was quite good for the Union.

[chris N]

The Election season was approaching in the US. Things did not look bad for the Republicans but there was talk that the Senator from Missouri Harry Truman might throw his hat into the ring. That might be a good thing as the leftist Wallace was also planning on seeking the nomination and here was some pressure to get former President Franklin D Roosevelt to run. But it was not a good idea. While his health had improved somewhat after leaving the Presidency the stress of running and if he won running the nation would almost certainly shorten his life expectancy.
President Landon had allowed his name to be entered as a canidate but there was some talk that he would soon withdraw.
The New US Super-carrier the USS Midway had been dispatched to Chinese waters to try to signal both China and Japan to avoid a war.

[chris N]

Map of the world. Note Mexico has not yet broken into two parts.

[chris N]

THE Scandinavian Union was finding that the trade agreement with Russia was seeing a lot of goods being sold to Russia being sent through Scandinavian Union controlled ports. Russians were also exporting some of its oil and Natural Gas to Scandinavia.
The Post war period saw a lot of sale of goods and prosperity was coming to the region as a result. Yet the war had seen a lot of cost.
A Swedish Diplomat proposed the establishment of an international body that could hopefully help prevent any future wars from Breaking out.

[Uff Da the optimist]

Does the Scandinavian Union mean a common military/defence policy as well?
How will it be organized, a full professional military, a compulsory service military for all Scandinavian men or a mix of the two?

Previous suggestions to this OTL was that Norway would focus mainly on the navy, Sweden the air force and Denmark/Finland the army.

Interesting tl!

[chris N]

Currently the Scandinavian Union is still trying to organize itself. Currently there is A Parliament elected from each of the member states. The Scandinavian Ministry of Defense has been slow in taking shape. Part of the problem has been trying to figure out whether it will be drawn from each of the member states or if it will be an independent entity.
Sweden is the largest member state. It has the largest population and the largest Military. Sweden also consist of Sweden proper, Finland, Estonia and the Russian territories.
I have been thinking this over and will take into consideration suggestions.As for Now Norway has seen its Admiral selected as Commander of the Union's Coast Guard.

[chris N]

Part of the job of the new Scandinavian Ministry of Defense was to standardize the Equipment of the Military. Sweden had the largest arms industry of the member nations but it was expected that certain ships would be built in different member nations. There was also a need to standarize the weapons used by the Army . Thus a new Battle rifle was expected to be used by all of the Nations. The Viking Panzer Division was expected to be the first division to become under the new Ministry of Defense as it would be recruited from all over the Union. An Airborne Division was also to be added to the Ministry's control and it also would receive recruits from all over Scandinavia.

[chris N]

Marshal Mannerheim of the Swedish Army was appointed to the post of Chairman of the Combined Chiefs of Staff. General Eric Larsen of the Royal Danish Air Force was appointed to the post of Air Force Chief of Staff, Admiral Gustav Anderson of the Royal Swedish Navy was appointed Navy chief and Vice Admiral Gunnar Ericsen of the Royal Danish Navy was his deputy.

[chris N]

The Russian Republic signed its second treaty with a foreign Power. The Treaty of Trade and Friendship Pact was signed in Tokyo by the Russian Trade Minister. It was followed by a non aggression treaty sign just 2 days latter in Moscow. The Russians wanted no part of a war in the Far East. The agreement pleased the Japanese who now would be able to concentrate their resources against a possible Chinese act of Aggression.
Japan was also attempting to improve relations with the US and the newly independent Republic of the Philippines.
Japan had signed an agreement with the Netherlands to purchase oil from its East Indies Colony.
The Japanese Navy announced the Launching of its second Taiho class carrier.

[chris N]

Post war Scandinavian Military. The Ending of the war with the Soviet Union and the peace that followed left a number of problems for the new Scandinavian Union. As the new Scandinavian Parliament was seated there was a number of critical decisions that would have to be made. How much power would the new government have and would control of the member nations military be transferred to the body or would each member nation retain control of its own military and then decide what units would be available to the Scandinavian Union. The SU's Coast Guard was to be entirely under the SU(Scandinavian Union). That body would pay for the construction of ships and would train and pay the personnel. Thus they would owe their loyalty to the SU Coast Guard and not to any individual nation. Anyone from any part of the Scandinavian Union could Join it.
Certain Military schools would be transferred to the new Ministry of Defense and thus any member nation could send candidates to the school for training.
It was agreed by the member nations that a new Intelligence agency would be needed to be formed to better coordinate intelligence from around the world so that any threats could be determined more quickly.
It was determined that since Sweden had the largest Shipbuilding industry that all large warships and submarines would be built there.

[chris N]

Sweden began to scale back its army as a result of the end of the war with Russia and the lower threat. Thus the Amy's 26 divisions were reduced to 12. Some Units of the Swedish Army were transferred to the Scandinavian Union's Ministry of Defense. Among the Units transferred were the Viking Panzer Division. This division had been the only division in the Swedish Army that had members from all of Scandinavia. It had Swedish, Finnish, Estonian, Norwegian Danish and Icelandic citizens serving in it. Thus it was considered an ideal Unit to assign to the New Ministry. The St Petersburg Grenadiers was also a Unit that was transferred. It had been formed in 1916 from Ethnic Germans who had lived in Russia and who and Emigrated to the Swedish Empire during and after WWI. The unit had carried out a lot of Special Operations during the interwar period. It had also served with distinction during the war fighting with the Danish Corp and latter with the Viking Division.
Formed during the War was a Parachute Unit. It was decided that the Unit would also be transferred to the Scandinavian Union's Ministry of Defense and would draw volunteers from threw out the Union. Originally it was to be Regimental in Size but it was increased to Brigade size.

[chris N]

Germany's new Chancellor announced that The Reich would be reducing the size of it Military in a Defense White Paper. The German Army had hit a peak of 200 divisions during the late was and now it was to be reduced in size. The Social Democrats did not see any need for maintaining such a large military. With victory in the War the Kaiser had allowed the Military and the then German Chancellor to reduce the army by 25 divisions. The Current Chancellor had plans to reduce the Army from 175 divisions to 100.
The new Defense White Paper called for a further reduction to perhaps a force of 50 divisions.
The Army was continuing to be re-equipped with the new Assault rifle and it was also receiving the next generation of Main Battle Tank the E-75 armed with the powerful 105mm gun.
The Luftwaffe was also receiving the first of a family of jet powered Combat aircraft.

[pike]

When nuklear power and weapons are invented will the Sweeds seek to develop them?

[Reichenfaust]

When nuklear power and weapons are invented will the Sweeds seek to develop them?

It would be in their best interest considering how cheap nuclear power is next to coal fired. As long as they do not neglect the plants like the Russians...

[AgentOrange]

Yeah, a nuclear plant that has an accident becomes a hole you must throw money in.

Just ask TEPCO.

[chris N]

Sweden was the driving force for the Scandinavian Union. one of the items that was looked at was a continued look at the development of Hydroelectric power. The Scientific community in all of the Scandinavian countries was looking at research that was being done in Germany, Britain and the United States. There was an indication that nuclear power could be the answer to the need for cheap power. Currently Sweden and the rest of Scandinavia was dependent on the use of coal and the importing of large amounts of oil. There was a theory that there might be oil deposits in Lapland and the Russia territories.
The Scandinavian Parliament approved the Creation of the ScanAtomicEnergy Commission (SAEC).

[chris N]

The SAEC worked with the Scandinavian Ministry of Defense starting in 1944 to develop Atomic power The Defense Ministry provided security for the research. At this point there was no desire to develop Atomic weapons but there was a desire on the part of the military to have more electric power available. This would allow the deployment of better radars and cheaper production cost. It would also lessen the regions needs to import oil for power.
Germany had been working on developing a nuclear bomb but the victory in the East had lessen the need to produce one.Germany was however interested in the possibility of nuclear power in replacing it for the production of Electric power and the possible use in propulsion for ships.

[chris N]

1946 The Scandinavian Union has been having some teething problem. There is a question as to how much power has been given to the new Parliament drawn from all of the sovereign nations and what is retained by them. It appears that some things are doing quite well like Energy and Nuclear research as well as trade. But there has been a clash in the Parliament regarding defense and foreign policy.
Meanwhile tensions in the Far East are starting to Rise. China has acquired some 9 B-24 bombers from surplus military sales and has proceeded to reverse engineer the craft. It has then produced some 30 Chinese made copies of the planes for he Chinese Air Force. It has done the same with the B-25 Medium bomber thus giving China some 144 of these aircraft.
The Chinese Air Force has thus acquired the Ability to Strike at Manchuria, Korea, Formosa and parts of Japan . The Ticket of Alfred i Smith and Harry S Truman is elected in November 1944 President Smith continues a strong ProChina policy and it appears that the US is on a collision course with Japan.

[chris N]

In the US Strong arms sales to China were causing problems with Japan.The Japanese Military was increasingly puzzled by the American action and there had been some incidents between the two nations.
President Smith had begun to alter America's policy from a Pro-China policy to a more neutral one. Thus had been as a result of China' illegally copying US arms. However, President Smith's health took a bad turn in the start of 1946 and it soon became apparent that the 72 year old President might die. Vice President Truman as a result began to take over more of the responsibilities and when the President was rushed to Walter Reed it was only a matter of time before Truman became President in both name and Fact.
The US was moving rapidly toward the development of nuclear power and there were talks that a nuclear bomb was going to be tested.

Sweden: A team of Scandinavian scientist had developed a process toward the creation of the first possible peaceful use of nuclear power for electric power. There was a desire to build a test reactor in the isolated lands to the east.

[chris N]

NEWS FLASH!!!!!! President Alfred E Smith passed away in his sleep at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. The 72 year old President had been ill for some time and Had been unable to carry out the responsibilities of his office.
President Smith had just been elected to the office of President two years ago replacing Republican President Landon. The former three time Governor of New York spoke very Frankly that his administration would be very different from that of the Last Democrat to hold the office Franklin D Roosevelt. Early this year the president had shifted US Foreign policy from a pro-Chinese position to one of neutrality after confirmed reports of Chinese production of American Bombers without permission. The President pointed out that this was taking American workers jobs away and that the US had not approved of the Chinese reaction. The action received Praise from the Japanese foreign Ministry.
Vice President Harry Truman is expected to be sworn into office within the hour. The New President is a former US Senator from Missouri and served in the Missouri National Guard as an officer in artillery during the Campaign in Mexico. Judging from statements as a Senator it is possible that he might reverse President Smiths action as he was a strong support of the move to embargo oil and strategic good to Japan during FDR's years in office. By Carl Weldon Associated Press

[chris N]

Japan had been changing its fleet. A new class of carrier the Taiho class had been under construction. It was the first of 4 planned carriers. Japan Had scrapped plans for more battleships and were instead concentrating on the carriers and destroyers for the Navy. The Army was getting a lot of the industrial production as Japan shifted to attempting to fight a European style war. Tanks and other vehicles were needed if Japan was to have any hope of Keeping Manchuria.

[chris N]

Japanese Military Planners were now having to look at the possibility of a war that might involve the United States. Technology was changing so much that a war with the US now was to some planner even more horrible than if it had happen in 1941. The US now had longer ranged bombers, fighters and more powerful carriers. While the US did not have large forces in the Philippines it did have the Base in Guam and it had acquired the Marianas Islands. Still Japan was not about to turn over Manchuria without a fight. It had a large investment there and a lot of Japanese colonist had moved to Manchuria.

[chris N]

May 1946 There had been some border skirmishes along the border between the Republic of China and Japanese Manchuria. They had been on a small level but the skirmishes continued with Chinese combat aircraft often crossing into Manchurian air space
At seas Japanese ships entering the North China sea were now being harassed by the Chinese Coast Guard and in some cases Chinese Navy.
The result was a demand for the Imperial Japanese Navy to provide escorts.

In the Pacific there had been an incident when a Japanese cruiser had run into an American destroyer causing extensive damage to both ships and the loss of life. President Truman had the US Ambassador file a note of protest and a warning to the Japanese not to let it happen again.

[chris N]

June 1946 Fighting along the border has finally reached the level that Japan has announced that China has breached the treaty . It has called upon the US and the European Nations to take action. The Government of Russia has called upon China to stop its action.
Britain deliver a note of protest and called up all reservist in Hong Kong.

[chris N]

It would appear that Scandinavia was giving the problems in Asia a wide birth.Shipping to China and Formosa was now deemed to be too dangerous but Norwegian ships still carried goods to Japan. Us and Japanese forces had come close to conflict but cooler heads had prevailed.
The Republicans had passed a resolution calling upon President Truman to steer clear of War. Germany also began to pull back from getting involved in the Struggle.
Me262 began to become the standard German Fighter and it was quickly followed by the 2nd Generation Jet fighter by FockerWulf.

[chris N]

A full scale war broke out in 1946 between Japan and China. Despite some clashes between the US and Japan war did not break out between the two nations. Japan declare the entire Chinese coast with the exception of Hong Kong a War zone.

[chris N]

The United States of America detonated an atomic bomb in a nuclear test.
Three months latter in the desert of North Africa the German Reich st off a nuclear devise. The Nuclear age had begun.

[chris N]

Germany also began a series of Missile Launches at the missile launch testing facility in German. The A-4 also Known as the V=2 was tested in a series of launches. Not all of them went as planned but from each failure more was learned. The Luftwaffe also test fired the New version of the V-1. The V-1 had fist been tested in 1944 but it was believed that it needed additional work and so far was keep in limited production. A longer ranged Missile was under development with the hope to put a man in orbit sometime in the next 15 years.

[chris N]

German military researchers attempted to improve the V-1 Missile so that it might be of more use in military strikes.

[chris N]

The US and Germany were both able to launch rockets that were able to carry devises capable of taking Photos from space. Surprisingly the images were quite similar (see below)

[chris N]

The development of nuclear weapons did not make the Scandinavian nations very happy
Swedish and Danish scientist had reported that such weapons would cause all kinds of problems both in their use and the after effects.
So far only two nations had the weapons but there could be several more that could join the nuclear club such as Britain, France, Austria and Russia.

The war in the Far East was unsettling to the European nations. Chinese Bombers had struck targets in Manchuria and Korea. Formosa had also suffered several attack. The Japanese Navy and Army air Force had in turn struck at Chinese targets. The fighting was constantly escalating.

[chris N]

The Scandinavian Union was now attempting to stay out of any trouble. The Country's economy had done quite well since the end of the war. Germany had exported some of its jets to Sweden and Austria.
.

[chris N]

Germany by 1946 was producing may more jet combat aircraft for both the Luftwaffe and for sale to Friendly powers. The Me262 had replaced a lot of the piston engine fighters but by 1946 it was clear that a newer jet fighter would soon replace it .

[chris N]

The Ukraine had Purchase the plane that had been nicknamed the Peoples fighter seen below.

[chris N]

German's introduction of jets set off a new arms race as a lot of European powers knew that they had to match the Germans. Britain and France were both working on Jet aircraft and in fact the British were able to begin production of their own jet not long after the Germans. On the other side of the Atlantic the Americans had begun production of two different jets and were already at work on the 2nd Generation.

[chris N]

For the next two year the Scandinavian Union attempted tp encourage a settlement of disputes. The War in the Far East was getting bloodier and bloodier. Chinese forces had broken through the Japanese defensive line but faced a constant counter attack. Japan unleased newer fighters and more powerful tanks. Any ship sailing in the North or South China Sea had to be escorted or it would be sunk. US and Japanese Naval forces ended up in several accidents that nearly triggered a war.

[chris N]

Sweden's aviation Industry produced the first Swedish designed Jet Fighter plane. It was built with a British designed jet engine. The plane was considered better than the German , British and American fighters of the period.

[chris N]

Great Britain had its Meteor jet fighter which was under development since 1942 and which first entered production in 1944. The jet had undergone improvements and was still considered a capable jet fighter.

[chris N]

America's First Jet seen below would lead to further improvements within the next few years. Russia was engaged in industrial espionage in attempts to improve their military.

[chris N]

Japan had also deployed its first combat jet into the Manchurian conflict. The Japanese had gained knowledge from the German aerospace industry. This gave Japan the ability to counter the Chinese.

[chris N]

American Aerospace industry continued to refine the American jet design in an efort to overtake the Germans.

[chris N]

Below a picture of the Luftwaffe general, who was put in charge of the German Rocket effort. It was through his efforts that German was able to take pictures from Space. Something that the Americans were able to duplicate a week latter.

[pike]

Will the space race be bigger than in OLT. Because of more global super powers.

[chris N]

Yes, I expect that the Space Race will be bigger because more powers will be involved. Currently it is just the US and Germany that are engaged in Space exploration but I expect that the US will invite the British, Australians and Canadians in and the Germans will do the same with the Scandinavians and the Union. Also expect the Russians to eventually get involved and perhaps the Japanese and the Chinese.

[Uff Da the optimist]

How does the current world situation affect potential up n' comer nations like Brazil, Argentina and India? Will they be able to play the rivalries of other great powers to their advantage, having peace and financial investment in their countries while avoiding war?

Would it be possible to create a map of the different political sides/systems in the world?

I very much enjoy your timeline, and look forward to more!

[chris N]

I would think that there is the possibility that there will be a role fro the other nations to play a role in this time line. India is still part of the British Empire but there will come a time in the future that it may go its own way.
As for a map showing the political outlook I will have to think about that.

[chris N]

By 1948 the war in the Far East Had been going on for two years. China had made territorial gains but at a horrible cost in Human lives. The Japanese had proven that they had learned the lessons of the more fluid European style of war. The result had been that the Japanese Army was far more mobile and better equipped than in the earlier conflict with China.

[chris N]

By the end of 1948 it was clear that the Battle for Manchuria had reached a stalemate. China did not appear to be able to achieve a final breakthrough but it had recovered a good chunk of it . A Swedish Diplomat was part of a team that had brought about a cease fire agreement.

[Peder_Wessel]

Conquest is of course one way to go. But an all beneficiary alliance is more preferred, from the Swedish poit of view. Conquering Denmark and Norway is possible....but will result in numerous rebellions. Creating a Swedish led alliance (Like the Kalmar union, just not with Denmark in command) and somehow making all the countries loyal to the higher purpose of "Nordicism" would be the way....sort of a nordic empire ruled from Stockholm....But the POD proberly has to start in the viking period.

I disagree on the last point. The POD can be the Kalmar Union going better. Another monarch would not have been the kind of prick that Christian II was towards the Swedish nobility, and we might NOT have had the Union dissolve in the god-awful way it did. A closer relationship could then have developed, except of the 200 years of constant warfare.
Now, the Kalmar Union was with Denmark "on top", yes. But Sweden would have probably gradually become dominant in the Union, due to size and manpower.

[chris N]

Dag Hammarskjold returned from the Far East as a hero He had managed to achieve a cease fire between the two Asian powers. It also appeared that the cease fire would hold and could lead to an agreement ending the conflict. There was also talk that he minght run for a seat in the Scandinavian Union Parliament and replace the current Prime Minister Tygve Lie(Norway).

[chris N]

Raul Wallenburg, former Ambassador to the Austrian federal Empire was chosen as the new Foreign Minster. Karl Andersen of Denmark was named as the new Defense Minister for the Scandinavian Union. Sweden's Karl Mannerheim was named as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

[chris N]

Foreign Minster Wallenberg of the Scandinavian Union arrived in the United Stated to discuss the possibility of establishing an international organization which might help to prevent the starting of war. He also was hoping that such a body might also result in the creation of an international Law Enforcement Agency that would be able to deal with the rising threat of organized crime, smuggling, terrorism, Human trafficking etc.

[chris N]

Well it appears that the late 1940's into the early 1950's saw a period of peace in Europe. Kaiser Wilhelm III passed away in the early 1950 Resulting in Crown Prince Louis Fred.becoming the next Kaiser as his older brothers had given up the throne by marrying commoners.
Scandinavia continued to press for some sort of International body that would discourage the starting of another war.

[Reichenfaust]

Nice string of updates. I really like where you are going with this world. Hoping that in the future you can make the updates longer, and more informative.

[chris N]

Sorry there hasn't been any updates in a while but I have been busy with another timeline and I have been trying to figure out where thing will be going on this time line.
Kaiser Louis Frederick was quite different from his father. The new German Kaiser desired to work with others rather than to steamroll everyone into doing Germany's will.
One of the first things that he did was to meet with the Chancellor and to ask the Swedish Foreign Minister to come to Germany for a discussion regarding his proposal..
The Scandinavian Union was manly concern with avoiding a third war in Europe. It would appear with the collapse of the Soviet Union and the establishment of the Russian Republic there was an overall lessening of the possibility of a third conflict. For the first Five years of the Republic its President was a former Marshal of the Union but it now appeared that a civiilan was going to be elected to that post but then perhaps not. The Republic had had several civilian Prime Ministers.

[Reichenfaust]

Whats your other TL, I would like to have a look at it?

[Dathi THorfinnsson]

Whats your other TL, I would like to have a look at it?
1) Europe Post 1918 (http://alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=227032) (http://alternatehistory.com/discussion/images/misc/multipage.gif 1 (http://alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=227032) 2 (http://alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=227032&page=2) 3 (http://alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=227032&page=3) 4 (http://alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=227032&page=4) 5 (http://alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=227032&page=5) 6 (http://alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=227032&page=6) 7 (http://alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=227032&page=7) 8 (http://alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=227032&page=8) 9 (http://alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=227032&page=9) 10 (http://alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=227032&page=10) ... Last Page (http://alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=227032&page=11)) chris N

2) click on 'Chris N', most anywhere it appears. This calls up his profile. Click on the Statistics tab, click on 'threads started by'

[chris N]

Surprisingly The Russian Republic seemed to be secretly supporting Japan in its struggle with the Republic of China. These was mainly due to Chinese territorial claims against Russia dating back several centuries. It was unlikely that the Chinese would press the claims but Chinese and Russian Interest in Mongolia were clashing. Anything that kept China from becoming too strong was good for Russia.
The US, Great Britain, Germany, and France had all encourage a peaceful settlement of the conflict over Manchuria. Japan continued to hold most of Manchuria but the Nationalist Chinese now also held part.

[chris N]

Spain Offered to provide land in Its African Colony for the new world body.
Germany, ACCU, Scandinavian Union, France, Great Britain and the United States all agreed to establish a building fund of 65 million dollars each. This would allow the construction of the Headquarters, Assembly Hall , Offices and the streets and Public Utilities. It was hoped that a second fund raising might see more money raised from other nations that might want to join.

[Reichenfaust]

Where will this world body headquarters be built?

[pike]

Bit disappointed about china things looked so promising. But it seem like a perfectly good war was ruined because of to many peace talks.:(

[chris N]

Okay, this should clear up a number of things
The World Council Headquarters will be built in the Spanish Sahara
Next, All of the world powers was nervous about a war between Japan and China over Manchuria. The Russian Federal Republic was secretly supporting Japan as it was feeling that China was likely to become a threat to it if it recovered Manchuria. The United States and great Britain were concern that the war might become even more violent with Japan using extensive Naval power to strike at China. Such a war could spill over and endanger Shipping in the Western Pacific.
At this point China has been reintegrating the territory that it has recovered and trying to improve its military. It is possible that the third Sino-Japanese conflict of the 20th Century could take Place in the 1950's.
Japan has been strengthening it Navy and Air Force to deal with the Chinese threat.

[pike]

It certainly looks like chinese nationalistic sentiment is not as strong as OLT.

[Reichenfaust]

If Russia supports Japan, they can keep Mongolia, and maybe take Uyghurstan. China has irredentist claims against every one of their borders.

[chris N]

Remember The Longest Journey begins with the First Step. China leaders are looking long term. Alienation of the rest of the world is not in China's interest. Manchuria now has a Japanese population of nearly 2 million. Thus Japan has a big stake in it. Japan will fight to the bitter end to retain its position.
As pointed out China has claims on most of its neighbors- Russia, Vietnam, Burma, Mongolia, Japan and Taiwan.

[chris N]

With the Council of Nations facility being constructed in the Spanish Sahara there was hope for co-operation between nations and the Avoidance of war.
It was expected that the construction would take at least 4 years. Contracts had been awarded to Swedish, American, German and British Companies and of course several Spanish companies.
The World Health Organization was expected to set up an office in the Complex.
Also a new law enforcement organization was being established. It would be funded by a special trust that was to be set up. Britain, France Germany, Scandinavian Union, Japan. United States, ACCU, Italy all agreed to contribute 250 million dollars to the trust. It was to be used to do more than Interpol was allowed to. It was expected that there would be additional funding as more nations approved its use. The Organization Had yet to be officially named.

[chris N]

Chungking, China The Chinese leader was meeting with the military leadership regarding another possible war with Japan. There was pressure in the Republic among some of the political leadership to recover all of Manchuria. However, the Chinese Navy leadership and some of the other more moderate leaders were against another war. The next war promised to be a lot more violent. Japan was now producing a much more advanced tank armed with a 90mm gun and the Japanese had also modernized its navy and were now prepared to strike back hard against China should the Chinese start another war.

[chris N]

Japanese fighters were flying close to the Manchurian border. In addition to being fast fighters they were capable of flying Ground support missions.
Tensions were on the rise between China and Japan so that it would not take much to restart a war.

[chris N]

Japan now began to move its new jet bombers and fighters to bases in Manchuria and Korea. The new Imperial Japanese Air Force was determined to win control of the Sky and to prevent the Chinese Air Force from being able to launch any attack on the Home Islands of Japan. Japan had worked long and hard developing missile technology and it now had the ability to use that technology on it new I-400 submarine fleet to strike at all parts of China.

[red1]

Does Japan have the Bomb yet? Are they even working on one?

[chris N]

The Imperial Japanese Navy was busy preparing for the possible upcoming War. It's carriers were training to operate the new jet fighters and bombers. This war would be one designed not to conqueror all of China but to re-establish the best defensive line possible and at the same time to destroy the entire Chinese military's ability to threaten Japan. In this case Japan was planning to destroy not only the Chinese air Force but its industrial and electrical system. China would see its capacity to produce weapons destroyed and to be thrown back into the 19th century at best. Japan would inform the US, Britain and the rest of the world that the South and north China seas were a war zone. It would allow only British and allied traffic to Hong Kong provided that no weapons and goods were bound fro China.

[chris N]

It was clear that the Imperial Japanese military felt that war with China was becoming far more likely. In Korea there was attacks on trains carrying supplies north to Manchuria. As a result the Japanese began providing troops to protect the trains. Japanese troops also began to conduct sweeps of Northern Korea. There were engagements between a force that was calling itself the Army of the Republic of Korea. It appeared that they were equipped with a variety of weapons including Russian, Japanese and Chinese weapons. They seemed to be wearing uniforms that were clearly similar to those of the Republic of China.
Japanese Intelligence clearly indicated only two possibilities one the equipment was coming from Russia (not likely0 or being smuggled in by sea.
In truth the arms was coming in by sea, and by air covertly and even through Russia by Russian officials that were paid off.
Below the I-402 to be deployed to the South China Sea.

[chris N]

Japan felt that it had reached the point of no return. The republic of China was now involving itself not only in Manchuria but into Korea. One of the Japanese General said if they want war we will teach them what it means to fight Japan.
Japan was looking for an excuse to strike China and on March 16,1950 it got it when Chinese border forces made a mistake and entered Japanese controlled Manchuria. They compounded th Mistake by firing on the Japanese troops killing three Japanese soldiers.
Within Hours the Japanese Military began to strike at targets in China. Chinese bomber bases were hit by the hew Japanese Jet Bombers and Japanese Missiles were fired at targets in Southern and Central China by I-400 class Submarines.
Japanese Military planners were determined to destroy China's military and industrial capacity. For the next 7 days Japan continued to hit and hit hard. It sought to regain lost Manchurian territory but only to better defend itself. The Imperial Japanese Navy attacked Chinese warships and merchant ships . Chinese ports were subject to attack.

[chris N]

Japan's Military was throwing everything that it could at China. Japanese Air power and sea launched Missiles were striking at China Industrial might and at its air Force and transportation System. The Surprised achieved was considerable, especially from the missiles launched from the I-400 class Submarines. Still the Chinese Air Force was knocking down some of the Japanese aircraft.
China had had nearly 9 warships and 13 merchant ships sunk by the Imperial Japanese navy. In contrast they had managed to so far sink just 1 surface vessel and 1 older submarine.
The war was escalating as both sides threw what reserves they had into the battle. China needed replacement jets as most of its air force flew propeller aircraft.
Japan assured the West that there would be no invasion of China but it would eliminate the threat to it. It pleaded with the West not to supply China with modern jets and for its ships to remain out of the China Seas.

The Russian Federal Republic had moved security forces into its region bordering Korea. It began a massive crackdown on arms smuggling. This meant that any further arms would have to come by sea and the Imperial Japanese Navy was prepared to stop any delivery from reaching Korea.

[chris N]

After 5 days of the Air Wat China had lost the capacity to bomb Japan or even parts of Korea. The Chinese Heavy bomber force was eliminated and most of the B-25s and B-26 were gone. Still the Chinese P-47s and 51s were giving a good account of themselves. Unfortunately the Japanese had caused a lot of damage to three critical items in China: 1) Chinese Air Force with its bomber force all but eliminated China had no way to strike at Japan's rail lines and its ability to supply its forces, 2) Chinese rail lines, highways and bridges had been repeatedly hit causing problems in resupplying and reinforcing troops in the north and 3) Japan had struck at China's industry and power system causing major damage

Japanese Military planers were using the Imperial Japanese navy to prevent supplies from reaching China by sea and preventing China's navy from being able to do anything. Japan prepared to carry out a possible invasion of Hanan Island so as to prevent French Indochina from becoming a conduit for military and industrial equipment reaching it through there.
Russia was making sure that Korean Rebels did not receive any Chinese made arms and Munitions smuggled through Russia.
Britain and the US had sent letters of protest at the continued fighting but so far that was all it was doing.
The Scandinavian Union was urging a cease fire and referring the matter to the new World Council in hopes that it might get an end to the fighting.

[chris N]

With evidence that Military equipment was reaching China viva French Indochina Japanese Naval forced landed 2 detachments of SNLF groups on Hanan Island and followed it up with the Specially trained Japanese Army's 19 Infantry Division . The unit had spent the past year training for an amphibious landing. Japan had even purchased surplus US Sherman and Chaffee tanks through arms merchants.

[chris N]

The British and American Intelligence Agencies were pooling their information to get a better insight as to the course of the third Sino-Japanese War. They also were joined by the Germans and other nations and the picture that was emerging was not a good one. Japan had seriously damaged the transportation system in China. It had also set back the industrial output of the country to levels of the 1920's. Electrial power production had been so degraded that it would take at least 20 years to restore it to the pre-war level and that was with foreign assistance.
The Chinese military had taken loses but it was still capable of fighting. In the Skies Japan appeared to have gained air superiority in certain areas. China had only limited bomber capacity none of which could reach Japan.

Hanan Island had been ocuppied by Japanese forces. The Initial assault was made by a force of more than 1,800 SNLF troops and the Amphibious trained Japanese Imperial Army's 19th Infantry division. The goal of the Invasion was the ability to project air power into Southern China thus denying military supplies from French Indochina from reaching the Chinese. China had received some auxillary Generators by rail and these were helping to make up for the masive loss of power. some 40mm AA guns had also arrived but China needed a lot more.

[chris N]

Japanese forces had taken control of Hanan Island but the Japanese were finding that to keep it they would need to maintain strong military forces on and around it. The Chinese were fighting fiercely to hold onto the parts of Manchuria that they had retaken.
Chang had now in an address to the Chinese people on Radio and TV called upon them to assist the nation in surviving this onslaught by Japan. He announced that it would be the goal of the Chinese government to not stop fighting until all of Manchuria was reunited with China. Further he announced that China would recognize the Republic of Korea. The Koreans had been allowed to form a government in exile in China but China had not given any official recognition to it. Now that had all changed.

Japan was to be expelled from the Asian Mainland. These were more than harsh words.
The Head of the Scandinavia Union called this a truly dark day for the world and its quest for peace.

[chris N]

Much had happen over the years. The Scandinavian Union was becoming one of the largest trading partners of the Russian federal Republic. There were still quite a few people that had strong feelings about the Germans. The late Kaiser Wilhelm III was regarded as a thief. He had some said stolen Russian land.
Russia's leaders after the war had been Military men. They had moved the country away from being a communist state to a more democratic state. Both had had low regards for Stalin and neither wished to start another war with the west.