Xen
Banned
Let us assume Comrade Stalin dies the day after Soviet troops enter Berlin and his replacement sees a possible confrontation with the United States over Europe. Knowing the Soviets cant afford a longterm showdown with the USA he decides to negotiate a favorble peace terms for the USSR.
He allows all Eastern European countries to choose any form of government they wish, they must however give the Soviet military passing rights through their territory and may not join any foreign alliances. The exception being the Soviet annexation of the Baltic States, and a redrawing of the borders with Poland. Each nation may only have a standing military of 65,000 men.
Germany will be re-united with a capitalist government under the grandson of Kaiser Wilhelm II, and remain occupied by the allied forces. Each major power will be allowed only one division the major powers being the USSR, USA, France, UK, Poland and Ukraine. Outside of a small defense force controlled by the victorious allies, Germany under no circumstance will be allowed to re-arm.
The same deal is extended to Korea as well, Korea is united as a Republic with a Capitalist economy. All allied troops will withdrawal from Korea by 1950, and like Germany, each power will be limited to one division, the US, USSR and Britain will be the only nations sending divisions to Korea.
Capitalism rules most of post-war Europe, aside from the USSR, and Yugoslavia no other country is fully communist. Poland, Czechoslavkia, Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania each have strong Communist Parties, however anti-communist coalition parties keep them in check.
The Civil War in China plays itself out similiar to OTL, when the Kuomantang flee to Taiwan, Mao requests and receives Soviet assistance in the form of troop transport ships. The United States condemns the invasion of Taiwan but does nothing to stop it. Kai-sheck again manages to escape the communists fleeing to the Philippines, from there he moves to San Francisco setting up a government in exile getting alot of support from Chinese-Americans.
The day after foreign troops leave Korea, Chinese supported Communists launch a rebellion, beginning the Korean Crisis that nearly plunged the United States into another war. President Truman ordered American troops to return to the peninsula accusing the USSR of foul play. American and ROK troops fought side by side against the communist rebels. China threatened to send troops to Korea unless the United States withdrew from the conflict. Truman wasnt about to be bullied by China, responded by sending the 101st Airborne.
Chinese troops crossed the Yalu River attacking the Americans and Koreans, and propping up Kim Il-Sung's government. The United States responded by blockading Hainan and Taiwan with the threat to invade and return the islands to the Kuomantang. Mao begin to hear the song of compromise and willingly came to the Paris Peace talks. China agreed to withdraw its support for Kim Il-Sung and recognize the capitalist Korean government in Seoul, the United States in turn would recognize the Peoples Republic of China and withdraw its recognition of Kai-Shecks exiled government.
Robert Taft, the leading contender for the Republican nomination died while on the campaign trail. Republican leaders tried to recruit Dwight Eisenhower into the fold, but the retired General preferred to remain as President of Colombia University. The Republicans turned to the liberal Minnesota Governor Harold Stassen against the conservative Democrat J. William Fulbright of Arkansas. The 1952 election turned into a nasty campaign of mudslinging and smear tactics, ultimatley Fulbright lost in a bitter campaign, only winning the 11 former Confederate States, plus the border states of Kentucky and West Virginia.
He allows all Eastern European countries to choose any form of government they wish, they must however give the Soviet military passing rights through their territory and may not join any foreign alliances. The exception being the Soviet annexation of the Baltic States, and a redrawing of the borders with Poland. Each nation may only have a standing military of 65,000 men.
Germany will be re-united with a capitalist government under the grandson of Kaiser Wilhelm II, and remain occupied by the allied forces. Each major power will be allowed only one division the major powers being the USSR, USA, France, UK, Poland and Ukraine. Outside of a small defense force controlled by the victorious allies, Germany under no circumstance will be allowed to re-arm.
The same deal is extended to Korea as well, Korea is united as a Republic with a Capitalist economy. All allied troops will withdrawal from Korea by 1950, and like Germany, each power will be limited to one division, the US, USSR and Britain will be the only nations sending divisions to Korea.
Capitalism rules most of post-war Europe, aside from the USSR, and Yugoslavia no other country is fully communist. Poland, Czechoslavkia, Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania each have strong Communist Parties, however anti-communist coalition parties keep them in check.
The Civil War in China plays itself out similiar to OTL, when the Kuomantang flee to Taiwan, Mao requests and receives Soviet assistance in the form of troop transport ships. The United States condemns the invasion of Taiwan but does nothing to stop it. Kai-sheck again manages to escape the communists fleeing to the Philippines, from there he moves to San Francisco setting up a government in exile getting alot of support from Chinese-Americans.
The day after foreign troops leave Korea, Chinese supported Communists launch a rebellion, beginning the Korean Crisis that nearly plunged the United States into another war. President Truman ordered American troops to return to the peninsula accusing the USSR of foul play. American and ROK troops fought side by side against the communist rebels. China threatened to send troops to Korea unless the United States withdrew from the conflict. Truman wasnt about to be bullied by China, responded by sending the 101st Airborne.
Chinese troops crossed the Yalu River attacking the Americans and Koreans, and propping up Kim Il-Sung's government. The United States responded by blockading Hainan and Taiwan with the threat to invade and return the islands to the Kuomantang. Mao begin to hear the song of compromise and willingly came to the Paris Peace talks. China agreed to withdraw its support for Kim Il-Sung and recognize the capitalist Korean government in Seoul, the United States in turn would recognize the Peoples Republic of China and withdraw its recognition of Kai-Shecks exiled government.
Robert Taft, the leading contender for the Republican nomination died while on the campaign trail. Republican leaders tried to recruit Dwight Eisenhower into the fold, but the retired General preferred to remain as President of Colombia University. The Republicans turned to the liberal Minnesota Governor Harold Stassen against the conservative Democrat J. William Fulbright of Arkansas. The 1952 election turned into a nasty campaign of mudslinging and smear tactics, ultimatley Fulbright lost in a bitter campaign, only winning the 11 former Confederate States, plus the border states of Kentucky and West Virginia.
I'm just usually not a fan of TLs that have multiple, unrelated PODs, and I'd just like to know how the death of Stalin (which appears to be the essential POD) will affect the lifespan of Bob Taft.