Unification Timeline
(Last revised 6/10/98)This is my attempt at a "world totalitarian victory" AH. My aim is to make it plausible, rather than particularly dystopian (thought it's going to seem fairly dystopian). Please note that also, I've attempted to involve the "ripple effect", so some events not directly linked to the POD will turn out differently because they seemed somewhat vulnerable to chance, and the POD started the dice rolling differently.
The POD is a philosophical one - the rise of a new ideology late in the 19th century, a form of messianic totalitarianism, basically replacing/circumventing Marx's communism (there is no Das Kapital in this timeline, and Engels' socialism fails to gain popularity independant of socialism in general). The main tenets of the new ideology, known as Unionism (and as Absolutism to its detractors), are that the entire state is an organism which should have central control and cooperation, that the organs of the state should be unified toward a common purpose, and that the people are bettered as components of the state, working to better the state and thus the whole. This ideology is not inherently capitalistic or socialistic, but in fact conflicts with the extremes of both capitalism and socialism. It is a theoretical, direct justification for the totalitarian systems that many other ideologies ended up promoting. For more details, click here.
1884 - Englishman Maxwell Jameson writes The March to Unity, spawning Unionist philosophy with a work describing the ultimate evolution of society into a unified whole, combining the authoritarian government of the old nobility with the unified nations and meritocracy of the new industrial world. He and several compatriots promote this philosophy extensively, but the political attempts resulting from this fail to gain significant power, especially in comparison to socialism, whose appeals to economic woes are more in line with the times than Unionism's cries for strong leadership.
1897 - effective end of the Unionist movement in Great Britain, after an abortive coup fails spectacularly. The Unionist movement's momentary appeal disappears in Britain and America, though it persists in Europe. Socialism, strongly opposed to the basis of much Unionist philosophy, becomes its vocal opponent in many places, leading to increased right-wing support for Unionism in some areas.
1919 - Beginning of the Great War, sparked by a trivial event. Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy, and the Ottoman Empire square off against Britain, France, Russia, and the United States (the Americans at this stage are not a particularly eager participant). Initial German offensives into France bog down into positional warfare, Austro-Hungarian attack into Russia has little success but maintains mobility, so German presence is reinforced.
1920 - Continual bloody stalemate on the Western Front, Central Powers offensive efforts directed primarily against Russia. Severe prewar strain combines with the worsening military situation, leading to collapse of the Tsar's weakened government. The Duma and the dissident movements fill the void, establishing a government under Kerensky, but the new government is unable to exert sufficient control to help the military situation. Great pressure on the Western Allies to launch a meaningful offensive, Unionist movement under Alexei Vasilyovich gains substantial support from nationalist and right-wing factions, the military with promises of decisive leadership, criticisms of Kerensky government's military efforts. Disastrous November Offensive in France leads to massive casualties, morale suffers despite decimation of the German and Italian fleets in naval actions.
1921 - Allied offensive against the Ottoman Empire meets with success despite collapse of the Russian offensive effort following German counterattack. Ottoman offensive capability destroyed, Germans capture St. Petersburg. Severe instability in the Austro-Hungarian Empire due to the losses at the front. First large-scale use of the new tanks by British forces on the Western Front. In late 1921 significant American forces are operating on the Western Front, but organized resistance collapses in Russia as the government falls and the country dissolves into chaos. The provisional government makes peace with the Central Powers, submitting to occupation, territorial concessions, and a costly peace.
1922 - Allied offensive on the Western Front using newer, more advanced tanks penetrates over a hundred miles in February, exploitation of the gains moves the front well into Germany. By the end of the year, the offensive has penetrated nearly to the Rhine. Completion of the conquest of the Ottoman Empire leads to the opening of a second front against Austria-Hungary in the Balkans.
1923 - the Allied armies cross the Rhine. Penetration into the heartland of Germany using new mechanized warfare strategies of armor spearheads. Critical supply problems in Central Powers lead to privation among the civilian populace, oil shortages. Allied forces advance into Austria-Hungary. A Unionist coup in unoccupied Russia occurs mere months before the collapse and surrender of the Central Powers. Austria-Hungary and Ottoman Empire partitioned, Poland reformed, severe postwar settlement levied on Germany, Italy. Unionist government maintains power over the new postwar Russia, executing dissidents and cementing control. Limited civil war in Russia itself, ending within months, more prolonged conflicts to ensure that the various other territories of the Russian Empire remain within the Russian Unity. Alexei Vasilyovich becomes permanent autocrat.
1932 - severe economic recession, then depression, around the world. Conditions in Europe are particularly severe, except Russia, where a centralized drive to industrialize, modernize, and militarize leaves general conditions poor but tolerable. Unionist movements, influenced by the Russian model, gain significant popularity. Reactionary movements of all forms gain popularity in Germany and Italy, fuelled by the severe settlement.
1933 - Italian Socialist Party rises to power for a four-year term.
1935 - collapse of the German elections in civil conflict as the Socialists and the German Worker's Party foment rebellion. German Unified Party under Herman Mannstein instigates a coup, gains the support of the military. Dissident movements crushed, threat of civil war ends. Rebuilding and remilitarization program begins, the latter cautious at first due to French and British opposition.
1936 - Authoritarian government of Francisco Franco rises to powe in Spain with significant Unionist aid.
1938 - Collapse of the Italian Socialist Party coalition, Unionist party coalition formed with covert German and Russian support, which then also collapses. Unionists instigate civil war in Italy, Socialist-Democract coalition proves more difficult to subdue than anticipated. Pact of Steel formed between Germany and Russia, delineating spheres of influence in Europe and a plan to eventually coordinate annexation of desired territories.
1940 - Greater German Union formed between Germany and Austria over Allied objections, effective polarization of Europe between the Unionist nations and the former Western Allies begins.
1941 - Warring Chinese factions unified by Chiang Kai Shek, begin to strike back at Japanese forces occupying portions of Northeastern China and Korea. Japanese forces retaliate, and the war in China escalates greatly - threatening to precipitate a logistical crisis as the United States and Britain organize economic sanctions. Japanese planners fear that they may eventually be unable to maintain the new offensive in China, and have no recourse but to fight a losing battle against superior numbers, or withdraw. The Japanese turn to the Unionist nations, and find that while Russia is suspicious and unfriendly, the Germans are only too happy to coordinate strategic planning, knowing that Britain is likely to go to war against either power in the event of significant expansion, and that the French and Americans can prove hostile even outside their direct sphere of influence.
In a historic meeting, the Triple Unity is formed between the Pact of Steel nations and Japan. In the event of any Pact nation entering into a state of war with at least two of France, Britain, and America, the rest of the pact shall enter the war in support, and the Pact nations coordinate their strategic aims with the aim of launching simultaneous attack to satisfy the German and Russian aims to partition the territory between them, and the Japanese aim to capture vital oil reserves (also something of a concern, though a longer term one, to the Germans).
1942 - Germany invades Poland (which is overrun within a month by the German military using the rather new tactics of integral mechanized infantry and air support to aid its armored spearheads). Japan launches a swift offensive in the Pacific, beginning with strikes on several Royal Navy bases (elimenating a carrier task force without significant loss in one attack), and a raid on the American naval base at Pearl Harbor (since most American ships are still based from the US coast at this point, only a carrier and a few aging battleships are sunk, with the second strike being sent against the base itself, including supply and fuel depots).
Britain and France declare war on Germany. The US, Britain, and France declare war on Japan. The remaining Unity and Allied powers declare war on each other. Russia invades Poland, Finland, Baltic states. Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania pressured into joining the Unity, while the other European countries remain neutral.
For some time Russia remains bogged down in Finland, while Germany prepares to strike France. Japan is engaged in a lightning campaign across the Pacific against ill-prepared Allied forces.
1943 - Germany invades and conquers France after several massive French armored counteroffensives outrun their support, are encircled and destroyed. The whole of France is occupied, French fleet joins the Allies. The Low Countries are overrun. As the German military begins mobilization for an invasion of Britain, the army invades and conquers Denmark and Czechoslovakia, and begins massive assistance to the Unionist forces in Italy. Within months, battered Italy is under the control of the Unified Italian Party. Subsequent to the fall of France, Franco joins the Unity and initiates several minor territorial grabs. Greece invaded. Russia conquers Finland, invades Norway.
Germany launches a massive air offensive against Britain, combined with a submarine offensive aimed at cutting off supply from the United States. In late 1943, covered by tremendous submarine activity (sustaining unacceptable losses), the remainder of the German Navy, and a slipping but significant lead in jet aircraft technology, German forces land on the beaches of Dover, and manage to secure a beachead and air cover over the English Channel for resupply.
On the Pacific front, Japanese forces advance deep into China, and achieve the desired territorial gains in the Pacific and more, but with US forces increasingly resurgent, significant losses are suffered against them. With the near-destruction of the machinery at the captured oil wells, Japan is increasingly reliant on oil and supplies from Russia, which despite the low level of its own war efforts, is functioning as a large supply and industrial partner for the entire Unity.
1944 - The conquest of mainland Britain is completed after severe losses inflicted on Unity forces (during one crucial week, more from losses crossing the Channel than on the mainland), and the use of poison gas. Significant elements of the Royal Navy escape the Unity air attack, and German naval and air forces suffer tremendous casualties (the British managed to destroy more aircraft than they lost, despite inferior fighters). Northern Ireland occupied. Later in the year the Greater German Union moves to secure its final territorial goal, capturing much of North Africa and moving through Egypt to secure the oil-rich regions of the Middle East, fighting against unreinforced, outnumbered British and Free French forces.
In the Pacific, the American fleet inflicts major losses against the Imperial Japanese Navy in several conflicts, after it finally regains the ability to base large operations from its Pacific bases. American troops sieze several island chains, moving into the Solomons, and keeping the supply lines to Australia open even as Japanese forces complete the conquest of New Guinea and reach the border of India. The Japanese move into hard-fought retreat in the eastern Pacific.
1945 - Germany and Russia consolidate conquests, the Russians incorporating conquered states directly into the Russian Union, while the Germans establish occupied puppet states in Europe, and "territories" in Africa and the Middle East. Switzerland, Sweden, and Portugal enter into "mutual trade" agreements, Ireland isolated from transatlantic commerce. Germany concentrates on naval construction and projects such as rocketry and atomic weapons with which to combat the United States, while Russia turns its attention to expanding its territory and influence in Asia, especially at the expense of Chiang Kai-Shek's remaining territory.
In the Pacific, despite a flood of new supplies through Vladivostok, the Japanese occupied territory diminishes under the assault of the US, whose attentions now focus primarily on it. US submarines strangle supply lines to many of the occupying areas, while while the Japanese fleet limits itself to skirmishes. New Guinea and the Phillipines are invaded. Following destruction of two of Japan's remaining carriers in the Phillipine Sea, Japan requests new aid from the Unity. Expeditionary forces are formed, and German submarines begin operating in the Indian and Pacific oceans from bases in Southeast Asia as Unity aircraft are deployed to bases across Japanese-occupied territory.
1946 - the year of stalemate. The war is a dull murmur in Africa and Asia, while in the Pacific, American forces complete the capture of most of the central Pacific island chains, but fail to make significant new naval offensives against the Japanese bolstered by German ground and air forces. An American task force off the cost of Borneo is devastated by German jet attack, losing its air cover and forced to withdraw.
1947 - In secret a secret meeting, the Unionist leaders of Germany and Russia conclude that even with their utmost efforts, US naval superiority cannot be countered soon enough to avoid the decisive defeat of the Japanese navy, and the loss of most Japanese island conquests. They decide that Japan, the only non-Unionist member of the Unity, shall be sacrificed to wear down the Americans. Unity strategy calls for the preservation of the major islands of Malaya and Japan itself with land and air forces, until either the atomic weapons program (now looking likely to succeed, and running at a fever pitch) and/or the naval construction program bear fruit. The German surface navy, currently a single aircraft carrier and a half-dozen battleships and battlecruisers, remains on patrol duties.
American forces conquer Phillipines, Okinawa, Iwo Jima. Remaining Japanese naval forces retreat to coastal waters. Americans invade Borneo, begin large-scale use of new B-32 bombers against Japan. Russian forces mass in Siberia, German land forces transfer by sea to bases in Thailand. Mindful of increasing Unity presence in Asia and the Pacific, American strategy calls for invasion of Japanese home islands as soon as possible. Forces begin to mass for this eventuality. American government begins overtures to Germany and Russia, calling for a peaceful settlement involving recognition of Unity control of the conquered territories and Unity recognition of the Allied sphere of influence in the Americas, the Pacific, India and South Africa. Privately, the Unity views this as an American offer to recognize what they are unable to alter, in return for real concessions in the Pacific.
1948 - American forces launch a massive invasion of Japan. After nearly a month of mutual slaughter and American advance into Kyushu and Honshu, the Japanese government allows large-scale Russian and German ground and air forces to operate on and over the Japanese home islands. Large-scale Russian strategic bombing raids on American ports, landing zones. German jet fighters achieve success, attack jets prove less successful employed against naval targets and supply ships. Type 26 U-boats operate out of new pens in Korea and China, despite continual bombing. American forces capture Kyushu, landing attempt on Hokkaido aborted. After three months, much of Japan is razed, but the main island of Honshu remains a chaotic stalemate.
American, Unity forces test-detonate nuclear weapons. American forces destroy Tokyo with an atomic bomb, Japanese emperor and most of the cabinet killed. A second bomber carrying an atomic weapon is destroyed two weeks later. A month later, the Germans detonate their only remaining nuclear weapon on Manila, and launch long-range missile and bomber attacks across the Pacific. Several experimental submarine-towed rockets are fired at cities on the US atlantic coast. Despite the fact that the missiles can carry at most a three-ton payload, insufficient for the atomic weapons of the time, great panic ensues.
The German terror attacks on various American targets, the use of atomic bombs by both sides, and the continuing mass casualties in Japan and unwillingness of the Japanese military authorities to surrender, leads to the Pacific Accord - essentially a peace treaty between the Unity, the US, and the remaining Allies. Japan ceases hostilities and demilitarizes (cooperating due to no small amount of threats from Germany and Russia), retaining all mainland conquests and the former Netherlands East Indies. All Unity forces are required to withdraw, as American forces withdraw from the Japanese mainland. Both sides regard the treaty as both an ending of the war and maintenance of Japan as a weak buffer between them (the Japanese home islands are devastated to such an extent that they are no real threat, and the Americans realize that upon the fall or destruction of the home islands, the Unity is in an excellent position to annex virtually all other Japanese-controlled territory).
1949 - The world is at peace... for now. Both sides continue their nuclear progams, while the Unity naval construction program continues at an ever-increasing pace, and research into missiles and long-range bombers continues on both sides. In Japan, there is mass starvation and anarchy, while the conquered territories foment with rebellion, their garrisons bereft of leadership and Unity supplies. As American "observers" attempt to democratize the government in Japan, the Unity supports and supplies supporters of the Unionist movement in the mainland territories, at the same time working to stir up unrest among the conquered populace. Germany demobilizes significant elements of its military, transferring others to the conquered zones, in an attempt to put down unrest across its new empire and free resources to the ailing civilian economy. Russia begins a program of Eastward Progress, building transportation networks and industry in conquered China and Asia, and greatly expanding its presence in the Pacific.
1951 - Congress of Global Unity formed between the Unionist governments of Germany, Russia, Italy, Spain, several other minor European Unionist nations, and the newly "independant" Unionist satellite states of France and Britain. In response, the Oceanic Pact is formed between the United States, the remaining Commonwealth countries (including Canada, Australia, India, and South Africa), and most of Central and South America. Switzerland, Sweden, Turkey, and the Japanese Empire are the only remaining major neutral powers. Germans develop new long-range bombers capable of striking the continental US (and much of the rest of the Oceanic Pact as well). The nuclear arsenals of both sides now number in the hundreds of warheads.
1952 - Germany introduces effective ballistic missiles, begins attempts to launch a satellite into orbit. Revolt in Britain put down by German military intervention, demonstrating how little true independance the satellite states have. Significant Unionist movements in the Japanese Asian territories, supplied by the adjacent Russians, become increasingly active, and Japanese central control deteriorates. After much diplomatic wrangling, the Unity agrees to allow American aid shipments and increased trade with Japan.
1953 - conflict between Unionist and conservative forces in Japan erupts into violence and mutual attempted coups. The central government is effectively destroyed. The conquered territories split between Unionist and Nationalist forces, decaying into warlordism, while Unity and Pact forces mass nearby, their leaders exchanging dire threats of nuclear retaliation in the event of the other intervening. Eventually Japanese Unionist forces prevail on the mainland, while Nationalists prevail in Japan itself. The world is on the brink of nuclear war as the Japanese Civil War rages, but as the outcome becomes a fait accompli, the Asian territories (at their own initiative) enter the Congress of Global Unity while the nationalist mainland, as a reaction, allies itself with the Oceanic Pact.
The world is split between the two alliances, threatening mutual annihlation. The only question that remains is not really if war will come but when, and whether by the time it does the two sides will be well armed enough to annihlate each other.
1955 - Failure of Russian-instigated rebellion in India, destruction of the Indian Unionist Movement. Purges of Unionist supporters in the United States, effective failure of Unionist infiltration effort there, destruction of several German spy rings. The backlash against Unionist infiltration efforts severely restricts Unity intelligence operations in North America.
1956 - In response to Unity infiltration and government instability in South America, the Rio Accords are developed between the Pact governments, centralizing Pact power (effectively subordinating the South American nations to the ex-Allied states due to the scheme of representation), and supporting economic and political reform in South America and new military cooperation. This causes significant tensions with local nationalist forces, and the collapse of the Columbian government.
1958 - Unionist-supported rebel movement in Argentina succeeds in toppling the government, new regime withdraws from Oceanic Pact, covert Unity forces attempt infiltration of nuclear weapons. Within a week the Pact responds, launching an invasion of Argentina and sending the world again to the brink of war as the beseiged Argentine government calls on the Unity for aid. The Pact threatens immediate full-scale retaliation against any Unity assistance attempts, and initiates a naval blockade.
In an emergency summit the leaders of Germany and Russia discuss their options - back down, losing face in front of the world and any real chance of gaining a power base in the Americas, or run the blockade despite great risk of precipitating a Pact declaration of war. The Russian leader, ageing and ailing, and seeing the barriers preventing a successful war against the Pact rising every day, successfully advocates a pre-emptive nuclear first strike on the Oceanic Pact before the struggle has escalated enough that the Pact mobilizes, thus maximizing the potential effect of a surprise attack.
Unity long-range bombers launch in multiple waves against targets across the Pact. As they cross the oceans and the pole, ballistic missiles fire from Russia, Africa, Southeast Asia and Western Europe, and from submarines in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. The Unity initial strike succeeds in destroying significant numbers of Pact missiles and bombers before launch, and the strike devastates military targets and cities alike. The primary exchange is over within six hours, although sporadic attacks continue for several days.
The Pact is devastated by the bombardment, predominantly by inaccurate but powerful fusion weapons in the 5-20 megaton range. All major military bases and coastal cities are destroyed, with major metropolises suffering various amounts of damage. The majority of the populations of Japan, Australia, and Canada are killed (most massive bombardment hits the areas closest to the Unity nations). Short-term casualties in the rest of the Pact, including India, are at approximately 1/3 of the total population.
Damage to the Unity is extensive in some areas, but sporadic. Areas of Asiatic Russia, Korea, and Western Europe are devastated. Germany is barely damaged, European Russia hit sporadically (Petrograd destroyed). Military bases around the Pacific Rim are heavily hit, as well as naval bases around the world.
Unity surface naval elements engage Pact forces in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, including mutual nuclear exchanges. The Unity narrowly prevails, with greater availability of submarine and air forces. India, South Africa invaded and rapidly conquered. Landings in Japan, Australia, Iceland meet with limited resistance due to the heavy bombardment, occupation efforts problematic due to underestimates of the problems of radioactive contamination. Landings in Alaska, Argentina and Chile succeed but advancement is limited to these areas due to terrain concerns. A major German operation to seize bases of operations in the Caribbean fails due to unexpected resistance with atomic weapons.
Within months, Unity forces have overrun all Pact territory outside the Americas. Russian forces control Alaska and advance slowly through northwestern Canada, and control much of the northern part of South America. German armies control Chile and Argentina, though advance through Brazil is slowed by terrain. German forces mass for a major landing operation on the east coast of the US.
1959 - Unity forces overrun North America in a long, hard-fought campaign (more due to limited numbers and supply lines, and tactical nuclear warfare, than number of defenders). The infrastructure of North America has collapsed under bombardment and warfare, leading to mass starvation. Significant long-term radiation casualties. The war is eventually declared ended despite lack of real control over many geographically isolated areas, and problems with large-scale guerilla warfare and radiation.
Russia occupies western and central Canada and the US west coast, as well as Mexico, Central America, Japan, India and Australia. Germany occupies southern Africa, most of Canada, the eastern US, and most of South America.
1965 - the last occupation "officially" ends, with the Congress of Global Unity in control of the world. The unity is somewhat bipolar, split between the two superpowers of the Russian Union (incorporating Finland, Norway, much of Poland, the baltic states, and swathes of central Asia), and Germany (incorporating Austria and much of Poland directly, and controlling the majority of Africa and the Middle East as territories). Smaller powers are Britain, France, Spain, Italy, and the Asian Union (Japanese-conquered territories in Asia, and the remains of Japan itself), plus a large number of minor powers. Australia and India are theoretically independant, but devastated and Russian-dominated, as is the Western American Union (Canada west of Ontario, much of the US, and Mexico) and the Unity of Central America. Similarly, theoretically independant but German-occupied, are the three "nations" carved from Canada and the eastern US, and the South American nations (borders unaltered except for expansion of Argentina at the expense of Brazil).
Within half a decade, common enemies absent, the allegiance between Germany and Russia degenerates into friction and mutual suspicion, and division of much of the world according to affiliation of the satellite states. The Conference of Global Unity is reduced to an ineffectual forum, and many of the satellite nations become resless, as the world of the Unity creaks and groans from the strain of rebuilding and maintaining control following the war.
The end... for now.