alternatehistory.com
Europe: United Kingdom
The United Kingdom has had a rough last century. However, the British Empire was at the height of its meight only two hundred years ago, having successfully quarantined Napoleonic France after the Napoleonic Wars thanks to the existence of the Duchy of Provence and defeated the United States during the War of 1812, where the U.K forced the U.S to abandon its claims onto the Oregon Territory. These two decisions would eventually come back to haunt them.
The U.K first faced internal turmoil during the Revolutions of 1848, where several uprising occured, notably in the north of the country, but nothing comparable to the French and Austrian situations. However, the U.K experienced a golden age during the Industrialization of the country, and with the expansion of the British Empire into Africa. The scramble for Africa would nearly kick off the World War early, if not for the Conference of Berlin that partitionned the continent.
Things would start to turn sour for the U.K in the early 1910s with the Troubles in Ireland. With a more and more active IRA, the Irish became such a big problem that the British resolved to send in the army in 1926, kicking off the First Irish Uprising. For two years the Irish struggled, and finally won their independence, except for the northern half of their country. However, this wouldn't be enough as both protestants and catholics continued butting heads in Ireland, prompting the Second Irish Uprising in 1934. This one would result with a massive British crackdown on the protests, which only ignited the conflict even more. A referendum was agreed upon, and the "Join Ireland" option won by eight votes. A recount was made, with "stay with Britain" this time winning by 23 votes. This would prompt the British government to deny the Irish reunification and Stanley Baldwin, the British PM, resigned soon after the decision. Soon after, the Third Irish Uprising commenced, which would be as deadly as the first, with Irishmen united against the occupying British Army, that was supposed to "maintain order in the autonomous province". This would prove disastrous for Britain with more than 3000 dead in three months. Finally, Ulster was given back to Ireland, prompting backlash of the British public onto the government, who was once more forced to resign. The people went with Winston Churchill, who wanted action instead of what he saw as inaction by the government.
Churchill soon renewed the London Accords, bringing in both the Empires of Russia and Japan, despite their differences, to block the Alliance expansion with Persia and Poland. And it would prove to be one of the many catalysts of the World War, with increasing tensions between the two blocks. It would finally be in Nigeria that the final spark would be made. A disagreement over the Franco-British border would spark a reaction, with British and French soldiers exchanging shots. Tension builds, and soon, the World is set ablaze. The U.K soon found the upper hand, invading via the Low Countries, but would finally be pushed out after an eight-month campaign. From then on, and with the U.S intervention on the side of the Alliance, Britain would collapse under the pressure. Russia would fall first, before Operation Constellation would seal the fate of Britain. Japan would be the last to fall, three days after the British capitulation.
The British Empire was in shambles, as was Africa, but got to keep the colonies it still had control over, notably Hong Kong, Aden or several Caribbean Islands the French and Americans retroceded in good faith. However, the Alliance would not allow Britain to stay united, and established the SOZ (Scottish Occupation Zone). With vivid opposition, the Scots eventually got huge economic aid from both the newly-founded ETU and the US, and found itself in a much better position than Britain. With no desire to reunite, despite referendums in 1985 and 2006, Scotland stood independent from the U.K, and eventually joined the ETU in 2000.
Britain would come back into world affairs but remains staunchly anti-ETU, and remains close with their Commonwealth Allies, most notably Canada and New Zealand, and other ex-colonies such as India and Jordan. Today, it remains economically fragile, but remains a strong economical power, despite falling behind Germany, France and even Sweden. Its navy is still limited in size, and it is not allowed to have nuclear weapons, but the UNSC lifted the air force and ground forces restrictions in 2011.
Britain has also kept Hong Kong due to fears of Chinese involvment and expansionism, like Portugal, Japan or France, and incorporated the territory into a constituent country in 1994. It still claims ownership of Scotland, and doesn't have an embassy in Edinburgh, but rather a High Comission.
The U.K first faced internal turmoil during the Revolutions of 1848, where several uprising occured, notably in the north of the country, but nothing comparable to the French and Austrian situations. However, the U.K experienced a golden age during the Industrialization of the country, and with the expansion of the British Empire into Africa. The scramble for Africa would nearly kick off the World War early, if not for the Conference of Berlin that partitionned the continent.
Things would start to turn sour for the U.K in the early 1910s with the Troubles in Ireland. With a more and more active IRA, the Irish became such a big problem that the British resolved to send in the army in 1926, kicking off the First Irish Uprising. For two years the Irish struggled, and finally won their independence, except for the northern half of their country. However, this wouldn't be enough as both protestants and catholics continued butting heads in Ireland, prompting the Second Irish Uprising in 1934. This one would result with a massive British crackdown on the protests, which only ignited the conflict even more. A referendum was agreed upon, and the "Join Ireland" option won by eight votes. A recount was made, with "stay with Britain" this time winning by 23 votes. This would prompt the British government to deny the Irish reunification and Stanley Baldwin, the British PM, resigned soon after the decision. Soon after, the Third Irish Uprising commenced, which would be as deadly as the first, with Irishmen united against the occupying British Army, that was supposed to "maintain order in the autonomous province". This would prove disastrous for Britain with more than 3000 dead in three months. Finally, Ulster was given back to Ireland, prompting backlash of the British public onto the government, who was once more forced to resign. The people went with Winston Churchill, who wanted action instead of what he saw as inaction by the government.
Churchill soon renewed the London Accords, bringing in both the Empires of Russia and Japan, despite their differences, to block the Alliance expansion with Persia and Poland. And it would prove to be one of the many catalysts of the World War, with increasing tensions between the two blocks. It would finally be in Nigeria that the final spark would be made. A disagreement over the Franco-British border would spark a reaction, with British and French soldiers exchanging shots. Tension builds, and soon, the World is set ablaze. The U.K soon found the upper hand, invading via the Low Countries, but would finally be pushed out after an eight-month campaign. From then on, and with the U.S intervention on the side of the Alliance, Britain would collapse under the pressure. Russia would fall first, before Operation Constellation would seal the fate of Britain. Japan would be the last to fall, three days after the British capitulation.
The British Empire was in shambles, as was Africa, but got to keep the colonies it still had control over, notably Hong Kong, Aden or several Caribbean Islands the French and Americans retroceded in good faith. However, the Alliance would not allow Britain to stay united, and established the SOZ (Scottish Occupation Zone). With vivid opposition, the Scots eventually got huge economic aid from both the newly-founded ETU and the US, and found itself in a much better position than Britain. With no desire to reunite, despite referendums in 1985 and 2006, Scotland stood independent from the U.K, and eventually joined the ETU in 2000.
Britain would come back into world affairs but remains staunchly anti-ETU, and remains close with their Commonwealth Allies, most notably Canada and New Zealand, and other ex-colonies such as India and Jordan. Today, it remains economically fragile, but remains a strong economical power, despite falling behind Germany, France and even Sweden. Its navy is still limited in size, and it is not allowed to have nuclear weapons, but the UNSC lifted the air force and ground forces restrictions in 2011.
Britain has also kept Hong Kong due to fears of Chinese involvment and expansionism, like Portugal, Japan or France, and incorporated the territory into a constituent country in 1994. It still claims ownership of Scotland, and doesn't have an embassy in Edinburgh, but rather a High Comission.
- Wings
- Word Count: 800