A Shift in Priorities

Status
Not open for further replies.
Thus, in the early 1930ies, East Asian cinema had begun a process of assimilation to the standards set by Hollywood, Babelsberg and Twickenham.

That is what Japan does best, culturally speaking, after all. They'll take an idea from the world and before too many months have passed (if not weeks) they'll make it their own. They're probably the best in the world at it, and have been for a thousand years or more (even when they were basically cut off from the rest of the planet.) Japan will always be Japan. Or to put it another way, you'd need the mother of all PODs to un-weird Japan.

I like the idea of Japan courting Hollywood directors. That has amazing potential for some really interesting pollination.

Bollywood has a fair shot of expanding into Asian markets as well, as a sort of film industry analogue of TTL Britain: making cheap-but-reliable films by the bushel, especially short films. IOTL Thai, Balinese, and Philipino films all tend to follow in Bollywood's footsteps more than anything else (outside of action movies, that is.) This doesn't have to be the case ITTL of course, but at least we know those countries are willing to latch on to Bollywood conventions.

Sadly, one thing this world will almost undoubtedly lack is the Hong Kong film industry and the unique conventions that developed there.
 
No study is possible on the battlefield.
(Ferdinand Foch)

With the Treaty of Willemstad signed on Sunday, September 3rd, 1933, Colonel Erich von Manstein had taken off uniform and put on civilian attire, but his tasks had hardly changed. He and his team of experts still were there to study the lessons that could be learned from the war in Mexico. While the fighting volunteers either prepared for repatriation or went on leave in Mexico, the experts carried on with their evaluations.

Apart from von Manstein, who was caring for the ground fighting lessons to be learned, there were: Doktor med. Rita Kranich, student of the famous psychoanalyst Helene Deutsch, looking at psychological aspects; Doktor phil. h.c. Hermann Wenzel, a leading executive of the Stahlverein, investigating economic matters; Professor Richard Thoma, lecturer at the Bonn University, examining questions of international law; Oberst Hellmuth Felmy from the Luftwaffe, analysing air combat and air transport aspects; Fregattenkapitän Hans Bütow looking for naval lessons to be learned; and finally there was Frau Lisa Müller, an Abwehr spook, exploring secrets about which the other members of the group were not supposed to know anything.

Orchestrating such a heterogeneous team was quite a challenge – even for a highly qualified and talented general staff officer like von Manstein. On the other hand, each specialist could be trusted to be competent in his field of research; thus, von Manstein’s task rather was to identify areas where overarching aspects were touched than to provide detailed guidance for each researcher. That left him ample time to do his own work.

Accompanied by his interpreter, Dolores del Rio, von Manstein just had arrived back from a two-day visit to General Plutarco Elías Calles’ headquarters at Oaxaca de Juárez, when Rita Kranich asked for an interview.
After saying good bye to Ms del Rio, who had the rest of the day off, von Manstein went over to Kranich’s office.

“Well?” he asked the young scientist.
“I thought this might interest you. – You know I’ve been investigating how the Mexicans tried – not quite without success – to corrupt the US military.”
“Yes, that has already been discussed in our weekly meeting last Friday. – So, what’s new?”
“Oh, I had a thorough look at the Mexican side of this manoeuvre in the last few days, and the result is that this corrupting strategy has been pure suicide. – While a good number of Amis may have been corrupted, made drug addicts and criminals, Mexican society will have to pay a very high price for this. – If I’ve got my figures right, there is a twelvefold increase in addiction to opium derivates, a twentyfold increase in alcoholism, and venereal diseases have increased by a factor of fifteen – all in comparison to pre-war figures.”
“Can you put this in absolute numbers? Just to get an idea about which categories you’re talking.”
“Mh, the pre-war the population of Ciudad de México numbered 1.23 million. Of these, about 2,600 were known as opium derivate addicted. Today, there are more than 31,000 registered, with a dark figure possibly much higher…”

“You mean your figures refer to the capital – not to the whole country?”
“No reliable figures for the whole country are available, neither pre- nor post-war. I’m glad to have received these data for Ciudad de México, and I believe that the figures for areas occupied by the Amis will be of the same magnitude.”
“Okay, I see. – Please go on.”
“Alcoholism has risen from 10,000 known addicts to 200,000, again with a much higher dark figure probable. Women are providing about one third of the total as many of the casual prostitutes not used to the business obviously became addicted. – Venereal diseases went up from 3,800 to 57,000 cases.”

“Who provided these figures?”
“The Mexican Red Cross; they’re based on a 1929 anonymous survey of doctor’s surgeries and figures gathered over the last few weeks. – Again, there may be a high dark figure concerning post-war figures, making the problems even worse.”

“How do these numbers compare to German figures?”
“We have approximately 2 opium derivate addicts per mille; Ciudad de México has 2.4 percent – that’s twelvefold as much, just corresponding with the rise that this corrupting strategy has produced. – For alcoholism, our basic figure is higher as the Mexican one – and we probably also have a very high dark figure. We are at 3.3 percent; they were at less than one percent – and have risen to 16 percent, which is enormous. – As I already said, it’s very probable that those states, which saw a protracted US presence – Tamaulipas, Nuevo León, Coahuila, San Luis Potosi – have similar increases.”

“Are there any figures about civilian casualties?”
“Not yet. – The situation is very complicated, because many people moved away or were ousted. – And despite US occupation and extensive damage from combat and bombing raids the population of Ciudad de México today is as high as before the war. – They have – so far – found 8,500 corpses when digging in the ruins, but excavations are ongoing.”
 
I guess the numbers for US military personnel that served in Mexico are even higher - after all, the whole business was aimed at them.

I also find it extremely interesting that civilians make up such a large part of the team. After all, Germany sending in a scientist to examine the psychological aspects of war???

And finally, it's interesting that EVEG isn't part of the team. Seems they are already that independent that they do not care for German government support. They'll have their own team around - a treaty which guarantees concessions to US firms won't stop them, right? Or does the treaty declare Mexico off-limits for EVEG?
 
The analysis is that the Mexicans did a great deal of damage to the occupation forces while doing almost as much damage to themselves in the process.

Hopefully, and with considerable irony, a consensus will emerge from the conflict in Mexico and the Spanish civil war regarding the treatment of civilians in conflict zones, particularly occupied areas. Though just what the idea of winning and minds would look like when viewed through the lens of the Wehrmacht could easily be more than a little disturbing.
 
¡ Hi ! ¡ DISASTER !:eek::(:eek:.

For the movie´s update, i feel that the japanese cinema industry for some time will it be creating movies of Samurais, greater japan emperors, and ghost traditional histories. But with the pass of time the movies maybe will it be change to intimate tales of common people in big problems with amazing scripts ( and in the limits permited by japanese law for that era ), and maybe some movies about Ronins who break traditional order, this class of movies will it be very polemic but very popular at same time. And finnally, because the Hollywood-Japan movie relations, maybe will it be seen some weird but funny class versions of spagetti westerns: ¿ sushi wensterns ?:confused::D:confused:, ¡ heck ! with a little luck maybe will it be a succesfully movie with the name of The good, the bad and the samurai:D:cool::D.
 
For México, this is a total disaster. The reconstruction process will it be during more time than i belived how to say, early. And that social´s problems will it be creating a lot of violence and pain:(, and don´t forget that maybe exist a lot of people with post traumatic disease.

The good news is that Cardenas and Calles are in goverment, Cardenas will it be suporting better hospitals, education, AA organizations, Red Cross groups:):cool::), and Calles, well let say that the worst sick people or more violent don´t it be a problem for that guy:eek::(:eek:.

For the rest of the world and Germany, are learning good information for mental diesases, war knowledge, civilians problems when wars occurs;).

And finnally, because this update, why i supose that the american´s soldiers are in worsts conditions than i supose, and the american McAdoo administration don´t see or want to see this realllity:rolleyes::eek::rolleyes:.

Peace:).
 
Russia is a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma.
(Winston Churchill)

Russian Prime Minister Boris Viktorovich Savinkov had unhesitantly adopted his predecessor’s practise of always having available a ‘special’ secretary; yet, his predilection for teenage girls had given the Okhrana a serious problem. – How could they train and instruct children to become premium agents?
Of course, the problem had eventually been solved – and a special secret boarding school for girls had been set up near Moscow. Students were initially recruited from orphanages, but over time quite a number of poor or depraved parents were identified, who were just glad of getting rid of a hungry brat for some hundred roubles.
Unfortunately, training took time. Thus, for the time being, the Prime Minister had to be supplied with untrained ‘special’ secretaries.

Valeriya Oksaneva Bobkova, called Lera, had been such an untrained ‘special’ secretary. Not quite seventeen when Savinkov went for a younger replacement, Lera had ambitious plans for her future. Her time with Savinkov had provided her vital information about her new target, the Tsarevich.

Tsarevich Vladimir Kirillovich, who on August 30th, 1933, became sixteen, was attending a boarding school in Nizhniy Novgorod, deliberately removed from the hustle of the imperial court and the capital by order of his mother, Tsarina Viktoria Feodorovna.

Getting an invitation to a students’ party and seducing Vladimir, commonly called Volodya, was a piece of cake for Lera. Volodya, rife with testosterone and hitherto unsatisfied sexual daydreams, readily fell for Lera’s charms – and before long had become her sexual slave.

Things escalated when first his educators and subsequently his parents became aware of Volodya’s addiction. Attempts to remove Lera – or Volodya – by force foundered because of the Tsarevich’s defiance of being separated from his beloved mistress – and his threat to commit suicide in such a case. What remained was buying off Lera, who had just been aiming at such an outcome – and was determined not to sell cheaply.

Well knowing that once she had broken with Volodya she would be fair game for the Okhrana, Lera had hired protection from Frajln Wach, which arrived in person of Judith Rosenbaum, Fajga Mandlstajn and two more competent young ladies on September 10th, 1933.

On September 12th, multimillionaire Lera and her escort were heading for Byalistok in an aircraft of the Landisch Flidinst, the national airline of the Heymshtot, while at Nizhniy Novgorod Volodya had to be hospitalised after trying to commit suicide.

In Byalistok, Lera successfully went underground with the help of the Frajln Wach experts. Accompanied by Fajga Mandlstajn, who had not yet found the man to sire her children, she travelled to Berlin, disguised as Reisel Mandlstajn, Fajga’s alleged sister.

In Berlin, the two women changed identity again, Lera becoming the daughter of a wealthy Ukrainian landowner and Fajga her personal secretary. From Berlin, Vira Romanivna Rodchenkova and her secretary took a Zeppelin to Buenos Aires, Argentina. Fajga, whose command of Spanish was essential for Vira, did not mind to be drawn into a love affair with Vira – after all, lesbian armours were quite normal at Frajln Wach.

Buying a nice country estate in the Sierras Chicas few miles northwest of Córdoba, the second largest city of Argentina, Vira was intending to live an arcadian life in luxury à gogo. Well, hers was a nice story of a rise from rags to riches; from the daughter of a seedy whore, who didn’t even know her father’s name, she had risen to a rich landowner and multimillionaire. Deeply satisfied lying in bed with her graceful lover, Vira wondered what life might still have in store for her…
 
Last edited:
The blue distance, the mysterious Heavens, the example of birds and insects flying everywhere – are always beckoning Humanity to rise into the air.
(Konstantin Eduardovich Tsiolkovsky)

With breath-holding suspension, Russian Air Force Captain Mikhail Klavdievich Tichonravov peered through the periscope. There she was: Rocket Number 9 – hardly two and a half metres high and only 18 centimetres in diameter, sitting on four small fins on a bare field at Nakhabino near Moscow. – The head of the design team, Ivan Terentyevich Kleymyonov, had surrendered his periscope to Marshal Tukhachevsky, who was now standing by the side of Tichonravov, who had been busy getting the starting device ready.
“Ready, Sir.” Tichonravov reported to the Marshal.
“Then let her go.” replied Tukhachevsky. It was 16:06 hours on Tuesday, September 12th, 1933.

Tichonravov pressed the button. There was a bright flash – and short time later a sound like an explosion arrived, followed by other explosions, the noises getting fainter and fainter.
Rocket Number 9 had successfully taken off. – Later it would be established that she only had attained the moderate altitude of 430 metres, nevertheless, she was the first rocket to be launched from Russian soil.

Marshal Tukhachevsky turned to Kleymyonov.
“Well, you have convinced me. The Russian Armed Forces will convert your semi-official amateur rocket club into a regular military outfit, Captain Kleymyonov. I’ll appoint a General responsible for rocket development. – And, for the next rocket start, I think you should invite Mister Tsiolkovsky. You know, the great old man is still alive and lives in Kaluga, not too far from here. – I think he will be happy to watch rockets rise from Russian soil.”
 
Last edited:
interesting, so what Russia is the leader on rocket technology? You know Russia I really think its building up of its military in such a modern way but keeping in isolation is going to make what ever nation its chooses to attack to be crushed
 
[FONT=&quot]America is a country of inventors, and the greatest of inventors are the newspaper men.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot](Alexander Graham Bell)[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Once again, Ernest Taylor Pyle, generally known as Ernie Pyle, one of the most prominent US war correspondents, was visiting the troops, which – consequent upon the Treaty of Willemstad – had abandoned their positions in Mexico and were bivouacking in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California, awaiting transit to their home garrisons.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]The mood of the common men was rather mixed. Many simple soldiers were just glad to have escaped the ‘Mexican Mess’ alive. Especially the privates of the three new army corps had never known what had actually hit them – their lack of combat experience had quickly turned them into flocks of sheep running away from the wolves, while their NCOs and officers had unsuccessfully tried to stop the rout. – There had been ugly scenes of angry officers shooting common soldiers – and of desperate privates killing their officers...[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]In the combat experienced army corps retreat had generally gone better, but there had been other adversities: People trying to carry the fruits of corruption with them – broads, riches, drugs, money – and thus disobeying orders and sabotaging organised movement of troops. Motor vehicles had been stolen and quite a number of fighting men, including NCOs and even junior officers, had deserted their outfits in order to save the spoils of their corrupt dealings. And Pyle soon learned that quite a number of corrupt higher officers just had given orders to salvage their properties at the expense of their men.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]The picture Pyle got was not a favourable one. There were many men chained to posts or vehicles – having been put on cold turkey. The atmosphere of the veteran soldiers was grim; one had been beaten – and one had seen that the fabric of the army was shattered in many places.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Appalled by what he had witnessed, Pyle got on the phone and tried to find out where George S. Patton was living at present. After learning that Patton was currently dwelling at Santa Barbara, California, Pyle sent him a telegram asking for and interview – and jumped in his car and directed it towards the West Coast.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]The Patton family, not quite devoid of financial means, resided in a grand ocean-facing domicile in The Riviera, a steep hilly neighbourhood in the foothills of the Santa Ynez Mountains. Patton, who knew Pyle since the days of the Great Southern Conquest, cordially bade him welcome.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]When Pyle described what he had seen in the army encampments, Patton only nodded.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]“Yeah, I know; I’ve seen this coming. But they – the higher commanders and their political masters – didn’t have the necessary resolve to back my effort.”[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]“Do you think you could have succeeded in cleansing the Army?”[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]“I would have done it, Ernie, believe me. – The Army is – was – my life; and I was one hundred percent serious in what I was doing. In war, the military always is in a precarious situation – and will quickly deteriorate when the rules are not being kept strictly. The soldier’s profession is not comparable to civilian circumstances. Soldiers are there to kill – and strictest rules must be in place to keep them from becoming mean criminal killers. The[/FONT][FONT=&quot] honor[/FONT][FONT=&quot] thing must be taken damn serious.”[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]“What will you do now, George?”[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Patton laughed joylessly.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]“Hell, what can I do, Ernie? I’m a retired brigadier general, who has left the Army at his own request. – And there will be no [/FONT][FONT=&quot]reentry[FONT=&quot] under these conditions. The Army has become a rotten outfit. – This no longer is an army I want to serve in.”[/FONT][/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]“So, what do you think will happen, George?”[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]“Oh, they’ll punish a lot of petty scoundrels, but the big scoundrels will get off scot-free. They still haven’t apprehended that the fish rots from the head down. – Thus, I fear, the Army will remain a rotten outfit, because they lack determination to destroy dishonest[/FONT][FONT=&quot] behavior [FONT=&quot]root and branch.”[/FONT][/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]“Is there no hope?”[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]“The Army is a living organism, if you do not excise the cancer of[/FONT][FONT=&quot] dishonor [/FONT][FONT=&quot]completely and utterly it will continue to mushroom – and eventually kill its host.”[/FONT]
 
Last edited:
[FONT=&quot]“Is there no hope?”[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]“The Army is a living organism, if you do not excise the cancer of[/FONT][FONT=&quot] dishonor [/FONT][FONT=&quot]completely and utterly it will continue to mushroom – and eventually kill its host.”[/FONT]

Oh, do I see a potential run for politics in the old man? :)
 
Only to be replaced by more shouting & militaristic behaviour plus stupidity but this time with a republican flavour?
 
Patton will have to implement draconian measures to correct the situation in the US Army, lest it not become an unstable and declining nation.

He may be able to do what he wants, without winning the presidency, as long as he gets an administration sympathetic to his ideas.
 
Be careful, the man achieving power promising to restore honor and greatness to a defeated nation deserves caution.

True.

Question is, though, whether he wants to achieve honor and greatness on the battlefield fighting for new Lebensraum, or whether he turns isolationist. I would assume Patton being a pragmatist. Wasn't he willing to give up large parts of the Southern conquest to reform his beloved army? He may fight for the Monroe doctrine, but not necessarily for its later amendments. That's something the Europeans and the Latin Americans can live with IMHO. McAdoo is more likely to start a war for economic reasons, to get a population boost in the US and for mere expansionism.
 
Top
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top