WestVirginiaRebel
Banned
WI Alaska had stayed in Russian hands into the 20th century; could it have wound up as part of the Soviet Union, sort of an "Arctic Cuba?"
I've heard some say that if it would have stayed Russian, it might have been a refuge for the "White Russians" (the Tsar's forces?)
That's assuming the Red's ignore it, which they might, but they might not. At a meeting of Red commanders there would be many arguments either way, on the one hand, invading Alaska would involve a naval campaign, and the White's have the advantage there, on the other hand, the Reds will need to assert naval superiority sooner or later, on the other hand, invading Alaska would detract forces from more important areas, on the other hand, ignoring Alaska would give the Whites somewhere to regroup, on the other hand, invading Alaska would antagonise the two most powerful capitalist powers in the world, the British Empire and the United States of America... and so on, and so on.
Given that the British had already intervened on teh side of the Whites in Russia, they certainly wouldnt have sat theer and let the Reds invade a country next door to Canada.
If the Whites fled there, it would probably have ended up somewhat like Taiwan did re. China. - claimed by the Reds, who are unable to do anything about it, while recognised as independent by everyone else (probably while claiming Russis, which would be quietly ignored by the rest of the world)
I also don't see the USSR invading a free Alaska like in the timeline that glenn67 posted. Stalin was far more concerned about Communism in Russia than spreading it elsewhere. And by the time Russia did start to eye expanding its influence during the Cold War, America would have been willing and able to defend Alaska (or probably named Alyaska which I believe was the original Russian name).
Free Alaska? Bare in mind these are the Whites we're talking about.
On the other hand, we might get Socialist-Revolutionary Alaska...now that would be an interesting timeline.
With Comrade Palin as First Citizen!