Twenty–third chapter
Extract from: “1948, the mark of a new era”:
“… During 1948, around the world happened various events of critical importance which marked the start of the Cold War between the three main blocks which split Europe and the rest of the planet, creating new tensions those almost brought the situation towards a new World War during 1951-1953, especially after the British “days of the Fall”, the “Week of blood” in the Empire consequence of the Spanish Royal succession crisis, the American invasion of Cuba and the coup of Beria in USSR after the death of Stalin.
Europe - Empire of Italy and Balkans
In 1948, the Empire seemed finally aware of its power. Its recognition as “third superpower” (along with the USA and the USSR, but it was a status more formal than real, because in the immediate years of the post-war the federation didn’t had yet a global capacity to exercise its influence) was sanctioned by the realization of project Pandora which allowed the detonation of the first Imperial Nuclear bomb in the desert of Libya the 14th May 1947. In order to appease the public opinion, it was declared officially that the use of the Nuclear deterrent will be approved only by the dual approval of the Duce and the Emperor, because many feared Mussolini could use indiscriminately the bomb.
The internal situation, thanks to the consolidation of the Imperial Senate over the single assemblies of the Federate Nations, and the redeployment of detachments of the Imperial Army in instable zones such as Central Serbia, Thessaly, Thrace, and Yemen to suppress the various partisan guerrilla, continued to stabilize further in favor of the central government in Rome. However, the Imperial rule still fatigued to impose not only in its core regions but also and above all in the colonies and in the puppet states.
In Africa, the path initiated almost abruptly by France for the evolution of its colonial empire towards a commonwealth awakened dreams of independence in the rest of the black continent, and the Italian colonies didn’t make exception. In Libya, the local native tribes, gradually pushed from the coastal regions to the desert ones because of the immigration from Europe, badly tolerated the colonial regime (and later further tensions will rise after the discover and the nationalization in favor of state agency AGIP of the oil sources in the Lybian desert); in recently acquired Nubia, the local population, which certainly wasn’t happy to see the retirement of the British only to become servants of the Italians, started a guerrilla supported from the Sudanese in the south; in Yemen, the restoration of the Royal Family in the South-East under the protection of the British promoted a secret movement of liberation, however divided between Communists and Monarchists. In AOI, colony with a mayor degree of autonomy respect to the others, the situation was better, also because many Italian immigrants marry a native, favoring later the rise of a mixed generation with Imperial citizenship which in the next years will contribute to the govern of the region, while many Ethiopians and Eritreans served in the colonial army. The previous system of the Ras was disbanded in favor of the centralized colonial government, but the Ethiopian elites didn’t completely throw out from the picture, and accepted to collaborate with the Italians.
In Europe, aside with the most unwilling regions to accept the new course, the Empire found difficulties to keep control of Austria, but also Moldavia kept some resentment towards Rome to not have pushed further the issue of the reunification with Transylvania. However, the fear of the possible invasion of the Red Army, combined to the presence of the Imperial Army, kept almost quietly the two countries. However, while Moldavia remained always loyal to the Empire for necessity, Austria showed signs of growing discontent. Only the agreements of Bern of 1953, son of the new course of the Empire, saved the Alpine country from the fate later destined to Hungary in 1956, which as paradox was fruit of these agreements…
The Empire played during that year a decisive role in the birth of Israel, contributing to the Hebrew victory and the defeat of the Arabian League by massively support the new nation with weapons, money, and volunteers (receiving later benefits from Jerusalem and above all a strong ally in Middle East), and in the final phases of the Chinese civil war, when the Army of China resisted for almost four years to any attempt of the Communist forces to take Beijing.
But the unexpected event which caught all the Empire by surprise was the sudden heart attack of Benito Mussolini the 6th September in Athens while he was doing a travel across the Federate Empire. The Duce survived but the delays in his relief partially damaged his brain, de facto brought him to motor paralysis (but still conscious and able to understand). At Rome, the Great Council showed signs of panic, because Mussolini never thought about a succession system over his persona, because he seemed still in good health condition and, like many authoritarian rulers, he didn’t put in consideration the necessity to plan a future over him. Also, the news about the survival of Mussolini, along with that of the paralysis, complicated further the situation, because nobody had the courage to dismiss the Duce from his role, fearing the violence of his die-hard supporters.
In the end, a compromise between the notables of the PNF and the generals of the Imperial Army was found. In order to govern the federation until the Duce’s full recover (a strict curtain was placed around him, transported in a reserved hall of the Umberto I Hospital in Rome, and the news of his condition were kept reserved to the public), a “Fascist Quadrumvirate for the Public Salute” will fulfill to his duties. The members were Galeazzo Ciano, Alessandro del Leone-Mussolini, Rodolfo Graziani and Italo Balbo, while the role of secretary of PNF will be assumed by Dino Grandi in order to mediate between the various parts of Italian Fascism. The solution encountered a large support from almost all the sectors of the Empire, because the Quadrumivers were popular as the main architects of the Empire besides the Duce of course, and represented the moderate and major side of the Italian Fascism.
The Quadrumvirate, passed the emergency of the moment, started to prepare a smooth transition for the succession of Mussolini. The common agreement between the various parts was nobody outside Benito Mussolini will be allowed to bear the title of Duce, so it was decided to restore the role of First Minister: to be more exactly, of “First Minister of the Emperor’s Fascist Great Council”. The intent was to let become the Great Council of Fascism the only and real government of the Empire by merging what remained of the Council of Ministers with him; the First Minister however will be proclaimed (and only removed) by the Emperor, who will delegate the control of the armed forces to him (in substance, like Vittorio Emanuele III did with Mussolini before). However, because they didn’t trust so much the old ruler, the reform will entered in vigor only after the death of the Duce and of the current Emperor; in fact, Umberto of Savoia was willing to cooperate with the “next fascist generation”, and to keep in vigor the Italian Duarchy, which will resulted more balanced and however gave more responsibility to the role of the Emperor. The Quadrumvires promoted a major involvement of the Imperial figure officially for adding more stability, but in truth were moved by the fear the successor of Mussolini, if too strong, could get rid of them one day.
The Quadrumvirate however managed to cooperate properly for almost four years, until the chain reaction of events in 1952 changed drastically the assets of power in the Empire…
Europe – Germany and Austria
1948 saw the formalized division of the Third Reich in three nations, sign of the tri-division of Europe: the People’s Republic of Germany in North, with capital Berlin East (the city remained divided in two parts), the Federal Republic of Germany in South with capital Munich (because a capital on the Rheinland was too difficult to protect in case of war with the Communists, while Baden and Wurttemberg were too near to the French border), and the Fascist Republic of Austria.
North and South Germany received valuable help from their respective occupants, in order to recover soon from the wounds of the defeat. However, the two countries were soon economical balanced, because if the North could counted on a major control of resources, the South had access to a more large commercial market for its goods. But the Rhein-Mein line divided Germany also and above all religiously, because the population of the South was largely Catholic and the North predominantly Protestant, so favoring a major influence of the Roman Church in the Federal Republic and the predominance of the CDU; this allowed the Federal Republic to better approach the other German Catholic country, Austria, despite in these it was strongly influenced by the Empire.
The original plan to make the Alpine country a new Federate Nation was immediately abandoned, under pressure of the Catholic Church, and following the example of the Soviets and the Western Allies the Empire in 1948 proclaimed unilaterally the birth of the “Fascist Republic of Austria”, piloting the constitutional elections which favored the Austrian Fascist Party, using at its advantage the Communist menace. But the puppet government however wasn’t extremely popular. In fact, from the lowest to the most upper and conservative classes, which previously supported Hitler’s dictatorship and the union with Germany, found humiliating the submission to Rome in proportion of the Italian satisfaction to be the “masters” of the Austrians. Also the Austrian Catholic Church, despite the orders from the Vatican to facilitate the relations between the Empire and the Republic, was secretly against the foreign interference. The Austrians however, being on the map an independent people, were spared from the Italianization policies in act to the rest of the Empire, so preserved their uses and traditions, and the right to celebrate properly their past glories; glories which, according to the Austrians, matched with the Hapsburg domination.
It didn’t endure so long that a nostalgic feeling towards the “old times” enveloped the country; the AFP didn’t obstacle it, because it was viewed as a matter of national cohesion and will enforce the Austrian nationalism. The problems came when from many parts asked a Monarchical restoration, under the persona of the current heir of the Hapsburg Otto, son of the last Emperor Karl. Initially, neither the AFP and the Imperial authorities wanted that, the first because it will be forced to renounce part of their power, the second because they wanted the Empire of Italy and Balkans remained the only country in Europe and in the world (except Japan) to have an Imperial dignity; in fact after the dissolution of the British Raj, George VI formally abdicated as Emperor of India. Now, Mussolini wasn’t hostile in the past years in a restoration possibility to use it in anti-German function, and a monarchic Austria could enforce the equation of collaboration between Monarchy and Fascism, but now he couldn’t allow the presence of another Empire on the Alpine borders and above all under approval from Rome. Also, Otto, who in that period lived in Munich, was anti-fascist and hardly will accept a cooperation with the Imperial occupants.
The situation so was landlocked for many years, with a growing dissent brutally repressed from the Imperial Army, which arrested many opponents sending them in the colonies; if a bloodshed never happened, it was only thanks to the hidden work of the Catholic Church, which petitioned the Emperor about the possibility of a compromise formula…
Europe - France
De Gaulle, strong of his prestige, managed to impose in the new constitution of the new born Fourth French Republic a semi-presidential formula, with a Head of State directly elected by the people and with large powers. The general, who easily was elected in the consequent elections (where participated for the first time the Algerians citizens, as the former colony was declared metropolitan part of the homeland), wanted so in order to give to the President of the Republic the possibility to assume a strong leadership and the necessary freedom of movement to influence properly the states of the French Union, proclaimed officially during Bastille day of that year, with the formation of the West African and Equatorial African Federations and the recognition of the independence of Madagascar. Apart for the minor islands sparse around the world, under direct French control remained Guyana, Dijibuti (in a vital position to check AOI), the Indian ports, Togo and Cameroon ( these last two territories, passed under French mandate after the Germany defeat in WWI, were still under “Frenchification”). The three countries will have the right to had a proper government and independence over many matters, save the fact to use French as state language, be enrolled under the French Army, to use the Franc as national currency, and to recognize the French President in charge as their Head of State. The French Union will mark a new age of cooperation between France and Africa, because many new states of the Black Continent developed strong ties with it to avoid the growing Imperial influence after the void of power left by the British.
The French Union encountered large approval, both internally and externally. Meanwhile, Tunisia and Morocco were recognized independent too, but remained out from the Union as former protectorates, and reorganized as Kingdoms. These two countries however remained in the French system of alliance, both fearing the expansionism of the Axis (Tunisia over the Imperials and Morocco over the Spanish, especially after was forced to recognize the loss of the lands occupied by them previously and even to retreat the northern border to the Sebou River and the Taza-Guercif road, so losing all the Rif region without have the possibility to oppose that decision).
The disengagement and the conversion of the Colonial Army from Africa allowed to De Gaulle to spent more resources in the Indochinese front; part of the public opinion however wasn’t favorable to continue to exercise control of a region which hardly could be incorporated in the Union (as the local dynasties who reigned before the French arrival still existed and had support of part of the local population, while the French previous administration was completely erased by the Japanese just before the surrender). The French president however about Indochina seemed determinate to keep the direct control of the region for the moment, and to discuss about the future of the colonies only after the defeat of the Communist guerrilla.
The Vietnamite rebels leaded by Ho Chi Min suffered of the evolution of the Chinese Civil War, and any attempt to search help from the USSR and the Maoists was inutile. Even the Chinese Nationalists, which in 1945 seemed favorable to support their fight, soon aligned on the side of the French and sealed the borders with Vietnam. The local elites of Indochina supported for the moment the French return, even if started to make secret contacts with everyone interested to help them to get rid of their old masters: China, India, USA and the Empire. But the four states for the moment continued to support the French rule not having the strength neither the interest to invest in Indochina…
Europe - Great Britain
The Laburist government after the war, along with the reconstruction, started the gradual deconstruction of the Empire, despite the growing opposition of the BPF. Mosley, in agreement with the will of Rome, accepted the loss of the Indian Raj, in exchange of the preservation of the rest of the Empire; Attlee however was aware of the fact Great Britain couldn’t support anymore a world-wide influence and started the retreat from various regions.
Middle East was one of them. The British left the mandates in Palestine and Transjordan, they reduced the military presence in Egypt to Suez Channel, and concluded the occupation of Iraq and Persia, while they restored the Yemenite Royal Family in Hadramaut, proclaiming a Kingdom of Yemen (more known as South Yemen in contraposition of the North under Imperial control) under the protection of London. The British also granted independence to Cyprus in favor of the exiled Greek government, so proclaiming the island the rightful Kingdom of Greece, despite the Turkish minority protested; but also the Empire and the PISR were hostile to the new country, who become of primary strategic importance in the Mediterranean for its position. In fact, the control of Cyprus will mean for the Imperials an advanced base for the defense of Israel and for an attack towards the PISR, for the PISR a good defensive outpost, and for the Western Allies an outpost to place their nuclear deterrent towards both the USSR and the Empire. So, in the next years the island become place of espionage intrigues and raised further the international tensions…
In Africa, the evolution of the Sudanese situation forced the British to conclude unilaterally the condominium over the country (the Egyptians, concentrated over the Israeli issue, and however incapacitated by the presence of Italian Nubia, didn’t raise claims of sort); but Sudan, even if accepted the temporary presence of a reduced British garrison, already claimed to not be part of the Commonwealth.
But probably the most painful loss was the definitive independence of Ireland, which as consequence raised the issue of Northern Ireland, where the IRA started its retaliatory attacks. In the crescent state of tension in the region, the BFP took its advantage by organizing squadrons (masked as “private patrols”) in order to protect the British citizens from the violence of the IRA, so further increasing the violence cycle. The BFP gained soon consensus in Northern Ireland and in the more conservative sectors of society which blamed the major parties decision to dismount the Empire; Attlee however hesitated to declare illegal the BFP, as some of his advisors suggested and even part of the Conservative party was oriented to support the motion, because the party remained still on the limit of the democracy.
To make worse the situation, the British economy fatigued to improve, matching the competition of the Americans, the Soviets, the Imperials and even of the French which received great benefits from the control of Rheinland and its rich mineral sources; in a situation of relative internal weakness, the agents of ODESSA prepared the first of their revenges against the British…
Europe - USSR
In the first months of post-war, Stalin kept if not cordial at least neutral relations with the Empire, more focused on the issue of Germany. The Soviet Chairman however was forced progressively to increase the aggressive stance with the Empire when it developed in 1947 the Nuclear bomb. The fear in the USSR in these days was high, because many were sure of an imminent strike from the Imperials; improbable option, because the bombers of the Empire in that period didn’t had an extended range like the American B-52 and the Imperial rocketry project was still at its beginnings, but the Red Army started its mobilization while many civilians started to evacuate the cities.
In the end, order was restored and after the declaration of peace from Rome war was avoided, but Stalin from that moment was forced to assume a more strong position against the Empire and to invest more resources on the military buildup, even at cost to slow the civilian reconstruction. In 1949, USSR finally got the Nuclear bomb, so rebalancing the equilibrium with the US and the Empire; but it was also forced to increase the military control over the European satellites and the Asian border nations. Taking advantage from the inevitable defeat of the Maoists in the Chinese Civil War, the Soviets created new satellites around them, promoting towards the end of 1948 the definitive independence of Sinkiang, the creation (or better, of recreation after the Japanese attempt) of the popular republic of Inner Mongolia, and to forcing the Chinese Communists to create, weakened after the loss of Shanxi region, their own Popular Republic in Manchuria; in Europe, in North Germany was proclaimed a popular republic.
After securing its borders, and showing it wasn’t technologically behind its opponents, USSR was then forced to decide between a peaceful coexistence or an antagonism between USA and the Empire. Stalin chose the second option, because the American (and also Imperial) policy of containment didn’t offer much chances.
The Soviets reformed the Comintern in the Kominform, and accepted at that point the existence and the course of the PCIB, because in their opinion the Empire was much more weak than the USA and there was the possibility to promote an internal insurrection, especially after Mussolini’s heart attack and the fragile stability promoted by the Quadrumvirate. The KGB helped to train agents of the party to infiltration and terroristic tactics, in the hope to undermine the federation with the formation of “Red Brigades”. When the OVRA discovered years later the tentative of the PCIB to overthrow the government, and after the first bombings and the first killings (also from the hands of ODESSA), the Emperor organized as countermeasure the secret branch of the OVRA known as “Gladio”…
America - USA
The United States under Truman enforced their anti-Communism, so they supported the Imperial intervention in the Chinese Civil War and the French reconquest of Indochina menaced by the insurrection leaded by Ho Chi Min; as consequence, the relations with the Empire and the Axis were cordial as they were seen as a bulwark against the Soviet expansionism. However, part of the American public opinion and of the same Democratic Party wasn’t favorable to support a dictatorship which enslaved part of Europe as well and had expansionistic aims not less dangerous of the Communist bloc. Also, the concessions in favor of Spain in the Pacific theatre, while the Philippines were declared independent, caused some doubts in the Pentagon advisors, because many started to think the Caudillo, protected by the Empire, could be able to make breach into the undeveloped states of Latin America, in particular those really unsatisfied of the American influence and to align the young Philippine republic, but Truman was convinced of the fact Spain was too weak to expand in America while the Empire pursued more an Euro-Asian strategy in anti-Communist key.
The first creek to Truman’s security, and also to the Monroe doctrine, came when in May of 1948, Argentine President Juan Peron, after the successful meetings the previous year his wife Evita Peron had with Franco in Madrid and Mussolini, the Imperial family and the Pope in Rome during her European tour, signed in the Eternal City a pact of mutual cooperation with the Empire and Spain, de facto making of Argentina a new ally of the Axis. Peron added as public justification the fact the Spanish and Italian communities in his country were well integrated and wanted to regulate the relations with their homelands. In the successive months, the Argentine economy started to implement the principles of Corporatism, as consequence of the gradual integration with the economical sphere of influence of the Axis; Peron however didn’t transform Argentina in a Fascist country, but kept alive the democratic system. The Empire and Spain respected Peron's decision, because they wanted to show to the rest of the world they could cooperate with democracies as well in order to protect them from Communist menace.
Truman, considering the geographical position of Argentina, and considering the country an exception to the American hegemonic system in the New World (after all, Peron substituted the British influence with that Ital-Spanish), decided to close an eye because the priority for the USA was still the protection of the Caribbean and Central America, without fully understanding the Spanish diplomatic missions in the region until later, at the end of his presidency, he was forced to intervene in the Cuban crisis…
Middle East – Israel, PISR and Arabian League
In 1948, despite the hostility of the near countries, and the attempt of the United Nations to found a diplomatic solution, the Hebrews settled in Holy Land declared unilaterally the birth of the Republic of Israel; the next day, Egypt, Transjordan and Iraq declared war to it. The PISR, divided between the right of the Hebrews to have their own land and the defense of remained neutral, while the Israeli were supplied from the Western Powers and above all from the Empire, which furnished them in order to gain advantage from a strong ally in the region.
The Arabian block suffered a complete defeat. The Israeli, better equipped and determinate at all cost to remain in the region, put under their control all of Palestine, and making of Jerusalem their capital in spite of the project of the UN (where the Empire used its veto right in favor of Israel) to make the city an international site.
In the start of 1949, the Egyptians and their allies accepted to make peace with the Israeli. While the majority of the Palestinian population emigrated to the neighboring countries to not accept to be citizens of the new country, Israel declared all the occupied territories part of its nation, even the Palestinian habited city of Gaza. That city, which the Israeli decided to integrate for historical revenge (it was the major site of the Philistines), remained however largely populated by Palestinians, so it was hard for the army to keep control of the zone.
For the Egyptians, the defeat put them in condition to be completely encircled by the Empire and Israel. For the government of Cairo, the only way to survive was to reach an agreement with the Empire. For the rest of the Arabian world, menaced from various front, the only possibility was a enforcement of the cooperation between the various states. Shortly after the victory, the Arabian government invited in Riad its counterparts in Iraq and Transjordan (Egypt, already in secret talks with the Empire, declined the invitation) to forge a common alliance, and to involve all the rest of the Islamic world. The three Sunni states however also agreed that also Shiite Persia was involved in some way, so putting in second place the ideological differences in favor of Islamic unity, to achieve by destroying the PISR, Israel, and the Imperial rule in Eastern Africa and Yemen; the Persians, which saw in the growing Arabian League an opportunity to be more independent from the heavy Anglo-American influence, accepted. Soon, also Pakistan, after the defeat in the war against India, agreed to the alliance; Egypt instead opted for a rigid neutrality, because the government feared in case of a new conflict with Israel, the Empire could have the chance to invade the country.
The Arabian League initially was in good ties with the Anglo-Americans, especially with the first because the British power seemed still strong and also the independence granted to Pakistan and the restoration of the Yemenite Royal Family in Hadramaut, while the Muslim immigrants were fairly well accepted in Great Britain, were saw favorably; France was not viewed with hostility, considering good the independence of Morocco and Tunisia, but the integration of Algeria and the good relations with the Empire didn’t favor excessively the French diplomats. About the Empire, saw as the main protector of Israel and the enslaver of millions of Muslims, the reciprocal relations were simply abysmal and for years the League opposed any attempt of reconciliation with Rome, so contributing to the growing tensions between Christians and Muslim, which reached a first critical boiling point after the intervention in Nigeria...
Central-South Asia - India, Pakistan and Kashmir
With the independence, the Raj was divided in majorly Hindi India and Muslim Pakistan, also in control of Ganges Delta (East Pakistan, or more commonly Bangladesh). However, the regions of Bengal and Assam were highly unstable because of the influence of the IFP, where Bose organized a volunteer army (“Army of Free India”) to fight with the British against the Japanese invasion, but he refused after the conflict to dissolve it until the independence.
Along with many Indians, Bose with the rest of the IFP didn’t recognize the partition imposed by the British, and after the independence was one of the most active supporters of the conflict which soon started between India and Pakistan. With the contribute of the skilled Free Army of India, Bangladesh was rapidly invaded, forcing the evacuation of the Muslim population in the region. In Kashmir, other region contested between the two countries, however the situation was more balanced and soon reached a stalemate.
The UN imposed to the two country a truce and a restoration of the status quo, but the Indian authorities initially refused to relinquish back Bangladesh, first because they were sure of the final victory and above all Bose’s militia hold the region and in New Delhi there was the concrete fear of a civil war in the East.
First Minister Nehru then accepted a second compromise plan proposed again by the British, which suggested the Indian acquisition of Bangladesh while all of Kashmir will be declared under UN occupation until a final peace solution will not be found. The Pakistani government accepted the loss of Bangladesh, in any way too difficult to control and protect, and accepted the UN occupation of Kashmir hoping the major Muslim population in the upcoming election will vote for integration with their country. But things went different as in Karachi thought…
Far East Asia - China
In fact, in the days of the Japanese surrender in September of 1945, col. Amedeo Guillet was ready to depose the charge of provisional governor of Beijing, but in favor of the Nationalists. The Communists, which favored by the Soviets started to gain control of Manchuria, tried to oppose that attempt by seizing the city by their own, but the Imperial garrison was forced to intervene and expelled the Maoist fighters the 3rd November, the day before the supposed retirement to Tientsin ( the 4th, after a triumphal march in Beijing in remembrance of the victory in World War I, the Army of China will moved to the concession).
Chang Kai Shiek, who had problems to move towards north because of the crescent hostility of the Communists, praised the Imperial officer and asked him to continue the protection of Beijing until the Nationalist arrival. Guillet, after receiving the approval also from Rome, accepted. Truman approved the Imperial move, because he didn’t wanted a China under Communist control; Stalin instead was furious and requested the removal of the Army of China from Beijing, but both the Americans and the Imperials had easy game to demonstrate the Soviets didn’t respect the treaties with the Chinese for first, because he granted control of Manchuria to the Maoist rebels despite the leader of the USSR made a previous agreement with Chiang to return the region to the legitimate government.
It was soon clear that the Empire and the USA were determined to protect Nationalist China at all costs, so Stalin decided to avoid the direct conflict and to increase the support to the Maoists. The Army of China was so involved on the first line against the Chinese Communists for almost four years, with the hard task to protect the land strip between Beijing and Tientsin. Despite they were almost encircled, the Imperials managed to resist thanks to the air bridges from the Empire and from US occupied Japan. Mao focused too efforts in the attempt to conquer the city, so losing valuable time while Chiang, slowly but implacable, with the suggestion of Imperial military advisors, reorganized his troops and retrieved the lost ground. When in May of 1948 Yan’an felt in Nationalist hands, with Mao and his government forced to retreat in Manchuria, Stalin understood the Communists lost the war and decided to “save the salvable”, reorganizing unilaterally the extreme north of China with the unilateral proclamation of the popular republics of Sinkiang and Inner Mongolia; Mao and his supporters tried to oppose these plans, but when Stalin menaced them to invade also Manchuria and to impose a more “Communist Orthodox” government, they must accepted the inevitable.
The Communists tried from these new Soviet satellite to launch a new counterattack, but at that point Chiang Kai Shiek controlled almost all of inland China. The Nationalist leader, at cost to sacrifice most of the Chinese gains since 1644 (because also Tibet proclaimed in 1948 its definitive independence from foreign rule, obtaining admission into the UN under Indian pressures, as the government of New Delhi didn’t enjoy really much the prospective of an united China), made an agreement with the Soviet which recognized the victory of the Nationalist in exchange of the renounce to the border lands. The 1st October 1949, the peace treaty between the Nationalists and the Communists allowed the birth of the “Popular Republic of China”, de facto Manchuria; on the same day, Guillet resigned as provisional governor of Beijing and retired the Army of China in Tientsin. In the next months, the Nationalist government (which recognized Nanjing as rightful, and more safe, capital of China), recognized the control of the concession of Tientsin to the Imperials for 99 years (so until 2049). The site will become soon an important trade hub, because it was near on the Chinese-Manchurian border, which needed constant need to be supplied, while Beijing, even if stripped of the role of capital, remained still one of the major industrial cities of China and however the Kuomintang invested resources later to modernize it, to make it a window of the Chinese progress in spite of the Communists, on the example of West Berlin encircled by DDR…”
Extract from: “1948, the mark of a new era”:
“… During 1948, around the world happened various events of critical importance which marked the start of the Cold War between the three main blocks which split Europe and the rest of the planet, creating new tensions those almost brought the situation towards a new World War during 1951-1953, especially after the British “days of the Fall”, the “Week of blood” in the Empire consequence of the Spanish Royal succession crisis, the American invasion of Cuba and the coup of Beria in USSR after the death of Stalin.
Europe - Empire of Italy and Balkans
In 1948, the Empire seemed finally aware of its power. Its recognition as “third superpower” (along with the USA and the USSR, but it was a status more formal than real, because in the immediate years of the post-war the federation didn’t had yet a global capacity to exercise its influence) was sanctioned by the realization of project Pandora which allowed the detonation of the first Imperial Nuclear bomb in the desert of Libya the 14th May 1947. In order to appease the public opinion, it was declared officially that the use of the Nuclear deterrent will be approved only by the dual approval of the Duce and the Emperor, because many feared Mussolini could use indiscriminately the bomb.
The internal situation, thanks to the consolidation of the Imperial Senate over the single assemblies of the Federate Nations, and the redeployment of detachments of the Imperial Army in instable zones such as Central Serbia, Thessaly, Thrace, and Yemen to suppress the various partisan guerrilla, continued to stabilize further in favor of the central government in Rome. However, the Imperial rule still fatigued to impose not only in its core regions but also and above all in the colonies and in the puppet states.
In Africa, the path initiated almost abruptly by France for the evolution of its colonial empire towards a commonwealth awakened dreams of independence in the rest of the black continent, and the Italian colonies didn’t make exception. In Libya, the local native tribes, gradually pushed from the coastal regions to the desert ones because of the immigration from Europe, badly tolerated the colonial regime (and later further tensions will rise after the discover and the nationalization in favor of state agency AGIP of the oil sources in the Lybian desert); in recently acquired Nubia, the local population, which certainly wasn’t happy to see the retirement of the British only to become servants of the Italians, started a guerrilla supported from the Sudanese in the south; in Yemen, the restoration of the Royal Family in the South-East under the protection of the British promoted a secret movement of liberation, however divided between Communists and Monarchists. In AOI, colony with a mayor degree of autonomy respect to the others, the situation was better, also because many Italian immigrants marry a native, favoring later the rise of a mixed generation with Imperial citizenship which in the next years will contribute to the govern of the region, while many Ethiopians and Eritreans served in the colonial army. The previous system of the Ras was disbanded in favor of the centralized colonial government, but the Ethiopian elites didn’t completely throw out from the picture, and accepted to collaborate with the Italians.
In Europe, aside with the most unwilling regions to accept the new course, the Empire found difficulties to keep control of Austria, but also Moldavia kept some resentment towards Rome to not have pushed further the issue of the reunification with Transylvania. However, the fear of the possible invasion of the Red Army, combined to the presence of the Imperial Army, kept almost quietly the two countries. However, while Moldavia remained always loyal to the Empire for necessity, Austria showed signs of growing discontent. Only the agreements of Bern of 1953, son of the new course of the Empire, saved the Alpine country from the fate later destined to Hungary in 1956, which as paradox was fruit of these agreements…
The Empire played during that year a decisive role in the birth of Israel, contributing to the Hebrew victory and the defeat of the Arabian League by massively support the new nation with weapons, money, and volunteers (receiving later benefits from Jerusalem and above all a strong ally in Middle East), and in the final phases of the Chinese civil war, when the Army of China resisted for almost four years to any attempt of the Communist forces to take Beijing.
But the unexpected event which caught all the Empire by surprise was the sudden heart attack of Benito Mussolini the 6th September in Athens while he was doing a travel across the Federate Empire. The Duce survived but the delays in his relief partially damaged his brain, de facto brought him to motor paralysis (but still conscious and able to understand). At Rome, the Great Council showed signs of panic, because Mussolini never thought about a succession system over his persona, because he seemed still in good health condition and, like many authoritarian rulers, he didn’t put in consideration the necessity to plan a future over him. Also, the news about the survival of Mussolini, along with that of the paralysis, complicated further the situation, because nobody had the courage to dismiss the Duce from his role, fearing the violence of his die-hard supporters.
In the end, a compromise between the notables of the PNF and the generals of the Imperial Army was found. In order to govern the federation until the Duce’s full recover (a strict curtain was placed around him, transported in a reserved hall of the Umberto I Hospital in Rome, and the news of his condition were kept reserved to the public), a “Fascist Quadrumvirate for the Public Salute” will fulfill to his duties. The members were Galeazzo Ciano, Alessandro del Leone-Mussolini, Rodolfo Graziani and Italo Balbo, while the role of secretary of PNF will be assumed by Dino Grandi in order to mediate between the various parts of Italian Fascism. The solution encountered a large support from almost all the sectors of the Empire, because the Quadrumivers were popular as the main architects of the Empire besides the Duce of course, and represented the moderate and major side of the Italian Fascism.
The Quadrumvirate, passed the emergency of the moment, started to prepare a smooth transition for the succession of Mussolini. The common agreement between the various parts was nobody outside Benito Mussolini will be allowed to bear the title of Duce, so it was decided to restore the role of First Minister: to be more exactly, of “First Minister of the Emperor’s Fascist Great Council”. The intent was to let become the Great Council of Fascism the only and real government of the Empire by merging what remained of the Council of Ministers with him; the First Minister however will be proclaimed (and only removed) by the Emperor, who will delegate the control of the armed forces to him (in substance, like Vittorio Emanuele III did with Mussolini before). However, because they didn’t trust so much the old ruler, the reform will entered in vigor only after the death of the Duce and of the current Emperor; in fact, Umberto of Savoia was willing to cooperate with the “next fascist generation”, and to keep in vigor the Italian Duarchy, which will resulted more balanced and however gave more responsibility to the role of the Emperor. The Quadrumvires promoted a major involvement of the Imperial figure officially for adding more stability, but in truth were moved by the fear the successor of Mussolini, if too strong, could get rid of them one day.
The Quadrumvirate however managed to cooperate properly for almost four years, until the chain reaction of events in 1952 changed drastically the assets of power in the Empire…
Europe – Germany and Austria
1948 saw the formalized division of the Third Reich in three nations, sign of the tri-division of Europe: the People’s Republic of Germany in North, with capital Berlin East (the city remained divided in two parts), the Federal Republic of Germany in South with capital Munich (because a capital on the Rheinland was too difficult to protect in case of war with the Communists, while Baden and Wurttemberg were too near to the French border), and the Fascist Republic of Austria.
North and South Germany received valuable help from their respective occupants, in order to recover soon from the wounds of the defeat. However, the two countries were soon economical balanced, because if the North could counted on a major control of resources, the South had access to a more large commercial market for its goods. But the Rhein-Mein line divided Germany also and above all religiously, because the population of the South was largely Catholic and the North predominantly Protestant, so favoring a major influence of the Roman Church in the Federal Republic and the predominance of the CDU; this allowed the Federal Republic to better approach the other German Catholic country, Austria, despite in these it was strongly influenced by the Empire.
The original plan to make the Alpine country a new Federate Nation was immediately abandoned, under pressure of the Catholic Church, and following the example of the Soviets and the Western Allies the Empire in 1948 proclaimed unilaterally the birth of the “Fascist Republic of Austria”, piloting the constitutional elections which favored the Austrian Fascist Party, using at its advantage the Communist menace. But the puppet government however wasn’t extremely popular. In fact, from the lowest to the most upper and conservative classes, which previously supported Hitler’s dictatorship and the union with Germany, found humiliating the submission to Rome in proportion of the Italian satisfaction to be the “masters” of the Austrians. Also the Austrian Catholic Church, despite the orders from the Vatican to facilitate the relations between the Empire and the Republic, was secretly against the foreign interference. The Austrians however, being on the map an independent people, were spared from the Italianization policies in act to the rest of the Empire, so preserved their uses and traditions, and the right to celebrate properly their past glories; glories which, according to the Austrians, matched with the Hapsburg domination.
It didn’t endure so long that a nostalgic feeling towards the “old times” enveloped the country; the AFP didn’t obstacle it, because it was viewed as a matter of national cohesion and will enforce the Austrian nationalism. The problems came when from many parts asked a Monarchical restoration, under the persona of the current heir of the Hapsburg Otto, son of the last Emperor Karl. Initially, neither the AFP and the Imperial authorities wanted that, the first because it will be forced to renounce part of their power, the second because they wanted the Empire of Italy and Balkans remained the only country in Europe and in the world (except Japan) to have an Imperial dignity; in fact after the dissolution of the British Raj, George VI formally abdicated as Emperor of India. Now, Mussolini wasn’t hostile in the past years in a restoration possibility to use it in anti-German function, and a monarchic Austria could enforce the equation of collaboration between Monarchy and Fascism, but now he couldn’t allow the presence of another Empire on the Alpine borders and above all under approval from Rome. Also, Otto, who in that period lived in Munich, was anti-fascist and hardly will accept a cooperation with the Imperial occupants.
The situation so was landlocked for many years, with a growing dissent brutally repressed from the Imperial Army, which arrested many opponents sending them in the colonies; if a bloodshed never happened, it was only thanks to the hidden work of the Catholic Church, which petitioned the Emperor about the possibility of a compromise formula…
Europe - France
De Gaulle, strong of his prestige, managed to impose in the new constitution of the new born Fourth French Republic a semi-presidential formula, with a Head of State directly elected by the people and with large powers. The general, who easily was elected in the consequent elections (where participated for the first time the Algerians citizens, as the former colony was declared metropolitan part of the homeland), wanted so in order to give to the President of the Republic the possibility to assume a strong leadership and the necessary freedom of movement to influence properly the states of the French Union, proclaimed officially during Bastille day of that year, with the formation of the West African and Equatorial African Federations and the recognition of the independence of Madagascar. Apart for the minor islands sparse around the world, under direct French control remained Guyana, Dijibuti (in a vital position to check AOI), the Indian ports, Togo and Cameroon ( these last two territories, passed under French mandate after the Germany defeat in WWI, were still under “Frenchification”). The three countries will have the right to had a proper government and independence over many matters, save the fact to use French as state language, be enrolled under the French Army, to use the Franc as national currency, and to recognize the French President in charge as their Head of State. The French Union will mark a new age of cooperation between France and Africa, because many new states of the Black Continent developed strong ties with it to avoid the growing Imperial influence after the void of power left by the British.
The French Union encountered large approval, both internally and externally. Meanwhile, Tunisia and Morocco were recognized independent too, but remained out from the Union as former protectorates, and reorganized as Kingdoms. These two countries however remained in the French system of alliance, both fearing the expansionism of the Axis (Tunisia over the Imperials and Morocco over the Spanish, especially after was forced to recognize the loss of the lands occupied by them previously and even to retreat the northern border to the Sebou River and the Taza-Guercif road, so losing all the Rif region without have the possibility to oppose that decision).
The disengagement and the conversion of the Colonial Army from Africa allowed to De Gaulle to spent more resources in the Indochinese front; part of the public opinion however wasn’t favorable to continue to exercise control of a region which hardly could be incorporated in the Union (as the local dynasties who reigned before the French arrival still existed and had support of part of the local population, while the French previous administration was completely erased by the Japanese just before the surrender). The French president however about Indochina seemed determinate to keep the direct control of the region for the moment, and to discuss about the future of the colonies only after the defeat of the Communist guerrilla.
The Vietnamite rebels leaded by Ho Chi Min suffered of the evolution of the Chinese Civil War, and any attempt to search help from the USSR and the Maoists was inutile. Even the Chinese Nationalists, which in 1945 seemed favorable to support their fight, soon aligned on the side of the French and sealed the borders with Vietnam. The local elites of Indochina supported for the moment the French return, even if started to make secret contacts with everyone interested to help them to get rid of their old masters: China, India, USA and the Empire. But the four states for the moment continued to support the French rule not having the strength neither the interest to invest in Indochina…
Europe - Great Britain
The Laburist government after the war, along with the reconstruction, started the gradual deconstruction of the Empire, despite the growing opposition of the BPF. Mosley, in agreement with the will of Rome, accepted the loss of the Indian Raj, in exchange of the preservation of the rest of the Empire; Attlee however was aware of the fact Great Britain couldn’t support anymore a world-wide influence and started the retreat from various regions.
Middle East was one of them. The British left the mandates in Palestine and Transjordan, they reduced the military presence in Egypt to Suez Channel, and concluded the occupation of Iraq and Persia, while they restored the Yemenite Royal Family in Hadramaut, proclaiming a Kingdom of Yemen (more known as South Yemen in contraposition of the North under Imperial control) under the protection of London. The British also granted independence to Cyprus in favor of the exiled Greek government, so proclaiming the island the rightful Kingdom of Greece, despite the Turkish minority protested; but also the Empire and the PISR were hostile to the new country, who become of primary strategic importance in the Mediterranean for its position. In fact, the control of Cyprus will mean for the Imperials an advanced base for the defense of Israel and for an attack towards the PISR, for the PISR a good defensive outpost, and for the Western Allies an outpost to place their nuclear deterrent towards both the USSR and the Empire. So, in the next years the island become place of espionage intrigues and raised further the international tensions…
In Africa, the evolution of the Sudanese situation forced the British to conclude unilaterally the condominium over the country (the Egyptians, concentrated over the Israeli issue, and however incapacitated by the presence of Italian Nubia, didn’t raise claims of sort); but Sudan, even if accepted the temporary presence of a reduced British garrison, already claimed to not be part of the Commonwealth.
But probably the most painful loss was the definitive independence of Ireland, which as consequence raised the issue of Northern Ireland, where the IRA started its retaliatory attacks. In the crescent state of tension in the region, the BFP took its advantage by organizing squadrons (masked as “private patrols”) in order to protect the British citizens from the violence of the IRA, so further increasing the violence cycle. The BFP gained soon consensus in Northern Ireland and in the more conservative sectors of society which blamed the major parties decision to dismount the Empire; Attlee however hesitated to declare illegal the BFP, as some of his advisors suggested and even part of the Conservative party was oriented to support the motion, because the party remained still on the limit of the democracy.
To make worse the situation, the British economy fatigued to improve, matching the competition of the Americans, the Soviets, the Imperials and even of the French which received great benefits from the control of Rheinland and its rich mineral sources; in a situation of relative internal weakness, the agents of ODESSA prepared the first of their revenges against the British…
Europe - USSR
In the first months of post-war, Stalin kept if not cordial at least neutral relations with the Empire, more focused on the issue of Germany. The Soviet Chairman however was forced progressively to increase the aggressive stance with the Empire when it developed in 1947 the Nuclear bomb. The fear in the USSR in these days was high, because many were sure of an imminent strike from the Imperials; improbable option, because the bombers of the Empire in that period didn’t had an extended range like the American B-52 and the Imperial rocketry project was still at its beginnings, but the Red Army started its mobilization while many civilians started to evacuate the cities.
In the end, order was restored and after the declaration of peace from Rome war was avoided, but Stalin from that moment was forced to assume a more strong position against the Empire and to invest more resources on the military buildup, even at cost to slow the civilian reconstruction. In 1949, USSR finally got the Nuclear bomb, so rebalancing the equilibrium with the US and the Empire; but it was also forced to increase the military control over the European satellites and the Asian border nations. Taking advantage from the inevitable defeat of the Maoists in the Chinese Civil War, the Soviets created new satellites around them, promoting towards the end of 1948 the definitive independence of Sinkiang, the creation (or better, of recreation after the Japanese attempt) of the popular republic of Inner Mongolia, and to forcing the Chinese Communists to create, weakened after the loss of Shanxi region, their own Popular Republic in Manchuria; in Europe, in North Germany was proclaimed a popular republic.
After securing its borders, and showing it wasn’t technologically behind its opponents, USSR was then forced to decide between a peaceful coexistence or an antagonism between USA and the Empire. Stalin chose the second option, because the American (and also Imperial) policy of containment didn’t offer much chances.
The Soviets reformed the Comintern in the Kominform, and accepted at that point the existence and the course of the PCIB, because in their opinion the Empire was much more weak than the USA and there was the possibility to promote an internal insurrection, especially after Mussolini’s heart attack and the fragile stability promoted by the Quadrumvirate. The KGB helped to train agents of the party to infiltration and terroristic tactics, in the hope to undermine the federation with the formation of “Red Brigades”. When the OVRA discovered years later the tentative of the PCIB to overthrow the government, and after the first bombings and the first killings (also from the hands of ODESSA), the Emperor organized as countermeasure the secret branch of the OVRA known as “Gladio”…
America - USA
The United States under Truman enforced their anti-Communism, so they supported the Imperial intervention in the Chinese Civil War and the French reconquest of Indochina menaced by the insurrection leaded by Ho Chi Min; as consequence, the relations with the Empire and the Axis were cordial as they were seen as a bulwark against the Soviet expansionism. However, part of the American public opinion and of the same Democratic Party wasn’t favorable to support a dictatorship which enslaved part of Europe as well and had expansionistic aims not less dangerous of the Communist bloc. Also, the concessions in favor of Spain in the Pacific theatre, while the Philippines were declared independent, caused some doubts in the Pentagon advisors, because many started to think the Caudillo, protected by the Empire, could be able to make breach into the undeveloped states of Latin America, in particular those really unsatisfied of the American influence and to align the young Philippine republic, but Truman was convinced of the fact Spain was too weak to expand in America while the Empire pursued more an Euro-Asian strategy in anti-Communist key.
The first creek to Truman’s security, and also to the Monroe doctrine, came when in May of 1948, Argentine President Juan Peron, after the successful meetings the previous year his wife Evita Peron had with Franco in Madrid and Mussolini, the Imperial family and the Pope in Rome during her European tour, signed in the Eternal City a pact of mutual cooperation with the Empire and Spain, de facto making of Argentina a new ally of the Axis. Peron added as public justification the fact the Spanish and Italian communities in his country were well integrated and wanted to regulate the relations with their homelands. In the successive months, the Argentine economy started to implement the principles of Corporatism, as consequence of the gradual integration with the economical sphere of influence of the Axis; Peron however didn’t transform Argentina in a Fascist country, but kept alive the democratic system. The Empire and Spain respected Peron's decision, because they wanted to show to the rest of the world they could cooperate with democracies as well in order to protect them from Communist menace.
Truman, considering the geographical position of Argentina, and considering the country an exception to the American hegemonic system in the New World (after all, Peron substituted the British influence with that Ital-Spanish), decided to close an eye because the priority for the USA was still the protection of the Caribbean and Central America, without fully understanding the Spanish diplomatic missions in the region until later, at the end of his presidency, he was forced to intervene in the Cuban crisis…
Middle East – Israel, PISR and Arabian League
In 1948, despite the hostility of the near countries, and the attempt of the United Nations to found a diplomatic solution, the Hebrews settled in Holy Land declared unilaterally the birth of the Republic of Israel; the next day, Egypt, Transjordan and Iraq declared war to it. The PISR, divided between the right of the Hebrews to have their own land and the defense of remained neutral, while the Israeli were supplied from the Western Powers and above all from the Empire, which furnished them in order to gain advantage from a strong ally in the region.
The Arabian block suffered a complete defeat. The Israeli, better equipped and determinate at all cost to remain in the region, put under their control all of Palestine, and making of Jerusalem their capital in spite of the project of the UN (where the Empire used its veto right in favor of Israel) to make the city an international site.
In the start of 1949, the Egyptians and their allies accepted to make peace with the Israeli. While the majority of the Palestinian population emigrated to the neighboring countries to not accept to be citizens of the new country, Israel declared all the occupied territories part of its nation, even the Palestinian habited city of Gaza. That city, which the Israeli decided to integrate for historical revenge (it was the major site of the Philistines), remained however largely populated by Palestinians, so it was hard for the army to keep control of the zone.
For the Egyptians, the defeat put them in condition to be completely encircled by the Empire and Israel. For the government of Cairo, the only way to survive was to reach an agreement with the Empire. For the rest of the Arabian world, menaced from various front, the only possibility was a enforcement of the cooperation between the various states. Shortly after the victory, the Arabian government invited in Riad its counterparts in Iraq and Transjordan (Egypt, already in secret talks with the Empire, declined the invitation) to forge a common alliance, and to involve all the rest of the Islamic world. The three Sunni states however also agreed that also Shiite Persia was involved in some way, so putting in second place the ideological differences in favor of Islamic unity, to achieve by destroying the PISR, Israel, and the Imperial rule in Eastern Africa and Yemen; the Persians, which saw in the growing Arabian League an opportunity to be more independent from the heavy Anglo-American influence, accepted. Soon, also Pakistan, after the defeat in the war against India, agreed to the alliance; Egypt instead opted for a rigid neutrality, because the government feared in case of a new conflict with Israel, the Empire could have the chance to invade the country.
The Arabian League initially was in good ties with the Anglo-Americans, especially with the first because the British power seemed still strong and also the independence granted to Pakistan and the restoration of the Yemenite Royal Family in Hadramaut, while the Muslim immigrants were fairly well accepted in Great Britain, were saw favorably; France was not viewed with hostility, considering good the independence of Morocco and Tunisia, but the integration of Algeria and the good relations with the Empire didn’t favor excessively the French diplomats. About the Empire, saw as the main protector of Israel and the enslaver of millions of Muslims, the reciprocal relations were simply abysmal and for years the League opposed any attempt of reconciliation with Rome, so contributing to the growing tensions between Christians and Muslim, which reached a first critical boiling point after the intervention in Nigeria...
Central-South Asia - India, Pakistan and Kashmir
With the independence, the Raj was divided in majorly Hindi India and Muslim Pakistan, also in control of Ganges Delta (East Pakistan, or more commonly Bangladesh). However, the regions of Bengal and Assam were highly unstable because of the influence of the IFP, where Bose organized a volunteer army (“Army of Free India”) to fight with the British against the Japanese invasion, but he refused after the conflict to dissolve it until the independence.
Along with many Indians, Bose with the rest of the IFP didn’t recognize the partition imposed by the British, and after the independence was one of the most active supporters of the conflict which soon started between India and Pakistan. With the contribute of the skilled Free Army of India, Bangladesh was rapidly invaded, forcing the evacuation of the Muslim population in the region. In Kashmir, other region contested between the two countries, however the situation was more balanced and soon reached a stalemate.
The UN imposed to the two country a truce and a restoration of the status quo, but the Indian authorities initially refused to relinquish back Bangladesh, first because they were sure of the final victory and above all Bose’s militia hold the region and in New Delhi there was the concrete fear of a civil war in the East.
First Minister Nehru then accepted a second compromise plan proposed again by the British, which suggested the Indian acquisition of Bangladesh while all of Kashmir will be declared under UN occupation until a final peace solution will not be found. The Pakistani government accepted the loss of Bangladesh, in any way too difficult to control and protect, and accepted the UN occupation of Kashmir hoping the major Muslim population in the upcoming election will vote for integration with their country. But things went different as in Karachi thought…
Far East Asia - China
In fact, in the days of the Japanese surrender in September of 1945, col. Amedeo Guillet was ready to depose the charge of provisional governor of Beijing, but in favor of the Nationalists. The Communists, which favored by the Soviets started to gain control of Manchuria, tried to oppose that attempt by seizing the city by their own, but the Imperial garrison was forced to intervene and expelled the Maoist fighters the 3rd November, the day before the supposed retirement to Tientsin ( the 4th, after a triumphal march in Beijing in remembrance of the victory in World War I, the Army of China will moved to the concession).
Chang Kai Shiek, who had problems to move towards north because of the crescent hostility of the Communists, praised the Imperial officer and asked him to continue the protection of Beijing until the Nationalist arrival. Guillet, after receiving the approval also from Rome, accepted. Truman approved the Imperial move, because he didn’t wanted a China under Communist control; Stalin instead was furious and requested the removal of the Army of China from Beijing, but both the Americans and the Imperials had easy game to demonstrate the Soviets didn’t respect the treaties with the Chinese for first, because he granted control of Manchuria to the Maoist rebels despite the leader of the USSR made a previous agreement with Chiang to return the region to the legitimate government.
It was soon clear that the Empire and the USA were determined to protect Nationalist China at all costs, so Stalin decided to avoid the direct conflict and to increase the support to the Maoists. The Army of China was so involved on the first line against the Chinese Communists for almost four years, with the hard task to protect the land strip between Beijing and Tientsin. Despite they were almost encircled, the Imperials managed to resist thanks to the air bridges from the Empire and from US occupied Japan. Mao focused too efforts in the attempt to conquer the city, so losing valuable time while Chiang, slowly but implacable, with the suggestion of Imperial military advisors, reorganized his troops and retrieved the lost ground. When in May of 1948 Yan’an felt in Nationalist hands, with Mao and his government forced to retreat in Manchuria, Stalin understood the Communists lost the war and decided to “save the salvable”, reorganizing unilaterally the extreme north of China with the unilateral proclamation of the popular republics of Sinkiang and Inner Mongolia; Mao and his supporters tried to oppose these plans, but when Stalin menaced them to invade also Manchuria and to impose a more “Communist Orthodox” government, they must accepted the inevitable.
The Communists tried from these new Soviet satellite to launch a new counterattack, but at that point Chiang Kai Shiek controlled almost all of inland China. The Nationalist leader, at cost to sacrifice most of the Chinese gains since 1644 (because also Tibet proclaimed in 1948 its definitive independence from foreign rule, obtaining admission into the UN under Indian pressures, as the government of New Delhi didn’t enjoy really much the prospective of an united China), made an agreement with the Soviet which recognized the victory of the Nationalist in exchange of the renounce to the border lands. The 1st October 1949, the peace treaty between the Nationalists and the Communists allowed the birth of the “Popular Republic of China”, de facto Manchuria; on the same day, Guillet resigned as provisional governor of Beijing and retired the Army of China in Tientsin. In the next months, the Nationalist government (which recognized Nanjing as rightful, and more safe, capital of China), recognized the control of the concession of Tientsin to the Imperials for 99 years (so until 2049). The site will become soon an important trade hub, because it was near on the Chinese-Manchurian border, which needed constant need to be supplied, while Beijing, even if stripped of the role of capital, remained still one of the major industrial cities of China and however the Kuomintang invested resources later to modernize it, to make it a window of the Chinese progress in spite of the Communists, on the example of West Berlin encircled by DDR…”
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