An Age of Peace? – A 1966 Kaiserreich Sequel

chankljp

Donor
Now that's a perfect and beautiful map if I've ever seen one, I tip my aht to you for such amazing artwork. :D
very good map
Thanks. The credit goes to @procrastinating2much, the artist that I have been commissioning to draw these maps for me. He is indeed one of the best artist that I have ever worked with, and I would without hesitation recommend him to anyone else that is considering starting their own graphical TL similar to this one.

@chankljp how stable is the United baltic Duchy in the 60s
i would like to play my bet on " stable as yugoslavia in 91"
As far as the German public is concerned, UBD is yet another successful Oststaaten that is stable and prosperous.... But it is only so on the surface. Paul Schiemann's attempts at progressive reforms during the late 1930s' on introducing a 'social market economy' as well as better treatment for the native Estonian and Latvian populations failed, and the conservative-traditionalist Baltic Knighthoods representing the interests of the Baltic Germans took over control of the Landtag. the UBD remained a center of unbridled free market activity inside the German sphere and a giant corporate playground, with Estonians and Latvians either working endlessly in factories managed by Baltic Germans and owned by companies such as Siemens, move elsewhere in the German-sphere as migrant workers.... Or assimilate into German culture, becoming educated professionals and civil servants caters to their German masters.

So far, the UBD is stable, due to a combined factor of the German economy doing well, allowing enough profits to trickle down to the masses, and the residual trauma of the brutal Russian occupation during WK2, in a 'At least the Germans are better compared to the Russians' kind of way.
 
What are the attitudes of the ROC regarding the West? I can't imagine them having any good opinions of most Entente powers due to past history with the concessions and the century of humiliation, but perhaps they could have a friendly relationship with the Americans?
 

qazse

Gone Fishin'
I honestly think you should rename the Nordic Federation into the Scandinavian Federation, given that neither Finland nor Iceland are part of it.
 

qazse

Gone Fishin'
I hate to be a pest, but why is the Aral Sea drained? In OTL that was the Soviets’ fault.
 
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chankljp

Donor
What are the attitudes of the ROC regarding the West? I can't imagine them having any good opinions of most Entente powers due to past history with the concessions and the century of humiliation, but perhaps they could have a friendly relationship with the Americans?
My idea for the ROC is that it was formed after the Fengtian Government successfully negotiated with both the Federalists' United Provinces of China, and the L-KMT's (Under Song Qingling's SocDem Minquan Faction) National Revolutionary Government for peaceful reunification at the Beijing Conference.... With the Fengtian Government making many compromises with both the Federalists and the KMT. Hence, the ROC would have inherited the Fengtian Government's rivaling political faction system, with the government still made up of a wide fusion of political elements, interests groups, and ideologies that would be contradictory, were it not for their shared goal of a strong, and independent China.

Hence, as the player, you will need to carefully balance the various interests as they fighting for influence within the government and the other social institutions of China. With there being all sorts of debuffs if any of them become too marginalized or too powerful. With the factions being:

- The Zang faction:
Representing the Zang family's unofficial political dynasty, that still holds significant power within China, with their family relatives keep on getting appointed to high-ranking civilian and military positions. Just like the Zang clique of old, they holds no specific ideology beyond the furtherance of their influence and power over the political system, and being primarily self-interested. But many younger and more idealistic members of the family does genuinely committed to republican and democratic ideals... Within the context of a strong and empowered executive branch of government engaging in 'political tutelage', until Chinese society is ready for these high-minded ideals to be fully implemented. If they become too weak, you will start suffering all kinds of debuffs in political points gain, as well as hit to the nation's stability, due to the Zang family, for all their faults, were one of the things that is holding the desperate interests groups together. Too powerful, however, and like all political dynasty, they will start abusing their power and become increasingly corrupt.

- The Militaritsts:
The interests of the military and the right-wing conservatives. Have strong authoritarian and nationalistic (Sometimes outright xenophobic) tendencies, fueled by a desire to ensure that the Century of Humiliation never returns. As such, in an ironic twist, they unknowingly wish to emulate Imperial Japan, by having China once again become the leading East Asian power that stands on-par with the West, while serving as the regional hegemony. They they love their shiny medals, big tanks and even big artillery pieces, state-owned heavy industries, and a Chinese econmy that achieves autarky from the Western dominated international market. If they become too powerful, they will grant you all sort of military related bonuses, the the cost of both the economy and China's ability to engage diplomatically with the rest of the world.

- The Liberals:
The continuation of the Chen Jiongming Federalists and the R-KMT moderates under Sun Fo. Representing the wealthier and cosmopolitan parts of China in the South as well as the former Legation Cities. Almost the opposite of the Militarists, in that they see deepening commercial and trade with the rest of the world, particularly the West, as the means for China to develop. Pro-free market economics, have all kinds of democratic and liberal aspirations both politically and socially, wishes for more local autonomy and decentralization, and just like the Federalists of old, being massive Americanophiles. Seeing the way that the United States managed to firmly reverse their decades long national misfortunate after the end of the Second American Civil War, to the point of quickly becoming one of the world's leading powers as something that China should emulate. A strong liberal faction means increasing bonuses to production, trade, and diplomacy, as well as pushing China closer towards becoming a genuine democracy... Unintentionally, however, much like the now defunct Concordia Association that operated in the Fengtian Government on behalf of their Japanese masters, if they become too powerful, they will allow Western companies more and more unchecked free rein over the Chinese economy, exploiting the nations' people and resources while eroding the government's autonomy. With the most extreme end of result being something on-par with what happened under Yeltsin's Russia during the 1990s with the implementation of shock therapy. Which needless to say, will have dire consequences.

- The Progressives:
The continuation of the the L-KMT. Being mostly domestic focus and to ensure to implementation of the Sanmin Principles in China. Pro-big government in economic matters and state directed development, welfare and social programs such as publicly funded healthcare and free education, support for worker's rights such as the ability to strike and collective bargaining, expansion of woman's and minority rights, development grants for rural areas, etc. With syndicalism being largely dead across the world, even the radicals will not really have much of a position on international matters, beyond a general mistrust of foreign capital, diplomatic support and perhaps covet for the syndicalist insurgency groups still operating in South America, and friendly relations with the Indochinese Union. If they become too powerful, you will start getting forced to allocate more and more factories towards producing consumer goods to represent all the social programs that you will need to fund, to the detriment of the economy. Also, similar to the Militaritsts, a Progressive faction that became too powerful can negatively impact China's ability to engage dipomatically with the superpowrers, due to the latter's strong anti-leftist tendencies.

- The Independents:
The label given collectively to represent the voices of the many non-Han Chinese minority groups in China. The Tibetans, the Uyghurs, the Mongols, the Hui.... etc, etc. In general, they seek protection and recognition of their cultures and languages, affirmative action for ethnic minorities, protection from discrimination, funding and economic development for minority regions, and if possible, limited autonomy from the central government. While they might be relatively small and weak, if their concerns were not addressed, you might see a return of region separatism, with acts of protests, strike actions, terrorism, and even outright secession if the Central Government in Beijing becomes weak enough.

I honestly think you should rename the Nordic Federation into the Scandinavian Federation, given that neither Finland nor Iceland are part of it.
Interestingly, in the mod, if the Federation was created by the syndicalists, it would be named the 'Scandinavian Union', instead of it being 'Nordic'.

While you did made a good point, I have decided to follow the naming given in HOI4. Perhaps this can be justified in universe as a result of the Federation still wanting to invite Finland to join, but the latter, being a republic while the Nordic Federation is a constitutional monarchy, turning down the offer, despite keeping close economic ties.

Also, similar to OTL's NATO being the 'North Atlantic Treaty' Organization, instead of the 'North Atlantic' Treaty Organization; The Nordic Federation was a successor to the Nordic Council regional organization established under the Treaty of Stockholm (Which both Finland and Iceland were part of), the name simply stuck, even if the country that formed in the place of the original regional organization no longer contain all the Nordic countries.

I hate to be a pest, but why is the Aral Sea drained? In OTL that was the Soviets’ fault.
This.... Is a good point. Something that I have honestly did not given much thought to. Will think about it and consider if I should change the map in another revision later....
 

qazse

Gone Fishin'
This.... Is a good point. Something that I have honestly did not given much thought to. Will think about it and consider if I should change the map in another revision later....
I say you should. Everyone who agrees, say “Aye”.
 
This is great! I've been looking for a serious and in-depth KR cold war scenario. I'm unfamiliar with the DH version of the mod, but its cool to see you picking what you think is the best from both worlds.

I like that the early Cold War period ITTL is drawn less upon an ideological battle, but rather what seems to be an extension of the 19th century balance of power struggle in Europe onto a global scale. It's clear so far that money interests are going to define global conflicts (at least more overtly than OTL, maybe we havent seen the last of colonial wars?). I assume Mitteleuropa is the dominant economic sphere ITTL, so how does Germany run it after the war, and what kind of deal do they have with nations and dominions in the Reichspakt outside of Europe?
 
And also how did the Peru-Bolivia confederation formed?
I don't know how but me and Chankljp made a pre-WK2 world map and the Confederation already existed, so it definitely formed before 1940:
hoi4_map_ETS_1936_01_01_15_1.png
 

chankljp

Donor
This is great! I've been looking for a serious and in-depth KR cold war scenario. I'm unfamiliar with the DH version of the mod, but its cool to see you picking what you think is the best from both worlds.
Thanks! I am always happy to see new members on the forum discovering and expressing an interests in this TL that I have created in my head over the years. As for the DH version of the mod, don't worry about it. While I am taking elements from it, I always make it clear what it is that I am including into this TL, so that anyone that is only familiar with the HOI4 version of the mod, or even only with the KR wiki instead of having played the mod themselves, should have no problem following things.

I like that the early Cold War period ITTL is drawn less upon an ideological battle, but rather what seems to be an extension of the 19th century balance of power struggle in Europe onto a global scale.
Yep, that is exactly what I am going for. Like you said, a bit of 19th century balance of power between the imperial powers, combined with OTL's post fall of the USSR 'end of history' triumphalism of the 1990s.

It's clear so far that money interests are going to define global conflicts (at least more overtly than OTL, maybe we havent seen the last of colonial wars?).
Economic and trade interests will certainly play a large role in TTL, together with energy security. Since with the Ottoman Federation and their 'Association of Islamic Nations', you effectively have a single, somewhat unified political and economic bloc controlling a good chunk of the world's oil deposits that, unlike OTL's OPEC, is actually backed with military force, plus have something that unite them beyond just economic self-interests. Also, while the Ottomans will certainly serve as a moderating force for the development of Islam in the Middle East by suppressing radicals such as the Wahhabists, in a way, that makes them even MORE of a treat to Western (Both Berlin and London/Washington) interests, since the version of Pan-Islamism promoted by the Ottomans would be much less objectionable to much larger segments of Muslims living in their 'sphere of influence', all the while being backed by the oil wealth of the Middle East.

As for colonial wars.... Most of the world by this point have accepted that old school colonialism is a thing of the past. With the restored Great Britain acknowledging in the Westminster Declaration that all of their remaining loyalist Dominions are how sovereign states equal to Britain in their own right (With both India and Sierra Leone having since transitioned into becoming republics, even if their retained their ties to the Imperial Commonwealth); While Germany under the SPD government have enacted the Kaiserbund Project, granting self-governance and Dominion status to their remaining colonies. By this point France and Portugal are the only two European countries left that are stubbornly insisting in holding onto their colonies as 'overseas provinces', refusing to even considering going down the dominion status/greater autonomy path, out of nationalistic pride.

I assume Mitteleuropa is the dominant economic sphere ITTL, so how does Germany run it after the war, and what kind of deal do they have with nations and dominions in the Reichspakt outside of Europe?
After the end of WK2, Mitteleuropa has since been reorganized and reformed into the 'Zollverein', with the economy bloc now being much less (Blatantly) German-centric, and with more equal terms for the other member nations.

As for Germany and the Zollverein being the dominant economic power of this world.... They certainly are... For now. But similar to OTL's 1990s, the United States is sort of taking the role of China here, as in a greatpower that was once utterly wrecked and beset by misfortunate, but is now having an epic recovery after a few decades of good leadership (Not to mention no longer suffering from getting screwed by the story writers), to the point of quickly catching up and even surpassing the world's established hegemony, in this case, Germany.

Also, while the Germany via the Zollverein customs union might be the dominant economic power, the Reichpakt have much less global reach compared to the League of Nations (The successor organization to the Entente Cordiale), having been kicked out of the Asia-Pacific region during WK2, and limited in their influence in the Western hemisphere due to the resurgent US throwing their weight around. Also, compared to the LoN, the Zollverein, especially the core European Reichpakt members, are much more dependent on continued and stable access to Middle Eastern oil from the Ottomans, which create a massive potential source of weakness for them.
 

chankljp

Donor
How's South America doing? And also how did the Peru-Bolivia confederation formed?
- During the chaos of the Second American Civil War, without Uncle Sam enforcing the mMonroe Doctrine, the syndicalists managed to take power in both Venezuela (Via democratic elections) and Brazil (Via a Civil War after a failed right-wing reactionary coup against the democratically elected SocDem government).

- Upon having completed their post-Second Civil War reconstruction by early 1940, the United States' would develop something similar to OTL's Truman Doctrine, in coming to the conclusion that isolationism simply does not work. As the experience for the past decade and a half have proven that an America that thinks it can be the 'shining city upon a hill' in isolation would sooner of later finds itself under siege from militant radical ideologies creeping upon its shores sooner or later. Hence, the country must start taking a much more pro-active and interventionist stance on the world stage... By both proving assistance to friendly regimes, while seeking out, containing, and if necessary, eradicating radical ideologies that are hostile to the American political system and way of life such as syndicalism, before they find their way onto the country's front door. As as per standard policy with the US, South America will become Washington's proving ground for the country's new foreign strategy. With overtures made towards friendly right-wing regimes such as the Central American Republic, Cuba, etc, and let them know that Uncle Sam is back in business...

- Once WK2 broke out, and the Internationale became too busy dealing with Germany and the Entente, the US made their move one step at a time, in a sort of'ramping up'. Starting with an OSS Black Chamber operation to help the far-right military launch a violent coup to overthrow the democratically elected syndicalist government in Venezuela; Followed by a US military 'police action' against Mexico (A socialist country that have close-ties with the Internationale, but not a full member of their alliance), under the justification that Mexico under the rule of Calles' Totalist clique was a 'hostile regime' that provided material aid and volunteers to the Combine Syndicates during the SCW; Ending with the US fully breaking from isolationism by formally joining the Entente, and going after Brazil (Which was a full member of the Internationale) with another invasion, with cooperation from both the local anti-leftist groups that have gone underground, as well as a secret agreement that was made with the Argentinians.

- By the 1960s, the US have largely been able to establish itself as the regional hegemon in the Americas, with the exceptions of Haiti (A RadSoc holdout that is getting isolated and embargoed to hell), and Argentina (German-aligned and member of the Zollverein, but not a member of the Reichpakt, in order to avoid provoking Washington too much).

- While there is a pro-Ameircan capitalist democracy installed in Brazil, their hold over the country will be far from total. With the remnants of the Union of Brazil, as well as their UoB, CoF, and CNT-FAL advisors, going full Hiroo Onoda, and refuse to give up on the fight. With them having retreated into the Amazon rainforest, linking up together with their comrades from Venezuela, and have so far spent the last few decades waging a campaign of guerrilla insurgency against the US/LoN backed government. Not enough to actually overthrow them or even take any major cities, but enough to disrupt economic development in the interior provinces, murdering officials and police officers, kidnapping tourists and visiting business executives, raiding outlaying towns and army bases for supplies, etc. And just like many South American insurgency group in OTL, these syndicalist remnants will be funding their operations and supporting themselves via the drug trade. In particular, getting involved in the production and smuggling of cocaineIn general. Hence, they would in general be a total pain in the butt for the Brazilian government, as well as the LoN.

- Columbia had elected a socialist government during the late 1930s, but managed to peruse a multi-vector foreign policy as well as avoiding the more radical actions of their comrades in terms of restructuring the economy. Hence, was left alone by the US for the most part. With the socialist government losing the election eventually, be becoming the largest opposition party in the country. With their time being an observer in the Phalanstère allowed Columbia to maintain economic ties with both Indochina and Haiti, giving Columbia a niche on the world stage as the 'middle man' between the Western world and the syndicalist hold-outs.
 
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