1933 - A tale of Three Friendships
Nivek - Thanks Nivek - and a very happy new year to you and your family too! There's no reason why they can't also call it the "Night of the Long Knives" it's not like the Chinese have a patent on it.
As for the spoiler - well sure she's a bit older but so what
They love each other and that's the main thing. Their budding friendship is the only thing that butterflies away Geli's suicide. Hopefully this update will flesh out the rise of the Nazis ITL which is helped a bit by Chiang's support.
Wyragen-TXRG4P - Thanks for reading! And that is exactly what happens in this update
Hendryk - Thanks for reading! Exit Big Eared Du - Enter T.V Soong (well in this update)
LittleSpeer - Thank you for your support - Rest assured China will not go communist - not while Chiang lives anyway.
Drizzt - And there may very well be....
Dan Reilly The Great - Thanks Dan! This update should hopefully flesh out the international politics aspect of things...
OKH_1946 - I've already replied to some of your points in a PM.
1. I haven't quite worked out how the communists will be dealt with. Chiang can use them as a weapon and a convenient tool. Spoiler : some of them will be rotting in trenches outside of Madrid *Spoiler
2. Soong Meiling studied English Literature in America - she suggests the name. Soong is definitely in Chiang's inner circle ITL.
3. Wouldn't you have insecurity issues if a drug lord kidnapped your fiancee on the night of your wedding
4. Not just Opium...
5. Spoiler: A militarist Japan will definitely be on the side of the Entete in the Second Great War.
6. Nah, Knight of the Long Knife awards are analogous to the Nazi membership awards and badges - except for the Kuomintang! The dagger thing was a pretty obvious SS reference (or so I thought)
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
1933 - A tale of Three Friendships
With his domestic foes cowed and vanquished and his foreign enemies reeling in economic and political crisis Chiang in 1933 was the undisputed master of China. With his home base secure, Chiang began to turn his attention overseas.
Chiang's foreign policy - and by extension - China's foreign policy essentially revolved around the question of unification. Chiang would use every weapon at his disposal, make every promise, charm any person and befriend any country as long as China was once more unified. The most immediate concern was Manchuria. As long as the Anglo-Japanese alliance held firm - there could be no question of attempting to liberate Manchuria, although the National Revolutionary Army could probably defeat the Manchurian Army, China would then be subjected to a crippling blockade. The Anglo-Japanese-French diplomatic block was too firm to attempt to undermine - therefore Chiang had to look for allies overseas in an attempt to escape the Anglo-Japanese-French 'encirclement.'
The Sino-German Treaty of Friendship
Both Hitler and Hindenburg had close relationships with Chiang Kai-shek.
The most obvious choice was Germany. Chiang's close friendship with Adolf Hitler - who had been appointed Chancellor in 1933 and close relationship with Hindenburg - who was president - was a great and obvious springboard. A state visit which was arranged in July was a great success - Hitler arranged rallies in Chiang and China's honour. Huge screaming crowds of people lined up in Berlin to see the old war-hero. Sino-German cooperation, which had declined since the Treaty of Beijing was once again renewed. The 1933 Treaty of Sino-German Friendship had economic and military implications. German experts and weapons would build railways, develop factories, train Chinese troops and provide advice in return for Chinese silver and Chinese tungsten. German rearnament would begin not in Germany but in China.
Sino-German cooperation would be an important corner stone in the development of both countries and would mark the beginning of the of one of the world's longest alliances. The 1933 Treaty of Friendship is still active today.
The 1933 Treaty of Friendship also had 3 'secret clauses' The first clause was that China and Germany would come to each other's aid if either power was at war with England. The second clause was that China and Germany would come to each other's aid if either was at war with France. The third clause was defensive - if the Soviet Union declared war on either power - the other was obliged to come to their aid. Interestingly - this clause was not valid in an offensive war.
Chinse students studying in Leipzig on a field trip.
The Treaty of Friendship would also have radical effects for the German and Chinese economies. German manufacturers and industries had access to a market that the French and English could only dream of - 400 million Chinese. This - combined with Chinese silver and Hitler's aggressive public works plan paved for a recovery of the German economy - well ahead of many European countries. Chinese industry and agriculture would benefit from German expertise - especially in agricultural production with German chemical pesticides. The Treaty of Friendship also had provisions for 'cultural and scientific exchange' - meaning that tens of thousands of Chinese students were allowed to study in Germany universities. In return - China would provide free accomodation and organize tourist trips for the German Kraft durch Freude (Strenght Through Joy) programme.
Chiang dragged Wang with him to prevent Wang from stirring shit while he was away. Here is Wang getting drunk with some Nazis.
Politically the friendship would also have huge consequences. Hitler's regime was given a big boost in legitimacy as a well respected and powerful leader visited Germany. In China, the pro-German elements of the KMT was strengtened even further - which suited Chiang fine. This was his faction after all. Overall Chiang's visit to Germany in 1933 and the Treaty of Friendship was hugely positive for both nations and would pave the way for the Tripartite Pact in 1940.
Sino-Soviet Friendship
While a little diplomatically unorthodox - the sending of Mao Zedong as the "Personal Envoy of Chiang Kai-shek" yielded results.
While Chiang was away in Berlin, Mao was dispatched to Moscow as Chiang's personal envoy. Chiang instructions to Mao was to "say, do and promise everything - even a communist revolution - as long as you get Stalin's help in getting Manchuria back." To this day it is still a mystery what the two men discussed in Moscow - but whatever they did it was favourable to China. A Sino-Soviet Friendship Treaty and Non-Aggression Pact was signed on August 28 1933 and a secret clause wherein the Soviet Union promised help to the "People's Republic of China to recover their historical lands." Soviet aid was also secured for the construction of a Sino-Soviet railway which would go through Sinkiang to the Soviet Union utilizing much of the old Silk routes and updating them with railways. Many political prisoners from both countries would die constructing the route in conditions of either extreme heat in the Gobi desert or in extreme cold in the mountains of Sinkiang. Stalin also agreed to send 'skilled political prisoners' for 'rehabilitation' in China where their skills would be put to good use. Although the Soviet-Sino relationship was not as close as the Sino-German one - it was still crucially important.
Sino-American Friendship
Soong Meiling with the First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt
While the men were away - Soong Meiling played in America where she was authorized by Chiang to act as his 'personal envoy.' Her fluency in English, her Southern accent and the fact that she had studied in America made her the perfect candidate for this task. She completely charmed her American hosts. American companies were invited to invest in China - to entice them, tarriffs on American goods were slashed (but not to the level of German goods) and trade between the two countries took off. Soong Meiling would be the 'human face' of an otherwise grey regime and she would represent China and Chinese interests to many in America...
Meanwhile - back home
While the big cats were away the mouse played. T.V Soong was effectively the acting President - he made most of the opportunity. T.V Soong oversaw an energetic anti-inflation campaign and introduced new taxes and levies while removing those he saw as wasteful. Politically his "Hundred Days Reform" transformed the quiet accountant who stayed in the background into a force with popular backing. When Chiang returned at the end of the year, T.V Soong had become someone to be reckoned with...
Thanks to everyone for their comment and feedback.
More comment and feedback always welcome/ solicited
As for the spoiler - well sure she's a bit older but so what
They love each other and that's the main thing. Their budding friendship is the only thing that butterflies away Geli's suicide. Hopefully this update will flesh out the rise of the Nazis ITL which is helped a bit by Chiang's support.Wyragen-TXRG4P - Thanks for reading! And that is exactly what happens in this update
Hendryk - Thanks for reading! Exit Big Eared Du - Enter T.V Soong
(well in this update)LittleSpeer - Thank you for your support - Rest assured China will not go communist - not while Chiang lives anyway.
Drizzt - And there may very well be....
Dan Reilly The Great - Thanks Dan! This update should hopefully flesh out the international politics aspect of things...
OKH_1946 - I've already replied to some of your points in a PM.
1. I haven't quite worked out how the communists will be dealt with. Chiang can use them as a weapon and a convenient tool. Spoiler : some of them will be rotting in trenches outside of Madrid *Spoiler
2. Soong Meiling studied English Literature in America - she suggests the name. Soong is definitely in Chiang's inner circle ITL.
3. Wouldn't you have insecurity issues if a drug lord kidnapped your fiancee on the night of your wedding
4. Not just Opium...
5. Spoiler: A militarist Japan will definitely be on the side of the Entete in the Second Great War.
6. Nah, Knight of the Long Knife awards are analogous to the Nazi membership awards and badges - except for the Kuomintang! The dagger thing was a pretty obvious SS reference (or so I thought)
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
1933 - A tale of Three Friendships
With his domestic foes cowed and vanquished and his foreign enemies reeling in economic and political crisis Chiang in 1933 was the undisputed master of China. With his home base secure, Chiang began to turn his attention overseas.
Chiang's foreign policy - and by extension - China's foreign policy essentially revolved around the question of unification. Chiang would use every weapon at his disposal, make every promise, charm any person and befriend any country as long as China was once more unified. The most immediate concern was Manchuria. As long as the Anglo-Japanese alliance held firm - there could be no question of attempting to liberate Manchuria, although the National Revolutionary Army could probably defeat the Manchurian Army, China would then be subjected to a crippling blockade. The Anglo-Japanese-French diplomatic block was too firm to attempt to undermine - therefore Chiang had to look for allies overseas in an attempt to escape the Anglo-Japanese-French 'encirclement.'
The Sino-German Treaty of Friendship
Both Hitler and Hindenburg had close relationships with Chiang Kai-shek.
The most obvious choice was Germany. Chiang's close friendship with Adolf Hitler - who had been appointed Chancellor in 1933 and close relationship with Hindenburg - who was president - was a great and obvious springboard. A state visit which was arranged in July was a great success - Hitler arranged rallies in Chiang and China's honour. Huge screaming crowds of people lined up in Berlin to see the old war-hero. Sino-German cooperation, which had declined since the Treaty of Beijing was once again renewed. The 1933 Treaty of Sino-German Friendship had economic and military implications. German experts and weapons would build railways, develop factories, train Chinese troops and provide advice in return for Chinese silver and Chinese tungsten. German rearnament would begin not in Germany but in China.
Sino-German cooperation would be an important corner stone in the development of both countries and would mark the beginning of the of one of the world's longest alliances. The 1933 Treaty of Friendship is still active today.
The 1933 Treaty of Friendship also had 3 'secret clauses' The first clause was that China and Germany would come to each other's aid if either power was at war with England. The second clause was that China and Germany would come to each other's aid if either was at war with France. The third clause was defensive - if the Soviet Union declared war on either power - the other was obliged to come to their aid. Interestingly - this clause was not valid in an offensive war.
Chinse students studying in Leipzig on a field trip.
The Treaty of Friendship would also have radical effects for the German and Chinese economies. German manufacturers and industries had access to a market that the French and English could only dream of - 400 million Chinese. This - combined with Chinese silver and Hitler's aggressive public works plan paved for a recovery of the German economy - well ahead of many European countries. Chinese industry and agriculture would benefit from German expertise - especially in agricultural production with German chemical pesticides. The Treaty of Friendship also had provisions for 'cultural and scientific exchange' - meaning that tens of thousands of Chinese students were allowed to study in Germany universities. In return - China would provide free accomodation and organize tourist trips for the German Kraft durch Freude (Strenght Through Joy) programme.
Chiang dragged Wang with him to prevent Wang from stirring shit while he was away. Here is Wang getting drunk with some Nazis.
Politically the friendship would also have huge consequences. Hitler's regime was given a big boost in legitimacy as a well respected and powerful leader visited Germany. In China, the pro-German elements of the KMT was strengtened even further - which suited Chiang fine. This was his faction after all. Overall Chiang's visit to Germany in 1933 and the Treaty of Friendship was hugely positive for both nations and would pave the way for the Tripartite Pact in 1940.
Sino-Soviet Friendship
While a little diplomatically unorthodox - the sending of Mao Zedong as the "Personal Envoy of Chiang Kai-shek" yielded results.
While Chiang was away in Berlin, Mao was dispatched to Moscow as Chiang's personal envoy. Chiang instructions to Mao was to "say, do and promise everything - even a communist revolution - as long as you get Stalin's help in getting Manchuria back." To this day it is still a mystery what the two men discussed in Moscow - but whatever they did it was favourable to China. A Sino-Soviet Friendship Treaty and Non-Aggression Pact was signed on August 28 1933 and a secret clause wherein the Soviet Union promised help to the "People's Republic of China to recover their historical lands." Soviet aid was also secured for the construction of a Sino-Soviet railway which would go through Sinkiang to the Soviet Union utilizing much of the old Silk routes and updating them with railways. Many political prisoners from both countries would die constructing the route in conditions of either extreme heat in the Gobi desert or in extreme cold in the mountains of Sinkiang. Stalin also agreed to send 'skilled political prisoners' for 'rehabilitation' in China where their skills would be put to good use. Although the Soviet-Sino relationship was not as close as the Sino-German one - it was still crucially important.
Sino-American Friendship
Soong Meiling with the First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt
While the men were away - Soong Meiling played in America where she was authorized by Chiang to act as his 'personal envoy.' Her fluency in English, her Southern accent and the fact that she had studied in America made her the perfect candidate for this task. She completely charmed her American hosts. American companies were invited to invest in China - to entice them, tarriffs on American goods were slashed (but not to the level of German goods) and trade between the two countries took off. Soong Meiling would be the 'human face' of an otherwise grey regime and she would represent China and Chinese interests to many in America...
Meanwhile - back home
While the big cats were away the mouse played. T.V Soong was effectively the acting President - he made most of the opportunity. T.V Soong oversaw an energetic anti-inflation campaign and introduced new taxes and levies while removing those he saw as wasteful. Politically his "Hundred Days Reform" transformed the quiet accountant who stayed in the background into a force with popular backing. When Chiang returned at the end of the year, T.V Soong had become someone to be reckoned with...
Thanks to everyone for their comment and feedback.
More comment and feedback always welcome/ solicited
