A World At WAr
In 1941 the world erupts into war. Germany, now completely dominated by its military-economists remilitarized the Rhineland. A grand coalition between Italy, France, and Britain threatened Germany, and it’s lone ally Hungary. With the West distracted, the Soviets made about their business invading the Baltic states and Finland, with the exception of Lithuania. Meanwhile the US was making an exceptionally large profit as it continued to sell to both sides, the new Republican government being massively supported as it continued to dismantle regulations it deemed “too socialist”. Back in Europe, Finland joined Poland’s “Between the Seas” Initiative, which consisted of Poland Romania and Lithuania, and of which was technically part of the Western allies. With Germany falling back, having chosen to abandon the Rhineland and instead set up camp at the Rhine River and Alps, the allies felt no issue backing Poland, that is until the Soviet Union declared war on them. Italy was the first to join the war against the Soviets, then France, and finally a reluctant Britain, now controlled by Lord Halifax, after Chamberlain resigned due to health issues.
By December of 1941, 3 months after the war’s start, Victory for the Allies seemed assured, there was no grand conquest planned, and the Allies merely wanted to cut down both the Soviets and Germany several notches. Yet the May offensives of 1942 changed all that. German and Soviet armies systematically crushed Poland, while German heavy tank divisions spearheaded through the lower Rhineland and into Luxembourg and Belgium, entirely cutting off much of the French army and British army, who were now trapped in the hostile and foreign northern Rhine. By November of 1942, Poland and Lithuania had fallen, the walls of Bucharest were being pounded on by Soviet and Hungarian forces, The Belgian government had evacuated to the Congo, and German forces were marching on Paris. In February of 1942, Germany declared war on the Netherlands, who was allowing fleeing French and British soldiers to cross into their lands. In April of 1942, the Germans and Soviets declared war on Yugoslavia in an attempt to avoid the Italian and Austrian alps. In June of 1942, Finland surrendered and the Soviet Union declared war on Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey who were in unofficial support of the Allies, having prevented the Soviets from moving their navy into the Mediterranean in order to attack the Italian and French fleets. Germany would declare war soon after. In September of 1942, The Allies forced the Scandinavian states to join the war, with the initial surprise push liberating Helsinki and pushing the Germans out of Holstein. In March of 1943, Marseilles, the last bastion of the French forces in mainland Europe surrendered. In May of 1943, Denmark surrendered while both the capitals of Sweden and Norway are occupied. Yugoslavia, Bulgaria and Greece would also surrender in the following months. In June of 1943, Lord Halifax resigns, he is replaced by a much more mellow Oswald Mosley. It is during this period that Winston Churchill and several others leave for South Africa. In October of 1943 The Soviet Union invades Iran, Afghanistan and Iraq in order to strike at British and French oil interests.
By 1944, The battle of Rome is occurring. German and Soviet forces dominate Europe save Britain, Iberia and Southern Italy. Turkey has just surrendered, and off to the Far East a deal is reached with Japanese Diplomats, France hands over Indochina and the Dutch hand over Borneo while Britain gives up several Chinese territories in order to have Japan join the war against the Soviet Union and Germany. The US debates intervention into the war, as worries over how whichever side loses may not be able to repay the US increases. Turkey, Afghanistan and Iran have formally surrendered despite continued resistance in the mountains. At the same time the Soviets are in the pivotal battles of Baghdad and Islamabad. India is kept together only over fear of the Soviets, while "Petainist France" as it's called, still led by Petain in Corsica is starting to gain major unrest in its African colonies. Throughout 1944, more and more losses for the Allies occur, while meanwhile in the Soviet Union and Germany much of the cooler heads are gone from the war room, with "World Revolution" and "Global Conquest" elements emerging at the forefront. Meanwhile back in the US, the government had been effectively replaced by the various weapons and munitions cooperations which had brought the GDP to a booming new high.
