Doomsday: 1923

The longer term effects of the impact were horrific. People rushed to the banks, fearing economic crisis, and the stock market crashed within hours.

Couldn't resist - I think the stock market crashed when the tsunami hit New York. :D

Seriously - very interesting, probably more plausible and less ASB than the original - I like it!
 
Book 1: The Chaos


Chapter 1: Germany


Part 2: Legends


As our memory wanes and dies, the golden legends of the far-off centuries fade and pass away. No one sees their influence upon culture; no one sees their educational power.”- Douglas Hyde Irish Politician


Excerpt from: Standing Alone: Personal Accounts from the German Civil War by Steffen Finkel. (Translated by James Albright with the assistance of the author)

Markus Köhler


Born July 4th 1900-


Markus was a soldier in the SA, and the Secession army during the War. While many in his generation have died since, he was one of the many that were still left when I began this project in 1973. He was a steel worker before the war in one of the factories in Munich, however after the end of the Great War, when the economic crisis hit he was out of a job and a house. Rooming with an old friend, Markus was invited to attend a SA meeting and was hooked by their message and their promises of a better tomorrow. He took the oath that night. Later he defected from the National Bavarian Republic to the Republic of Germany after the famine of 1952.


SF: So you participated in the Munich Putsch?
MK: Absolutely, it was a message for our brothers across the nation that we the people would not stand for the ineptitude and corruption of the Republic. We were Germans looking out for Germany, a small minority guarding the liberties of the majority. We were the Aryan Knights looking out for our people. So, yes I wholeheartedly participated in the Putsch. There was fighting, there was blood, there were sacrifices, but it was for our country, our people.
SF: What was the fighting like, street to street, house to house, man to man, as they always told the children in Bavaria?
MK: Ach no! It was almost petty, we’d run screaming toward the Police and Potters (authors note: Potter: derogatory term for RG soldiers, due to their iconic helmets, the SA during the initial stages didn’t wear their as a sign of bravery. Or stupidity) fire a volley, kill one or two of them, and their lines would break. They were demoralized, and thought they were trying to stop a march or a riot, not a battle. The police would stand in a line in the middle of the road and shout at us to stop. We didn’t and they did.
SF: How long did the battle for Munich take?
MK: I can’t remember how long it was for me, only a couple of hours. But some of the authorities got smart so for some of my comrades it took until the 1st. But I was standing on the steps of city hall for Hitler and von Kahr’s speeches. It was kind of funny actually both prepared without the other’s input, so their speeches ended quite differently. Hitler called for the conquest of all of Germany. Von Kahr begged for Bavaria to break from the Prussian monstrosity. But we cheered them both equally while there was definitely tension between the two allied groups. Which path were we going to take?
SF: Wait so how long did it take until they came to the conclusion?
MK: Who, Hitler and Von Kahr? They didn’t come to one for days. While the rest of us were mobilizing the remaining garrisons in Bavaria for the Potter’s counter attack, they sat arguing about which path to take. It quickly became evident that neither Von Kahr nor Hitler could survive without the other’s support so they had to choose and choose fast. While they sat bickering with each other other SA and National Socialist supporters began to pour into Bavaria, while Jews and our political enemies poured out. There are stories of both parties, the Us and the Them, meeting on the road wishing the other good day and good luck, and battling each other weeks later. It was madness. Hitler and Von Kahr finally came to a consensus, let fate decide. In a dramatic affair they flipped a coin on the steps of the city hall.
SF: Which side came up?
MK: Heads. We were going to secede. We were going to be Legends.
(Victorious SA soldiers walking with captured weapons and equipment toward the defensive lines)

poland_inv_soldier_march.jpg
 
Yes the Putsch does succeed, but only because of the mass craziness in most countries at that time. In OTL, it may have if Von Kahr had personally come out in support, rather than staying wishy-washy about the whole thing.
 
Book 1: The Chaos


Chapter 1: Germany


Part 3: Doubt


Government is not reason; it is not eloquent; it is force. Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master.

- George Washington

“Ten soldiers wisely led will beat a hundred without a head.”
-Euripides

“To walk through the ruined cities of Germany is to feel an actual doubt about the continuity of civilization.”
-George Orwell from his travels in 1930



The German Civil War


Opening Moves 1923-1924

The Weimar Republic, weakened after years of hyper-inflation and crushing debt, began to violently split at the seams. After the Munich Putsch the Government was slow to use military action. Fearing that attacking their own people would spark more revolt and internal strife, their slow and diplomatic actions only allowed the Bavarians more time to consolidate their forces, and recruit other ultra-right groups from across Germany (including the infamous Major Ernst von Buchrucker and his units from the Black Reichswher) to help defend their new nation. The Republicans finally in late December decided that war was the only option after the battle of Dresden, in which they were dealt a massive defeat at the hands of a better equipped, highly motivated, better led, but much smaller Bavarian force under the command of Emil Maurice.
While the Republic was fumbling Hitler and Von Kahr had restored the Crown Prince of Bavaria, Rupprecht to his “rightful throne” as King Rupprecht I of Bavaria. Rupprecht while an aristocrat and aristocratically given command of the German Sixth Army during the Great War, had proven himself to be a capable commander, earning the respect of Adolf Hitler and the Natzis. While King Rupprecht theoretically held power, the power in Bavaria’s government was actually consolidated in the position of Chancellor, paralleling the situation of Bismarkian Germany. After a Bavarian Parliament was formed, the position of Chancellor was to be decided by the party with the most seats in the upper house, the Bavarian Nationalist party headed by von Kahr. Von Kahr was appointed chancellor and Adolf Hitler was for a short while relegated to the shadows of Bavarian politics.
The Republic started to slip into a crisis. Many of their higher ranking generals and military members were defecting to the Bavarian side. Because of this fact, many have incorrectly compared the German Civil War to the American one of the 1860’s. There are some key differences. Bavaria had a major industrial center; Germany’s second largest, in Munich, which could easily have been turned from making civilian goods to military hardware. Secondly, Bavaria also had foreign intervention and help from the start from the Italians who pledged to support the fascist regime. The Italians proved to be a key instrument in the Bavarian victory, as few countries were willing to help Germany as the wounds of WWI were fresh.
The Bavarian war plan was simple, effective and played to their strengths as opposed to their weaknesses. They planned a three pronged assault. Using rail lines and highways, they attempted a lightening war or blitzkrieg. Their goal was simple. The left two most prongs were designed to isolate the Ruhr off from the rest of Germany so its industry could not be used against them, and then capture Berlin. Their plan while brilliant, could not have worked during the 1920s, however during the late 1950’s (roughly OTL early 40’s technology) it could be possible.
By late 1924, the war had been fought to a stalemate; the Bavarians were stopped on their march to Berlin at the Second Battle of Dresden, and their Ruhr push was stopped between the Ruhr River itself and the Rhine in lower Saxony. Their Northern thrust up the center of Germany was stopped at the Battle of Brandenburg, right outside of Berlin. The Weimer Government’s victories were due to two important factors. A much larger population which allowed them to field larger units, their ability to defend and use the strength of the Ruhr’s industrial base, and popular support from other countries, like Republican England, and France, who hoped to sustain the status Quo. They also had the support of League of Nations, at least what was left, and their late year military and economic support from Poland, after the desperate cession of Danzig.

1925-1926: Intervention

The Bavarians had one massive advantage; they had full military and popular support from Fascist Italy. Benito Mussolini a fascist was in full support of the Bavarian regime, and had pledged support for the Bavarians. While most of the supporters of Weimer Germany pledged material or monetary support, Italy actually provided military units and fought as a combatant. As the war dragged trough is second and third years, the Italian’s entry proved to be instrumental to Bavarian victory. Bavaria had been dealt massive defeats after their initial victories. Their inability to fully cutoff the Ruhr, meant that much of the Weimar Republic’s industry was still intact, and Bavaria’s smaller population prevented them from creating as many or as varied units as the Republics.
When King Rupprecht I, Von Kahr, and Mussolini met in October of 1926, he implored the Italian leader to form a formal alliance with Munich to spread fascism, known as the Munich-Rome Axis the alliance would prove to be one of the key actors in global politics over the next decade.
However as 1926 dragged into 1927, their inability to end the war quickly drew much protests in Italy. The fascists truly did not have as much support in Italy as their claimed. As the protests began to become harder to quietly repress and gain more strength, Italy was forced to slowly draw down troops in Bavaria. In a desperate push the Bavarians launched a counter offensive known as the Cauldron at the same time as suing for peace. Their strategy worked, Weimar Germany recognized the nation of Bavaria on February 25, 1926: Fracture Day with the Treaty of Berlin. Weimar Germany would carry their grudge against the Bavarians long into the next decades.

1927: Lines and Peace.


Peace for the Weimar Republic was bought a steep price. With much of both countries populations dead from both the fighting and needless killing of civilians, Bavaria and Weimar Germany had to reconstruct their shattered countries. With massive aid from the Britannia Republic, Erin, and France Germany began to get herself back on her feet. Bavaria was in much worse shape, with international opinion against them, their only support came from Italy, and later Austria to re-build much of what was left of their land. The Treaty of Berlin left Bavaria much of the State of Bavaria, and nothing more. The Treaty of Berlin treated Bavaria in much the same way the treaty of Versailles left Germany a wreck. The Bavarians would never forget.



Epilogue:


So why did I choose Germany for my chapter on Europe. Germany is a perfect example of what happened through much of Europe during the crisis. While their civil wars happened throughout the nearly 20 year span of the Crisis most countries in Europe experienced different varieties of rebel groups, and combatants but the pattern was similar. Two good examples could be England and France. The Second English Civil War was fought between the Republicans (parliamentarians) and the Monarchists (fascist). In France the Neo-Jacobeans (parliamentarians) fought the Peoples Front (communists) and the Burgundy Resurgents (fascist) a three way chaotic rabble. Each country experienced different victors and outcomes. In England the Republicans won, and so to some extent did the Erinists. The French Civil War (1933-43) was won by the Neo-Jacobins to much rejoicing in the international community in 1943. Europe's map was radically changed afterward. Nothing would ever be the same.
 
I'm really enjoying this - although perhaps you could post a map of Europe to show any other new states that may have seceded from their mother state (if there are any more)
 
@Gridley: Most countries on the planet are expierencing civil disorder of some kind or annother, in some European countries, especially those with high populations civil war did erupt. Some ended in secession others in change of government control.
 
you know tbh I thought a collapse in America would not cause chaos in Brtain especially but actually cause them to look to its empire and have stronger imperial links really with all the dominions
 
@zeppelin247: Actually the empire was weaker than most people give it credit to. Ireland split off starting in 1916, during WWI. Indians and other colonial peoples had wanted their freedom for decades. The only reason they supported the mother country during WWI was becasue of independence promises which were not heeded. During WWII massive strikes and protests happened in India and many of Britan's domains, for freedom and independence. Dominians are great for trade and all, but England like most of Europe was heavily reliant on American food imports. Squeezing colonial holdings for food after America is out of the picture would only make these frustrations more exagerated. W/out food many internal frustrations could come to light. The only thing that keeps countries, countries is trust. With out food or support from government it becomes hard to trust those people in charge. (sorry about the extremely long answer. somthing that I wanted to get off my chest. and the last two sencences are the thesis behind my TL.)
 
It's not a kingdom, but a republic of the same name, based on the unification plans of the anti-free staters during the Irish Civil War.
 

Art

Monthly Donor
That picture has a German soldier. . .

with a MG-42! A Seceding Bavaria is not going to have such a weapon. Are there factories like Skoda in Bavaria? Like the Ruhr?
 
@Art: Yes Belarus and Ukraine are independent I'll go more into that on my chapter on the USSR.

and no that's not a MG 42, its a MG 38, but no Bavaria couldn't have that weapon. Its a picture from the invasion of Poland, but the caption says that they are captured weapons... I just can't photoshop. :(
 
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