How Silent Fall the Cherry Blossoms
- Thread starter Geon
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Really liked the Korean epilogue...and the fact that the first atomic bomb was used in a battlefield situation rather than against a city. I rather hoped this would happen against German forces entrenched on the Rhine but, oh well.
I'm not exactly sure I understand why a "Korean War" would happen in this TL, however. The background for this needs to be clearer.
I think the first use of nukes in this TL will not lead to the sort of rabid fear and hatred of nuclear weapons that occured in OTL. The nuke was used in a combat situation and acheived its goal. With chemical, biological, and now nuclear weapons used as "normal" military weapons, this might lead to some really awful wars in the future.
About the Yamato. As much as it would be cool to see it refitted for USN use, Geon's memorial idea is the only logical solution. As postwar combat vessels, the existing brand-new Iowas were much more adaptable - very fast, very powerful, and with US-style habitability standards. Yamato is too slow (at 27 kts) to escort US Carrier task forces, its IJN style crew accomodations would have to be completely rebuilt, and the US is unlikely to build any more 18-inch shells for its main guns - an there would be a host of other uncompatabilities (secondaries, radars, metrics, etc). Way too much effort when the USN already has 4(5 if Illinois is finished) equally capable ships.
Now, if Japan democratizes and (with Hirohito's apparent support) fesses up to its wartime crimes better than OTL Japan, it would be really cool if, after USS Missouri is decommissioned, Yamato is returned to Japan as a war memorial while Missouri takes its place at Pearl.
I'm not exactly sure I understand why a "Korean War" would happen in this TL, however. The background for this needs to be clearer.
I think the first use of nukes in this TL will not lead to the sort of rabid fear and hatred of nuclear weapons that occured in OTL. The nuke was used in a combat situation and acheived its goal. With chemical, biological, and now nuclear weapons used as "normal" military weapons, this might lead to some really awful wars in the future.
About the Yamato. As much as it would be cool to see it refitted for USN use, Geon's memorial idea is the only logical solution. As postwar combat vessels, the existing brand-new Iowas were much more adaptable - very fast, very powerful, and with US-style habitability standards. Yamato is too slow (at 27 kts) to escort US Carrier task forces, its IJN style crew accomodations would have to be completely rebuilt, and the US is unlikely to build any more 18-inch shells for its main guns - an there would be a host of other uncompatabilities (secondaries, radars, metrics, etc). Way too much effort when the USN already has 4(5 if Illinois is finished) equally capable ships.
Now, if Japan democratizes and (with Hirohito's apparent support) fesses up to its wartime crimes better than OTL Japan, it would be really cool if, after USS Missouri is decommissioned, Yamato is returned to Japan as a war memorial while Missouri takes its place at Pearl.
yes there will, but for moment is Geon offline until end of the Week, be patience and you will be recompense!
Haven't commented much due to a busy schedule, but holy crap, I loved this TL.
Michel Van, that was one hell of a sketch, btw. If I ever win the lottery, I'm coming to you for some commissioned works.
Did I spy a certain globe in that sketch?
Geon, you have some skills. Great work, great work indeed.
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thx spdoyle.
yes there is the globe in the vault
start to play Lottoery, i start up the concrete mixer...
I really wonder what the Korean Republic in this time line will be like in 2013. Especially since Pyongyang, not Seoul, is the capitol of the country. I can see Pyongyang becoming like Washington, DC and Seoul becoming like New York City.
It's a really interesting choice that in this timeline Pyongyang would be chosen as the new capital. IOTL, both Koreas claimed Seoul as their national capital initially, and North Korea considered Pyongyang only as its provisional capital until the 70s or even later, if I remember right.
But definitely I would agree with your assessment, given the economic realities and so forth, Pyongyang will be major, as everyone always wants to be near the center of power, but given the geography (the plains around Seoul, relatively speaking, are the largest continuous area where major development can take place), I think that the Seoul-Incheon-Suwon-Kaesong area would almost inevitably end up the economic heart just as it is today, well, minus Kaesong anyways
.Sir Chaos
Banned
I think that the Seoul-Incheon-Suwon-Kaesong area would almost inevitably end up the economic heart just as it is today, well, minus Kaesong anyways
Given that Kaesong is the only place in NK where foreigners are allowed to invest (Kaesong Industrial Park), by now it pretty much IS North Korea´s economic heart.
But North Korea doesn't exist TTL, so that's a moot point...
The real interesting question, of course, would be how Germany got carved up.
Marc A
The real interesting question, of course, would be how Germany got carved up.
Marc A
with all the atrocities the Nazi commit, i guess that future of post war Germany will be not happy.
in contrast how the USA justice deal with Japan War Criminal in this TL
there will fare more nazi sentenced to death as in OTL Germany.
and if the Allies lock away if the Jewish NAKAM do there revenge by poising with cyanide the Water supply of town Munich, Hamburg, Frankfurt am Main, Nuremberg.
there will also allot annex of Germany territory by neighbouring countries, especial by Luxembourg, Belgium and France.
I've just got to this stage in the T/L after reading it in stages over the last couple of weeks - sneakily at work, over breakfast, during lunch breaks etc. this has been all I've looked at on AH for ages - I've got no idea what's going on on the rest of the board!
Geon, this is a fantastic piece of work and you should be very proud of it (Michael too!) Every single update made me really excited to read the next one and I'm still very intrigued to see how the post war world turns out - especially Europe.
This T/L deserves a spot among the greats and I'll certainly be voting for this in the Turtledove Awards.
Once again - massive well done and thanks for a great read!
Geon, this is a fantastic piece of work and you should be very proud of it (Michael too!) Every single update made me really excited to read the next one and I'm still very intrigued to see how the post war world turns out - especially Europe.
This T/L deserves a spot among the greats and I'll certainly be voting for this in the Turtledove Awards.
Once again - massive well done and thanks for a great read!
Geon- Congratulations on a highly entertaining and thought provoking work. I've thoroughly enjoyed it, thanks!
so long Geon is still offline
i post some illustration about this TL
i hope you enjoy them...
i post some illustration about this TL
i hope you enjoy them...
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