Xen
Banned
Prior to the Second World War, the two superpowers that emerged from that war were both isolationist. Both had their spheres of influence, but neither was really a global power.
After World War II both emerged with mini Empires and wrestled one another for the right to influence the rest of the world. The end result had the USSR unable to keep up with the US, collapsing into history as a failure. What if Stalin had realized the Soviet Union couldn't cope with the Cold War against the better industrialized west.
Germany is re-united as neutral nation with severe restrictions placed on its military and is closely monitored by the United Nations. Its economy is a capitalist one. As assurances of keeping another Hitler from rising, and to keep the Communists down, Truman and Stalin agree to restore the Hohenzollern's (much to Stalin's dismay). The four occupying powers agree to withdrawal from the Kingdom of Germany by 1949. The WWI flag of Germany again becomes the nations flag.
The Monarchies of eastern Europe are restored once the Red Army withdrawals, and the nations of Bulgaria, Romania, Austria, Czechoslovakia, and Hungary are just like Germany, capitalist, with a small defense only military, and unable to form any sort of alliance with another nation.
The Greek Civil War still ends in the same fashion as OTL, with the monarchy being restored. Stalin fears a civil war in Poland, like the one in Greece. The Red Army stays in Poland until 1954 after Stalin dies. His successor and President Byrnes agree at the Berlin Conference. The US will withdrawal its troops from Italy and the USSR will withdrawal its troops from Poland. The Red Army leaves Poland with a weak communist government at the helm of Warsaw.
Like the deal in Europe, the Republic of Korea was founded on similiar grounds with restrictions placed on the size of its military, and a neutral capitalist government.
In spite of the "goodwill" between the two nations there is still plenty of idealogical conflict between them. Nowhere does this play itself out like in China. Both the US and USSR had plundered military resources from the defeated Germany and were quite anxious to test their capabilities. American and Soviet "volunteer" fighter pilots found themselves engaged in dogfights above the ancient Chinese land. The American's eventually gained the upper hand with Air Superiority, while the Communists gained the upper hand on the ground with the widely distributed AK-47 and Mao's more dedicated troops. The Chinese Civil War ended in 1956 with Kai-sheck controlling the South and Mao controlling the North. The limited American involvement was very unpopular at home. President Byrnes lost the 1956 election to Richard Nixon.
The US returned to its strict isolationist policy, watching the French suffer a humiliating defeat to Ho Chi Minh in 1957. The Soviet Union and United States called for a plebecite in South Vietnam over its status. The UN supervised plebecite was won by Minh in a landslide.
The Race issue still heated up in the US, the USSR still made it it's aim to point out the flaws of capitalism by pointing out the wealthiest capitalist nations weaknesses.
As the 1960's are about to begin, there is no Cold War, relations with the USSR and US are friendly, but cold. The Arms race is almost non-existent, however the US and Soviet Union still maintain rather large military's. Both having a military numbering close to a million. What will the turbulent sixties look like without the Vietnam War, or the Cuban Missile Crisis?
After World War II both emerged with mini Empires and wrestled one another for the right to influence the rest of the world. The end result had the USSR unable to keep up with the US, collapsing into history as a failure. What if Stalin had realized the Soviet Union couldn't cope with the Cold War against the better industrialized west.
Germany is re-united as neutral nation with severe restrictions placed on its military and is closely monitored by the United Nations. Its economy is a capitalist one. As assurances of keeping another Hitler from rising, and to keep the Communists down, Truman and Stalin agree to restore the Hohenzollern's (much to Stalin's dismay). The four occupying powers agree to withdrawal from the Kingdom of Germany by 1949. The WWI flag of Germany again becomes the nations flag.
The Monarchies of eastern Europe are restored once the Red Army withdrawals, and the nations of Bulgaria, Romania, Austria, Czechoslovakia, and Hungary are just like Germany, capitalist, with a small defense only military, and unable to form any sort of alliance with another nation.
The Greek Civil War still ends in the same fashion as OTL, with the monarchy being restored. Stalin fears a civil war in Poland, like the one in Greece. The Red Army stays in Poland until 1954 after Stalin dies. His successor and President Byrnes agree at the Berlin Conference. The US will withdrawal its troops from Italy and the USSR will withdrawal its troops from Poland. The Red Army leaves Poland with a weak communist government at the helm of Warsaw.
Like the deal in Europe, the Republic of Korea was founded on similiar grounds with restrictions placed on the size of its military, and a neutral capitalist government.
In spite of the "goodwill" between the two nations there is still plenty of idealogical conflict between them. Nowhere does this play itself out like in China. Both the US and USSR had plundered military resources from the defeated Germany and were quite anxious to test their capabilities. American and Soviet "volunteer" fighter pilots found themselves engaged in dogfights above the ancient Chinese land. The American's eventually gained the upper hand with Air Superiority, while the Communists gained the upper hand on the ground with the widely distributed AK-47 and Mao's more dedicated troops. The Chinese Civil War ended in 1956 with Kai-sheck controlling the South and Mao controlling the North. The limited American involvement was very unpopular at home. President Byrnes lost the 1956 election to Richard Nixon.
The US returned to its strict isolationist policy, watching the French suffer a humiliating defeat to Ho Chi Minh in 1957. The Soviet Union and United States called for a plebecite in South Vietnam over its status. The UN supervised plebecite was won by Minh in a landslide.
The Race issue still heated up in the US, the USSR still made it it's aim to point out the flaws of capitalism by pointing out the wealthiest capitalist nations weaknesses.
As the 1960's are about to begin, there is no Cold War, relations with the USSR and US are friendly, but cold. The Arms race is almost non-existent, however the US and Soviet Union still maintain rather large military's. Both having a military numbering close to a million. What will the turbulent sixties look like without the Vietnam War, or the Cuban Missile Crisis?