La Triplice - Or Italy in the Central Powers

Uber-Magyarorszag is always a good sign in a timeline!

 

Everyone should love a big, great, fat Hungary.

 

Crowd outside goverment buildings in Prague. Some months after the indipendence of Austria from the Double Monarchy, Bohemia followed.
On the monument members of the Bohemian diet are proclaming the secession from Duoble Monarchy
LA TRIPLICE: N.3 (Anno X - 11/1953) - LA CADUTA DELL'AQUILA BICIPITE(The fall of doubleheaded eagle)

25/02/1919: Prague was more discontent than Wien, and Czecks were more suffering than Austrians.
Secretly in contact with Italians (and perhaps with Germans, also if unproved), the administration of Bohemia-Moravia shaken by the hard war they fought (for they Wien Masters, as they said) was shocked to learn that a republic was proclaimed in Wien and that Hungary refused to mobilize to restored the Hapsburgs(Hungary, anyhow, was happy to have Karl as they apostolic king, but because tensions were rising with Italy, was not happy to divert forces from Adriatic theater). so panicked.
Tomas Masaryk, retuned in 1917 from his exile from England, promptly took the matter in his hands.
He delivered a speech (although he was not a member of the diet), he undestood that the only possibility for freedom was the incipient caos and forced the diet to agree with him.
Leaving the costitutional status of Bohemia for the future, the Diet proclaimed the indipence from Wien and deposed Karl as their king.

 

LA TRIPLICE: N.3 (Anno X - 11/1953) - LA CADUTA DELL'AQUILA BICIPITE(The fall of doubleheaded eagle)

People in Troppau main square, around Bohemian official, in fall of 1919.

When Bohemia proclaimed the independence from the double monarchy, the german speaking minority in Sudetenland felt unprotected and feared for its culture and safety.

(This, altrough Masaryk promised to protect the rights of the Germans)

So, in that same year, German delegates to Bohemia Diet met in Troppau.
Social democrats had a bigger rapresentation, but pangermanic party was close second, along with liberals.
When Prague asked for obedience, Troppau could not refuse, but neither they wanted accepted the new government.
The new Bohemia army entered in the city with an armed division, officials dictating conditions in the Main Square, the Sudetenland Parliament took its own decision...to be continued.

 

LA TRIPLICE: N.3 (Anno X - 11/1953) - LA CADUTA DELL'AQUILA BICIPITE(The fall of doubleheaded eagle)

The flag of the republic of the Sudetenland, as instituted in December of 1919.


Rudolf Lodgman von Auen, first and last president of the Sudetenland Republic (then chancellor of the Sudetenland principality
Rudolf Lodgman von Auen was nominated president of the Sudetenland by a majority vote thanks to the support of part of Liberals and Social-democrats.
Sworn in office, the first act of the government was calling the german Reich to invade Sudetenland to defend the german minority

 

Thicc Hungary.

 

LA TRIPLICE: N.3 (Anno X - 11/1953) - LA CADUTA DELL'AQUILA BICIPITE(The fall of doubleheaded eagle)

The short lived Bohemian Republic border police waits, powerless, for german troops to March in Sudetenland.

The provisional Sudetenland government asked Germany for intervention.
The reichstag was, at first doubtful about a military expedition, just because the army was involved against Austria; but a risk of Communist uprising in Prague (at least this was claimed by military secret service in 1919).
So December 1919, Erich Ludendorf and VIII army, was ordered to take Reichenberg and than to move in Prague.

German soldiers of the VIII Army in Prague Christmas 1919.
Bohemia, freshly indipendent, could not match the power of Germany and Masaryk, become president of the republic, decided to submit, but asked to Berlin guarantees about autonomy of Bohemia and rights of Czechs people.

 

LA TRIPLICE: N.3 (Anno X - 11/1953) - LA CADUTA DELL'AQUILA BICIPITE(The fall of doubleheaded eagle)

Keiser Karl arrives in Budapest, greeted by Hungarian government and officials (1921)

With the collapse of the Austrian part of the double monarchy, Keiser Karl was forced to leave Wien to avoid capture by the revolutionaries.

Fleeing in Budapest he was Welcomed by Rakovszky, Premier of the Kingdom of Hungary.
Along the Emperor his wife Zita

 

LA TRIPLICE: N.3 (Anno X - 11/1953) - LA CADUTA DELL'AQUILA BICIPITE(The fall of doubleheaded eagle)

The family of Pietro Ferdinando Von Habsburg-Lotharingen.
The new Austrian Archduke of Austria. Crowned in 25 December 1922.

Quelled the Soviet revolt, the German Army preceded to occupy Wien.
While Prague was very happy to shake off the Habsburg rule, Austria seemed less likely to do the same.
The German Reichstag, however, and the Keiser would been happy to annex Austria, and they urged Wien Reichstag to start an union agreement.
Karl, now King IV of Hungary, asked to be returned on the throne, but was Hungary that protested. Budapest wanted an Habsburg on the throne, but only if he ruled over Hungary alone.
Karl Renner, proposed to admit Austria as a German state with a republican constitution like the Hanseatic city states, but Prussian militaries feared a republican contagion and so supported the member of opposition Michale Mayer that become the new austrian chancellor
He, immediately, stated the union bill and asked for a referendum to put an Habsburg on Archdukedom throne.
The referendum was won by "yes", by an embarrassing majority.
And the new Archduke become Peter Ferdinand Von Habsburg-Lotharingen, heir to the Grandukedom of Tuscany.
Austria was annexed by Germany as a new Lander.

 

LA TRIPLICE: N.3 (Anno X - 11/1953) - LA CADUTA DELL'AQUILA BICIPITE(The fall of doubleheaded eagle)

Mikols Horthy enters in Budapest with the National Army - 16/9/1919

While Italy, with the blessing of Germany, was taking the cities of Istria and the Dalmatian coast, the Admiral Horthy called for a national forum to defend the Saint Stephen lands.
King Charles was worried by the admiral, but the menace of Italian armies moving toward Zagreb was more strong than the constitutional doubts about a reactionary leader parading in the capital.
Charles, also, was very upset by roumanian revolts in Transylvania and Bela Kun comunists that were controlling the parliament.
So, sadly, he accepted to meet Horthy seven days later.

 

The flag of the Republic of Greater Turkey.
Ataturk saved the Ottoman Empire from defeat, with consistent German and Italian aid, but was unable to keep united it.
Arabs and others minorities were too restless to be subdue.
However the acquisition of Ajerbaijan and other Turkish lands in ex-Russia allowed to Ataturk to compensate.
In national assembly in Konya, the ottoman Sultan was declared decayed as political head of Turkey and retain only religious powers.
Turkey is a big ally for Germany and Italy, but its poor relations with Bulgaria are always a problem.

 

LA TRIPLICE: N.3 (Anno X - 11/1953) - LA CADUTA DELL'AQUILA BICIPITE(The fall of doubleheaded eagle)

Occupied Prague, and quelled the revolt, the Reichstag in Berlin, tryed to end the Bohemia issue and bring peace to central Europe while as troops were required in eastern europe, where after an initial acclamation, the populations of Belarus and Ukraine were starting to get excited.
It was resurrected, no one knows precisely from whom, an old Wittelsbach claim.
In the seventeenth century, the dynasty had claimed the throne of Bohemia and had started the Thirty Years War.
But in the twentieth century, with the now-collapsing Habsburg empire, this claim could finally be satisfied.
The Reichstag, and the Keizer Wilhelm, demanded that the thrones of Bavaria and Bohemia could never unite, once this clause was obtained, Prince Leopold of Bavaria was crowned as king of Bohemia and Protector of the Sudeten.


King Leopold the III of Bohemia in Bavarian army uniform.

 

From "La Triplice" World

This morning, the most famous animation director, Kim Jong Un; scion of the world famouse animator family of the Kims, has signed the most remunerative contract of animation with USA television magnate Dunald Trump CEO of Tower Television.
Tower Televion brought an Aeni serie celled the "The man with tiger teeth", a clear tribute to a 1919 Lupin movie very successeful in Asia.
Un, instead of his father very in love with fantasy and sciefiction, is a director that love more mundane stories.

In "The man with tiger teeth" we follow the adventures(24 episodes are just been filmed and another serie is optioned) of a Korean secret agent that must chose to defend the Emperor of Japan by a terrorist attack or take away an invaluable diamond.
As is traditional in the works of the kim family, the protagonist has a central role and other characters are only there to enlight one aspect of the protagonist.

Kim Jong Un is well renow for his works, brtween them we must remember:
The General and the people - a movie about Korean war of indipendence of the '40s
Master of my own destiny II - a remake/sequel of his grandfather's work abut the rising of poor farmer to the most hight echelons of the Korean state.

 

This...isn't really a stretch.

Kim Jong Il was a movie fanatic, so it isn't hard to imagine him becoming an actual director.

 

I have more about them.

 

Note: Image is not made by me: (https://www.deviantart.com/goddessmechanic/art/1984-Super-Taekwon-V-419122921 link to author's page)
From la "Triplice" World



Taekon V teaser posterfrom 2011 advertisment campaing.
The long awaited remake of a classic korean anei was aired in Korean State, Republic of China and Japan early in 2012, gaining immediatly a lot of success.

This remake was directed for the first 12 episodes by the famouse korean director Kim Jong Il, that unfortunately died before the show was aired.
In the story, plajarized in '70s by the less famouse japan Mazinger Z, a mad scentist discover an alien civilization on Earth and uses its secrets to conquer the world.

 

SETTING SUN?
Is empire of Japan Collapsing?
from "La Triplice, n.11/anno 26


General Tojo submits his resignations to His Majesty Hiroito, the Emperor of Japan.

The Japanese Empire is the powerhouse of Asia.
The Sun never set on Tokyo, or so the Emperor says to his subjects on the mother islands and in the various dominions scattered in the Pacific Ocean.
Its navy is stronger and bigger than German and American ones combined and its alliance with British Empire allows to Tokyo a lot manuverability.

They felt invincible, and truly they armies and navies were a marvelous march of victories, from 1905 against Russia in Mnachuria, to 1936 against Usa in the Philippines.
But in 1946, the Japanese machines was interrupted by a crushing defeat: The war of Korean Indipendece.

Altrought Germany and Britain has signed a treaty and normalizing relations in the '20s and '30s, both empires conspired and plotted against each other.
When Japan declared war to China in 1940, to prevent the formation of a national assembly in Najing sponsored by Germany(in clear anti-Japanese and anti-bristish function), in Tokyo everything seemed only the next victory.
The were wrong.
Aided by italian(also if Italy was committed in its own wars, cannot refuse an invitation from Berlin) and german technicians and "conuselors", Japanese army found a match for its teeths.

Korean Volunteers in German uniform at battle of Pyongyang.

China mass armies and german technologies were too much for the overstreched and tired Japanese Empire.
After a war that lasted four years, Tojo Hideki, commanding general and minister in chief of Japan had to ask for a cease fire.
This ended the carreer of this "New Shogun" and changed Japan forever.

Japan resigned its territories in mainland china to the Nanjin government(Excepf fot Tsingao) and gave indipendence to Machukuo, that become a republic and to Korea.


In the streets of Peyongyang peoples rejoice to the news of indipendence.

 

Europa of "La Triplice"
Local time: 1950
If you have follow my TL, "La Triplice", you know that Germany won the WWI allied with Italy.

In this TL there is nothing comparable to WWII
The first years after the war were dominated by local wars(Dalmatian war between Italy and Hungary, the Polish uprising and Sovie revolution) , but by early '30s Europe find an unstable peace, shattered in forties by Algerian uprising, war of Somali indipendence, German intervention in far east and, more important, Mexican and Russian wars.

Germany: Is the greatest power in Europe and one of the greater of the world.
Germany is a conservative federal empire, ruled by Berlin by Wilhelm III.
The empire provides a good welfare system. Politically it is not a dictatorship, but Keiser(and other kings) have a lot of power and civil rights, although formally respected, are less important than state security.
Said that there are no political police, and parties are free to compete in elections.
German army and fleet are ones between the most powerful and large, not only in Europe, but around the world and the atomic bomb give Berlin a fair advantage against many enemies.
Defeated Fascit Russia in 1948 and quelled the last Polish revolt in 1949 Germany seems suopreme in Europe.
The main problem of Germany is its colonial empire, that doesen't age well.
The brutaly which allowed its stability in Africa is becoming more and more a problem, Poland is always on the edge of revolt and reicharmee is spread in too many fronts.
Africa, probaly shall be lost before the '60s and Iraq shall follow soon.
Keiser Wilhem III Von Hoenzollern(1941)

Italy: Italy is the european junior power.
A conservative monarchy under Umberto II di Savoia.
Differently from Germany, Italy is not only ruled by a militocracy but under D'Annunzio become close to a dictature.
When D'Annunzio died in 1938, the new italian PM(predidente del consiglio dei Ministri), Nitti was embroiled in a revolt against french colonists in Alegeria and by 1939 in a full war against France and United States with Britain.
When the war ended, Italy is not in good shape.
Economy, devasted by the war, struggles to recover, damages are extensive and Italy has not an extended welfare as Germany has.
Socially, the kingdom, is a mess of liberal democracy, prussian constitutionalism and ultra-catholic conservatorism.
Italian Army defeated the Algerianian rebels(with help of Tunisinian and Lybian irregulars), but Algeri is still a non-go zone.
Lebanon is the only secure colonial possession, Palestine and Syria are starting to agitate, comoplicated by jewish migrants around Jerusalem.
Costal cities of Lybia are secured, but desert is out of control.
Rome feels African Horn territories as lost in a war against Etjiopia that become more and more probable.
King Umberto II Di Savoia-Carignano

Republic of Great Turkey:
Turkey is a new player in the European arena.
Given dead after WWI, under the ironfist rule of Kemal Pasha resurrected in a new (for now) regional power.
Kemal left go away the provinces with an arab majority and strenghtened the ties with turkophone and kurs one.
He(differently from HL) didn't spoil the Ottoman Sultan of his religiouse role and put christian minorities under the protection of the Caliph.
The millet system was partially manteined and greeks remained(mostly) faithful to Great Turkey.
Armenians were another matter.
If greeks were, rightly or wrongly, to be a part of this state as heirs of byzantine empire(which gave ottomans a lot), Armenians feel to be only a persecuted and oppressed minority(Armenian genocide worked in a lessere extent in this TL, because germany performed better aiding the ottomans in Caucasus).
Diring the Second Russian War, when Turkey entered in war against Russia on german side, Armenian arose in revolt and were punished(badly).
Now Turkey is decisely the third player of Central alliance with a good economy, a strong army and big allies.
The main problems were armenians(for them is not yet decided what to do, but probably shall not end well) and Caucasus where turkish military presence is a heavy burden, both for occupieds and occupators.
Ismet Pasha: President of Greater Turkish Repubblic

Kingdom of Hungary:
The kingdom of Hungary is the last of the central power, both for economy and military power.
Hungary is a country with a lot of problems and in the chancelleries of Rome, Berlin and Istanbul its end is belived a matter of time.
Hungarian army was not so bad during the Second Russian War, but at the end gained only some Rumanian counties.
Hungary big problem are its minorities, Differently from Turkey, Budapest promoted a forced magyarization and it didn't work well.
If Croatians stay leal because of italian army in Dalmatia; Galitia and Transylvania, without foreign menace, didn't the same.
Tension are rising now, and only the young King Otto is the reason why monarchy is not fallen...yet.
Hungary is confessional semi-dictatorship, where the Landowners party and the army rule with an iron fist.
The king is young Otto Von Habsburg, he is more or less a prisoner of Admiral Miklos Horty wich is, technically, only the First Minister but rules as a dictator.
King Otto Von Hasburg

People's repubblic of France:
France is a communist state, the revolution happened in 1924 when the party, on platform of social justice, partition of land and revenge from Germany won the election by a slight margin.
France is not, however, comparable with HL soviet Russia; and its first days were bloody, now its more calm and after the war againt Britain and Italy is more a socialdemocracy that a communist state. However only the Partie de travalleirs is allowed to run for elections and the Guetteurs(the whatchmen) the secret police is everywhere.
France is been always able to avoid a war aginst Germany and also to ignite a revolution in India and Italian ME, but is now under attack from Japan in Viet-Nam and Indocina(Tokyo send "volunteers" to start a national insurrection against the godless and western ruler), and the country is still ravaged by war, with a not so good economy despite american aids.
President de conseils Eduard Daladier

United Kingdom of Great Britain
Great Britain is in bad shape.
They fought americans in Mexico and Canada, defend from France along the channel and fought a war against a genocidal fascio-communist dictatorship in India.
However they manage to survive.
Allied with Italy, U.K saves Portugal(if not spain) from communism and defends Africa.
The loss of a great part of India, however hits very hard, First Minister, Wiston Churchill had to resign also if he was able to save Cylon, Pakistan, Bangladesh and mostly Burma(that was looking to Japan more than to London).
Despite the economic crisis, GB is still a democracy and has a good welfare.
The new premier, Clement Attlee, must defend Africa, maybe with the institute of Dominion-
King George VI Windsor

 

From "La Triplice"
The British Japanese alliance of 1902, was renowed in 1912 and 1932.
British and Japanese diplomats signed the treaty of Honk Kong(1932)

The alliance was needed to protect the interests of the two states in Pacific and eastern Asia.
The alliance, called also Pacific Pact, included(and still included) GB, Japan, Australia, New Zeeland, Empire of China(Taiwan Island), Kingdom of Hawaii and Kingdom of Thailand, and the main task was to coordinate sealane patrols and watch German(and now Chinese) interferences in Pacific and Indian oceans.


The famouse postcard of 1902. celebrating the alliance, was issued again in 1932.


The postcard is cosplayed in 2002 for the 100th year of Pacific Pact.

 

Pacific South?
Indocina from 1921 to 1935

When the news of the french surrender reach Hanoi and Saigon, a lot of people celebrate the end of colonial rule.

People in Hanoi clebration the french surrender to Germany

In peace talks, altrought indipendentist groups send envoys, Vietnam indipendence was not reached.
Japan was the main obstacle; Tokyo preferred to have a weak french state than a powerful German Empire.
So, also if Great Britain was in favor, Hanoi remained under french occupation.


French Army entering Hanoi after days of revolts and protests by Vietnamite people.

Comparatively, Cambodia and Laos, remained much quieter but things changed when Paris fell to revolution.
In 1924 the Radical Front won elections.
Traditionally buddhist indocina provinces didn't like to have a communist party in charge, things worsened when Paris, ealry in the '30s try to depose the royalities of the countries, causing an uprising.

Laotian people march against communist french rule and removal of their king Ratsadanay.

The wave of protestes and uprisings forced French Colonial ruler to change thier mind, and to save face, Paris offered to rulers the title of "perpetual governors", implementinting at the same time communist french burocracy.
The burocracy ws thought to replace native officrs, clerks and teachers and plasmate a new socialist society without using, or using as little as possible, violence and force.

Young recruits of Annan Socialist Militia overseen by two french "Advisors of progress"

After the war against Italy and Britain, concluded in a bloody stalemate, France bet once more on its southasian jewel. extorting resuorces, materials and manpower.
This time the local elites were ready to react.
The most important of the dissident was Bao Dai, emperor of Vietnam, but styled by the french as "Protector of the people af Annam", and technically entrusted with supervision over all Indochina.
Bao Dai used this position to consipire against colonial ruler and in 1942, dressed in traditional vietnamese emperor regalia toured the country.

Bao Dai sorrounded the heads of ethnic minorities while dressed in full emperor regalia; this was a open challenge to France colonial rule forbidding the tradional dresses.

This created a gap between the old, feudal but tradional power of Indochina and the new, communist and foreiner nomenclature.
Between the emperor Bao Dai and Ho Chi Minh "Speaker of the people", head of Vietnamese People Party and president of the Indochinese general assembly.

Ho Chi Minh speach of early agust of 1942, calling the emperor or better the protector, to his duties and menacing him to be replaced.
It0s said that was this speach to lead Bao Dai to ask japanese intervention.

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