New Britain (My Latest Attempt at a TL)
- Thread starter Fletch
- Start date
1939
January was one of the worst months since the the Labour Party took office. It began with a secret document, prepared by the civil service in 1934, which attacked the premise of both having an Imperial Common Market and at the same time Nationalised industries, advising that one or the other needed to be dropped being leaked. The Conservatives seized upon it, which damaged the Government, this was compounded by the news that in the previous financial quarter, the British Economy contracted for the first time in two consecutive quarters since Labours first term. Despite this, the Government vowed to carry on with their spending commitments.
Also in January it was announced that 800 newly named Falcon Jet Fighters would be equiped to RAF Fighter Command during the year. At the same time, it was announced that a new plane, with similar speed and durability to the hurricane, would be deployed to the Royal Navys Aircraft Carriers. Germany doubled its budget for creating a German jet.
Febuary began with the French and the British announcing a formal alliance, which stated that any agressive action against a European Power would lead to both nations declaring war on that power.
During the month, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir Oswald Mosley got married, controversially, to Diana Mitford, a controversial choice given, both her and her sisters views on Germany and Nazism. It was rumoured that they had been seeing each other for years, as long ago as just after the death of his first wife in 1930. These were denied. The popular press railed against Nazi Sypathisers in bed with the British Government.
By March, the Nationalist forces of Franco had been defeated, pushed back to the north western city of Corruna, surrounded on all sides. They faced the choice of a bloody spectacle of destruction, or surrender. On 16th March they chose surrender. Franco, as part of the surrender went into exile in Portugal. Almost immediately, splits began to appear between the democratic and communist sides of the republican side of the struggle. A conference was called for 1st-20th May to decide what form of constitution Spain should have.
During the month, Attlee made a further visit to Roosevelt, in a bid to bring the USA into the Franco-British alliance, Roosevelt politely declined.
On 2nd April, Germany signed an alliance with Hungary and Rumania, with the secret aim of a war against the Poles and Czechs, with the two smaller states promised trade concessions, and the support of the German Government.
At the end of April the new British Foriegn Secretary, Herbert Morrison visited the Soviet Union, in an effort to improve relations. This went down poorly in Poland, with talk of betrayal in the air in the Polish Press, Europe was turning into a tinderbox.
During May an greement was made over Indian Dominion Status. It was decided, with the backing of the Lords after several amendments, that in ten years India would be given Dominion Status. It was agreed that India, as a transitional colony, should be given the two seats of a dominion in the Imperial Assembly, and that after Dominion Status was granted, the King would remain Emperor of India, and rather than be called a dominion, it should be called the Empire of India, although the Viceroy would be elected by majority vote in the Indian Legeslative Council.
In China, chinese forces won the battle of Nanchang on May 8th.
On the 15th May, the Communists walked out of the arrangements over the Constitution. A second Spanish Civil War erupted.
In August three Labour MPs died, and in all cases a Conservative was elected in the by-elections.
On September 12th, after a year of disapointment, Attlee was challenged for the Labour Party leadership by Ernest Bevin, he accepted, in the hope that it would silence his critics and by the end of the month, Attlee was defeated. Ernest Bevin became the new Prime Minister.
At the begining of October, Hitler had decided upon an unusual strategy. He wanted land in the east, but was being blocked by the powers in the west. He decided that should he take out France before invading the Eastern States, in the belief that Poland and Czechoslovakia were too weak to invade Germany, then he would gain the element of surprise and hopefully at the same time knock the British out of the conflict. That would leave the only great power in his path as being the Soviet Union. The invasion plans were set for the spring.
On November 4th Britains first motorway, between London and Birmingham opened. Five other such motorways were expected to be completed within the year. The moderisation continued apace.
The year closed with Britains growth rate growing modestly, and as such the earlier contraction of the economy was written off by Bevin as a minor occurance. The nation looked forward to 1940.
January was one of the worst months since the the Labour Party took office. It began with a secret document, prepared by the civil service in 1934, which attacked the premise of both having an Imperial Common Market and at the same time Nationalised industries, advising that one or the other needed to be dropped being leaked. The Conservatives seized upon it, which damaged the Government, this was compounded by the news that in the previous financial quarter, the British Economy contracted for the first time in two consecutive quarters since Labours first term. Despite this, the Government vowed to carry on with their spending commitments.
Also in January it was announced that 800 newly named Falcon Jet Fighters would be equiped to RAF Fighter Command during the year. At the same time, it was announced that a new plane, with similar speed and durability to the hurricane, would be deployed to the Royal Navys Aircraft Carriers. Germany doubled its budget for creating a German jet.
Febuary began with the French and the British announcing a formal alliance, which stated that any agressive action against a European Power would lead to both nations declaring war on that power.
During the month, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir Oswald Mosley got married, controversially, to Diana Mitford, a controversial choice given, both her and her sisters views on Germany and Nazism. It was rumoured that they had been seeing each other for years, as long ago as just after the death of his first wife in 1930. These were denied. The popular press railed against Nazi Sypathisers in bed with the British Government.
By March, the Nationalist forces of Franco had been defeated, pushed back to the north western city of Corruna, surrounded on all sides. They faced the choice of a bloody spectacle of destruction, or surrender. On 16th March they chose surrender. Franco, as part of the surrender went into exile in Portugal. Almost immediately, splits began to appear between the democratic and communist sides of the republican side of the struggle. A conference was called for 1st-20th May to decide what form of constitution Spain should have.
During the month, Attlee made a further visit to Roosevelt, in a bid to bring the USA into the Franco-British alliance, Roosevelt politely declined.
On 2nd April, Germany signed an alliance with Hungary and Rumania, with the secret aim of a war against the Poles and Czechs, with the two smaller states promised trade concessions, and the support of the German Government.
At the end of April the new British Foriegn Secretary, Herbert Morrison visited the Soviet Union, in an effort to improve relations. This went down poorly in Poland, with talk of betrayal in the air in the Polish Press, Europe was turning into a tinderbox.
During May an greement was made over Indian Dominion Status. It was decided, with the backing of the Lords after several amendments, that in ten years India would be given Dominion Status. It was agreed that India, as a transitional colony, should be given the two seats of a dominion in the Imperial Assembly, and that after Dominion Status was granted, the King would remain Emperor of India, and rather than be called a dominion, it should be called the Empire of India, although the Viceroy would be elected by majority vote in the Indian Legeslative Council.
In China, chinese forces won the battle of Nanchang on May 8th.
On the 15th May, the Communists walked out of the arrangements over the Constitution. A second Spanish Civil War erupted.
In August three Labour MPs died, and in all cases a Conservative was elected in the by-elections.
On September 12th, after a year of disapointment, Attlee was challenged for the Labour Party leadership by Ernest Bevin, he accepted, in the hope that it would silence his critics and by the end of the month, Attlee was defeated. Ernest Bevin became the new Prime Minister.
At the begining of October, Hitler had decided upon an unusual strategy. He wanted land in the east, but was being blocked by the powers in the west. He decided that should he take out France before invading the Eastern States, in the belief that Poland and Czechoslovakia were too weak to invade Germany, then he would gain the element of surprise and hopefully at the same time knock the British out of the conflict. That would leave the only great power in his path as being the Soviet Union. The invasion plans were set for the spring.
On November 4th Britains first motorway, between London and Birmingham opened. Five other such motorways were expected to be completed within the year. The moderisation continued apace.
The year closed with Britains growth rate growing modestly, and as such the earlier contraction of the economy was written off by Bevin as a minor occurance. The nation looked forward to 1940.
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First off, I just wanted to say this is a very interesting TL. I look forward to more.
Around how many Jews actually make it to Africa before the war erupts? That'll lead to some interesting cultural diffusion.....
Around how many Jews actually make it to Africa before the war erupts? That'll lead to some interesting cultural diffusion.....
I've only just come across this and I've got to say I'm impressed - good, interesting, meaty stuff. I look forward to reading more of it as you write it!
I delibarately left Palastine out of the list of British Controlled areas where they were free to go as the Brits had a headache here as it was.Around how many Jews actually make it to Africa before the war erupts? That'll lead to some interesting cultural diffusion.....
I had estimated over the year 85,000-100,000 german jews escape the country between the British announcing that Jews are welcome in the forementioned colonies.
British South West Africa would take the vast bulk of the immigration, as it would be by a yard the cheapest colony to send the jews to, and at the same time, one in which the British are seeking to increase the population(In OTL today the population is two milliion, so up to 90,000 would have been a huge figure to take in)
Towns are being built along the coast, and a few are being built inland on the namib desert. The majority in the colony at the moment though are either house building, or living in temporary camps, fishing, awaiting the completion of their homes and places of work. I expect there to be tension between the exsisting colonists and the jewish assylum seekers, but as the colony grows, this would decline. Also hopefully they would attempt to increase the area of avaliable land for cultivation.
This would be funded by the British Government in the belief that once the colony has built itself up it will be more cost effective and more of a benifit to the Empire.
Skilled workers would be given passage to the Mombassa Shipyard, as it needs workers, and experienced farm labourers would be sent to Rhodesia.
Overall immigration would continue into 1940, increasing the numbers even more significantly.
1940
On 12th January, an agreement was reached between Germany and Great Britain. Between April and August, 50,000 German Jews would be moved to British South West Africa and Kenya. It was agreed that Germany would pay the travel costs, and that as a condition, any assets still in the hands of the jews would be kept for the travel, to help the British fund their new lives. The agreement was severely controversial, drawing critisism from all quarters. When Parliament voted on the matter on 15th Febuary, it was backed by one vote 300-299.
Hitler sent a telegram to the French minister of War between 10th-15th April inviting him to view large scale exercises planned by the German Armed Forces across the country. The minister accepted.
On 14th Febuary, the Spanish Communists surrendered. Spain became a democratic republic.
During Febuary, Italy announced that in any European conflict, it would remain neutral. This was taken as no surprise by any of the European powers, given Italys relative weakness.
Diana Mosley made the front page of the tabloids at the start of March, after she was caught praising Hitler and the Nazi regime. Doubts as to Mosleys loyalty began to arise, which increased after he made a passionate anti-war speech in Liverpool at the end of the month, quoting the US President Roosevelt, who had stated in the same month that America had no desire to get involved in Europe, stating he believed the same was true for Britain.
The French minister of war, Louis Maurinn visited Hamburg on the 10th April to witness the Luftwaffe at work. He was heard to remark how many soldiers there were. He was about to find out why.
At 3am on the morning of 11th April 1940 Germany invaded both France and the Netherlands. Within a week the Netherlands had surrendered. The French Army moved in to meet the Germans in Belgium. The Germans then attacked through the Ardennes. The French never realised the German strategy until it was too late. The Germans reached Calais by the 16th May. The RAF had sent 100 Falcons to France to confront the Luftwaffe, and they did well, destroying 5 German Aircraft for every Falcon downed, but numerically, there were just not enough of them. Britain by this point contributed 50,000 troops to the Battle of France, but whilst by the 17th June, the BEF was defending St.Malo, Paris fell.
On the 18th June, the French Government asked the British Government if they would accept France pulling out of the war, the British declined. The BEF, under hail of gunfire, realising the battle was lost pulled out to the Channel Islands. 10,000 Prisoners were taken. France broke the alliance and sued for peace. France, who had defeated Italy in a year, had fallen in just over two months. Hitler was viewed almost as a godlike persona within the reich.
The position of the French Fleet now became vital. After a narrow vote, the Cabinet voted to sink it in port. As such, the fleet air arm, flying from British Aircraft Carriers attacked the French Fleet in port at Marseille and Oran. This caused shock throughout France, that an ally of one day should do this, but it was done in the knowledge that Britain itself would be threatened should the French fleet fall into British hands.
On 21st June an agreement was announced. A puppet Government would be set up, with(suposedly) control over all affairs in Southern France, and control over all non-military affairs in Northern France. The Germans started building an atlantic wall to prevent the British from attacking. The British, who still had a great number of troops on the Channel Islands, started building permenant defences on the Islands.
At the start of July, Oswald Mosley was forced to resign as Chancellor, after he was quoted under the influence of alcohol stating the war was the fault of the jews.
Over the skies of Britain throughout August the Luftwaffe attempted to destroy the RAF, but the superior Falcon jets told the difference, and after three weeks of suffering losses at a rate of 7:1 the Germans stopped.
On 21st July, the great ideological enemies, Germany and the Soviet Union signed a pact, as part of it the Soviets agreed to the German invasion of Poland, on the condition that Russia got eastern poland, and the Germans turning a blind eye to the Soviets invading the Baltic states. On 27th July, Germany invaded Czechoslovakia, and as a result Poland declared war on Germany. By the start of September, Germany was the master of the majority of both nations.
More bad news for the British occured in August, when news filtered through of German plans to invade Norway through Denmark, to secure the Iron Ore supplies of the Reich.
The British warned the Norwegians and started mining the Norwegian Fjords, but Germany invaded, through Norway before the month was out. Denmark fell without a fight, the King escaping to London to continue the fight, Norway was for with determination by the British, who sent 70,000 troops to the country, as opposed to the 100,000 Germans, but as has been the case throughout history, courage and determination are not always enough. Norway surrendered on the 3rd October. As a result of everything before him, Bevin resigned.
Labour called for a coalition national government to cope with the crisis, and by the end of October they had one. Attlee returned as Prime Minister. Churchill became the Foriegn Secretary, Amery the Colonial Secretary.
The year ended with some cheer for the British, as the German battleships the Bismark, the Graf Spree and the Tirpitz were all destroyed in three seperate engagements. The Bismark by the bomb a sea hurricane. The Graf Spree by a torpedo and the Tirpitz in an encounter off of the Shetland Islands, where it tried to slip past the Hood, the Glasgow and the Gloucester.
The Nazis controlled most of Europe. The British were isolated. The situation was grim.
On 12th January, an agreement was reached between Germany and Great Britain. Between April and August, 50,000 German Jews would be moved to British South West Africa and Kenya. It was agreed that Germany would pay the travel costs, and that as a condition, any assets still in the hands of the jews would be kept for the travel, to help the British fund their new lives. The agreement was severely controversial, drawing critisism from all quarters. When Parliament voted on the matter on 15th Febuary, it was backed by one vote 300-299.
Hitler sent a telegram to the French minister of War between 10th-15th April inviting him to view large scale exercises planned by the German Armed Forces across the country. The minister accepted.
On 14th Febuary, the Spanish Communists surrendered. Spain became a democratic republic.
During Febuary, Italy announced that in any European conflict, it would remain neutral. This was taken as no surprise by any of the European powers, given Italys relative weakness.
Diana Mosley made the front page of the tabloids at the start of March, after she was caught praising Hitler and the Nazi regime. Doubts as to Mosleys loyalty began to arise, which increased after he made a passionate anti-war speech in Liverpool at the end of the month, quoting the US President Roosevelt, who had stated in the same month that America had no desire to get involved in Europe, stating he believed the same was true for Britain.
The French minister of war, Louis Maurinn visited Hamburg on the 10th April to witness the Luftwaffe at work. He was heard to remark how many soldiers there were. He was about to find out why.
At 3am on the morning of 11th April 1940 Germany invaded both France and the Netherlands. Within a week the Netherlands had surrendered. The French Army moved in to meet the Germans in Belgium. The Germans then attacked through the Ardennes. The French never realised the German strategy until it was too late. The Germans reached Calais by the 16th May. The RAF had sent 100 Falcons to France to confront the Luftwaffe, and they did well, destroying 5 German Aircraft for every Falcon downed, but numerically, there were just not enough of them. Britain by this point contributed 50,000 troops to the Battle of France, but whilst by the 17th June, the BEF was defending St.Malo, Paris fell.
On the 18th June, the French Government asked the British Government if they would accept France pulling out of the war, the British declined. The BEF, under hail of gunfire, realising the battle was lost pulled out to the Channel Islands. 10,000 Prisoners were taken. France broke the alliance and sued for peace. France, who had defeated Italy in a year, had fallen in just over two months. Hitler was viewed almost as a godlike persona within the reich.
The position of the French Fleet now became vital. After a narrow vote, the Cabinet voted to sink it in port. As such, the fleet air arm, flying from British Aircraft Carriers attacked the French Fleet in port at Marseille and Oran. This caused shock throughout France, that an ally of one day should do this, but it was done in the knowledge that Britain itself would be threatened should the French fleet fall into British hands.
On 21st June an agreement was announced. A puppet Government would be set up, with(suposedly) control over all affairs in Southern France, and control over all non-military affairs in Northern France. The Germans started building an atlantic wall to prevent the British from attacking. The British, who still had a great number of troops on the Channel Islands, started building permenant defences on the Islands.
At the start of July, Oswald Mosley was forced to resign as Chancellor, after he was quoted under the influence of alcohol stating the war was the fault of the jews.
Over the skies of Britain throughout August the Luftwaffe attempted to destroy the RAF, but the superior Falcon jets told the difference, and after three weeks of suffering losses at a rate of 7:1 the Germans stopped.
On 21st July, the great ideological enemies, Germany and the Soviet Union signed a pact, as part of it the Soviets agreed to the German invasion of Poland, on the condition that Russia got eastern poland, and the Germans turning a blind eye to the Soviets invading the Baltic states. On 27th July, Germany invaded Czechoslovakia, and as a result Poland declared war on Germany. By the start of September, Germany was the master of the majority of both nations.
More bad news for the British occured in August, when news filtered through of German plans to invade Norway through Denmark, to secure the Iron Ore supplies of the Reich.
The British warned the Norwegians and started mining the Norwegian Fjords, but Germany invaded, through Norway before the month was out. Denmark fell without a fight, the King escaping to London to continue the fight, Norway was for with determination by the British, who sent 70,000 troops to the country, as opposed to the 100,000 Germans, but as has been the case throughout history, courage and determination are not always enough. Norway surrendered on the 3rd October. As a result of everything before him, Bevin resigned.
Labour called for a coalition national government to cope with the crisis, and by the end of October they had one. Attlee returned as Prime Minister. Churchill became the Foriegn Secretary, Amery the Colonial Secretary.
The year ended with some cheer for the British, as the German battleships the Bismark, the Graf Spree and the Tirpitz were all destroyed in three seperate engagements. The Bismark by the bomb a sea hurricane. The Graf Spree by a torpedo and the Tirpitz in an encounter off of the Shetland Islands, where it tried to slip past the Hood, the Glasgow and the Gloucester.
The Nazis controlled most of Europe. The British were isolated. The situation was grim.
The naval victories will have gone down well, as will the fact that the RAF forced the Germans to stop engagements over Southern England, but that is counteracted by the defeats of Britains continental allies. I would say the population are determined in general but realistic. This is not going to end in one year.
The fact that there was no Dunkirk style evacuation of the whole Army, if only because most of the army were not in France in time is also a bonus. Britain is in a stronger position than Britain of OTL due to this.
Remember that a great deal of the Namibian coast is inhospitable (the Skeleton Coast) and while there are some good settlements there, they are of course already occupied by some rather old-worldy Germans and Afrikaners - how will they react to the influx?
Also, with the bad press such a move would recieve in South Africa, any British entry into war will likely not be matched by the Union of South Africa...
Very nice timeline by the way.
Also, with the bad press such a move would recieve in South Africa, any British entry into war will likely not be matched by the Union of South Africa...
Very nice timeline by the way.
Was going by an old 1950's atlas and assumed there was a portion of the coast hospitable enough, but I will check on Google Earth. There was tension between the colonists, the afrikaners and the jews, but this will have been remedied in small part by the fact that London was financing the jewish settlement. The colony is connected up to the South African rail network so supply is not a major problem.
South Africa entered the war under previous treaty commitments, but so far has not contributed much, and in all honesty, seeing as they are not near any theatre, I dont think they will...Opposition to the war will be high there.
well it might be a tad late to mention this, but Rhodesia might be a better place for these 50.000 people- i belive there was already a plan by the British to place a large number of jewish refugees there just before the war.
i suppose in this TL the number of refugees who've made it to Britain itself is also somewhat higher with a later declaration of war
does Hitler still want to go for Russia- well actually thats probably a stupid question.
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One small suggestion I have is that readers like me, who had never heard of John R Clynes before reading this TL, might benefit from the links to entries on them and other relevant but obscure details in Wikipedia or whatever. And maybe notes describing how a given event or whatever differs from the equivalent in OTL. Though I realise this might be more work than you care to add!
I'll set up another thread on the more obscure characters and major differences when I get to the end of the 40's and link it in to the tl. Good idea, just as you say it would mean a lot of work.