Havana, capital of Cuba. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Caribbean region. Hundreds of thousands of specialized tourists from Canada, the United States, other Caribbean nations, Latin America and Europe visit each year. Havana is famous for its casinos, brothels and cannabis cafes. There are many cultural activities like film festivals and concerts. The city also has one of the largest communities of Italian descent in Latin America. Havana is a very famous safe haven for tax evaders, thanks to Cuba's lax tax evasion legislation, and it reluctantly hands over suspected tax evaders to other countries.
Photo of a World Without World Wars
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Havana, capital of Cuba. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Caribbean region. Hundreds of thousands of specialized tourists from Canada, the United States, other Caribbean nations, Latin America and Europe visit each year. Havana is famous for its casinos, brothels and cannabis cafes. There are many cultural activities like film festivals and concerts. The city also has one of the largest communities of Italian descent in Latin America. Havana is a very famous safe haven for tax evaders, thanks to Cuba's lax tax evasion legislation, and it reluctantly hands over suspected tax evaders to other countries.
Cristiano Ronaldo & Lionel Messi: Their Rivalry and how VfB somehow signed the both of them.
"Football is the world sport. Millions if not billions of fans turn their televisions on everyday to watch their favourite team give their all in the pitch, and millions everyday venture to stadiums kilometers away to cheer on their favourite players and heckle their adversaries. But football in the last fifteen years has been dominated by two strong personalities: The Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo and the Argentinian Lionel Messi.
Cristiano is from Madeira Island in the Kingdom of Portugal, a country known for producing great talents every generation, and when the young Madeira-born talent started off at the young age of seven at Real Madeirense, in whose academy he quickly prospered. He soon atracted the attention of some of Portugal's major clubs, which included Sporting, Benfica, Porto, União de Coimbra and Desportivo de Aveiro, whom composed all five of them the "Big Five of Portugal". Eventually, his mother and father chose for him to join Sporting Clube de Portugal, Portugal's biggest club at the time, whom just the previous year had lost the Champions League Final 2-1 to German champions Borussia Dortmund. Ronaldo prospered in the Portuguese capital, rocketing through the ranks to eventually join the Sporting first squad in 2001, winning his first league title when Sporting passed the expected Champions Benfica by two points in the last five games of the 2001/2002 season. Barely next year, young Ronald was hunted by many of Europe's top clubs, such as, Arsenal, Reading and Manchester United from the British Premier League, Paris Saint-Germain and Lyon from France and various others. Eventually, however, it would be the famous Baron Ferguson, the legendary coach of Manchester United whom would take the prize that was young Ronaldo.
For skinny young Ronaldo, the British Premier League should have been a challenge. The biggest football league after the Reichsliga in Germany and the All-Russian League, footbal under Ferguson shaped young Ronaldo for greatness. Ronaldo kept getting better, especially when Ferguson adopted the famous "Fergie Press" in 2006, which saw young Ronaldo become both a goal and assist machine, already legendary for his long shots and his magnificent dribbling. When the youngster came behind France's Cesár Lestrange in the 2007 ballon d'or and eventually won it in 2008, it began the famous Ronaldo-Messi era. And, just as a two-year younger Lionel Messi was breaking through in Barcelona, Ronaldo would join his dream team, Real Madrid in the summer of 2008, for the incredible sum of 100 million dollars, the greatest ever transfer in footbal (at the time). At the time, Ronaldo already had the 2004 European Cup and the 2008 Champions League under his belt. It was in 2009 that he would first clash with Lionel Messi...
Lionel Messi however was born in Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, although his families had roots in the city of Rosario. The country of the legendary Maradona, it is no surprise that such a country would eventually produce such a talent as Lionel Messi. Quickly picked up as a talent by scouts from River Plate, where the young man was carefully developed. The Argentinian club carefully developed young Messi, financing his growth hormone treatment until the time to leave eventually arrived. Relations of the Messi family in Barcelona had been aproached by the Sporting Director of FC Barcelona in the interest of signing young Messi, and thus, Messi and his whole family departed for Barcelona that year. He quickly made a name for himself in La Masia, and rapidly became a star player amongst star players, destroying the competition in Spain's youth leagues.
Eventually, small Lionel Messi broke through to the Barcelona first team, quickly surprising the technical staff with his ability, dedication and pure sheer skill. Learning under various such stars the likes of Ronaldinho, Thierry Henry, Frank Gantzmann, Xavi and Iniesta, it is to no one's surprise that Lionel Messi kept getting better, with players such as the Brazilian magician that was Ronaldinho promising the world that Messi would be a much better player than him. By 2009, when Ronaldo joined Madrid, Messi was already growing into the future Ballon d'or winner that he would eventually become, ranking fourth, just behind Milan star Kaka. When Ronaldo joined Madrid in the summer of 2008, his first year in Los Blancos was made a nightmare by the magic Barcelona side of Pep Guardiola, of which Messi was the biggest star already. It is to no surprise, then, that Messi won his first Ballon d'or just one year after Ronaldo, in 2009.
The rest is history, as they say. Messi would win the 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2015 Ballon d'ors under his belt, while Ronaldo was victorious in 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017. In each year the one was victorious, the other was always second-place. While Messi scored the most goals in a single year in 2012, where he scored an insane 94 goals, Ronaldo spent 8 of his nine years at Madrid scoring over sixty goals, scoring over seventy goals twice, setting his record for the most goals in a calendar year at 78. While Messi proved himself the greatest playmaker ever, Cristiano Ronaldo proved himself the most prolific goal scorer, and each was behind the other in the other's respective best category. When Messi lost the World Cup of 2014 semifinal to the eventual champions Germany, Ronaldo's Portugal had been brushed off in the quarter-finals against Brazil, but both men, eager to represent their respective nations, took upon themselves to win an international throphy. While Ronaldo already had the 2004 Euro's under his belt, it was an achievement when he had been but a rising star and not the captain of his national team - and he was eager to repeat it in the Euro's of 2016. There, after an impressive run where Portugal eliminated teams such as England, Iceland, France and then eventually World Cup Champions Germany in the final, Ronaldo won his second international throphy and was made a Knight of Portugal. Previously in 2015, Messi had won the Copa America, gaining for himself his first international throphy.
But in 2017, everything changed. Rumours started circulating that not everything was well within Real Madrid, and when news went out that Ronaldo had signed for another club, the world couldn't believe. And when the news came out of which club it was, the world was shocked even more.
When "Die Schwarzen" or "Die Mörder", as they were known in Germany, signed Ronaldo, it signalled a new era for the greatest club in Germany. The Reichsliga was in a tight-knit competition between Germany's three biggest clubs - The Bavarian FC Munich, Borussia Dortmund in the Rhineland and VfB, all the way back in East Prussia. The three teams had sported for years now one of the most epic three-way rivalries of football, with each team having both amazing national and international throphies to stand for it. While Germany's league had, for a long time, been the greatest league in Europe and the world, the Messi-Ronaldo, Barcelona-Madrid dynamic had jumped Spain into the top of world football, and when troubles between Ronaldo and the Directors of Real Madrid appeared over leaked talks where the president of the club spoke badly about Ronaldo and his growing family (Ronaldo, ironically, had been married at this point with his German wife for three years, and this sprouted conspiracy theories that it was her influence that made him leave Real for VfB). When President Krupp presented Ronaldo in one of Europe's biggest stadiums, the Frederick the Great stadium in Konigsberg, the club recovered Ronaldo's cost in a matter of days, such was the appeal.
And Ronaldo fit in the new team like a glove. Despite a minor injury in December, Ronaldo rebounded and led VfB to winning their first Champions League in over ten years. And in the summer, while players and coaches alike prepared for the 2018 world cup, the temperature was rising in Barcelona. Indeed, after a chanceless year, the growing dissapointment of Messi in Barcelona's leadership was starting to show - rumours swirled over the papers like wildfire. And despite all hints that Messi would be renewing his contract with the club, as it had been one year before, mishandled statements in the press led to Messi annoucing that he would not be signing with Barcelona. It started another rush in football history, one that VfB, by sheer luck, won.
PSG, the French champions, had been looking to re-enforce their attack, and while they had hopes to sign Messi, the signals that were coming out of Barcelona was that Messi would once more be signing for Barça. So, PSG decided to buy Angel di Maria, a longtime VfB player, to re-enforce their attack, as Di Maria was looking for new sights. This, consequently, left PSG hanging their pants when Messi announced that he would not be staying at Barça after all, and VfB direction salivated at the chance to have the two best players in the world, and despite the efforts of clubs such as Milan, Liverpool, Borussia Dortmund, Lyon, Moscow, Kiev to grab Messi - VfB came out on top - signing Messi for free.
It can be clearly said that the initial relationship between the two rivals was a bit... rocky. Cristiano had settled into the role of superstar at his new club, and Messi's arrival forced him to share the spotlight. Despite the battle of ego's going on in the backroom, VfB coach Knut Lindblad, one of the greatest coaches of the incoming generation and a VfB legend himself, found that Cristiano and Messi, for all their rivalry, gave their all on the pitch and together, well... they formed a unstopable machine in attack.
And the rest, is essentially victory. VfB, since signing Ronaldo and Messi, has won four consecutive UCL's - 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021, and have won three trebles. But yet, the two players are aging - having shared an equal amounts ballon d'ors since they left Spain, with Ronaldo winning in 2018, Messi winning in 2019, Ronaldo then again in 2020 and Messi once again in 2021. But the matter is true - VfB has probably done the greatest business in the history of sports."
The Portuguese flag flown at half-mast in Edward VII Park in Lisbon to commemorate the Restoration Day,anniversary of the Restoration of the Portuguese Monarchy on March 8, 1925
Kaiser Wilhelm II at the wedding of his grandson Louis Ferdinand (Future Louis Ferdinand I) to Kira Kirillovna Romanova, 1938.
Map of the Near East in 2022
What do you think would happen to the Berlin–Baghdad railway in this world? In my headcanon, the Ottoman Empire falls into civil war in 1936 when its economy collapses due to the Financial Crisis of 1932 and the country leads to a coup attempt by the Young Turks, this creates a domino effect that leads to an Arab uprising, a Kurdish Revolt and a joint invasion of Russia, Greece and Bulgaria in 1939, ending with the signing of the Treaty of Damascus, and the Peace of Ankara where the Ottoman Empire (now the Sultanate of Turkey) lost most of its territories, the Sultan remains a puppet until overthrown in 1962, with Turkey going through a series of dictatorships for the rest of the 20th century.
My question is what would happen to the Berlin–Baghdad railway in this world? the railway was the German interest in fighting the British Empire and Turkey's interest in fighting its Russian rivals, after this civil war, the Ottomans would be in pieces (literally) and the stretches of the railway would be divided between the territories of several nations, being that many of them were financed by the British and Russians, what would be the German position on this?
Taking advantage of the previous topic, I have another question:
What would be the best name for a Cold War between the Entente and Central Powers in this world?
1- Cold War (the most boring option, fits the context since they are two rival blocks if faced in a war that didn't heat up, but I personally think it doesn't match)
2- The Great Game (The name of a series of conflicts between Russia and Great Britain in the 19th century, but it matches the theme a lot)
3- Undeclared War (A very interesting option that I found in a topic on this site some time ago)
What is your opinion about this?
What would be the best name for a Cold War between the Entente and Central Powers in this world?
1- Cold War (the most boring option, fits the context since they are two rival blocks if faced in a war that didn't heat up, but I personally think it doesn't match)
2- The Great Game (The name of a series of conflicts between Russia and Great Britain in the 19th century, but it matches the theme a lot)
3- Undeclared War (A very interesting option that I found in a topic on this site some time ago)
What is your opinion about this?
King Frederik X of Denmark and his wife, Queen Consort Cristina of Sweden
King Charles XVI of Sweden during the wedding of his son, Crown Prince Carl Phillip
King Harald V of Norway in October 2021
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King's wife whould be title as queen or queen consort instead only just princess. But otherwise good.
H&M has sparked controversy since 2017, with the following ad regarding laundry detergent and bleach, despite complaints from television viewers and magazine subscribers in the United States, Western Europe, Russia, and Japan.
Kaiser Wilhelm III of Germany
Wilhelm III was Kaiser of the German Empire and King of Prussia from 4 June 1941 until his death on 20 July 1951.
He was born on 6 May 1882 at the Marmorpalais in Potsdam, the eldest son of the future German Emperor Wilhelm II and his wife Empress Augusta Victoria. After the death of his grandfather Emperor Friederich III, Wilhelm became Crown Prince of Germany at the age of six, holding that title for nearly 53 years until his accession in 1941.
At age 59, after his accession to the throne, his reign was widely seen as a mere transitional period between his father and son Wilhelm IV, similar to his grandfather Frederick III.
He is known for his pacifism, having a reign of only one decade, it was marked by the end of the decade of the ten wars and the economic recovery from the financial crisis of 1932, in addition to the end of several proxy wars between the Central Powers and the Entente.
Kaiser Wilhelm IV of Germany
Wilhelm IV was Kaiser of the German Empire and King of Prussia from 20 July 1951 until his death on 6 May 1989.
He was born on 4 July 1906 at the Marmorpalais in Potsdam, the eldest son of the future German Emperor Wilhelm III and his wife Duchess Cecilie of Mecklenburg-Vorpommerin.
While a student in Bonn, Wilhelm fell in love with a fellow student, Dorothea von Salviati, Wilhelm's grandfather did not approve of the marriage of a member of the lesser nobility to the second in line to the German throne, not allowing his grandson to make an unequal marriage. . Wilhelm II said to his grandson, "Remember, there are all possible forms of horse. We are thoroughbreds, however, and when we conclude a marriage as with Fräulein von Salviati, it breeds crossbreds, and that cannot happen."
However, Wilhelm was determined to marry Dorothea. He renounced any succession rights for himself and his future children in 1933. Wilhelm and Dorothea were married on 3 June 1933 in Bonn. They had two daughters. In 1940, the Kaiser recognized the marriage as dynastic and the girls were given the style of Prussian princesses, although they could not ascend to the throne.
Wilhelm ascended the throne after the death of his father in 1951, having reigned for 38 years, Wilhelm IV came to the throne in a period of peace and prosperity, after the troubled decades of 30 and 40, the period in which he reigned was marked by important achievements for Germany, such as the creation of the first atomic bomb in 1957, the beginning of the space race between Russia, Germany and the United States in 1977, in addition to the cultural rise of germany on the world stage.
Wilhelm IV died on 6 May 1989 at age 83, without male heirs, being succeeded by his brother Kaiser Louis Ferdinand
Kaiser Louis Ferdinand of Germany
Louis Ferdinand was Kaiser of the German Empire and King of Prussia from 6 May 1989 until his death on 26 September 1994.
He was born on 9 November 1907 at the Marmorpalais in Potsdam, the eldest son of the future German Emperor Wilhelm III and his wife Duchess Cecilie of Mecklenburg-Vorpommerin.
Louis Ferdinand was initially not supposed to inherit the German throne as he was the second son of Crown Prince Wilhelm, however his brother renounced his succession rights in order to marry a noblewoman, which made him second in line to the German throne. Louis lost this title when his grandfather recognized his brother's marriage as dynastic in 1940, but received it again in 1951 as the new Kaiser Wilhelm IV had no male heirs.
Louis Ferdinand ascended the throne in 1989, as did his great-grandfather Friederich III and his father Wilhelm III, his reign is considered a transitional period between the reigns of his brother and grandson.
He married his second cousin, Grand Duchess Kira Kirillovna of Russia, Kira was the second daughter of Grand Duke Kyril Vladimirovich (Father of Tsar Vladimir III) and Princess Victoria Melita of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. The couple had four sons and three daughters. His two eldest sons renounced their inheritance rights to marry commoners. His third son and heir apparent, Prince Louis Ferdinand, died in 1977 during military maneuvers, and therefore his one-year-old grandson, Georg Friedrich, Prince of Prussia (son of Prince Louis Ferdinand) became the new heir to the German imperial throne.
After the death of Louis Ferdinand in 1994, Georg Friedrich became Kaiser German under the name Friedrich IV.
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Why? I know absolutely nothing about football, did the OTL countries that form the Danube federation have good teams this year?
Yeah. The 1934 World Cup was in Italy. The Austrian "Wunderteam" were the favourites. Italy beat Austria in the semifinal in a game that is widely seen to have been rigged at worst or have suspect refereeing at best.
Then Italy needed extra time to beat Czechoslovakia in the final.
And THEN Italy beat Hungary in the final in 1938.
And that doesnt account for the Croats, Slovenes, Transylvanians and Galicians who might play as well!
Similar story in 1954. Hungary losing to Germany in the final is considered the greatest upset of all time. Austria came third. That doesnt even consider Czechoslovakia (finalists 1962).
Obviously sports are sports and anything can happen.
My intention was to engage with the list you wrote, not attack it
FWIW, you nailed the 1942 World Cup host as Argentina and 1946 as GermanyThanks, I think it's time to update this list of the world cups, as well as the olympics since my scenarios have changed a little since I posted them, do you have anything else to say so I can redo it properly ?Yeah. The 1934 World Cup was in Italy. The Austrian "Wunderteam" were the favourites. Italy beat Austria in the semifinal in a game that is widely seen to have been rigged at worst or have suspect refereeing at best.
Then Italy needed extra time to beat Czechoslovakia in the final.
And THEN Italy beat Hungary in the final in 1938.
And that doesnt account for the Croats, Slovenes, Transylvanians and Galicians who might play as well!
Similar story in 1954. Hungary losing to Germany in the final is considered the greatest upset of all time. Austria came third. That doesnt even consider Czechoslovakia (finalists 1962).
Obviously sports are sports and anything can happen.
My intention was to engage with the list you wrote, not attack it
Yeah. The 1934 World Cup was in Italy. The Austrian "Wunderteam" were the favourites. Italy beat Austria in the semifinal in a game that is widely seen to have been rigged at worst or have suspect refereeing at best.
Then Italy needed extra time to beat Czechoslovakia in the final.
And THEN Italy beat Hungary in the final in 1938.
And that doesnt account for the Croats, Slovenes, Transylvanians and Galicians who might play as well!
Similar story in 1954. Hungary losing to Germany in the final is considered the greatest upset of all time. Austria came third. That doesnt even consider Czechoslovakia (finalists 1962).
Obviously sports are sports and anything can happen.
My intention was to engage with the list you wrote, not attack it
As durante noted:
Austria or the Danube Federation is likely to be a powerhouse in football in TTL. It was in OTL prior to its breakup. Even after the break-up and well into the 1960s the "Austrian School" still dominated the scene with great performances from Austria, Czechoslovakia, and Hungary. Yugoslavia was also pretty decent, and Croatia remains a bit of a wunderkind reaching the semifinals in 1994 (their first world cup post-independence) and the finals in 2018. Add them all together and you have an amazing pool of talent from which to pick a winning team.
Part of the reason these countries are so strong is due to the international competition between them. Even prior to the break-up the Austrian half and the Hungary half of the Empire had separate football federations/leagues. This means that in any TL with some form of Austria-Hungary surviving you would end up with either:
- Separate national teams and premier leagues for each constituent country (similar to how England, Scotland, Wales, and N. Ireland have their rather than there being one team/league for the UK). Or,
- A fusion of both leagues with an internal "Federal Cup" contested between the champions of each league (think the NFL and the Superbowl). Or, at the very least
- A very "deep" pyramid of tiered leagues, each one with dozens of teams and a very competitive system of relegation (like OTLs Brazil).