(Nothing ISOT-related in this one, just some vague idea of an alternate 20th century, and by an extent, alternate 21st century, universe. Comments and criticism are welcome and appreciated!)
A world-famous photograph taken of soldiers celebrating during the May Mutines, sometimes also called the Second Truce or Spring Mutinies. As the Great War (later renamed to World War 1) continued to rage on into 1917, with no end in sight, and with the soldiers on all sides growing more and more shell-shocked and tired by the day, and the governments more and more determined to end the war. It seemed that yet another Christmas would pass without the boys coming home. That was until May, when several French divisions and battalions started refusing to follow orders to attack, which were intensified after June 8th, when the Military trying to put down the growing unrest failed, after attempts at mass arrests were met with retaliation, only further infuriating the homesick, traumatized, and overall rebellious soldiers, young and old alike. Things would only spiral out of control, after news of the outbreaks of the mutinies reached the public by July, which saw not only saw increased support for ending the war amongst the Public, but also copy-cat mutinies amongst British, German, Italian, and even Austro-Hungarian soldiers, with things escalating by August as both the Pope and US President had come out and publically supported an end to the war.
August would basically see most if not all fighting end on the Western Front, with Frenchman, Brit, and German alike all refusing to fire any more shots, throw any more grenades, drive any more tanks, or fly any more planes, as their families and friends protested for their return back home in the major cities. Only the truly jingoistic and war-hungry of the battalions were wanting to step into no man's land, alongside with Belgian and Luxemburgish liberation movements continuing their resistance against their German occupiers. Rising numbers of deserters and mutineers were also seen in Italy, Austria, and Bulgaria. On August 31st, a ceasefire would be officially declared, ending all fighting as the governments of the Entente and Central Powers opened up communications to end the war between them, with U.S Advisors also arriving to help in the peace agreements.
On November 11th, 1917, a day that would be remembered as Remembrance Day, the War to end all Wars came to an end, with around 35-40 million deaths after 3 years of fighting. The Kaiser would resign before the peace agreements would fully materialize, having become majorly unpopular. Austria-Hungary and the Ottomans would both collapse by 1918. Russia would continue to go through unrest, with the assassination of communist leader Vladimir Lenin in July causing his Bolshevik movement to fracture, and the fleeing of the Tsar's family. France would see a wave of left-wing support, especially after many criticized the conservatives' poor response to the mutineers. A wave of outrage would sweep over Italy and Belgium post-war, the former because of their gain of only a few small territories, and the latter because they believed the Germans had not been punished enough for the war, having been invaded and subjected to harassment by the Germans. Many new nations, such as Czechslovakia, Poland, the Baltics, and Finland would be born out of the rubble and ashes of Europe. Britain, while never seeing the level of criticism that the French government got, would still see plenty of people become more skeptical and critical of the establishment. Japan, while being a victor in the war, would not see itself become as fully respected on par the white nations, something that they would remember. China continued to buckle under warlords and disunity. The United States, while not taking part in the war itself, would take a greater interest in interventionism, helping establish the League of Nations in January 1920.
A new age of Humanity had begun.
(Note: No Zimmerman Telegram ITTL, so America never joins.)
A world-famous photograph taken of soldiers celebrating during the May Mutines, sometimes also called the Second Truce or Spring Mutinies. As the Great War (later renamed to World War 1) continued to rage on into 1917, with no end in sight, and with the soldiers on all sides growing more and more shell-shocked and tired by the day, and the governments more and more determined to end the war. It seemed that yet another Christmas would pass without the boys coming home. That was until May, when several French divisions and battalions started refusing to follow orders to attack, which were intensified after June 8th, when the Military trying to put down the growing unrest failed, after attempts at mass arrests were met with retaliation, only further infuriating the homesick, traumatized, and overall rebellious soldiers, young and old alike. Things would only spiral out of control, after news of the outbreaks of the mutinies reached the public by July, which saw not only saw increased support for ending the war amongst the Public, but also copy-cat mutinies amongst British, German, Italian, and even Austro-Hungarian soldiers, with things escalating by August as both the Pope and US President had come out and publically supported an end to the war.
August would basically see most if not all fighting end on the Western Front, with Frenchman, Brit, and German alike all refusing to fire any more shots, throw any more grenades, drive any more tanks, or fly any more planes, as their families and friends protested for their return back home in the major cities. Only the truly jingoistic and war-hungry of the battalions were wanting to step into no man's land, alongside with Belgian and Luxemburgish liberation movements continuing their resistance against their German occupiers. Rising numbers of deserters and mutineers were also seen in Italy, Austria, and Bulgaria. On August 31st, a ceasefire would be officially declared, ending all fighting as the governments of the Entente and Central Powers opened up communications to end the war between them, with U.S Advisors also arriving to help in the peace agreements.
On November 11th, 1917, a day that would be remembered as Remembrance Day, the War to end all Wars came to an end, with around 35-40 million deaths after 3 years of fighting. The Kaiser would resign before the peace agreements would fully materialize, having become majorly unpopular. Austria-Hungary and the Ottomans would both collapse by 1918. Russia would continue to go through unrest, with the assassination of communist leader Vladimir Lenin in July causing his Bolshevik movement to fracture, and the fleeing of the Tsar's family. France would see a wave of left-wing support, especially after many criticized the conservatives' poor response to the mutineers. A wave of outrage would sweep over Italy and Belgium post-war, the former because of their gain of only a few small territories, and the latter because they believed the Germans had not been punished enough for the war, having been invaded and subjected to harassment by the Germans. Many new nations, such as Czechslovakia, Poland, the Baltics, and Finland would be born out of the rubble and ashes of Europe. Britain, while never seeing the level of criticism that the French government got, would still see plenty of people become more skeptical and critical of the establishment. Japan, while being a victor in the war, would not see itself become as fully respected on par the white nations, something that they would remember. China continued to buckle under warlords and disunity. The United States, while not taking part in the war itself, would take a greater interest in interventionism, helping establish the League of Nations in January 1920.
A new age of Humanity had begun.
(Note: No Zimmerman Telegram ITTL, so America never joins.)
