Photos from Featherston's Confederacy/ TL-191

[SandroPertini98]

Actually some Nationalists’ leaders didn’t plan to restore monarchy, like Emilio Mola:
In a memorandum dated 5 June 1936, Mola envisioned a "republican dictatorship" based on the Portuguese model. The initial government would consist of a "directory" that would oversee a semi-pluralist but authoritarian state. According to Mola: "The Directory will guarantee no change in the republican regime during its administration, with no change in any worker claims that have been legally obtained" but would "create a strong and disciplined state".[4] The 1931 constitution would be suspended and new elections would be held. Certain liberal elements, such as separation of church and state and freedom of worship, were to be maintained. Agrarian issues were to be resolved by regional commissions with the aim of developing small holdings, but allowing for collective cultivation in some circumstances.[5]

Then we have consider TL-191 Spain was impacted when Japan attacked it in early 1900s. So, that’s my idea about the events:
- the young, liberal King Alfonse XII died in 1885 by dysentery. Queen Consort Maria Cristina became Queen Regent for their unborn son Alfonse XIII.
- in 1902 Alfonse XIII is crowned as King but shortly after Japan attacks Philippines and Guam. The Spanish Fleet is disastrously defeated. The Kingdom is in full turmoil, troops violently represse protests and then an anarchist, Gaetano Bresci, shoot to Alfonse to vindicate them.
- his sister Maria is the new Monarch of Spain but she died in 1904 due childbirth. Her three-years-old son Alfonse XIV is the new King but his father Carlos of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, a Royal Inspector of Army, is made Regent.
- in 1917 Alfonse XIV is crowned as new King. After years of rigid semi-militar leadership, the new monarch pushes to relax autocratic rules. He takes also a pro-German view to gain diplomatic support to replace definitely France in Morocco.
- after post-First Great War turmoil causes instability and strikes in Spain, Alfonse XIV choose to approve a full democratic government, nominating a coalition of liberals and moderate socialists. As young King, many are tending to consider power abuses a responsibility of court’s aristocrats and his father, the old regent, so the anti-monarchy sentiment is weaker.
- after the 1929 Crash, economic and political instability explodes while parliamentary democracy proves hard to manage. While Right and Left fight each other, the King proves unable to solve the political crisis but also unwilling to disband the parliament and rule by decree as the authoritarian hardliners want.
- after the King refuses to crack down a general strike and persists in negotiations with the center-left to bring stability to Spain, Mola and others hardliners came to the conclusion that Alfonse is to weak to “do his duty and save the country”. The plotters have various view about the future of Spain (Mola prefers Republican Dictatorship option, while others call to simply replace the “foreign” Bourbon-Two Sicilies line with the more conservative Carlist one) but agree to overthrow the current government and forma militar junta (this is similar to OTL Nationalist, as Mola was pro-Republic while Sanjuro was pro-Monarchy).
- then plotters launch their coup with Entente support and start the civil war between Nationalists and Monarchists.

 

[BigAbeRangel]

Good eye! Yeah it'll still be a "republican dictatorship" ITTL. In Craigo's post here from Filling the Gaps, he has Alfonso XIII and Sanjurjo lead the Monarchists (strictly abiding by his views despite having to fight alongside left-wingers), Franco dying early in the war, the war going the same but slightly different, and José Antonio Primo de Rivera becoming the Falangist leader of Spain.

Actually some Nationalists’ leaders didn’t plan to restore monarchy, like Emilio Mola:
In a memorandum dated 5 June 1936, Mola envisioned a "republican dictatorship" based on the Portuguese model. The initial government would consist of a "directory" that would oversee a semi-pluralist but authoritarian state. According to Mola: "The Directory will guarantee no change in the republican regime during its administration, with no change in any worker claims that have been legally obtained" but would "create a strong and disciplined state".[4] The 1931 constitution would be suspended and new elections would be held. Certain liberal elements, such as separation of church and state and freedom of worship, were to be maintained. Agrarian issues were to be resolved by regional commissions with the aim of developing small holdings, but allowing for collective cultivation in some circumstances.[5]

Then we have consider TL-191 Spain was impacted when Japan attacked it in early 1900s. So, that’s my idea about the events:
- the young, liberal King Alfonse XII died in 1885 by dysentery. Queen Consort Maria Cristina became Queen Regent for their unborn son Alfonse XIII.
- in 1902 Alfonse XIII is crowned as King but shortly after Japan attacks Philippines and Guam. The Spanish Fleet is disastrously defeated. The Kingdom is in full turmoil, troops violently represse protests and then an anarchist, Gaetano Bresci, shoot to Alfonse to vindicate them.
- his sister Maria is the new Monarch of Spain but she died in 1904 due childbirth. Her three-years-old son Alfonse XIV is the new King but his father Carlos of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, a Royal Inspector of Army, is made Regent.
- in 1917 Alfonse XIV is crowned as new King. After years of rigid semi-militar leadership, the new monarch pushes to relax autocratic rules. He takes also a pro-German view to gain diplomatic support to replace definitely France in Morocco.
- after post-First Great War turmoil causes instability and strikes in Spain, Alfonse XIV choose to approve a full democratic government, nominating a coalition of liberals and moderate socialists. As young King, many are tending to consider power abuses a responsibility of court’s aristocrats and his father, the old regent, so the anti-monarchy sentiment is weaker.
- after the 1929 Crash, economic and political instability explodes while parliamentary democracy proves hard to manage. While Right and Left fight each other, the King proves unable to solve the political crisis but also unwilling to disband the parliament and rule by decree as the authoritarian hardliners want.
- after the King refuses to crack down a general strike and persists in negotiations with the center-left to bring stability to Spain, Mola and others hardliners came to the conclusion that Alfonse is to weak to “do his duty and save the country”. The plotters have various view about the future of Spain (Mola prefers Republican Dictatorship option, while others call to simply replace the “foreign” Bourbon-Two Sicilies line with the more conservative Carlist one) but agree to overthrow the current government and forma militar junta (this is similar to OTL Nationalist, as Mola was pro-Republic while Sanjuro was pro-Monarchy).
- then plotters launch their coup with Entente support and start the civil war between Nationalists and Monarchists.

 

[S. Marlowski]

The Snake's Last Hole - Featherston's Presidential Bunker

One of the earliest known photographs of the infamous Presidential Bunker, circa 1945.

In early 1938, President Featherston would give orders authorizing the construction of an underground bunker to protect him and his staff in case of air raids against Richmond. By 1940, the bunker would be finished, and on September 3rd, 1941, the bunker would put into use when the US Air Force launched it's first air raid on the city, but Featherston was out of town at the time. In December of 1941, Attorney General Ferdinand Koeing would authorize the construction an extension of the bunker, including additional guard rooms, a generator, and a communications room. Throughout 1942, this extension would be built below the original section (which in time would be known as the Upper Bunker,) the work would be completed by November of 1942.

Floor plans of both the Upper and Lower Sections of the Presidential Bunker.

The Presidential Bunker Complex was a rather complex one, featuring it's generator to provide it's own power for it's lighting, the pumps, and the communications. It also housed a communication room, a sickbay, tunnels leading to nearby buildings and to an underground garage, a kitchen, lavatory, conference room, quarters for both Featherston and Lulu Maddox, and even a complex gas proof system. The Bunker would be put into use as Featherston's main headquarters when he and his staff moved in on October 28th, 1943, in which they remained there right up until the very end of the Battle of Richmond on July 6th, 1944 when Featherston made his ill-fated flight to his new headquarters in Florida. Afterwards, the Bunker would used a both an Aid station and as a command post for General Walton Walker until his surrender of the city of Richmond on July 9th, 1944. Following the surrender of it's occupants, Union Military personnel would examine the bunker and would also take many souvenirs from it, several officers and generals (both Union and Foreign) would get a look at the bunker, notably Generals Irving Morrell, Mark Clark, Ironhauer, Abner Dowling, as well as Presidents Charles LaFollette and Tom Dewey and a few congressmen. Other notable visitors to the bunker included German intelligence officer Waldemar Fegelein, OSS Head Jack Donovan, journalist James O'Donnell, among others. In 1947, the US Army would make the decision to seal off the bunker, which would lay forgotten until it was rediscovered and explored by Richmond City Engineers in 1988. After the exploration of the bunker, the City Council for years was undecided on what to do with the bunker, until in 1991 when it was decided to permanently seal off the bunker by filling all of the entrances with cement. In popular culture, the Presidential Bunker would become known as the Snake's Last Hole and would be the setting of numerous films of Featherston. Notably the 2004 Oliver Stone film Collapse, in which scenes of that film were dubbed in German in a satirical way giving rise to the Bunker Parodies on the internet.

A few photographs taken of the interior of the Presidential Bunker by the City of Richmond Engineers in 1988.​

 

[rob2001]

The Snake's Last Hole - Featherston's Presidential Bunker

One of the earliest known photographs of the infamous Presidential Bunker, circa 1945.

In early 1938, President Featherston would give orders authorizing the construction of an underground bunker to protect him and his staff in case of air raids against Richmond. By 1940, the bunker would be finished, and on September 3rd, 1941, the bunker would put into use when the US Air Force launched it's first air raid on the city, but Featherston was out of town at the time. In December of 1941, Attorney General Ferdinand Koeing would authorize the construction an extension of the bunker, including additional guard rooms, a generator, and a communications room. Throughout 1942, this extension would be built below the original section (which in time would be known as the Upper Bunker,) the work would be completed by November of 1942.
View attachment 618721View attachment 618722
Floor plans of both the Upper and Lower Sections of the Presidential Bunker.

The Presidential Bunker Complex was a rather complex one, featuring it's generator to provide it's own power for it's lighting, the pumps, and the communications. It also housed a communication room, a sickbay, tunnels leading to nearby buildings and to an underground garage, a kitchen, lavatory, conference room, quarters for both Featherston and Lulu Maddox, and even a complex gas proof system. The Bunker would be put into use as Featherston's main headquarters when he and his staff moved in on October 28th, 1943, in which they remained there right up until the very end of the Battle of Richmond in July of 1944. Following the surrender of it's occupants, Union Military personnel would examine the bunker and would also take many souvenirs from it, several officers and generals (both Union and Foreign) would get a look at the bunker, notably Generals Irving Morrell, Mark Clark, Ironhauer, Abner Dowling, as well as Presidents Charles LaFollette and Tom Dewey and a few congressmen. Other notable visitors to the bunker included German intelligence officer Waldemar Fegelein, OSS Head Jack Donovan, journalist James O'Donnell, among others. In 1947, the US Army would make the decision to seal off the bunker, which would lay forgotten until it was rediscovered and explored by Richmond City Engineers in 1988. After the exploration of the bunker, the City Council for years was undecided on what to do with the bunker, until in 1991 when it was decided to permanently seal off the bunker by filling all of the entrances with cement.

A few photographs taken of the interior of the Presidential Bunker by the City of Richmond Engineers in 1988.​

Nice map of the bunker. But if I remember correctly, Lulu Maddox's desk was right outside Featherston's office. At least that's the way it was described in the book, and it was actually a waiting room right outside his office, not a conference room. Because Clarnence Potter had to always cool his heels out there before seeing the president.

 

[Pangur]

Nice map of the bunker. But if I remember correctly, Lulu Maddox's desk was right outside Featherston's office. At least that's the way it was described in the book, and it was actually a waiting room right outside his office, not a conference room. Because Clarnence Potter had to always cool his heels out there before seeing the president.

Easy enough. The lounge becomes his reception

 

[BigAbeRangel]

Say when does Featherston and his inner circle moveout of the bunker exactly? I'm trying to picture the time length of Featherston's flight before his assassination. Also trying to pinpoint the relative dates of the atomic bombings.

The Snake's Last Hole - Featherston's Presidential Bunker

One of the earliest known photographs of the infamous Presidential Bunker, circa 1945.

In early 1938, President Featherston would give orders authorizing the construction of an underground bunker to protect him and his staff in case of air raids against Richmond. By 1940, the bunker would be finished, and on September 3rd, 1941, the bunker would put into use when the US Air Force launched it's first air raid on the city, but Featherston was out of town at the time. In December of 1941, Attorney General Ferdinand Koeing would authorize the construction an extension of the bunker, including additional guard rooms, a generator, and a communications room. Throughout 1942, this extension would be built below the original section (which in time would be known as the Upper Bunker,) the work would be completed by November of 1942.
View attachment 618721View attachment 618722
Floor plans of both the Upper and Lower Sections of the Presidential Bunker.

The Presidential Bunker Complex was a rather complex one, featuring it's generator to provide it's own power for it's lighting, the pumps, and the communications. It also housed a communication room, a sickbay, tunnels leading to nearby buildings and to an underground garage, a kitchen, lavatory, conference room, quarters for both Featherston and Lulu Maddox, and even a complex gas proof system. The Bunker would be put into use as Featherston's main headquarters when he and his staff moved in on October 28th, 1943, in which they remained there right up until the very end of the Battle of Richmond in July of 1944. Following the surrender of it's occupants, Union Military personnel would examine the bunker and would also take many souvenirs from it, several officers and generals (both Union and Foreign) would get a look at the bunker, notably Generals Irving Morrell, Mark Clark, Ironhauer, Abner Dowling, as well as Presidents Charles LaFollette and Tom Dewey and a few congressmen. Other notable visitors to the bunker included German intelligence officer Waldemar Fegelein, OSS Head Jack Donovan, journalist James O'Donnell, among others. In 1947, the US Army would make the decision to seal off the bunker, which would lay forgotten until it was rediscovered and explored by Richmond City Engineers in 1988. After the exploration of the bunker, the City Council for years was undecided on what to do with the bunker, until in 1991 when it was decided to permanently seal off the bunker by filling all of the entrances with cement.

A few photographs taken of the interior of the Presidential Bunker by the City of Richmond Engineers in 1988.​

 

[AstroRangerBeans]

The Snake's Last Hole - Featherston's Presidential Bunker

One of the earliest known photographs of the infamous Presidential Bunker, circa 1945.

In early 1938, President Featherston would give orders authorizing the construction of an underground bunker to protect him and his staff in case of air raids against Richmond. By 1940, the bunker would be finished, and on September 3rd, 1941, the bunker would put into use when the US Air Force launched it's first air raid on the city, but Featherston was out of town at the time. In December of 1941, Attorney General Ferdinand Koeing would authorize the construction an extension of the bunker, including additional guard rooms, a generator, and a communications room. Throughout 1942, this extension would be built below the original section (which in time would be known as the Upper Bunker,) the work would be completed by November of 1942.
View attachment 618721View attachment 618722
Floor plans of both the Upper and Lower Sections of the Presidential Bunker.

The Presidential Bunker Complex was a rather complex one, featuring it's generator to provide it's own power for it's lighting, the pumps, and the communications. It also housed a communication room, a sickbay, tunnels leading to nearby buildings and to an underground garage, a kitchen, lavatory, conference room, quarters for both Featherston and Lulu Maddox, and even a complex gas proof system. The Bunker would be put into use as Featherston's main headquarters when he and his staff moved in on October 28th, 1943, in which they remained there right up until the very end of the Battle of Richmond in July of 1944. Following the surrender of it's occupants, Union Military personnel would examine the bunker and would also take many souvenirs from it, several officers and generals (both Union and Foreign) would get a look at the bunker, notably Generals Irving Morrell, Mark Clark, Ironhauer, Abner Dowling, as well as Presidents Charles LaFollette and Tom Dewey and a few congressmen. Other notable visitors to the bunker included German intelligence officer Waldemar Fegelein, OSS Head Jack Donovan, journalist James O'Donnell, among others. In 1947, the US Army would make the decision to seal off the bunker, which would lay forgotten until it was rediscovered and explored by Richmond City Engineers in 1988. After the exploration of the bunker, the City Council for years was undecided on what to do with the bunker, until in 1991 when it was decided to permanently seal off the bunker by filling all of the entrances with cement.

A few photographs taken of the interior of the Presidential Bunker by the City of Richmond Engineers in 1988.​

A former desolated bunker where The Snake, followed by his cabinet members and officials had stayed but I do know that this bunker is part of pop culture trope based on German film, Untergang with The Snake rants.

Are there any surrounding myths or horror stories when it comes to abandoned bunker?

 

[Pelranius]

So... South Africa isn't an apartheid country? If so, then good choice!

It would be very unlikely for any country after SGW to tolerate laws that were similar to the Freedomite Confederacy.

Yep, not an apartheid country.

Of course, living in a "military that has a country" sort of situation isn't a barrel of laughs, but it's much better than OTL.

 

[S. Marlowski]

A US Army soldier looking at a destroyed railroad bridge across the Rappahannock, which was brought down by CS Army Sappers, circa 1944.

 

[Hexcron]

Patch of the American Free Army (AFA), a pro-Confederate Collaborationist Formation formed during the Second Great War under General George Van Horn Moseley, who defected to the Confederates after the fall of Ohio.

 

[Marklin]

 

[BigAbeRangel]

Nice. Have you read upon @PresidentMahan's post on him? It's a great read. In any case, Moesely would no doubt be a CSA collaborator due to his far-right views.There'd also be a place for William Dudley Pelley as well in TL-191.

Patch of the American Free Army (AFA), a pro-Confederate Collaborationist Formation formed during the Second Great War under General George Van Horn Moseley, who defected to the Confederates after the fall of Ohio.
View attachment 619862

 

[Hexcron]

Nice. Have you read upon @PresidentMahan's post on him? It's a great read. In any case, Moesely would no doubt be a CSA collaborator due to his far-right views.There'd also be a place for William Dudley Pelley as well in TL-191.

I have.

 

[S. Marlowski]

Somebody should make some in-universe screenshots of Youtube.

 

[Allochronian]

Photograph of an obscure failed politician, Amilcare Mussolini

During the 1920's, this Italian politician tried to get elected to the Italian Chamber of Deputies, but lost. Completely unknown outside of Italy, he obtained a short-lived recognition in his home country by saying that if he gets elected, "the trains will run on time". Initially, he founded his own version of an Italian Actionist Party but was not successful in obtaining a large following and eventually returned to his original political affiliation of Italian socialism. He would later die of poor health sometime during the 1950's.





*He was named after Benito Juarez in real-life and had two middle names, Amilcare and Andrea. I decided to let his father give him one of his middle names as a first name, since Benito would probably not be chosen due to the fact that he lost his entire country against the Mexican Imperialists. Not a very honorable choice for a name.
**In real-life, Mussolini was a socialist, but later formed his own party (National Fascism Party) and became a elected official of his country's legislative branch before becoming Prime Minister and later IL DUCE of Italy.
***I decided to stick with Turtledove's interpretation of Mussolini and add some more detail, even if I still disagree with it.

 

[Sunstone77]

English language cover of The Books of Magic series by Belgian author Niels Chaiman. Wildly considered to be the premier magical young adult series, the Books of Magic are one of the corner stones of Chaiman's dark fantasy Sandman Universe and follows 12 year-old Thomas Jaeger journey through the dark and magical dimensions of the universe and Thomas's decision to embrace or reject his destiny to become the worlds greatest magician.

*So yeah, Belgian Neil Gaiman creates TL-191's Harry Porter equivalent. Gaiman actually wrote and published the initial Books of Magic miniseries 4 years before Rowling got the Philosopher's Stone published, with the ongoing series running concurrently with the books for several years. And while the otl miniseries relied a lot on already established magical characters from DC comics, I'm going to say this version has characters "inspired" by characters from 191's DC equivalent but is mostly original material. Gaiman is also Belgian here because his great-grandfather emigrated from Antwerp to the UK around 1914. For reasons, he stays and keeps the original the family name.

 

[S. Marlowski]

A flight of U.S. Air Force P-27K Sky Sharks are seen battling with a flight of Confederate Air Force H-38E Hound Dogs over Central Tennessee, circa Spring of 1943.

 

[BigAbeRangel]

Love it. I'd definitely want to see one with some Boeing Screaming Eagles next.

A flight of U.S. Air Force P-27K Sky Sharks are seen battling with a flight of Confederate Air Force H-38E Hound Dogs over Central Tennessee, circa Spring of 1943.

 

[S. Marlowski]

Members of the German Actionist organization known as the National Socialist German Workers Party marching down the street of Kustrin, circa 1934. The National Socialist German Worker's Party was formed in the early 1930s, in which it's leaders had based much of their political doctrine off those of the Actionists in France and the Silvershirts in England. It even though the NSDAP was the largest organization of it's kind in the German Empire, it was not enough for them to become even remotely popular, in which the party would ultimately be banned by the German Government on the outbreak of war in 1941 and in the postwar years, would largely be forgotten by German Society.

 

[trekchu]

What's more IIRC there is a WoG out there that the shouty, anti-semite NonCom serving as Guderian's aide during the visit to occupied Canada before 2GW was Hitler...