Revolution! Or, A Victorian Cold War

[KitFisto1997]

Foreword

This is a rewrite of my Revolution! TL, originally published here. I've decided to redo nearly the whole thing from the ground up because I noticed a few holes in the original TL that ended up bothering me a bit too much.

This version of the TL will include images, maps and infoboxes to flesh out this rather insane universe where an early Communist Revolution sets off a century long Cold War that leads to a familiar, but simultaneously different Earth.

Here are the various PoDs that set this TL on its current course.

1. The survival of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
2. Communism (hereby referred to as Communalism) being proposed a few years earlier than OTL.
3. Quebec gaining independence during the American War for Independence
4. The Bourbon Monarchy survives the French Revolution, leading to a much smaller version of the Napoleonic Wars (without Napoleon at the helm of France however).
5. Austria-Hungary reforms after Revolutions of 1848 and manages to survive into the 21st century.
6. A weaker German Empire is overthrown in the early 1870's and is replaced with a pseudo-communist dictatorship.

Now, are you sitting comfortably? Here's a story to start things off...

-------

​

New Berlin (Durban), Condominium of Southern Africa, November 2015

The streets of New Berlin were busier than usual; seeing what kind of day it was; the hastiness of the crowds was justified. The Remembrance Day ceremonies had wrapped up a few hours’ prior, leading to an influx of veterans and normal civilians alike in the many beer halls that were seemingly out of place, given where they were located. A loud mix of German, English and an odd sounding variant of Afrikaans nearly overwhelmed one patron in particular as he entered the building.

His surprise from the use of German – especially this far from the Equator – subsided after a few seconds as his gaze shifted towards a man sitting in a private booth, who was signalling for him to come closer. The 20-something took a few cautious steps before walking towards the much older (and presumably much wiser) historian. The pair shook hands before the younger student took a seat with his informant.

The stranger introduced himself as Adolf Lieberman, his accent was certainly different compared to the German that the younger student spoke, hailing from far-off Berlin. He wondered if it would present any difficulties as his associate posed a question to him. Translation difficulties be damned.

“You must be Heinrich Mueller, if I’m not mistaken?”

Upon hearing the sounds of accented English, the student felt much more comfortable using his native tongue; which was a consequence of being born to a long line of British aristocrats and Royal Navy officers.

To others in this mysterious nation that was formerly known as South Africa (from his point of view, at least), he was merely known as Heinrich Mueller, a university student from Imperial Germany. His true identity, titles and all, was a closely guarded secret…

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Herr Lieberman. I hope you forgive me for such unpleasant circumstances… We can reschedule this meeting if you-”

Adolf shook his head before taking a sip from a glass of beer. “That won’t be necessary Herr Mueller. This is one of my favourite places for meetings.”

‘Heinrich’ nodded as he pulled out an attaché case that contained a few reams of A4 paper and pencils, perfect for note taking. “I hope you don’t mind giving me an insight into the life of one Otto von Bismarck? I’ve heard of your upcoming biography on the man himself. Surely a sneak peek wouldn’t hurt? It’s just for my papers on German history, nothing more and nothing less”

Adolf couldn’t help but laugh to himself as he pulled out a tablet from his coat, the sleek design of which made the student sitting in front of him raise an eyebrow. “I wonder if you were ever taught about the Arbeiter Republik in school, seeing that you have to come to me for answers…”

 

[KitFisto1997]

I see. And what happened to cause this North/South? Or will that be covered later?

Could you give a list of power bloc's and members? I see the British with Ireland is one of the biggest ones, like you said and with the map, but what of the others?

All of that shall be covered later. But a Korean War-esque conflict breaks out in the 1910's, which kick starts the use of Proto-WWII tactics. But first, the autobiography of one Otto von Bismarck...

------0------

- The Unsanctioned and Uncensored Biography of Otto von Bismarck -
Adolf Lieberman, New Berlin Press, 2015.

Otto von Bismarck is one of the more controversial leaders in German history. His name is among the ranks of the worst men in history, such as Enver Pasha, Colonel Gaddaffi and Ruhollah Khomeini. The 'Dear Leader' of the German people was born in Schönhausen in the Kingdom of Prussia in 1815. Bismarck became a highly respected military officer, graduating from a prestigious military academy in Berlin with top honours. It was around the 1840's that Otto became interested in politics, specifically fringe movements such as liberalism (which was already popular in France, Spain, the UK and Portugal).

Bismarck fought for a minor Royalist party during the Revolutions of 1848 that lead to the restructuring of the Austrian Empire and dissemination of what was known then as 'Utopianism' (an early form of Communalism). The teachings of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels also influenced Bismarck to join the rapidly rising Communalist movement that was left over from the 1848 wars.

It was from the end of the Revolutions to the toppling of the early German Empire that Bismarck began to travel throughout the German states, preaching his ideas of social and economic equality (which is seen as ironic by critics of the ideology, since he was of noble birth). But as the 1860's began to roll around, Bismarck emerged from prison in Berlin as a radical old man determined to destroy Die Sisteem.

Marx and Engels originally praised Bismarck as one of the most well-liked heads of the Communalist movement, but were a little concerned for his behaviour after he was released from prison in 1868. The formation of the German Empire (known as the North German Confederation at the time) in 1869 was the tipping point for the Socialist movement. A well-trained militia was created by Bismarck, being reinforced by thousands of peasants that were toiling away in the factories and fields of Germany.

With the pieces for a peaceful Europe in play, Bismarck was the player who would throw the metaphorical chessboard to the side and rebuild Germany in his own equality focused image... With the assassination of Emperor Wilhelm I in 1871, the stage was set for Bismarck's takeover. The German Civil War began that year, as did a new era for the whole world.

 

[KitFisto1997]

Bismarck and the Revolution, 1871-1900

------0------

- The Unsanctioned and Uncensored Biography of Otto von Bismarck -
Adolf Lieberman, New Berlin Press, 2015.

Part 2: Under New Management

After the last Royalist insurrections were put down in early 1873, Communalist rule was completely unchallenged as the heir to the former Empire. Wilhelm II had fled to London while portions of his cabinet took refuge in Lisbon. The new 'Iron Chancellor' then began to take steps to secure influence in in Northern and Eastern Europe, knowing that the monarchies of Britain, France, the Low Countries and Iberia were too entrenched to have for allies. But with the power of German industry and a very loyal military, Bismarck funded various insurrections in Scandinavia, Russia and the Poland-Lithuanian Commonwealth, all of which succeeded by the 1880's.

Now having the infinite supplies of Scandinavian lumber, Polish shipping fleets and Russian oil, Germany was prepared to spread the influence of the Worker's Republic throughout the world. But during the chaos of the Revolution, a small handful of Germans fled their homeland to places such as Transvaal, Portugal and Britain, with their Polish, Baltic, Russian and Scandinavian allies doing the same. These groups, still holding onto their old traditions, became a powerful political force in their adopted lands. This was the era of upheaval and revolution that has now been christened the Red Rebellion.

 

[KitFisto1997]

We now return to your regularly scheduled program…


------0------


"So, Herr Mueller..." Adolf looked towards the young student, who was busy taking notes from the history professor's tablet. "How is life back in the old Empire? I haven't set foot in Germany since the October Coup. The so-called ‘Frontier Life’ is surprisingly therapeutic…”

“A lot has changed in recent years; I can give you that much. Being a part of the post-Cold War Generation and the whole rapprochement with the West during the Baltic Wars have certainly eased the Anglophobia… But I have heard of a few diplomatic blunders involving a senior German diplomat and the French foreign office.” Heinrich sighed for a moment as he took a sip from a glass of whiskey before going back to his notes. The fact that he was working under an assumed name and his request for more action had already put enough stress onto his already hectic university schedule. “What have they gotten me into this time…”

Adolf gave a quick nod before taking a sip from his own alcoholic beverage. The fall of the Communalist regime in the 1980’s had brought back the monarchy to the economically beleaguered nation. After a rather rough period of social and economic hardship, the German volk had regained their rightful spot in the European hierarchy, relations with the West were normalised by the mid-1990’s and a cultural exchange between the British Empire and their German counterparts began in earnest. This post-Cold War era was far from peaceful, the rumours of a ‘Red Army Faction’ had been proven correct when an assassination attempt on Emperor Louis Ferdinand nearly succeeded if it wasn’t for a last minute tip-off to the authorities.

“You ever heard of those RAF fellows?” Heinrich asked his associate as the whole beer hall exploded into a cacophony of cheering. The British rugby team had apparently defeated the French by a rather tight margin.

“Die Fraktion?” the historian nodded with a sigh. “Made up of radical Stasi members and disgruntled government officials… Or so I’ve heard.”

“They’ve been quite a headache back home, my parents decided to send me here for security reasons… Not that I approve anyway…” Heinrich replied as he finished off his glass of whiskey and then continued to take notes from Adolf’s manuscript. It was the section on the end of the Liebe Führer’s life and his legacy…

 

[KitFisto1997]

- The Unsanctioned and Uncensored Biography of Otto von Bismarck -
Adolf Lieberman, New Berlin Press, 2015.

Spoiler: Image

Bismarck in 1900

By the end of his life, Otto von Bismarck had acheived many great things for Germany, restructuring of a previously regimented social heirachy into an apparently equal one, where economic and social freedoms were allowed for all. A somewhat democratic order was established in the new Reichstag, the Chancellor served for life while elected representatives advised Herr Bismarck on matters of defence, foreign policy and the management of the sprawling collective farms, mostly powered by the industrial might of the German nation.

By the time of Bismarck's death in 1901, Germany was the most powerful of the Communalist nations and one of the most technologically advanced nations on the planet, second only to the British Empire. The rest of the world, however, viewed Bismarck with disdain. His radical policies and overthrowing of the monarchy made life difficult for those who held sympathies for the Liebe Führer. The United Kingdom, while allowing limited travel for citizens who wanted to enter the country, declared a blockade in 1900, just one year before Bismarck's death at the age of 95.

In the months following his death, a power vacuum arose in the German capital. Many high ranking generals, union leaders and politicians attempted to fill the void, just as the German nation was on the verge of collapse, a General by the name of Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck sweeped through the Reichstag. Lettow-Vorbeck purged his opposition, filling the Reichstag with his supporters and those who were too scared to do anything. Vorbeck altered the original constitution of the State and reformed the ideology that Bismarck had created, forming a personaitly cult around himself and securing absolute power.

Spoiler: Image

Vorbeck in 1920

The era of Vorbeckist Germany had begun, just as the era of relative peace in Europe came crashing down with interesting developments in the Ottoman Empire...

------0------

Just to point out the painfully obvious parallels...

1. Lenin = Otto von Bismarck
2. Stalin = Paul Emil von Lettow-Vorbeck

 

[KitFisto1997]

Time for the first /true/ nation profile for the Revolution! Timeline. To start off, here's the United Kingdom...

------0------

The United Kingdom has long been known as the centre of Western culture and civilization. The influence of the Empire can be felt around the world, the widespread adoption of the English language for international trade and diplomacy has been the most noticeable effects. From the capital district of London to the industrial heartland of the Midlands and Scotland, the rugged coast of Cornwall and Wales alongside the Irish shipyards and farms, the United Kingdom is a linguistically and culturally diverse (but slightly more White than OTL) monarchy that has promoted peace and stability throughout the world.

History of the United Kingdom (1707-Present)

Formed in 1707 due to the personal union between the Kingdoms of England and Scotland, the Acts of Union secured the growth of the formerly backward Scottish nation into a region that was economically on par with their English counterparts. The Scots resisted assimilation into English culture, resulting in a compromise that was hammered out by Stuart monarch King James I. The London Agreement of 1612 stipulated that Gaelic was treated with the same legals status as English within the borders of Scotland. This agreement made the monarchy a 'Nation of Nations' with their own distinct linguistic and cultural identities, but also unified by a shared culture of 'Britishness' (often known as Britannicism in some circles) and unification under a single monarch. Even though there was a vocal majority who saw the Scottish as backward and unsophisticated clansmen, the legislation gave the Scots political equality in Westminster.

Fast forward to the early 19th century, with the rampant rise in Nationalism and Liberal ideals spreading via the French Revolution (More of a political movement than an outright revolution compared to OTL), the British-led Kingdom of Ireland had been under a personal union with the Crown since the days of the Commonwealth under Cromwell (long remembered as a sore spot in Irish history, but the locals have since forgiven Westminster). Fears of a revolt soon spread as a radical organisation known as the Irish Republican Army (inspired by the American Revolution) became a roadblock for the British government, but since the majority of the Irish parliament supported a peaceful resolution, the Acts of Union 1800 (Also known as the Anglo-Irish Compromise) solidified the existence of a truly United Kingdom.

After the Troubles in Ireland had faded into history, Westminster began to expand their holdings in the Pacific and India. But with the rise of a resurgent Mughal Empire, British colonialism was hampered to the West Coast of the subcontinent. But the acquisition of the Philippines and Patagonia from Spain during the collapse of the Spanish Empire in 1812 softened the blow of prestige for the Empire. Social reform was greatly increased during the early 1800's with the signing of Acts such as the Reform Act of 1832 which delegated more power to the landed gentry. Women's suffrage was legalised in the 1890's across the Empire as the unhampered growth of liberal, anti-reactionary ideals had taken the non-Communalist nations of Europe by storm.

The 'Welsh Question' was an issue during the 1860's as the movement for a Welsh Parliament began to gain traction. The Cornish people also began to protest for more autonomy due to the fact that the Cornish language was preserved by local legislation during the 1700's. After numerous debates in Westminster, the Brythonic Act of 1867 was signed, granting the Cornish (OTL Cornwall and Devon) and Welsh nations the linguistic autonomy that they had been campaigning for since the 17th century. Today, the United Kingdom is a bizarre melange of Celtic and English heritage, strengthened by centuries of legislation and an era of 'Good Feelings' between the Cornish, English, Scottish and Welsh peoples that will continue to prosper in this great United Kingdom.

--

"Rule Britannia! A History of the Empire"
Grant Mosely, Cambridge Journal of Contemporary Affairs, 2009.

------0------

So, what do you guys think?

 

[KitFisto1997]

Next update will cover the Balkan Wars and the Japanese War as the 20th century starts with a bang! But first, let’s finish this arc…

------0------

“Is that everything you need?” Adolf asked as he finished his second glass of beer. It had been around an hour since the rugby match between the UK and France had ended, giving most of the patrons no option but to leave the bar and try to make it across the street intact.

Heinrich looked up from his papers, having a small stack of notes in front of him that were full of information on the life of one Otto von Bismarck. It seemed the more he looked into the life of the man, the crazier this place seemed to get, and he was only scratching the surface of it too…

“Almost finished, just gotta write a few more things down…” Herr Mueller replied as he added one more quote from a former aide of the Liebe Führer before putting the papers into his attaché case. “Alright, I’m done” the German smiled as he handed the tablet back to the history professor. Heinrich looked at his watch, it was around 9.30. He had to get back to his safehouse soon. Otherwise his associates would be more than a little pissed off…

“Danke schoen for allowing me to do this, your work has been invaluable for my papers. I’ll be sure to cite you in my work!”

“Leaving so early?” Adolf said with a raised eyebrow. “It was great meeting with you anyway, auf wiedersehen!”

“Ja, Auf wiedersehen to you too!” Heinrich walked out of the beer hall and onto the busy streets of New Berlin. The young man felt out of his element, barely knowing his way around the place after his superiors sent him here only about a week prior. He hoped that his fellow operatives weren’t in the safehouse, otherwise it would be just a night of X-Files re-runs and drinking Victory Cola in-lieu of any Scotch Whiskey…

By the time Heinrich had approached the safehouse, little more than a 20 minute walk away from the beer hall, he noticed more than a few emergency services vehicles going past him, but he thought nothing of it as his pager suddenly went off, alerting him to a text message.

<SOMETHING BIG HAS JUST COME UP!>

“…Something big…?” Heinrich muttered to himself as he walked towards the door of the small, unassuming apartment block that was the safehouse for the particular operation that he was a part of. He noticed a few of his fellow operatives approaching him at a rather brisk pace, one of them being a man in his mid-to-late 30’s while his younger female associate caught up to him.

“Thank God… We were about to send out another Agent to find what was left of you…” the West Country-accented man spoke for a moment, clearly showing a look of relief on his face. “There’s been an attack by the Red Army Faction at the bar you were just at… Nobody survived…”

Heinrich was obviously stunned by this as he attempted to gather his wits. The man he’d just met a few hours ago - one Adolf Lieberman – was now nothing but a few dismembered body parts, scattered to the four winds. It only took a few seconds of silence before another voice spoke up.

“Now that His Lordship is still alive, how about we got down to business and tell Mister Wright where he’s being shunted off to next…” the younger woman - judging by her accent presumably an American one – said with a hint of bitterness or sarcasm, possibly not understanding the meaning of such titles that her fellow operative held.

“Marcus, you’re being sent to Constantinople. Intelligence suggests that we have yet another fact finding mission for you. The higher-ups need you to get sent over ASAP, we’ve arranged plane tickets for a flight out of New Berlin International that leaves in one hour. But with this attack, you’re going to have to be quick…”

“First the Eiffel Tower… Now this!?” Marcus, now felling a lot more comfortable that his real identity was being used, almost snapped after having faced the all-to-real possibility that he could’ve died. “Alright… I’ll just go upstairs and get my bags packed.”

------0------

Time to start the second arc! Any feedback/questions/helpful criticism would be appreciated!

 

[KitFisto1997]

After a few days of re-writes, here's the latest update!

--

Crisis in the Balkans 1900-1935

Somewhere over Thrace, November, 2015.

“And I ran. I ran so far away. I just ran I ran all night and day. I couldn't get away…”

Marcus was stuck in a state of constant weariness by the time the plane had made the rather tumultuous crossing over the Red Sea. The threats coming out of the Arabian government seemed to never end as the plane had just flown over Israeli-Palestinian aerospace. An announcement over the loudspeaker mentioned that the two Israeli fighter jets that were escorting them had made it back to base in Tel-Aviv. With Mecca and Medina being placed under UoN control, the British newcomer wondered if the situation could continue to hold out for as long as it did.

The music that was blaring from his old Walkman was probably the only thing keeping Marcus awake at this point, the coffee and alcohol having worn off a few hours prior. He felt a sudden drop in altitude as the sleek aircraft made its descent towards the runway at the international airport in Constantinople… “Better catch up on some sleep…” the diplomat-turned-operative muttered to himself as he allowed his urges to take over, drifting back towards the dark domain of sleep…

------0------

Constantinople, Kingdom of Greece.

“Welcome to Constantinople International Airport, thank you for flying with British Airways on our Concorde line. We hope you have a nice day at the crossroads between the East and West”

“At least I got there in one piece.” Marcus muttered to himself as he grabbed his bag and made his way to the tarmac. He was only staying in the country for a few days at the very most. His new target was an elderly Greek soldier who’d served during the Balkan Wars at a rather young age, 16 to be precise.

From what the young diplomat had heard during his stint in university, the Balkan Wars was a similar conflict to the Great War, albeit on a much smaller scale. The thought of seeing his great-grandfather fighting for the Empire in mostly open warfare seemed out of place, knowing of his exploits during the Battle of the Somme and the Gallipoli Campaign from where he was from. It seemed that trench warfare was skipped entirely during that era.

The young man reached the terminal and acquired the rest of his luggage. Marcus made his way out to the carpark, where his handlers had mentioned something about available transport, with that in mind, he eventually found the car that had a note taped to the windshield.

The aristocrat then unlocked the car doors and got into the car, the design of which he found quite unnerving. The somewhat futuristic aesthetic of the vehicle took a few seconds to get used to as Marcus pushed a small button where the key was supposed to be, with the sedan roaring to life not long after.

“Please enter your desired location, Mister Wright” the AI that was running the GPS system said in an RP accent.

“Uhh…” Marcus muttered for a bit before entering the address of the retirement home that he was to be transported to. The car then reversed out of the carpark and began to drive onto the crowded streets of the ancient city. The idea of a self-driving car wasn’t all that new to the diplomat, but it was still an awkward concept to get his head around.

“This place is nuts…”

------0------

The car pulled up outside of the retirement village, with the old gates automatically swinging open. Marcus made sure that he had his attaché case was in his hand as the car parked itself out of the old building, the design of which seemed to be a mish-mash of futuristic, Byzantine-era and British-inspired mid-20th century architecture.

Marcus got out of the car and walked inside the building, the interior also had some classical elements to it but was mostly modernised. A young woman of Turkic origin approached the man, holding a tablet in her hands.

“Ah, you must be Mister Mueller. Sir Coustas is ready for your interview, just follow me”

Marcus nodded silently at the nurse as she escorted him to a small room in one of the main buildings. The streamlined medical technology was a change from the bulky stereos and CRT monitors of his own timeline. At one end of the small room was a man - who barely looked like he was in his late 80’s at the most – smoking a cigarette whilst staring out of the window with a rather blank expression on his face.

“You must be the Kraut that I was told about… I hope you’re ready to hear the story of an old war veteran…”

Marcus, seemingly nonplussed by his comments, grabbed a chair as he pulled out the blank papers from his attaché case and starting to write.

“I’m ready”

 

[KitFisto1997]

- The Rise and Fall of the Ottoman Empire -
Melisa Yesilnil. Cambridge Journal of Contemporary Affairs, 1996.

With the end of the Bismarck government and the supposed instability in the German government, international attention shifted towards the East as the Japanese and the Ottoman Empire underwent huge upheavals with regards to Communalism and Ultranationalism (Known in OTL as fascism). The Ottoman Empire had suffered for years under neighbouring Russian and Persian governments and numerous insurrections in Egypt and the Levant as the local Arab population began to rebel against the Turkish dominated government in Ankara.

The Armenian population also became restless after the rise of the Transcaucasian Republic. The states of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia seceded from the Russian Empire during the German-backed coup, due to the distance between Moscow and these small nations, a military incursion was seen as a waste of resources and time. The three small nations had unified into a secular democratic federation with each nation having it's own legal system, heads of state and judiciary, just to name but a few. Numerous plebiscites had been organised by the governments of the Armenian majority regions in the Empire, but were struck down by the Ankara government.

With the rise of the Turkish general Enver Pasha in 1913 under the Young Turks Party, the problems of ethnic violence were seemingly solved as the new Vizer began to secretly deport those who spoke up against the government (or who were just not Turkish in general) to concentration camps scattered all over the countryside. The government merely claimed that they were factories after the rest of the world began to notice that the Turkish government was massing troops at the Greek border.

On the 1st of September 1919, the Ottoman Empire staged a Błyskawiczna attack on Greek positions as thousands of troops and tanks began to pour over the border with chemical bombardments following shortly thereafter...

This was the start of the Balkan Wars, one that would reshape history...

 

[KitFisto1997]

Here's some images to give an idea of what the Balkan War was like...

Spoiler: Image

Example of a captured Turkish tank, 1920.

Spoiler: Image

Turkish firing squad killing Greek partisans.

Spoiler: Image

Colourised image of a British Vickers Bomber, 1925.

 

[KitFisto1997]

- The Rise and Fall of the Ottoman Empire -
Melisa Yesilnil. Cambridge Journal of Contemporary Affairs, 1996.

The sudden barrage of chemical weapons and artillery from the Ottoman forces took the Greek government by surprise. King Constantine suffered a nervous breakdown after hearing the news of the invasion. The rest of Europe reacted in a similar fashion, with the British garrisons on Cyprus and Malta made preparations to send their Mediterranean fleet through the Dardanelles to aid the Constantinople government. With the hoards of Turkish forces flooding over the border, Bulgarian and Austro-Hungarian forces also began to mass at the Greek border, ready to give any assistance to the Greek Kingdom.

Allies of the Anti-Turkish Coalition

• United Kingdom
• France
• Greece
• Austria-Hungary
• Bulgaria
• Romania
• Italy
• Netherlands-Belgium

 

[KitFisto1997]

“So… Would you mind telling me about your time in the Balkans?” Marcus asked the elderly veteran. Alexandros Coustas let out an audible sigh as he threw the cigarette out of the window and moved himself over to a nearby chair so that he could get a good view of his associate.

“The Balkans was the powder keg of Europe, especially after the Ottoman government got overthrown back in 1913 by Enver Pasha… I was only a boy then, just tending to the family farm in Thrace. The war started in 1919 when the Ottoman Air Force began raids on the nearby towns. Constantinople was shelled before it was re-captured in mid-1920. That was when I signed up for the war…”

Marcus nodded as he started to take notes, thinking of what Coustas had gone through whilst with the British and Greek regiments. The war seemed like more of the Second World War he was familiar with than the Great War his family fought in. The rapid adoption of combat-ready aircraft and tanks by both sides in an attempt to challenge the Germans in the 1900’s must’ve been the reason why.

Coustas continued to talk, attempting to discuss his time in the military with a rather level tone. But Marcus knew that he would slip up somewhere along the line…

“I was sent to hold the line against the Turkish forces in 1922 by the British.” The elderly veteran let out yet another audible sigh before lighting another cigarette. “The constant chemical weapons and those damned artillery strikes killed most of our men. I remember hearing the screams of our Austrian brethren dying amongst our French and British commanders…”

“War is hell, Mister Mueller. The Balkans were seen as a never ending hell for us. 1923 was the worst, we thought that the Turks would win, by that time they’d overran most of Greece, leaving only a few islands and the Peloponnese unconquered as their unstoppable armies marched into southern Austria-Hungary.”

The young aristocrat nodded in response. He specifically remembered his great-grandfather having served on the Somme and Gallipoli, the latter of which having still have occurred in this strange timeline, but with much better results…

“I do hope that you have a strong stomach…”

------0------

Any questions?

 

[KitFisto1997]

- The Rise and Fall of the Ottoman Empire -
Melisa Yesilnil. Cambridge Journal of Contemporary Affairs, 1996.

The Invasion of Southern Austria-Hungary (1923-1925)

The invasion of Austria-Hungary was seen as the final straw for the Ottoman Empire. Enver Pasha's aim to recapture 'rightful Turkish territory' (which is thought to have made up of Yugoslavia, Greece and the rest of the Balkans). December 7th, 1923 has since been known as a 'date that will live in infamy' as the Ultranationalist Ottomans marched into neutral Macedonia, breaching the Balkan Agreement (a treaty that gave Macedonia, Romania and Albania neutrality in international affairs). Skopje was quickly occupied as the Macedonian Royals fled into Hapsburg-ruled Yugoslavia, which the Ottomans attacked within hours of seizing Macedonia. During the Siege of Dubrovnik in 1924, the first use of Nazor Cocktails was recorded, being used by Croat freedom fighters as urban warfare was revolutionised...

But as the Ottoman jackboot began to fall across the Balkans, an unlikely saviour from the Far East would save the old Empires. The Pahlavi dynasty was soon to prove itself, long having been the playground for British and Russian interests. The enforced modernisation from the newly crowned dynasty had brought the nation to *modern* levels. It was 1924 when the Shah decided to declare war on Turkey. Operation Akkad went ahead with a bang...

 

[KitFisto1997]

History of the Austro-Hungarian Federation.

Ever since the collapse of the Holy Roman Empire in 1816 after the Liberal uprisings, the Austro-Hungarian Federation has been a beacon of light for a multicultural Europe. The Empire is one that promotes religious and diversity while maintaining the old systems of governance that stretch back to the days of old HRE. The end of the Holy Roman Empire was due to the rise of liberalism and religious tolerance from an increasingly radical public. The reactionary Hapsburg governments in Austria and Bohemia at the time opposed this change, while a powerful minority of Prussian Junkers and their British, French and Hanoverian allies were more than keen to spread the ideas that the French Revolution had implemented on their Bourbon monarchs.

After the HRE was declared defunct in 1816, the Austrian Empire was declared, holding sway over huge swathes of territory that extended to Lombardi and Venice up to the Russian border that the Hungarian and Romanian hussars so valiantly guarded from the Tsarist monsters of the Far East. Most of the early 19th century was considered an 'Era of Good Feelings' for the continent, even though Liberal governments were being established in the formerly conservative states in Western Europe, the Hapsburgs acted as a buffer of sorts to the ideology that preached acceptance of the Protestant populations (among other things) in the nations that were once known for committing horrible massacres during the Reformation.

As the 1830's and '40's came around and the rise of the Scandinavian realm in 1839 under a conservative government, many liberal groups decided that it was time to take action against the government of Metternich in Vienna. The Liberal Revolutions of 1848 shook up most of Europe as anti-reactionary rebels made attempts at unifying the German states that weren't under de-facto Austrian control (these states being Bavaria, Baden and Württemberg). The attempts at a Pan-German state had failed, but by the time the rebels in Hungary had been squashed, an army made up of disgruntled Hungarian, Czech and Austrian liberals had stormed Schonbrunn Palace and had arrested Metternich. The police state that he'd created post-HRE was quickly dismantled as Emperor Ferdinand I declared (albeit reluctantly) that "The peoples of the Danube have spoken."

The creation of the Austro-Hungarian Federation was made official on the 8th of June 1848 with the creation of a sovereign federation of states that, while autonomous and almost considered independent states, are unified under a single supra-national legislature that protects the rights of all citizens. While the new Constitution that was adopted in 1848 wasn't perfect, it laid the groundwork for further reforms under Chancellor Hitler in the 1930's.

Today, the Federation (also called 'Danubia' by others) is major tourist hotspot in Europe. Being one of the most safest nations in Europe and host to beautiful museums and castles certainly goes a long way. Especially if you have a nickname as proud as 'The Jewel of the Danube'.

Viribus Unitis...

"History of the Hapsburg Realms, 1800-Present"
R. Edelstein, University of Vienna. 2016.

 

[KitFisto1997]

"I do hope that you have a strong stomach..."

Marcus watched with trepidation and maybe a bit of legitimate curiosity as the old veteran grabbed a shoe box that seemed to be full of old photos and tapes from during the war. Hopefully it would give him some information on why groups like the Red Army Faction were still alive and kicking, even after the fall of the German regime so many years ago... Alexandros opened the box, showing a few photos of his experiences during the war, photos of the KB (Koruma Bölük - Protection Squadron) members being trialled, his fellow Greek soldiers dying amongst their Austrian and British brothers-in-arms and last but not least, a few images of the 500,000 dead Armenians that were murdered during the Holocaust...

"I still remember seeing the bodies being piled up when the British liberated the camps in 1926..." Alexandros sighed, trying to keep the terrible memories at bay. "You can take these off my hands. I don't need them anymore."

Marcus raised an eyebrow before reluctantly taking the box and putting it beside his chair. "Thank you, I'll be sure to make use of these for my research."

The elderly veteran nodded, adjusting something that was attached to his legs, possibly an exoskeleton of some sort that was keeping his century old body from rotting any further. Marcus glanced out of the window, noticing the ancient Hagia Sofia in the distance as the roads were seemingly clear of traffic. But he did noticed a small van parking in front of the retirement village, seemingly an older German model from 30 years ago. It was at that moment, the Agent knew that something was terribly wrong as a few balaclava-clad men toting old assault rifles came into the reception as the screams of the elderly and others began to fill the air...

"Oh God... No..."

 

[KitFisto1997]

New update!

--

"Oh God... No..."

As soon as the shooting had begun and the screams of the elderly filled the air, Marcus's instincts immediately kicked in as he drew the curtains, hoping that nobody saw him and Alexandros in the room. "Shit... Shit, shit, shit! It's the bloody Faction!"

Alexandros quickly opened the box, going through the papers and tapes until he dug out a small service revolver and handed it to the aristocrat. "Take this and go... They might as well be here for me."

Marcus shook his head, showing a rare warrior spirit that was seemingly against his usual office working persona. If his training at HQ taught him anything, it was to never leave anyone behind. "I can't leave you here. You're too valuable to my organisation, being the last living veteran of the Balkan Wars makes you a big target for any hostile militias..."

"Your organisation!?" Alexandros raised an eyebrow, the sounds of heavy footsteps and gunfire getting closer by the second. A flashbang grenade then rolled into the open doorway as Marcus tackled the man to the round, hoping that he didn't break anything. A blinding flash of light and a rather loud bang stunned the pair as Marcus put on a pair of sunglasses before being picked up by the collar of his jacket and meeting face to face with the man who had started the whole fiasco...

"Are you a follower of Bismarck?" a clearly Germanic voice boomed.

"Oh, hello there, darling~" Marcus smirked as he lifted up the glasses, making an attempt to mock a man who would seemingly be able to kill him in seconds.

"I suppose not... You're a lost cause... The Rote Armee Fraktion will rise and reclaim the land that we once took from those degenerate Kaisers and their cackling barons..."

Marcus rolled his eyes, but his glasses made sure that the Communalist merc wouldn't see it. "You keep living that dream... A dead dream... What are your intentions here? Bitte, we are both men of blut un eisen. Ja?"

 

[KitFisto1997]

Here's the second last update to the Balkan Wars!

--

The Rise and Fall of the Ottoman Empire
Melisa Yesilnil. Cambridge Journal of Contemporary Affairs, 1996.

The Beginning of the End for the Empire (1925-27)

Within a few months of the declaration of hostilities between the Greater Ottoman Sultanate and the Persian Empire, Enver Pasha was being forced into a two front war – something that he’d wanted to avoid. His War Cabinet, seeing the occupation of Greece as the finest hour of the Aegean Campaign, was too busy trying to defend themselves from superior Persian armour and artillery as they managed to cut a bloody swathe through the Eastern Anatolia.

By the summer of 1925, a new front had opened up in Italian Libya as Italian forces joined the fray under command of one Benito Mussolini, formerly the Minister for Transport. Mussolini joined his British counterparts on an all-out blitz on weakened Ottoman positions by launching numerous naval blockades of Alexandria and sending smaller ships to perform various raids on Ottoman convoys in the Nile. By early 1926 Operation Luxor had succeeded at destroying many key naval outposts that were vital to the Ottoman war effort in the Red Sea and along the Nile River. The first land invasions and seizures of major cities such Cairo, Alexandria and other Ottoman regions in Egypt began during this time.

After the Ottoman-Arab War in the late 1800’s, the Ottoman Turks had managed to seize and subsequently conquer the holy city of Mecca and the entirety of the Arab Peninsula – aside from the British and Italian colonies that were present in the area. The British were seeking a way to destabilise the region to distract the Turks from the Greek front and found an alliance with rebel Arab leaders that were led by Emir Faisal. The British garrison in Khartoum sent former archaeologist T.E. Lawrence to work as a spy and to sabotage any Turkish supply trains or telegraph lines. Lawrence accepted the position and began to wage a secret war against the Ottoman Turks in what is now Turkish Mesopotamia (an autonomous region of the Sultanate) as detailed in his autobiography The Seven Pillars of Wisdom. In the end, Lawrence’s campaign in the deserts of Mesopotamia succeeded with the capture of Damascus in late 1926.

The occupation of Southern Austria-Hungary wasn’t going well as Pasha pulled out the bulk of his troops to defend the ever-encroaching Persian Front and to resupply the Turks in Athens against the numerous amount of Greek partisans that were getting support from French airdrops that periodically flew over the city, with the Turkish anti-aircraft guns being taken down by British bombing campaigns.

By the start of 1927, the tables had turned drastically for the Ottoman Empire. Numerous Allied attacks had weakened the Western Front significantly, the naval and air attacks on Egyptian cities and the ongoing Arab Revolt had destabilised the region and last but not least, the ever-growing Persian advance that was trying to get to Constantinople and liberate the Greek capital.

The race was on to the Crossroads between the East and West. But one British naval officer would come up with a daring plan that would end the war in months, as opposed to years. Operation Overlord would be the most daring military invasion of the war and Winston Churchill’s career was in the balance, as was the fate of the Balkans…

 

[KitFisto1997]

History of the Californian Republic Part I


The California Republic (formerly the People's Republic of California) is a prosperous nation located on the West Coast of North America. The region was once a sparsely populated province of Mexico, then facing a large amount of Anglo-American immigration from both the United States and occasional colonists from British Canada. The Mexican government responded by placing restrictions on the Anglo colonists and responded by moving small populations of Hispanic and Native peoples into the reason.

A culture clash began to develop as the combination of a language barrier and a general mistrust between the settlers from both sides started to fight in the small settlements that were set up in the area. By the 1820’s, the Mexican Army had to be sent into places such as San Francisco, Monterrey and San Jose to keep the peace. But after the initial floods of migration stopped and the local law enforcement and army garrisons were outnumbered by the local miners who’d come to the area due to a Gold Rush, talks of open rebellion and cession from Mexico began to spread after dissatisfaction with regards to mining licenses and the high rate of taxes that were placed upon the Anglo-Native population.

On the 14th of June 1836, the Californian Revolution began after the city of San Francisco erupted into civil unrest as Anglo, Hispanic and a small number of Natives rose up against the local Mexican government. The local British garrison in British claimed Oregon and their colony of Belize (now British Yucatan) marched into Mexican Alta California in an attempt to back the fledgling republic’s independence. British involvement in the war was made official after the House of Commons voted a week after British intervention had begun.

There are many reason as to why the British intervened in both Texan and Californian Wars for Independence, the modern consensus is that the British needed an ally to counter Amero-Russian expansion into the Pacific North West alongside a stable nation that they could trade with in the Pacific. After 2 years of fighting and the capturing of various cities in the south of Mexico and in Alta California, the Republic won its independence. Britain also gained the Yucatan Peninsula in an attempt to gain another foothold in the Americas.

The California Republic remained a pivotal part of the British sphere of influence. The Gold Rush in 1848 saw a spike in emigration from China, Japan and the British controlled Philippine Islands. The newly arrived Asian population were treated poorly during the Gold Rush, but as the decades progressed and liberal values began to sneak into the political system, the once-downtrodden were welcomed as a vital part of Californian society.

That would all change as the 20th century started to come around…

North American Almanac, 15th Edition. 1997

 

[KitFisto1997]

"You keep living that dream... A dead dream... What are your intentions here? Bitte, we are both men of blut und eisen. Ja?"

"Blut und Eisen? You're smarter than I thought~" the Rote Armee Fraktion leader smirked as he lowered Marcus down to his feet. The man then looked towards Coustas with a glare that seemed to imprint itself upon the veteren's consciousness. "You, however... You're a threat to our plans!"

"H-hey, just leave the guy alone. We might be able to neogtiate with the authorities." Marcus stammered, hoping that his words weren't minced as the man turn to face him.

"Negotiate? We do not negotiate with the authorities... Violence is the only mean to achieve our revolution! This man has seen too much, Mister Wright. He was a servant of those degenerate wogs and Englishmen who fought a pointless war to keep their empires alive... While we were content to fund those Turks... But that's all in the past now, isn't it~?"

"How am I not suprised..." Marcus sighed as he moved a hand into his jacket, making sure that the RAF leader wouldn't notice as he reached for his old, but still functioning Luger pistol. "My family fought in the Great War... We shed so much blood for our Empire. For King and Country... Then the nuclear fires burnt it all away decades later. Now look at me, Mein Herr." the young man shot his opponent a grin before aiming his pistol at his head.

"Your pointless struggle against Die Fraktion is useless!" the RAF leader chuckled before looking over his shoulder to one of his fellow militiamen. "Gunther! Kill the boy and the useless old man! We leave for London tomorrow..."

"J-ja! Kommander Köhler!" the young man pulled out a gun that resembled a futuristic version of an old Sturmgewehr 44. The man then fired a few founds into Coustas's head, killing the man instantly. Gunther then turned to face Marcus, his hands in the air as he approached the man with a look of despair in his eyes.

"Take the bloody shot! I fucking DARE YOU!"

Marcus felt a single bullet rip through his shoulder, the one place where that damned Kevlar wasn't protecting. Everything went dark as he collapsed to the cold hard floor, knowing that he survived.

"I'm so sorry... Mein liebe..."

 

[KitFisto1997]

The Rise and Fall of the Ottoman Empire
Melisa Yesilnil. Cambridge Journal of Contemporary Affairs, 1996.

Operation Overlord Part I (1927)

The final phase of the Balkan Wars was one of uncertainty as the Turkish armies seemed to hold the line at Constantinople. Persian gains in the East were still growing however as mass desertions began to spring up along the Turko-Persian Front. The Siege of Batman was one of the bloodiest sieges of the war with over 275-300,000 Turkish soldiers being killed as opposed to a mere 150,000 Persian soldiers. This Siege was a descsive victory for the Persian armies, giving the Allied Powers some much needed moral.

The Austro-Hungarian Front was nearly devoid of Turkish troops as Enver Pasha finally relented and pulled out most of the troops to defend Constantinople. The Siege of Dubrovnik was finally lifted in May of 1927 after the last of the Turkish armies were evicted from the edge of the city, having never broken through the ancient walls that surrounded most of the town. News had spread quickly throughout the Hapsburg realms that the Ottomans had fled to Constantinople in mid-April of 1927, giving the British, French and Italian navies time to put Operation Overlord into action.

Spoiler: Image

Winston Churchill (Background) with German Kaiser-in-exile Wilhelm II (Foreground) overseeing the troops in Venice, Austria-Hungary, circa 1926

Winston Churchill was a highly accomplished naval officer before the war, having served as First Lord of the Admiralty from 1911 to 1915. Churchill was selected as the Supreme Allied Commander alongside French Marshal Joseph Joffre and Austro-Hungarian Naval officer Maximilian Njegovan, with the trio being known as the 'Supreme Triumvirate' during the war. Churchill's plans of a massive naval invasion through the Dardenelles and into the heart of occupied Greek territory was seen as an insane prospect that might have destroyed his career if it had been proposed a few years earlier. But when the Ottoman Empire was at its weakest during the course of the war, the Royal Navy jumped at the chance and enlisted Churchill's strategic genius to draw up a plan of attack via the Dardanelles. Numerous false flag operations were used to distract Ottomans by suggesting possibly invasions of Cyprus, Ionia and Lycia. One famous operation by the name of Operation Mincemeat used the corpse of a Greek partisan under the pseudonym of Major Michael to plant fake information of an invasion of Ionia in an attempt to divert naval forces from the Dardanelles. These false flag operations were a success as the 9th Armoured Panter Division under the command of Cevat Çobanlı was pulled back to Ionia to defend the newly built Aegean Wall a series of anti-naval and infantry emplacements that were lining the Anatolian Coast. Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery was selected to lead a Commonwealth Contingent of mostly British and Australian soldiers to capture various beachheads and towns in the peninsula.

Spoiler: Map

Map of Landing Sites for Operation Overlord, circa 1927.

The landings began on June 6th, 1927. These landings signalled the end of the Greater Ottoman Empire and the death of Ultranationalism as a functioning political ideology.

TO BE CONTINUED IN PART II.