The History of the World Wars
The First World War
The Great War of 1869-1874 saw Britain and France pitched against the growing might of Imperial Germany. After the defeat of Austria in 1866 and the breaking of Habsburg power, Berlin had formed an embryonic empire out of the North German Confederation, and brought the remaining German states, now including Austria as a kingdom, into a Southern League, closely allied to and dominated by Berlin. The placing of a Hohenzollern on the Spanish throne had been the catalyst for war, but it was plain to everyone that the real matter at stake was whether or not Germany got to dominate the whole of Central and Eastern Europe. It was equally plain to everyone that in the event of a German victory, the Southern League would be swallowed whole by the Empire, and that a colossus would bestride the continent from North to South, united under the German Emperor. Neither Britain nor France could afford to see this come to pass, and thus despite setbacks and defeats, they fought through to victory, seeing the Southern League dissolved, Hannover win back its freedom, the duchies of Schleswig and Holstein seized by Denmark, and Germany broken for a generation.
Allied to Britain and France was Carlist Spain, though it would more correctly be said that this was created by Britain and France, backing the Carlists in a civil war against the Hohenzollern King Leopoldo who was eventually overthrown. Germany's principal ally was Italy, in 1866 having been handed former Austrian lands in the Southern Tyrol and Trentino for firm allegiance to the alliance, and now fighting to break the power of France and enable Italy to take the Papal State and move the capital from Florence to Rome. But allied to defeat, Italy lost, and things remained as they were before.
A global dimension was given to the conflict by Allied attacks on Hohenzollern Spain's Caribbean possessions, drawing both Mexico and the CSA into the war, though eventually ending up with British annexation of Puerto Rico and a French protectorate in Cuba.
Russia remained neutral at first, taking the opportunity to annex its protectorates of Krakow and Galicia, but when German defeat became obvious, Russia, along with Denmark, declared war and invaded. Belgium, by dint of the German invasion of its territory in the latter part of the war, was also cast as an Ally, and in the peace treaty would gain from this by being able to cast aside her former imposed neutrality.
The Second World War
Imperial ambitions in the decades since the end of the Great War had seen tensions grow and alliances shift, and Britain and France were now only acting in concert as rivals, determined to ensure that the other did not gain an advantage alone.
The catalyst for the war was the Philippine Revolution, with native forces seizing power and declaring a republic, and international naval forces heading for the area to enforce their claims. Madrid's Carlist government reminded Britain and France that the Philippines was by law a Spanish possession, and that Spain remained on paper an ally of theirs. But other forces were at work.
Whilst Spain despatched reinforcements, and Britain attempted to form a Neutrality Patrol similar to that being enforced off the coast of Norway, France and Japan got together and agreed a joint policy, hoping to force the issue before other factors intervened. They landed in Eastern Luzon, defeated a Spanish force, and united with the rebels to march on the capital. In turn, British forces landed in the West to protect the Spanish Governor in his remaining enclave.
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A confused situation is made the more so by large Russian and German presence, the former seeking influence and rights, but not to the point of war, the latter's position increasingly affected by events in Europe. As the Neutrality Patrol off the coast of Norway collapses, Sweden declares war on the Norwegian rebels and invades, whilst British and German naval forces stare each other out.
In the Far East, French reinforcements run into those from Spain and both sides begin firing thinking that the other is attacking. Britain is able to buy off the Russians, promising support for their ambitions in the Spanish N Pacific islands, and against Japan, as well as the promise of basing rights in Sabah.
News arrives from Europe that Britain and Spain are now at war with France as the wheels of politics grind out, and Japan declares solidarity with the French, launching a joint attack on the Spanish Governor's position which is defended by British and Confederate forces. Added to this is a French attack on the remains of the British-led Neutrality Patrol, sinking both the British vessels and the Italian and Belgian ones which had remained with it. In Europe, British and German cruisers almost come to blows off the Norwegian coast, and hasty efforts are made to find a diplomatic solution. This is done, with German agreement to withdraw, both from Norway and from the Philippines, and British support for German action in S Tanganyika, abandoning Zanzibar to her fate, and getting Portugal to waive her rights in the area.
Belgium and Italy declare war on France, neither having much choice in the matter after the sinking of their Far Eastern Naval forces, whilst Germany officially declares her independence.
Emperor Salvador II of Mexico is a convinced friend of France and cannot see how near to a vassal of that country his is. He declares war on Britain, Belgium, Spain and Italy, though his generals are at least able to prevent him from including the CSA in that declaration, arguing that Mexico's army is no way ready to defend itself against the full-scale assault of the Confederacy.
Confederate naval forces visit Hawaii to remind the Queen there of Confederate interests, whilst off the Philippines, the Confederate naval squadron suffers a loss, the first to a submarine of any warship when the cruiser CSS Stuart is blown out of the water by a French submarine which had been carried to the location aboard one of the cruisers newly arrived from France.
Russia begins actions against the garrisons of the Mariana and Caroline Islands, but as per the agreement with Britain does not declare war on Spain, preferring to act as if Madrid did not exist and that the local forces need only consider their position and surrender to the Russians.
Action in Europe is undeway, with Swedish victories against the Norwegian rebels, and a French invasion of Belgium, which is halted before Antwerp by a substantial landing of British reinforcements. Hard-fought engagements in the Channel and off S Ireland, see Britain just about maintain a superiority over the French fleet
Diplomacy canters out of control, with the CSA declaring war on France, and Japan reciprocating with a declaration of war against Richmond. The Confederacy issues an ultimatum to Mexico, demanding that it formally declare the Caribbean to be neutral territory. Salvador II cannot agree, and soon the CSA is at war with the Mexican Empire, whatever the Emperor's generals may have hoped
French naval forces smash those of Italy and land troops in supposedly neutral Rome, coercing the Pope into hosting them as a French expeditionary force grows under his wing, ready to strike North at the Italian capital. British and Italian units fight together against the French across West Africa, and Italy even manages a landing in the rear of French forces in Eastern coastal Senegal
Hungary declares its neutrality, as does the Ottoman Empire and the N African states of Egypt and Tunis who acknowledge full Ottoman suzerainty over them.
British forces are soon active in Spain again, this time bolstering the Carlist army in holding back half-hearted French attacks across the Pyrenees.
Mexican and Confederate forces clash on the border, whilst Japan invades Hawaii and defeats the CSA naval squadron that had remained there.
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The war lasted from 1899 to 1902, shorter than the previous conflict, which had now been renamed The First World War (or the First Great War).
In global scope it was far wider than the previous conflict, but with Germany maintaining a delicate neutrality the actions on land were less intensive until nearer the end. France was able to eventually convince both Bavaria and Austria to enter the conflict, aiming the one at the British-backed League which had been created as a customs union but undeniably had political overtones, and aiming the other at Italy. Bavarian forces over-ran the S German states, most of whom surrendered and switched sides, but Hesse-Darmstadt, standing by its treaty of alliance with Britain fought to the bitter end and was brutally occupied.
Italy, already reeling from the French invasion out of Rome now collapsed under pressure from the Austrians, and only British aid, mainly rushed from India through the Suez Canal, enabled a defence line to be created North of Naples. Italian units in the North retreated to Lombardy and Piedmont, whilst French forces even managed to subdue Sardinia, proclaiming a protectorate.
The independent Kingdom of Sicily, fed up with French incursions into its waters, and with most of its trade with Italy interdicted by French cruisers, or sunk by French submarines which were beginning to be deployed in some numbers, asked for British protection. With war raging across the African interior, British and French forces were clashing on an ever-increasing number of fronts, and British strength was being hard-stretched, with South African, West African and East African units deployed to the maximum in the jungles and deserts of North and West Africa.
Canadian forces stood guard against the USA, but enough had been spared to turn the defence of Antwerp into a largely Canadian enterprise, and to free up enough British forces to effect a landing in Hannover, and to slowly build up an army there. Australian and New Zealand forces were already engaged in the Philippines, in an ill-conceived and ultimately disastrous landing in Araucania, part of the French protectorate Kingdom of Patagonia, and in seizing some of the French Pacific islands.
Thus, more and more forces were coming from India, landing in Southern Italy, as well now in Sicily also.
The collapse came swiftly when it happened. Mexican forces broke in a series of weeklong battles, and the Confederate army swarmed into the Northern states. Salvador II survived both a coup attempt by his generals, and a popular uprising, using French garrison forces to put both down, but had to flee the capital to Vera Cruz, where French forces from Cuba effected a landing in the face of Confederate efforts to disrupt it
Japan, rampant in the Philippines and dominant in Hawaii was stabbed in the back by Russia, the latter having taken its time to act in accordance with its agreement with Britain, and who now descended on Southern Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands in force, Russian naval power having been significantly built up and able to sweep the seas of Japanese forces, defeating their main fleet off Tsu Shima, and inflicting a second defeat off Okinawa, which was also invaded from Russian positions in its colony of Formosa
Japan's declaration of war against Russia complicated the international scene, but was followed shortly by those of China and Korea, the latter managing to land forces on Tsu Shima with the support of its small navy, in the absence of any meaningful Japanese force at sea.
Britain and Germany signed a co-operation agreement, and the British army passed from Hannover through German territory to strike at the hard-pressed French and Bavarians. There now followed the heaviest period of fighting in central Europe, with the Bavarians being broken by a massed cavalry attack at Ulm, under General Sir John French, whilst the French were slowly driven back.
The defeat of the rebels, French and Japanese on Luzon was the final straw. French forces were evacuated back to IndoChina, but the entry of the Spanish governor into the ruins of Manila was a massive blow to French pride. Austria took the opportunity to sue for peace, and was allowed to keep its conquests in the S Tyrol, with Britain over-ruling Italian objections, Italy being more or less completely subjugated to British control of its armed forces as British and Indian forces fought their way up the peninsular, liberating Florence and uniting with the remnant Italian forces in the North.
The Pope, faced with a massed artillery barrage of Rome, held out for one day until the damage and the angry demonstrations of the populace forced him to back down and declare Rome an Open City. General Buller led his army into the Eternal City, whilst the French retreated to the coast.
With a British and Spanish advance over the Pyrenees now gaining ground, and laying siege to French cities in West and East, Napoleon IV was faced with advice from his generals to negotiate the best possible armistice before the situation became untenable. IInstead, he abdicated and left the job to his young son, Napoleon V only just of age and his first act of state being to request an Armistice
That was the end of the majority of fighting. In the Far East, Japan sued for peace pretty soon after.
The Peace Treaty which ended the Second World War was signed in Brussels, the Belgian King delighting in hosting the defeated French Emperor and his delegation. The congress was expanded to include all European, and global issues, and would last five months in all. Its points can be summarised thus :-
- France to cede its West African colonies (Guinea and Gold Coasts, not Senegambia) to Britain, Italy and Belgium
- Italy to cede S Tyrol to Austria, with Austria paying compensation for damage caused in her campaign
- Baja California, Sonora and Chihuahua to be ceded by Mexico to the CSA
- Spain to be confirmed in possession of the Philippines
- Guam, the Marianas and Caroline Islands to be ceded by Spain to Russia, with Russia paying compensation for damage caused in their acquisition
- Okinawa, the Ryukyu Islands, S Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands ceded by Japan to Russia
- Tsu Shima ceded by Japan to the Empire of Korea
- Bavaria to pay an indemnity to the other S German states, especially Hesse-Darmstadt
- France to pay an indemnity to Belgium
- France to pay an indemnity to Italy
- France to pay an indemnity to Spain
- Hawaii restored in full independence, guaranteed by Britain, Russia, China and the CSA
- Sweden confirmed in possession of Norway, with a union of crowns
- The Pope to cede his territorial rights in Rome to Italy, but retain the Vatican as an independent state
- France to cede Nice and Haute Savoie to Italy
- France to relinquish her protectorate over Cuba and allow the republic to exercise full independence
- Germany confirmed in possession of the S third of Tanganyika
The Road towards the Third World War
1902-1938
The USA had avoided embroilment in the Second World War, its position squeezed between the CSA to South and West and Canada to the North making it an ideal subject for multiple invasions.
Her trade had been hit hard by the Norwegian War and the sweeping from the seas of Norwegian merchant marine, but had picked up more from Germany and Russia, its other main trading partners, who were looking for new markets with the dislocation to trade caused by war at sea in Europe.
The 1900s and the 1910s were a boom time for the USA, as it was for the Confederacy, despite repeated rebellions in its new territories, for Britain and its Empire, despite serious trouble emerging in India in the latter part of the second decade of the century, and for Spain, Italy, Germany and Russia. France struggled to pay off multiple indemnities and was only at last rid of them in 1920, having bankrupted much of her own economy to achieve the feat.
Mexico saw a series of civil wars, until eventually Salvador II appointed General Zapata as Supreme Minister with the power to control absolutely any and all parts of society. His ten-year reign was to see atrocities on a scale that Europe could scarcely believe
1918 also saw Louisiana become the last state of the Confederacy to pass a General Manumission Act, freeing those remaining slaves, the majority of them elderly, that previous compensated manumissions and the confederal birth law of 1904 had missed.
The naval building programmes of the Second World War had been followed by a naval building race between the victorious powers, until in 1909 they agreed the Naval Limitation Treaty. Chief among the signatories were Britain, Russia, China and the CSA. The treaty limited battleships to a maximum displacement of 25000 tons, and its largest weapon as the 12" gun, for a cruiser 10000 tons and 8", for a destroyer 4000 tons and 4", and for submarines a maximum of 8 torpedo tubes, and a 2" deck gun
The US trade boom lasted into the early 1920s seeing living standards outstrip those in the Confederacy, with radios, fridges and automobiles becoming the norm. There was a boom in the stock market and everything looked rosy
Russia had become increasingly dominant within the Chinese economy, taking over the running of banks, steamship companies and industrial concerns, especially within Manchuria and the North-East.
1924 saw a backlash and popular rebellion against both the Russians and the Chinese Emperor, soon followed by Russian Intervention and a conflict that fragmented and sucked them in, ending up in the China War, an early result of which was the Russian Financial Crisis as it became obvious that Russian forces were bogged down and the Russian stock market crashed
This brought about a collapse in confidence within the USA, for whom Russia was one of the largest trading partners. In turn, the US Financial Crisis of 1925 impacted upon Germany who was now getting it from both directions, Russia and the USA being its major trading partners.
1926 saw a CSA-inspired plot when several counties of Western pennsylvania and Western New York state attempted to secede and join the CSA, where the Old North-West was still booming, unaffected by the collapse of the US economy
1927 saw the Polish Revolt, one trigger being increasing casualties in the China War that seemed to be incurred more heavily among Polish and Finnish recruited units, than those of ethnic Russians
The Persian Civil War in 1927 saw Britain able to have a free hand to intervene with Russia occupied in East and in West, Britain supporting its claimant of choice and elevating him to Shah
By 1928 the German Financial Crisis is becoming a more widespread one, the effects of the Polish Revolt and a short sharp war between Hungary and Bosnia on one side and Serbia on the other leading to economic depression
The Cuban Civil War broke out in 1912, after years of bitter manoevring in the wake of the removal of the French protectorate in 1902. Freed of French oversight, rival factions battle it out, French landowners are driven out, and the country suffers an economic collapse.
1927 sees CSA intervention in Cuba, with a strong expeditionary force bringing an end to the civil war, forcibly restoring order, and brutally suppressing new revolts as they break out
The Vietnamese Revolt of 1918-1922 is put down only with great difficulty by France
1928 sees the USA, with its finances partially restored, crash again on the back of the general European Financial Crisis
The attempted secession of Delaware leads to a civil war with various forces emerging once form of arms has supremacy over the ballot box, not least those of radical socialism on the one hand and popular sovereignty on the other
Britain is worried but by now is also badly affected by the Global Financial Crisis
CSA intervention in the USA occurs despite British warnings. As tensions mount, the CSA abrogates the Naval Limitation Treaty, laying down new very large warships and rapidly converting others to a standard beyond that agreed in 1909, especially the submarines
1929 Northern US states request British diplomatic protections
Britain and the CSA agree joint oversight of the USA
There are uprisings everywhere against a US government that would agree to such a thing
President Lansing resigns, and is replaced by President Smith, a socialist who can connect with the popular fronts
Confederate forces withdraw from the South and West, where they had been invited
1930s
Confederate - British relations are patched up
Economic recovery is underway by 1932, helped by the creation of a British federal empire, where the dominions are granted seats on an Imperial Council which is like an enlarged War Cabinet and where the highest level decisions are taken
Indian Civil War 1929-1935 breaks out on the back of a long period of discontent and thwarted British plans. Due to mass Indian involvement in both world wars (1869-74 and 1899-1902) the Congress Party wants parliamentary democracy before dominion status, whereas London and the princes want a federal dominion first
CSA economic recovery is brought about by confederal Rearmament
- large naval building plans
- airforce
- motorisation
etc
Russia crushes the Polish Revolt 1931, the revolt having become the Polish War with French, Swedish and Hungarian unofficial aid helping the Polish rebels to hang on
Russia extracts itself from the China War in 1933, agreeing and forcing the Peace of Naniking, whereby China will be governed by an Emperor, with a federal council and a parliamentary assembly. The peace lasts 6 months before the civil war breaks out again
Chinese Civil War 1934 +
Is still underway in July 1938 when WW2 erupts
In the CSA 1936 sees the Progressives come to power (think OTL Fascists as in Italy)
They increase Rearmament spending (which is already high), institute confederal building plans (aided by Progressive majorities in the states who vote them powers), and carry out enforced Americanisation of the Southern ex-Mex states
CSA interference in the USA erupts again after 1936, with support for the Progressive Party there, and constant efforts to undermine US President Garner in the South and West
The CSA clash with Britain seems to be a small thing, with Britain refusing to accept a Confederate-German plan for "regulation" of US mercantile trade. President Garner is relieved to be able to reject the Confederate plan, but CSA Progressive leader, President Long declares war on Britain
Underlying World War 3
China is in chaos
India is a mess
Russia is only just recovering and immediately declares neutrality
Germany had become a friend of the CSA, not least because of German interests in the USA and the choice of co-operation with Richmond to defend and enlarge these
Berlin supports the Confederacy over the agreement that Britain rejects, and upon the CSA declaration of war it is obvious that Germany is in the enemy camp from Britain's point of view, tho her actual actions are unknown
France since 1902 has seen Napoleon V spend his reign rebuilding. The indemnities were only paid off by 1920, leaving the country almost bankrupt. France began a slow recovery but was smashed back by the European Financial Crisis of 1928. Social revolt was put down in Paris and other major cities and a military strongman, the Duc d'Auerstadt, ruled as Prime Minister from 1931-1936. Th country was finally recovering and beginning to rearm, and in 1937 the Popular Front (French version of the Progressives) won the elections
Spain had seen King Juan III die in 1887 and King Carlos VII pass away in 1909. His son became King Jaime, and Jaime's son succeeded his father as Carlos VIII in 1931. Spain has spent a lot on building on its empire, in Rio de Oro, Rio Muini/S Cameroon, and especially in the Philippines which have been reinforced, had a great deal spent on the infrastructure, seen new fortifications built and the navy expanded with an emphasis on large cruisers (under the terms of the Naval Limitation Treaty)
Italy has concentrated on fully integrating Rome and building it up as the royal capital. The financial recovery after the war was built on with a temptation to overspend to improve the lives of the population. The country was hit hard by the financial crisis of 1928 and slow to recover, only picking up in the mid 1930s with the panacea of Rearmament
After the death of King Leopold II of Belgium in 1909, his eldest son King Baudouin had acceded to the throne, with a vision to develop Belgium's colonies especially in West Africa and Belgian Eritrea. His death at the age of 46 in 1915 had left a widow but no children, and he had been succeeded by his brother, Albert I, who still ruled in 1938 having continued his brother's work and focused on colonial defence, the development of port facilities and the creation of colonial army regiments
The Ottoman Empire experiences an Oil Boom in 1932 +, with fields in Mesopotamia, Libya and Arabia all on stream, contirbuting strongly to the global economic recovery
Japan has seen civil war in the 1900s after the humiliating peace of 1902, and a military leader take power in 1912. He died in 1929, leading to a renewed civil war before another such man emerged as ruler in 1931, the Emperor ruling through him. By now Japan had become very introverted, with living standards below "the West" and a surplus population engaged in revolts, provincial wars etc, being banned from emigrating to British, Russian or Confederate territory, though some went to China to enlist in the civil war, and others to Mexico, Peru and to Patagonia
Best Regards
Grey Wolf