The Cold War: A Collaborative Timeline

Thursday, July 12th, 1945

Under orders from stalin, a puppet government is created in Soviet occupied territories in Northern Iran and Soviet administered parts of Tehran, this new government includes the previously independent Azeri and Kurdish republics, which together form the Union of Iran, a Marxist-Leninist-Stalinist inspired country, Mohammad Bahrami of the Tudeh Party is put in charge of the new government and with soviet support claims that his government is the sole representative of the Iranian peoples and the true government for Iran
 
I have the first ~15 days of July prepared; I'll expand upon @RealNewsIsFakeNews's ideas for Iran. I think we ought to discuss the future of China a bit ahead of schedule. No need to create new events (we're still doing July only for now), but just a skeleton to guide us going forward. I'm thinking we should run with the KMT reuniting and possibly containing the Chinese Communists to Manchuria. At some point, we'll have to rid the world of Mao in order for a more reliable Soviet client leader to take charge of this Manchuria.

Of course, that's just what I'm picturing. This is a consensus project, so I'd love to hear the input of others!
 
I have the first ~15 days of July prepared; I'll expand upon @RealNewsIsFakeNews's ideas for Iran. I think we ought to discuss the future of China a bit ahead of schedule. No need to create new events (we're still doing July only for now), but just a skeleton to guide us going forward. I'm thinking we should run with the KMT reuniting and possibly containing the Chinese Communists to Manchuria. At some point, we'll have to rid the world of Mao in order for a more reliable Soviet client leader to take charge of this Manchuria.

Of course, that's just what I'm picturing. This is a consensus project, so I'd love to hear the input of others!
That sounds good to me, an odd unitied KMT and a Communist Manchuria seem interesting and it's making me wonder about the effects on Vietnam and Korea.
 
Friday, July 13th 1945
  • In Indochina the Japanese forces start to retreat into Thailand as various Vietnamese forces take ground and drive back Japanese forces and establish a Vietnamese Provisional Government comprised of a coalition of Nationalists, Socialists and Communists who divide themselves into Stalinist and Trotskyist factions who seek to establish a Vietnamese Government free from both Japanese and French rule. Meanwhile British forces use the chaos to there advantage deciding to advance into Thailand in a surprise attack that horrifies Japanese Army officers in the area as the Free Thai Movement prepares to put there plans of attack into action.
  • Greece starts to become an embarrassment for the British forces as the death count raises with Roland Scobie being informed that he's to be replaced due to his inability to get results. Meanwhile footage and photographs depicting Nationalist atrocities is starting to get out to the public (thanks to the Soviet Propaganda wing) in the West causing opinions on the Greek Nationalists to sour especially as the atrocities of the Nazi's being so recent.
 
Saturday, July 14th 1945
  • The advance into Thailand is surprisingly swift as Japanese and Thai forces melt due to Allied Bombing, Tanks, Artillery and thousands of enthusiastic Commonwealth and British Imperial Forces with in numerous cases Japanese forces rushing to reinforce positions only to find it already taken by Allied forces. To make things worse for the Japanese the Free Thai Movement stage a coup and overthrow Prime Minister Plaek Phibunsongkhram (who is later that day is found dead from several bullet wounds, a stabbing and being bludgeoned) and declare war on the Japanese which confuses Thai and Japanese soldiers on the ground.
  • Korean resistance groups and Korean Soldiers seeing the way the war is turning for the Japanese try and stage a mass uprising. In the most of major cities the uprising's are crushed but in Pyongyang the uprising manages to gain success lead by Cho Man-sik and manages to takeover the towns nearby.
 
Sunday, July 15th, 1945:
  • Nightly blackout restrictions end in London in the wake of the Allied victory in Europe; within a short time, life largely resumes to normal as the city prepares to reconstruct. A few policies - such as rationing - remain in effect, though there is little consternation among the war weary public about this as a wave of patriotic fervor continues to take root across the United Kingdom.
  • President Truman, Prime Minister Churchill, and General Secretary Stalin all depart their home nations ahead of the upcoming Potsdam Conference, in which the future order of Europe is to be eventually decided.
 
Monday, July 16th, 1945:

King Leopold III of Belgium has a secret meeting with Dutch Queen Wilhelmina. She offers her help in the matter of the "Question Royale". The Dutch and the French, fearing civil war in Belgium, suggest to hold a conference in Luxembourg. The conference is planned for July 30th.
 
Monday, July 30th, 1945:

In Luxembourg a conference is held on the future of Belgium. The Dutch and the French both want a stable monarchy in Belgium. Dutch Prime Minister Schemerhorn explains that King Leopold III was wrong in staying in Belgium albeit with noble intentions. The French, also speaking on behalf on the British and Americans, make clear that it's better for Belgium when Leopold abdicates. Archduchess Charlotte of Nassau suggests that Baudoin should become king. However he should get a decent education to ensure that Charles, prince of Liege, should become regent of Belgium. Reluctantly Leopold agrees and signs the act of abdication. In return he keeps his dotage as king and he takes up his new residency in Doorn, the Netherlands.

Tuesday, July 31st, 1945

In a joint session of parliament and senate Prince Charles is invited to become regent of Belgium. Baudoin is to become king in 1955. The swearing in will take place on August 7th 1945.
 
Tuesday, July 17th, 1945:
  • Japanese forces in Thailand are finished with many either surrendering or being wiped out in desperate suicide charges against Allied Machine Guns. The Free Thai Movement establishes a temporary government with support from the Americans and British but cracks emerge as discussions occur between Republican and Monarchist elements of the government on whether the Royal Family should be reestablished whilst Military forces start getting problematic as former Plaek supporters are arrested under collaboration charges which is causing numerous commanders to be nervous.
  • Meanwhile in Vietnam with most of the Japanese forces dealt with the Vietnamese Provisional Government turns inward as fights start breaking out between the recently liberated French Colonists and Vietnamese Forces who don't like the idea of French Colonial Rule with many wanting to establish a democratic government (which Ho Chi Min supports seeing the possibility of easy election victory on his part). Whilst the French Colonists have the support of the French Government and the British (who are advancing to the Vietnamese border) the Vietnamese are being given support from the American's and Soviets (who would prefer to have a left leaning democratic movement in the area than a French Colony).
  • Riots break out in Hong Kong and Singapore as the people sick with Japanese rule and seeing the success in of Commonwealth forces in Thailand fight back. The Royal Navy steam towards Hong Kong to perform a blockade and hopefully liberate the peninsula whilst plans for the liberation of Singapore and Indonesia are sped up as any spare Commonwealth and Dutch forces are sent towards the planned locations.
 
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