The Footprint of Mussolini - TL

[Sorairo]

Man, I didn't see that coming: the USSR saved from violent collapse because 1) Malenkov becoming a born-again Christian and 2) Molotov not giving a fuck anymore.

The violent Soviet collapse was something of a cliche so I tried to come up with a halfway route:

Russia is absolutely worse off than OTL. They have far less land, have been absolutely ravaged by Stalinist destruction of the economy and have now surrendered the one real card they have left (their nuclear deterrent) for moral credibility. Their collapse was also more violent, though never breaking out into major destruction. At the same time, the state was almost too exhausted to even bother defend itself against an insurrection. It was quite like 1917 - Malenkov didn't so much seize power as find it lying in the gutter. It was a regime too tired to play Totalitarian trying to get away with Kim Jong-Il-tier fantasies - no one had the patience for it. The Communists were hated, but by the end, and much more importantly, they were no longer feared either.

 

[AK47Productions]

And cue We Didn't Start the Fire.

But seriously, sounds like Asia's gonna be a bloodbath. I'll wait til we see the situation there to post the new map.

 

[TheKutKu]

Wew, the house of card really feel extremely quickly. Hopefully reactionnary elements of the "christian" part of "christian socialism" won't be too strong.

But frankly Malenkov is kinda a traitor for allowing independence of Tatarstan and Bashkorstan (and arguably belarus), and the complete denuclearisation, this will surely bite Russia back in the ass later, sad because the rest he did was remarkable.

Wonder if Korea will be as isolated as NK is IRL, I doubt it, they don't have the military and ideological pressure of a south Korea or the political and economic support of the PRC. Question is if they can economically and politically liberalize.

Rhodesia/South Africa will have/surely already is having serious culture shock at the arrival of millions of (i guess mostly eastern european but also others) immigrants, like Israel in the 90s IRL but even larger. Wonder if this can cause tension within the white community there.

Glad to see Iran reunited so quickly, Hopefully their economic miracle will last as one nation.

 

[MaskedPickle]

Malenkov to his fellow members of the Politburo :

 

[NotBigBrother]

We all know he’s alive you shitass!”

I guess the Russian word would be 'zasranets'.

 

[Herr Frage]

For me the two biggest surprises were the rebirth of Czechoslovakia, and the nuclear disarmament of Russia.

Malenkov certainly earned his Nobel prize, not only has the communist dictatorship fallen but, with the exception of still authoritarian Serbia, a slew of democracy has broken out across Eastern Europe.

But lets recall we are not out of the woods. We do not know what is going on with the Caucuses or the Central Asian republics, dictatorship may yet take root there; even war between the new states. Tuva in particular may be in danger if Mongolia falls.

An the RA scored a win with Iran reuniting, the local Fascists there have renewed popularity and a stronger base.

The fate of Korea I think will hinge on American elections. If Corely stays in power he may allow the RA to seize the country to see communism wiped out. But if an AntiFascist unseats him Korea may survive until internal revolt takes the regime down.

 

[NotBigBrother]

. The Gang of Three

'Shayka-troyka' would be a good Russian term for them.

 

[Lalli]

Collapse of USSR was surprisingly peaceful. And total nuclear disarmanent of Russia? And another surprise si re-unification of Czechoslovakia. How Czechian economy even stand with much poorer Slovakian economy?

No German unification but I doubt that divisionw ill remanin very long. East Germany is effectively bankcrupted state. But even if East Germany manage become somehow viable nation will it take new name?

Hopefully Serbian army and politicians manage keep Milosevic's Greater Serbia dreams under control. Going war would be total national suicide.

 

[thekingsguard]

German reunification delayed, but Czechoslovakian reunification achieved. Interesting.

Some of those Russian breakaways are interesting... Tataristan would be entirely surrounded by Russia, would it not?

 

[Whiteshore]

Some of those Russian breakaways are interesting... Tataristan would be entirely surrounded by Russia, would it not?

Eh, there's Lesotho IOTL.

 

[Sorairo]

Collapse of USSR was surprisingly peaceful. And total nuclear disarmanent of Russia? And another surprise si re-unification of Czechoslovakia. How Czechian economy even stand with much poorer Slovakian economy?

No German unification but I doubt that divisionw ill remanin very long. East Germany is effectively bankcrupted state. But even if East Germany manage become somehow viable nation will it take new name?

Hopefully Serbian army and politicians manage keep Milosevic's Greater Serbia dreams under control. Going war would be total national suicide.

ITO and the RA are funding the hell out of the new states to win influence, with Czechia getting more than enough money to pay for rebuilding Slovakia and integrating it, though it will go through the same problems as OTL East Germany. They've both agreed not to incorporate any state into their alliance, but they certainly want to win friends all the same.

East Germany is barely functioning. The border is open and everyone is flooding out. Predatory businessman are buying the empty land for pennies on the dollar while East Germany pleads for integration, to no avail.

Milosevic isn't stupid - he knows squaring up to Croatia is total suicide. There's no Serb minority there anymore either.

 

[Herr Frage]

Its important to note, I think, that the big reason the RA took no action against Serbia is actually because Balbo felt he couldn't with the situation in Ethiopia. Balbo himself can't igmore what drain that quagmire has become. And with South Iran reuniting, Turkey flexing its muscles, China poised for reunification, Italy's lack of glory from this upheaval will be noted.

The moon landing reacytion was described into two ways. Those who were nostalgic for the glory days of Fascism by seeing the Duce's grandson carry out the great deed. And secondly those more open to criticize Fascism seeing the young Mussolini load as proof of the corruption in the Fascist system. I see these as Balbo's big problems as Italy seems less secure in its leradership role in the RA and ever more facing pressure from ITO.

Firstly you get Fascist Restorantionists, who see Balbo as an unworthty Duce and want to save Mussolini's legacy; make Italy great again essentially. And secondly the broad array of AntiFascist forces who want to bring down the Fascist system altogether. We might also get a "Young Fascist Movement", wanting to reform the Fascist system too "meet the chanllenges of the new era with the vitlality and strength of vision of past times etc."

 

[Whiteshore]

Russia is absolutely worse off than OTL. They have far less land, have been absolutely ravaged by Stalinist destruction of the economy and have now surrendered the one real card they have left (their nuclear deterrent) for moral credibility. Their collapse was also more violent, though never breaking out into major destruction. At the same time, the state was almost too exhausted to even bother defend itself against an insurrection. It was quite like 1917 - Malenkov didn't so much seize power as find it lying in the gutter. It was a regime too tired to play Totalitarian trying to get away with Kim Jong-Il-tier fantasies - no one had the patience for it. The Communists were hated, but by the end, and much more importantly, they were no longer feared either.

At least on the bright side, TTL's Russian Federation is unlikely to see the phenomenon of the oligarchs.

 

[Machiavelli Jr]

Wew, the house of card really feel extremely quickly. Hopefully reactionnary elements of the "christian" part of "christian socialism" won't be too strong.

But frankly Malenkov is kinda a traitor for allowing independence of Tatarstan and Bashkorstan (and arguably belarus), and the complete denuclearisation, this will surely bite Russia back in the ass later, sad because the rest he did was remarkable.

Wonder if Korea will be as isolated as NK is IRL, I doubt it, they don't have the military and ideological pressure of a south Korea or the political and economic support of the PRC. Question is if they can economically and politically liberalize.

Rhodesia/South Africa will have/surely already is having serious culture shock at the arrival of millions of (i guess mostly eastern european but also others) immigrants, like Israel in the 90s IRL but even larger. Wonder if this can cause tension within the white community there.

Glad to see Iran reunited so quickly, Hopefully their economic miracle will last as one nation.

Malenkov a traitor for letting the ASSRs go? Who wants them? They've got massive amounts of mineral wealth admittedly, much of it not actually known in OTL 1970s, but restive populations and crap infrastructure, and all bar Belarus are going to be completely surrounded by Russian territory so if they want to actually export their oil, chromium etc. they'll need Russian cooperation to do it anyway.

 

[NK_Tesla]

Suslov then proceeded to launch an unprecedented condemnation

I think this should be Malenkov.

 

[SavoyTruffle]

And cue We Didn't Start the Fire.

But seriously, sounds like Asia's gonna be a bloodbath. I'll wait til we see the situation there to post the new map.

My country is probably better off IOTL as long as a certain Ferdinand Marcos is butterflied away from power; which is likelier since the US and the ITO are less supportive of dictatorships ITTL and because there's no Vietnamese ulcer that serves as a reason for the US to keep the Marcoses as a ally.

Unless of course @Sorairo screws me over by making Imelda the head honcho.

 

[Sorairo]

My country is probably better off IOTL as long as a certain Ferdinand Marcos is butterflied away from power; which is likelier since the US and the ITO are less supportive of dictatorships ITTL and because there's no Vietnamese ulcer that serves as a reason for the US to keep the Marcoses as a ally.

Unless of course @Sorairo screws me over by making Imelda the head honcho.

Don't worry, to be in ITO you needed to be a democracy. The Philippines did not want to lose American funding and so kept on the path of democracy. Their living standards are progressing at the same rate as OTL Japan.

Asia in general has been a big long-term winner ITTL, with a few obvious exceptions.

 

[Sorairo]

I think this should be Malenkov.

Correct and edited.

 

[SavoyTruffle]

In all honesty despite TTL being worse on the balance than OTL I'd probably prefer living TTL.

 

[Lalli]

World in 1972 soon after collapse USSR and Stalingrad Pact.