Also, I find it appropriate the Italians named their first nuclear bomb after the Emperor Aurelian, not only for his work in restoring the Empire in only five years, but also because he was an advocate of the worship of Sol Invictus as a unifying faith for the Empire.
The Iron Eagle - The History of the Cold War
- Thread starter Kaiser of Brazil
- Start date
Right now I have written the first thousand words of the Russian Chapter and also starting off the Indian chapter:
SATYAMEVA JAYATE
SATYAMEVA JAYATE
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Here is a a fun exercise, make a ranking of your favorite political figures in the US between 1943 and 1959, at least must be a top 5, can include non-Presidential political figures.
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Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru addresses the nation from Red Fort on Independence Day, August 15, 1947
My personal ranking of the Presidents:
1) Huey Pierce Long Jr; a favorite of historians of the time, perhaps the most influential and decisive President in American history since at least Lincoln. Some considering as if he was a reincarnation of Andrew Jackson or Julius Caesar. Huey was second to none in terms of political savvy and popular charisma amongst the US Presidents of the century (at least so far), changing the entire scenario of US politics and destroying the previous establishment and party system to replace it with his own. No doubt he implemented much needed policies, his domestic agenda full of achievements from Minimum wage to Healthcare, from Education to Infrastructure, beloved by the poor and oppressed masses whose burden he made lighter. He presided over an incredible period of economical growth with the post-war stabilization, always prioritizing American interests in negotiations abroad and at home. Of course, one can see it differently, with Long vastly increasing the power of the Federal Executive, weakening both the legislature and judiciary, making the Supreme Court itself a puppet of his policies. He broke precedents and consensus in American policy, crushing some of the most powerful companies and interests in the world, many times out of self interest. He created the Bank of America by nationalizing the Federal reserve and placing it under sole control of the Secretary of Treasure, he greatly weakened powerful companies from Ford Motors to Standard Oil, and many times did that out of interest to crush the lobbyists of his opposition. He created the Populist Party, inspired by the old Roman "Populares" and made himself a King in all but name, winning the hearts of the people, raising up the middle class and smashing the powerful establishment of the old system to make his own. Of course, he was not successful in all he did, and his reputation on the outside stained America's image as a manipulative nation who was just as capable of coming to your help when promised as it was to leave you abandoned as he did in 1951 to millions of Europeans from France to the Volga river. He apparently learned his lesson, decisively intervening in the Ural War and supporting Paik's government in Korea. Yet he refuses to follow the ideals of Hull and opt to seek an "America First" policy at home and abroad, intervening when necessary to prevent enemies from gathering strength and yet avoiding a direct commitment such as an official alliance with Britain. He also crushed the Klan, gave a somewhat pass to the Civil Rights movement, prevented a bloody confrontation in Georgia, but at the cost of making the FBI into a less totalitarian version of the Gestapo under his command and approving a controversial CIA which just as easily spy on American citizens as it spies on foreign nations. Although he did not intervene in Guatemala or Cuba, he only did so in order to weaken the United Fruit Company. Controversial figure, but nobody can deny his impact, only time will tell what will be the effects of his behavior.
2) Cordell Hull, he is a good "what if" President, a man who could see the looming Cold War and planned accordingly to form the United Nations and prepare the groundwork for a proper alliance against Hitler's pathological ambition. Hull was somewhat encouraging of Social programs but he was still constrained by the coalition existing in the Democratic Party which put Thurmond as President. He was unpopular at the time as he was not a really inspiring war leader and his legacy was stained by his actions over the San Diego bombing as he attempted to censor the news that the US was attacked by a biological weapon which killed hundreds due to fear it would sabotage peace talks with Japan. He also approved of Operation Sunset, which is controversial per se as it led to the highest level of casualties in American history, devastated Japan for an arguable necessity, and traumatized a generation of soldiers. But overall he is an underrated President, considered a visionary in terms of foreign policy and a respectable moderate in the US domestic politics, forced to make controversial decisions to attempt to end a war which ended up staining his legacy.
3) George Patton, he was a caretaker President but he for sure reminded the world that the US is still capable of acting decisively, in just around a month he oversaw a decisive offensive in Korea which prevented the south from being overrun in 1956, as well as detonating an atomic weapon just for the show of it. He never attempted to usurp Huey Long's place and did support the investigation over the President's assassination attempt. He was not meant to be Vice-President, he was not meant to be President, and yet fulfilled his duty and quietly retired from the political scene.
4) Strom Thurmond, surprisingly he is not the bottom one if only because of his foreign policy, his actions were determinant in ending the Pacific War and creating a friendly and stable Russian state by ending the Civil War. He put MacArthur in charge of Japan with a more reconciliatory policy than Halsey did later on, and moved the United Nations to save both Israel and Jordan, and the Jewish people as a whole too, from Saadeh's invasion. Of course, domestically he was a disaster who presided over a recession, crushed Labor rights and only further provoked racial riots. If not for his foreign successes, Thurmond definitely would be on the 5th.
5) Burton Kendall Wheeler, he was a terrible choice for President and an even worse one as Secretary. His half-measures and stubborn support for prohibition did not make him very popular in the late 30s, he won due to an alliance with the devil incarnated by the Dixiecrats which saw much of his own proposals curtailed. He refused to support the Allies due to his stubborn neutrality stance and only very reluctantly made an oil embargo in 1942, which was too little too late. In hindsight his actions allowed for the Third Reich to conquer the European continent and left the United States so weak that the Japanese were able to devastate Oahu. As Secretary of State, he pushed for further neutrality, discrediting the UN and "mentoring" Long to avoid Hull's ideas, also convincing him to not intervene during crucial moments such as Hitler's death, the Dakkar Crisis and the Suez War, his policy of non-intervention also allowed for Mao to take over China entirely, including Taiwan and practically shattered the "Special Relationship" between US and their allies by sowing distrust and giving the US the fame of being an unreliable ally.
1) Huey Pierce Long Jr; a favorite of historians of the time, perhaps the most influential and decisive President in American history since at least Lincoln. Some considering as if he was a reincarnation of Andrew Jackson or Julius Caesar. Huey was second to none in terms of political savvy and popular charisma amongst the US Presidents of the century (at least so far), changing the entire scenario of US politics and destroying the previous establishment and party system to replace it with his own. No doubt he implemented much needed policies, his domestic agenda full of achievements from Minimum wage to Healthcare, from Education to Infrastructure, beloved by the poor and oppressed masses whose burden he made lighter. He presided over an incredible period of economical growth with the post-war stabilization, always prioritizing American interests in negotiations abroad and at home. Of course, one can see it differently, with Long vastly increasing the power of the Federal Executive, weakening both the legislature and judiciary, making the Supreme Court itself a puppet of his policies. He broke precedents and consensus in American policy, crushing some of the most powerful companies and interests in the world, many times out of self interest. He created the Bank of America by nationalizing the Federal reserve and placing it under sole control of the Secretary of Treasure, he greatly weakened powerful companies from Ford Motors to Standard Oil, and many times did that out of interest to crush the lobbyists of his opposition. He created the Populist Party, inspired by the old Roman "Populares" and made himself a King in all but name, winning the hearts of the people, raising up the middle class and smashing the powerful establishment of the old system to make his own. Of course, he was not successful in all he did, and his reputation on the outside stained America's image as a manipulative nation who was just as capable of coming to your help when promised as it was to leave you abandoned as he did in 1951 to millions of Europeans from France to the Volga river. He apparently learned his lesson, decisively intervening in the Ural War and supporting Paik's government in Korea. Yet he refuses to follow the ideals of Hull and opt to seek an "America First" policy at home and abroad, intervening when necessary to prevent enemies from gathering strength and yet avoiding a direct commitment such as an official alliance with Britain. He also crushed the Klan, gave a somewhat pass to the Civil Rights movement, prevented a bloody confrontation in Georgia, but at the cost of making the FBI into a less totalitarian version of the Gestapo under his command and approving a controversial CIA which just as easily spy on American citizens as it spies on foreign nations. Although he did not intervene in Guatemala or Cuba, he only did so in order to weaken the United Fruit Company. Controversial figure, but nobody can deny his impact, only time will tell what will be the effects of his behavior.
2) Cordell Hull, he is a good "what if" President, a man who could see the looming Cold War and planned accordingly to form the United Nations and prepare the groundwork for a proper alliance against Hitler's pathological ambition. Hull was somewhat encouraging of Social programs but he was still constrained by the coalition existing in the Democratic Party which put Thurmond as President. He was unpopular at the time as he was not a really inspiring war leader and his legacy was stained by his actions over the San Diego bombing as he attempted to censor the news that the US was attacked by a biological weapon which killed hundreds due to fear it would sabotage peace talks with Japan. He also approved of Operation Sunset, which is controversial per se as it led to the highest level of casualties in American history, devastated Japan for an arguable necessity, and traumatized a generation of soldiers. But overall he is an underrated President, considered a visionary in terms of foreign policy and a respectable moderate in the US domestic politics, forced to make controversial decisions to attempt to end a war which ended up staining his legacy.
3) George Patton, he was a caretaker President but he for sure reminded the world that the US is still capable of acting decisively, in just around a month he oversaw a decisive offensive in Korea which prevented the south from being overrun in 1956, as well as detonating an atomic weapon just for the show of it. He never attempted to usurp Huey Long's place and did support the investigation over the President's assassination attempt. He was not meant to be Vice-President, he was not meant to be President, and yet fulfilled his duty and quietly retired from the political scene.
4) Strom Thurmond, surprisingly he is not the bottom one if only because of his foreign policy, his actions were determinant in ending the Pacific War and creating a friendly and stable Russian state by ending the Civil War. He put MacArthur in charge of Japan with a more reconciliatory policy than Halsey did later on, and moved the United Nations to save both Israel and Jordan, and the Jewish people as a whole too, from Saadeh's invasion. Of course, domestically he was a disaster who presided over a recession, crushed Labor rights and only further provoked racial riots. If not for his foreign successes, Thurmond definitely would be on the 5th.
5) Burton Kendall Wheeler, he was a terrible choice for President and an even worse one as Secretary. His half-measures and stubborn support for prohibition did not make him very popular in the late 30s, he won due to an alliance with the devil incarnated by the Dixiecrats which saw much of his own proposals curtailed. He refused to support the Allies due to his stubborn neutrality stance and only very reluctantly made an oil embargo in 1942, which was too little too late. In hindsight his actions allowed for the Third Reich to conquer the European continent and left the United States so weak that the Japanese were able to devastate Oahu. As Secretary of State, he pushed for further neutrality, discrediting the UN and "mentoring" Long to avoid Hull's ideas, also convincing him to not intervene during crucial moments such as Hitler's death, the Dakkar Crisis and the Suez War, his policy of non-intervention also allowed for Mao to take over China entirely, including Taiwan and practically shattered the "Special Relationship" between US and their allies by sowing distrust and giving the US the fame of being an unreliable ally.
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If only for Domestic Policy:
1) Huey P. Long Jr.
2) Burton K. Wheeler
3) Cordell Hull
4) George S. Patton
5) Strom Thurmond
If only for Foreign Policy:
1) Cordell Hull
2) Strom Thurmond
3) George S. Patton
4) Huey P. Long Jr.
5) Burton K. Wheeler
1) Huey P. Long Jr.
2) Burton K. Wheeler
3) Cordell Hull
4) George S. Patton
5) Strom Thurmond
If only for Foreign Policy:
1) Cordell Hull
2) Strom Thurmond
3) George S. Patton
4) Huey P. Long Jr.
5) Burton K. Wheeler
Hey, Kaiser. Just a question, how many Japanese died ITTL during the American invasion? I've read estimates that maybe 10 million would've died in the invasion, some others say 15 million, 20 milion or even more. I've been rereading Decisive Darkness again, and at the end of that timeline, Japan lost half of its population.
In total, Japan lost 13 million during the war, I would say around 9-10 dying during Operation Sunset is a good average.
I am thinking like OTL 50s-60s but more nationalistic in places. Military service is seen as a necessity, any social upheavals are brought about by 'foreign agents' who trick naïve Americans. America must always be on guard against the Fascist threat. We brush away some of the criticism of the Russian government since they are fighting the Germans. In the wake of the British situation it may be seen as 'a necessary evil to restore the country.'
For starters, say goodbye to the Dollars trilogy, Sergio Leone and Enrico Morricone are staying in Italian cinema (probably can make a partnership with Mussolini's son) so Spaghetti Westerns are gone from the mainstream.
Expect a lot of negative depiction of Japan after Operation Sunset, that audience full of Veterans and relatives of veterans are not going to like the country in general.
German villains will be THE mainstream of cinema, there will be a high demand for German-American actors to be stereotypical cold-hearted and maniac villains obsessed with their own supremacy. Captain America likely will be the main investment of Marvel Comics.
Doctor Strangelove is now a Russian and he will end the move saying "Chairman! I can walk!". General Ripper will be even more caricate as LeMay here was responsible for Operation Gommorrah (which turned practically every Japanese city into a firestorm), he will say something other than bodly fluids because at this point too many popular German villains would be using that phrase.
The President in these movies and media will be pretty much all powerful, an American equivalent to Führer while Congress just nods along. At least that will be the case among anti-longists. Otherwise there will be those writers more friendly to Long who will show American businessmen making deals with the German villain.
In terms of books, Fahrenheit 451 is probably more popular as the Nazis are synonymous with book burnings. Sales of that book will skyrocket in the early 60s as Goebbels takes over, maybe even a new edition could be made. Longists will enjoy reading Huxley and using it to attack corporations. There will be probably a better reception in America for dystopian stories which add in racial elements.
Around 30 million, mainly civilians, a large number came from the scorched land campaign of 1946 due to the Japanese retreat and massacres made by the IJA, alongside the famine that came from it.
They are trying to stay REALLY still while surrounded by Germans on all sides, waving the flag of the Linz Pakt while sweating bullets after seeing what happened to Sweden and Norway.