The Sun Rises Yet Again
- Thread starter Lord_Vespasian
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Lord_Vespasian
Banned
French exiles are chilling in Britain. Relations are tense due to the seizure of the French Carribean however Mosley will try to rectify this to help establish a Restitutio government in France
Blood and Soil
Lord_Vespasian
Banned
The Sun Rises Yet Again
Chapter 14: Blood and Soil
September 22, 1925
Several months have passed since Germany declared its support for Republican Spain. As the war progresses, Germany, the Comintern, and the League all gain valuable experience and insight into how the next war will be fought. However, the joining of all the European powers, save Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman empire, into one region and one conflict is seen as worrying. Both of the powers not involved are dealing with massive instability, political movements who desires are diametrically opposed in every way, and rampant secessionists groups; therefore, it is reasoned, these powers really aren't important on an international scale and will most likely remain isolationist and focused on an inward strategy to prevent their collapse. There are sizable amounts of people who fear this regional conflict will escalate into a World War, just like the first one. The boiling point before all this tension bubbles over into a full-scale war is being approached rapidly. A stand-off occurs, Germany sends word to the Righteous League to pull their forces out of the conflict or face German retribution. The British, in response, send a message saying that they must pull out their forces or the Righteous League would declare war on Germany. This is a dangerous area to tread for Germany. The Righteous League by itself isn't strong enough to beat Germany, but if they declare war the Comintern might sense weakness and join in the war, and Germany might not be able to hold off the Comintern and the League simultaneously. Even if they could, it would bring them great destruction. As they deliberate, the Soviets send their own message, demanding Germany pull out of Spain. For Germany, this is tantamount to giving Spain over to either the Comintern or the League. Germany mulls over this dilemma. As the world awaits a response, the war continues.
A decisive engagement happens at Madrid. Montgomery manages to trick Rommel into moving forces to Toledo to defend against an attack that is actually just a faint. Harris bombards the roads leading back to Madrid as thoroughly as he can and de Llano pins the force down. With Rommel stuck in the south and Hindenburg concentrating on an offensive north at Aranda de Duero, as its loss would create a dangerous degree of separation between forces in Burgos with those in Madrid and Guadalajara, the GEF lacks reserve forces to defend Madrid. Republican forces are also spread thin due to the loss of Málaga and the siege of Córdoba. Meanwhile, Soviet forces are still reeling from the defeats near Córdoba and French troops are fighting tooth and nail just to hold back the forces in the north by Bilbao. Using this window of opportunity, Montgomery and Yagüe descend upon the city. The light, untrained, and insufficient garrison fight valiantly and cost Yagüe dearly, but without aid from additional troops and continuous bombardment from artillery and planes, they surrender to Nationalists forces after a week of fighting.
Rundstedt is appalled, his front is on the verge of collapsing and with the center forces, especially Rommel, in a precarious position, he sends word to Hindenburg that either he his given sufficient forces to maintain the front-line or he must be allowed to retreat and regroup at Cuenca while other forces could dig in at the city of Guadalajara. Hindenburg is unsure of this, although these positions are relatively defensible, Cuenca is over 100 km away and due to bombed out roads, heavy tanks, and other hindrances, he estimates it would take around 70 hours, or just under 3 days, for Rommel to be able to make the trip. Hindenburg is unsure if he can do so, despite Rundstedt saying there is no other option and Rommel's assurances he can make the trip in just over a day. With this deteriorating situation, Hindenburg relays the dangerous position the center forces of the GEF are in back to OHL and waits for a response. While he waits, he orders Generaloberst Felix Graf von Bothmer to move to and fortify Guadalajara against an enemy assault from Madrid and asks Rundstedt to head back to Germany to relay to him what OHL and the Kaiser want to do. In his absence, Hindenburg appoints Generalfeldmarschall Albrecht von Württemberg, who has been in retirement as the king of Württemberg but has been convinced by his cousin, the Kaiser, to come back to the military, to replace him. After consulting with his superiors, Rundstedt writes back to Hindenburg and informs him that they clearly do not approve of the abandonment of Toledo so easily and that they are ordering him to hold it; but they both know that Rommel is now too far from the city to do so.
With the clashing visions of the High Command and the Kaiser versus the forces on the ground, the German army is paralysed, and with increasing Communist and Restitutio pressure endangering the heartland, the Kaiser has to make a decision. Pull back the GEF and ensure the safety of Germany and her people at the cost of losing face and potentially ceding Spain to one of her enemies, or keep the forces in Spain in a dangerous gamble that could cost the empire much. The Kaiser and his closest advisers convene and deliberate on what to do. He manages to achieve a ceasefire in Spain, allowing both sides to entrench and to prepare for whatever comes next. The British and Soviets, tiring of German stalling, send a joint ultimatum on the 23rd of November, stating that they will both declare war unless Germany pulls all forces out of Spain within 48 hours. The Kaiser calls an emergency meeting comprised of the entirety of the OHL and several generals and officers not a part of it, Maximilian von Baden and his cabinet, and the Kaiser's son and heir, Wilhelm III. They argue about what to do, OHL wants to stay the course and risk a full out war while von Baden, his cabinet, and Wilhelm III all desperately want to avoid one. Although von Baden and his cabinet make good points, the Kaiser is still not entirely convinced that the Comintern and the League can defeat the entirety of Germany and her Eastern allies, however, August gives an impassioned speech pleading to his father to not engage in another avoidable war, to not repeat the mistakes of 1914. The Kaiser decides to pull out of Spain. Declaring this intention with only an hour left. Soon, the GEF returns back to the homeland. OHL and the military in general are angered by this, however most understand the rationale and do not want to put their homes and families in harms way. A small but powerful clique of generals, officers, and commanders do not however and view this as the last straw, they begin plotting against the monarchy. Although it would take years if not decades of preparation to even attempt this, the seeds of dissent are planted.
When he hears the news, Mosley is ecstatic. He wasn't entirely certain that Germany would back down, and knew that Britain wouldn't be even remotely ready to even begin fighting until the mid 30s. With this victory, Mosley and his government is hailed and he begins planning to call a snap election in the near future and so informs the Loyalist delegates that the Imperial Conference will be delayed until January next year. The Republicans feel abandoned by the Germans and thus the more moderate and representative elements fall out of favour while pro-communist factions used the fact the Comintern is staying Spain to expand their influence. With the Germans out of Spain, Mosley decides to break the ceasefire and restart the war before it becomes cold so they can fight at full strength as well as denying the enemy the chance to fortify their position.
All along the front, Falangist and Restitutio forces push into Republican territory slowly but surely. On the 22nd of December, the beginning of Winter, both sides slow down. Although Spain is still warm compared to most of the foreigners homes, it is still quite cold, around 5°C. The majority of the troops in the North stop fighting, the exception being the British and the Soviets, along with some French divisions, as they are used to much colder temperatures. With the fighting slowed, Mosley can now focus on inward development. Mosley calls the snap election and leaves with Joyce, Kitson, Ross, and Fuller to spread support in areas were they closely lost or just barely won in '25. They move immediately so they can use the hours wisely. David gives a public address via radio stating his support for Mosley is as strong as ever. Several pro-Victorian industrialists and retired military officers, Douglas Haig being the most notable, state their support for Mosley. Some mention how they were originally opposed to or unsure of him, but with recent events coming to pass they were swayed and now truly believe in him. He makes an emphasis on visiting Wales to reach out to the Irish and Welsh. The Irish were very supporting of Mosley in the last election due to his efforts to mend Anlgo-Irish relations and his policy of cooperation between Catholics and Protestants, though most of them were Protestants, and their vote helped Mosley immensely. The Welsh, however, were less devoted to him. They hold no significant grudge against him, apart from maybe the lack of anti-Irish rhetoric, but they believe Mosley has nothing special to offer them, especially since the recent recovery has not reached Wales, Scotland or even the majority of Northern England. Upon arriving, he talks to several prominent Irish politicians and social figures and promises them that in their lifetime, Britain will reclaim Éire and that they will return to their homes. This emphasis on saying Éire instead of Ireland particularly endeared him to them even more, as it seemed he truly cared about them and the loss of their homes. He also promises that efforts to revitalise Wales and Northern England will be undertaken. This helps move more Welsh to his side. As for the Scots, he also promises that the recovery experienced by the South would move up to the North as well, he just needed more time. He then returns back to the South and continues campaigning. At 10pm, the last stations close and the process of counting the votes begins. Mosley is certain that they have secured another smashing victory.
The next day, the results are in and once again the Victorian Union are the clear winners. Not only do they win, it is by a staggering amount. By its end, they hold 70% of the House of Commons and many in the House of Lords are already friendly or allied with the Victorians. With this absolutely astonishing majority, with most commentators recognising its uniqueness, Mosley and the Victorian Union stand virtually unopposed. Even if both the Torries and Labour along with every minor party in the country joined together in a coalition, the VU would still have enough votes to override them. Mosley is delighted. This will give him complete control over Parliament as most in the Victorian Union view Mosley with great admiration and some even devotion, so it would be unlikely for them to oppose anything he proposes. Kitson and Ross go wild, hurling a flurry of bills towards Mosley that, until now, they felt unsure of their survival in Parliament. Mosley also gets the news that wiring is essentially complete. Although they will have to continue checking on it for about a week or so to ensure everything stays working. Mosley thanks them and decides his first phone call ever will be to Makgill. He calls him and Makgill responds.
George Makgill
"Hello Your Excellency. What is it that you need?"
Oswald Mosley
"Hello Makgill. I need you to come to my office at the earliest possible convenience. I have an idea I want to discuss with you."
George Makgill
"I will be there in an hour."
Oswald Mosley
"Thank you. I await your arrival"
Makgill finishes up his most pressing work and departs towards 10 Downing. Once he arrives, he enters into Mosley's office and sits down.
George Makgill
"Hello Mosley. What is the purpose of my summoning?"
Oswald Mosley
"I have called you here as I believe a new organisation must be founded. I have already reestablished the Ministry of Information. Now, I believe I must establish a paramilitary group who's focus will be on the internal integrity of the British nation."
George Makgill
"Isn't that MI5's purpose?"
Oswald Mosley
"MI5 is designed to deal with internal military matters, not the stability of the nation. Your job is to identify and apprehend foreign agents, coups, terrorist attacks, and things of such nature. This organisation will be focused on dealing with dissidents, Marxist sympathisers, traitors to the nation, troublesome politicians and other civilian agitators as well as breaking up dangerous strikers. Even with your recently granted extra-judicial powers, which are temporary, MI5's internal structure is not suited for this matter. However, there are people in MI5 that would be especially suited towards this kind of work. I'm certain you can distinguish who belongs where. MI5 also has access to crucial domestic networks that would assist this endeavor so the sharing of the information between your group and this new one will be crucial to the success of both."
George Makgill
"I see. I can begin cataloging who belongs in this new organisation. I can also work to ready our intelligence networks for cooperative use."
Oswald Mosley
"Thank you."
George Makgill
"May I ask what you shall name this new agency?"
Oswald Mosley
"The Institute for Internal Integrity, or I3. Oh, and one more thing Makgill."
George Makgill
"Yes?"
Oswald Mosley
"I've been searching for a man, he goes by the name P.S Burton. That is just an alias however and his real identity eludes me. I have asked who I know but have come up with nothing. I would like for you to do what you can to find who this man is, I want him brought to me alive and unharmed. I like him very much. Can you do it?"
George Makgill
"I will do everything in my power to find and identify this P.S Burton, if that is what you desire."
Oswald Mosley
"Thank you George."
And with that, their meeting is concluded. Makgill returns to his office to begin carrying out the instructions given to him by Mosley. Mosley continues to work in private. He has received a response from ICI, they said that if Mosley provides adequate government funding, they can begin research into more advanced chemical weapons and begin developing the first truly modern biological weapons. They state how they have been in limited contact with IG Farben and have the possibility to purchase quantities of organophosphates from them, however, in order to keep it secret they would need to pay them a higher price. They hope Mosley will be willing to subsidise the extra costs. Organophosphates work by disrupting an insects nervous system, some of the scientists at ICI believe there is a possibility of certain compounds to be lethal to humans as well in a high enough dosage. Mosley writes back to them saying he will support them in their endeavors. Fuller has also moved the training grounds for Claudius I and all future armoured vehicles to Bovington, Dorset, as Scilly is becoming too small for future training operations. Development of the next experimental tank, the Claudius II, is already underway. Vickers is working hard and with this promising pace, Mosley has assigned Kitson to work on merging Vickers with Armstrong Whitworth. This model will be another early prototype as Vickers is still working on the design of both their infantry and cruiser tank prototypes. The cruiser has been named "Matilda" while the infantry has been named "Haig".
Sopwith submits the initial blueprints for the new planes. He has managed to achieve such a quick start by heavily cooperating with Avro and Blackburn Aircraft, two other aviation manufacturers, in their designs. The two suffered greatly after the war and did not find the renewed success that H.G. Hawker Engineering did. In order to help their struggling situation, they agreed to supply technical assistance and blueprints. In exchange, Hawker would provide industrial production lines and the labour force and they would split the profits three ways. Kitson uses this cooperation to spearhead efforts to encourage a merger between the three.
The first plane is named the Avro 566 Avenger. It is a single-seat, single engine biplane of wood and fabric construction. The head designer is Roy Chadwick, however, Harry Hawker and other test and war pilots give their valuable input to improve performance by correcting issues an armchair designer might not recognise before the first test flight. The plane will have a length of 7.77 meters, a wingspan of 9.75 m, a height of 3.12 m, a wing area of 22.7 m², an empty weight of 1,074 kilograms, a loaded weight of 1,460 kg and the engine is a Napier Lion VII. Although there has not been a test flight, estimates say that top speed will be around 290 kilometers per hour, cruise speed will be around 209 km/h, the service ceiling will be in the 6,700 m range with the armament being a single engine-mounted 7.77 millimeter Vickers machine gun. A more experimental version would include a rear-mounted 7.77 mm Lewis Gun for rear defense, however the former version is cheaper and easier to produce. Since the Republicans or the Soviets don't have much in the way of aircraft, the French would be the only substantial threat in the air, therefore, the RAF and the Army feel that it is unnecessary if it means getting the planes into action faster.
They also have blueprints of a biplane bomber, the Hawker Horsley. It is a single-engine, all-wooden, medium day bomber. It would hold a crew of 2, 1 pilot and 1 bombardier and rear-gunner. The pilot would have access to a single forward-firing 7.77 mm Vickers machine gun while the bombardier would wield a rear-mounted 7.77 m Lewis Gun and be capable of dropping either two 250 kg bombs or one 680 kg bomb. It would have a length of 11.83 m, a wingspan of 17.22 m, a height of 4.16 m, a wing area of 64.38 m², an empty weight of 2,164 kg, a loaded weight of 3,545 kg and would be powered by a single Rolls-Royce Condor III engine. With these components, estimated performance would point to a maximum speed of 201 km/h at an altitude of 1,829 m, standard bombing height, a service ceiling of 4,267 m, a rate of climb of 3.625 m/s, and could last in the field for a absolute maximum of 10 hours. The two final blueprints displayed are a naval aerial fighter and a naval bomber.
The naval torpedo bomber is named the Blackburn T.5 Ripon. It is a carrier-based torpedo bomber that could also serve as a reconnaissance plane. It holds a crew of two. Its specifications show that its length is 11.20 m, a wingspan of 13.67 m, a height of 3.91 m, a wing area of 63.45 m2, an empty weight of 1,878 kg, a loaded weight of 3,310 kg and his also powered by Napier Lion VII engine. As with the previous planes, test flights have yet to be conducted yet as they're still making sure the planes are safe to fly, but they estimate performance will equal a top speed of 179 km/h, a service ceiling of 3,050 km, and a rate of climb of 2.158 m/s. Its armament includes a single fixed, forward firing 7.77 m Vickers machine gun, another rear firing 7.77 m Lewis Gun, and either a 447 mm torpedo, three 240 kg bombs or six 104 kg bombs.
The final one, the naval aerial fighter, is the Avro Type 584 Avocet. It is single-engine naval fighter whose main role will be a fighter on the high seas. It was not carrier-based as they simply can not make it work with current technology unless cutbacks are made to other areas. It holds a single pilot. Its would have a length of 7.50 m, a wingspan of 9.93 m, a height of 3.05 m, a wing area of 31.59 m², an empty weight of 985 kg, a loaded weight 1,381 kg, and would be powered by a single Armstrong Siddeley Jaguar IV engine. Its top speed would be 233 km, and a service ceiling of 7,000 m, with an armament consisting of two 7.77 mm Madsen machine Guns.
Mosley decides now is the time to push his pro-natalist policies. Mosley and Kitson, along with others he knew, believed that in the future, the colonies, once reclaimed, must be majority White. South Africa, Rhodesia, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand all followed this. But not just any white majority, an English speaking majority with both racial and cultural ties back to the Home Isles, in order to create a tightly knit union of Anglo nations rather than disparate Dominions and colonies. Britain also needed to expand her core population and industrial base to these areas while simultaneously denying natives from accessing these resources and demanding independence. With pro-natalist polices, Britain's economy can recover even faster as the few jobs women take would now be open for male work, decreasing unemployment and also leading to a population surplus. This combined with economic incentives for married couples who have children would see the next generation coming faster than their parents could raise them. He could then implement incentives for immigration to Africa, India, the East Indies, and wherever the British Empire would claim as her own so as to begin another great wave of immigration to the colonies. With Whites being the majority in these areas, Mosley and the public would have no problems giving them equal rights as citizens of homeland while they would be proud to call themselves British. However this also meant the crushing of regional identities. No longer should one call themselves a Canadian, a South African, a Rhodesian, a Kenyan, an Australian, a Zealander, a Malayan, an Indian, or anything else. In Mosley's eyes, these should only be stated if one is asked where they hail from, not what or who they are. In Mosley's vision, it would be an empire of Britons only, "Blood and Soil" as he called it. In order to achieve this, Britain's population would have to be increased, the Imperial Loyalists must be employed to break regional national identities and to create and spread a new global British identity, and the foes who possess these lands must be overthrown so that their rightful owners can return. Britain's population is around 35,000,000 people, this is not enough. Germany's population is almost twice that. He had been inspired by the steps Mussolini and his Fascists had taken after their seizure of power. Once the session is opened by King George V, Mosley proposes the pro-natalist polices and they pass through easily due to the Victorian supermajority, set to be fully passed into law by January, along with the bills from Kitson and Ross. Women will be barred from all work save for nursing, civilian and military, and other jobs that are maternal in nature. Tax credits for married couples and child-bearing ones will be instituted and a tax on bachelor men will be carried out. Birth control and abortion are made illegal and any advertisement for it will be punishable by harsh fines and jail time. The Order of the White Feather would be reestablished. However, to avoid the scandalous and embarrassing events where they were presented to veterans and people engaged in the civilian war effort, those who were considered exempt from enlisting would be identified and added to a newly created database with photos, where available, to see where they should send members to avoid these problems. The Order would remain dormant for a minimum of 2 years in order to hire members and to let the populace recover from the Great War. Women's right vote would be untouched as Mosley was not particularly opposed to the idea and believed that the property restrictions that limited men's voting right was an abhorrent disgrace that he was glad the Fourth Reform Act ended it.
New Years Eve comes and goes, with people celebrating heartily all over the world. In London, people cheer that a new era for the nation has arrived. In Berlin, people celebrate continued peace and prosperity. In Paris, people are jovial that the age of oppression of the past is over and a new future for France dawns. In Moscow, people are less optimistic as Lenin's NEP has failed to revitalise the economy the way he promised, the losses from the Great War and Russian Civil Wars are still felt, and the clash between Leon Trotsky and Joseph Stalin continues to escalate. However, recent developments in the economy and Germany's backing down over Spain has led people to feeling that there might be hope for the future. In Tokyo, people celebrate their countries prosperity and rise of representative institutions. In Washington, however, are massive riots nearby the White House. President Coolidge has managed to ease the situation, carrying out his campaign of "Return to Normalcy", in which various laws to improve labour rights and limited roll backs on Federal power to appease the Minimalists and Communists have been instituted. Winston Churchill, an admiral in the Royal Navy, a war hawk, an early supporter of Oswald Mosley, and who the primary onus for the failure of Gallipoli is placed on, said, "Coolidge is an appeaser. An appeaser is one who feeds the crocodiles, hoping they will eat him last". However, the effect of this compromise is undeniable. America is still not rife with optimism and cynicism has begun to pervade the country.
As the January month begins, Mosley has plans with the Imperial Conference and the French Exiles.
HMS Hermes, the First Ship in the World to Designed as a Seaplane Carrier on the British Coast, 1925
French Communard Troops Advancing Upon Nationalist Positions in Osorno, 1923
Locals Dealing With the Problems of the Civil War, 1924
Republican Troops in Madrid. They Were Undersupplied and Undermanned to the Point of Having to Conscript Females and the Effects of the Siege Began to Drive Some of the Troops Mad, 1925
Locals Clearing Away Debris in Madrid After its Fall to the Nationalists. The Siege Brought Great Destruction to the City, 1925
Nationalist Troops in Laredo Marching Towards Bilbao to Engage French and Republican Troops, 1925
The Avro 566 Avenger Prototype, the Next Step in British Fighter Planes, 1925
The Avro Type 584 Avocet Prototype, the Evolution of Naval Air Warfare for Britain, 1925
The Blackburn T.5 Ripon Prototype, an Advanced Carrier-Based Torpedo Bomber and Reconnaissance Plane in Development, 1925
The Hawker Horsley Prototype, an Advanced Medium Day Bomber and Torpedo Bomber and the First Step in Realising "Strategic Destruction", 1925
Chapter 14: Blood and Soil
September 22, 1925
Several months have passed since Germany declared its support for Republican Spain. As the war progresses, Germany, the Comintern, and the League all gain valuable experience and insight into how the next war will be fought. However, the joining of all the European powers, save Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman empire, into one region and one conflict is seen as worrying. Both of the powers not involved are dealing with massive instability, political movements who desires are diametrically opposed in every way, and rampant secessionists groups; therefore, it is reasoned, these powers really aren't important on an international scale and will most likely remain isolationist and focused on an inward strategy to prevent their collapse. There are sizable amounts of people who fear this regional conflict will escalate into a World War, just like the first one. The boiling point before all this tension bubbles over into a full-scale war is being approached rapidly. A stand-off occurs, Germany sends word to the Righteous League to pull their forces out of the conflict or face German retribution. The British, in response, send a message saying that they must pull out their forces or the Righteous League would declare war on Germany. This is a dangerous area to tread for Germany. The Righteous League by itself isn't strong enough to beat Germany, but if they declare war the Comintern might sense weakness and join in the war, and Germany might not be able to hold off the Comintern and the League simultaneously. Even if they could, it would bring them great destruction. As they deliberate, the Soviets send their own message, demanding Germany pull out of Spain. For Germany, this is tantamount to giving Spain over to either the Comintern or the League. Germany mulls over this dilemma. As the world awaits a response, the war continues.
A decisive engagement happens at Madrid. Montgomery manages to trick Rommel into moving forces to Toledo to defend against an attack that is actually just a faint. Harris bombards the roads leading back to Madrid as thoroughly as he can and de Llano pins the force down. With Rommel stuck in the south and Hindenburg concentrating on an offensive north at Aranda de Duero, as its loss would create a dangerous degree of separation between forces in Burgos with those in Madrid and Guadalajara, the GEF lacks reserve forces to defend Madrid. Republican forces are also spread thin due to the loss of Málaga and the siege of Córdoba. Meanwhile, Soviet forces are still reeling from the defeats near Córdoba and French troops are fighting tooth and nail just to hold back the forces in the north by Bilbao. Using this window of opportunity, Montgomery and Yagüe descend upon the city. The light, untrained, and insufficient garrison fight valiantly and cost Yagüe dearly, but without aid from additional troops and continuous bombardment from artillery and planes, they surrender to Nationalists forces after a week of fighting.
Rundstedt is appalled, his front is on the verge of collapsing and with the center forces, especially Rommel, in a precarious position, he sends word to Hindenburg that either he his given sufficient forces to maintain the front-line or he must be allowed to retreat and regroup at Cuenca while other forces could dig in at the city of Guadalajara. Hindenburg is unsure of this, although these positions are relatively defensible, Cuenca is over 100 km away and due to bombed out roads, heavy tanks, and other hindrances, he estimates it would take around 70 hours, or just under 3 days, for Rommel to be able to make the trip. Hindenburg is unsure if he can do so, despite Rundstedt saying there is no other option and Rommel's assurances he can make the trip in just over a day. With this deteriorating situation, Hindenburg relays the dangerous position the center forces of the GEF are in back to OHL and waits for a response. While he waits, he orders Generaloberst Felix Graf von Bothmer to move to and fortify Guadalajara against an enemy assault from Madrid and asks Rundstedt to head back to Germany to relay to him what OHL and the Kaiser want to do. In his absence, Hindenburg appoints Generalfeldmarschall Albrecht von Württemberg, who has been in retirement as the king of Württemberg but has been convinced by his cousin, the Kaiser, to come back to the military, to replace him. After consulting with his superiors, Rundstedt writes back to Hindenburg and informs him that they clearly do not approve of the abandonment of Toledo so easily and that they are ordering him to hold it; but they both know that Rommel is now too far from the city to do so.
With the clashing visions of the High Command and the Kaiser versus the forces on the ground, the German army is paralysed, and with increasing Communist and Restitutio pressure endangering the heartland, the Kaiser has to make a decision. Pull back the GEF and ensure the safety of Germany and her people at the cost of losing face and potentially ceding Spain to one of her enemies, or keep the forces in Spain in a dangerous gamble that could cost the empire much. The Kaiser and his closest advisers convene and deliberate on what to do. He manages to achieve a ceasefire in Spain, allowing both sides to entrench and to prepare for whatever comes next. The British and Soviets, tiring of German stalling, send a joint ultimatum on the 23rd of November, stating that they will both declare war unless Germany pulls all forces out of Spain within 48 hours. The Kaiser calls an emergency meeting comprised of the entirety of the OHL and several generals and officers not a part of it, Maximilian von Baden and his cabinet, and the Kaiser's son and heir, Wilhelm III. They argue about what to do, OHL wants to stay the course and risk a full out war while von Baden, his cabinet, and Wilhelm III all desperately want to avoid one. Although von Baden and his cabinet make good points, the Kaiser is still not entirely convinced that the Comintern and the League can defeat the entirety of Germany and her Eastern allies, however, August gives an impassioned speech pleading to his father to not engage in another avoidable war, to not repeat the mistakes of 1914. The Kaiser decides to pull out of Spain. Declaring this intention with only an hour left. Soon, the GEF returns back to the homeland. OHL and the military in general are angered by this, however most understand the rationale and do not want to put their homes and families in harms way. A small but powerful clique of generals, officers, and commanders do not however and view this as the last straw, they begin plotting against the monarchy. Although it would take years if not decades of preparation to even attempt this, the seeds of dissent are planted.
When he hears the news, Mosley is ecstatic. He wasn't entirely certain that Germany would back down, and knew that Britain wouldn't be even remotely ready to even begin fighting until the mid 30s. With this victory, Mosley and his government is hailed and he begins planning to call a snap election in the near future and so informs the Loyalist delegates that the Imperial Conference will be delayed until January next year. The Republicans feel abandoned by the Germans and thus the more moderate and representative elements fall out of favour while pro-communist factions used the fact the Comintern is staying Spain to expand their influence. With the Germans out of Spain, Mosley decides to break the ceasefire and restart the war before it becomes cold so they can fight at full strength as well as denying the enemy the chance to fortify their position.
All along the front, Falangist and Restitutio forces push into Republican territory slowly but surely. On the 22nd of December, the beginning of Winter, both sides slow down. Although Spain is still warm compared to most of the foreigners homes, it is still quite cold, around 5°C. The majority of the troops in the North stop fighting, the exception being the British and the Soviets, along with some French divisions, as they are used to much colder temperatures. With the fighting slowed, Mosley can now focus on inward development. Mosley calls the snap election and leaves with Joyce, Kitson, Ross, and Fuller to spread support in areas were they closely lost or just barely won in '25. They move immediately so they can use the hours wisely. David gives a public address via radio stating his support for Mosley is as strong as ever. Several pro-Victorian industrialists and retired military officers, Douglas Haig being the most notable, state their support for Mosley. Some mention how they were originally opposed to or unsure of him, but with recent events coming to pass they were swayed and now truly believe in him. He makes an emphasis on visiting Wales to reach out to the Irish and Welsh. The Irish were very supporting of Mosley in the last election due to his efforts to mend Anlgo-Irish relations and his policy of cooperation between Catholics and Protestants, though most of them were Protestants, and their vote helped Mosley immensely. The Welsh, however, were less devoted to him. They hold no significant grudge against him, apart from maybe the lack of anti-Irish rhetoric, but they believe Mosley has nothing special to offer them, especially since the recent recovery has not reached Wales, Scotland or even the majority of Northern England. Upon arriving, he talks to several prominent Irish politicians and social figures and promises them that in their lifetime, Britain will reclaim Éire and that they will return to their homes. This emphasis on saying Éire instead of Ireland particularly endeared him to them even more, as it seemed he truly cared about them and the loss of their homes. He also promises that efforts to revitalise Wales and Northern England will be undertaken. This helps move more Welsh to his side. As for the Scots, he also promises that the recovery experienced by the South would move up to the North as well, he just needed more time. He then returns back to the South and continues campaigning. At 10pm, the last stations close and the process of counting the votes begins. Mosley is certain that they have secured another smashing victory.
The next day, the results are in and once again the Victorian Union are the clear winners. Not only do they win, it is by a staggering amount. By its end, they hold 70% of the House of Commons and many in the House of Lords are already friendly or allied with the Victorians. With this absolutely astonishing majority, with most commentators recognising its uniqueness, Mosley and the Victorian Union stand virtually unopposed. Even if both the Torries and Labour along with every minor party in the country joined together in a coalition, the VU would still have enough votes to override them. Mosley is delighted. This will give him complete control over Parliament as most in the Victorian Union view Mosley with great admiration and some even devotion, so it would be unlikely for them to oppose anything he proposes. Kitson and Ross go wild, hurling a flurry of bills towards Mosley that, until now, they felt unsure of their survival in Parliament. Mosley also gets the news that wiring is essentially complete. Although they will have to continue checking on it for about a week or so to ensure everything stays working. Mosley thanks them and decides his first phone call ever will be to Makgill. He calls him and Makgill responds.
George Makgill
"Hello Your Excellency. What is it that you need?"
Oswald Mosley
"Hello Makgill. I need you to come to my office at the earliest possible convenience. I have an idea I want to discuss with you."
George Makgill
"I will be there in an hour."
Oswald Mosley
"Thank you. I await your arrival"
Makgill finishes up his most pressing work and departs towards 10 Downing. Once he arrives, he enters into Mosley's office and sits down.
George Makgill
"Hello Mosley. What is the purpose of my summoning?"
Oswald Mosley
"I have called you here as I believe a new organisation must be founded. I have already reestablished the Ministry of Information. Now, I believe I must establish a paramilitary group who's focus will be on the internal integrity of the British nation."
George Makgill
"Isn't that MI5's purpose?"
Oswald Mosley
"MI5 is designed to deal with internal military matters, not the stability of the nation. Your job is to identify and apprehend foreign agents, coups, terrorist attacks, and things of such nature. This organisation will be focused on dealing with dissidents, Marxist sympathisers, traitors to the nation, troublesome politicians and other civilian agitators as well as breaking up dangerous strikers. Even with your recently granted extra-judicial powers, which are temporary, MI5's internal structure is not suited for this matter. However, there are people in MI5 that would be especially suited towards this kind of work. I'm certain you can distinguish who belongs where. MI5 also has access to crucial domestic networks that would assist this endeavor so the sharing of the information between your group and this new one will be crucial to the success of both."
George Makgill
"I see. I can begin cataloging who belongs in this new organisation. I can also work to ready our intelligence networks for cooperative use."
Oswald Mosley
"Thank you."
George Makgill
"May I ask what you shall name this new agency?"
Oswald Mosley
"The Institute for Internal Integrity, or I3. Oh, and one more thing Makgill."
George Makgill
"Yes?"
Oswald Mosley
"I've been searching for a man, he goes by the name P.S Burton. That is just an alias however and his real identity eludes me. I have asked who I know but have come up with nothing. I would like for you to do what you can to find who this man is, I want him brought to me alive and unharmed. I like him very much. Can you do it?"
George Makgill
"I will do everything in my power to find and identify this P.S Burton, if that is what you desire."
Oswald Mosley
"Thank you George."
And with that, their meeting is concluded. Makgill returns to his office to begin carrying out the instructions given to him by Mosley. Mosley continues to work in private. He has received a response from ICI, they said that if Mosley provides adequate government funding, they can begin research into more advanced chemical weapons and begin developing the first truly modern biological weapons. They state how they have been in limited contact with IG Farben and have the possibility to purchase quantities of organophosphates from them, however, in order to keep it secret they would need to pay them a higher price. They hope Mosley will be willing to subsidise the extra costs. Organophosphates work by disrupting an insects nervous system, some of the scientists at ICI believe there is a possibility of certain compounds to be lethal to humans as well in a high enough dosage. Mosley writes back to them saying he will support them in their endeavors. Fuller has also moved the training grounds for Claudius I and all future armoured vehicles to Bovington, Dorset, as Scilly is becoming too small for future training operations. Development of the next experimental tank, the Claudius II, is already underway. Vickers is working hard and with this promising pace, Mosley has assigned Kitson to work on merging Vickers with Armstrong Whitworth. This model will be another early prototype as Vickers is still working on the design of both their infantry and cruiser tank prototypes. The cruiser has been named "Matilda" while the infantry has been named "Haig".
Sopwith submits the initial blueprints for the new planes. He has managed to achieve such a quick start by heavily cooperating with Avro and Blackburn Aircraft, two other aviation manufacturers, in their designs. The two suffered greatly after the war and did not find the renewed success that H.G. Hawker Engineering did. In order to help their struggling situation, they agreed to supply technical assistance and blueprints. In exchange, Hawker would provide industrial production lines and the labour force and they would split the profits three ways. Kitson uses this cooperation to spearhead efforts to encourage a merger between the three.
The first plane is named the Avro 566 Avenger. It is a single-seat, single engine biplane of wood and fabric construction. The head designer is Roy Chadwick, however, Harry Hawker and other test and war pilots give their valuable input to improve performance by correcting issues an armchair designer might not recognise before the first test flight. The plane will have a length of 7.77 meters, a wingspan of 9.75 m, a height of 3.12 m, a wing area of 22.7 m², an empty weight of 1,074 kilograms, a loaded weight of 1,460 kg and the engine is a Napier Lion VII. Although there has not been a test flight, estimates say that top speed will be around 290 kilometers per hour, cruise speed will be around 209 km/h, the service ceiling will be in the 6,700 m range with the armament being a single engine-mounted 7.77 millimeter Vickers machine gun. A more experimental version would include a rear-mounted 7.77 mm Lewis Gun for rear defense, however the former version is cheaper and easier to produce. Since the Republicans or the Soviets don't have much in the way of aircraft, the French would be the only substantial threat in the air, therefore, the RAF and the Army feel that it is unnecessary if it means getting the planes into action faster.
They also have blueprints of a biplane bomber, the Hawker Horsley. It is a single-engine, all-wooden, medium day bomber. It would hold a crew of 2, 1 pilot and 1 bombardier and rear-gunner. The pilot would have access to a single forward-firing 7.77 mm Vickers machine gun while the bombardier would wield a rear-mounted 7.77 m Lewis Gun and be capable of dropping either two 250 kg bombs or one 680 kg bomb. It would have a length of 11.83 m, a wingspan of 17.22 m, a height of 4.16 m, a wing area of 64.38 m², an empty weight of 2,164 kg, a loaded weight of 3,545 kg and would be powered by a single Rolls-Royce Condor III engine. With these components, estimated performance would point to a maximum speed of 201 km/h at an altitude of 1,829 m, standard bombing height, a service ceiling of 4,267 m, a rate of climb of 3.625 m/s, and could last in the field for a absolute maximum of 10 hours. The two final blueprints displayed are a naval aerial fighter and a naval bomber.
The naval torpedo bomber is named the Blackburn T.5 Ripon. It is a carrier-based torpedo bomber that could also serve as a reconnaissance plane. It holds a crew of two. Its specifications show that its length is 11.20 m, a wingspan of 13.67 m, a height of 3.91 m, a wing area of 63.45 m2, an empty weight of 1,878 kg, a loaded weight of 3,310 kg and his also powered by Napier Lion VII engine. As with the previous planes, test flights have yet to be conducted yet as they're still making sure the planes are safe to fly, but they estimate performance will equal a top speed of 179 km/h, a service ceiling of 3,050 km, and a rate of climb of 2.158 m/s. Its armament includes a single fixed, forward firing 7.77 m Vickers machine gun, another rear firing 7.77 m Lewis Gun, and either a 447 mm torpedo, three 240 kg bombs or six 104 kg bombs.
The final one, the naval aerial fighter, is the Avro Type 584 Avocet. It is single-engine naval fighter whose main role will be a fighter on the high seas. It was not carrier-based as they simply can not make it work with current technology unless cutbacks are made to other areas. It holds a single pilot. Its would have a length of 7.50 m, a wingspan of 9.93 m, a height of 3.05 m, a wing area of 31.59 m², an empty weight of 985 kg, a loaded weight 1,381 kg, and would be powered by a single Armstrong Siddeley Jaguar IV engine. Its top speed would be 233 km, and a service ceiling of 7,000 m, with an armament consisting of two 7.77 mm Madsen machine Guns.
Mosley decides now is the time to push his pro-natalist policies. Mosley and Kitson, along with others he knew, believed that in the future, the colonies, once reclaimed, must be majority White. South Africa, Rhodesia, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand all followed this. But not just any white majority, an English speaking majority with both racial and cultural ties back to the Home Isles, in order to create a tightly knit union of Anglo nations rather than disparate Dominions and colonies. Britain also needed to expand her core population and industrial base to these areas while simultaneously denying natives from accessing these resources and demanding independence. With pro-natalist polices, Britain's economy can recover even faster as the few jobs women take would now be open for male work, decreasing unemployment and also leading to a population surplus. This combined with economic incentives for married couples who have children would see the next generation coming faster than their parents could raise them. He could then implement incentives for immigration to Africa, India, the East Indies, and wherever the British Empire would claim as her own so as to begin another great wave of immigration to the colonies. With Whites being the majority in these areas, Mosley and the public would have no problems giving them equal rights as citizens of homeland while they would be proud to call themselves British. However this also meant the crushing of regional identities. No longer should one call themselves a Canadian, a South African, a Rhodesian, a Kenyan, an Australian, a Zealander, a Malayan, an Indian, or anything else. In Mosley's eyes, these should only be stated if one is asked where they hail from, not what or who they are. In Mosley's vision, it would be an empire of Britons only, "Blood and Soil" as he called it. In order to achieve this, Britain's population would have to be increased, the Imperial Loyalists must be employed to break regional national identities and to create and spread a new global British identity, and the foes who possess these lands must be overthrown so that their rightful owners can return. Britain's population is around 35,000,000 people, this is not enough. Germany's population is almost twice that. He had been inspired by the steps Mussolini and his Fascists had taken after their seizure of power. Once the session is opened by King George V, Mosley proposes the pro-natalist polices and they pass through easily due to the Victorian supermajority, set to be fully passed into law by January, along with the bills from Kitson and Ross. Women will be barred from all work save for nursing, civilian and military, and other jobs that are maternal in nature. Tax credits for married couples and child-bearing ones will be instituted and a tax on bachelor men will be carried out. Birth control and abortion are made illegal and any advertisement for it will be punishable by harsh fines and jail time. The Order of the White Feather would be reestablished. However, to avoid the scandalous and embarrassing events where they were presented to veterans and people engaged in the civilian war effort, those who were considered exempt from enlisting would be identified and added to a newly created database with photos, where available, to see where they should send members to avoid these problems. The Order would remain dormant for a minimum of 2 years in order to hire members and to let the populace recover from the Great War. Women's right vote would be untouched as Mosley was not particularly opposed to the idea and believed that the property restrictions that limited men's voting right was an abhorrent disgrace that he was glad the Fourth Reform Act ended it.
New Years Eve comes and goes, with people celebrating heartily all over the world. In London, people cheer that a new era for the nation has arrived. In Berlin, people celebrate continued peace and prosperity. In Paris, people are jovial that the age of oppression of the past is over and a new future for France dawns. In Moscow, people are less optimistic as Lenin's NEP has failed to revitalise the economy the way he promised, the losses from the Great War and Russian Civil Wars are still felt, and the clash between Leon Trotsky and Joseph Stalin continues to escalate. However, recent developments in the economy and Germany's backing down over Spain has led people to feeling that there might be hope for the future. In Tokyo, people celebrate their countries prosperity and rise of representative institutions. In Washington, however, are massive riots nearby the White House. President Coolidge has managed to ease the situation, carrying out his campaign of "Return to Normalcy", in which various laws to improve labour rights and limited roll backs on Federal power to appease the Minimalists and Communists have been instituted. Winston Churchill, an admiral in the Royal Navy, a war hawk, an early supporter of Oswald Mosley, and who the primary onus for the failure of Gallipoli is placed on, said, "Coolidge is an appeaser. An appeaser is one who feeds the crocodiles, hoping they will eat him last". However, the effect of this compromise is undeniable. America is still not rife with optimism and cynicism has begun to pervade the country.
As the January month begins, Mosley has plans with the Imperial Conference and the French Exiles.
HMS Hermes, the First Ship in the World to Designed as a Seaplane Carrier on the British Coast, 1925
French Communard Troops Advancing Upon Nationalist Positions in Osorno, 1923
Locals Dealing With the Problems of the Civil War, 1924
Republican Troops in Madrid. They Were Undersupplied and Undermanned to the Point of Having to Conscript Females and the Effects of the Siege Began to Drive Some of the Troops Mad, 1925
Locals Clearing Away Debris in Madrid After its Fall to the Nationalists. The Siege Brought Great Destruction to the City, 1925
Nationalist Troops in Laredo Marching Towards Bilbao to Engage French and Republican Troops, 1925
The Avro 566 Avenger Prototype, the Next Step in British Fighter Planes, 1925
The Avro Type 584 Avocet Prototype, the Evolution of Naval Air Warfare for Britain, 1925
The Blackburn T.5 Ripon Prototype, an Advanced Carrier-Based Torpedo Bomber and Reconnaissance Plane in Development, 1925
The Hawker Horsley Prototype, an Advanced Medium Day Bomber and Torpedo Bomber and the First Step in Realising "Strategic Destruction", 1925
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Lord_Vespasian
Banned
He's a famous general. Having a famous general say you're not half-bad is great for politics. Just ask Hitler, Augustus, and many others. Even today, if a retired general most respected were to say he had confidence in a candidate and none in the other, a lot more people would vote for the one he endorsed.
Lord_Vespasian
Banned
Yes. ITL the Battle of Seine is the mirror to that event. However, unlike the Somme, the Centre Offensive in general is viewed as a necessary action because its goal is to retake Paris before the Germans could entrench it. It fails miserably, but since its purpose isn't to distract German forces but instead to recapture an important target and the fact that he simply can't just shell the city of Paris and its outskirts the level of defensive strength of the Germans is viewed as an unavoidable thing, unlike the Somme where a bombardment did little to nothing. So you don't have officers kicking balls across no-mans land or soldiers walking slowly in front of machine guns, but you do get similar casualties . Also his victory at Lyon and less(though still a lot) major offensive action than OTL combined make it so that he isn't as controversial. There is no Passchendaele, but instead Paris. And if you look at him from this view, he definitely comes across as more reasonable. He still is rather careless with life, is stubborn, gets into political spats, is still rather stubborn, etc, etc. But since the war in the West was really lost for the Allies once Paris fell, more of the blame for the war gets shifted to the French, and rightly so. Their inability to hold the line until the main British army came to the continent is viewed as the decisive factor in whether Germany won or lost, as no one can really believe the French could've made a major comeback at Marne like they did OTL.
Lord_Vespasian
Banned
Haig may have made many, many stupid decisions, but he's no Conrad von Hötzendorf or Luigi Cadorna, and Hindenburg, Joffre, Brusilov, Ludendorff, and many other WWI generals also made bloody offensives, many of them in the Western Front being fruitless. I think his reputation, while deserved, should not be exclusive to him. WWI was a time where the power of the defender far outweighed that of the attacker, until the tank shifted it back to a more even field. You never hear people giving Hindenburg, Ludendorff or the Germany army in general any flak for neglecting tank development, something even they noted was massive failure. No one lambastes Ludendorff for the Spring Offensive and the amount of people criticizing the German generals at Marne, at least from what I've seen, is shockingly low despite it being one of the biggest strategic blunders in the entire war and in history in general. No one shits on Moltke for moving troops to the East that could've made the Schlieffen Plan work or for the disastrous decisions of von Falkenhayn during Verdun and his subsequent lie that he intended to "Bleed France White" or the high losses of the French at the Nivelle Offensive or the failure of Gallipoli by Churchill or von Kluck at Mons. Truth be told, WWI is filled with many deadly blunders because of so much radical technology in such a short time combined with an Old Guard that was reaching its older age meaning that new developments were hard to reach without heavy casualties.
whatisinaname
Donor
Interesting TL will be following, but a question, will Frank Whittle’s jet engine design be backed sooner rather than later?
Lord_Vespasian
Banned
The design has already been presented and he's already at Cranwell, but he's low level. He'll be getting real funding around the mid '30s
Lord_Vespasian
Banned
They're an "independent" state and didn't loose any territory, but really they're a German puppet as they fear the French Commune
Lord_Vespasian
Banned
The poor speed bump of Europe. Also the chapter will be posted tomorrow. It's already finished, I'm just waiting for more people to come online
The Lion Cannot Be Tamed
Lord_Vespasian
Banned
The Sun Rises Yet Again
Chapter 15: The Lion Cannot Be Tamed
January 12, 1926
The streets of London are abound with traffic. The meeting of the Imperial Conference has become well publicised. It is an event of great discussion and importance. Ever since the fall of the Empire following the war, it was assumed the Imperial Conference would be disbanded in perpetuity, but the governments before Mosley's never issued an official statement on its status. Mosley, upon winning, sent messages to all his personal international contacts and known Loyalists to prepare themselves for another Imperial Conference. The meeting of another Conference shows the whole world that Britain's colonial ambitions have not been snuffed out. Such an action will surely draw the attention of many nations. The meeting is to take place inside the Colonial Office inside Whitehall as it always had been done, with King George V, Crown Prince David, and Prince Albert overseeing it. As they convene into the meeting room, food and beverages are served and everyone sits on down at the table.
Although there are delegates from most of the former dominions' and colonies' Loyalist movements, some countries have more esteemed and numerous members. The Conference is distinctly different than the previous ones. Previously, only Dominions were allowed into these meetings, but this one has delegations from not just former dominions, but colonies, protectorates, and various other possessions. This is intentional, Mosley not only wants to but needs to begin building a sense of unity now, so that when Britain gets her affairs in order, the work needed to achieve Mosley's vision will have already been set into motion and the seeds of a new Empire planted. The Conference also lacked a Lord President of the Council as the previous one, George Nathaniel Curzon, had resigned as he saw little prospect of future advancement under the position as the Empire was no more and no replacement had been assigned since. Mosley decided that he would assume the role, a stunning move as no one has ever held both positions simultaneously.
The Canadian delegation is headed by former Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, authour of the famous poem, "In France's Fields". McCrae is an Empire Loyalist to his core. Almost dying of pneumonia during the war, he is extremely bitter over how the war went. He was never in favour of Canada's secession from the Empire and greatly desires a return to the rule under the Home Isles.
The Indian delegation is headed by Rudyard Kipling, famous writer of many books, poems, and short stories; some including "The Jungle Book", "The Man Who Would Be King", "Mandalay", "The White Man's Burden", and "If—". He has been a staunch defender of British imperialism for much of his life, believing it was the "White Man's Burden" to civilise the savages of the world. The fall of the Empire and harsh treatment from the Indian government has led to Kipling developing a more hard-line and extreme view on imperialism. He has recently adopted the mindset of Mosley and his followers, the colonies must be White, for Whites. This means that the colonies must become majority White to serve the needs and wants of Whites. And if the natives want to resist this, then he believes they should be expelled.
The South African delegation is headed by former Field Marshal Jan Christiaan Smuts, head of the Union Party, and a close contender for Prime Minister in the recent elections two years ago. He is a war hero and he and his party favour and vigorously advocate rapprochement with Britain. His party has been growing ever since the middle of 1923, spurred to even faster growth in the last year by the successes of Mosley and his Victorian Union. The politics of this up-and-coming Mosley and his ideology of Victorianism have already begun to shape the Union Party, making it distinctly Victorian. However, South Africa is plagued with rising racial tensions, with the radical Progressive Party advocating for the end of segregation. South Africa also stands in the place of South Rhodesia, and Bechuanaland
The Australian delegation is headed by William Birdwood, another war hero who holds great respect among Australians for his service aside them in Gallipoli. He is a member of the Dominion Party of Australia, which desires to come under influence of the Empire again, and was recently selected as Governor-General of Australia. He has been working to accrue more power towards the role without angering Parliament and the Prime Minister, to little effect, with cries of "Never Again" still ringing throughout the streets, although they have begun to die down compared to the past years. His position in general is extremely precarious as the independence preservers argue that since Australia is now independent from Britain, is the King still the head of state? If not, then the General-Governor as a position isn't really necessary and therefore its powers should be absorbed by the Prime Minister. Birdwood has managed to stave these attempts off however.
The various African groups have split into two groups, those still apart of the Empire in West Africa, these nations are Nigeria, Ghana, Guinea, and Gambia, while those under German rule in East Africa, these nations are Kenya, Uganda Northern Rhodesia, and Nyasaland. These two groups have decided to each form a common delegation to address issues that effect all within the group than just one of the regions. These two groups remain separate from the South African delegation however. The East African colonies chafe underneath German colonial governance, with its heavy-handed nature apparent to all. And despite Vorbeck's best efforts, the specter of terror that is Hermann Göring still looms over all in Mittleafrika. They desire a return to British colonial governance and have begun to warm up towards this avant-garde Victorianism.
The East Asian delegation consists of the former colonies of Malaya and the Kingdom of Sarawak and the Crown Colonies of Ceylon and Hong Kong. Malaya and Sarawak, like the African groups, chafe under the rule of Deutsch Ost-Asien. They have also dislike the lack of investment from Germany and the constant threat of invasion by the Japanese as the Kriegsmarine is unable to properly project power to East Asia. Hong Kong also yearns for other nearby British colonies to provide a safety net should the Japanese attack them.
New Zealand has no delegation as there is no Loyalist movement of note. There is also no Egyptian-Sudanese delegation either as the king of Egypt, Ahmed Faud I, declared he would have the many clerics of the Islamic world declare a Fatawā of death against any British collaborators. Ireland also lacks one as the majority of Pro-British Irish who would be dedicated enough to attend the Conference are already in Britain. King George V speaks first.
King George V
"Hello to all! It brings great warmth to my heart to see you have all arrived today. Together, our great gathering shows the world the British spirit is unbreakable. The British Lion still roars! Now, let us commence with the Imperial Conference of 1926!"
The room erupts into a hearty hurrah. As they do, George V sits down and is beset by a severe cough. After he finally gets his cough under control, Mosley goes to the podium first, being the voice of Britain.
Oswald Mosley
My fellow friends, today we stand here united in one purpose, striving towards a singular goal, a return to our preeminence. We are joined here today to work in harmony towards this right and noble goal! We will endure tirelessly to this end. We must mobilise the spirit of our people to begin the fight that will shape our nation, our identity, and our people forever. Our fight is for the Empire, and in that battle we go forward together till victory be won. Our struggle is hard, because we are fighting for something great, and great things are not lightly or easily gained. We are fighting for nothing less than the reclamation of the spirit of our people across the globe and the empire they possessed. We must be worthy of our mission, for you Loyalists are those who are summoned to lead the people to a new and a higher civilisation, our civilisation!"
The room once again cheers in unity.
Oswald Mosley
"Now in order to achieve this vital goal, several objectives must be fulfilled. These will allow us to truly begin the process of returning to greatness. These being, the revitalisation of the Home Isles, which will require to not only recover the economy, but to strengthen and heighten it to previously unimaginable levels, to rebuild the Army and Navy, but not into the structures of old, but of a grand new order that can brave the horrors and challenges of the modern world, to construct a new and mighty air force that can impose our will across the globe in new ways, to increase the White population so as to further settlement of the unclaimed sections of the Empire, to defeat those most vile of forces, Communism and the Huns, the spreading of our righteous cause throughout the lands we inhabit so as to drum up support, and the final, but potentially most important of all steps, the shattering of the regional identities of old so as to pave the way clear for a new, global Imperial identity that will bring us closer than ever before, in ways not possible before. This is not to say that regions cannot have their uniqueness and differences, but if we are to achieve the future we desire, this is paramount. My friends, associates, and I have already begun working to achieve these goals. The rest will come with time, but we in the Home Isles need you to spread the cause to those that doubt the Empire can rule. This is our mission."
The room sounds in agreement. With Britain finished for the moment, John McCrae heads to the podium, his voice echoing the will of the Canadian Loyalists.
John McCrae
"My fellow Loyalists, I stand here today as one who has lost. I have lost many friends, I have lost my beloved Empire, I have lost my dignity, and I have lost my ability to even run for protracted periods of time without heaving my lungs out due to pneumonia. I have given much for the Empire, as have all of us, and to see that same Empire collapse, drives a stake deep into my soul. I have striven to restore what has been lost. I write ever more poems, stories, and pamphlets, drawing more and more people to our cause. And now, I bring to this Conference an innovative and intelligent young man, his name his John Cantius Garand. He is a firearm designer who is living in the United States and was working as an engineer in the Springfield Armory, but was laid off in 1922 after the Great Depression began. He has been struggling to get anyone to hire him to continue development on his new rifle. Although Canada has no funds to spare this man, I am certain Britain can."
Oswald Mosley
"This is a most a promising prospect. The army has been clamoring for a replacement for the rapidly aging Enfield, perhaps this could be it?"
John McCrae
"I assure you Your Excellency, this man will provide you what you need."
Oswald Mosley
"Then let us hear him."
John McCrae
"Of course. Mr. Garand, please come to the podium."
As Garand steps up to the podium, an air of tension falls on the room.
John Cantius Garand
"Before I say anything else, I must tell you that everything you advocate does not strike me the right way and I have some reservations. But, I have a woman I love very dearly. Her name is Nellie. She has two daughters and is recently widowed. America is extremely dangerous, especially where we live. She said she loves me and would marry me, but only if I had a stable income to support her children. I would do much to take her hand in marriage. If you can guarantee me a stable income and safety, I will design my rifle for you."
Oswald Mosley
"Mr. Garand, I believe we all can empathise with your situation. I can guarantee you that Britain will consistently employ you, you haven't the faintest idea how valuable your services would be to us. If this rifle of yours delivers what you say it will, you will be well rewarded. So, will you work for us?"
Johnn Cantius Garand
"I will."
Oswald Mosley
"Excellent! I look forward to your service at RSAF. Is there anything else you wish to say McCrae?"
John McCrae
"No Your Excellency."
Oswald Mosley
"Then let us continue. Mr. Kipling, may you take the podium?"
Joseph Rudyard Kipling
"Of course."
As Kipling mounts the podium, he prepares himself to speak.
Joseph Rudyard Kipling
"I am an aged man. I have seen many things. But in my 60 years of life, no two things have been as shocking and upsetting as the rise of Communism and the fall of the Empire. These two events have rocked my very core. It is no easy thing to change an old man's views, but changed my views have. It brings warmth to my heart to see the future generations are already mobilising themselves to fight against these existential threats and to rally the Empire back into being. First it was the Portuguese and the rise of Integralism by Salazar. Next, the Italians and their Il Duce, Benitio Mussolini. After that was the Spanish and their leader Francisco Franco. Now, glorious Britannia has had her own rise with Oswald Mosley as our leader! Me and my colleagues in India have fought against the foul independence movements that persist within the Indian National Congress. Already, the nation has proved itself incapable of self-rule, with the massive Burmese Revolt along with agitation by Moslems and even limited numbers of Sikhs, all crying for independent states that would be havens for their religions. A decade has yet to pass and already this ill-conceived nation is tearing itself apart. India must return to the Raj, it is the only way for it to survive. These natives have shown that they cannot handle things like freedom and power, the White man must take care of them, like one takes care of a pet. But we must not ignore our own needs, the natives have committed many an injustice against me and many other Whites in India. The White man's burden is just that, a burden. No longer can we afford to shelter burdens, we must free ourselves from self-imposed handicaps and soar to greatness as is our destiny. To do so, Britain must regain its strength while we Loyalists do all we can to encourage a return to British rule. If they should deny reason, which is likely, then we must begin preparations to aid the troops when they come back to enforce the divine right. I believe the best way to convince others in India to join our cause is to show the pathetic state the nation and compare it to how much better things were a few short yeas ago. We may also have to ferment this chaos. The Muslim Independence agitators are extremely aggressive and with sufficient coaxing, may erupt into open revolt. Hindu-Buddhist relations are also abysmally low, with the government having to cover up several events between the two which escalated into fatal encounters. Burmese nationalists have also been causing much trouble, as the previously mentioned rebellion shows, with this rebellion costing many lives. And while the majority of Sikhs, Jains, and Christians remain neutral, they also worry they might be the next persecuted group. We must seize on this, sowing the seeds of revolt will weaken the Indian government so much that when British troops set foot on India, there will be no resistance. In order to carry these actions out, we need funding and advisers to make this work. Can Britain help us do this?"
Oswald Mosley
"Mr. Kipling, Britain will do everything in her power to regain the Jewel of the Empire. Just give us names of people and groups that you are a part of or are allied with and we will take the necessary steps."
Joseph Rudyard Kipling
"Thank you Your Excellency. I promise you, we in India will not fail you or Britain!"
Oswald Mosley
"I am certain of it. Now with that finished, Mr. Smuts, will you speak?"
Jan Christiaan Smuts
"At once."
Smuts ascends to the podium and begins to speak.
Jan Christiaan Smuts
"Today, we are gathered here to fight against the tide of barbarism and Marxism. Like Mr. McCrae and Mosley, I too have fought for the Empire. I fought in Africa and later joined the Imperial War Cabinet. To see the defeated state we are in is infuriating, it makes my blood boil incessantly. And then, to see the wavering loyalty of my South Africa in the break away almost did me in. But I am here today, still fighting. I came close in the last election for Prime Minister, but I was beaten by the National Afrikaner Party. With just a bit more time, campaigning, and several more successes by Britain in Europe, I am confident I can win the position and bring South Africa along with Rhodesia back into Empire. South Africa must return to the fold quickly, otherwise any attempts to control the Eastern lands will be tenuous at best. Britain needs a stable and dependable supply chain to the East if she is to be great once more, and the Suez is no longer an option. It will also give us a direct front against Mittleafrika when the time comes to destroy that hideous monstrosity. All I ask of Britain is to continue showing the world Her might and I promise I can bring South Africa back into the fold. Once Britain triumphs, all the scattered sons will return, hearkening to reason and righteousness. If the Civil War in Spain were to end and another brave and daring military escapade carried out successfully, I can see to our goals by 1935 potentially."
Oswald Mosley
"Is there no way to do it by 1929 or '33?"
Jan Christiaan Smuts
"That is extremely optimistic and I cannot guarantee success in that."
Oswald Mosley
"How are relations between Whites and Africans in the South Africa?"
Jan Christiaan Smuts
"Not well, the damn brutes cannot the see the reason behind letting Whites run the nation. They're protesting and inciting violence against farmers. Some fear a race war will break out but I believe such a thing is preposterous. They don't the trained personnel and material to pull such a thing off but still, it is worrying. And the Afrikaners aren't much help either, constantly opposing us and unnecessarily antagonizing them."
Oswald Mosley
"I see. Very well. Do you have anything else to say Mr. Smuts?"
Jan Christiaan Smuts
"No Your Excellency."
Oswald Mosley
"Good. Now Mr. Birdwood will take the podium."
Birdwood approaches the podium and begins.
William Riddell Birdwood
"Thank you Your Excellency. I rejoice in the fact that we are united in one purpose and one love, the Empire. It reminds of Gallipoli, seeing British and Commonwealth troops, especially the ANZACS, fighting the damned Turks as brothers implanted into me a powerful yet dormant thought, like a poppy seed, it required the right circumstances to grow and blossom. That idea was of a truly unified Empire, not one of Australians and New Zealanders, of Indians and Malayans, of South Africans and Rhodesians, of Canadians and Kenyans, but of Britons. The conditions to fully understand what I was thinking did not arise until the collapse of the Empire and Mosley's meteoric rise in Britain. With them and blood of so many great men, I began to understand what my purpose is. it is the same as everyone else in this room today. Ever since, I have worked hard to make the Australian people see our way, but they are stubborn. Gallipoli and the other losses of the Great War still sting greatly within them and they fear that rejoining Britain will see their sons and brothers off to die in another war, without a care by their British oppressors. I must shatter this idea and to do so I need Britain's help. If you can show the Australian people that you care about them, it will go a long way to helping our cause. I am not certain how you would achieve this, but it is vital to my success. Another important issue is the debate over whether or not our great and glorious monarch, George V, is still the head of state. If you were to conduct a state visit with him, it would dispel all traitorous notions of this holding any merit. We also require reassurances against Japanese aggression. Maybe Britain could gift the RAN some ships? Even if they're outdated they would be an effective sign of goodwill and would endear our cause to the public. Our ideological allies can use that goodwill to champion our ideas even further, every little bit helps."
King George V
"That is a great idea. One that I am sure Prime Minister Mosley will agree with."
Oswald Mosley
"Of course your Highness. I also suggest we bring David with us, the people must become familiar with the next monarch of our great nation."
King George V
"Yes. My son must show the world what "proper" royalty looks like."
With that statement, tensions falls on the room, David retains a stoic face, despite the obvious anger within, while George gives a cold stare. Eventually, Mosley disrupts it by continuing the Conference. The African and East Asian groups go up and speak their ideas. The African Loyalists demonstrate the need for loyal partisans to carry out sabotage and harassment behind enemy lines as well as guide regular forces through the harsh African terrain. They say that they have already begun disseminating cells all over Mittleafrika and spreading pro-British propaganda. Some will even enlist in the Mittleafrikan army to carry out espionage, exploiting Vorbeck's openness to non-German soldiers against him. They show that they are continuing extensive guerrilla warfare and subsistence training as they may need to avoid centers of cities for months or even years. They also plan to organise African resistance groups against the Germans. The East Indies group also propose similar measures, but also the illegal exportation of oil and rubber from Malaya to Britain. This would be extremely risky and dangerous but it would provide Britain with vital resources needed to rearm and carry out military action. They estimate they can smuggle around 5 to 8% of the monthly rubber and oil product without raising suspicion, any higher and detection would be inevitable, and even 8% is pushing the limits of what they can get away with. It wouldn't be enough to supplement Britain's needs but would bring much needed relief to its imports. They also show them that plans to organise Indochinese rebels are already in motion. These rebels want full independence and would not accept colonial rule under any circumstances and would tie up crucial men and resources from Germany in putting it down. Mosley greatly approves of this idea, especially since Indochina was former French territory, not British, and he would not care if it became fully independent.
They continue to converse for some time. Eventually, everyone is finished. Mosley and the King close the Conference. They bid each other farewell and prepare to head back to their homes to continue the fight. As they exit the building, they face a crowd of reporters, radio broadcasters, and film crews asking many questions. Mosley answers them and tells them Britain is well on the path to greatness. Mosley, the King, the heir apparent, and his brother walk to their vehicles while the night air blows. As they do, Mosley notices an odd man in a brown suit but decides to continue walking, it was just nerves. As they reach him, he yells at the top of his lungs, "Death to the King!", pulls out a revolver from within the newspaper and aims it right at King George. Mosley moves immediately, grabbing the barrel of the gun and swinging it downward, the assassin fires the gun and it strikes Mosley's right shin, knocking him to the ground while he screams in pain. The assassin then moves with lightning speed and fires another round into the King's chest, knocking him back. Before he can fire again, Albert, David, and a bystander knock him to the ground while their mother, Mary, holds George, sobbing into his bleeding chest. Two guards then tell Albert, David, and the bystander to back off the assassin and begin to bludgeon him with their batons, finally picking him up after a few seconds. Three guards have already picked up George while one holds back Mary, who is hysterical, and ferry the two into a car and head to the nearest hospital. Mosley, with the help of Albert, manages to sit up. He is given some water to clean the wound and 2 bystanders help him walk to another car afterwards. The press swarm him, the royals, and the bystander. Mosley manages to only make a few strained statements hoping the King would make it through before leaving to the hospital as well. David and Albert are unable to say anything, Albert is stuttering like a broken engine until he snaps and tells them to leave them alone and then storms off to his car with David and they head to the hospital. The bystander is asked what her name is and she tells them it is Alice Lawrence. She leaves without answering any questions and before anyone can get a proper photograph of her face. The police carry the bleeding assassin to a police car and bring him to the station.
Mosley sits in the car, grimacing at his wound. He is grateful it did not hit his thigh or he'd most likely be a dead man. He sits silently, still in shock from the event. He wonders what will happen next. Regardless, he must continue his work, he must complete his life's mission, although the meeting with the French Exiles must be delayed for some time. The Lion cannot be tamed.
Former Lieutenant Colonel and MD John McCrae, Authour of Many Poems Including the Famous "In France's Fields" and leader of the Loyalist Canadian Delegation to the Imperial Conference, 1915
Joseph Rudyard Kipling, Famous Authour of Many Short Stories, Poems, and Books and Head of the Loyalist Indian Delegation to the Imperial Conference, 1924
]
Jan Christiaan Smuts, Former South African Lieutenant General, Head of the Union Party of South Africa and leader of the Loyalist South African Delegation to the Imperial Conference, 1917
William Riddell Birdwood, War Hero, Former British Field Marshall, Governor-General of Australia, a Leading Figure in the Dominion Party of Australia, and leader of the Loyalist Australian Delegation to the Imperial Conference, 1919
King George V, King of Great Britain and Former Emperor of India, 1926
Queen Consort Mary of Teck, Wife to King George V, 1926
Albert Arthur George, Duke of York, Second Son of King George V and Queen Mary of Teck, 1926
Jonh Cantius Garand, Canadian Born, American Weapons Designer, 1922
A Photo of the King, the Crown Prince, and Prince Albert as they Exit Whitehall
Rare Footage Taken During the Whitehall Shooting, 1926
Chapter 15: The Lion Cannot Be Tamed
January 12, 1926
The streets of London are abound with traffic. The meeting of the Imperial Conference has become well publicised. It is an event of great discussion and importance. Ever since the fall of the Empire following the war, it was assumed the Imperial Conference would be disbanded in perpetuity, but the governments before Mosley's never issued an official statement on its status. Mosley, upon winning, sent messages to all his personal international contacts and known Loyalists to prepare themselves for another Imperial Conference. The meeting of another Conference shows the whole world that Britain's colonial ambitions have not been snuffed out. Such an action will surely draw the attention of many nations. The meeting is to take place inside the Colonial Office inside Whitehall as it always had been done, with King George V, Crown Prince David, and Prince Albert overseeing it. As they convene into the meeting room, food and beverages are served and everyone sits on down at the table.
Although there are delegates from most of the former dominions' and colonies' Loyalist movements, some countries have more esteemed and numerous members. The Conference is distinctly different than the previous ones. Previously, only Dominions were allowed into these meetings, but this one has delegations from not just former dominions, but colonies, protectorates, and various other possessions. This is intentional, Mosley not only wants to but needs to begin building a sense of unity now, so that when Britain gets her affairs in order, the work needed to achieve Mosley's vision will have already been set into motion and the seeds of a new Empire planted. The Conference also lacked a Lord President of the Council as the previous one, George Nathaniel Curzon, had resigned as he saw little prospect of future advancement under the position as the Empire was no more and no replacement had been assigned since. Mosley decided that he would assume the role, a stunning move as no one has ever held both positions simultaneously.
The Canadian delegation is headed by former Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, authour of the famous poem, "In France's Fields". McCrae is an Empire Loyalist to his core. Almost dying of pneumonia during the war, he is extremely bitter over how the war went. He was never in favour of Canada's secession from the Empire and greatly desires a return to the rule under the Home Isles.
The Indian delegation is headed by Rudyard Kipling, famous writer of many books, poems, and short stories; some including "The Jungle Book", "The Man Who Would Be King", "Mandalay", "The White Man's Burden", and "If—". He has been a staunch defender of British imperialism for much of his life, believing it was the "White Man's Burden" to civilise the savages of the world. The fall of the Empire and harsh treatment from the Indian government has led to Kipling developing a more hard-line and extreme view on imperialism. He has recently adopted the mindset of Mosley and his followers, the colonies must be White, for Whites. This means that the colonies must become majority White to serve the needs and wants of Whites. And if the natives want to resist this, then he believes they should be expelled.
The South African delegation is headed by former Field Marshal Jan Christiaan Smuts, head of the Union Party, and a close contender for Prime Minister in the recent elections two years ago. He is a war hero and he and his party favour and vigorously advocate rapprochement with Britain. His party has been growing ever since the middle of 1923, spurred to even faster growth in the last year by the successes of Mosley and his Victorian Union. The politics of this up-and-coming Mosley and his ideology of Victorianism have already begun to shape the Union Party, making it distinctly Victorian. However, South Africa is plagued with rising racial tensions, with the radical Progressive Party advocating for the end of segregation. South Africa also stands in the place of South Rhodesia, and Bechuanaland
The Australian delegation is headed by William Birdwood, another war hero who holds great respect among Australians for his service aside them in Gallipoli. He is a member of the Dominion Party of Australia, which desires to come under influence of the Empire again, and was recently selected as Governor-General of Australia. He has been working to accrue more power towards the role without angering Parliament and the Prime Minister, to little effect, with cries of "Never Again" still ringing throughout the streets, although they have begun to die down compared to the past years. His position in general is extremely precarious as the independence preservers argue that since Australia is now independent from Britain, is the King still the head of state? If not, then the General-Governor as a position isn't really necessary and therefore its powers should be absorbed by the Prime Minister. Birdwood has managed to stave these attempts off however.
The various African groups have split into two groups, those still apart of the Empire in West Africa, these nations are Nigeria, Ghana, Guinea, and Gambia, while those under German rule in East Africa, these nations are Kenya, Uganda Northern Rhodesia, and Nyasaland. These two groups have decided to each form a common delegation to address issues that effect all within the group than just one of the regions. These two groups remain separate from the South African delegation however. The East African colonies chafe underneath German colonial governance, with its heavy-handed nature apparent to all. And despite Vorbeck's best efforts, the specter of terror that is Hermann Göring still looms over all in Mittleafrika. They desire a return to British colonial governance and have begun to warm up towards this avant-garde Victorianism.
The East Asian delegation consists of the former colonies of Malaya and the Kingdom of Sarawak and the Crown Colonies of Ceylon and Hong Kong. Malaya and Sarawak, like the African groups, chafe under the rule of Deutsch Ost-Asien. They have also dislike the lack of investment from Germany and the constant threat of invasion by the Japanese as the Kriegsmarine is unable to properly project power to East Asia. Hong Kong also yearns for other nearby British colonies to provide a safety net should the Japanese attack them.
New Zealand has no delegation as there is no Loyalist movement of note. There is also no Egyptian-Sudanese delegation either as the king of Egypt, Ahmed Faud I, declared he would have the many clerics of the Islamic world declare a Fatawā of death against any British collaborators. Ireland also lacks one as the majority of Pro-British Irish who would be dedicated enough to attend the Conference are already in Britain. King George V speaks first.
King George V
"Hello to all! It brings great warmth to my heart to see you have all arrived today. Together, our great gathering shows the world the British spirit is unbreakable. The British Lion still roars! Now, let us commence with the Imperial Conference of 1926!"
The room erupts into a hearty hurrah. As they do, George V sits down and is beset by a severe cough. After he finally gets his cough under control, Mosley goes to the podium first, being the voice of Britain.
Oswald Mosley
My fellow friends, today we stand here united in one purpose, striving towards a singular goal, a return to our preeminence. We are joined here today to work in harmony towards this right and noble goal! We will endure tirelessly to this end. We must mobilise the spirit of our people to begin the fight that will shape our nation, our identity, and our people forever. Our fight is for the Empire, and in that battle we go forward together till victory be won. Our struggle is hard, because we are fighting for something great, and great things are not lightly or easily gained. We are fighting for nothing less than the reclamation of the spirit of our people across the globe and the empire they possessed. We must be worthy of our mission, for you Loyalists are those who are summoned to lead the people to a new and a higher civilisation, our civilisation!"
The room once again cheers in unity.
Oswald Mosley
"Now in order to achieve this vital goal, several objectives must be fulfilled. These will allow us to truly begin the process of returning to greatness. These being, the revitalisation of the Home Isles, which will require to not only recover the economy, but to strengthen and heighten it to previously unimaginable levels, to rebuild the Army and Navy, but not into the structures of old, but of a grand new order that can brave the horrors and challenges of the modern world, to construct a new and mighty air force that can impose our will across the globe in new ways, to increase the White population so as to further settlement of the unclaimed sections of the Empire, to defeat those most vile of forces, Communism and the Huns, the spreading of our righteous cause throughout the lands we inhabit so as to drum up support, and the final, but potentially most important of all steps, the shattering of the regional identities of old so as to pave the way clear for a new, global Imperial identity that will bring us closer than ever before, in ways not possible before. This is not to say that regions cannot have their uniqueness and differences, but if we are to achieve the future we desire, this is paramount. My friends, associates, and I have already begun working to achieve these goals. The rest will come with time, but we in the Home Isles need you to spread the cause to those that doubt the Empire can rule. This is our mission."
The room sounds in agreement. With Britain finished for the moment, John McCrae heads to the podium, his voice echoing the will of the Canadian Loyalists.
John McCrae
"My fellow Loyalists, I stand here today as one who has lost. I have lost many friends, I have lost my beloved Empire, I have lost my dignity, and I have lost my ability to even run for protracted periods of time without heaving my lungs out due to pneumonia. I have given much for the Empire, as have all of us, and to see that same Empire collapse, drives a stake deep into my soul. I have striven to restore what has been lost. I write ever more poems, stories, and pamphlets, drawing more and more people to our cause. And now, I bring to this Conference an innovative and intelligent young man, his name his John Cantius Garand. He is a firearm designer who is living in the United States and was working as an engineer in the Springfield Armory, but was laid off in 1922 after the Great Depression began. He has been struggling to get anyone to hire him to continue development on his new rifle. Although Canada has no funds to spare this man, I am certain Britain can."
Oswald Mosley
"This is a most a promising prospect. The army has been clamoring for a replacement for the rapidly aging Enfield, perhaps this could be it?"
John McCrae
"I assure you Your Excellency, this man will provide you what you need."
Oswald Mosley
"Then let us hear him."
John McCrae
"Of course. Mr. Garand, please come to the podium."
As Garand steps up to the podium, an air of tension falls on the room.
John Cantius Garand
"Before I say anything else, I must tell you that everything you advocate does not strike me the right way and I have some reservations. But, I have a woman I love very dearly. Her name is Nellie. She has two daughters and is recently widowed. America is extremely dangerous, especially where we live. She said she loves me and would marry me, but only if I had a stable income to support her children. I would do much to take her hand in marriage. If you can guarantee me a stable income and safety, I will design my rifle for you."
Oswald Mosley
"Mr. Garand, I believe we all can empathise with your situation. I can guarantee you that Britain will consistently employ you, you haven't the faintest idea how valuable your services would be to us. If this rifle of yours delivers what you say it will, you will be well rewarded. So, will you work for us?"
Johnn Cantius Garand
"I will."
Oswald Mosley
"Excellent! I look forward to your service at RSAF. Is there anything else you wish to say McCrae?"
John McCrae
"No Your Excellency."
Oswald Mosley
"Then let us continue. Mr. Kipling, may you take the podium?"
Joseph Rudyard Kipling
"Of course."
As Kipling mounts the podium, he prepares himself to speak.
Joseph Rudyard Kipling
"I am an aged man. I have seen many things. But in my 60 years of life, no two things have been as shocking and upsetting as the rise of Communism and the fall of the Empire. These two events have rocked my very core. It is no easy thing to change an old man's views, but changed my views have. It brings warmth to my heart to see the future generations are already mobilising themselves to fight against these existential threats and to rally the Empire back into being. First it was the Portuguese and the rise of Integralism by Salazar. Next, the Italians and their Il Duce, Benitio Mussolini. After that was the Spanish and their leader Francisco Franco. Now, glorious Britannia has had her own rise with Oswald Mosley as our leader! Me and my colleagues in India have fought against the foul independence movements that persist within the Indian National Congress. Already, the nation has proved itself incapable of self-rule, with the massive Burmese Revolt along with agitation by Moslems and even limited numbers of Sikhs, all crying for independent states that would be havens for their religions. A decade has yet to pass and already this ill-conceived nation is tearing itself apart. India must return to the Raj, it is the only way for it to survive. These natives have shown that they cannot handle things like freedom and power, the White man must take care of them, like one takes care of a pet. But we must not ignore our own needs, the natives have committed many an injustice against me and many other Whites in India. The White man's burden is just that, a burden. No longer can we afford to shelter burdens, we must free ourselves from self-imposed handicaps and soar to greatness as is our destiny. To do so, Britain must regain its strength while we Loyalists do all we can to encourage a return to British rule. If they should deny reason, which is likely, then we must begin preparations to aid the troops when they come back to enforce the divine right. I believe the best way to convince others in India to join our cause is to show the pathetic state the nation and compare it to how much better things were a few short yeas ago. We may also have to ferment this chaos. The Muslim Independence agitators are extremely aggressive and with sufficient coaxing, may erupt into open revolt. Hindu-Buddhist relations are also abysmally low, with the government having to cover up several events between the two which escalated into fatal encounters. Burmese nationalists have also been causing much trouble, as the previously mentioned rebellion shows, with this rebellion costing many lives. And while the majority of Sikhs, Jains, and Christians remain neutral, they also worry they might be the next persecuted group. We must seize on this, sowing the seeds of revolt will weaken the Indian government so much that when British troops set foot on India, there will be no resistance. In order to carry these actions out, we need funding and advisers to make this work. Can Britain help us do this?"
Oswald Mosley
"Mr. Kipling, Britain will do everything in her power to regain the Jewel of the Empire. Just give us names of people and groups that you are a part of or are allied with and we will take the necessary steps."
Joseph Rudyard Kipling
"Thank you Your Excellency. I promise you, we in India will not fail you or Britain!"
Oswald Mosley
"I am certain of it. Now with that finished, Mr. Smuts, will you speak?"
Jan Christiaan Smuts
"At once."
Smuts ascends to the podium and begins to speak.
Jan Christiaan Smuts
"Today, we are gathered here to fight against the tide of barbarism and Marxism. Like Mr. McCrae and Mosley, I too have fought for the Empire. I fought in Africa and later joined the Imperial War Cabinet. To see the defeated state we are in is infuriating, it makes my blood boil incessantly. And then, to see the wavering loyalty of my South Africa in the break away almost did me in. But I am here today, still fighting. I came close in the last election for Prime Minister, but I was beaten by the National Afrikaner Party. With just a bit more time, campaigning, and several more successes by Britain in Europe, I am confident I can win the position and bring South Africa along with Rhodesia back into Empire. South Africa must return to the fold quickly, otherwise any attempts to control the Eastern lands will be tenuous at best. Britain needs a stable and dependable supply chain to the East if she is to be great once more, and the Suez is no longer an option. It will also give us a direct front against Mittleafrika when the time comes to destroy that hideous monstrosity. All I ask of Britain is to continue showing the world Her might and I promise I can bring South Africa back into the fold. Once Britain triumphs, all the scattered sons will return, hearkening to reason and righteousness. If the Civil War in Spain were to end and another brave and daring military escapade carried out successfully, I can see to our goals by 1935 potentially."
Oswald Mosley
"Is there no way to do it by 1929 or '33?"
Jan Christiaan Smuts
"That is extremely optimistic and I cannot guarantee success in that."
Oswald Mosley
"How are relations between Whites and Africans in the South Africa?"
Jan Christiaan Smuts
"Not well, the damn brutes cannot the see the reason behind letting Whites run the nation. They're protesting and inciting violence against farmers. Some fear a race war will break out but I believe such a thing is preposterous. They don't the trained personnel and material to pull such a thing off but still, it is worrying. And the Afrikaners aren't much help either, constantly opposing us and unnecessarily antagonizing them."
Oswald Mosley
"I see. Very well. Do you have anything else to say Mr. Smuts?"
Jan Christiaan Smuts
"No Your Excellency."
Oswald Mosley
"Good. Now Mr. Birdwood will take the podium."
Birdwood approaches the podium and begins.
William Riddell Birdwood
"Thank you Your Excellency. I rejoice in the fact that we are united in one purpose and one love, the Empire. It reminds of Gallipoli, seeing British and Commonwealth troops, especially the ANZACS, fighting the damned Turks as brothers implanted into me a powerful yet dormant thought, like a poppy seed, it required the right circumstances to grow and blossom. That idea was of a truly unified Empire, not one of Australians and New Zealanders, of Indians and Malayans, of South Africans and Rhodesians, of Canadians and Kenyans, but of Britons. The conditions to fully understand what I was thinking did not arise until the collapse of the Empire and Mosley's meteoric rise in Britain. With them and blood of so many great men, I began to understand what my purpose is. it is the same as everyone else in this room today. Ever since, I have worked hard to make the Australian people see our way, but they are stubborn. Gallipoli and the other losses of the Great War still sting greatly within them and they fear that rejoining Britain will see their sons and brothers off to die in another war, without a care by their British oppressors. I must shatter this idea and to do so I need Britain's help. If you can show the Australian people that you care about them, it will go a long way to helping our cause. I am not certain how you would achieve this, but it is vital to my success. Another important issue is the debate over whether or not our great and glorious monarch, George V, is still the head of state. If you were to conduct a state visit with him, it would dispel all traitorous notions of this holding any merit. We also require reassurances against Japanese aggression. Maybe Britain could gift the RAN some ships? Even if they're outdated they would be an effective sign of goodwill and would endear our cause to the public. Our ideological allies can use that goodwill to champion our ideas even further, every little bit helps."
King George V
"That is a great idea. One that I am sure Prime Minister Mosley will agree with."
Oswald Mosley
"Of course your Highness. I also suggest we bring David with us, the people must become familiar with the next monarch of our great nation."
King George V
"Yes. My son must show the world what "proper" royalty looks like."
With that statement, tensions falls on the room, David retains a stoic face, despite the obvious anger within, while George gives a cold stare. Eventually, Mosley disrupts it by continuing the Conference. The African and East Asian groups go up and speak their ideas. The African Loyalists demonstrate the need for loyal partisans to carry out sabotage and harassment behind enemy lines as well as guide regular forces through the harsh African terrain. They say that they have already begun disseminating cells all over Mittleafrika and spreading pro-British propaganda. Some will even enlist in the Mittleafrikan army to carry out espionage, exploiting Vorbeck's openness to non-German soldiers against him. They show that they are continuing extensive guerrilla warfare and subsistence training as they may need to avoid centers of cities for months or even years. They also plan to organise African resistance groups against the Germans. The East Indies group also propose similar measures, but also the illegal exportation of oil and rubber from Malaya to Britain. This would be extremely risky and dangerous but it would provide Britain with vital resources needed to rearm and carry out military action. They estimate they can smuggle around 5 to 8% of the monthly rubber and oil product without raising suspicion, any higher and detection would be inevitable, and even 8% is pushing the limits of what they can get away with. It wouldn't be enough to supplement Britain's needs but would bring much needed relief to its imports. They also show them that plans to organise Indochinese rebels are already in motion. These rebels want full independence and would not accept colonial rule under any circumstances and would tie up crucial men and resources from Germany in putting it down. Mosley greatly approves of this idea, especially since Indochina was former French territory, not British, and he would not care if it became fully independent.
They continue to converse for some time. Eventually, everyone is finished. Mosley and the King close the Conference. They bid each other farewell and prepare to head back to their homes to continue the fight. As they exit the building, they face a crowd of reporters, radio broadcasters, and film crews asking many questions. Mosley answers them and tells them Britain is well on the path to greatness. Mosley, the King, the heir apparent, and his brother walk to their vehicles while the night air blows. As they do, Mosley notices an odd man in a brown suit but decides to continue walking, it was just nerves. As they reach him, he yells at the top of his lungs, "Death to the King!", pulls out a revolver from within the newspaper and aims it right at King George. Mosley moves immediately, grabbing the barrel of the gun and swinging it downward, the assassin fires the gun and it strikes Mosley's right shin, knocking him to the ground while he screams in pain. The assassin then moves with lightning speed and fires another round into the King's chest, knocking him back. Before he can fire again, Albert, David, and a bystander knock him to the ground while their mother, Mary, holds George, sobbing into his bleeding chest. Two guards then tell Albert, David, and the bystander to back off the assassin and begin to bludgeon him with their batons, finally picking him up after a few seconds. Three guards have already picked up George while one holds back Mary, who is hysterical, and ferry the two into a car and head to the nearest hospital. Mosley, with the help of Albert, manages to sit up. He is given some water to clean the wound and 2 bystanders help him walk to another car afterwards. The press swarm him, the royals, and the bystander. Mosley manages to only make a few strained statements hoping the King would make it through before leaving to the hospital as well. David and Albert are unable to say anything, Albert is stuttering like a broken engine until he snaps and tells them to leave them alone and then storms off to his car with David and they head to the hospital. The bystander is asked what her name is and she tells them it is Alice Lawrence. She leaves without answering any questions and before anyone can get a proper photograph of her face. The police carry the bleeding assassin to a police car and bring him to the station.
Mosley sits in the car, grimacing at his wound. He is grateful it did not hit his thigh or he'd most likely be a dead man. He sits silently, still in shock from the event. He wonders what will happen next. Regardless, he must continue his work, he must complete his life's mission, although the meeting with the French Exiles must be delayed for some time. The Lion cannot be tamed.
Former Lieutenant Colonel and MD John McCrae, Authour of Many Poems Including the Famous "In France's Fields" and leader of the Loyalist Canadian Delegation to the Imperial Conference, 1915
Joseph Rudyard Kipling, Famous Authour of Many Short Stories, Poems, and Books and Head of the Loyalist Indian Delegation to the Imperial Conference, 1924
Jan Christiaan Smuts, Former South African Lieutenant General, Head of the Union Party of South Africa and leader of the Loyalist South African Delegation to the Imperial Conference, 1917
William Riddell Birdwood, War Hero, Former British Field Marshall, Governor-General of Australia, a Leading Figure in the Dominion Party of Australia, and leader of the Loyalist Australian Delegation to the Imperial Conference, 1919
King George V, King of Great Britain and Former Emperor of India, 1926
Queen Consort Mary of Teck, Wife to King George V, 1926
Albert Arthur George, Duke of York, Second Son of King George V and Queen Mary of Teck, 1926
Jonh Cantius Garand, Canadian Born, American Weapons Designer, 1922
A Photo of the King, the Crown Prince, and Prince Albert as they Exit Whitehall
Rare Footage Taken During the Whitehall Shooting, 1926
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Lord_Vespasian
Banned
Oh, and thanks to Panzerlied for giving me the idea to include Garand and his rifle
Oh and where is that Beria? I hope he's not part of the Soviet secret police, because in the OTL, he's a revolting man, due to also being a serial rapist 
.
Also where is Oskar Dirlewanger?
.Also where is Oskar Dirlewanger?
Lord_Vespasian
Banned
Oh and where is that Beria? I hope he's not part of the Soviet secret police, because in the OTL, he's a revolting man, due to also being a serial rapist
Oh Beria, you disgusting, inhuman, piece of human trash. I wish Stalin would starve the dude to death, but alas, he's pretty much in same position as OTL. Wasn't he a pedophile as well