The Survival of Henry Campbell-Bannerman

Neville Chamberlain is Chancellor of the Exchequer, was placed there when Baldwin came to power in 1933.
The leadership election is an oversight on my part, I'll change that to the leader having emerged through committee.
 
Just a little one for today...

A slightly shorter update than usual, looking at the comparatively quiet period at the end of 1936.
[FONT=&quot]PART IX[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]November and December 1936-The End of Year Lull[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]During November and December, there was a lull in the war as winter came along. The French settled in to their conquered territories and waited to see how large a majority the Communists would win in the elections they were supervising. In Eastern Europe, the Russians were busily consolidating their positions. The exception to this quiet was in Africa and in Spain, where the two wars raged.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]ABYSSINIA[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]The Italian army in Abyssinia was making unexpected progress. They had advanced as far Goba by the end of November, and on December 10th captured Shashemene. The Emperor Haile Selassie fled for Britain, which was fast becoming a nation full of royals fleeing their respective nations. At this point, however, the Italian armies stopped for the winter, and gave a peace offer to Addis Ababa, which basically demanded the complete annexation of the country by the Italians. The government refused, however the message did not reach the Italian government until December 23rd, at which point it was decided to leave any offensive until the next year.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]SPAIN[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Spain was a mess. The Catalan Communists had temporarily joined forces with the Catalan Independence Movement in order to fight of the Republican forces who were attacking them. The front fluctuated back and forth around the Catalan border, with the Catalans reaching Zaragoza at their furthest extent on November 22nd, while Republican forces were only just repelled from Barcelona three weeks later.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]In the south, Andalusia was a strongly Nationalist area. Seville was the capital of the military government Franco had set up, and forces were attacking the Republican armies in Lorca, a city in Murcia. Lorca fell on November 13th, and forces advanced on Mazarron, which fell on November 18th. At Cartagena, on November 21st, Republicans won their first victory against the the Nationalists, repelling the forces and forcing them back to Fuente Alamo de Murcia. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Meanwhile, in the Basque Country, the Basque independece groups took advantage of the distraction of the vast majority of the Spanish army to declare independence as the Republic of Basque Peoples (Errepublika Euskaldunk) the at a conference in Bilbao (known to them as Bilbo) on December 1st, under President José Aguirre, the Leader of the Basque Independence Party. Spain now found itself fragmenting.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Throughout December, the war continued. The Nationalists completely controlled Andalusia now however were stalemated with Republicans in Murcia. In Catalonia, the front still fluctuated hugely, however Barcelona and about a 50 mile radius in all directions were securely in Catalan hands. The Basque Republic was left mostly unmolested, barring a few skirmishes with Republican troops near the Catalan border, as the Republicans had bigger fish to fry at the time. This would ultimately prove to be a major flaw in the Republican conduct of the war.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]THE COMMUNIST UPRISING IN MEXICO[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]In late November, Mexico, which had been suffering economic problems, began to see major riots throughout the south of the country. These riots soon took on a left-wing bias, and on December 8th the leader of the Mexican Communist Party, Lázaro Cárdenas, stood up and announced in public that he refused to recognize the Mexican government as legitimate and was proposing the workers rise up and overthrow the government. Sponsored by the French, this seemed to be the necessary catalyst and on December 11th the Parliament buildings were stormed by impoverished unemployed.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]For the USA, this was worrying. There was now the possibility of a Communist state on their southern border, something President Garner, newly re-elected, could not accept. Garner secretly contacted the Mexican President Abelardo L. Rodríguez and offered American support to the Mexican government should the need arise. A grateful Rodríguez, who had bravely remained in Mexico City despite the danger of the situation, agreed in principle to the offer.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Throughout late December, there was confused street fighting in New Mexico. On Christmas Day, however, the Communists were beaten out of the city. Cárdenas fled westward, to Guadalajara, a Communist stronghold. By New Year’s Eve, that was the situation in Mexico.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]AT HOME[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]The jingoistic fervour which had swept the nation at the beginning of the war was now largely absent. The capitulation of Germany had not done anything to improve morale, and the invasion and conquest of the Low Countries put Britain in a bleak situation. This was further compounded by a series of strikes in the shipyards on Clydeside and around Newcastle, protesting against the low wages. Some ammunition factories also suffered from strikes as the amount paid to them was less than they could receive from other industries, but they had been forced into this work.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Eyres-Monsell, the Prime Minister, also had to suffer from a disunited party. The anti-war faction, headed by the Chairman Lionel de Rothschild, was not best pleased that the war was continuing, whereas David Margesson, who had been relegated to Secretary for India by Eyres-Monsell, was in favour of heavier conduct of the war, as was his faction of the party. The Conservatives were unable even to present a united face to the public, and coupled with there unpopularity the whole thing was in a tenuous position.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]In Ireland, there was a feeling that they should not have allowed themselves to be dragged into this war-while they had there own devolved parliament, they still had to follow Britain on areas such as economic policy and, crucially, foreign policy. In both Scotland and Wales, there was discontent with the war, and in the coming election the Independence Movements were to become popular, especially in Scotland.[/FONT]
 
This update covers January and February 1937. There may be some more fairly soon.
[FONT=&quot]PART X[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]January and Febuary 1937-New Offensives[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Throughout the opening months of 1937, the PRR and Italy both went back on the offensive in their respective areas. In Spain, the civil war continued to rage, growing bloodier by the day. February also saw the first French ‘volunteer’ units fighting with the Communist rebels in the north. The government was now facing demands that they do something serious against the French.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]ABYSSINIA[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Italian forces, having paused at the end of 1936, began to march again on January 10th, and by January 15th Ziway had been taken. On January 20th, Mojo fell. All that remained for Italy to do was occupy Addis Ababa.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]On January 25th, the Italians met what remained of the Abyssinian army outside Addis Ababa. Although the Abyssinians were fighting for their country’s survival, there was little that could be done, and Addis Ababa fell on January 28th. Abbysinia was merged with Eritrea and Italian Somaliland to create Italian East Africa.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]THE COLLAPSE OF EYRES-MONSELL’S GOVERNMENT[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]On January 12th, 1937, a group of 18 Conservative MPs met and decided to defect to the Liberal Party. This removed the government’s majority in the Commons and, on January 15th, Isaac Foot called a motion of no confidence. This was passed by 7 votes, and Parliament was dissolved. A general election was held on February 1st, and the results were as follows:[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]LIBERAL PARTY, Isaac Foot, 359 seats, an increase of 192 seats[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]CONSERVATIVE PARTY, Bolton Eyres-Monsell, 160 seats, a decrease of 205 seats[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]LABOUR PARTY, George Lansbury, 124 seats, an increase of 11 seats[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]IRISH PARLIAMENTARY PARTY, Patrick Brady, 36 seats, a decrease of 14[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]SINN FEIN, Thomas Derrig, 17 seats, an increase of 12[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]The results were a complete collapse for the Conservative Party, who were accused of allowing the French to be winning the war. It also saw the Labour Party’s highest percentage of the vote ever. Isaac Foot took power as Prime Minister.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]INVASION OF SLOVENIA[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]On February 2nd, the Italian 1st Army, under General Guglielmo Nasi, swarmed over the Slovene border, aiming for Ljubljana and a quick submission of the country. Slovenia was powerless before the onslaught, and on February 15th gave a rather pathetic last stand against the Italians on the outskirts of Ljubljana. They were easily defeated, and Italian troops marched through the city that day. Slovenia surrendered the following day. Slovenia and all her heavy industry were now absorbed into Italy, ready to begin producing arms for the Italian war effort.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Hungary was infuriated at having missed its chance at taking Slovenia, and began to petition France for a war with Italy. The French deferred for the time, waiting to see if Italy would invade an openly Communist country.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]TRANSLYVANIA[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]On February 10th, a battle between Romania and Hungary outside the city of Alba Iulia resulted in a decisive win for the Romanians. From there, they marched northwards, and took Turda on February 20th. Cluj would be next to fall, on February the 24th. The Romanians attempted then to cut off one of the main bodies of the Hungarian forces, which was located in Mureş, by taking Bistrija. Unfortunately for the Romanians, this time they were decisively beaten and pushed back to Cluj. Much of Transylvania was, however, now under Romanian control, and the Hungarians were now worried they would be decisively beaten.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]ITALY[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]In Italy, On February 18th, two decisions were made. The first was that Italy would officially ally with Britain, however the alliance would be defensive in nature (Italy would only be pulled into war with France if France attacked the Italians). The second was that the tiny colony of French Somaliland would be invaded if war with France ever begun. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]On February 27th, Italy and Britain signed the hastily-composed Treaty of Turin, which was really a mutual defense pact. The alliance was a peculiar one. Isaac Foot was leading a Liberal government, more or less diametrically opposed to the Italian ideology, however it was a joining of necessity. Italy and France were now on the road to war, and most of the 2nd and 3rd Continental Armies were rushed to the French border in order to defend what would doubtless be a heavily fought-over area.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]THE INVASION OF CZECHOSLOVAKIA[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]The PRR, who had settled into Poland over a few months, now went on the offensive again, invading Czechoslovakia. The invasion began on February 19th, and by the end of the month Czechoslovakia was on the brink of surrender. The government, however, left the country for Italy in an effort to avoid capture and execution. This refusal to surrender garnered much appreciation in Italy and the desire for war was increasing among the public. The tipping point would come at the beginning of March.[/FONT]
 
Finally...

Back! Finally, I have an update.
***
[FONT=&quot]PART XI[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Europe-March and April 1937[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]ITALY ENTERS THE WAR[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Italian and French troops had amassed on the border throughout January and February, and all that remained now was to see which side would provide the causus belli. On March 2nd, three French deserters were found wandering near the town of Ventimiglia. Italy, whose population was now baying for war, seized this as an opportunity to declare war on the French, citing incursions into their territory and parading these troops as an example of that (the three were later executed by the Italians and had their bodies dumped in the Ligurian Sea).[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]War began in Africa on March 5th, when General Ambrosio and the East African Army invaded French Somaliland from the north, sweeping down the coast for the colonial capital of Djibouti, where the small garrison was based. French Somaliland had always been one of the less Communist-minded colonies, and as such was not quite so vehement in their resistance as others would have been. Djibouti was taken on March 28th, and the Governor, Victor Barthélemy, surrendered the colony the following day.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]In Europe, however, things had not gone so well for the Italians. The 2nd Continental Army was bound for Nice, and the 3rd Continental Army for Chambéry, the Savoyard capital. Neither force was doing well. The 2nd had had an early success in Menton on March 6th, however had become stalled at La Turbie, only about 20 kilometres beyond the border. The 3rd had been no more successful, having taken Modane on March 7th, and Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne on March 15th. However, they had stalled at Saint-Étienne-de-Cuines on March 22nd.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]April saw continued stalemate on these lines, with only a few villages either way changing hands. The tiny village of Pontamafrey-Montpascal passed back and forth so many times during this month, and the following ones, it became famous, despite its relative tininess. A similar situation occurred with the town of Roquebrune-Cap-Martin in the south.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]SPAIN[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]In the North, the fronts had mainly stabilised. Catalan Independentists continued to control nearly all of Catalonia, only excluding the area around the Ebro Delta and Alconar. The Basque troops had encamped themselves in Pais Vasco and Navarre, and the Republicans could not spare forces to fight against them.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]The true fighting was occuring in the south. Excluding a small enclave from Huelva to the Portugese border, Andalucia was a firmly Nationalist stronghold. Murcia was divided, with Cartagena being Nationalist but Murcia itself being in Republican hands. The Nationalists had also made inroads into Extremadura. [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]The Nationalists attacked Elche on March 13th. This fell on the 17th, and the Nationalists marched on Alicante. They were then repulsed on the 24th. Badajoz, in Extremadura, was in Nationalist sights, however to advance there involved capturing the city of Zafra. After a vicious battle, it fell on the 25th, in what was very much a phyrric victory.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]April 1st saw an even worse day for the Madrid government. In Extremadura, Badajoz fell to the Nationalists. The Catalan forced took Amposta and, in Galicia, a French sponsered Communist movement declared themselves the legitimate Spanish government. They controlled only a small area, consisting of Ponteredra, Vigo and the area to the Portugese border. [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Throughout the first fortnight of April, Republican troops were rushed from Catalonia to Galicia in order to suppress the uprising. Unfortunately, it was gaining momentum, and in Madrid a Communist bomb killed the mayor. Spain was now suffering from almost a complete lack of central government and it was clear, whatever the outcome, getting there would be messy.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]SOUTH-EASTERN EUROPE[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]In Transylvania, in the last week of March, Romania launched another assault on Hungarian positions. Again, they were broadly successful, however stopped short of completely expelling the Hungarians, who holed up Maramureş and Someş. France now faced the possibility of seeing a Communist ally defeated at war, and the Hungarians the loss of swathes of territory to the Romanians. The Italians and the Romanians, however, were ecstatic, seeing an opportunity to prove their superiority to Communism.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]For once during a war, the Balkans had been relatively quiet, however it was obvious this was too good to last. Greece had been granted a reprieve from an invasion from Italy thanks to the massive commitment made by Italians on the Savoy Front. Unfortunately, they were threatened Ataturk’s reformed Turkey. On April 7th, the Bosphorus saw Turkish troops crossing for the first time since the end of the European War in 1923. The Turks and Greece were realtively evenly matched, and East Thrace had a large concentration of Greek troops, in anticipation of this war breaking out. Turkish troops had crossed at the north, in an effort to land where there would be fewer troops. Unfortunately, the Greeks had anticipated this and the Turks were met with at Rumelifeneri. At a battle outside the historic lighthouse, the Greeks were defeated and fell back to the village of Garipce. Constantinople saw more Greek troops arriving from the west, prepared to defend against what they had been taught was ‘the Imperialist Menace.’ Garipce saw a vicious battle on April 10th, and the Greeks fell back again to Zekeriyakoy, where they repulsed Turkish forces on April 12th.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Turkey, however, did not solely land troops in the east. On April 13th, there was a surprise landing at Silivri, which fell on April 15th. These troops set about reinforcing the area, and preparing to advance eastward in a pincer movement on Constantinople. Unfortunately for Turkey, their plans were thwarted by stubborn Greek resistance and they were restricted solely to those areas for all of April.[/FONT]
 
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