There Is No Other Way: The Anti-Party Group succeeds

[Claudius66]

Probably, yeah.

The question is whether France takes military action against the Pied-Noir state given that it would be in a better position to do so than Britain was against Rhodesia. I'm also not too sure that France will be able to hold all of Algiers given that OTL, white working-class neighbourhoods in Algiers like Bab el-Oued supported the OAS and revolted when it was clear France was going to pull out of Algeria.

Oran definitely has their work cut out for them if they want to succeed as a modern nation state, especially in the current situation in this timeline. France is also struggling greatly to control Algiers, terrorist attacks are the norm and the area is under martial law as of 1963.

 

[walmart]

Bulganin would also unsurprisingly pledge support for the PCA, the communist force in Algeria, which had made moderate gains following the collapse of order across the region, including the capture of Constantine.

Soviet policy towards Algeria was one of neutrality out of fear of damaging the prospects of the French Communist party which opposed Algerian independence

On February 23rd, 1962, the Communists would declare the Algerian Socialist Republic, with their capital being seated in the recently captured city of Constantine. In response to this, the NLF would declare their government in Anabas, calling themselves the Algerian National Government.

The communist party of Algeria was subordinate to the NLF and didn't even have it's own independent combat units and in addition was quite weak in public support during the Algerian war of independence.

. In response to this, the NLF would declare their government in Anabas, calling themselves the Algerian National Government.

The FLN already declared a government in exile in 1958.

In Oran, the FAF would declare the Oran Free State and encouraged any Pied-Noirs supporters to evacuate to their controlled territory. The OAS would declare themselves the 'French-Algerian Government of National Stability', which would begin to wreck havoc on several areas controlled by the other factions.

Both the FAF and OAS were in favor of a continued French rule over Algeria as opposed to a French version of Rhodesia.

Also in October, the Sino-Indian war would break out, Indian forces would struggle at the start of the conflict, though they would start to make major gains and begin a push into Tibet by December. Quickly on the backfoot, China would sue for peace in January 1963, leaving control of southern Shigaste in Indian hands.

The terrain makes an Indian push into Shigatse impossible

Unable to expand French control any further into Algeria, which was already beginning to look like a warzone, Debré would focus on securing what France still had in the region.

Between the large number of French troops still in Algeria and French superiority in conventional warfare . I don’t see why French control wouldn’t expand outside of Algiers .

 

[Meshakhad]

This certainly looks interesting.

 

[Claudius66]

Soviet policy towards Algeria was one of neutrality out of fear of damaging the prospects of the French Communist party which opposed Algerian independence


The communist party of Algeria was subordinate to the NLF and didn't even have it's own independent combat units and in addition was quite weak in public support during the Algerian war of independence.


The FLN already declared a government in exile in 1958.

Both the FAF and OAS were in favor of a continued French rule over Algeria as opposed to a French version of Rhodesia.

The terrain makes an Indian push into Shigatse impossible


Between the large number of French troops still in Algeria and French superiority in conventional warfare . I don’t see why French control wouldn’t expand outside of Algiers .

The Soviets support the PCA for 2 reasons, 1: they would not look a gift horse in the mouth and not support a new communist movement, 2: they need to one-up somewhere after the loss of the soviet-leaning cuban government.
The FLN declares their new state, not just a new government
The PCA was subordinate to the NLF, but in this timeline, they have began exerting further influence and have had enough levy and support from the communist nations to start functioning on their own. They still remain at an uneasy peace with the NLF however.
The FAF declares the Oran Free State out of necessity, as the NLF and PCA are definitely not very kind to those pied-noirs who take up arms against them, they would not be opposed to French rule returning. The OAS is actively working to maintaining French rule over Algeria, though they don't have the support of many in mainland France, especially after the attempt on de Gaulle's life.
India's push into Tibet is not so much a direct assault, but a capture after the evacuation of Chinese forces, though i won't deny my geography in that region is sorta lacking.
The French are planning to expand control out of Algiers, controlling some key areas along the coast, but defections to the factions are high. But as of now, they are kinda stunted in moving further into Algeria, for the time being at least.

 

[RonaldReagram]

Oran Free State, Oranje Free State. Took me this long to notice the similarity! Was it intentional?

 

[Claudius66]

Oran Free State, Oranje Free State. Took me this long to notice the similarity! Was it intentional?

Honestly, i didn't really do it intentionally, but now that you mention it's pretty funny lol

 

[Claudius66]

They Have A Dream
​

One day after New Years Day, 1963, VC forces would move into Ấp Bắc, catching the forces there off guard. Though they would make gains in the early part of the battle, Lansdale's task force counterattack with the support of 7 scrambled F-86 Sabres would push the Vietcong back into the jungle. Though the ARVN had won the day, the ferocity of the Vietcong would worry both Diem and the leaders of the Saigon Military Mission. This would lead to US Military Aid to begin to flow in the following months.

On January 13, Sylvanus Olympio would awake to military soldiers in his house with an intent to kill. Olympio would flee with his wife, narrowly escaping the soldiers and fleeing to the U.S embassy. Olympio would then rally loyal soldiers to his side and along with US support, he would fend off the coup plotters, cementing his power in Togolese politics.

The next day, across the sea in the United States, George C. Wallace would be enshrined into the role of Governor of the State of Alabama. In his inauguration speech, he would utter the now famous line, "In the name of the greatest people that have ever trod this earth, I draw the line in the dust and toss the gauntlet before the feet of tyranny, and I say segregation now! segregation tomorrow! segregation forever!", which would cause a supportive uproar from the crowd. Wallace's campaign was dominated by race politics, defending the words of Johnson in the 1960 election, he would go on to win a landslide victory, as the Republicans did not field a candidate. George Wallace would famously stand in the schoolhouse door of the University of Alabama later that year, before escorting James Meredith off the premises himself. Wallace would receive flak for this and the arrest of King that would also occur later in the year, though King would only spend 2 nights in a Birmingham county jail, before he would be escorted out of the state by police.

On January 13th, Labour Party leader Hugh Gaitskell would pass away, with George Brown being quickly elected as acting leader of the Labour Party. Brown would have a large amount of support for his leadership, though some contenders would begin to arise, most famously being Harold Wilson, but for now, Brown would lead the Opposition. Later that month, the United Kingdom would enter into the European Common Market, with the French surprisingly voting in favor of their entry, which would show the stark contrast of Debré's leadership to de Gaulle's. The entry would be a boon for the Tories, with Harold MacMillan declaring in front of parliament after the vote, "the British have finally joined their European Brethren, who have welcomed us with open arms." In February, Brown would secure his leadership in the Labour Party Leadership election, narrowly defeating Harold Wilson's faction of the Party. One surprising moment in the election would be Barbara Castle's "It's time for change" speech, propelling her to the front of Labour Politics.

In April, Lester B. Pearson would become Prime Minister of Canada, bringing the Liberals into the position of power, though they would not have a majority over the Progressive Conservatives. The most surprising showing would be from the Social Credit Party however, who would win another 10 seats and almost one million votes, shocking even those within the party itself. Since he made it a campaign promise, Pearson would seek to replace the Canadian flag with a new one, preferably with a maple leaf. His first proposition, called the 'Pearson Pennant' would be debated hotly, with many announcing opposition to the flag. Pearson would form a special flag committee, made up of 8 Liberals, 4 conservatives, 2 Social Crediters and one NDP member. The Pearson flag would finally be chosen in a vote of 10-5, with NDP politician Reid Scott bringing the vote to an absolute majority over the opposition. The flag would be implemented by February 15th, 1965, with Pearson reportedly being ecstatic over his win.

President Diem, in an effort to secure his grip on power, would almost cause outrage from the Buddhist community, threatening to take action against Buddhists who would fly the Buddhist flag on Vesak, the birthday of the Gautama Buddha. He would be calmed down by Lansdale, who convinced Diem that this would only lead to Buddhists defecting to the Vietcong and North Vietnam. Diem would also survive a coup attempt in November propagated by a faction within the Army, going on to further solidify his power within Vietnam.

Pope John XXIII would pass away in June, with Gregorio Pietro Agagianian succeeding him as Agapetus III. Pietro would choose the name due to Pope Agapetus, who was known for his charity and compassion, this would reflect his attempts to bring these values to this world of conflict. Pietro would be a stark break from Vatican Traditionalism, with himself being the first non-italian pope in centuries and the first from Armenia. Pietro was also much more moderate than other members of the Vatican, espousing several liberal policies. Regardless of their opinions on his policies, All Catholics now looked to Pope Agapetus III, to lead the Church into another chapter of their destiny.

Richard Nixon, Harold MacMillan and Nikolai Bulganin would meet in August to sign the Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, which would lay the groundwork for other treaties later in the future. In the same month, Martin Luther King Jr. would also give the now famous "I Have A Dream Speech" in Washington D.C, putting pressure on Nixon to enshrine Civil Rights. Nixon would give a speech the following morning, promising reform and change to come soon, though those promises remained to be seen.

In October, after leading Germany valiantly for many years, Konrad Ardenauer would retire, being replaced by Ludwig Erhard. Erhard would give a speech that same day, announcing a continuation of Ardenauer's previous policies. Harold MacMillan would also retire that month and would be replaced with Alec Douglas-Home, who would lead the Tories into the next election.

While Nixon was giving a speech in November, he would shot 3 times in the chest by Lee Harvey Oswald, sending the crowd into a panic and causing security detail to topple onto Oswald. Oswald would be arrested and sent to Alcatraz Prison, where he would be given no parole. Nixon would recover in the next few months, though one of the bullets could not be removed and remained inside his body. In an investigation, Oswald's motives would be found out to be a response for US anti-Soviet policies, especially those of the Eisenhower administration.

The SIUC would receive an expansion going into December 1964, with more areas being placed in control of the committee, who would come to build several new cities in these areas. Bulganin would plan another expansion by 1964, which would give areas further east in the hands of the SIUC, especially in the lower Siberian areas.

 

[Whiteshore]

In May, President Diem would almost cause outrage from the Buddhist community, threatening to take action against Buddhists who would fly the Buddhist flag on Vesak, the birthday of the Gautama Buddha. He would be calmed down by Lansdale, who convinced Diem that this would only lead to Buddhists defecting to the Vietcong and North Vietnam. Diem would also survive a coup attempt in November propagated by a faction within the Army, going on to further solidify his power within Vietnam.

​

Considering his successor's wife proclaimed she would "clap at another Buddhist Barbecue" during the Buddhist Crisis IOTL, this cannot end well.

 

[Claudius66]

Considering his successor's wife proclaimed she would "clap at another Buddhist Barbecue" during the Buddhist Crisis IOTL, this cannot end well.

yeah the Buddhists are still an issue for Diem, though not as much as OTL, he's still gonna have an issue controlling them.

 

[ChadMachine999]

Will the PCA host a soviet naval base?

 

[Meshakhad]

Will the PCA host a soviet naval base?

Possibly. IOTL, the Soviets did establish such a base in Tarsus, Syria in 1971 (and others in Egypt) to support their Mediterranean squadron. That said, in the event of war with NATO, such a base would be completely untenable to support, as supplies or reinforcements would have to not only get through the Dardanelles, but past Sicily and the Italian Navy. It might also be used in peacetime as a supply and repair depot by Soviet ships operating in the Atlantic, as Constantine would be closer than Murmansk or Archangelsk.

 

[traveller76]

What is the situation with Turkey and Iran? Are they getting more support from the US?

 

[Claudius66]

Will the PCA host a soviet naval base?

as Meshakhad posted earlier, it is definitely possible, but in wartime the base would be unable to be supported and most likely abandoned. But in peacetime it would be a boon to the red fleet. But before then however, they would have to secure the PCA's position in Algeria, as the area still remains a hotbed of contention.

 

[Claudius66]

What is the situation with Turkey and Iran? Are they getting more support from the US?

The Turkish Government, under Gürsel and İnönü, has begun to become a headache for the United States, especially with the Cyprus issue becoming more of a problem. Though they are still commited to their ally, Nixon's patience can only go so far.

As for Iran, the Shah has remained a US Ally. Though he has let some reforms though on the advice of the US, he is still continuing to rule almost autocratically, causing deep resentment in some.

 

[Claudius66]

Election Year​

By 1964, The Democratic Party would try once again to take the White House once again, though they still had a major hold in the senate, many seats were falling to the Republicans, fearing a Republican topple in November. The Democratic Nomination would be a complete mess, with several candidates throwing their hat in the ring, the most shocking being Alabama Governor George Wallace, who would surprisingly carry many states in the south, including those that went with Byrd four years prior. But it would be Hubert Humphrey who would triumph, a frontrunner in the 1960 Primaries, many saw Humphrey as the one to bring them back into the Oval Office after 12 years out of it. Many candidates would also stand for the position of Vice President, but Humphrey would eventually choose Governor of California Pat Brown as his nominee, who would be seen as an unsurprising and safe choice.

​

Nixon would win the Republican nomination unopposed, with Lodge also being chosen again to serve as his vice president. Nixon would campaign on his experience once again and his strides in civil rights, though his detractors, especially Humphrey, would argue that he has tip-toed around the issue of his 1960 promise of enacting a Civil Rights act. Though Nixon would suffer in the polls at the beginning, he would claw his way back into the limelight once more, striking back hard at Humphrey's blunders. Ronald Reagan would also throw his weight behind Nixon, giving his now famous 'A Time for Choosing' speech, propelling him to the position of the 'New Face of the Grand Old Party' as coined by newspapers. The Democrats still had their faith in Humphrey however, approaching November with Jubilance, buoyed by a wave of support from all walks of life, ready to steer America back into the vision of the great Roosevelt.

This hubris would make their loss all the more bitter, with the Democratic Party losing their 4th election in a row and handing Nixon another 4 years in the White House. After November 4th, many would worry for the Democratic Party, with the future of it now uncertain. The Republicans however, were unable to contain their excitement, with them not only winning another election, but a majority in the House and major gains in the Senate.

One month earlier, George Brown and Prime Minister Douglas-Home would go head to head in a Parliamentary election. Labor would portray Douglas-Home as an outdated fool, unable to get with the times, while the Tories would show Brown to be a lazy womanizing drunk who would degrade the post of Prime Minister. The Liberals, under Jo Grimond, would campaign as an alternative, winning several regions in Scotland and Wales. Douglas-Home, would in an effort to unite the quickly fractioning Tories, would recruit the help of Enoch Powell, promising a major post in the next government. Powell would then spend many months campaigning up and down Britain, securing several seats for the Tories while also building his own support within the party.

Shockingly, Douglas-Home would lead the Tories to their next election victory, keeping a majority against Brown's Labor, causing both jubilation and anger in many. The Liberals would also take a surprising victory from the election, from this, they would begin to establish themselves as an anti-establishment party based in the rural and 'forgotten' regions of Britain. Barbara Castle, a rising star within Labor, would famously blame Brown for Labor's woes, establishing herself as a force in Labor. In the end, the Tories would enter their next year of power, already leading Britain for 13 consecutive years.


After Calwell's victory, Paul Hasluck would be elected as the leader of the Liberal/National Opposition, leading them to another senate majority in December. This move would leave Calwell's government stuck in a minority, unable to pass many of his promised policies. Calwell's Government, elected in 1961, has been increasing in unpopularity, but for now, Labor still held the post of Prime Minister.

Boiling under the surface however, would be the issue of Vietnam. Once a fleeting issue being only mentioned a few times in the US election, it became apparent that it was quickly spiralling out of control. Only a month after winning a second term, Nixon would announce an expansion to the Saigon Military Mission, officially being renamed to the Vietnamese Military Mission (VMM), with Lansdale continuing to serve as the head of it. By December, American troops, whether they liked it or not, would begin to ship out in large quantities, with their destination being Southern Vietnam.

 

[Time Enough]

Shockingly, Douglas-Home would lead the Tories to their next election victory, keeping a majority against Brown's Labor, causing both jubilation and anger in many. The Liberals would also take a surprising victory from the election, from this, they would begin to establish themselves as an anti-establishment party based in the rural and 'forgotten' regions of Britain. Barbara Castle, a rising star within Labor, would famously blame Brown for Labor's woes, establishing herself as a force in Labor. In the end, the Tories would enter their next year of power, already leading Britain for 13 consecutive years.

I don’t think that the Tories would have a Majority that big (they were in the fag end administration only saved by Alec-Douglas Home and here George Brown being an idiot), I would say something like a Majority of about 10 or so seems reasonable, and would probably hit problems when dealing with foreign policy etc. (Enoch Powell leading Tory rebellions to involvement in Vietnam).

Meanwhile whilst Castle would be certainly prominent within Labour, she wouldn’t be the next leader etc. if that’s the plan given how Sexist the Labour Party institutions can be. Probably looking at folks like Richard Crossman or Frank Cousins if you want a ‘Left Candidate’ next time.

The Liberals look to the future, makes sense, though they probably wouldn’t do very well if the Tories do well in this time period. All in all looks interesting.

 

[Claudius66]

I don’t think that the Tories would have a Majority that big (they were in the fag end administration only saved by Alec-Douglas Home and here George Brown being an idiot), I would say something like a Majority of about 10 or so seems reasonable, and would probably hit problems when dealing with foreign policy etc. (Enoch Powell leading Tory rebellions to involvement in Vietnam).

Meanwhile whilst Castle would be certainly prominent within Labour, she wouldn’t be the next leader etc. if that’s the plan given how Sexist the Labour Party institutions can be. Probably looking at folks like Richard Crossman or Frank Cousins if you want a ‘Left Candidate’ next time.

The Liberals look to the future, makes sense, though they probably wouldn’t do very well if the Tories do well in this time period. All in all looks interesting.

Castle isn't gonna be the next leader so don't worry, at the moment her best political chance would be in another Labor Government. I'm probably gonna use someone like Crossman or Cousins for the next elections.

As for the Tories, they win 21 seats not only because of Brown's incompetence, but also because of Labour's factionalism and Powell's public orations. Also yeah the Tories are gonna have it cut out for them in the next few years, especially with Vietnam and Algeria getting out of control.

 

[marktaha]

I'd say 64 and 66 reversed with Brown losing his seat in 1966. Wilson v Callaghan for leader .

 

[Claudius66]

Vietnamese Vindication​

As Nixon was inaugurated for his second term, everyone knew that the biggest issue he would have to deal with would be the situation of Vietnam. Though they and the ARVN had successfully fended off several Vietcong attacks, they knew that their string of victories could not last forever under the current conditions. As Nixon had already expanded the VMM, he would funnel aid into training the ARVN from a militia into an actual fighting force.

All while this was going on, Nixon would authorize the construction of US airbases across most of Southern Vietnam, prepared to strike at a moments notice.

Nixon would also meet with President Debré in February, telling him to "fix the Algerian issue, or the we will fix it for you." With the Americans forcing his hand and realizing that even a small victory in Algeria could be his ticket to re-election, Debré would launch Operation Réflexe (Reflex) the following month, which would see the French Navy, Army and Air Force begin to move into Algeria. Though victories would come, due to poor and rushed planning, as well as a NLF-PCA coalition counterattack, the Operation would be seen as a failure. The loss would also contribute to Debré's replacement by Gaston Defferre later that year, who would win with a coalition of SFIO-MRP-Radical Party members, propelling him to the front of French Politics.

Also in February, Malcom X would narrowly avoid assassination in New York City, being heavily wounded in the process. Race Riots would echo throughout the year, with massive clashes in the south, especially Alabama. With mounting pressure, Nixon would finally sign a watered down Civil Rights Act into power. Though many would decry that it wasn't enough, it would have to do for now.

After ages of convincing, backroom deals and pleas, several officials would finally convince Yukio Mishima to join the Liberal Democratic Party with his protégé Otoya Yamaguchi serving under him.

Mishima, who originally did not want to become a politician, would be convinced that he could bring his views to a national audience. Mishima would also announce his plan to run for Governor of Tokyo in the next election, shocking many within Japan and the World. Also in Asia and during August, Singapore would be expulsed from the Malaysia, leading to Lee Kuan Yew becoming it's first, albeit reluctant, Prime Minister.

By this time, US Forces would be expanded in Vietnam, leading to Operation Rolling Thunder being commenced. The plan was simple, bomb the ever-loving hell out of North Vietnamese defenses, giving the ARVN and VMM time to move north. Though to see if it actually worked, remained to be seen. The Vietcong would win small victories over the course of the year, but the US and ARVN would keep them at bay, at now for least. The conflict in Vietnam would begin to gain detractors, with several protests being organized across the United States and many of the nations who had soldiers in Vietnam. Most of these protests remained small however, though the chance for it to get hot was still there.

By October, Prime Minister of Rhodesia Ian Smith would meet for talks with the British. Though he was unhappy with the Rhodesians, Douglas-Home would accept their demands, with some concessions. Those concessions would be that African citizens would be given several new rights and be given a voice in politics. The UN would be infuriated by Douglas-Home's deal, but there wasn't really anything they could do about it.

For now, Rhodesia would remain a member of the Empire, causing several members of the Organization for African Unity to sever ties with Britain.
Also in October, Ludwig Erhard would be elected Chancellor once again, declaring a jubilant victory in Berlin. Adenauer would remain as Party leader until December before officially retiring from the position.

On the 5th of November 1965, Nikolai Bulganin, First Secretary of the Soviet Union, leader since the ousting of Khrushchev, would announce his retirement and resignation from the position, which would go into effect on the 12th of the same month as unbeknownst to much of the public, his health had been waning for years. His successor would be Dmitri Shepilov, Minister of Foreign Affairs and overall dull-bureaucrat in the eyes of many. Shepilov would be much younger than several Soviet leaders however, being all of Sixty upon assuming the role of First Secretary. Shepilov was never much of an ambitious individual, but due to his connections to the party bosses and his ideological adherences, he would be elected to the highest position within the Union. Upon assuming power, he would give a speech to the Presidium, thanking the Government and vowing to continue Bulganin's vision for the USSR.

Canada would also hold an election that month, with Lester B. Pearson having to broker power in a Coalition with Tommy Douglas' CCF to gain a parliamentary majority. The so-called 'Orange Coalition' (due to the Colors of the CCF and Liberals) would come to hold a majority of 142 in Parliament, trumping the PC's 104 seats in Parliament. This power-move would not only infuriate Diefenbaker, but also propel Tommy Douglas and the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation to the forefront of Canadian politics.

​

In December, the newly inaugurated President Defferre would begin a slow but gradual process of leaving Algeria, declaring that "We the French, have suffered enough in Algeria, as much as the Algerians have suffered under us.". The plan would involve any and all French forces either being sent back to the mainland, or to French Algiers, which would remain under French control and be integrated later. Any Pied-Noirs who wanted to enter Algiers or emigrate to France were now able to, leading to an influx of thousands of Pied-Noirs refugees. The Government would not negotiate with the OAS however, still declaring them to be terrorists.

On December 31, Jean-Bedel Bokassa would launch a coup of the Central African Republic, accidentally killing David Dacko in the process during a New Year's Celebration Party. Not that it mattered if Dacko was dead anyway, as Bokassa would cement his power the next day and form a Military Government in Bangui. The same day, Bokassa would triumphantly declare "The hour of justice is at hand. The bourgeoisie is abolished. A new era of equality among all has begun!" in an official radio announcement to the nation. Many Central Africans now worried for the future, but one thing was for certain, Bokassa was here to stay.

 

[DumbAlonch]

where did you hide the bodies navarro