Thought I might share this one | A Soviet Timeline

Personally, I think the more likely outcome is the soviets achieve their war goals in manchuria/Korea (on land), and the Japanese, unable to reverse their loses on land, easily take northern Sakhalin as rather hollow compensation (it certainly isn’t anywhere near as valuable as southern Manchuria or port Arthur) with their superior navy. Then neither side can dislodge the other and the subsequent peace treaty is more of an armistice for 20 years while each side gets ready for round 2.
I have been thinking about this idea, however that leads me to ask why the Japanese wouldn't simply then move to seize Kamchatka and other provinces which they can grab in the Okhotsk. However in this TL Northern Sakhalin was seized by the red army early on in the revolution, they had a good deal of time to build up land forces that could take out the south, in fact I mentioned in the update before this update, all be it vaguely, that troops from the north managed to rush and surprise the Japanese in South Sakhalin. However if the Japanese were to wipe out the soviet navy around Sakhalin, the real question is would an invasion onto land be possible? Especially considering that even into the 40's most Sea to land invasions in the Great War and Inter war era had been failures, with the US-British lands in North Africa, Normandy, and Southern Italy being the first few to break that tradition.
 
I have been thinking about this idea, however that leads me to ask why the Japanese wouldn't simply then move to seize Kamchatka and other provinces which they can grab in the Okhotsk. However in this TL Northern Sakhalin was seized by the red army early on in the revolution, they had a good deal of time to build up land forces that could take out the south, in fact I mentioned in the update before this update, all be it vaguely, that troops from the north managed to rush and surprise the Japanese in South Sakhalin. However if the Japanese were to wipe out the soviet navy around Sakhalin, the real question is would an invasion onto land be possible? Especially considering that even into the 40's most Sea to land invasions in the Great War and Inter war era had been failures, with the US-British lands in North Africa, Normandy, and Southern Italy being the first few to break that tradition.
First of all, I added more to my previous reply, pls read :).

I admit I’m not knowledgeable enough to judge whether a landing on Sakhalin is possible, but considering the conditions on the island it should be easily to starve out the defenders with a blockade. As for Kamchatka, there is literally no reason for the Japanese to invade that barren wasteland other than nationalistic flag waving. Even today, the region is so isolated that it is practically useless for anything other than radar stations and other small outposts. In 1920? Whoever suggests such an invasion won’t be getting a promotion any time soon, to say the least.

In the end, as I said earlier, whether Japan or Russia grabs Sakhalin, the Japanese just suffered a massive, humiliating defeat in Manchuria, while Russia has conversely achieved massive success, securing a powerful new ally that can stand on its own feat but is still reliant on the soviets against the hostile capitalist powers, an ally with an extremely valuable warm water port that I’m sure they’d be willing to lease out to the soviets.
 
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CLASH OF THE TITANS
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With the embarrassment of the loss to the soviets, coupled with the soviets abandoning China to fight a second Sino-Japanese war, the Japanese military chooses to go all out against the Chinese, sparing no one, instead attacking in vengeance, looking to find compensation in devastating the Chinese. After the first 3 months of Chinese landings in Taiwan, the entire Japanese Navy is now mobilized along the Chinese coast, as well as around Taiwan. The Chinese navy, attempts to capture Japanese ships such as the Heien, a former Chinese ship, now Japanese. However with many of these attempts, Chinese ships are usually blasted out of the water before they can inflict major damage on Japanese fleets. the Spring of 1921 continues with the Japanese landing troops in Taiwan after a full naval blockade, with the capturing of Taiwan, hundreds, if not thousands, of Chinese officers are executed, all of their equipment seized, with their bodies piled onto ships to be dropped off into the South China Sea, near Canton. As spring rages on the Japanese continue to push towards the Chinese coast, capturing as much Chinese naval supplies and ships as possible, all while leaving no survives of the crews on board captured ships. In little to no time, the Japanese have already killed tens of thousands of Chinese sailors, the Imperial Navy begins coordinating attacks to begin landings up and down the Chinese coastline along key cities.
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In Europe, the British are forced to cut back on economic and military aid, as well as their friendly relations with the Japanese, despite the British fully supporting Japanese attacks against the Soviets, a Sino-Japanese war is in not in any European power's interests, as they all hold key trade cities in China which may fall under harm from the war.
In Germany, Willhelm Marx retakes his previous position as chancellor of the Weimar Republic.
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In Anatolia, Greek troops attempt a force march, 5 regiments of infantry, aided by 2 regiments of artillery, and 1 cavalry regiment march 50 miles to clash with Turk militiamen near Ankara. In the early morning, 3 of the five regiments of infantry storm head on towards the militiamen, with artillery stationed behind them, the remainder of the infantrymen take to hills and natural fortifications to locate potential striking points. The following hours of April 2nd 1921, led to the militiamen of Turkey falling back to the western outskirts of Ankara, with the Greeks reorganizing infantry divisions to accommodate for men killed. 5 divisions of infantry are now consolidated down to 3, with 90% of the Greek cavalry and artillery still combat-ready and fully-intact. Artillery fire pounds the capital for almost 72 hours straight, as the militiamen defend Ankara with their lives, fighting at any cost to drive away the Greeks. Greek infantry is slowly tired out and forced to set up temporary camps near the city, with the cavalry attempting to circle around the Turkish militias and pillage Ankara from the east.
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Infantry troops along the North west of Ankara attempt to outflank Militiamen to the south east of Susuz who are currently taking cover due to artillery fire. The Militiamen split up their numbers, half of their men attempt to make a run towards the artillery stationed along the north west, the other half attempt to intercept the Greeks in the north. Cavalry in the South of Ankara manages to break the fortifications of the south, pillaging Golbasi, marching north to reach the center of the city, the location of the Capital building. Militiamen on the southwest front attempt to pull back troops to engage in combat against the southern cavalry. Meanwhile in the main building, Ataturk rallies his most loyal revolutionaries, those who aided him in the desert, he loads a rifle, looks out his window, and marches outside.
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Ankara is now beginning to become immersed in smoke, primarily from the west, but also the north and the south as well. Both the militias in the north and south are successful in intercepting Greeks attempting to outflank the Turks, however as to how long they will hold back the Greeks, only god knows. Ataturk divides his personal militia in half, sending half of his men with his most trusted advisor to the north, which is considered the lesser threat. He takes his men and himself towards the Greek cavalry of the south. Despite artillery shellings across Western Ankara, the main frontlines have more or less come to a stalemate, thus buying time for the Turks to attempt a siege of one of the stationed artillery outposts in the North West. Fortunately, the Greeks are somewhat distracted by focusing on the coordination of the outflanking of the Turkish Militia, therefore they do not notice the camouflaged troops crawling towards their outpost. Before they realize they've been surrounded, a bunch of Turks with rifles pop out of bushes, behind walls, and force the Greeks to surrender the artillery outpost.
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With the outpost seized, and the Greeks stationing the outpost tied up, the Turks begin using Greek artillery to fire at the Greek infantry in the north of city, as the artillery station is firing into the city, none of the other stations question its actions. The infantry in the north, marching with their backsides exposed (figuratively), are bombarded by artillery shells wiping out almost immediately more than half of their men, meanwhile discombobulating the troops. Without any organization, and half as much manpower, the Turkish militiamen, now with reinforcements from the capital are able to round up scattered Greek infantrymen, capturing what remains of their regiment. With this success, the captured Greek artillery now begins to turn to the south, firing at other Greek artillery stations, meanwhile providing cover for the large band of Turkish troops in the north to outflank the Greek infantry's left side. Two Greek artillery posts are wiped out before a third manages to shell the Turkish controlled one in the north. The militiamen flee from the artillery station and march behind Greek enemy lines, further outflanking the Greek left, overwhelming them and forcing the Greeks to retreat to their right side, or south west Ankara. The final Artillery station is forced to constantly switch between firing at southern Ankara, and firing at the Turks behind enemy lines, the delay in between shots now provides a great deal of time for the Turks to counterattack and take out multiple Greek troops both at the artillery station, and in front of it on the front lines.
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Greek troops surrounding the final artillery station attempt to retreat, however, they soon realize they have been surrounded, the Greeks choose to surrender. Unlike much of the world right now, Ataturk uses this opportunity to show the humanity of the people's republic of Turkey, despite seizing Greek equipment, garrisons, and supplies, Greek POW's are allowed to return home after the war, carrying their uniforms, banners, and whatever personal belongings they had on their person(s). In Southern Ankara, the elite cavalry force becomes overwhelmed by fighting on two fronts against Ataturk's personal infantry, as well as militiamen who intercepted and ambushed them. After some fighting, the last remaining artillery station now begins firing at Greek troops as well, forcing the last Greeks in Ankara to surrender. The Battle of Ankara is seen as a major victory for Ataturk, as well as large turning point in the Asia-Minor campaign of Greece, despite the Greeks not only losing a large portion of their cavalry, artillery, as well as infantry, the Greek commanders, Konstantinos Nider, Konstantinos Miliotis-Komninos, Leonidas Paraskevopoulos (All hypertext links provided) were all captured and killed in combat during either the force march towards Ankara, at the battle of Ankara, or during the counter offensive by the Turks. A special national holiday was made on April 10th 1921, five days after the Battle of Ankara, the day at which the Greeks sign a white peace with the Turks, with a lasting armistice of at least 10 years. The Turks initially after their victory in Ankara were able to push roughly 125 miles westward to the Greek-Turkish border, however their momentum was halted by Greek fortifications, Greek aerial bombardments, as well as Greek long-range artillery. Therefore, a stalemate was reached, and with both sides suffering from high levels of attrition, a white peace was offered by the Greeks, in which the Turkish People's Bolshevik Parliament after 36 hours of debate, finally accepted.
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