TL: The War of Dogger Bank, or the Anglo-Russian War- Version 1 DISCONTINUED

[WarlordGandhi]

The War of Dogger Bank
aka the Anglo-Russian War

Hello potential reader! I have always been fascinated with how Britain almost went to war with Russia over the Dogger Bank Incident, and I've finally gotten round to writing a TL about this scenario. I hope you like it!


The Anglo-Russian War

Prelude to Dogger Bank

The Battle of Dogger Bank

The War of Dogger Bank

The May Revolution/ The Revolution of 1905

The Russian Constitution and the Civil War


The Franco-German War

The Crisis of 1905 and the Franco-German War

The Treaty of Brussels

The Socialist Republic of France

Map of World 1906


The Road to Slaughter

The Anglo-German Naval Race

Democracy in the East

Oriental Troubles​

 

[WarlordGandhi]

Prelude to Dogger Bank


For seven months now, Russia had been at war with Japan. Contrary to predictions, the Russians were being defeated in a series of land and naval battles in the Far East. Japan had trounced the Russians in the Battle of Yalu River, and the Russian Pacific Fleet had been thoroughly defeated in the Battle of the Yellow Sea.

With the front in Manchuria close to collapse, and perhaps encouraged by his cousin Kaiser Wilhelm II, Tsar Nicholas ordered the formation of the Second Pacific Squadron, under Admiral Zinovy Rozhestvensky, to overwhelm the Imperial Japanese Navy and delay the Japanese advance until Russian reinforcements could arrive in Manchuria. Formed from five divisions of the Russian Baltic Fleet, the Second Pacific Squadron consisted of:

- 8 battleships (the Knyaz Surovov, Imperator Aleksander II, Borodino, Oryol, Oslyabya, Sissoi Veliky, Navarin, Imperator Nikolai I)

- 3 coastal battleships (the General Admiral Graf Apraksin, Admiral Seniavin, Admiral Ushakov)

- 8 cruisers (the Admiral Nakhimov, Dmitrii Donskoi, Vladimir Monomakh, Zhemchug, Izumrud, Oleg, Aurora, Svetlana)

- 9 Destroyers (Byedovy, Buiny, Bravy, Buistry, Blestyashchy, Bezuprechny, Bodry, Gromky, Grozny)

It set sail on the 15 of October 1904, with the destination of the blockaded Port Arthur. However, the fleets voyage through the Baltic Sea was met with calamity as several ships in the squadron fired on Swedish fishing boats after mistaking them for Japanese torpedo boats. The Second Pacific Squadron entered the North Sea in the early morning of 20 October.

Meanwhile, Great Britain was watching Japans victories with great approval. Besides from being allied with the Empire in the east, Great Britain was in a phase of extreme Russo phobia. During the 19th Century and indeed the beginning of the 20th century, Great Britain had immense fear that Russia had ambitions on India, Britain’s Crown Jewel, and relations between Britain and Russia had steadily deteriorated following the advent of the Russo-Japanese War.

Perhaps noting this, (historians still debate on his true intentions), Vice Admiral Lord Charles Beresford, commander of the British Channel Fleet, began conducting regular training exercises and patrols in the Channel and the North Sea. By some stroke of chance, the entire Channel Fleet was patrolling the North Sea approximately 100 kilometres north of Holland on the 20 October. The entire fleet was on patrol, which consisted of:

- 13 battleships (the Albemarle, Albion, Caesar, Cornwallis, Duncan, Exmouth, Glory, Jupiter, Montagu, Prince George, Russell, Swiftsure, Triumph)

- 5 Cruisers (the Dido, Juno, Topaze, Patrol, Sapphire)

- 24 Destroyers (the Flirt, Kestrel, Peterel, Recruit, Thorn, Tiger, Vigilant, Wizard, Gala, Greyhound, Mermaid, Racehorse, Ribble, Roebuck, Teviot, Wolf, Blackwater, Express, Kennet, Leopard, Osprey, Ostrich, Vixen, Waveney)

On the morning of the 21, a dense fog blanketed the North Sea. Near Dogger Bank, the lead battleship of the Second Pacific Squadron, the Oryol, sighted a shape in the fog towards the south. The Oryol immediately opened fire, scoring few hits as most of their shots went wide. Allegedly, the Russians thought they were firing upon a Japanese Cruiser, but in reality it was the British Cruiser Sapphire, which was patrolling at the fringe of the British fleet. Radioing for help, the Sapphire attempted to disengage but an unlucky Russian shot hit the engine room, reducing the Sapphire to half speed. Responding to the Sapphires radio for help, several British cruisers joined the fight, by which time the rest of the Russian fleet had caught up to the Oryol.

Hearing of an attack by an unidentified hostile fleet, Beresford ordered his battleships north, and just as the fog lifted, the two battle fleets collided.

 

[WarlordGandhi]

Well this was a hard update to write! I hope you guys like it!

The Battle of Dogger Bank


At 0950 hours, the fog lifted, exposing in great shock to the Russians that they were greatly out gunned and out number. Attempting to flee, Rozhestvensky on the Borodino gave order to turn his battleships around. Unfortunately for him, however, his order was misinterpreted by the Battleships Oryol and Navarin, who instead kept firing at the British cruisers.

The British, utilising their superior speed, presented their broadside to the enemy, who were now identified as Russians, and the Cornwallis, Duncan and Russell unleased broadsides against the Oryol, while the Albermarle, Caesar, Jupiter and Triumph targeted the Navarin.

Within minutes, the Oryol was sinking, having exploded from a direct hit to its magazine, while the Navarin was on fire. By now, Rozhestvensky was panicking and ordered all ships to disengage. However, there ships were much slower than the British, whose battleships were picking of ships one by one. A torpedo run by several British destroyers crippled the Imperator Aleksander II and the Oslyaba, while the Knyaz Surovov and the Sissoi Veliky were left dead in the water and sinking. The Borodino, however, met her fate fighting. By some miracle, her sporadic firing penetrated the magazine of the Swiftsure, and destroyed it, before exploding after another torpedo run by destroyers, taking Rozhestvensky with her.

By the time the fog set in again at 1740 hours, the Russians had virtually been annihilated. Only the Imperator Nikolai I, as well as two destroyers were able to flee back towards the Baltic. However, in securing such a victory, Beresford had lost the battleship Swiftsure as well as the cruiser Sapphire and several destroyers.

The newspapers in Britain that evening shouted of a criminal attack by the warmongering Russians. Crowds took to the streets in front of Parliament, demanding war with the Russians, while in Parliament debated on whether to go to war with the Russian Empire. Panicking, the Tsar (upon recommendation from his advisors) made an offer that included vague compensation and reparations, however, the debate in parliament raged on for another week. All those in opposition to the war were silenced, when there was news of the shelling of Hartlepool by the Russian ship Kamchatka, who had appeared to have slipped past the battle unscathed. Allegedly avenging its fallen comrades, the drunken captain of the Kamchatka had shelled the sea side town four times before slipping away into the night. 7 civilians were killed, plus several injured, which only increased the public outrage against the Russians.

The day after the Hartlepool incident (2 November 1904), parliament officially rejected the Russian offer and announced that a state of war now existed between Great Britain and the Russian Empire. Furious, the Tsar fired all of his advisors (crucially including the chairman of the ministers Sergei Witte). The Anglo-Russian War had just begun.

 

[WarlordGandhi]

Its update time! Some of your questions will be answered but more will probably arise!


The War of Dogger Bank

Although the war would only go on for four months, it would have widespread ramifications that would be felt for the next century and beyond. Great Britain immediately began a blockade of the White Sea and St. Petersburg and sent an expeditionary force of ten thousand men to help Japan in the Far East.

The blockade proved catastrophic to the Russian economy. Her economy had been unstable following the onset of war with Japan, but the blockade brought its economy to near collapse. There was no way for the remaining Russian fleet to break the blockade, and as such there was no way for Russia to export via her ports and were forced to expensively export across land. Further, Russia lost its only friend on the continent. The French Republic refused to join the war against Britain or even Japan, citing how Russia was the aggressor and that they could not afford to go to war with Britain.

The invasion and occupation of Arkhangelsk by a British force on the 3 March 1905, along with the renewed invasion of Manchuria by Japan and the vast social discontent engulfing Russia, proved to be the last straw for Russia who sued for peace on the 10th. Tsar Nicholas sent a delegation to Liverpool, with direct orders to “give as little as possible”. However, despite attempts by France at mediation, the British and Japanese delegations at Liverpool made extensive demands, including the ceding of Manchuria and Port Arthur to Japan, and heavy war reparations to both Britain and Japan. Britain also demanded that the Russian Baltic Fleet be limited to a single capital ship and a set of screens.

However, upon hearing that the Russian delegation was about to accept the demands, Tsar Nicholas, against the advice of his new advisors, travelled to Liverpool himself and took control of the delegation, evidently expecting that his presence would help Russia’s cause on the peace table. But, the Japanese and British were of course unfazed, and continued pushing with their demands, threatening to renew the war if the Tsar refused. Disheartened, the Tsar conceded and on the 30th April the Treaty of Liverpool was signed, with the following terms:

- Russia will cede control of Manchuria, Sakhalin and Port Arthur to the Empire of Japan, and abandon her ambitions on China

- Russia will pay 10 Million pounds to Japan and Great Britain in war reparations

- Russia will fully compensate the families of those lost in the Battle of Dogger Bank

- Russia will limit its Baltic Fleet to one capital ship, as well as escorts

- Russia will abandon its ambitions on Persia, Afghanistan and the Ottoman Empire

- Along with other minor terms

The Treaty of Liverpool is often remarked by historians as the end of Imperial Russia. However, Russia would remerge again but would not be the same again.

​

Next: The May Revolution

 

[WarlordGandhi]

Its update time! Please comment thoughts and feedback!


The May Revolution/ The Revolution of 1905

The period of 1904-1905 was a period of growing peasant and worker discontent, which culminated in full revolution in May. Bloody Sunday had begun a chain reaction against the Imperial Regime, and by March of 1905, resentment against the Tsar had grown so vast that several nationalities were fighting for their independence, while factories all across St. Petersburg and Moscow were being seized on authority of the several Soviets that had been founded across the country.

Instrumental to the May revolution would be two groups. The first was the St. Petersburg Soviet, whose members would be organised by Leon Trotsky and would launch the revolution on May 2nd. The second group would be the Menshevik party. Under Julius Martov, the Mensheviks had at first wanted an evolutionary phase, rather than a revolutionary phase. However, changing circumstances and Trotsky’s seizure of the government on behalf of the Mensheviks would place them as the first government of the Soviet Union of Russia.

However, it is possible that the Revolution would not have happened if it weren’t for one crucial decision. Tsar Nicholas’ decision to leave the capital and participate in the talks at Liverpool, leaving the Tsarina in charge would prove to be the nail in the coffin for Imperial Russia. On March 30th, upon the signing of the Treaty of Liverpool, the Russian economy collapsed and protesters against the Tsarist government numbered over half a million. The Tsarina ordered the St. Petersburg garrison to open fire on the protesters, but many soldiers instead shot their officers and joined the protesters against the government. On March 2nd, Tsar Nicholas II attempted to return to St. Petersburg and restore order, but upon his arrival in St. Petersburg, he was confronted by rioters and revolutionary troops and was forced to abdicate. In the chaos that followed, soldiers and members of the St. Petersburg Soviet, led by Leon Trotsky seized government buildings and by 5 pm, the royal family was arrested and a socialist government was proclaimed by the Mensheviks, with elections promised for August. The authority of the new government was recognised across the majority of Russia and a Soviet Republic of Russia was proclaimed by Martov and Trotsky. However Poland, the Baltic States, Finland and the Ukraine declared independence, which the German Empire was happy to guarantee, and the Bolshevik Party under Lenin openly rejected the new government, declaring it be “un revolutionary and capitalist”.

After 300 years of Romanov rule, Russia had found itself free of Romanov rule. With the former Tsar and his family sent into exile (they wound up in Germany as guests of Nicholas’ cousin), Russia had entered a new era, but it was unclear if the new government could survive and fix the problems that now plagued Russia.

​

Next: The Russian Constitution and the Civil War

​

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Authors note-

In TTL, Trotsky does not leave the Mensheviks, although he still supports a revolutionary action. Further, Trotsky is a founding member of the St. Petersburg Soviet and thus had authority within the Soviet.

 

[WarlordGandhi]

Given that there is most likely still Russian troops in the Baltic states, Finland and Ukraine, wouldn't a German promise to guarantee the independence of these breakaway provinces essentially be a German declaration of war on Russia?

Not when Russia isn't in a state to fight Germany, as shown in the update below!

Its update time! Please comment thoughts and feedback.


The Russian Constitution and the Civil War


Upon the restoration of order to the Russian Republic by August, the election of the “Peoples Duma” went ahead as planned. The opening of the Peoples Duma was scheduled for October 3.

By the time the votes were counted, the radical parties had won a total victory. The Mensheviks had gained almost all the proletariat vote, while the SRs had gained the peasant vote. The Bolsheviks only secured 6 seats, while the conservative parties were too disorganised and only gained 10 seats out of the 368 seat Duma.

Due to the overwhelming majority of the Mensheviks and SRs, it was decided that the government would be formed out of a Menshevik-SR coalition, with Martov being elected chairman of the Peoples Council (a thirteen strong council), with Trotsky being commissar of War, and Chernov being commissar of the peasantry.

The flag of the Soviet Republic of Russia


​

A new constitution was also drafted, where it was decided by the Mensheviks and SRs that due to their control of 96% of the Duma, the SR-Menshevik coalition would make all the decisions, while all other parties would not have the final say in running the country. This decision would cause a Bolshevik and Kadet walkout, much to the coalitions delight. The rest of the first Convention of the Peoples Duma would prove to be quite productive for the new government. New policies were enacted, with the gradual nationalization of the nation’s economy, the granting of noble land to the peasantry, the establishment of several laws regarding workers’ rights and the establishment of a secular state. Further, the Duma recognized the independence of the Baltic States, Poland, Finland, and the Ukraine. Although Trotsky argued for the army to invade the aforementioned countries, the fact that Germany had signed economic and military treaties with these countries, as well as war weariness, meant that military intervention was a not a possiblility.

Upon news of the new constitution, many workers and peasants looked to a bright future. However, conservative forces rose up with loyalist Cossacks in the Kuban, and Kazakh region, declaring the new government to be illegitimate, the constitution to be unlawful and promising to reinstate the Tsar to the throne. Further, the Bolsheviks seized government buildings in Moscow, declaring the new government to be “ignorant of the proletariat wishes”.

Although the Bolshevik rising would be crushed within days (Lenin would flee to France), conservative forces would only be defeated in November 1906, and it is possible that the Russian Civil War would have gone on for another year if it wasn’t for the disunity of the conservative or White forces and the brilliance of Trotsky. Further, the end of the Russian Civil War would bring the new Soviet Republic much needed stability and order. However, the Civil War would prevent the Russians from participating in the Franco-German War, a rather short lived war which would redefine the order of Europe and would vastly affect the next century and beyond.

 

[WarlordGandhi]

Its update time!

Unfortunately, I will not have access to the internet for the weekend so the next update will come on Monday.


The Crisis of 1905 and the Franco-German War


During the second half of 1905, tensions between France and Germany had reached a boiling point. Germany’s alliance with Poland, the Baltic States, and Ukraine had been met with substantial protest with France, who had only backed down from war due to Russia’s instability. However, although war had appeared to have been averted, another crisis arose. France had been pressuring Morocco to establish a French protectorate over the country. However, the Kaiser flatly declared that there would be war with France if France established a protectorate on Morocco. War appeared to be on the horizon, and both Germany and France mobilized. Then came the spark.

On the border of France and Germany, near the town of Belfort, a German patrol and a French patrol happened to chance upon each other at the same time. In the Belfort incident (14 August 1905) it was unsure of who fired first, but by the time night fell, five French and two Germans were dead and several more wounded.

Everything spiralled out of control. Germany blamed France for war mongering. France struck back, shouting at how the Germans were barbaric imperialists and wanted to conquer the globe. Despite calmer heads on both sides attempting to prevent a war, the wheels were turning, and upon the outbreak of civil war in Russia, the Germany declared war on the French republic on October 6, followed by Austria-Hungary declaring war on France the day later.

When it was clear that the Russo-French alliance was breaking, chief of staff Alfred Von Schlieffen devised two plans regarding a war solely against France. The first plan, Ausmarsch IV, detailed a massive swing through Belgium, which would outflank the French in Lorraine and destroy them, thus winning the war quickly. However, Schlieffen acknowledged that in 1905, Germany did not have the troops nor the light artillery necessary for an invasion of Belgium at that time, and so Ausmarsch IV was put aside for a later date. The second plan, Ausmarsch V, was more suited for 1905. Due to the overwhelming German superiority in numbers and heavy artillery, Ausmarsch V outlined a massive attack all along the border with France, with numbers concentrated around Metz, forcing a breakthrough at Longwy, where the fortifications were old and in need of upgrading, and pour towards Paris while the rest of the French army was pinned in place.

In contrast, the French had formulated “Plan XV”, in which upon a German attack, the French would thrust with the bulk of its army from Nancy into Alsace to pin the Germans in place while other army’s would flank the Germans. However, this plan had several flaws. In order to have enough men to pin the Germans down in the Nancy army, the armies on the flanks were made of reserves and thus poorly trained and not as well equipped. Further, the French hadn’t counted for a general German offensive all along the line.

At dawn of the 6, the same hour Germany declared war against France, the Germans unleashed a heavy artillery barrage concentrated west at Metz. The barrage ceased after three hours and the Germans surged forward all along the front. Over 200,000 men, having marched into Luxembourg the day earlier, were attacking Longwy alone.

The Battle of the Frontiers lasted eleven days, but by the 18, huge holes had been created in the French line, and the famed French fortifications had been largely blown to pieces by German Heavy Artillery. The simple fact was that the French did not have enough men or machine guns, to prevent a German breakthrough and halt the German advance in 1905. Further, aerial reconnaissance was not a thing in 1905 and did not have the effect it would have on war like it would in the future. By the 23, the Germans had taken Verdun and Montmedy, while Nancy was taken on the 25. With the Germans swarming west, the French had to retreat, or face being annihilated.

And retreat they did. The French attempted to establish a defensive line at the Moselle, but the Germans had taken St Menehould on the 30 and this line had already been flanked, and so the French retreat continued. It quickly became apparent that the French could not retreat fast enough, and the reserves that had been called up to stop the German advance did not have the training or machine guns to stem the German advance and could only slow the Germans before being overrun.

By this time, the Germans had suffered heavy casualties, and although the German advance began to slow due to a lack of supplies, they nevertheless continued to advance. With the bulk of the French army disorganized and panicking far to the south of Verdun, the Germans took Reims on the 15 of November, and German troops entered Paris on the 30. The French government capitulated shortly after and an armistice was requested.

It is widely agreed by historians and members of the popular alternatehistory.com that if the French had regrouped and attacked the south of the salient, the German advance would have been stopped and, if the French were lucky, quite possibly destroyed. Great Britain was already sending supplies to the French and could have possibly joined the war if the Germans hadn’t advanced so swiftly as well. However, the French were in disarray and were completely pinned down, and so could not counterattack at all, and it is widely up to speculation on what could have happened if the French had halted the German advance.

Next: The Treaty of Brussels

 

[WarlordGandhi]

An here's the next update!

The Treaty of Brussels


With the French capitulation, peace talks were held in Brussels, Belgium on the 2nd of February 1906. Germany had entered the talks with the aim of punishing France severely for their perceived “role” in causing the war. However much to their chagrin, Great Britain arrived in full diplomatic support of the defeated French, and completely opposed German demands, including but not limited to the ceding of Lorraine to Germany, the annexation of Luxembourg to Germany, extensive reparations from France and the annexation of substantial French colonies in Africa and Asia.

The peace talks nearly fell apart and war breaking out between Great Britain and Germany but calmer heads prevailed. The launching of the HMS Dreadnought exposed how outclassed the High Seas Fleet was, while many in the British Government saw the German Heer as unbeatable. Eventually, after much negotiation, the Treaty of Brussels was signed on the 30 March with the following terms:

- France is to cede Longwy-Briey to Germany.

- The rest of French Lorraine is to be demilitarise

- France is to accept full responsibility for the war

- Morocco is to retain independence

- France is to cede French Cameroon, Gabon, French Congo and Madagascar to Germany

- Indochina is to be split between Great Britain, Germany and Japan

- France is to pay the sum of 800 million pounds to Germany

Along with other clauses.

The treaty of Brussels effectively strengthened Germanys grip on the continent while France was finished as a great power for the next years. However, the Treaty also highlighted the growing opposition to German hegemony by Great Britain, and the beginnings of an anti-German coalition were beginning to show.

 

[WarlordGandhi]

Its update time!
A map will be posted soon after this update to show the word situation!


The Socialist Republic of France

Following the crippling defeat at the hands of Germany in the Franco-German, France went into a period of severe political and social unrest, comparable to the unrest leading up to the Russian May Revolution. The simple fact was, that because the poor management of the Moroccan crisis by the government, along with the crushing defeat, the French people were beginning to lose faith in the government. Strikes began to be commonplace, the economy teetered towards collapse and several divisions in the army began to mutiny and disobey orders. The final straw occurred when 400,000 protesters marched on the streets of Paris on the 1 May, in protest of the humiliation of the Treaty of Brussels and the increasing prices of food and supplies.

An attempted coup by military forces failed and as crushed within days and a state of emergency was declared on the 5 May. With no alternative apparent to them, the government held emergency elections on the 12 May, hoping to prevent the country from descending into civil war.

Although they succeeded in that aim, all previous dominating political parties were swept aside as the people of France turned to new alternative parties. Ultimately, the new left wing party, En avant la France (In front of France), was elected by 42% of the vote. En avant la France advocated for a socialist government, but was made up of scientific and technology experts. This new Technocratic-Socialist Government, (with noted mathematician and physicist Jules Henri Poincaré as President) proclaimed the Socialist Republic of France on the 15 June, and set upon the task of rebuilding the French economy and an eventual rematch with Germany.

Poincaré immediately began extending diplomatic channels to Russia and reluctantly Britain, who were only eager to accept. The French government also began working on maximizing the efficiency of the French economy, and lead the way with new advances in machinery and tools. Within a few months, the French economy was recovering but many in the world, especially Germany, did not think that France could become a power again.

They were wrong.

 

[WarlordGandhi]

Here is the map of the world in 1906!

 

[WarlordGandhi]

Its update time! Please comment more national anthems!


The Anglo-German Naval Race


Although Kaiser Wilhelm II had expressed his wish for a navy to challenge Great Britain’s, Germany’s naval program only really kicked off after the Anglo-Russian War, and the Brussels peace talks, where it was apparent that despite Germanys overwhelming superiority in its armed forces, she was severely outmatched by Britain’s control of the waves.

As such, during 1906, Germany began embarking on a massive ship building program designed to bring Germanys navy to the size of Britain’s. With the advent of the new Dreadnought and Battlecruiser class ships, Germany heavily invested into its Kaiserliche Marine and Britain, responding to the minimal losses sustained during its war with Russia and the German hostility, devoted massive funds into its navy. Great Britain and Germany built the following ships over the next several years;

Dreadnoughts Great Britain Germany

1906 1 0

1907 3 0

1908 2 3

1909 3 4

1910 4 3

1911 5 1

1912 5 2

1913 5 3

1914 4 5

1915 5 4

1916 6 4

1917 6 5

Total 49 34





Dreadnought Battlecruisers Great Britain Germany

1906 0 0

1907 3 0

1908 1 1

1909 1 1

1910 2 3

1911 2 0

1912 1 0

1913 1 0

1914 2 1

1915 2 2

1916 3 2

1917 1 2

Total 19 12





The German naval program was not without its obstacles however. A minor recession in Germany’s economy suspended ship building during 1911-1912. Also, although it came close, the Germany’s naval program would not break the British superiority of the seas. Finally, perhaps worse of all, funds for the naval program were siphoned from the military, as the Kaiser believed that the army was invincible as it was, and that it would not need to fight a war with the destabilised French and Russians for a long time. As a result, while the navy got the funds it needed, the army was largely neglected by the time war came once again to the European continent.

 

[WarlordGandhi]

Any updates soon?

Here it is!
My apologies for the lack of updates, school has been a real pain
As always, all feedback is appreciated!

Democracy of the East

After their victory against the Russians in the Russo-Japanese War, the Japanese enjoyed a period of prosperity. Their expansion plans were largely fulfilled, especially after gaining part of Indochina during the Treaty of Brussels and the Japanese could now fuel their growing economy with an abundance of resources.

It was during this period that Japan began transitioning into a parliamentary democracy. Much to the despair of the nation, Emperor Meiji had died of diabetes and nephritis in 1909, but his son, Yoshihito, became Emperor and declared that his reign would be Taishō (great righteousness)

Despite keeping away from the public, the Taishō Emperor would continue the reforms of his father, limiting the powers of the Genro and the Kazoku, while expanding the powers of the Imperial Diet. Before long, universal voting was implemented, while the Imperial Diet began discussing foreign matters, and not just domestic policy.

This change was of course met with resistance by the Genro and the Kazoku, who in 1911, seeing where the wind was blowing, attempted an assassination on the Emperor. This failed and the public turned firmly against any remaining Genro and Kazoku who were mostly imprisoned or isolated from politics.

By 1917, Japan had become a Parliamentary Constitutional Monarchy, and Emperor Taishō was only happy to become a figurehead with Osachi Hamaguchi as Prime Minister. One party grew to dominate Japanese politics; Rikken Minseitō, the Constitutional Democratic Party which fully supported the Parliamentary system and advocated for a passive conciliatory foreign policy while maintaining the alliance with Great Britain. Under Rikken Minseitō, focus was placed on the integration of Korea, Formosa and Manchuria into the Japanese nation. Japanese settlers flooded into Korea and Manchuria, infrastructure was built in all three regions, and the Japanese government began extended more control to these areas. It wouldn’t be long until Manchuria, Korea and Formosa would become part of Japan proper.


Japanese history isn't my strong point so if I've made any mistakes, again the feedback would be greatly appreciated!

 

[WarlordGandhi]

My apologies for the lack of updates for the last six months but I've simply not have had enough time due to school and work obligations. However, I have just found the time so here is the long overdues next update!


Oriental Troubles


Following the Boxer rebellion and the Foreign Intervention in China, the Qing Dynasty saw its grip weaken on China. Although Dowager Empress Cixi attempted to prolong Qing rule by implemented radical reforms much like the ones she supressed several years earlier, these reforms were poorly implemented and were not enough to quench dissent within the Qing. However, fortunately for her, Cixi would not live to see the end of the Qing Dynasty.

In fact, her death was the catalyst for the collapse of Qing. A strike in Guandong following the death of Dowager Empress Cixi on November 15th 1908 quickly turned violent, while the Qing government was effectively paralysed from Cixi’s death. Revolutionary leader Sun Yixian called for the “people to retake China from the barbarians” and the uprising spread throughout Guangdong province, fuelled by popular dissent against the Qing. The Tongmenghui organised further revolts in Sichuan province and Hubei province. Qing Military units began to defect and declared the Qing Government to be illegitimate. By March of 1909, the Republican revolt had spread across Southern China.

The Qing, fearing for their rule, appointed the famous General Yuan Shikai. Yuan had commanded his “New Army” against the foreign interventionists during the Boxer Rebellion and won the few victories the Qing saw during the Boxer Rebellion and as such commanded much respect amongst China. The Qing appointed him commander of the Qing army and promised him the position of Prime Minister if he crushed the southern rebellion. However, Sun Yixian, having arrived in Guandong in December from Hawaii, offered Yuan Shikai the position of presidency in a post-Qing government. Yuan accepted the offer, and with their empire falling around them Dowager Empress Longyu and the infant Puyi officially abdicated on the 24th of May and fled to Japanese controlled Manchuria.

Yuan Shikai was officially sworn in as President of the newly elected National Assembly on the 1st of June, and initially ruled from Nanjing in an uneasy coalition with the Guomindong (successors of the Tongmenhui). However, Yuan aimed to further his own power and by late 1910 had largely orchestrated a full takeover of the government using the military as his base of power. The National Assembly was dissolved and replaced by the Council of State, merely a puppet of Yuan, and he majorly expanded his dictatorial powers, culminating in the Council of State crowning Yuan as Emperor of China, under the era name of Zhèngyì (正义, meaning Righteous) on the 1st of October 1914.

Sun Yixian, in exile in Japan, called for a second revolution, sparking a revolt in southern China once again. Zhengyi and Republican forces clashed and met in stalemate, resulting in a ceasefire between the Republicans and the Zhengyi. An official peace was never agreed on between the two parties, while Sun Yixian formed a new government out of the Guomindong with its power base in Guandong, while the Zhengyi Emperor moved his capital to Beijing, and warlords in Yunnan, Sichuan and eastern provinces declared independence from either government.

The Chinese Revolution of 1909 ultimately saw China being split into two hostile governments, one a self-styled monarchy and the other a republican Government.

As always, constructive criticism is much appreciated!

 

[WarlordGandhi]

Hey all, after being unable to continue this timeline due to school, I have finally had the time to revisit and continue this timeline.
However, upon rereading my work and comments within this thread, I have concluded that I failed to come up with a realistic timeline and instead attempted to reach a conclusion that I wanted.
As such, I will be doing a version 2 of this TL, in a timeline format rather than a chapter format to make it easier for me to flesh out details and to make it more realistic

Here is the link to the version 2!
https://www.alternatehistory.com/fo...nk-or-the-anglo-russian-war-version-2.454928/