Turning Tide; Alternate post-WW2 TL II version

Previous TL was Poland-centered and didn't gained any popularity (maybe because it was sick and near ASB :) ) so I decided to change this and make another one, this time I hope - better.


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State Defence Committee
(1942-1945)
Operation Barbarossa was one of most daring military offensives in the human history - German army
called Wehrmacht nearly defeated huge Red Army seriously weakened by previous Stalin purges. It was huge blow for Stalin's health who fell into deep depression and became even more aggressive than
before. His only daughter wrote in Memories of dictator's daughter that he his behaviour became
strange even if we are talking about ruthless dictator. He often fell asleep, even when discussed
military plans with GKO. When Germans started next operation called Fall Blau and won several battles
he ordered NKVD to kill Zhukov, Rokossovsky and several other high-ranked RKKA generals. Few hours
later he cancelled his order and instead imprisoned Vyacheslav Molotov with accusations of collaboration with Germans, betrayal of Soviet Union and trying plotting against Stalin's life but was released two days later as victim of Jewish and imperialist anti-Bolshevik propaganda.

On 18 November Soviet Army launched counter-offensive Operation Uranus which encircled German forces in Stalingrad. One month later Erich von Manstein launched Operation Winter Storm in which Germans defeated Aleksandr Vasilevsky and opened corridor for Paulus' 6th Army in Stalingrad. During this events Stalin was on edge of mental balance. He recalled Khrushchev from Stalingrad and sentenced his son to death - Leonid Khrushchev was executed on 21 December 1942. One day later Stalin had a stroke (there is possibility that he was poisoned by Beria and Khrushchev) and died on 25 December. GKO seized power in Soviet Union during wartime.

Soviet forces were finally repelled from Stalingrad on 9 February 1943 but established strong defence on the other side of Volga river (occasionaly destroyed all brigdes near Stalingrad). When Germans halted their offensive (due to successful Soviet defences in Caucasus) stalemate began on Eastern Front and both sides. Vyacheslav Molotov was sent to United States in order to convince Congress to agree on Lend-Lease for Soviet Union. He stated that dictatorial government is needed because there is a disastrous war against Empire of Evil which must be defeated by all means neccessary. After long and controversial negotiations both sides signed Soviet-American Agreement of 1943 which introduced Lend-Lease for Soviet Union.

Another offensive taken by Germans was Operation Citadelle which ended after one and half week due to Operation Husky in Italy.

When Lend-Lease staff arrived Khrushchev proposed launching major Soviet offensive from Caucasus into
East Ukraine called Operation Saturn. It was started on 18 November 1943 and lasted until February
1944. It consisted from few offensives - on Noworossisk (perfomed during 18 November to 21 December),
Malkop (19 November - 15 December), Ellista (21 November - 29 December) and later on Rostov (20 December - 14 February), Kotelnikov (29 December - 20 February) and finally Stalingrad (30 December -28 February). During operation both sides suffered horrible casualties and Hitler was forced to sent part of German armies in West to Eastern Front. Many historians today think that thanks to that D-Day
performed by Western Allies was so spectacular.

When D-Day was launched (6 June 1944) Soviet Army launched Northern Offensive which liberated lands
taken by Finnish Army, Leningrad and Novgorod. On 29 August 1944 Moscow Armistice was signed in which Finland negotiated return 1940 borders.

During July of 1944 massive Mechanized Corps under Zhukov command entered into Byelorussia and engaged German Army in biggest tank battle in human history (battle of Mińsk). Operating deep into enemy's territory Soviet forces managed to force Germans to retreat, destroying third part of their tanks and liberating Byelorussia. Another, coordinated attack under Rokossovsky seized Narva (16 August), Tallin(22 August) and launched offensive on Baltic States. By end of September Byelorussia, Estonia, half ofLatvia was liberated. When Allies liberated Netherlands and launched offensive into Central Germany (18 September-29 October) Red Army attacked Ukraine during Operation Merkury in which massive troops
equipped with modern arms delivered by Lend-Lease liberated Ukraine (25 September-30 October) and
entered into Romania (30 October-18 November). On 19 November Romania surrendered before Red Army and joined fight against Germany. When on 16 December 1944 Sofia fell Bulgarians capitulated and People's Republic was established. On 14 January 1945 Lithuania fell after bitter fighting, one week later
Hungarians capitualted, on 31 January Slovakia was liberated. On 1 February Soviet Army entered into
Poland. Four days later Reichprasident Karl Donitz signed capitulation before Western Allies.

On March 1945 Red Army launched offensive against Japanese forces in Manchuria which ended with their major victory - destruction of Kwantung Army, seizing Manchuria and Korea during one and half month. On 14 September Western Allies launched nuclear attack against Hiroshima and two days later on
Nagasaki. One week later Japanese emperor capitulated before Douglas MacArthur.
 
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Vyacheslav Molotov

First Secretary of the All-Union Communist Party (1945-1948)

After war State Defense Committee was abolished. Struggle for power began between Molotov, Khrushchev and Beria supporters - Molotov was known as Stalin protege and participant in purges held by previous leader of the Soviet Union, Khrushchev was staunch anti-Stalinist politician who saw execution of his firstborn son by NKVD hands and Beria was ruthless politician, chief of security forces who was well-known for purges and cruelty. Despite that he proposed one of most liberal ideas in Soviet Union - multi-party free elections in which people would choose new leaders of the country and legalizing Left Opposition. Struggle for power was to be solved on 19th Congress of the All-Union Communist Party held between 5 and 22 October 1945.

During first days of proceedings few changes were made. All-Union Communist Party was renamed to Communist Party of the Soviet Union, Politburo of the Central Committee became Presidum of the Central Committee and expanded to 15 members. During next days voting about future of the Soviet Union began - Lawrientyi Beria was chosen as Chairman of the Presidum of the Central Committee, Molotov as First Secretary of the Soviet Union and Khrushchev as Chairman of the Council of Ministers. Three men were forced to work together by Party but weren't very happy because of it.

First task for Molotov was attending on Peace Talks in Berlin (or Berlin Conference of 1945, Peace Conference after Second World War) held on 11-29 November 1945 between Allied and Comintern powers. Delegates from Great Britain, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Kuomintang China, Yugoslavia, Romania, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Soviet Union and many other countries attended. Great outrage was caused when British Prime Minister invited delegates from Latvian, Estonian, Ukrainian, Byelorussian and Lithuanian governments-in-exile to take part in conference. Molotov resigned from Soviet zone of occupation in German lands in exchange from hard currency (partial deindustrialization of East Germany and relocation of this industry to Soviet Union) war reparations and economical aid from Western Powers. Due to weak position of Red Army Molotov was forced to agree on free elections in Poland and Czechoslovakia, plebiscites on disputed territories and population exchange.

After Peace conference some politicians from communist parties in liberated countries (Poland, Czechoslovakia) seceded and formed social democrats parties which was big blow for Molotov reputation within Party. First free elections in Polish Republic after World War 2 occurred on 17 January 1947 and were huge defeat for communist regime in Moscow. Communists gained only 21 of 444 seats, Social Democrats openly supported Democratic Coalition and Polish Socialist Party officialy condemned communist organizations. After that new President of the Polish Republic began negotiations about plebiscite on western Soviet territories which were held on 14 December and Polish majority won on the west of Curzon Line. This was even bigger blow for Molotov which was forced by Khrushchev and Beria to call next Congress of the Communist Party on 19 February 1948 before which Khrushchev unofficialy signed alliance with Malenkov, Beria and Mikoyan. During next week Khrushchev and his allies openly criticized Molotov regime for incompetency, corruption and terrorism (Molotov participated in purges and deportations) which was deposed by majority of the Party on 26 February 1948. As new First Secretary Khrusuchev proposed Alexei Kosygin and he was chosen by Party. He viewed him as young an inexperienced politician who could by easy controlled. He was wrong.

Molotov reign is controversial to modern historians. During three years he expanded heavy industry, prevented after war famine by expanding state-owned farms but on another side he lost diplomatic "battle" in Berlin on 1945 when he was forced to agree on free elections in Czechoslovakia and Poland (both were lost by communist parties), started deportation of Ukrainians accussed of collaboration with Germans and publicly praised Stalin policies. He was expulsed from Party on 21 February 1951 and left politics for good.
 
I like this a lot, and it really shows how a leadership breakdown can adversely affect the course of the war.

One question, though: How'd we get a V-E day in February with the Red Army just then entering Poland? For that matter, how's Donitz in charge in February, with no mention of Hitler's death?

I think in this scenario, the Soviets will end up keeping Manchuria and possibly Korea to make up for the massively weaker presence in Europe. Perhaps Manchuria gets the East Germany treatment with a two-China CCP North and KMT South China.
 
I like this a lot, and it really shows how a leadership breakdown can adversely affect the course of the war.

One question, though: How'd we get a V-E day in February with the Red Army just then entering Poland? For that matter, how's Donitz in charge in February, with no mention of Hitler's death?

I think in this scenario, the Soviets will end up keeping Manchuria and possibly Korea to make up for the massively weaker presence in Europe. Perhaps Manchuria gets the East Germany treatment with a two-China CCP North and KMT South China.

In other words a North China and a South China... Interesting. Wonder how it will work.
 
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Nikita Khrushchev
Chairman of the Council of Ministers (1945-1965)

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Alexei Kosygin
First Secretary of the Communist Party of Soviet Union (1948-1980)

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Lavrientyi Beria
Chairman of the Presidum of the Central Committee (1945-1950)
 
Soviet Union during Reconstruction Era 1947-1952 by Sergei Josipovych Ulyanov

When Vyacheslav Molotov signed Stalin's order in sentence of Sergei Khrushchev he didn't know that this act will reap bitter frutis in future when he was officialy condemned and deposed by Sergei's father Nikita Khrushchev and his temporary allies. Performing his own anti-Stalinist crusade Khrushchev was willing to ally with the worst Stalinist on earth - Beria who participated in worst communist purges in the world. Both men had their own objectives in this "alliance" - Khrushchev wanted de-Stalinization by deposing Molotov, consolidating power and deposing Beria while Beria wanted to eliminate Molotov, achieve control of young Kosygin, depose Khrushchev and achieve power in Soviet Union. He did not know and did not wanted to know that many people in Party shared Khrushchev views and many others were reluctant to Beria in charge of the country. Both men started to build their own "factions" (it is inappropriate sentence because factions in Communist Party were legalized more than decade later) in order to achieve greater power. At 1947 Khrushchev owned greater power and was considered as leader of Soviet Union. Together with Kosygin they started Economic Recovery Plan which greatly helped to restructurize Soviet economy after disastrous war.

Economic Recovery Plan officialy called as Emergency Restructurization of Soviet Economy was economical programme performed in Soviet Union during 1947-1952. Farmers were allowed to own small fields in order to being able to feed their families in state of war or famine. Khrushchev centered economy on consumer goods, agriculture, technology and rebuild of cities devastated by war. Most notably was Radiotechnology Factory established in 1951 producing cheap transistor radios which were later sold to Soviet citizens or even Western countries. Several state-owned radiostations were established all across country in order to make state propaganda more successful. In 1950 Zvezda automobile factory was established in which small and cheap cars were produced (at beginning only Party members were able to buy it but later due to automatization and using cheaper parts many other Soviet citizens bought this). Bicycles became most popular mean of city transport in early 1950s due to large quantities produced by state-owned companies. Another project was Virgin Lands Programme in which vast fields in Central Asia were used to produce grain and other crops in large state-owned farms.

Plan caused restructurization of Soviet Union after war with Nazi Germany. Group of independent farmers with small estates appeared due to agriculture reform and soon grew to huge numbers. In late 1950s and 1960s they produced big part of grain exported to Western countries by Soviet Union. It antagonized Khrushchev and his allies (most notably Mikoyan who served in Communist Party since October Revolution) and only success of this reform allowed Khrushchev to stay in power. Fearing potential coup Khrushchev decided to make a move - he called Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union on 13 February 1950. Delegates from all world communist parties met in Moscow to debate future of communism. At first day Khrushchev called all participants to stand in memory of all communist activist who dedicated their life to idea of spreading their ideology. It is notable that Stalin was mentioned at same breath as other lesser known activists from other countries. At 28 February he announced and unscheduled session during which he criticized cult of personality, brutal Stalinist regimes and published Lenin's Testament critizing Stalin and his followers. It was great shock for Party members, some of them had heart strokes, other such as leader of Polish Communist Party Bolesław Bierut commited suicide. Audience reacted with applause or laughter in some parts. Mao Zedong, leader of China People's Republic and Enver Hoxha, leader of Albania condemned Khrushchev as revisionist and broke links with Soviet Union.

New era in Soviet Union brought more socially liberal politics. Opposed to Stalin Khrushchev revoked his laws about homosexuality, abortion which became legal once again, liberalized divorce laws and embranced Marxist feminism, just like in old Soviet years.
 
Go to church, confess your sins, do not listen godless reds and their feminism! - slogan used by American social conservative activists.
 
Khrushchev Thaw

Year of 1950 was year of shocking events, revolutions and crisises. All began on 28th February when Khrushchev announced process of de-Stalinization in all Eastern Bloc (it was later refused by Albania and Chinese People Republic) and liberalization of social politics which caused major outrage in social conservative countries in Eastern and Western Bloc. Legalization of divorce was accepted surprisingly quickly (embranced in Hungary on 14th March and Bulgaria on 1st April) but legalization of homosexuality was another issue which was strongly opposed by minor leaders in Cominform. Hungarian Communist Party refused to accept that, in Bulgaria laws passed with one vote more and in Romania it was fully rejected. Despite new law Bulgarians were strongly opposed to homosexuals and it was recognized as acceptable more than ten years later. In Romania law was embranced in 1965 and in Hungary on 1961.

Another issue were foreign relations - in United States conservative organizations condemned feminism, homosexuals and divorces as communism and strongly opposed civil rights movement. At the same time many Jews who were fleeing from Germany during or after World War II settled in Southern states where they soon became active in civil rights movements which stated that all Americans should be free under federal law - ven before was Julius Rosenwald established many primary or secondary schools for African-Americans. Four years later Supreme Court stated that segregation in public schools is unconstitutional and forced all schools to enact integration. Despite their best wishes in Montgomery, Alabama 23 black children were forced out from school by local teachers. One of them eight years old John Perry was beaten by another student when he refused leave classroom. As response his father - veteran of World War II Second Leutenant Thomas Perry with other parents attended to local school and demanded integration of classes but were denied to do so. Few days later on 8 November 1954 Charlotte Newinsky (white supporter of this group) and Tom's wife Lilly Perry were killed by white anti-black activists who tried to force reenactment of segregation in education. Case gained worldwide interest as Northern press in United States called this as murder and Soviet Union called this as example of racism and inequality in Western countries. Nikita Khrushchev announced that he supports Civil Rights Movement as voice of discriminated worker in imperialist country. This caused another reaction when many civil rights activists were jailed in Southern states and their leader sentenced to ten years in prison. In next year (1955) Perry and several others angry Black Americans created Black Militia as mean of defence against white supremacist reaction. Supported by many people it embranced Pery's Statement that militias forces serve only when African Americans are attacked staying as defensive force. Despite that newly elected George Wallace ordered National Guard to crush "communist plot" and sent them to fight against Black Militias. Once again South was battlefield between conservatives and liberals.
 
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