January 1922
Tensions rise in Russia – forces are built up. Secretly the Soviet are preparing uprisings and attcks to take control of Petrograd and Moscow. They view the recent famine as inability of teh Government to effectively rule the Country.
Commonwealth Nations increase military strength - its only a small expansion overall, but its a sign that they are thinking to get a bit more independent from London...
February 1922
Egypt gains nominal independence from UK, but in reality UK dictates security policy and retains the Suez Canal Zone.
March 1922
In a surprise strike the Red Army attacks Moscow with a 3-1 advantage. The three pronged Attack (troops from Kazan, Belarus and Kiev) manages to destroy a Cossack Army (Kerensky loyal troops) – hastily assembled – with only a few own losses. The advancing Red Army is met with stiff resistance when they try to enter the city itself. At the end of March most of Moscow is secured by the Red Army. Except for a few pockets of resistance.
April 1922
After a battle that lasted almost a month Soviet Forces secure Moscow thus consolidating their holdings. They declare Monarchy is abolished in Russia and demand the surrender of all White and Czarist Forces.
On April 1st Emperor Charles of Austria dies of pneumonia. As Otto is only 10 years old there is demand for a regent. Two men are in discussion Archduke Maximilian, Karls brother, and Archduke Eugen the Commander of the Austrian Hungarian Army.
On April 15th the Hungarian parliament votes (to declare total independence and formation of the Hungarian republic. This would be effective by July 1st and the government is authorized to take up negotiations to peacefully dissolve the Austrian Hungarian Monarchy.
At the next day the Austrian parliament meets and after a long discussion (lasting well into the morning of the next day), votes to accept the Hungarian vote and authorises the government also for negotiation with Hungary.
The Habsburgs proclaim that they will not accept this and order the military to occupy the Parliaments. In Hungary this is ignored while in Vienna the military occupies the parliament. The members of the parliament are denied access to the Parliament building.
May 1922
On May 1st Red Army Elements are attacking Petrograd. The surprise attack succeeds only partly. Losses are light, but despite the killing of many Russian Army Officers by the end of the day resistance is forming. The Red Army also underestimated the number of Russian troops in and around the city. “Minister of War” Trotzky is attacked by the Faction of Steel.
All of the Czech and some other Members of the Austrian parliament have relocated to Prague. On May 1st the Czech Republic is declared (Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia) independent but “friendly” from Austria. Army commanders in and around Prague declare that they are friendly/neutral to the new state. The Austrian MPs (from all the other provinces from Cisleithania) that are also in Prague declare a government “in exile”.
Within a few weeks more Austrian MPs will join this parliament/government in exile.
The Czech and “Austrian – exile” start negotiations about the future border and relations.
The first thing decided is that “German” speaking people in the Czech Republic will have an autonomus status. The border will be drawn a bit north of the OTL border, but not significantly (some towns stay with Austria). The Czech Republic and “Austria” sign a defensive pact – directed against Italy there newspapers demand an intervention and the annexation of Tirol, Trieste (with Goricia and Istria) and Dalmatia.
Habsburg emissaries go first to Berlin and Rome, and to a lesser extent to the other European Capitals. In Rome the Italian foreign minister offers (secretly) military support to oppress the uprisings in exchange for South Tirol, Trieste and Dalmatia. For now the Habsburgs are not desparate to accept. In Berlin the Kaiser and government are reluctant to be drawn in an internal conflict – as they see it. But they offer that the German speaking Part of AH might join the Reich as a “kingdom”. Berlin thinks that A-H is a powder keg soon to explode and only fragmentation can prevent a new war. They also think that they can get the goodwill of the new states, so NOT losing their military potential, but getting rid of the problems with nationalism. They suggest that Galicia is added to the new Polish state (the Polish government has already been lobbying for this in Berlin for the last few years. German has not decided what to plan fo Istria (Görz is seen as “German”), Dalmatia and Slovenia. But those are seen as assets (a naval base in the Med).
UK has not decided what to do – or even what it wants….
In Paris Czech exiles (and former Legionaries of Czech descent) successfully lobby with the French government. France declares that it recognizes the Hungarian state and the Czech republic.
to be continued...
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Ideas how the events continue are welcome...