Update 4: The Beginning and End of Hope
March 2nd, 1936 - April 1st, 1936
European News:
IRELAND & BORD NA NONA: Ireland is known for its plentiful peat supply, of which Ireland is one of the main exporters of this highly useful natural resource. It may be used as a type of fuel, and can be an alternative to coal. It is also used for fertilizer. This is why, the Turf Development Board, Limited (A peat company), was recently converted to a semi-state controlled industry. The state would tell them where to dig and harvest peat and also control several other major development projects. However, it will still be able to be left to the free market, in which it can function and profit like a normal company. However, several citizens and countries are concerned this might be something to appease Syndicalists. However, it seems unlikely, as the current Irish government currently cracks down on the illegal British Syndicalist Party of Ireland.
One of the many Peat Bogs in Ireland, to be harvested for Fuel
BLACK MONDAY HITS SPAIN: A month after the disastrous Black Monday Collapse of the Berlin Stock Market, Spain's economy has also been affected. After the Great War, in which Britain and France lost, Spain's economy had grown increasingly dependent Germany, and particularly exporting its products to Germany. Now however, demand has tumbled as the German economy has fell backwards and now stagnated. The new economic conditions were a fuel to the recent flames of revolutionary rebellions. See below for more details.
(Spain: +3% dissent, -1 IC)
SPANISH REBELLIONS: The recent downturn of the Spanish economy has caused more people to covert to both Syndicalism and the Carlists, who both promise ways to rebuild the economy. The Syndicalists of the CNT-FAI wish to organize the laid off workers of Spain to rescue the economy, which will include many unions. Some elements of the Spanish government wish to ban the CNT-FAI, while others wish to either imprison their leaders or even disband the group forcefully. Others wish to simply allow the Syndicalists to do what they wish. The Carlists had a different plan. Several speeches by the insurgent Carlist government stated that they would form an economic block with several Catholic nations, like Ireland and the Italian Federation.
Meanwhile, the Carlist rebellion in Oviedo is still continuing, even as the Carlist government has fled there. The city now resembles a battleground, a ruined city as desperate soldiers blow up buildings suspected to be hiding Carlists. About 25% of the citizens have fled the city, while the battle still rage in the city. The majority of the police forces have decided to fight no longer, confined only to their police headquarters for now. The majority of the fighting is now a sniper battle, as rubble piles onto the streets, restricting most movement. The Spanish suffered 30 casualties, while the Carlists suffered over 70. The civilian toll is still being estimated.
(Spain: +2% dissent)
Spanish Carlist Supporters Being Fired Upon in a Park
SWEDEN-DENMARK ALLIANCE: The new Treaty of Copenhagen was recently signed by the two Scandinavian countries, Denmark and Sweden. The deal was passed by both countries in their democratic parliaments, and it has now been put into effect. The deal consists of technological aid to one another, mutual assistance in case of foreign invasion, to unify and protect Scandinavia, and to promote its importance to the world. Sections of the treaty remain unattainable to those outside the government, but this treaty marks a new age for Scandinavia, and may usher in a new era of prosperity.
(-1% dissent for both nations)
UNION OF BRITAIN PASSES LEND-LEASE PROGRAM: As a response to the Commune of France's plea for help in the Second Great War, (Calling it that, due to lack of imagination) the Union of Britain recently approved a program known as Lend-Lease. This program is to lease, rent, sell, or otherwise dispose of defensive war materials to the Commune of France. These military units are still under the Union of Britain 'label', but are at the command of the Commune of France. The exact details are unknown to any non-Syndicalist country, but it is known that a significant portion of the British fleet and some aircraft have been sent to France. This program was welcomed in France, but condemned in Britain, for most government policy until now has been mostly isolationist, even with some cooperation with other Syndicalists.
(France: +Lend Lease units, -2% dissent
Britain: +2% dissent)
ITALY TO DEVELOP PONTINE MARSHES: After the Agricultural proposal had come to the desk of the Italian government, to clear the Pontine Marshes for the development of agriculture, it was approved by the Pope himself. The food will most likely boost the war effort. Currently, all the funding is in place. All the Italians need now is to wait for the development to finish, and pray it will finish as fast as possible. The Italian people have praised this decision, for it will also boost civilian supplies of food.
(Italian Federation: -1% dissent, Benefits to come)
FATHER COUGHLIN & MESSAGES OF HATE: There has been recent controversy over a Catholic priest gone astray of the Catholic Church in Rome. Father Charles Coughlin, which has broadcast his messages and sermons on CBS radio for some time, has been an extremely controversial figure over the past few years. He is an extreme anti-Semitic, claiming that Jews are the reason why Britain and France fell to Syndicalism, and states that they now control much of the world. Some elements of the Italian government wish for him to be shut down, while others say not to interfere. Even if Italy interferes, there is no guarantee he will be shut down, for his message is popular at home, and banning him would be a violation of free speech rights.
Father Coughlin Spreading Anti-Syndicalist messages on a Radio Broadcast
COMMUNE OF FRANCE & THE THIRD INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS: The International Congress is a Syndicalist forum for ideas and cooperation between governments, which has met since 1927. This shall be third International Congress since this meeting began. It was supposed to be held next to Montmartre Hill in Paris, where the Basilica of Sacre-Coeur, a Christian church, resides. However, there is now a problem facing France. Since the war started, it is unknown how the meeting may turn out or whether it is safe. Will France keep the meeting after May day, Cancel it, or even claim Syndicalism is a priority in France only?
Basilica of Sace-Coeur, Nearby the Meeting place of the Third International Congress
GERMAN INDUSTRIES NATIONALIZE DUE TO WAR: The German government announced at the beginning of March that industries related to the war effort, such as the munitions sector, shall as of now be nationalized and possibly expanded, due to the high demand of military goods. This is coupled with the secondary effects of reducing unemployment recently caused by Black Monday, as more Germans are to volunteer for the German armed forces and to work in war related industries. The German economy will appreciate the boost, but as of yet, it is too early for any real effects to take place.
(Germany: -1% dissent)
Spotlight: The Second Great War
This month is marked by huge battles in the West, and a continued stalemate in Italy. There are also huge naval battles, which have turned out surprising results.
FRANCO-ITALIAN FRONT: French strategy turned defensive this month, as the advance into Italy was halted as French forces were sent north in order to combat the German invasion. However, France had managed to fortify its positions in the Alps and around major Italian cities. Since the Italians also pursued a defensive strategy, they advanced only in minor tracts of land. Thus, this front has remained more or less static, with very few losses on either side, most casualties remain from artillery. Neither side had particularly imaginative leaders, nor initiative. They only followed orders to stay put. Whether this is from cautiousness, experience, or cowardice is unknown at this point. At this point, the French still have the advantage however.
ITALIAN-SICILIAN FRONT: This month, the Sicilians had introduced a new and extremely unpopular move, conscription. The severe lack of resources and manpower required the Sicilians to draft soldiers, both young and old. Some of these new soldiers were veterans, others were people barely in their 20s. Some were even as young as 14. However, the government had almost no war materials to arm these conscript divisions. The result was cannonfodder. These divisions were to hold defensive positions, and to spearhead any assault on fortresses. Both the Sicilians and the Italian/Austrian forces tried offensives. The Sicilians used artillery and counter-attacked several Italian offensives, and after a few weeks fighting, managed to capture the fortress of Monte Cassino. The Sicilians even managed to shell the outskirts of Rome before being pushed back into the Apennine Mountains. The Italians took a backseat to the Austrians. The Italians mainly supported the Austrians in all offensives, covered the flanks, and defended their territory. The Austrians advanced into southeastern Italy, but were kept in check by Sicilian ambushes and extreme bravery, almost suicidal. The Sicilian bombers managed to probe weak points in Austrian fighter cover and bombed several supply columns and infantry columns. The result was a massacre. More Austrians died of bomber attacks than infantry assaults. Nonetheless, the Austrians advanced. The front continues to be a constantly shifting battlefield, the gains of one side are matched by the losses of another.
(Casualties-
Italians: 3 infantry divisions
Austrians: 4 infantry divisions
Sicilians: 3 militia divisions, 1 conscript division, 1 infantry division)
Artillery on Both Sides Shelled Cassino, mostly by Accident
GERMAN-FRANCO FRONT: The Germans started the month with a huge offensive in France, trying to capture the port of Calais and the area surrounding it. They were successful in the first half of the month, managing to reach the outskirts of Calais and surrounding Dunkirk as well as capturing Amiens. However, they failed the critical task of encircling the entire region, due to fanatical French resistance in Le Havre. Extremely patriotic French civilian resistance was key. These groups sabotaged vital German supply depots, redirected German troop trains, and even blew up a German field HQ, although no senior officers were killed, thus providing critical delays to the German offensive.
However, German luck ran out as French forces from Italy finally arrived. The French again used the Foudre de Guerre tactic to great effect on German flanks. Now, there is a critical problem with German forces, as there is the 'Lille Corridor', or as the French put it, the 'Lille Gap'. Lille is the only major city still connecting the German forces in France with Belgium. Even worse, there are few German forces guarding Flanders-Wallonia, only a few Belgian divisions and Hungarians. The tide has turned for Germany, but it still holds the initiative, and even more important, the better military. The other Mitteleuropean forces were too weak and/or too late to affect the outcome of France this month.
(Casualties-
French: 3 infantry divisions, 3 motorized divisions
German: 7 infantry divisions
Hungary: 1 infantry division)
MEDITERRANEAN SEA: The engagements were overshadowed by the Atlantic, but do not discount this vital front. The Austrians were mostly passive, although their submarines were committed to sinking Sicilian shipping. This wasn't too problematic however, since there was very little Sicilian shipping in the Austrian zones of activity. The surface fleet bombarded the south Italian coastline, but to little military effect. The Italian and Sicilian navies met in a huge battle one mile out of Naples. The Italian fleet was actively seeking out the Sicilian ships, in order to end the naval battles once and for all. The Sicilians were doing likewise, although they also tried to sink Austrian ships. The Italians spotted the Sicilians first, and opened fire. However, their ships were at a slight misalignment, as the sun glared in their spotters' directions. The Sicilians returned fire. The result was the smoldering wreckage of both fleets, both decimated by naval fire. While the Sicilians were inferior, the conditions favored their side, as did new French naval armaments. The French were inactive in the Mediterranean, mostly guarding the southern coastline of France.
(Casualties-
Italy: 1 battleship, 2 escort groups
Sicily: 1 battleship, 1 light vessel group
Austria: 1 battleship)
ATLANTIC OCEAN: These engagements are the greatest since the Great War, only eclipsed in scale by Jutland. American and German fleets fought together against the combined fleets of Britain and France. The Americans were mainly using their navy either as a convoy for large merchant fleets, or to seek and destroy vastly smaller Syndicalist flotillas. The German fleet has taken almost complete control of the North Sea, for there was no British resistance there. Only the port of Scapa Flow still remains a threat. The French fleet was looking for a German invasion, which never came. However, the fleet did meet in engagements as will soon be shown. The British mostly patrolled their own waters, while sending part of their Lend-Lease ships to France for naval assistance.
Now, the first engagement was off the coast of Ireland, about two miles north of Dublin. Several British naval exercises were suddenly interrupted by several American light vessel groups, that somehow drifted off course on convoy duties. The British did the task they were supposed to do, gain naval experience, albeit it was to be forced upon them. The British actually opened fire first, thinking the Americans were more dummy ships. They realized this was not so, as they soon realized the ships were still moving after shelling. The battle was in favor of the British, who had training with basically the entire Home Fleet. The British had won this naval engagement.
Then, the biggest naval battle in the Atlantic happened, which is now known as the Battle of Brest. About three miles west of the French port of Brest, French and British ships were on their normal anti-invasion patrol. The Americans stumbled upon this fleet, which seemingly were smaller than their own. This was a grave error, the Syndicalist fleet was almost twice as large. The error is attributed to foggy weather, which the Americans got lost in. At the same time, a German fleet was cruising westwards towards the French fleet, trying to dominate the English Channel previously. The Syndicalist ships opened fire first, and ripped the Americans up, although about 2/3 of the shots were complete misses. The Germans managed to see the shots and retaliated. The Syndicalists were flanked by their opposing navies. Due to the foggy weather, Germans and Americans had to go extremely close to the Syndicalist ships. This would result in a tragedy, as the Germans mistook the Americans for British ships, and opened fire. This friendly fire incident was only stopped by repeated cries for help which were intercepted by German ships. The battle ended as the Americans and French disengaged, feeling losses were too high. The British and Germans continued to fire at eachother for another 2 hours afterwards, before disengaging due to lack of shells. The battle took a total of 10 hours altogether, from spotting to complete disengagement.
(Casualties-
British: 1 battleship, 1 light vessel group
French: 1 battleship, 1 escort group, 1 light vessel group
German: 2 battleships, 1 escort group, 1 light vessel group
American: 1 battleship, 2 light vessel groups
Unidentified German Cruiser Hit by Naval Shells
, I want the update
