Six-Months War; Take 3

Ireland- Better Dead Than Red
Dublin, Ireland, 1938

With rising anti-Communist fervor spreading throughout Western Europe, Irish President Alan Wallace deemed it nescessary for the Irish government to deport all Irishmen associated with the Communist party, to Soviet Russia. Hundreds of Irish citizens found themselves unwillingly sitting on plane en route to either Moscow, or St. Petersburg. While communism in Ireland is not supported by a majority of the population, Wallace's strong demands have left many Irish citizens in shock at the brutality the Wallace administration has thus shown. Small scale riots have occurred in Dublin, Cork and Drogheda, with anti-Wallace sentiment growing, over Wallace's anti-Communism sentiment.

Thus far, Soviet officials have taken care of their new Irish comrades, many of who had trouble initially establishing a new life in the Soviet Republic.
(-2 Irish MP, -1 Irish Stability, +2 Soviet MP)

The 3rd Constitutional Era
Constantinople, The Ottoman Empire, 1938

Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, Ottoman Nationalist (some may even say fascist), and confidante of Mehmed V has finally succeeded in achieving the massive government overhaul he has been attempting to push on the Sultan-turned-Emperor since he earned his high-ranking position in the early 30's. The Ottoman Empire has long been thought of as the last remnant of an old era. But with Ataturk's changes, this reputation hopefully will soon change.

Among the most startling of his list of changes was the establishment of an Imperial Ottoman Parliament, a governing body of elected officials meant to steer the internal legislation of the empire, rather than officials Mehmed appoints. The head position in this body, the High Chancellor, is to be Ataturk's, essentially placing him as the direct subordinate to Mehmed. His actual office powers are relatively unknown, as of yet. One thing is for certain; Mehmed retains the power over extra-national affairs, with the descisions of trade and war remaining in his hands.


Ataturk watching the Ottoman Airforce train

Though Ataturk has just taken his office, he has immediatley began working, passing laws creating the Administrations of both Communication, and Education Oversight. The Administration of Communication has full organizational and operational control of the Imperial Broadcasting Company, as the Administration of Education Oversight has complete control of the national curriculum for all students in the Empire, with Ataturk's approval of course. Among the first changes the Administration of Education has made in regards approved curriculum is a re-focusing on Western art, and culture, as students are encouraged to begin dressing in a more European manner. Not only that, little actual discussion of the history of the Ottoman's domain, and ethnic groups (I.e, Jews, Arabs, Armenians) are given any major mention in the curriculum. Rather, the history of the Ottoman Empire as a whole is to be discussed.

This of course has sparked a lot of anger in small secularized communities throughout the Empire. Some protests even turned violent in the province of Iraq, but increased Ottoman military activity, and training in the area has been enough of an encouragement for some of the hotter heads to cool off.

(-1 Ottoman Stability)

The Dakar-Constantinople Railroad Begins Construction
Dakar, Senegal, The Kingdom of Italy, 1938

Following the German concept of transcontinental railroads, Italy began constructing its very own railway, stretching all the way from Seneral, across all of North Africa, into the Levant, and up to Constantinople. Aided by the Ottoman and Spanish governments, the first spike was nailed in outside of Dakar in sengal, with the Ottoman's starting outside of Constantinople. The Dakar workers managed to make it all the way to the Spanish Moroccan town, El Aaiun. It's expected the Atlas Mountains may pose a challenge to the project, and it may take a year longer then expected to finish the endeavor. The railroad heading from Constantinople managed to reach Aleppo.

The two ends are expected to meet in Western Libya in 1941, or 1942.

Red Rebels in Persia
Torkeman, Persia, 1938

The Persian education system has began to demonize Communism this year, ironically coinciding with Persian communists gaining considerable support in the northern regions of the nation. Persian communist groups began appearing en masse in the area around Torkeman, and several smaller groups began appearing in the Causcaus region. A police crackdown on Communist activity has led many Persians, armed with Great War-era weapons to actively fire upon Persian police, and military forces. Few have been killed thus far, though the blatant disregard for Persian law is threatening to grow into full-scale rebellion if the situation isn't handled quickly, and effeciently. For now the rebels are few in numbers, and relatively weak.

(-10 Persian MP, -1 Persian Stability)

Operation: Floodgate
Amsterdam, The Occupied State of the Netherlands, 1938

Dutch citizens were awoken early in the morning of June 4th, to the sound of air sirens. French and Belgian Napoleon T13 Bombers, and Bordeaux fighters flooded the skies, bombing railways and ports indiscriminently. Before the Dutch airforce, or even military in general had time to react to the lightening strike, a majority of the Dutch airforce's planes were destroyed as they lay unmanned in the runway. The bombing didn't cease until roughly late afternoon, though only due to the need for refueling and resupplying.

In the midst of the bombing attacks, the France and Belgian spearhead into the Netherlands was made by late morning. The French 1st and 2nd Corp attacked, with French Warkers spearheading the assault, supported by a massive joint Franco-Belgian army. The troopers made quick work of the scattered Dutch defenders, and managed to capture the whole of Zealand before the day was over. The Rhine-Meuse-Scheldt delta pose the only real trouble to the Franco-Belgian advance, as Dutch troops struggled to mobilize to fight off the invaders. The only real casualties the French experienced occured early in the morning of June 5th, as Dutch forces managed to hold the French divisions on the other side of the Delta, for the better part of two hours, allowing for Dutch residents in the area to retreat towards Amsterdam. However, the Dutch defenders were broken when the iron fist of the French Napoleon bombers came crashing down on their hastily assembled fortifications.

As the French managed to make it over the Delta, and push further inland, the 3rd Corp managed to land a few thousand men to the north, as the French navy seized Dutch ports. The Dutch army attempted to stall the advance of the 3rd corp, but found itself outgunned, and surrended by night. By daybreak Amsterdam was being bombed, with parts of the 2nd corp advancing to within 20 miles of the city. Realizing his hopless situation, the Dutch Prime Minister Pieter Cort van der Linden called for all Dutch units to cease-fire with the French units, as he and a delegation met French general Henri Geruard, to discuss peace terms with his conquorers.


French troops walk through the ruins of Rotterdam

Meanwhile, a small contigent of troops, and ships, along with the Dutch Queen Wilhelmina retreated to Aruba, protected by several thousand miles of sea, and the United States navy.

All Dutch forces in the Netherlands, in an act of defiance, destroyed their weapons, and attempted to destroy their ships, and planes, before the French occupation forces managed to stop them. Despite this, the French did manage to capture a few ships from the Dutch navy, which were quickly re-armed, manned, and re-routed to the Pacific Theatre of the war. Though der Linden called for all Dutch troops, including colonial, to stop fighting, a large amount continued the war on in the East Indies.

The true reason for the war is vague to many. Increased French and Belgian cooperation in the last few years has led to an almost unbreakable bond between the two nations. Apparently, several paramilitaries were seen firing upon Belgian support trucks that were getting too close to the border. Riddled with reports of a German invasion of the Netherlands, in preperation for an invasion of France through the lowlands, many French saw an invasion as nescessary, not only to punish the Dutch for firing on their Belgian friends, but also to protect French interests as a whole.

(-2 French Divisions, -1 French Destroyer, -13 French Bordeaux 37' Fighters, -5 French Napoleon T13 Bombers, -9 French M-2 Congressional Warkers, -2 Conquistador Warkers)
(-1 Belgian Division, -4 Belgian Bordeaux 28' Fighters, -14 Belgian Congressional M-2 Warkers)
(-7 Dutch Divisions, -97 Dutch Bordeaux 28', -81 Hindenburg 29' Dutch Light Warkers, -1 Dutch Dreadnought, -2 Dutch Destroyers, -81 Dutch MP)
(+1 French Airforce Experience, +4 French Cruisers, +1 Belgian Cruiser, +3 French Destroyers, +1 French Submarine, + Occupied Netherlands)

Operation: Eastward Harvest
Jakarta, French Indonesia, 1938

Despite pleas from der Linden, the Colonial forces in the Dutch East Indies remained armed and ready, for the expected French and Spanish invasion force. By August, 1938, a massive French fleet landed several divisions off the coast of Northern Sumatra, as French fighters, and bombers struck the Dutch forces from Borneo, and Malaysia. The French forces trecked south, with major airsupport knocking most Dutch resistance out of the equation. Any majorally entrenched Dutch force was simply ignored, with the French army instead by-passing them, instead of taking heavy casualties. Their main goal was the Dutch colonial capital of the East Indies, at Jakarta. As the French IV Corp rolled down the coast, they began encountering more and more Dutch resistance. Eventually, the French IV stumbled upon a ring of hastily set up defenses around Jakarta.

The Battle of Jakarta


(-2 French Divisions, -17 French Bordeaux 37', -9 French Napoleon T13 Bombers, -21 French M-2 Warkers, -1 French “Conquistador” Warker)
(-3 Dutch Divisions, -31 Dutch Bordeaux 28', -13 Dutch Xiaolong X-2 Bombers, -32 Hindenburg 29' Warkers, -19 Dutch MP)

After the fall of the capital, however, all hope was lost, for the Dutch defenders. The Dutch fleet, stationed at Jakarta managed to escape destruction, however, and take several hundred civillians with it. Small skirmishes with French and Spanish ships around the Sunda straits left it in a weakened state, as the presence of a Japanese military fleet on the hunt was enough for the Dutch to realize that all hope was lost. Carrying it's limited refugees to Perth, the Dutch naval presence in the East Indies flickered and died, along with most other Dutch resistance throughout the isles.

Japan pre-emptively struck Dutch forces in Borneo, and after intense fighting throughout the jungle brush, Japan came out on top, as many Dutch defenders simply surrendered. Spanish ships dodged in and out of Flores Sea, landing troops unnopposed throughout the island chain, eventually reaching, and capturing New Guinea.

By September 30th, the whole of the East Indies was owned, and controlled by the Empires of France, Spain and Japan. While the Dutch defense was heroic, it was futile to say the least.

(-1 French Division, -6 French Bordeaux 37', -3 French Napoleon T13 Bombers, -11 French M-2 Warkers, -3 French “Conquistador” Warkers, -1 French Destroyer)
(-2 Spanish Divisions, -13 Spanish Bordeaux 37', -2 French Napoleon T13 Bombers, -16 Spanish M-2 Warkers, -1 Spanish “Conquistador” Warkers, -1 Spanish Destroyer)
(-1 Japanese Division, -3 Showa Hikoki Warkers, -2 Mistubishi IS3M)
(-7 Dutch Divisions, -48 Dutch Bordeaux 28', -20 Xiaolong H-2, -48 Dutch Hindenburg 29' Light Warks, -180 Dutch MP, -1 Dutch Destroyer, -2 Dutch Cruisers,)

The Chinese Civil War
Beijing, The Chinese Empire, 1938

The Chinese Civil War continues to rage on in Asia. With recent successes in the East Indies, a Spanish fleet appeared off the coast of Hainan Island, and landed with 20,000 soldiers, and a small contigent of Warkers. The Chinese Red Rebels on the island rebelled against the Europeans, but the Spanish, aided by as many Imperial Chinese troops managed to put a majority of the rebellion down.

Meanwhile, in the North, Red Chinese soldiers swept through Manchuria pushing aside token Imperial resistance. As the People's Army reached the outskirts of Beijing, they began facing more and more Imperial forces, utilizing German, Italian and Spanish weaponry, supported by Hindenburg 29's began cutting down the People's Armies forces. Before long, the entire massive advance of the People's Army was halted, miles from Beijing. Imperial forces in the area had grown to numerous, and too well equitped, for the half-starving, Soviet equipped People's Army. The Aleyskan airforce stopped in to aid the Imperial Chinese Army, hitting raillines and supply depots held by the People's Army.

In the Western Theatre, a similar scene eventually developed, with massive imperial counter attacks, cutting back the People's Army's Lop Nuur Saliant to it's smallest size in 3 years. However, the Imperial Army fought hard for every mile, and as the casualties began to mount, they had to call off all offensives by late summer. Meanwhile, in the south of the nation, by the Siam border, large rebel groups began moving against the Imperial Chinese government outright. With most resources up north, fighting the People's Army's advances, the Southern Chinese Communists enjoyed free reign for the better part of the year.


Imperial soldiers man a machine-gun post

Despite local support, counter Imperialst insurgency countinues to grip land's administated by the People's Army. Supply lines throughout Manchuria have been raided, and spy's are believed to be everywhere. A similar scene is developing in Xingjiang, and Xiazang for the Imperialists. As German and Spanish military advisors poor into direct Imperialist troops, and German weaponry continues to spread throughout the Imperial army, it becomes increasingly clear that the tide of the war doesn't quite favor the People's Army as much this year, as it did the last.

The one benefit the People's Army may see in the coming months, or even years, is an increased agricultural base, and with the conquest of Manchuria, and industrial one as well.

(People's Army: -30 Divisions, - 70 Rabotnik Warkers, -40 Hindenburg Light Warkers, -49 Bordeaux 19', -13 Bordeaux 28', -21 IS1M, -10 Xiaolong H-1, -3 Xiaolong H-2)
(Imperial Chinese: -37 Divisions, -50 Hindenburg 29' Warkers, -32 Bordeaux 19', -13 Bordeaux 28', -7 Xiaolong X-1, -4 Xiaolong H-2)
(Aleyska: -12 Bordeaux 19', -3 Kyoto 32' Bombers)

(+1 Imperial Chinese Army Experience, +1 People's Army Experience, +1 Alesykan Airforce Experience, -689 Imperial Chinese Manpower, -312 People's Army Manpower, +400 People's Army Manpower, +1 People's Army Economic Point, -1 Alesykan Stability)

Alesyka Grows
Sitka, Respubliki Alesyka, 1938

Alesykan President Sergey Suzsdal began a massive internal overhaul of Aleyskan industry this year with rail-road lines to the interior of the arctic nation being built, along with increased oil drilling in the barren wastes to the far north. Increased exportation of oil, along with various other mineral resources was a direct result of the internal building project. The signing of the “North Pacific Economic Prosperity Agreement”, between the Aleyska, and Japan brought in twice as much expected income to the republic then expected.

With the signing of the NPEPA, Japanese planes, and military advisors were sent to the young republic, with Suzdal decidingly leading towards the Japanese side in the Japanese-American Cold War, causing a lot of tenson between Aleyska and it's southern neighbors, Canada and America.
(+1 Japanese Economic Pont, +2 Aleyskan Economic Points, +1 Alesykan Stability)

The War of the Andes
Quito, Ecuador, 1938

This year, as tension continued to rise in South America between the signers of the San Clemente Treaty, and the other South American nations. Several military excercizes in Venezuela, Agentina, and Suriname by their respective armies really set the tone in diplomatic affairs, as summer turned to fall. As South America began entering the winter month of June, the tension in the room finally seemed to explode, figuratively, and literally.

The Andean Republic's army, apparently acting on Bolivian leaked radio transmissions about the possible seizure of Arica, in the midst of the night attacked several Bolivian border regions. By the morning, the whole of the Andean military seemed to be in motion, moving inland, and down the Mamore river. Bolivian resistance eventually stiffened by the third day of the invasion, to the point that Great War-style Trench Warfare began appearing, as a defensive line from the Bolivian town of Ignacio, to Trinadad appeared.

Within a day of the invasion, small armed groups of Ecuadorian soldiers began appearing in Andean territory. Many Andean citizens, angered, assaulted the group, but they all retreated, with no casualties back to the north. Two days after the declaration of war against Bolivia, the Andean government declared war on Ecuador. The Andean airforce, and army, already stretched from it's attacks on Bolivia found themselves relatively unprepared for the conflict, with the Ecuadorian airforce strafing small supply lines that the Andean militia that gathered in the north of the country relied upon. The Ecuadorian military managed to sack several small northern towns before any major Andean force could be pulled from the Bolivian front to counter-attack. Colombia however, quickly lent support to the Andean cause, unleashing it's military on the now-outnumbered Ecuadorians.

The Andean navy, working with the Colombian navy set about ravaging the Ecuadorian coast, which was defenseless. The Galapagos islands were secured by a force of 5 Colombian destroyers. Within a week, the capital of Ecuador, Quito fell to the Colombian army. But, by this point, the Ecuadorian military, wildly unprepared for a war, let alone a two front war seemingly disentegrated. The rest of the nation fell to Colombian arms, with limited support from the already busy Andean military.


An Andean officer looks on at Bolivian defenses, on the front.

The Bolivians used the distraction of the Ecuadorian affair to it's advantage, seizing several Andean villages around Lake Titicaca. However, both nation's militaries soon found themselves in a deadlock. Great War styled defensive tactics ensured neither side got the advantage in the conflict, as the Andean mountains, and Bolivian rainforest remained Bolivian's greatest defense to the south. Yet the increased amount of Showa Hikoki M3 Warkers, and IS3M fighters have begun to curve the war's advantage in Andean favor. The only thing the Bolivian's have at this point seems to be basic infantry numbers, and a fanatic population.

(Colombia: -1 Division, -11 Showa Hikoki)
(Andean Republic: -2 Divisions, -23 Showa Hikoki M3, -27 Bordeaux 19', -4 Xiaolong H-2, -7 IS3M Fighters, -17 Manpower)
(Bolivia: -3 Divisions, -21 Hindenburg Light Warkers, -39 Bordeaux 19', -7 Xiaolong H-1, -23 Manpower, -1 Economic Point)
(-Ecuador)

The Third War Between The States
Richmond, The Confederate States of America, 1938

Almost in unison with the French and Belgian invasion of the Netherlands, the Confederate States of America launched an un-provoked attack against the United States of America, thrusting the two nations into their third war, in under a hundred years. The Confederate States, led by the charismatic John Kinson, veteran of the Great War, ordered an all out attack on the United States, on June 8th, 1938.

Confederate armoured columns crossed the Arkansas river, and poured into southern Nebraska, over taking several small villages. American militia attempted to unite, and fire upon the Confederates, but the “Dixies” rolled on, eventually taking Topeka, and moved north towards Lancaster, which soon fell. Eventually it became evident that the city of Omaha was it's goal. The American tank corp also began heading towards the State capital, to face off with the Confederates.

Not willing to face the heavy American warkers head-on, the Confederate Warker commander, Howard Raymond, ordered his tanks to pull back, towards Topeka. The American warkers pursued, across the plains, but couldn't keep pace with the much faster Confederate light, and medium warkers. Assuming the Confederate's were simply retreating, the American's pushed further and further south, attempting to break the Confederate center. However, they eventually realized that while the Confederate center retreated south, it's flanks extended, and moved around the American force, essentially surrounding it. The American's, without any infantry support, and with limited air support, attempted to fight their way out of the Confederate trap.

The Battle of the Plains


(The Confederate States: -1 Division, -111 “Dixie” Forrest Warkers, -94 Showa Hikoki Warkers, -103 Bordeaux 28', -24 Kyoto 32')
(The United States: -1 Division, -159 “Grizzly” Warkers Mod III, -89 Taylor Warkers, -74 Sioux 35')

Within three weeks of the first Confederate Warkers crossing the Arkansas river, the American Warker corp was in shambles.

In the East, the Confederate armies also attempted to push north, into Maryland, with the goal of surrounding Washington, and forcing the American's to surrender. However, with the considerable losses of Bordeaux 28's, in Nebraska, the Confederate advance didn't make it too far, before it began to receive night and day air attacks, shaking morale, and causing havoc behind Confederate lines. Yet, a majority of Eastern Maryland soon found itself under the control of the Confederates. American counter-attacks were non-existant, with American divisions attempting to keep the Confederate's outside of Pennsylvania. Which it did successfully, however, Confederate advances into West Virginia were met with little resistance.

Several Confederate Divisions, aided by “Dixie” Warkers also began heading west, into New Mexico, drumming up local anti-American sentiment in the state. A majority of the American military stayed in California however, and essentially allowed the Confederates to sweep through the desert. Sorties by local Philadelphia v3's, and Sioux 35's kept the Confederates in check, however.

The American navy, however was something else entirely. Stationed throughout the Carribean, it faced little actual opposition. Several Conferate destroyers spotted by an American flottila were destroyed off the cost of Florida. The only real opposition the Confederate's could put up was it's small group of Submarines. But with an American force over 5 time's it's size, their was little the Confederate submarine fleet could do. Shipping off of Cuba was harrassed, along with smaller American military craft. The biggest victory the Confederate's managed to get was the sinking of an American-California class, leaving Guantanamo Bay one early morning. Aside from that however, the American's were free to hit the Confederate coast as they wish.

And so they did. The coast of Virginia was thoroughly ravaged by both the navy, and the airforce within days of the initial fighting. The ports of Savanah, Tampa Bay, Corpus Christi, Charleston and Miami were all taken by the United States Marine Corp, as the United States Warker Corp was being beaten in Nebraska. New Orleans managed to hold out against several American attacks, however. The Confederate government, fully expecting the coast to be in American hands by the end of the year, however, suggested that all the local populaces move further inland, to escape the wrath of the “Yankees”. This exodus left Charleston, Tampa Bay, and Miami, as ghost towns.
Air attacks on other major Confederate cities also proved that the American military may of been suprised, but not beaten. In August alone, Richmond experienced 36 raids by the American airforce. Major cities, like Louisville, Nashville, Oklahoma City, and Atlanta all experienced at least a raid a week until the end of the year. And the Confederate airforce, almost completely destroyed by the end of the year, had little to do, but get sent into the grinder.

The only real advantage the Confederate's had was it's impressive army, victorious on almost all fronts.

(The United States: -27 Divisions, -97 Grizzly Mod III Warkers, -64 Taylor Warkers, -128 Sioux 35's, -14 Philadelphia v3, -1 California-Class, -2 Destroyers, -139 Manpower, -4 Economic Power)
(The Confederate States: -19 Divisions, -104 “Dixie” Forrest Warkers, -112 Showa-Hikoki, 164 Bordeaux 28', -36 Kyoto 32', -11 Destroyers, -6 Submarines, -121 Manpower, -4 Economic Power)

The Mediterreanean Crisis
The Suez Canal, The German Empire, 1938

This year several Mediterreanean (and Adriatic) nations, Spain, France, Italy, the Ottoman Empire, the Kingdom of Czechs and Slavs, The Kingdom of Greece, along with the Dominions of Albania, Montenegro and Egypt all met in Rome to discuss trade as a whole, a mutual defense, in terms of trade, with one another. After weeks of discussion, this Mediterreanean Prosperity League soon presented the world with it's descision that no nation aside from the ones in the MPL be allowed to have any battle-ships in the Mediterreanean.

England and Germany immediatley protested. England still owned Cyprus and Matla, while Germany owned half of the Suez Canal. A majority of English and German merchants, from the Pacific and the Indian ocean began travelling around the tip of Africa, out of protest to the “fascist policing” of the Mediterreanean. The German navy also remained enforced in the Suez area.

As tensions with the British and German's rose, the MPL Italian and Ottoman members reconsidering their stance. However, as December came, and 1938 came to a close, no real agreement had been reached. With the fighting in Holland, this Mediterreanean Crisis is hardly the only thing pushing the two power-blocks to war.

The Anti-Communist League
Milan, The Kingdom of Italy, 1938

As the MPL was meeting just a short distance away in Rome, another, even larger multi-national convention was being held in Milan. The Anti-Communist League was formed earlier this year, by Italian and Japanese diplomats, in response to the Russian annexation of the Ukraine, and of course the Chinese Civil War. The convention was tense, to say the least. The German representatives openly debated angerly with the Spanish, French and Japanese diplomats, while the Italian diplomats attempted to play peace keeper.

Debates over containment policy, and how to actually go about handling the Chinese Civil War led to very little actually being done, to forment any sort of unity between the nations. Spain and Aleyska seemed to be the only nations full-heartedly supporting Chinese Monarchy, while most nations bickered as to wether or not they should. As the Mediterreanean crisis erupted, the German and British representative's left the League's Hall in furious protest.

The Soviet Union of Russia and Ukraine
Kiev, The Soviet Union of Russia and Ukraine, 1938

Despite German protests, the Soviet Republic of Russia annexed it's satallite this year, as Ukrainian minister Mikhail Tombav had been hoping for. The Soviet Republic of the Ukraine had been plagued by economic issues, and military weakness. With a large pro-Russian support base, much of the population felt more akin to it's northern neighbor, then to it's own government. With tensions growing with the German power-block to the West, the Ukranian people eagerly awaited Russian annexation. Rejecting annexation pleas in 1929, and 1932, Soviet Russia finally accepted the fledgling state this February. Russia now bordered Germany for the first time since the Great War.
Russian warkers, and divisions moved into Western Ukraine, for fear of German reprisal. Yet none came. As the summer wore on, not a single German plane was seen flying in the distance. As the Mediterreanean Crisis, and the ensuing war in Holland over took the German people's interest, the Ukranian and Russian population began being one in the same, for the first time in 20 years.

(-The Soviet Republic of the Ukraine)

The Great Exodus
Vancouver, The Dominion of Canada, 1938

Since the loss of Quebec in the Great War, the focus of Canadian politics began shifting from it's East coast to it's west. All major ports and waterways were now seperated, or cut off from the Atlantic, becaue of Quebec, leading many to wonder the value of having such cities as Toronto. For the past several years, many thousands of Canadians began moving out west, to Vancouver, and Calgary, causing the size of the cities to double, and eventually almost triple. To show a shift has truly occured, the Canadian parliament has finally passed a vote, allowing for Vancouver to become the official capital of the dominion. While it may take several years for all the correct government buildings to be constructed, the hustling port city has been hard at work attempting to suit the needs of the Canadian government.

Britain had little say in the descision, with the Treaties of Boston, and Tokyo more or less barring it from its Dominion.

The Treaty of Trondheim
Stockholm, Sweden, 1938

Years after it's nationalistic, yet immoral “War of Scandinavian” unification, Sweden has finally come to be forgiven by it's Danish and Norweigen cousins. The wars broke out in the midst of the Great War, as an attempt to by Sweden to control all of Scandinavia, and unite the various nations of the peninsula. However, after a year of fighting against Denmark, and Norway's entry into the war, it became clear that Sweden was very much alone in it's hopes.

Yet that concept lived on. Scandinavian unity, need not be a bad thing, as many Norweigen's and Danes saw, once Sweden truly started becoming like a big brother to the two nations. Trade between the three, and political cooperation eventually caused Sweden to begin talks for a more defined alliance between the three. The Treaty of Trondheim was presented to the nations earlier this year, with Finland also being offered a chance to sign it. The Treaty itself was an economic, and defensive alliance, with a massive internal building project to boot. Norway and Denmark both signed, in the midst of the French invasion of the Netherland's earlier this year. This signing as signified the arrival of a new Europea power block- Scandinavia. While certainly not as strong as the German's, or the Italian's, Sweden has proven time and time again it is not content to be a minor power. With the added support of Denmark and Norway, it seems it doesn't have to be.

Finland's congress is still debating over the virtues of signing, an answer is expected to come this year.
(+1 Swedish EP)

Japan's Economy Expands
Santiago, The Andean Republic, 1938

Japan essentially controls much of the Pacific by sheer military might. However, this year, it has also expanded economic control of the massive ocean. Fearing it's lack of natural resources may be an issue should war with the United States come, Japan has been looking for other, markets, ones that aren't dominated by the United States. The Andean Republic, and Colombia being perfect choices. Japanese diplomats arrived in Santiago this August to meet with representatives from Colombia, and the Andean republic.

After much diplomatic fanfare, and a tour of the historic city, the diplomats finally got down to talking to the South American nation's about trade in the Pacific. The ensuing Japan-Andes-Columbian Trade Agreement seemed to fit the needs of all parties. The South American republics recieved capital, military technology, and new markets to sell their resources to, while Japan recieved a steady-non United State's approved supply of rubber, and oil.

Japan also sent diplomatics across the whole of the America's pacific coast, to the Republic of Aleyska, also securing oil trade rights for the Empire.
Japanese businesses quickly bought the rights to several of the trade resources, and have begun setting up shop in the Andean Republic, Colombia, and Aleyska.

(+1 Japanese EP, +1 Andean EP, +1 Colombian EP)

NPC DIPLOMACY

To: The Andean Republic
From: Bolivia
What are you doing? You have no proof of these “radio signals”! Get out of our nation!

To: The Andean Republic
From: Argentina
Remove your forces from Bolivia. NOW.

To: Colombia
From: Venezuela
Removed your forces from Ecuador. NOW.

To: France, Spain, Belgium, Japan
From: The Exiled Dutch Government
We will continue the war. And we are severing all diplomatic ties to you.

To: The German Empire, The British Empire and her Dominions, Ireland, Sweden, The United States of America
From: The Exiled Dutch Government
We were the victims of an imperialistic invasion. Holland has not seen a war since Napoleon, over a hundred years ago. Please, come to our aid, and bring your allies. We will continue the war from the Carribean. Even if that means complete destruction. We will not lay down our arms! Please join us in ridding the world of the fascist cancer.

To: The United States of America
From: Cuba, Nicaragua
We will be sending what limited support we can, with your approval, to help you against the Confederates.
MAP

BOOM!

Seems gentle foreplay has fallen out of fashion.

To Andes, the members of the Continental Defensive Treatise of South America
From Columbia

• In accordance with this pact
  

  CDTSA- The Continental Defensive Treatise of South America- a pact between all South American nations to the effect that, should one be attacked, all would lend aid, either monetary, moral, military or otherwise, to the attacked nation.

  Click to expand...

• and having observed Juan Disazo foreign-backed coup seize power from the people
• and having observed Juan Disazo's disdain for the will of the people regarding the Treaty of San Clemente
• and having observed Juan Disazo's continous rhetoric for miltiary action against the people's chosen representatives of the Andes nation
• and finally having witnessed a joint attack by Juan Disazo and his Ecuadorian mercenaries upon the Republic of the Andes

the Republica of Columbia regrettably must accept its responsibilities as a rational member of the world community, and declare WAR upon Bolivia.

May God have mercy upon our souls and bring speedy resolution to this violent crisis.


To Venezuela
From Columbia

Immediately. You can rest assured that we want nothing to do with war with the Ecuadorian people. Their government has sold itself to the Bolivians and their foreign masters and they have paid the price. We have no will to make the people themselves pay for the crimes of the few corrupt politicians that have deluded them.

Long Live The Soviet Republic of China! Long Live The March!

Woah, CSA, I did not expect that. What a great update! Excellent job, TLK. Did anything come of my economic development in Africa? I know it was kinda small so I guess it could take longer. Anyways...

EDIT: woops I forgot to chip in on the railway. Sorry, guys.

IC:

To: Spain, Japan
From: Third French Empire

We would like to congratulate our allies on the swift beating that was dealt to the communist harboring government of the Dutch Empire. Hi five.

supplimental:

To: Spain

How would you prefer to carve this turkey?

Henceforth is proclaimed throughout the international community under the guidance of High Chancellor Mustafa Ataturk, and under the leadership of Mehmed V, Emperor of the Ottomans, Ruler of the Eternal State, Supreme Authority of the Imperial State, and Protector of Qatar.

Diplomacy and other such responses to current ongoing insanity coming later.

From the USA
To Third French Empire

We expect your neutrality in the conflict between the USA and the CSA

From The USA
To The German Empire

Allies, we request your aid against the Confederate Menace

From: The United Kingdom
To: The Exiled Dutch Government

You are welcome to stay in English territory until your homeland is freed.

From: The United Kingdom
To: The German Empire, Ireland, Canada, Quebec, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand...

We must band together if the illness of fascism is to be erased from the face of earth! The nations of France and Spain may talk much about wanting peace, but their actions prove otherwise! Let us join in this trying time and let the light of freedom illuminate the whole world!

From: The United Kingdom
To: Italy and the Ottoman Empire

Cast your lot against the French and Spanish fascist regimes! It is obvious that their only wish is to burn the world until only cinders remain! You may believe that they will not do anything to you, but they will turn against you once you have outlived your usefulness for them! We implore you, break any treaties you have with France and Spain, it will be the only way you will be able to look yourself on a mirror again.

From: The United Kingdom
To: The Confederate States of America

What warranted this attack on your neighbour? There was no reason for doing it, but perhaps it is the madness coming from the French-Spanish Alliance that is pushing you to do it. Please, abandon these foolish plans and return to the path of the civilized nations.

From: The United Kingdom of Great Britain
To: France, Spain, Belgium and Portugal

Your hypocrisy knows no bounds. You talk about peace, yet war is the first thing in your mind. You call for a demilitarization of the Mediterranean Sea, but it is obviously a ploy to leave every other nation's shores defenceless and then attack with impunity. You attack a completely neutral nation that had done nothing to you without any actual reason. We are ashamed of having ever called you our allies.

We are really hoping that this is the result of the madness obviously suffered by a few of your people, but it is increasingly proven that this madness is slowly propagating to everyone else in your countries.

To the good people of France, of Spain, of Belgium, of Portugal, I ask: cast away your leaders! They may speak good words, but those words are like poisoned honey, sweet but fatal! The only path they know is the path of death and destruction, the path they will lead you through towards both things! Only a blind man wouldn't know that the recent acts of the leadership of your nations are amongst the most evil ones humanity has ever seen, and perhaps even him would realise it.

As a last thing, consider all diplomatic relationship the United Kingdom of Great Britain and the British Commonwealth has with the nations of France, Spain, Belgium and Portugal severed as of January 15th 1939 at 12 AM unless all French-Belgian troops abandon Netherlands territory before that moment.

To: The United States
From: The Third French Empire

So long as you remain neutral in our affairs we will respect your wishes, for the time being.

To: Britain
From: The Third French Empire

Your weakness sickens us.

To: The United Kingdom
From: The Dominions of New Zealand, Australia, Canada, South Africa, Nepal, Bhutan

Great Britain can obviously count on our support should a conflict come.

To: The United Kingdom
From: The Exiled Dutch Government

We whole-heartedly appreciate your support. Should the need come, we may re-locate to London, but for now, we will stay in Aruba.

OOC: Nice update, TLK.

IC: From: The German Empire
To: The Dutch Government and the World

Let it be known that the blatant imperialism shown by France and her allies in the unwarranted attack against the Netherlands is unacceptable to Germany. As a peace-loving nation, we will not stand by as our friends and neighbors are invaded by war-mongers. We pledge to see the Netherlands returned to the rightful rule of the Dutch government, and we call on all freedom-loving nations of the world to assist us in this cause.

To: France
From: The German Empire

If the Netherlands and its colonies are not returned to the Dutch government, consider there to be a state of war between our two nations.

To: The United States
From: Germany

We fear that with the fascists being dealt with in Europe there is not much we can do to aid you, but what can be done to assist you will.

To: World
From: Romania, The Czech Kingdom, The Kingdoms of Austria and Hungary, Estonia, Ruthenia
CC: Germany

We stand by our German allies.

To: France, Spain
From: Italy
Due to you're recent aggressions we hereby withdraw from the MPL.

To: France, Spain, Belgium, and Japan
From: Italy
We harshly condemn you're invasion of the peaceful nation of the Netherlands, we ask you to depart the country for peace's sake..Italy does not want the world to fall into a second world war..

To: The UK
From: Italy
We harshly condemn France's invasion of the Netherlands, we have broken the MPL.

To: The Ottoman Emire
From: Italy
We ask you withdraw from the MPL it is an aggressive treaty and we see it as null and void.

To German Empire, UK
From: Italy
We hereby nullify the Mediterranean Demilitrization treaty.

OOC: Great update!

Communisto said:

To: Britain
From: The Third French Empire

Your weakness sickens us.

Click to expand...

From: The United Kingdom of Great Britain
To: France

Our weakness sickens you? That's funny. We'd think that your warmonger ways would have already made you puke all the snails you have eaten lately. No normal person would be able to stomach such hypocrisy as yours.

Do not cast away this chance for peace.

From: The United Kingdom of Great Britain
To: The Dominions of New Zealand, Australia, Canada, South Africa, Nepal and Bhutan

We thank you for your support in this trying times.

From: The United Kingdom
To: The German Empire and its allies

We are glad you are taking up such a proactive role next to us against the evil in the world that is France.

From: The United Kingdom of Great Britain
To: Japan

We ask you that you immediately leave all territories belonging to the rightful government of the Dutch Empire, or it will be a break of diplomatic relationship with you. Should you decide to resume being an actually intelligent human being, we will happily resume said diplomatic relationship with you.

From: The United Kingdom
To: Italy

We are glad to see that you have broken your deals with the warmongering nations of France and Spain, and hope that the Ottoman Empire follows your steps.

The government of France hereby announces the founding of the SECOND FRENCH IMPERIUM. Belgium and her possessions in Africa are henceforth part of a single Fascist empire. We look forward to a thousand years of strength and unity. Long live the Imperium!


To: Germany
From: The French Imperium

We will not be bullied by you. Our actions in Holland were in retaliation against communist interference and violation of Belgian sovereignty. If you feel the need to go down the road of aggression we would be happy to oblige you.

To: Italy
From: France

Your betrayal is well noted. Your people have strength and want you to act accordingly. We have no intention of starting a new world war.

To: Britain
From: France

Nice sabre, does it do anything other than rattle? Leave us to our affairs and spare a second generation of British youth from experiencing death and humiliation.

To: France, Spain, Japan.
From: Italy
We would like to hear your reason for attacking the Dutch..

To: Italy
From: The French Imperium

Communist militants based in the Netherlands had been making several raids into Belgium in order to obtain weapons. A recent raid was intercepted by French soldiers and followed into Holland. The threat must be stopped at the source. Spain and Japan, as true allies and friends of the French and Belgian people, stepped up to assist us.

From The Japanese Empire
To The Kingdom of Italy

We grieve at the lives lost in this conflict between the Dutch and Japanese Empires, however we have clear evidence that the Dutch, along with the Communists of China, have been collaborating with each other to over throw the Japanese government and those of her protectorates. The Dutch have been actively funding communist rebelions within the Philippines, Indochina and Siam, in an attempt to violently attack our government. We have, for decades, attempted to maintain a peaceful co-existence between ourselves and the Dutch, and it is true that in the past this was possible. The Dutch government however, has left us with no choice. Faced with possible invasion and annihilation, what other option have we but to defend ourselves? While we understand your concern, the Japanese government cannot, without putting itself at great risk for invasion, return the Dutch colonies to her. They are hereby incorporated into the Japanese Empire.

To The United Kingdom

It is tragic that you must react so harshly and rashly to the defence of capitalism against communist. As we have stated previously, what may seem as an offensive invasion was simply a defensive measure to halt the insideous nature of the communist threat. The Dutch government has actively been working with the Chinese and Russian communists to subvert the leadership and government of not only the Empire of Japan, but Siam, Indochina and we believe, Australia. We urge you to look to your own dominions and root out the communist threat within them and pray that you are ever successful in your search. However we cannot, without putting our own nation at risk, return the Dutch colonies to them, for they would simply seek to do us harm again.

It is our greatest hope that you find it within your hearts to accept our reasons, for we pray that there will not be another Great War. The world has seen enough bloodshed for one century. Can we not simply live in peace?

To World
From Spain

We were presented with clear and irrefutable proof of communists activities on the part of the Dutch government. Spain will support it's allies France, Japan and Belgium. There will be not withdrawal from the Netherlands nor from Dutch Indonesia without ensuring that the communists there are thoroughly crushed.