Update 1: The Week That Changed the World
January 1st, 1936 - January 8th, 1936
Note: This is a special update, which spans only one week. Other updates shall span one month. Special updates are important events and do not have economic orders.
European News:
UNITED BALTIC DUCHY ANNOUNCES INDEPENDENCE: In a close vote, a national referendum for integration with Germany was defeated by 50% to 49% by a margin of only 6,000 votes. The proposal was spearheaded by recent German settlers, mostly residing in cities such as Riga. However, it was vehemently opposed by rural Latvians and Estonians who wanted to keep an independent state. The United Baltic Duchy had originally been carved out of gained Russian territory after the First World War. It was to be integrated into Germany, but there was general dissent to that decision in the Duchy itself. Currently, the government is to be led by an elected leaders, but needs approval from the German government. Some dissent has been simmering since the recent results.
(+2% dissent)
STRIKE WAVE HITS SPAIN: Spain's Syndicalist movement has been rapidly growing ever since Syndicalists took over the Commune of France in 1920. The movement's main party is the Anarcho-Syndicalist alliance known as CNT-FAI. They have announced major strikes around Spain to protest working conditions and wages. One of their main goals is to have workers have more say in the government, as a special interest group. However, this has been refused previously by the rightist government. Also, the Carlist movement has gained more support from the religious right and some worker unions. They have refused King Alfonso XIII's legitimacy due to a coup that put him in power. Many factories around Barcelona and Burgos have been closed due to the strikes, and dissent has been growing.
(-1 IC temporary, +3% dissent)
FINNISH-RUSSIAN TENSIONS: A minor firefight around the contested border of Finland and Russia wounded 3 Finnish border guards and 4 Russian soldiers, as well as a Finnish civilian. Finnish border guards fired upon Russian soldiers when they began firing at what appeared to be them. It appears that the Russian soldiers were drunk and off duty when this happened, and a firefight ensured. This incident has sparked controversy over the Finnish guards' actions, as well as lack of control over Russian soldiers. It is one of several recent border fights, which have begun to flare up tensions between the two nations.
PRESIDENT KERENSKY ASSASSINATED: Russian President Alexander Kerensky, leader since 1919, was assassinated today in Moscow by a lone gunman. Ever since Russia lost the First World War, the democratic government has been unpopular, for corruption and very bad economic policies. Recently, riots were nearly everywhere in Russia, and the government had little control even in St. Petersburg and Moscow. Now that Russia's leader has fallen, the coalition of the army and democratic government has fallen with him. The country now faces a leadership problem. Chief of Armed Forces, Marshall Denikin has been pressured to declare martial law and declare himself leader, while also dissolving the Duma. Petr Wrangel has also been pressured by fellow army officers to take over the state. The Aristocrat Senate has been thinking of instating Grand Duke Dmitri Romanov as President. Finally, the Leftists have recently gained enough Duma seats to declare their leader, Viktor Chernov, as president. All of these moves are extremely controversial, and it will be tough to decide who will become the leader of a now leaderless and fragmented Russia.
(- President Kerensky, +7% dissent, choose between Denikin, Wrangel, Romanov, or Chernov)
American News:
LARGE PROTESTS IN THE US: In a recent wave of strikes, the largest by far is one by the Ford Motor company in Detroit. These strikes have mostly been blamed by Syndicalists in the Midwest, led by Jack Reed, who is calling for better working conditions, more pay, and more government control over capitalist businesses. Jack Reed is also a presidential candidate in the 1936 US presidential elections in November. The recent strikes have been criticized by Michigan's state legislature as unpatriotic and adds to the headaches caused by the long economic downturn, ever since the USA supported the Entente.
(+3% dissent, -1 IC temporary)
BRAZILIAN SHIP EXPLODES IN HARBOR: The Brazilian ship
Maru, a cargo vessel, mysteriously exploded in Rio de Janeiro harbor while unloading. It is believed that a charged detonation was set, because the ship at the time was only carrying food supplies bound for New York. While the cause is still unknown, it is believed to be an act of sabotage, either local or international is still unknown.
African/Middle Eastern News:
Nothing of significance happened this week.
Asian News:
MONGOLIA BEGINS TO TURN AMBITIONS TOWARDS INNER MONGOLIA: After the assassination of Russian President Kerensky, the Mongolian government had decided to take advantage of the situation by declaring its intent of unifying all of Mongolia, a move that had been opposed by the Russian government. These claims include Inner Mongolia which is currently in Fengtien and Qing Empire hands, as well as a large portion of northern Xibei San Ma's land. The Fengtien Republic laughed at the claims, while Xibei San Ma was furious and declared that these lands were rightfully theirs. The Qing Empire has yet to issue a response.
(-1% dissent)
JOHN RABE CRITICIZES AOG'S EXPLOITATION OF NATIVE CHINESE: AOG, or Germany's South China's Trading Organization, was recently criticized by John Rabe, Secretary of Economic Relations with Germany, for exploitation of Chinese Natives. He has opposed human rights violations, including mistreatment and abuse in workplaces of Chinese Natives, and has advocated better treatment for all workers to ensure good relations with the Qing Empire, one of AOG's main trading partners. His criticism is rare, as most German colonial administrators are apathetic towards native causes. His compassion has stirred up good feelings within China, but some of AOG's Board of Directors have denounced him as a radical and too soft.
(-1% dissent for AOG)
Map is the same.
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