-Prethread- NCNESIOT: Blackened Skies

[Nuka-sama]

You may all post!

 

[Nuka-sama]

You may all post!

 

[Mosher]

1. The Holy Kingdom of Thailand please. I like playing hyper religious, nationalist states, and it's rare that I play outside of America/Africa/Europe, so this will be new for me.

 

[Nuka-sama]

Did someone say Germany backgrounds?

The Union of German Worker’s Council Republics​

Official Capital: Frankfurt

Government: "One Germany, Three Systems"-The national body consists of three representatives, one from each of the three systems whom with unanimous consent can call the German Diet into session. Constitutionally, the seats of the Diet would be elected via popular vote in fair and free elections, but this practice has yet to be tested.

----

The People’s Republic of the Ruhr-

Spoiler :

People will want to tell you that German communism began in Bavaria, from artists and freethinkers lounging about dreaming of their perfect society. Those people who tell you that are not from the Ruhr. The Rhineland as a whole was the industrial heart of Germany, with well over half of all German industry. When France and Germany once more went to war, the factories of the Rhine went into overtime, operating around the clock. Initially, the situation went favorably for the workers, who saw an increase in wages and an avoidance of conscription, but as the war took an unfavorable turn, wages were brought to below pre-war levels and hours were significantly raised, using the threat of conscription to force them to accept the terms of the new working conditions. However, by 1909, after five years of war, Germany was running short of manpower, and there was need to conscript some of the workers, put women into factories, and put the remaining male workers on longer hours. The war had become highly unpopular, and at one factory in Cologne, workers went on strike for the first time in the war. Soldiers fired upon the workers in that factory, and by sundown of that day, all of the city was rioting. It did not take long to spread to other cities, and soon much of the Rhineland was rising up in armed resistance. Though the German High Command had tried to keep the truth from the soldiers, but as industry grinded to a halt, Germany was forced to bring soldiers back from the frontlines. Upon discovering the truth, many soldiers defected and the German Civil War began in earnest.

The Leonidasbund, later the People’s Republic of Rhine was the first of the Communist states of Germany, and its leaders established alliances with parties in Saxony and Bavaria. With the French helping secure the Rhineland, the PRR and its allies were able to secure the entirety of Germany, and then the PRR took the lead on combating Russia, and then fought the British in Denmark and the Low Countries on its own. While ultimately unsuccesful, the PRR established a reputation as being more than willing to fight to help support revolutions in countries even France would not fight in.

The PRR had initially been more conciliatory towards the other German Communists, but after its failure to liberate the Low Countries, its Communism had become more aggressive and less willing to compromise. This aggressive style of Communism lent itself to the eventual Chairman of the Republic, Konrad Beisler. A shorter man with a fiery temper, Beisler had been a footsoldier in the unions before the war, but grew disillusioned as the war went on without strikes. Many blame Beisler for the failure to consolidate the German factions, but Beisler would rather die than compromise. While he is not charismatic, he is a ruthless political operator and many describe him as both organized and aggressive. As Chairman, Beisler holds control over the entire Communist Party in the Ruhr, and through that, he controls the Republic. His military is one of the most powerful in Europe, and his secret police can ensure that none within his domain will cross him. And as he grows increasingly frustrated with the French attempt to slowly spread Communism, Beisler becomes more and more willing to take matters into his own hands...

-----

Bavarian Worker’s Council Republic-

Spoiler :

The earliest agitators for Marxism could be found in the so-called “Bavarian renaissance”, a cultural movement in the newly united Germany. After Bavaria had been incorporated into the militarist Prussian-dominated Germany, many Germans, particularly liberals, intellectuals, and artists, fled south to Munich, which became a heart of artistic and political thought. Not suffering nearly as much repression as Spartan Berlin, the so called “League of Pericles” united freethinkers to postulate how a new, Liberal Germany might be formed. While much hope had been placed upon the incoming Kaiser Heinrich I, the limited reforms he did enact were not nearly as impressive as the ones that were promised. Disillusioned with liberalism, many turned to Marxist agitation, and hoped for a bloodless revolution that would topple the Kaiserreich and establish a new Worker’s Republic. Incredible hope emerged in Bavaria upon the “Fifth Revolution” in France, and many in Munich staged peaceful demonstrations they hoped would help topple the regime. Instead, thousands of Bavarians were conscripted to fight a war against France, and many Marxist thinkers were imprisoned without trial. Bavarian soldiers though were much more versed in revolutionary literature than their compatriots from the rest of Germany , and many (particularly Bavarians) credit the Bavarian soldiers from spreading Marxist ideology to soldiers from the other regions. Upon the “Revolution on the Rhine”, peaceful demonstrations in Munich were once again started, and with the Kaiser’s troops defecting left and right, and French troops assisting the revolutionaries, a new Worker’s Republic could be proclaimed in Bavaria.

Luise Eibner was a prominent socialist thinker, born in Bavaria and moved to France following the Third Revolution. Her education in the socialist parlors of Paris gave her a strong appreciation of democracy, peaceful agitation mixed with opportune violence, and taught her effective political grandstanding and organization skills. It was in Paris where Eibner became famous for her two manifestos, one on the necessity for democracy in Communism, and the other for a Worker’s Communism that still included other aspects of society. Eibner was a part of the marches of the Fourth Revolution, was an aide to her mentor, Nicolas Chambon, who became one of the writers of the new French constitution. With her father’s impending death in Bavaria from sickness, she left France to see him, but found that she could not return back to France due to interference from German authorities. She attempted then to get to France through Italy, but German police had been keeping an eye on her and she was arrested before she could cross into Austria. She was imprisoned for three years, and when she was released she moved to Munich where she became a prominent figure in the literary circles there, and eventually became a major figure in the League of Pericles. When war with France came, Eibner was the first person the authorities imprisoned, and when the revolution came, was one of the first released.

Eibner quickly was able to use her connections with the French and her celebrity status in Communist circles to be declared the Premier of the Bavarian Worker’s Council Republic. While an idealist at heart, she embraces a philosophy of “the ends justifies the means”. She knows that the Ruhr and the Nationalist Socialists have far more soldiers to command and resource to marshall, but Eibner is well aware of the soft power Bavaria possesses. Munich is becoming a center of Communist thought and art that is second only to Paris and is quickly catching up. And her insistence of elections shows helps prove the legitimacy of her government. And, not insignificantly, Eibner through her time in Paris, is familiar with not only the upper echelons of the French Communist Party, but also its middle managers and even some foot soldiers. She realizes she cannot conquer Germany, but if the other two factions cannot conquer her, it’s only a matter of time before the people conquer Eibner’s enemies for her. Do not let her idealism mislead you, for Eibner may be the most dangerous and ruthless politician of all in her desire of utopia.

-----

German Nationalist Socialist Alliance-

Spoiler :

The most moderate of the three German factions, the DNSA is the faction led by Marshall Johann Reyher. Mostly led by former military officers, the DNSA are derisively called “Decemberists” due to their late embrace of the Revolution. The DNSA consists mostly of Eastern Germany, including Brandenburg, Saxony, and Prussia, and counts support among most of the former “petit-bourgeois”, religious (particularly Protestants), and those who hold particularly nationalist and militarist views. In the three way struggle for the determination of Germany’s future, the DNSA may not have the strongest military in terms of numbers, but it does hold a majority of the former German General Staff, particular members of the former aristocracy. This extends further down into the ranks for its more junior level officers, as well. They are also the faction that has the most ties with non-Marxist states, particularly with those that are opposed to Russia. The DNSA naturally trends more Imperialist, it is careful to ensure they hold the support of the Socialists as well. Most Germans do embrace socialism and support the revolution, and while Marshall Reyher is respected and admired, on the whole most people see the DNSA leaders as reactionaries who have not yet truly embraced the Revolution. If Germany were to experience a war against an external power, the GSFA could be well positioned to unite Germany under their aegis, either as the head of its unified armies, or, due to their support in non-Marxist states, as the choice of the victors in the event of a German defeat.

Johann Reyher (formally von Reyher) would not be the first choice of many to lead the revolutionary army. Born the son to a legendary member of the German General Staff, and a Colonel himself, Johann fought in the Franco-German War with distinction, and was wounded at the Battle of Charleroi. He would be recovering in a hospital when the mutiny and subsequent revolution occurred, and was quickly imprisoned as a member of a “bourgeois class”. Despite being imprisoned, Reyher was able to make a recovery, and when the first offer for the officer class to be granted amnesty in exchange for serving against Russia, Reyher was the most senior level officer to accept on October 3rd. He helped instruct the construction of fortifications and training of new men, ended the democratization of military units, and convinced other former army officers to join in the Revolution, if only to save Germany. Their efforts were rewarded in December, winning three incredible victories against the Russians when Reyher’s own forces were outnumbered nearly two to one. From there, Reyher became a national hero, with the Communists using him as a symbol to draw back Germans who had emigrated during the revolution, while Reyher used his national fame to create his own powerbase within the revolutionary movement. Reyher joined the Communist Party, becoming the Party leader in Prussia where he used his reputation as a war hero to build a party of not just leftists, but nationalists as well, creating a broad power base that could not be taken from him at a whim from Frankfurt.

 

[Immaculate]

oh- yeah! loving the germanies!

 

[ZeletDude]

1 Italy
2 France
3 Spain

I want to make a comeback in these games... I think Italy would be the best avenue for doing so

 

[Angst]

1 Denmark.

Ideas & assumptions - tell me what won't work, particularly the Nietzsche part

Reactionary monarchic regime with fascist iconography based on Superchristian medieval Kalmar Union complex as well as bronze age-Old Norse-Christian romanticism. Loves Norwegians as they share ties with the Old Norse Superhuman as described by Nietzsche, who in this world fled to Copenhagen during wars and was absorbed into the Danish cosmopolitan scene. Swedes are dirty Antichristians that have no conception of poetry and art, something that is only understood by the sensible tragic poets of Denmark.

See, the Danish "Golden Age" of the 19th century never ended, but got a second wind through Søren Kierkegaard's hugely popular works. Kierkegaard shaped Danish Christian ideas in this timeline, rather than Grundtvig, so Danish Christianity is exceptionally pietist, democracy is evil mob rule without God's intelligence and top-down rule, and everyone should answer to the God and the massive knowledge of the upper class. The numerous artists are tragic Christian poets/artists with four pseudonyms according to the respective Kierkegaardian states of being, all plays reflect anxiety and the dizziness of freedom that Kierkegaard proclaimed was the fundament of Being while the poor don't get stuff like free movement. "The modern breakthrough" in literature and arts as envisioned by Georg Brandes was a stillbirth as he was publicly executed by spreading atheism. And Herman Bang, who tried to reinvigorate the movement, was lynched by a mob for his homosexuality, which was never tried by the just state. Hans Christian Andersen was a curious case, because his romantic works were popular everywhere in the world, but his homosexual tendencies were dismissed to ever have existed by the Royal Academy of Arts, and when idealist academicians tried to prove it by refering to his diary, the University fired them and burned the pages, claiming they were fake. Some today denounce Hans Christian Andersen's works as he is popular in communist countries with his celebration of poor idiots, while Kierkegaardian scholars note how that in The Ugly Duckling the swan's experiences don't reflect existential angst but only vanity.

Kierkegaard's works in this timeline inspired Nietzsche in particular to implement the philosophical concepts of "the dizziness of freedom" and "anxiety" and importantly the Danish Old-Norse-Christian romanticist iconography into his idea of the Superhuman, instead of being created by the void of God, he would be created by the void of meaning which God has created to test our faith. The cosmopolitans are often aristocratic/plutocratic/oligarchic, powerful families is the point, several hail from what is now North German provinces and are royalty in name only, others have connections to Norway, some (disliked) hail from Sweden, some have bought rights through wealth, some have deep ties within Russia. All of them lavish in arts funding from the Danish state.

Denmark capitalizes severely on farming, especially pigs and dairy, it's exported in bulk to the cool sides of the worlds' warring states without being truly interventionist. Also traders, lots and lots of traders, massively sustained by the mercantilist state, Denmark should reflect the glory of the triangle trade, the glory of Denmark before Norway and Slesvig-Holstein were lost, the glory of Denmark when they ruled all of the North, the glory of Denmark when they ruled Britain, the glory of an age long gone. Only the royal family is the one solid lineage to that long gone age, as well as the beautiful peaceful landscape covering the nation.

 

[Crezth]

^ I don't speak for Nuke, but of course I encourage and appreciate this kind of thinking! I think you're on the right track and it fits into the context of what's going on in the world outside of Denmark as well. The 1910's saw several disastrous wars sweep across Europe, which the Scandinavian states were mercifully able to stay clear of. Nevertheless, the wars, and the shortages and trade crises that they caused, produced not one but two socialist republics on Denmark's doorstep: the People's Republic of Sweden as well as the German Union.

Reactionaries have an interesting problem in this world because large, important parts of the world have "fallen" to socialism and, whereas at first it wasn't clear if the trend would last, early dismissiveness vanished with disquiet when the Franco-German war ended with France and Germany both nominally communist and both willing to cooperate in the name of something greater. Now there's the worrying thought, the possibility that Marx was right (and yeah, Marx exists; the divergence is ~1860 or so IIRC), and that what we are witnessing are the early stages of worldwide communist revolution. I'm not sure exactly how this might impact the culture of the Copenhagen intelligentsia, but it sure is something to think about!

Woo Denmark!

 

[Angst]

Great to hear. Nuke also confirmed I was doing good things here. Will be interesting

While I don't know if art deco is a thing in this world (it is pretty tied in with the gilded age imo) but I tried to do some iconography because I wanted to do an oldish poster. Now I of course realize it doesn't tie well in to Denmark, also it was bloody hard so the result is ugly but DANGIT IMMA POST IT ANYWAYS because moar work for this is good work for this. Herrrre.

Spoiler :

"Wake up you Danish land,
Hear, you! The kingdom's thunder!
Be fresh, you strong man,
Lord of the north!"

(Chest symbolizes death of the old kingdom, Kalmar that is; the rise from the dead is common within Danish painting in this hour, especially that of Jesus Christ, the Second Coming mentally linked with the Second Coming of Denmark.)

 

[Nuka-sama]

Very nice work angst! For all of you in general, when the nations are confirmed I'm definitely open to this sort of thing where you can expand a bit on what's going on with your country

I posted a small thing on the Fourth Anglo-American war on the front page and moved the large history post there as well

@all Apologies all for the delays. As some of you may have heard, I have had a personal incident irl, and have been having to act as a caretaker for a bit. That being said, the game is on course to continue on. In consideration with the holiday scheduling, I will be having all backgrounds posted and all countries assigned by New Years Day

 

[Seon]

France because I love the idea of a Marxist French nation trying to reorganize from its traditional roots into an industrialized communist power, while avoiding entanglement with German socialist block.

Italy because I'm a slimy arrogant Italianophile.

Spain: Bring it, damn you. Republic shall be preserved at all costs.

 

[gay_Aleks]

I'm sorry but Spain is reserved permanently for me for anything post-1800s. Why? I have no bloody idea.

 

[Nuka-sama]

Is it though?

Welcome all, and I hope you all have a Merry Christmas

 

[Grandkhan]

I'm sorry but Spain is reserved permanently for me for anything post-1800s. Why? I have no bloody idea.

Milarqui re-reg spotted.

 

[JohannaK]

But Tolni is Bulgarian.

 

[Nuka-sama]

So he says.... >~>

 

[tobiisagoodboy]

Whos in for a " spanish division " if Tolni gets it?

 

[Crezth]

@all Apologies all for the delays. As some of you may have heard, I have had a personal incident irl, and have been having to act as a caretaker for a bit. That being said, the game is on course to continue on. In consideration with the holiday scheduling, I will be having all backgrounds posted and all countries assigned by New Years Day

In adding on to this, if we don't respond to an interest post or query in this thread but you would really like a response or to bounce ideas off of us, feel free to shoot a PM. I will always make an effort to respond to background requests or to edify anyone on the rules or mechanics or entertain discussion about some of the assumptions we make. Of course we acknowledge that no system is perfect, but we are proud of our work and committed to doing our very best to deliver something we consider excellent.

Oh, and happy Christmas all! (o^ . ^o)

 

[Masada]

Christmas doesn't have a basis in scripture and is consequently banned in the United States.

 

[Crezth]

Rule Britannia. :3