SPOTLIGHT
‘The future of all civilized nations rides on the defense of the Ukraine from the numberless Russian hordes!’ – King Constatine III of Geece.
The war in the Ukraine was always going to favor the Russian Empire. The people of the Ukraine were very pro-Russian and were forcibly torn away from the Tsar’s domains at the end of the Great War by the imposed Treaty of Brest-Litvosk. They were held for 20 years under the control of an oppressive puppet regime of the Austrian Reich and when they saw their chance they rebelled against this authority.
However it was the entry of the Ottoman Empire into the Ukrainian fray in the second month of the way that not only startled many Ukrainaians but threw them into action, against their former Austrian overlords. The Ottoman landing in the Crimea (which at that time was rebelling from the puppet government anyways), followed by their invasion of Caucsus, was the catalyst not for a Freedom Alliance victory like it was hoped, but to the Axis taking control over ¾ of the Kingdom. The burning of homes and crops and the continued use of scorched earth including the summary executions of all rebels led to the Ukrainian people once and for all joining the Russian side in the war.
The Austrian Reich, Bulgaira, Greece and Germany faced with numberless civilians ready to die for their cause were forced back across the River Dnepr (??) to continue the defence of Kiev. On April 20th the Ukrainian King formally dissolved the puppet parliament as they and the Ukrainan army was split between those who supported Russia and those who supported Austria. By April 30th the rot in the Ukraine had grown to such a measure that the Austrian army commander formally took control over the Ukraine Military District and the King of the Ukraine fled into exile in Vienna.
It remains to be seen if the Austrian led defenders of the remnants of the Ukraine can hold out or if the Russian hordes who have reached Bulgarian and Austrian territory for the first time this month will just simply surround them and swallow these valiant defenders whole.
Random and Story Bonuses
USA: STORY People begin flocking to the colors and the factories to defend the homeland! +2,000,000 Conscripts +10 pp
CSA: Conscription continues steadily +1,800,000 Conscripts
Brazil: STORY With the decleration of war a fall of trade occurs (-1 eco level) but Conscripts rush to the colours +400,000 Conscripts
Argentina: Conscripts rush to the colours: +500,000 Conscripts
Chile: STORY The capture of southern Bolivia gives you +1 eco level and Conscripts join the army: +250,000 Conscripts
Britain: People begin to feel uncomfortable with British inaction in the war. They call for an attack on the enemy on land, however conscripts still rush to the colours (-1 Stability, +400,000 Conscripts) Australia and New Zealand also come under their direct control. (+100,000 Conscripts in Australia) and Indian Conscription begins (+3,500,000 Indian soldiers)
Ireland:With the mood in Britain growing darker, Ireland begins conscription (+ 350,000 Conscripts)
France: frenchmen flock to the tricolor to defeat the German enemy (+1,500,000 Conscripts)
Germany: Germans too join their army (+2,250,000 Conscripts)
Austria: Citizens of the Empire are conscripted (+1,500,000 Conscripts)
Bulgaria: Bulgarians join the army (+500,000 Conscripts)
Russia: STORY Russians are pressed into the army (+5,500,000 Conscripts)
Greece: Greeks celebrate the entry to war (+250,00 Conscripts)
Ottomans: STORY The Ottoman Empire is stronger than ever. Jews love her (+400,000 Jewish Fighters) and the Ottomans themselves join the arny in patriotic glory (+3,500,000 Conscripts)
Japan: Japan continues its mobilisation of war (+2,000,000 Conscripts)
South Africa: is hoping for its independence (+550,000 Conscripts)
Italy: rouses to the call their King puts out (+800,000 Conscripts)
Finland begins to conscript: (+500,000 Conscripts)
Igrun: STORY Igrun now has followers in Germany, USA, CSA, Britain, France, Russia, Ottoman Empire, Bulgaria, Austria, Greece, Italy. whew they HAVE been busy!!!