AWWA-Yesterday, Today, and Forever(IC-Closed)

[Unicario]

December 8, 1897

Ferdinand Foch's fascists circulated papers across France, accusing Germany of imperialism against the French people and nation, and wanting to "conquer Europe and destroy all forms of sovereignty to subjugate to the Kaiser in Berlin". Monarchists backing the Bonaparte pretender candidate, advocated war against Germany to once again dismantle the Holy Roman Empire to reclaim Alsace-Lorraine.

Foch's propaganda machine extended into Britain, and began to circulate rumors that the German Hochseeflotte would soon threaten the Royal Navy. Similarly, propaganda circulated in Japan and China stating that the German Ostasienflotte would be a threat to Chinese and Japanese hegemony in Asia.

Papers circulated freely in Europe to stir public attentions against Germany. Many French fascists began to fly Czech flags along-side the banner of their movement. The French Republic tried to crack down on this anti-German mood, but public demonstrations continued to rampage en masse.

Along the French borders with Germany and the Netherlands, military units placed fascist loyalists on the front in case of actions during their coup. Republican loyalists were moved away from the region and in places where they could easily be disarmed and disposed of.

[Ruridova]

December 8, 1897

Ferdinand Foch's fascists circulated papers across France, accusing Germany of imperialism against the French people and nation, and wanting to "conquer Europe and destroy all forms of sovereignty to subjugate to the Kaiser in Berlin". Monarchists backing the Bonaparte pretender candidate, advocated war against Germany to once again dismantle the Holy Roman Empire to reclaim Alsace-Lorraine.

Foch's propaganda machine extended into Britain, and began to circulate rumors that the German Hochseeflotte would soon threaten the Royal Navy. Similarly, propaganda circulated in Japan and China stating that the German Ostasienflotte would be a threat to Chinese and Japanese hegemony in Asia.

Papers circulated freely in Europe to stir public attentions against Germany. Many French fascists began to fly Czech flags along-side the banner of their movement. The French Republic tried to crack down on this anti-German mood, but public demonstrations continued to rampage en masse.

Strangely, the Germanophobia falls flattest in Alsace-Lorraine, where fascism is deeply unpopular. There is also a massive backlash against fascism in Denmark, Hungary, and the rest of Germany. Many Germans begin publishing pamphlets showing the French Empire at its height under Napoleon, pointing out the utter hypocrisy of the French crying about imperialism. The Germans also attacked the fascists for "bowing towards the madmen in Rome", which had taken far more land from France in the Great War than Germany ever had.

The Czechoslovaks themselves rejected any association with French fascism, denouncing the fascists as "the enemies of every man, woman, and child on the planet, regardless of nationality, race, religion, or creed."

[Unicario]

Solange Glaisyer retorts by giving a speech near the Franco-German border.

"The Germans seem to have lost their mind. Fascism is not an ideal of racism -- no, racism lies in the hearts of men corrupted in their pursuance of greed. Greed in the form of bankrupted Republics, petty tyrannical Kings and Emperors, and the blood-letting undertaken by dark forces in lands on foreign soil. I question anyone to tell me where our movement is racist. We are pious people, and I, I am a Negro Arab. I was born in Africa to tribal parents, and I have joined these ranks in search of glory and a true cause to call my own... so I ask -- where is the racism? Is it in our charity to the poor of Vichy, starving because Paris cannot feed them? In our desire to see all Frenchmen reunited with their home, no matter what status, race, religion, or political ideology?"

"They show the images of Napoleon's Empire, claiming we want to do upon Europe what Napoleon did. We seek to rectify the injustice foisted upon France by the Allied Powers of the Great War; Not to force Europe to salute toward Paris. We are not the Ruthenians, bent on destroying the impure -- nor are we Italians, biting with hostility at a group that cultures we view inferior. The Fascists of France are liberators. We shall feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and we shall bring to France a new golden age of prosperity -- by all means necessary."

[Ruridova]

Solange Glaisyer retorts by giving a speech near the Franco-German border.

"The Germans seem to have lost their mind. Fascism is not an ideal of racism -- no, racism lies in the hearts of men corrupted in their pursuance of greed. Greed in the form of bankrupted Republics, petty tyrannical Kings and Emperors, and the blood-letting undertaken by dark forces in lands on foreign soil. I question anyone to tell me where our movement is racist. We are pious people, and I, I am a Negro Arab. I was born in Africa to tribal parents, and I have joined these ranks in search of glory and a true cause to call my own... so I ask -- where is the racism? Is it in our charity to the poor of Vichy, starving because Paris cannot feed them? In our desire to see all Frenchmen reunited with their home, no matter what status, race, religion, or political ideology?"

"They show the images of Napoleon's Empire, claiming we want to do upon Europe what Napoleon did. We seek to rectify the injustice foisted upon France by the Allied Powers of the Great War; Not to force Europe to salute toward Paris. We are not the Ruthenians, bent on destroying the impure -- nor are we Italians, biting with hostility at a group that cultures we view inferior. The Fascists of France are liberators. We shall feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and we shall bring to France a new golden age of prosperity -- by all means necessary."

The inhabitants of Alsace-Lorraine respond by burning Foch and Glaisyer in effigy, tearing apart the flags of fascist states and movements, and chanting "vive la Republique" and "liberte ou la mort".

[Unicario]

The fascists ignore the Alsace-Lorraine protests and continue rallying domestic support by food drives, clothing drives, and by demonstrating in the streets for "solutions to the economy", which the Republic has failed to provide. Ferdinand Foch pledges under his leadership that "France will be able to come home to a warm meal, quality clothing, and something to be proud of." Fascist Party district leaders and leaders of the Legionnaire Francais, the fascist paramilitary, created soup kitchens across France to support the poor and homeless.

Gustafe Eiffel appeared at a fascist rally in support of the French fascists. He expressed his dismay that, "The Republic wasted money on frivolity when create civil projects awaited. My tower which I proposed, could have created thousands of jobs for construction, and been a magnet of tourism for France. Instead, they spend it on lavish lifestyles for themselves as they hide in the Palace d'Elysee! My tower shall be a symbol of French rebirth!"

Solange Glaiyser, Foch, and Eiffel, all begin public campaigns to show the humanitarianism of the Fascists to win public support for their coup which they plan on December 24th. Die Elenden is republished in France as Les Miserables.

Banners supporting fascism are erected in major cities across France bearing the slogan, "LA PAIX, LA TERRE, LE PAIN" (Peace, Land and Bread), advocating the humanitarian causes. Other slogans appear such as, "A bas la République moralement corrompue!"

Republican police begin campaigns to shut down the fascist food kitchens and tear down the banners of the fascists. This increases dissent, as people are angry at the Republic's closing of food distribution centers in France.

Many people, schools and buildings begin to fly a different French flag... the banner of the fascists.

[Ruridova]

The fascists ignore the Alsace-Lorraine protests and continue rallying domestic support by food drives, clothing drives, and by demonstrating in the streets for "solutions to the economy", which the Republic has failed to provide. Ferdinand Foch pledges under his leadership that "France will be able to come home to a warm meal, quality clothing, and something to be proud of."

Gustafe Eiffel appeared at a fascist rally in support of the French fascists. He expressed his dismay that, "The Republic wasted money on frivolity when create civil projects awaited. My tower which I proposed, could have created thousands of jobs for construction, and been a magnet of tourism for France. Instead, they spend it on lavish lifestyles for themselves as they hide in the Palace d'Elysee! My tower shall be a symbol of French rebirth!"

Solange Glaiyser, Foch, and Eiffel, all begin public campaigns to show the humanitarianism of the Fascists to win public support for their coup which they plan on December 24th. Die Elenden is republished in France as Les Miserables.

Gabriel Light condemns the usage of his father's play in support of fascism. "When Die Elenden was created by Georg von Licht, it was not created to foster Germanophobia. It was not mean to be used by the enemies of liberty and popular sovereignty. Unfortunately, the fascists in France seem to have come to believe that my father- a German and a republican, mind you- wrote Die Elenden to spread Germanophobia and to express support for the enemies of the people. In doing so, they have critically misunderstood the play, and my father, and his message, expressing a profound ignorance. Die Elenden is about the people being able to live in freedom and justice- freedom and justice being the greatest enemies of fascism... the French fascists, if they rise to power, will be like every other dictatorship this world has seen. They will pretend to care for the people, and once the people trust them, they will crush the people and destroy all that they prize. They are the political equivalent of a robber who knocks politely on your door, makes pleasant small talk, earns your trust, and then knocks you unconscious, steals all your possessions, and vandalizes your neighbor's houses as they flee with your belongings."

[Unicario]

Raymond Poincaré criticized Gabriel Light's description of French fascism, "What more could we expect from people like him, than them spitting on the cause that shall deliver France from the abyss? Gabriel Light does not understand a damn thing about the plight of the French worker, the French mother, the French child. Food is a scarcity, and when we have food in my household, my young son is the only one who gets to eat a hearty meal. My wife and I subsidize our energy on stale crackers and water we collect during the rains. France is a nation broken, a nation poor, a nation homeless. Ferdinand Foch, Solange Glaisyer and Gustave Eiffel are three people who care about the Frenchman and his family."

"Let the Germans live in poverty, hyperinflation and ruin. They too would understand why we choose fascism. Why we seem to be blind in our following of a man's promises... because those promises are all we have left to count on."

[Bojikami]

Rome, Roma Italia

Mussolini, noting the tensions between Germany and France makes a public statement, regarding the rise of Fascism in Europe.

"Let the Germans live in constant fear of their nation being ripped to pieces by those they once regarded as their close friends. Let the Germans suffer as we all have. Let them be regarded as the international 'boogeyman' for daring to not conform to what another nation views as acceptable form of government. Let this all happen, and then they shall understand us. Why we have chosen this path." Shortly after his speech a new French flag was flown over Rome, right beside the Italian and Ruthenian flags.

[Ruridova]

Raymond Poincaré criticized Gabriel Light's description of French fascism, "What more could we expect from people like him, than them spitting on the cause that shall deliver France from the abyss? Gabriel Light does not understand a damn thing about the plight of the French worker, the French mother, the French child. Food is a scarcity, and when we have food in my household, my young son is the only one who gets to eat a hearty meal. My wife and I subsidize our energy on stale crackers and water we collect during the rains. France is a nation broken, a nation poor, a nation homeless. Ferdinand Foch, Solange Glaisyer and Gustave Eiffel are three people who care about the Frenchman and his family."

"Let the Germans live in poverty, hyperinflation and ruin. They too would understand why we choose fascism. Why we seem to be blind in our following of a man's promises... because those promises are all we have left to count on."

Light reiterates his statements that the fascists are little more than ruthless politicians, who will exploit the people to gain power, and will then not only stop caring about the people, but actively abusing them.

Rome, Roma Italia

Mussolini, noting the tensions between Germany and France makes a public statement, regarding the rise of Fascism in Europe.

"Let the Germans live in constant fear of their nation being ripped to pieces by those they once regarded as their close friends. Let the Germans suffer as we all have. Let them be regarded as the international 'boogeyman' for daring to not conform to what another nation views as acceptable form of government. Let this all happen, and then they shall understand us. Why we have chosen this path." Shortly after his speech a new French flag was flown over Rome, right beside the Italian and Ruthenian flags.

At this point, a German caricaturist depicts Mussolini as a lunatic in a mental asylum wearing an off-kilter coronet, screaming incoherently about the glory of slavery in a fascist state, throwing in Latin words and phrases at random(most of which bear no relation to what he's saying). The image catches on, and soon most Germans are simply referring to Mussolini as "Herr Geisteskranken"- literally, Mister Insane.

[Shrillland]

December 9, 1897
London

French propaganda did not fare well in Germany's late ally, and as long as the Princess Royal was Empress of that land, it seemed unlikely that Victoria would sanction a war with Germany.

Actions were otherwise with France. Today in the House of Commons, Ishikawa blasted Salisbury's support of the French saying, "The Prime Minister is so preoccupied with keeping down the mouse of Marxism that he chooses to ignore the Fascist lion that is casting its malcontent and ambitious shadow upon the world. None can agree with the lies that Marshal Foch has presented to the world, even the Prime Minister and his government have called them such, but the Government still insist on their mistaken ideal that Fascism will assist democracy in saving the world. Fascism does not stand with democracy, they stand with hatred and ambition."

Salisbury responded thus:

"I still believe that France and Britain should stand together in peace, just as Germany and Britain stand together. I cannot agree with the honourable leader's statement that Fascism is a lion poise to destroy the world, but I do agree that the situation is deteriorating on the continent in a manner that could mean war if it is left unchecked. There is no option left but to appeal to the new United Nations Organisation to arbitrate this manner."


And so, Salisbury sent appeals to the Security Council nations to discuss and settle the growing crisis in Europe. He knew nothing about the Venezuelan support in Guyane.

Western Guyane

But the Venzuelans were supporting the Communists, and Kapoor's forces greeted them with alacrity.

"Our forces are depleted, yt our message still resonates. We thanj you for these forces to continue this revolution until our final triumph."

And so they went back east.

In Georgetown, the new Canadian flag stood proudly over Parliament house as the Canadians had set up a provisional administration until London could send a new Governor.

[Unicario]

The French fascists ignored the British criticism of their propaganda, and continued doing good deeds for the people of France. Popular discontent against the Republic grew even stronger after police violently raided a fascist food pantry in search of weapons, and then seized the food as contraband. On December 11, riots erupted in Paris against the Republic, calling for the downfall of the Republican government for their "tyrannical actions".

Glaisyer was heard as commenting, "They seem to assume we intend to keep democracy upon our Final Victory. We have no such intentions to safeguard the same system that has caused homelessness, poverty and shame. Democracy, and capitalism, are tools of exploitation. The well-being of the people is far more important than any democratic system."

On December 12, Foch, Glaisyer, Eiffel, Poincare and Curie, representatives of the Fascist Front, met with communist leaders to discuss the future of France upon the death of the Republican system. The negotiations went over quite well -- the Communists simply asked that they not be banned from participating in the elections that the new system would have, and be permitted to sit in the French parliament. In exchange, they would back Foch's coup, and support restoration of the French Empire.

The deal was made, and Christmas was fast approaching.

[Bojikami]

Guyane

The Venezuelans followed the Guyanese revolutionaries and marched eastward with them, ready to confront the Canadians alongside the Guyanese.

December 12th, 1897
Kiev, Ruthenia

People crowded Independence Square, as today Oleksandr mandated the attention of all the Ukrainian and Romanian people, as he had an important announcement to make. All was silent, until an orchestra began to play the instrumental version of the new national anthem, which was implemented a few weeks ago, the song's name being Prapor Na Vysokyy or "The Flag on High". Once Oleksandr walked through the parted curtain, people cheered and saluted him as he took the podium. He saluted back at the crowd, and lowered his arm.

"Pryvit, citizens of glorious Ukraine-Romania. I speak to you all today to announce our collective future as a people." He began. "As you may know, this glorious nation came into conception when my father and mother, bless their souls, became married and unified the two nations, the two peoples of Ukraine and Romania under one state. One state, but two different crowns, two different rulers. This, this changes today. With my mother's recent death, I am the sole heir to the throne of Romania and Ukraine. It is with this power that had been invested upon me, that I hereby permanently unite these lands under one new empire, all hail Ruthenia!" It is with this that banners unfolded next to him, each displaying a new national flag for.

With this, Oleksandr also read out a new code of laws to go with the new nation, which included the creation of border checkpoints to control immigration, a law that strictly prohibits the legislature from making laws discriminating on sexuality, and another law mandating citizen identification cards.

[Shrillland]

December 15, 1897
London

Salisbury now embarked on a voyage to Canada to state his case to the Security Council. He hoped to have the UN's full decision by mid-January as the Fascist tide swept across the channel.

Outside Georgetown, West Guyane

This morning, the sound of artillery was heard across the river Demerara. The Communists had returned with their assistants, and Canada and Guyane were prepared for the battle. Miles ordered spikes and barbed wire on the eastern shore of the river as well as another novel type of weapon invented some years previously: A small explosive that could be buried and detonated when someone stepped on it. It was called a land mine.

[Unicario]

December 17, 1897

Having been previously silent, Georges Sorel, an early pseudo-fascist ideologue whose ideas have been adopted by Marxists and Fascists alike, publicly supported "Le Syndicat" in their bide for public support. Stating earnestly, he said, "France is a nation that is in desperate need of a new party and state to guide it. While our countrymen in Alsace-Lorraine say we are evil enemies of freedom, and while London and Berlin throw themselves into panic over the uncertainty of our militaristic nature and what that means for peace, we do not break stride in our cause to break the chains of weak Republic which ties every Frenchman down. I do not consider Angleterre or Allemagne to be our enemies. They are natural brothers of European fraternity, but if they wish to cast us away because of our ideology, then maybe we should reconsider where our brothers are in this world."

In Tokyo, Emperor Alexander condemned fascism, but stated that, "We must remember that France had an unfair peace treaty thrust upon it by the nations of Europe greedy for land to annex. I cannot fault Frenchmen for turning to fascism; It was an inevitability... just as the Rumites turned to socialism to rectify inequality and unfairness in their system, the French have sought out fascism to revive their national spirit and rebuild their nation ripped asunder by famine and poverty."

Empress Wilhelmina condemned fascism as well, but stated, "We will accept France in the brotherhood of nations so long as they obey international law, and practice good faith toward others."

[Unicario]

One week later
December 24, 1897

Félix Faure sat quietly, reading To Rome and Back in his study. Not long before he would head off to church for Christmas sermons. Faure was the sitting President of the French Republic. As he turned the page quietly, he heard shouting. The gates of the Palace d'Elysee were being swarmed by crowds of people, flying the banner of The Syndicate. They continued to push into the gates, before breaking them open and storming up to the house. The Guards of the Palace did not impede them, and instead joined the crowds of fascists.

The people of France stormed his building and took him captive. He soon found out that his cabinet and Gaius LeFevre had been captured as well. The Bastille, which had been used as a prison for fascists and communists, was seized and opened up.

French military units defected to Foch's command rapidly and very few cities put up a resistance to the coup d'etat, and before long, the coup had ended, and the Republic had fallen.

[Unicario]

December 28, 1897

The Rumite Empire's assembly, now full of socialists, voted to invalidate the Treaty of Protection over the Crimean Khanate, in a move to reconcile relations with the Ruthenians and Russians. The Caliph defended this action by saying that another war in the Black Sea region would be a terrible tragedy for all mankind.

---

January 2, 1898

On January 2, 1898, Gaius leFevre, along with the former Republican government, was taken away in the dead of night to a small French town entirely full of fascist militants and sympathizers. They were all sentenced to death by guillotine, and executed by 5:30 AM on January 2, in the audience of Benito Mussolini and Oleksandr of Ruthenia. The fascists cheered at the man's death.

Their bodies were burned and the ashes were taken to the shores of Occitania to be cast into the Mediterranean Sea.

[United Marxist Nations]

6th January, 1898
Lhasa, Tibet Prefecture.

In a small room in the South Wing of Norbulingka, the leaders of the provisional government of Tibet stood around a telegraph anxiously, waiting for a reply. It had only been six hours since they had given the signal for the coup, and already they had taken control of Lhasa; however, now all their months of planning, raiding old military warehouses for surplus, and printing revolutionary pamphlets may have been for nothing. While much of the city had been taken easily due to the small size of the garrison, there was still the question of Potata Palace; around forty or fifty garrison troops had holed up there, and the rebels had been preparing to make a move. As the telegram came through, the tension in the room was almost palpable.

"--Garrison at Potata surrendered; Lhasa is ours--"

A collective sigh was breathed, and the men congratulated on another on the victory, but they couldn't celebrate for long. "Generalissimo Gyaltsen", Samdup said, trying to sound as official as possible; "Prepare the forces for the defense of Lhasa from the imperialists."

The Generalissimo bowed and took his leave; the Imperial Government had already heard of this by now, he had twenty, maybe thirty days to prepare. Gyaltsen gave the order to collect the more modern weapons the garrison had surrendered, and organize the troops with them into vanguard battalions; however, even when this task would be completed, the rebels would still be, for the most part, poorly armed. He knew that he would have to hope for some foreign support.

[Unicario]

7 January 1898

The door to the private office in the Imperial Palace swung shut as Commander of the Army, General Yoshinobu Tokugawa, entered the room. He took his seat, and the Emperor deadpanned, "You're late, Yoshinobu-san."

The General stood up and bowed, "My apologies, Your Majesty, I was detained by pressing matters at my office initially."

The Emperor shifted on his cane and sat down in a chair before the cabinet. His Prime Minister, Michiko Adams, nervously glanced around. Foreign Minister Senjiro Matayama was picking his nails, while the rest of the Cabinet looked through papers.

Emperor Alexander nodded, "Matayama. You said there was an urgent development in Asia?"

"Yes sir. Tibetan rebels have taken Lhasa... we're unsure what's going on at the moment, and we're unsure how to proceed."

The Emperor looked critically toward him and Michiko chimed in, "Your Majesty, I suggest we wait before offering our support, just to see how these rebels fare. We can contact Britain about the matter and use mountain trails up the Himalayas as a mean of transporting rebel aid."

[Bojikami]

January 7th, 1898

In Switzerland, the referendum votes had finally been counted, and the results were announced. The westernmost provinces of Switzerland voted to remain sovereign, while many of the central and eastern provinces voted to unite with Roma Italia. Observers from Ruthenia, Nigeria and Sweden confirmed the votes legitimacy.

Shortly after the vote was announced, Italian legions marched into Switzerland to fortify the new northern border.

Sweden

Iqsituittuq was sent home to Greenland, accompanied by Swedish trade vessels bringing supplies and tools for the natives.

Konstantinyye, Rumite Empire

Muhammad Garza, a native of southern Spain and a devout Muslim journeyed far from his home to the heart of the Rumite Empire for no other purpose but than to be with Allah were he will not be persecuted.

He entered a mosque and began praying, asking that Allah bestow him victory in his coming Jihad against the Spanish kaffir king. Once he had concluded his prayer, he walked out into the city streets and into the streets before the Hagia Sophia.

"Brothers and sisters of the Islamic faith! Lend me your ears! Though it may seem that Islam is in a golden age, this is far from true. The kaffirs in Spain have unleashed a wave of aatrocities not seen since the Spanish Inquisition! As I speak innocent men, women and children are being dragged from their homes and are being tortured to death on the charges of heathenry! I ask that my brothers and sisters across the Islamic world will join me in this holy war against the vile prosecutors! In Spain, I've only 3,000 able bodied men ready to fight, a force likely to be crushed by the Spanish army in a conflict. It is out of this I ask that Rum, the Ilkhanate, and all faithful nations flock together to assist me in the Jihad for Spain!"

[Unicario]

The local police were nervous at the man's words -- mostly because it would cause some discontent amongst the pious Hajji on their way to Mecca. The police formally detained Muhammad for disturbing the peace and had him transferred to a local police station. After a few hours, a woman guest visited him in the holding cell. The Calipha of Islam sat in front of Muhammad and said, "My child, you seem to be doing weighty work, and risky as well, calling for a jihad against the Catholics in the capital of the Rumite Empire... tell me, young man, what kind of atrocities are being done by the Spaniard?"

---

January 7, 1898

Ferdinand Eichemann formally departed Sun City with his adoptive son, Ludwig Eichemann, and his wife, on a tour of Africa. It would take four months to complete, and would end with him giving a speech at the Nigerian parliament building.

---

On January 7, Selim bin Laden and his Algerian independence movement seized Algiers from the Republican government, and declared Algerian independence. Foch resigned to Algeria, and granted it independence.

[Bojikami]

Rumite Empire

"I think it is best for you to see yourself." Muhammad got up, turned around and removed his shirt to show the scars that stretched across his back, along with the branding mark on his upper arm that spelled "Infidel". "The Spainards took me from my home, dragged me to one of their castles and begun to torture me, first by whipping, and then by the branding, only Allah knows what they have done to the others. But, as they took me outside, however, I was saved by a group Mujahideen guerillas. I have been dedicated to help them ever since." He put his shirt back on and sat on a bench. "It is because of this, I must request the help of the caliphate. Please, help me end these crimes against the Muslim faithful."

[United Marxist Nations]

8 January 1898
Lhasa, Tibet

A day after the skirmish in Lhasa, the Tibetan National Army had been officially formed with Generalissimo Gyaltsen as its commander-in-chief. Its forces were relatively small, only thirty-eight thousand troops; however, the Generalissimo hoped to recruit more in the coming days. After seizing a military warehouse outside of Lhasa and scavenging weapons, the Army had come in possession of five thousand modern rifles (Hanyang 88); however, the bulk of its forces were still armed with old, muzzle-loading rifles. Knowing that there would be an uphill (OOC: har har) battle ahead, Gyaltsen planned to use the natural terrain to his advantage, and ordered units to make trenches at strategic positions in the mountain passes surrounding the city, as well as take defensive position on the mountains themselves.

[Ruridova]

January 7th, 1898

In Switzerland, the referendum votes had finally been counted, and the results were announced. The westernmost provinces of Switzerland voted to remain sovereign, while many of the central and eastern provinces voted to unite with Roma Italia. Observers from Ruthenia, Nigeria and Sweden confirmed the votes legitimacy.

Shortly after the vote was announced, Italian legions marched into Switzerland to fortify the new northern border.

Germany is outraged, and declares that the referendum was rigged, bringing up that the Italians only let their allies, puppets, and colonies monitor the referendum- not to mention that a majority of Swiss citizens are ethnic Germans, and thus would have little reason to join Italy.

The Volkskongreß issues an official condemnation; Kaiser Wilhelm(stripped of all power since 1891) urges that they declare war to liberate Switzerland and South Tyrol from Italian fascist rule. The Volkskongreß, more inclined to Realpolitik than Weltpolitik, narrowly decides not to. However, the German army along the southern border is placed at increases readiness.

[Bojikami]

Switzerland

Benito Mussolini arrived in central Switzerland, being cheered on by the crowds of people waving the Italian flag and cheering "Salve! Salve! Salve!" When Benito stepped off his horse, and took the podium before the crowd. He cleared his throat and motioned for the crowd to settle down.

"Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears." He began. "First, I would like to say, welcome to the Empire and welcome to the family. I regard all citizens of the Empire as part of my own, extended family. Now, there are times when the family is threatened, either by internal strife, or by savages that wish nothing more bUutthe destruction of the family and those within it. I am, of course referring to the German Empire and its recent condemnation of a fair and legal vote. They claim it makes no logical sense for the Germanic people in Switzerland to want to join Italy, to them I say it makes more sense than having them join the traitors and backstabbers in Germany. You see, not to long ago, the Germans and the Russians turned their backs on Italy, and for what? A tiny province that does not even speak German or have the German culture anymore. This, and paired with the French Republic's constant aggression, forced Italy into a state of fear, a state I have rescued the Italian nation from. It is in this moment of betrayal, that we have found solace in the arms of our former enemies, the dear French State and the indomitable Ruthenians. Those who also have been dealt a bad hand by the German and Russian Empires during the Great War and afterward. But, German aggression has never struck me as hard as it had this morning, threats of invasion, general condemnation came out of the German parliament. This struck me, because no matter how many times Oleksandr has told me before, I had never believed him. That is the fact that Germany seeks to plunge the world into another World war. The only reason it hesitates, is because it knows it cannot win. Germany is but a tiger made of paper, and nothing more." Mussolini continues with his speech, and goes on to talk about his future plans for Switzerland and the Italian empires economy. He then departed from the podium and went into the new Swiss parliament building to appoint the new ruling council of Switzerland.

[Unicario]

The Republic of Romandie, lasting only 2 hours after the referendum announcement, declares independence and applies for annexation into France, and is then promptly annexed into the French state.