The Coldest Day
The year is 1946. Europe has just been liberated by the Allied Powers of World War Two and is now split between the blue West and the red East. Hopes for a peaceful coexistence between the two superpowers of America and the Soviet Union have all but fell apart with the arms race in full swing and tensions between the two states becoming increasingly heightened, not to mention the race to build as many satellite nations as possible. For instance, Germany has been split between a communist regime in the East and a democratic West. Korea has been split at the 38th Parallel between the Soviet occupied North and American occupied South. Meanwhile, American occupied Japan is slowly but surely rebuilding after a costly war that featured the world's first atomic weapons being dropped on both Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Meanwhile, China is facing turmoil internally as the Communists prepare to attack Republicans with an armed force as the United Kingdom, who's empire suffered detrimental losses during the war, is trying to keep a hold on it's colonies as the call for independence grows in several of them. Despite staving off the rise of fascism and rapid imperialism across the world, the sovereignties across the globe now must solve new conflicts and face new issues throughout the following years. In a world where countries rush to pick sides, a world that pits communism against democracy, dictators against presidents, and freedom against oppression, what will come of this battle of philosophy? Will anybody come out unscathed? Who will survive after the coldest day?
Meanwhile, China is facing turmoil internally as the Communists prepare to attack Republicans with an armed force as the United Kingdom, who's empire suffered detrimental losses during the war, is trying to keep a hold on it's colonies as the call for independence grows in several of them. Despite staving off the rise of fascism and rapid imperialism across the world, the sovereignties across the globe now must solve new conflicts and face new issues throughout the following years. In a world where countries rush to pick sides, a world that pits communism against democracy, dictators against presidents, and freedom against oppression, what will come of this battle of philosophy? Will anybody come out unscathed? Who will survive after the coldest day?
Damascus,
French Mandated Syria
January 1st, 1946
"That seems to be most agreeable." President al-Quwaiti said, finalizing an agreement between French and Syrian officials to grant the Syrian Republic total independence.
After nearly 30 years of occupation, Shukri al-Quwaiti was glad to see them go and independence flow in. All that remained for the French in Syria were to remove their troops and to assist in building the Syrian Constitution, as per the agreement that the president had just signed. Once the troops had left Syrian soil, then the Franco-Syrian Treaty of Independence would be in full effect and constitutional meetings could begin. Outside the capital building, assemblies of citizens in Damascus had gathered in celebration of the event, cheering and shouting in the streets of the capital.
"The people seem happy." Etienne Beynet, French High Commissioner of the Syrian territory, told al-Quwaiti with a smile as they looked out the window of the building's top floor.
"We've been waiting on this a long time Commissioner." Quwaiti replied.
"Please, call me Etienne. I'm not Commissioner anymore."
"Well, Etienne," Quwaiti smiled. "It was a pleasure to have you as Commissioner."
"Mr. Quwaiti, with all due respect, you don't need to be talking to me. You need to talk to them." Beynet gestured to the crowd of people. "A microphone has already been set up on the balcony." He smiled.
The President nodded his head and walked to the nearby balcony, stepping up to the microphone he spoke amid loud cheering. "Syrians!"
"Today, we have been granted independence! Today we are free!" Cheering from the people erupted even before the words were spoken. "Today we become an independent state, free of foreign advisory and free from foreign administration. No longer will we fight occupation, not now, not later, not ever! We have fought the oppression and we have beaten the oppression, the true test of Syrian endurance and willpower! Without the chains of occupation holding us back, we shall grow in strength! We shall become a power! We shall become a greater nation, the greatest nation! Rejoice my people! For this is not a victory for just Syria, nor the government, it is a victory for you!" Quwaiti said with strong emotion as he finished.
He walked back into the building with a resounding pride filled in him, and it was with this that he knew that a new Syria would be able to take on the world. Today, that new Syria was born. Today marked perhaps the single most important part in Syrian history. Today marked the beginning of an independent Syrian Republic. The future, despite Quwaiti's fervent emotion in his speech, was uncertain. With a great need of infrastructure, foreign investment, and a functional military, Syria's future was filled uncertainty. But Quwaiti was dedicated to making Syria into a state capable of sustaining itself. No matter what it meant.
After nearly 30 years of occupation, Shukri al-Quwaiti was glad to see them go and independence flow in. All that remained for the French in Syria were to remove their troops and to assist in building the Syrian Constitution, as per the agreement that the president had just signed. Once the troops had left Syrian soil, then the Franco-Syrian Treaty of Independence would be in full effect and constitutional meetings could begin. Outside the capital building, assemblies of citizens in Damascus had gathered in celebration of the event, cheering and shouting in the streets of the capital.
"The people seem happy." Etienne Beynet, French High Commissioner of the Syrian territory, told al-Quwaiti with a smile as they looked out the window of the building's top floor.
"We've been waiting on this a long time Commissioner." Quwaiti replied.
"Please, call me Etienne. I'm not Commissioner anymore."
"Well, Etienne," Quwaiti smiled. "It was a pleasure to have you as Commissioner."
"Mr. Quwaiti, with all due respect, you don't need to be talking to me. You need to talk to them." Beynet gestured to the crowd of people. "A microphone has already been set up on the balcony." He smiled.
The President nodded his head and walked to the nearby balcony, stepping up to the microphone he spoke amid loud cheering. "Syrians!"
"Today, we have been granted independence! Today we are free!" Cheering from the people erupted even before the words were spoken. "Today we become an independent state, free of foreign advisory and free from foreign administration. No longer will we fight occupation, not now, not later, not ever! We have fought the oppression and we have beaten the oppression, the true test of Syrian endurance and willpower! Without the chains of occupation holding us back, we shall grow in strength! We shall become a power! We shall become a greater nation, the greatest nation! Rejoice my people! For this is not a victory for just Syria, nor the government, it is a victory for you!" Quwaiti said with strong emotion as he finished.
He walked back into the building with a resounding pride filled in him, and it was with this that he knew that a new Syria would be able to take on the world. Today, that new Syria was born. Today marked perhaps the single most important part in Syrian history. Today marked the beginning of an independent Syrian Republic. The future, despite Quwaiti's fervent emotion in his speech, was uncertain. With a great need of infrastructure, foreign investment, and a functional military, Syria's future was filled uncertainty. But Quwaiti was dedicated to making Syria into a state capable of sustaining itself. No matter what it meant.
