Free Press News Service

[Todd McCloud]

Das Imperium a Nazi-region? Who gave you that info?

Maybe you should read this.

So they declared war on the GGR. You mean fascist regions are not allowed to fight one another?

[Ravania Prima]

Das Imperium a Nazi-region? Who gave you that info?

Maybe you should read this.

So they declared war on the GGR. You mean fascist regions are not allowed to fight one another?

Ah, now we get somewhere. UDL doesn't have a policy on fascist regions, so we defend and liberate them. That's what we do, you know.

But still Das Imperium isn't a fascist region, it's an imperialistic region... well a little German might help you to understand.
Das Imperium is German for The Empire.

[Of the Free Socialist Territories]

Das Imperium a Nazi-region? Who gave you that info?

Maybe you should read this.

So they declared war on the GGR. You mean fascist regions are not allowed to fight one another?

It has, as far as I am aware, had the "Anti-Fascist" tag for at least the past 12 months.

[Todd McCloud]

So they declared war on the GGR. You mean fascist regions are not allowed to fight one another?

Ah, now we get somewhere. UDL doesn't have a policy on fascist regions, so we defend and liberate them. That's what we do, you know.

But still Das Imperium isn't a fascist region, it's an imperialistic region... well a little German might help you to understand.
Das Imperium is German for The Empire.

You're going to put all these barbers out of a job with the amount of hair-splitting in this thread.

[Sovreignry]

Ah, now we get somewhere. UDL doesn't have a policy on fascist regions, so we defend and liberate them. That's what we do, you know.

But still Das Imperium isn't a fascist region, it's an imperialistic region... well a little German might help you to understand.
Das Imperium is German for The Empire.

You're going to put all these barbers out of a job with the amount of hair-splitting in this thread.

So, Japan prior to and during WWII was Nazi?

[Cerian Quilor]

Or are you trying to say that being German makes someone a Nazi?

[Ravania Prima]

Ah, now we get somewhere. UDL doesn't have a policy on fascist regions, so we defend and liberate them. That's what we do, you know.

But still Das Imperium isn't a fascist region, it's an imperialistic region... well a little German might help you to understand.
Das Imperium is German for The Empire.

You're going to put all these barbers out of a job with the amount of hair-splitting in this thread.

Hmmm, my youngest daughter just pointed me at the fact that when her hair is splitting, she has to go to the barber...

But okay, when I have to explain something to her I sometimes use a fairytale, maybe that might help here.

The Lost Empire

Once upon a time (1 year and 128 days ago) the knight with the flaming shield discovered a region unknown to mankind. He called it 'Das Imperium', which simply means the empire in an old European language, which was his mothertongue. The region soon prospered and became known as an imperialistic region, who fought great wars outside its borders with other regions that also used that old European language, but claimed to be national socialistic. The knight gave the key to the region to a wizard who lead the region in his stead, while the knight visited various other regions to leave his mark. But the wizard disappeared in one of his spells and took the key with him. The region lost a lot of its glory and became a forgotten realm until one day little red riding hood discovered the beautiful place and planted a seed in its forest. The seed remained dormant for a long time, but suddenly it flowered and attracted red butterflies from all over the world. These red butterflies thought the region named in this old European language was also national socialistic and soon seedlings of the plant overgrew the entire region. Young princes and paupers heard of this mythical place and tried to enter the region, to give it back to the knight with the flaming shield. But their first attempts failed, although friends of the knight came to their aid... (To be continued)

[Cormac Stark]

Das Imperium is not nor has it ever been a fascist region. It's an imperialist region. You're just wrong here, Todd; unless you think that having a German name or theme makes a region fascist. In which case you're still wrong, but more laughably so.

[Karputsk]

I have addressed Das Imperium in another topic, needless to say it wasn't an invasion nor is Das Imperium a Nazi/Fascist region.

[Babiana]

(Image)
Actual image of the defender policy for dealing with Nazi regions, photobombed by a Todd

Defenders Confused by Nazi Regions

At a conference somewhere: in what has been a series of blunders and backtracks this week, defender regions have continuously shot themselves in the foot over the question of what to do with Nazi regions. And as it turns out, had they simply done nothing, the Free Press News Service would be covering Todd's departure as delegate of TEP. So, obviously this is the better and more slaptastic story. We'll probably cover that other story on a slower news day. So defenders: stop being confusing and we'll be able to go back to our regularly scheduled programming!

Our coverage began with the canceling of the UDL-TEP treaty, a move which both sides are apparently not that broken up over. The cancellation was due to a number of reasons and shortcomings, but seemed to fall on one major issue: the Nazi region question. TEP was all "hey, we don't like the badspam so we're going to take GGR's embassies away cause that seems to be the only way we can impress upon them to stop." UDL was all "hey, don't do that! We don't like Nazis except when it comes to their embassies in non-Nazi regions! Leave 'em alone, we say! LEAVE BRITTANY NAZIS ALONE!" Anyway that among other reasons seemed to end the discussion. And that's exactly how it happened.

Enter two nights ago, when a coalition of nations attempted to invade Nazi Europe. Led by the rebranded "Fascist Reinforcement Alliance" (FRA) and other members (including UDL nations), defender stormtroopers and SS guards goose-stepped into the region and endorsed the delegate to secure the region for the Nazis. But wait, according to our last issue, the UDL doesn't support Nazis and would not help them in an invasion. Is that right? Or were they simply flying under the banner of the Fascist Reinforcement Alliance (who are mulling over adopting a "seig heil!" in their motto this very minute) in an attempt to dodge their own credo? And if that's the case, what's the point of a particular group having a stance on anything if all one has to do is change hats?

Earlier that day, defenders apparently invaded Das Imperium to remove the rightful delegate there, German Eagle, as pointed out in this post. It wasn't successful, but the fact remains: in the span of less than 24 hours, defenders invaded one fascist region, then defended another.

It's clear to the Free Press News Service that defenders don't know what to do with Nazi regions. First they don't like them but will support their embassies established with non-Nazi regions. Then they invade a Nazi region. Later on, they defend a Nazi region with a multitude of troops. So... what is exactly going on here?

"Back in my day, you chose a stance and stuck to it," Todd McCloud said while waving a cane he bought at the dollar store. You know, the cheap wooden one with a poorly-painted dragon on it an a marble on the handle. "That included sides, values, whatever. I mean, if you changed over from raiding to defending, you were more or less blackballed by the raiders, and looked upon with suspicion by defenders for years. For years I tells ya! And while values and specifics could morph over a career, they didn't turn on a dime within 24 hours! Where are the old ways of thought? Where have all the flowers gone? Why can't we have nice things?"

We turned off his mic to prevent a long rant. But still, it does raise a few interesting points. Where is the consistency here? Where are the hardline stances that ebb the nebulous tendencies of modern defenderism? Who is in charge of this stuff, and do they meet regularly to keep their stories / ideals straight? It remains to be seen, but Free Press News Service wonders if these groups will learn from the blunders of this week and get back to a consensus on what to do with these Nazi regions for the near future. Time will tell.

Todd your writing is really amazing, please never stop

Despite them being the enemy, I do feel compelled to stick up for the UDL here. They defend every region in every way they can manage. The only reason they make an exception for Nazi regions is the UDL members voted on that policy because their members are human players who cannot stand defending Nazis, due to RL limitations. In all other respects defending trumps the anti-nazi crusade and I don't think it's that weird for the game to be played that way. Of course it wouldn't really be called a crusade if it wasn't being prosecuted overzealously.

Don't let me impede the zeal and the zest, I just can't resist commenting. Why would anyone commit themselves to the defender cause when we have something so exciting to join in?

Why not label TEP a raider region, then you get to pick an R/D side and attack Nazi-related regions too?

[The North Polish Union]

The UDL and FRA's defense of NAZI EUROPE is despicable, as well as being in clear violation of the UDL's policy on Nazi regions.

[Tano]

Despite them being the enemy, I do feel compelled to stick up for the UDL here.

Wait, UDL is considered the enemy? How come I didn't know this?

Why not label TEP a raider region, then you get to pick an R/D side and attack Nazi-related regions too?

Despite the fact that we have so far only done raids (as far as I know) I do envision potential defense missions too, perhaps maybe liberating regions that were taken from us. I don't think we should be labled as raiders yet, until someone high up (like AMOM) declares we are.
However, I do agree that so far we've had a mostly raider agenda.

[Klaus Devestatorie]

As the former MoFA of Unknown back in the day when Unknown had Foreign Relations with Das Imperium, which in turn was back in the day when Das Imperium had a functioning rp government, founder, forum, etc, I can tell you with 100% certainty that Das Imperium is not and never has been a fascist or Nazi region. Indeed, if I recall correctly, when the members of The Great Kingdom of Prussia grew tired of Nazism and split off en masse from GGR to form that region, Das Imperium was one of the first regions they tried to start foreign relations with, because of perceived distance from Nazism. To claim that Das Imperium is in any way a Nazi region is blatant slander.

</discussion>

[The Dark]

Indeed, in my time as WAD of Das Imperium, we were certainly not aligned with any particular ideology, fascism or otherwise.

[Todd McCloud]

Das Imperium is not nor has it ever been a fascist region. It's an imperialist region. You're just wrong here, Todd; unless you think that having a German name or theme makes a region fascist. In which case you're still wrong, but more laughably so.

I'm not the one who invaded the region.

Free Press News Service is merely reporting based on factual evidence gained at the time of the writing. The news service reserves the right to conduct manners as it sees fit and will alter facts if it feels compelled to do so. Again, we are only reporting what we find. We did not invade this region, so we are forced to connect the dots here.

[Todd McCloud]

Indeed, in my time as WAD of Das Imperium, we were certainly not aligned with any particular ideology, fascism or otherwise.

FPNS apologizes for this distinction. As is proper, we will alter our edition to omit this.

[Todd McCloud]

Indeed, in my time as WAD of Das Imperium, we were certainly not aligned with any particular ideology, fascism or otherwise.

FPNS apologizes for this distinction. As is proper, we will alter our edition to omit this.

Article has been updated. Once again, we apologize for the branding - please let us know if we still have portrayed your region in a bad light.

[Tim-Opolis]

The UDL and FRA's defense of NAZI EUROPE is despicable, as well as being in clear violation of the UDL's policy on Nazi regions.

*raises an eyebrow and puts on his Chief of Foreign Affairs hat*

Really? Really? Please tell me where the United Defenders League stated any association with the Defense of Nazi Europe. I'll happily answer.. Nowhere.

The United Defenders League did not participate in any such defense. You may have been mislead to think this due to a few of our members participating in the Defense. However, they were doing this of their own free will and were not acting under the banner of the Greenwood Band. Although the United Defenders League does not condone the invasion of any region, we do not defend, or liberate Nazi Regions from invasions. Our individual members are free to do as they wish, but they do not represent the UDL if partaking in defenses of Nazis.

[Cerian Quilor]

Are you really going to trot that out again?

[Feux]

The UDL and FRA's defense of NAZI EUROPE is despicable, as well as being in clear violation of the UDL's policy on Nazi regions.

*raises an eyebrow and puts on his Chief of Foreign Affairs hat*

Really? Really? Please tell me where the United Defenders League stated any association with the Defense of Nazi Europe. I'll happily answer.. Nowhere.

The United Defenders League did not participate in any such defense. You may have been mislead to think this due to a few of our members participating in the Defense. However, they were doing this of their own free will and were not acting under the banner of the Greenwood Band. Although the United Defenders League does not condone the invasion of any region, we do not defend, or liberate Nazi Regions from invasions. Our individual members are free to do as they wish, but they do not represent the UDL if partaking in defenses of Nazis.

I always think that is to good of a loop hole when I hear it. Not jack you can do about it though.

[South Eastern North Western Prussia]

Are you really going to trot that out again?

Same UDL, different Chief of the Band.

[Mahaj]

Are you really going to trot that out again?

You honestly believe that every action you commit, you personally, is an official action of TNI and Kantrias?

[SkyDip]

Are you really going to trot that out again?

You honestly believe that every action you commit, you personally, is an official action of TNI and Kantrias?

*Europeia. Missed one.

[Solm]

Did I stumble into the UDL thread by accident? I really did mean to read more fairy tales and funny Todd quotes rather than quibbles.

[PrussianEmpire]

Typical UDL. Nothing about this is surprising.