The Coldest War Redux (Alt-Hist Cold War RP - OOC)

[Sao Nova Europa]

APPLICATION
NS Name: Benuty
RP Name: Confederation of Sovereign States

Reservation noted.

[The Orson Empire]

I'll try my hand at Italy.

RESERVATION
NS Name: The Orson Empire
RP Name: Kingdom of Italy
Territory: Italian peninsula, Italian colonies

Do not remove - 1960RP

I'm thinking Benito Mussolini will be dead by 1960, with an appointed successor in his place.

Also OP, what would be the most reasonable extent of Italian colonies in Africa?

[Dragos Bee]

I assume it's okay for me to join, right?

RESERVATION
NS Name: Dragos Bee.
RP Name: Republic of the Philippines.
Territory: Philippine Archipelago + Spratly Islands.

Do not remove - 1960RP

[Astarter]

Hmmmmmm, think I’ll make a reservation for la France, looks interesting

RESERVATION
NS Name: Astarter
RP Name: The Republic of Free France
Territory: All French colonies, excluding those owned by foreign powers (like Djibouti) and Indochina

Do not remove - 1960RP

[Dragos Bee]

Hmm, best not to join for now; I'm overextended elsewhere.

[Ovstylap]

APPLICATION
NS Name: Ovstylap
RP Name: Ordensstaat Burgundy (translated as the SS State of Burgundy, or also known as Burgundy, known in OOC as OS Burgundy or Burgundy).
Flag: https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/the-new-order-the-last-days-of-europe/images/b/b0/Burgundy.png/revision/latest?cb=20181211201900
Capital: Reims (Rheims)
Territory: https://i.imgur.com/KrzWhXa.png Note that Wallonia should also be included.
Population: 20,225,000

Official Language(s): German (Official), Flemish (Limited Recognition with a permit)
Ethnic Breakdown: 45.5% German, 18.8% Germanised, 35.7% Un-Germanised
Religious Breakdown:
45% Catholic
34% Gottgläubig
14% Protestant
7% Esoterism/Neo-Germanic paganism
Note: This is just what the census reports

Type of Government: A totalitarian, partially Stratocracy state with a hardline Esoteric Nazi ideology. It is autonomous administrative unit of the Greater Germanic Reich, responsible only for domestic affairs.
Head of State: Heinrich Himmler
Head of Government: Heinrich Himmler
Legislature: The Burgundian Schutzstaffel Department for Internal Law
Legislative Houses: There are only branches of government.
Party in Power: The Burgundian Schutzstaffel, officially the NSDAP by membership.
National Issues:
1) Radical Ideology: Himmler's Burgundian system effectively views the German reality of Nazism as having strayed from its purest core. As such, ideology is favoured over pragmatism, resulting in inefficiency, significant amounts of internal resistance and dedication of resources to counter-subversion, and unpopularity in Germany proper.
2) Uncertain Loyalties: Whilst the Burgundian SS is one thing, the Allegmeine SS is nominally under the control of Himmler, but is more aligned with Reinhard Heydrich. Bureacratic overlap of the SS makes internal rivalries, uncertain loyalties, and competitive infighting cause mistrust, a difference between reality, truth, and knowledge, and other inefficiencies.
3) Unacceptable but Necessary subjects: The French. A decadent, weak people. But the lifeblood of the Burgundian economy. A race utilized as slaves, yet having their own puppet state just to the south. A people who are oppressed so that even more inferior slaves are not needed, yet who pose a strong political threat. What is to be done with these people, what is to be done when they are not allowed to speak their own language but to integrate them as if they were Germans betrays Himmler. It is surely the French who are the problem, not Himmler's radicalism, surely?
Public Goals: Maintenance of German hegemony over Europe, successful waging of the 'Forever War' against the 'Judeo-Bolshevik-Asiatic hordes,' growth of support for hardline Nazi ideology throughout the Greater Germanic Reich, achieve the Masterplan for the East.
Private Goals: Align the Burgundian, Deutsche, and Waffen SS, sway Goebbels, reverse Speer's reforms, reform Germany into a Spartan state, make the SS the primary Armed Force of Germany.
Even more Private Goal- ensure that the SS can continue as a powerhouse if Himmler proves to threaten the SS's actual longevity by making it so unpopular.

Notes on nature of this nation OS Burgundy is a puppet of the Greater German Reich. When Burgundian SS is used, this refers to those units and persons directly within the state apparatus of Burgundy, directly loyal to Himmler (in principle), it is these who I have executive control over. Nominally, and lore-wise, there may be some organisational or bureacratic loyalty amongst other SS elements, whether Deutsche or Waffen, in the policing, security, concentration camp, and anti-partisan, or military units in the East- but I do not have executive control over these, only nominal connection with approval by the OP for these on a per post basis.

GDP (nominal): 21 billion
Currency: Reichsmark
Economic System: Theoretically, State Capitalism, though there is to many intents and purposes, a Command Economy, supplemented by a slave economy and free gray/black market involving subsistence goods.
Major Trade Partners: Greater Germanic Reich, Reichskommissariat Belgien, Reichskommissariat Niederlande, Reichskommissariat Dänemark. France and UK to a lesser and more specific extent, often involving the black market.
Alliance(s): European Economic Community.

Military Branches (names of official Armed Forces Branches): The Burgundian Schutzstaffel. Elements may be loyal from the Deutsche and Waffen SS

Active Duty: 227,403
Reserve Duty: 32074
Total Manpower: 259,477

Land Forces: The Burgundian SS directly commands a strong force of 9 SS-Grenadier divisions, each having a paper strength of 17773, for a total of 159,957 men. Often, these units are distributed and involved in various border control and anti-resistance units. Normally two are rotated on two-year shifts to the Eastern Front at any one time, with these rotations being staggered.

Each of these divisions, consisting of 17773 men, is more highly equipped on average than a Wehrmacht division, on a per capita basis, as they have 388 machine-guns, 114 mortars, 64 anti-tank guns, and 18 howitzers. This amounts to 177,730 men,
3,492 machine guns, 1026 mortars, 576 anti-tank guns, and 162 howitzers.

This can be compared with a standard Wehrmacht division of: 25,000 men, 442 machine guns, 135 mortars, 72 antitank guns, and 24 howitzers. As such, for 45-46 SS men there is a machine-gun, versus an MG for 56-57. 155-156 men per mortar versus 185 men per mortar. 277 or 278 men per anti-tank gun versus 347 men per anti-tank gun. 987 men per howitzer versus 1041 or 1042 men per Howitzer. However, this means that in each SS unit there is a higher ratio of combat support than in a Wehrmacht unit, increasing its logistical chain, and forces troops to carry more.

The remaining 61,043 men are divided between the three non-German SS divisions, the Charlemagne, Walloon, and Langemarck divisions, in addition to the Leibstandarte SS Heinrich Himmler (or LSSHH), and Burgundian SS Panzer Regiments.

Charlemagne consists of 12452 men, 10 tanks, 240 machine guns, 63 mortars, 38 anti-tank guns, and 12 howitzers. It is thus more closely equipped to a Wehrmacht than an SS-Grenadier division.

Walloon consists of 14585 men, 14 tanks, 276 machine guns, 91 mortars, 49 anti-tank guns, 15 howitzers. It is thus similarly equipped to an SS-Grenadier division.

Langemarck consists of 9893 men, 7 tanks, 153 machine guns, 51 mortars, 29 anti-tank guns, 10 howitzers. It is thus the weakest of all of the SS divisions, due to being mauled in Reichskommissariat Moskowien recently.

LSSHH consists of 12,209 men, with these being the finest and most loyal of the SS-Grenadiers. They have 47 tanks, 243 machine guns, 71 mortars, 38 anti-tank guns, and 8 howitzers. As such, its equipment ratios are mostly between an SS-Grenadier and a Wehrmacht division.

The 3 Burgundian SS Panzer Regiments, each of 4003 men, each consist of 110 tanks, 3 support battalions, and 2 artillery batteries. This makes them broadly similar when combined to a Wehrmacht panzer division, as each one is comprised of about 11,800 men, 328 tanks, 8 support battalions and 6 artillery batteries.

Burgundy thus has a total of 221,105 active duty men in combat units, 408 tanks, 4404 machine guns, 1302 mortars, 730 anti-tank guns, and 207 howitzers. The 32074 'reserve' duty men indicate men in not combat/combat support units, and thus include a variety of mechanical, administrative, technical, logistical, training, medical, intelligence, policing, and independently assigned personnel- not intended for the frontline.

Air Force: The Luftwaffe itself protects Burgundy, though a small force has been raised over the past three years. Many of the personnel however either didn't make the Luftwaffe internal cuts, or were below entry requirements, or were removed from their units. Of all of the Burgundian forces, these are the least disciplined. A total of 31 dive bombers, 7 bombers, 47 fighters, and 53 transports are run by Burgundy, for a total of 138 operational aircraft. There are 2723 personnel- they are thinly stretched indeed!

Naval Forces: Burgundy has almost no navy to speak of, other than 4 torpedo boats, 7 minesweepers/layers, two small submarines, and a few dozen river/coastal craft, primarily for interdicting black market and resistance activity. There are only 3575 personnel involved.

Other Military Information: Though not under direct Burgundian control, there are a number of SS units and personnel in other parts of the Reich which may have some loyalties to Burgundy. Of note there are around 8500 personnel in Kaukasia, 1100 in Poland, 4300 in Yugoslavia, and 15300 in Ukraine, Ostland, and Moskowien. These are under the control of Sao, but could be used in approved arcs and posts to some extent.

History:
By 1943, the SS had proved itself pivotal in enabling Germany to achieve mastery of Europe. SS-Grenadiers proved vital in the tenacious fighting in the city of Stalingrad, whilst SS Panzer units achieved a breakthrough at Kursk. In Leningrad, members of the Wiking division broke into the government quarter, and were able to occupy the NKVD headquarters.

Through to the end of the war, the SS proved themselves to have the brutal tenacity necessary to rout Soviet elements, and partisans throughout Eastern Europe, as well as administrating the vast appartus of extermination and deportation necessary to achieve Hitler's fundamental aims, and work on Generalplan Ost. However, elements within the SS had grown appalled at their capacity for self-sacrifice being abused in their eyes by the state. The lack of any clear signs that the SS would come to dominate the Armed Forces, and ultimately replace them, and their high casualty rates sustained by being the first-in, last-out, began to cause internal resentment.

Seeing the bureaucratic infighting and underappreciation of the SS, and witnessing their power and influence diminish as their extermination of the Jews get closer and closer to completion in the occupied territories, there were those who were becoming increasingly disatisifed. The vastly expensive master plan for the East, the construction of Germania, and the costs of war came together to burden the German economy more and more, and the SS saw their private economic empire be steadily dismantled. What was worse was that they were getting less recruits of the right calibre as others left to colonise the East, or as society weakened, in their eyes.

The economic recession, and the lack of ideological radicalism within the population, the mass complaint and unwillingness to make sacrifices, all was increasingly making it seem as if the German people were becoming weak. Hitler seemed to be sidelined more and more by bureacrats, walked over by military demands, and the SS, out of respect for him, were still loyal and not pressuring him overly. But such could not be sustained. In 1949, several SS units left the frontline by the Urals, and allowed Soviet successor units to push through, and a number of Wehrmacht minor units were subsequently harmed, a couple lost. Two divisions refused to move from Germany to the Eastern Front, and in Germania Speer and his staff were denied access to several construction projects within a couple of days.

In Dresden, the SS took over a prison and executed all of the political dissidents there, and in three camps outside Nuremburg the SS carried out mass executions. In Ukraine, an SS unit disarmed a few thousand Romanians, and ended up extrajudicially executing 239 men who were accused of racial crimes, political treachery, and cowardice. This series of actions in June and July 1949 came close to being seen as a coup, but no evidence could be found for a widely co-ordinated effort- instead it was an outpouring of SS anger.

Almost all news of the incidents was covered up, and several assassinations occurred in Romania to keep things under a close lid. The SS units by the Urals launched a counter-attack and repulsed the Soviet successors, and the divisions which had refused to move saw their senior commanders reassigned, and then they carried out their transfer orders.

By 1951, the SS, or at least elements of it, were seen as one of the new internal factions, and as they remained upset, clamouring for power and ideological fervour, Hitler took action. By the end of the year, the Ordensstaat Burgundy was being formed, and by September 1953 the SS took over full administration of Wallonia and parts of North-Eastern France as an autonomous administrative unit. Under Himmler, who took command, are the Burgundian SS. A great collection of the most radical and Esoteric Nazis, as well as personnel he requested, or who were approved transfer. This ideological core rules over Burgundy by fear and tyranny, implementing a 'purer' ideology. There is also the Deutsche SS, under the command of Reinhard Heydrich, though there are mixed views on how loyal he is to Himmler, and then finally there is the Waffen SS, which is the least political, and is that branch which is operating throughout the eastern Reichskommissariats as part of the security apparatus. There are links between them all, but it is only the Burgundian SS and individual connections who are truly loyal to Himmler.

Over the past several years, the Ordensstaat has turned into a concrete dystopian nightmare, with the tightest regulations on what information and trade goes in and out. Himmler has created a shadow state, and the Burgundian SS run their own minor operations in many parts of the world (OOC: will clear on case by case basis with the OP). Systematically, French and Belgian culture is being wiped out, and the people Germanised or otherwise worked into complete subservience and reliance on their overlords.

Such is the Ordensstaat. Though some enter, almost none leave. Though many are born, few live. Though many hope, little continue to do so. Though many fear, nothing can be done.

RP Example(s):

Grey clouds high and thin in the sky, the light turning purple as the sun prepared itself to recover from the efforts of lighting the earths. The evening twilight was a beautiful time, but it was representative of the end of things. A dozen dozens were gathered. Old men and women stood with their offspring and theirs around them. Children were held, wrapped in primitive cloaks of hide, and focused on watching the torchlit procession pass. The occasional insect passed around buzzed in the light cast by the torches. The procession passed through in silence, though the priests at the front were chanting hymns of gratitude to the Merciful Ones, seeking their blessing on the spirit of the dead. A woman fell to the ground as a shrouded body was carried by broad-shouldered men, and cried aloud, wailing her sobs into the ground. Two of her own children knelt by her and cuddled her, trying to comfort their mourning mother.

At the end of the procession was a wooden pyre, which Thusnelda herself stood by, bearing a flaming torch. With gravity and respect, those carrying the body lowered it gently onto the pyre, as the priests circled around before circling again and pausing, facing outwards from the pyre. The crowds gathered around. The brother of the dead spoke for a short while, praising their attributes, and sharing a couple of funny stories. One of the wise elders spoke of their character and temperament, whilst his daughter praised her father for his love and care. A few more spoke, before the priestess overseeing the ceremony spoke on the nature of life itself. Thusnelda echoed her agreement, and intoned the sacred prayers for the passing of the dead. The people echoed their response, and a torch was thrust into the heart of the pyre.

Soon the flames which catch, as old embers, as bits of kindling, as twigs caught, and then the branches, and the larger ones, before all was aflame. Herbs and plants burned in the pyre, helping to conceal the smell that was otherwise like burning boarmeat. Thusnelda stood close to the blaze, allowing herself to perspire, and waited before the priests backed away before she did likely. Gradually did the people disperse, leaving only those who wished to say their final farewells and speak to the departing. In the morning, the ashes were all gathered together. These would be scattered across areas of importance to the departed, in the homes of their loved ones, and on the trees which were planted in memory of them. Others were given to the River of Rest, and others to wild fruit bushes and trees.

That day a scholar of the Ravarii was laid to rest. Killed by the great lizard which plagued the land. And so it would continue until either the lizard moved away for lack of food, or the appropriate men trained and equipped to deal with it. Yet ditches would be dug, and the timber gathered so that a palisade might be constructed. In the meantime, the sentries were doubled, and the hunting parties sent out in larger groups.

Do not remove - 1960RP

Le Fin

[Astarter]

APPLICATION
NS Name: Astarter
RP Name: The Republic of Free France
Flag: https://i.imgur.com/06mxGoe.jpg
Capital: Algiers
Territory: All Colonial French Territory excluding those in Indochina, Madagascar and French Guyana
Population: 182 Million

Official Language(s): French, Swahili and Arabic
Ethnic Breakdown: 30% French, 25% Congolese, 18% Algerian, 16% Moroccan, 11% other
Religious Breakdown: 26% Christian, 25% no religion, 9% Islam, 40% other

Type of Government: Unitary Parliamentary Republic
Head of State: Charles de Gaulle
Head of Government: Charles de Gaulle
Legislature (the name of your national legislature): The Peoples National Assembly
Legislative Houses (if your legislature is bicameral): Unicameral Legislature
Party in Power: The Union for the Defence of the Republic
National Issues:

Colonial Unrest
Once a great colonial power, France is now trapped in its colonies, in an ironic way. This has caused mass unrest, and the people in the colonies are upset that they are still trapped by a foreign power, that isn’t even that powerful anymore. The people demand independence, which is what happened in Indochina, making them independent after a five year long civil war.

Economic Crisis
Free France is undergoing a crisis, due to being trapped in their colonies. They have a bad standard of living, poverty is rife and people try to save up instead of spending, which has caused an economic downfall, and increasing colonial unrest along with it. This has caused us to become reliant on foreign trade.

New Party Rising Up
L'Union nationale, or The National Union, is a new political party that is gaining much attraction. They are a fair right, nationalist, stratocratic party, high on military power and expansion. They want France to be restored to its former glory at any costs, and also want to decolonise, which brings many African people joy, and so they support it, although the skeptics believe it’s only a ruse to get them to vote them in. This will be a major problem for the current government.

Outdated Military
France, having been isolated in Africa, hasn’t had enough time or money to upgrade the military, which is estimated to be around 5-10 years behind that of powers like Germany and the US, and that isn’t counting nuclear power. The military needs a big boost so that France can properly defend itself.

Public Goals: Fix the economy, become less trade reliant, stop inequality, revitalise the military and research more ways to get energy.
Private Goals: Restore France as it used to be, pick a side the conflict between the US and Germany, make Indochina closer to France to extend influence and become a great power.

GDP (nominal): 760 Million Franc
Currency: The French Franc
Economic System: State Capitalism
Major Trade Partners: The USA, China, Brazil and the UK
Alliance(s): French Cooperation League (economic and military alliance between Indochina, Madagascar and French Guyana, formerly just he Indochinese Cooperation League)

Military Branches (names of official Armed Forces Branches):
-The Free French Forces
-La Royale
-The Armée de l'Air
-The Troupes de Marine

Active Duty: 450,000
Reserve Duty: 125,000
Total Manpower: 2.2 Million (maybe)

Land Forces:
375,000 Soldiers
150 Tanks
800 Artillery
10k Military Vehicles
Early 1950s Equipment

Air Force:
160 Bombers
256 Fighters
94 Naval Bombers
321 Scouts
462 Transports

Naval Forces:
75 Destroyers
24 Battleships
91 Submarines
6 Frigates
12 Carriers

Other Military Information: N/A

History:

On June 14, German troops entered and captured Paris, and 11 days later, France capitulated to the Germans. After that humiliating defeat, several French leaders and generals fled to the African colonies, while Germany installed a puppet state known as Vichy France. Most territories went to Vichy France, but French Guyana, Madagascar, Indochina, and Cameroon stayed with France, now known as Free France. Charles de Gaulle left to London, but returned to fight in the African colonies of Cameroon to defend from the Axis.

The main front for 1940-1941 in French Africa was Niger, which was a brutal battle ground. Eventually, in August, The Battle of Agadez was won by the French and they gained control of the Niger area. Then, for the rest of the year they battle in Benin, which made Free France take many casualties and lost a lot of men. Eventually in mid 1942, they captured Benin and then Togo, and tried to push into Burkina Faso. Unluckily, the French lost at the battle of Ouagadougou, and were pushed out of Burkina Faso and Togo. In British Ghana, French forces led directly by Charles de Gaulle fought at the Great Battle At Tamale, defending the colony, which ended up a stalemate after a month of fighting, but allowed the armies to push the German, Italian and Vichy French forces out of Ghana.

The war was mostly a stalemate from then on, until in early 1943, the French were pushed out of Benin. Later, two months after the British surrendered, the French called for an armistice, which was accepted, which meant that all colonies, excluding Morocco and Djibouti, shall be kept under Free French control, Free France must pay reparations and France must demilitarise Tunisia for the duration of the Armistice. Later on, Vichy and Free France made an agreement to give all migrants to and from the France’s free passports so they can freely travel between the countries.

Afterwards, Charles de Gaulle focused on rebuilding the country, getting Anti-Vichy French politicians into Free France, adapting France to Africa, upgrading military equipment, and increasing trade with other nations to fix the country. It took a while to get going, but by 1954, most of those goals were complete, and Free France had elections every 4 years.

In 1952, Indochina was plunged into a civil war as they wanted independence. After 5 long, hard years, it was a stalemate and they had an equal peace treaty, where they gained independence but remained having close relations with France, along with Free Trade and formed the Indochinese Cooperation League.

Later on, Madagascar had a ton of rebels wanting independence, and knowing they couldn’t hold onto it, in 1955, they were given independence, but remained close to us. A few months after Indochina gained independence, Free France gave French Guyana independence too, as it was too much territory to hold on too. As they did, they released they should change the Indochinese Cooperation League to the French Cooperation League, and include all the released colonies. Luckily, they accepted, which greatly helped all involved nations.

RP Example(s):
Note: These are my alts, haven’t done much RPing on this account but have on those ones
Coldest War(Sweden 2022 RP is me)
Esoyan Civil War(Never Gonna Give You Up Rickroller is me)

Do not remove - 1960RP

Here we go

[Sao Nova Europa]

APPLICATION
NS Name: Astarter
RP Name: The Republic of Free France

This looks good and I will be accepting it with a minor change: instead of a formal peace treaty between Vichy France and Free France, change the wording to an armistice. Basically similar to what happened in Korea in real life: there is no formal peace treaty between North and South Korea, but an armistice. Other than that, it looks great and I will be accepting it.

[Sao Nova Europa]

I'll try my hand at Italy.

RESERVATION
NS Name: The Orson Empire
RP Name: Kingdom of Italy
Territory: Italian peninsula, Italian colonies

Do not remove - 1960RP

I'm thinking Benito Mussolini will be dead by 1960, with an appointed successor in his place.

Also OP, what would be the most reasonable extent of Italian colonies in Africa?

Reservation noted.

Since the player who contacted me about Egypt is not interested in it anymore, you can annex directly the Suez Canal and have Egypt as a puppet state of Italy. Greece is also a puppet state under Italian influence. As for colonies under Italian direct control, you could annex Sudan. Be warned though that this is the era of decolonization, so there is going to be low-level insurgency in colonies like Sudan.

[Astarter]

APPLICATION
NS Name: Astarter
RP Name: The Republic of Free France

This looks good and I will be accepting it with a minor change: instead of a formal peace treaty between Vichy France and Free France, change the wording to an armistice. Basically similar to what happened in Korea in real life: there is no formal peace treaty between North and South Korea, but an armistice. Other than that, it looks great and I will be accepting it.

Okay, I will! Just a quick question, will those agreements still happen, like, would Vichy renounce their claims etc, thanks.

Let’s hope this RP will last longer than the last *chuckles nervously*

I’m probs gonna align myself with the US, because, well, I want my poor French lands back

[Sao Nova Europa]

APPLICATION
NS Name: Ovstylap
RP Name: Ordensstaat Burgundy (translated as the SS State of Burgundy, or also known as Burgundy, known in OOC as OS Burgundy or Burgundy).
Flag: https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/the-new-order-the-last-days-of-europe/images/b/b0/Burgundy.png/revision/latest?cb=20181211201900
Capital: Reims (Rheims)
Territory: https://i.imgur.com/KrzWhXa.png Note that Wallonia should also be included.
Population: 20,225,000

Official Language(s): German (Official), Flemish (Limited Recognition with a permit)
Ethnic Breakdown: 45.5% German, 18.8% Germanised, 35.7% Un-Germanised
Religious Breakdown:
45% Catholic
34% Gottgläubig
14% Protestant
7% Esoterism/Neo-Germanic paganism
Note: This is just what the census reports

Type of Government: A totalitarian, partially Stratocracy state with a hardline Esoteric Nazi ideology. It is autonomous administrative unit of the Greater Germanic Reich, responsible only for domestic affairs.
Head of State: Heinrich Himmler
Head of Government: Heinrich Himmler
Legislature: The Burgundian Schutzstaffel Department for Internal Law
Legislative Houses: There are only branches of government.
Party in Power: The Burgundian Schutzstaffel, officially the NSDAP by membership.
National Issues:
1) Radical Ideology: Himmler's Burgundian system effectively views the German reality of Nazism as having strayed from its purest core. As such, ideology is favoured over pragmatism, resulting in inefficiency, significant amounts of internal resistance and dedication of resources to counter-subversion, and unpopularity in Germany proper.
2) Uncertain Loyalties: Whilst the Burgundian SS is one thing, the Allegmeine SS is nominally under the control of Himmler, but is more aligned with Reinhard Heydrich. Bureacratic overlap of the SS makes internal rivalries, uncertain loyalties, and competitive infighting cause mistrust, a difference between reality, truth, and knowledge, and other inefficiencies.
3) Unacceptable but Necessary subjects: The French. A decadent, weak people. But the lifeblood of the Burgundian economy. A race utilized as slaves, yet having their own puppet state just to the south. A people who are oppressed so that even more inferior slaves are not needed, yet who pose a strong political threat. What is to be done with these people, what is to be done when they are not allowed to speak their own language but to integrate them as if they were Germans betrays Himmler. It is surely the French who are the problem, not Himmler's radicalism, surely?
Public Goals: Maintenance of German hegemony over Europe, successful waging of the 'Forever War' against the 'Judeo-Bolshevik-Asiatic hordes,' growth of support for hardline Nazi ideology throughout the Greater Germanic Reich, achieve the Masterplan for the East.
Private Goals: Align the Burgundian, Deutsche, and Waffen SS, sway Goebbels, reverse Speer's reforms, reform Germany into a Spartan state, make the SS the primary Armed Force of Germany.
Even more Private Goal- ensure that the SS can continue as a powerhouse if Himmler proves to threaten the SS's actual longevity by making it so unpopular.

Notes on nature of this nation OS Burgundy is a puppet of the Greater German Reich. When Burgundian SS is used, this refers to those units and persons directly within the state apparatus of Burgundy, directly loyal to Himmler (in principle), it is these who I have executive control over. Nominally, and lore-wise, there may be some organisational or bureacratic loyalty amongst other SS elements, whether Deutsche or Waffen, in the policing, security, concentration camp, and anti-partisan, or military units in the East- but I do not have executive control over these, only nominal connection with approval by the OP for these on a per post basis.

GDP (nominal): 21 billion
Currency: Reichsmark
Economic System: Theoretically, State Capitalism, though there is to many intents and purposes, a Command Economy, supplemented by a slave economy and free gray/black market involving subsistence goods.
Major Trade Partners: Greater Germanic Reich, Reichskommissariat Belgien, Reichskommissariat Niederlande, Reichskommissariat Dänemark. France and UK to a lesser and more specific extent, often involving the black market.
Alliance(s): European Economic Community.

Military Branches (names of official Armed Forces Branches): The Burgundian Schutzstaffel. Elements may be loyal from the Deutsche and Waffen SS

Active Duty: 227,403
Reserve Duty: 32074
Total Manpower: 259,477

Land Forces: The Burgundian SS directly commands a strong force of 9 SS-Grenadier divisions, each having a paper strength of 17773, for a total of 159,957 men. Often, these units are distributed and involved in various border control and anti-resistance units. Normally two are rotated on two-year shifts to the Eastern Front at any one time, with these rotations being staggered.

Each of these divisions, consisting of 17773 men, is more highly equipped on average than a Wehrmacht division, on a per capita basis, as they have 388 machine-guns, 114 mortars, 64 anti-tank guns, and 18 howitzers. This amounts to 177,730 men,
3,492 machine guns, 1026 mortars, 576 anti-tank guns, and 162 howitzers.

This can be compared with a standard Wehrmacht division of: 25,000 men, 442 machine guns, 135 mortars, 72 antitank guns, and 24 howitzers. As such, for 45-46 SS men there is a machine-gun, versus an MG for 56-57. 155-156 men per mortar versus 185 men per mortar. 277 or 278 men per anti-tank gun versus 347 men per anti-tank gun. 987 men per howitzer versus 1041 or 1042 men per Howitzer. However, this means that in each SS unit there is a higher ratio of combat support than in a Wehrmacht unit, increasing its logistical chain, and forces troops to carry more.

The remaining 61,043 men are divided between the three non-German SS divisions, the Charlemagne, Walloon, and Langemarck divisions, in addition to the Leibstandarte SS Heinrich Himmler (or LSSHH), and Burgundian SS Panzer Regiments.

Charlemagne consists of 12452 men, 10 tanks, 240 machine guns, 63 mortars, 38 anti-tank guns, and 12 howitzers. It is thus more closely equipped to a Wehrmacht than an SS-Grenadier division.

Walloon consists of 14585 men, 14 tanks, 276 machine guns, 91 mortars, 49 anti-tank guns, 15 howitzers. It is thus similarly equipped to an SS-Grenadier division.

Langemarck consists of 9893 men, 7 tanks, 153 machine guns, 51 mortars, 29 anti-tank guns, 10 howitzers. It is thus the weakest of all of the SS divisions, due to being mauled in Reichskommissariat Moskowien recently.

LSSHH consists of 12,209 men, with these being the finest and most loyal of the SS-Grenadiers. They have 47 tanks, 243 machine guns, 71 mortars, 38 anti-tank guns, and 8 howitzers. As such, its equipment ratios are mostly between an SS-Grenadier and a Wehrmacht division.

The 3 Burgundian SS Panzer Regiments, each of 4003 men, each consist of 110 tanks, 3 support battalions, and 2 artillery batteries. This makes them broadly similar when combined to a Wehrmacht panzer division, as each one is comprised of about 11,800 men, 328 tanks, 8 support battalions and 6 artillery batteries.

Burgundy thus has a total of 221,105 active duty men in combat units, 408 tanks, 4404 machine guns, 1302 mortars, 730 anti-tank guns, and 207 howitzers. The 32074 'reserve' duty men indicate men in not combat/combat support units, and thus include a variety of mechanical, administrative, technical, logistical, training, medical, intelligence, policing, and independently assigned personnel- not intended for the frontline.

Air Force: The Luftwaffe itself protects Burgundy, though a small force has been raised over the past three years. Many of the personnel however either didn't make the Luftwaffe internal cuts, or were below entry requirements, or were removed from their units. Of all of the Burgundian forces, these are the least disciplined. A total of 31 dive bombers, 7 bombers, 47 fighters, and 53 transports are run by Burgundy, for a total of 138 operational aircraft. There are 2723 personnel- they are thinly stretched indeed!

Naval Forces: Burgundy has almost no navy to speak of, other than 4 torpedo boats, 7 minesweepers/layers, two small submarines, and a few dozen river/coastal craft, primarily for interdicting black market and resistance activity. There are only 3575 personnel involved.

Other Military Information: Though not under direct Burgundian control, there are a number of SS units and personnel in other parts of the Reich which may have some loyalties to Burgundy. Of note there are around 8500 personnel in Kaukasia, 1100 in Poland, 4300 in Yugoslavia, and 15300 in Ukraine, Ostland, and Moskowien. These are under the control of Sao, but could be used in approved arcs and posts to some extent.

History:
By 1943, the SS had proved itself pivotal in enabling Germany to achieve mastery of Europe. SS-Grenadiers proved vital in the tenacious fighting in the city of Stalingrad, whilst SS Panzer units achieved a breakthrough at Kursk. In Leningrad, members of the Wiking division broke into the government quarter, and were able to occupy the NKVD headquarters.

Through to the end of the war, the SS proved themselves to have the brutal tenacity necessary to rout Soviet elements, and partisans throughout Eastern Europe, as well as administrating the vast appartus of extermination and deportation necessary to achieve Hitler's fundamental aims, and work on Generalplan Ost. However, elements within the SS had grown appalled at their capacity for self-sacrifice being abused in their eyes by the state. The lack of any clear signs that the SS would come to dominate the Armed Forces, and ultimately replace them, and their high casualty rates sustained by being the first-in, last-out, began to cause internal resentment.

Seeing the bureaucratic infighting and underappreciation of the SS, and witnessing their power and influence diminish as their extermination of the Jews get closer and closer to completion in the occupied territories, there were those who were becoming increasingly disatisifed. The vastly expensive master plan for the East, the construction of Germania, and the costs of war came together to burden the German economy more and more, and the SS saw their private economic empire be steadily dismantled. What was worse was that they were getting less recruits of the right calibre as others left to colonise the East, or as society weakened, in their eyes.

The economic recession, and the lack of ideological radicalism within the population, the mass complaint and unwillingness to make sacrifices, all was increasingly making it seem as if the German people were becoming weak. Hitler seemed to be sidelined more and more by bureacrats, walked over by military demands, and the SS, out of respect for him, were still loyal and not pressuring him overly. But such could not be sustained. In 1949, several SS units left the frontline by the Urals, and allowed Soviet successor units to push through, and a number of Wehrmacht minor units were subsequently harmed, a couple lost. Two divisions refused to move from Germany to the Eastern Front, and in Germania Speer and his staff were denied access to several construction projects within a couple of days.

In Dresden, the SS took over a prison and executed all of the political dissidents there, and in three camps outside Nuremburg the SS carried out mass executions. In Ukraine, an SS unit disarmed a few thousand Romanians, and ended up extrajudicially executing 239 men who were accused of racial crimes, political treachery, and cowardice. This series of actions in June and July 1949 came close to being seen as a coup, but no evidence could be found for a widely co-ordinated effort- instead it was an outpouring of SS anger.

Almost all news of the incidents was covered up, and several assassinations occurred in Romania to keep things under a close lid. The SS units by the Urals launched a counter-attack and repulsed the Soviet successors, and the divisions which had refused to move saw their senior commanders reassigned, and then they carried out their transfer orders.

By 1951, the SS, or at least elements of it, were seen as one of the new internal factions, and as they remained upset, clamouring for power and ideological fervour, Hitler took action. By the end of the year, the Ordensstaat Burgundy was being formed, and by September 1953 the SS took over full administration of Wallonia and parts of North-Eastern France as an autonomous administrative unit. Under Himmler, who took command, are the Burgundian SS. A great collection of the most radical and Esoteric Nazis, as well as personnel he requested, or who were approved transfer. This ideological core rules over Burgundy by fear and tyranny, implementing a 'purer' ideology. There is also the Deutsche SS, under the command of Reinhard Heydrich, though there are mixed views on how loyal he is to Himmler, and then finally there is the Waffen SS, which is the least political, and is that branch which is operating throughout the eastern Reichskommissariats as part of the security apparatus. There are links between them all, but it is only the Burgundian SS and individual connections who are truly loyal to Himmler.

Over the past several years, the Ordensstaat has turned into a concrete dystopian nightmare, with the tightest regulations on what information and trade goes in and out. Himmler has created a shadow state, and the Burgundian SS run their own minor operations in many parts of the world (OOC: will clear on case by case basis with the OP). Systematically, French and Belgian culture is being wiped out, and the people Germanised or otherwise worked into complete subservience and reliance on their overlords.

Such is the Ordensstaat. Though some enter, almost none leave. Though many are born, few live. Though many hope, little continue to do so. Though many fear, nothing can be done.

RP Example(s):

Grey clouds high and thin in the sky, the light turning purple as the sun prepared itself to recover from the efforts of lighting the earths. The evening twilight was a beautiful time, but it was representative of the end of things. A dozen dozens were gathered. Old men and women stood with their offspring and theirs around them. Children were held, wrapped in primitive cloaks of hide, and focused on watching the torchlit procession pass. The occasional insect passed around buzzed in the light cast by the torches. The procession passed through in silence, though the priests at the front were chanting hymns of gratitude to the Merciful Ones, seeking their blessing on the spirit of the dead. A woman fell to the ground as a shrouded body was carried by broad-shouldered men, and cried aloud, wailing her sobs into the ground. Two of her own children knelt by her and cuddled her, trying to comfort their mourning mother.

At the end of the procession was a wooden pyre, which Thusnelda herself stood by, bearing a flaming torch. With gravity and respect, those carrying the body lowered it gently onto the pyre, as the priests circled around before circling again and pausing, facing outwards from the pyre. The crowds gathered around. The brother of the dead spoke for a short while, praising their attributes, and sharing a couple of funny stories. One of the wise elders spoke of their character and temperament, whilst his daughter praised her father for his love and care. A few more spoke, before the priestess overseeing the ceremony spoke on the nature of life itself. Thusnelda echoed her agreement, and intoned the sacred prayers for the passing of the dead. The people echoed their response, and a torch was thrust into the heart of the pyre.

Soon the flames which catch, as old embers, as bits of kindling, as twigs caught, and then the branches, and the larger ones, before all was aflame. Herbs and plants burned in the pyre, helping to conceal the smell that was otherwise like burning boarmeat. Thusnelda stood close to the blaze, allowing herself to perspire, and waited before the priests backed away before she did likely. Gradually did the people disperse, leaving only those who wished to say their final farewells and speak to the departing. In the morning, the ashes were all gathered together. These would be scattered across areas of importance to the departed, in the homes of their loved ones, and on the trees which were planted in memory of them. Others were given to the River of Rest, and others to wild fruit bushes and trees.

That day a scholar of the Ravarii was laid to rest. Killed by the great lizard which plagued the land. And so it would continue until either the lizard moved away for lack of food, or the appropriate men trained and equipped to deal with it. Yet ditches would be dug, and the timber gathered so that a palisade might be constructed. In the meantime, the sentries were doubled, and the hunting parties sent out in larger groups.

Do not remove - 1960RP

Le Fin

ACCEPTED

[Sao Nova Europa]

This looks good and I will be accepting it with a minor change: instead of a formal peace treaty between Vichy France and Free France, change the wording to an armistice. Basically similar to what happened in Korea in real life: there is no formal peace treaty between North and South Korea, but an armistice. Other than that, it looks great and I will be accepting it.

Okay, I will! Just a quick question, will those agreements still happen, like, would Vichy renounce their claims etc, thanks.

Let’s hope this RP will last longer than the last *chuckles nervously*

I’m probs gonna align myself with the US, because, well, I want my poor French lands back

Probably not, they would not renounce their claims since Vichy claims to rule over all French territories. However, Vichy France is in no position to wage war on its own against you, and neither Germany nor Italy are in the mood currently for an expedition in Africa.

[Astarter]

Okay, I will! Just a quick question, will those agreements still happen, like, would Vichy renounce their claims etc, thanks.

Let’s hope this RP will last longer than the last *chuckles nervously*

I’m probs gonna align myself with the US, because, well, I want my poor French lands back

Probably not, they would not renounce their claims since Vichy claims to rule over all French territories. However, Vichy France is in no position to wage war on its own against you, and neither Germany nor Italy are in the mood currently for an expedition in Africa.

K, thanks

[Sao Nova Europa]

Probably not, they would not renounce their claims since Vichy claims to rule over all French territories. However, Vichy France is in no position to wage war on its own against you, and neither Germany nor Italy are in the mood currently for an expedition in Africa.

K, thanks

You are now formally accepted.

[Astarter]

K, thanks

You are now formally accepted.

Yay

Can’t wait for Germany to collapse and release thousands of countries that they conquered, plus some HRE nations and then I can steal Vichy France!

I can imagine the bordergore. Anywho, I’ve got to try and fix my problems. Military is easy, although the rest are quite tricky, hope we get an Indochinese/Vietnamese player.

[Chedastan]

This is likely a question for the German, UK, and US players. Exactly how much military equipment/aid would either of you guys wagered your nations would have given or sold to Turkey between the late-40s and into the present day? Like early MBTs, early-gen fighters, warships, etc. Cause Turkey irl during WWII had a fair amount of equipment acquired from both the Axis and Allies, and could kinda see that trend continuing with this Alt!Cold War.

[Upper Magica]

RESERVATION
NS Name:Upper Magica
RP Name:The Russian Republic
Territory:TBD pending discussion with GM, but roughly around the Trans-Urals bordering Germany

Do not remove - 1960RP

Posting to express interest in playing a Russian successor state; the long and short of the backstory I have in mind is basically: KONR, the Russian collaborationist forces raised up by the Germans in 1941-42ish, realizing Germany doesn't intend on actually liberating Russia after their victory over the USSR, mutinies sometime in '48-'52. Although many of the mutineers meet an unpleasant fate that needs not be elaborated since it's Nazi Germany we're talking about here, a great deal of KONR forces and fellow travelers they picked up along the way manage to cross the AA Line in a Russian analogue/imitation of Mao's Long March. The KONR, after regrouping, then proceeds to set up a continuation of the Russian Republic in the lands immediately beyond German control, a healthy compromise between the clique of ex-Soviet officers who really didn't care for a continuation of the old Tsarist regime and White emigrés who were very much pro-Romanov.

OP, what would be the realistic extent of such a state, do you think?

[Ovstylap]

Looking forward to all this, thank you for accepting!

[Sao Nova Europa]

RESERVATION
NS Name:Upper Magica
RP Name:The Russian Republic
Territory:TBD pending discussion with GM, but roughly around the Trans-Urals bordering Germany

Do not remove - 1960RP

Posting to express interest in playing a Russian successor state; the long and short of the backstory I have in mind is basically: KONR, the Russian collaborationist forces raised up by the Germans in 1941-42ish, realizing Germany doesn't intend on actually liberating Russia after their victory over the USSR, mutinies sometime in '48-'52. Although many of the mutineers meet an unpleasant fate that needs not be elaborated since it's Nazi Germany we're talking about here, a great deal of KONR forces and fellow travelers they picked up along the way manage to cross the AA Line in a Russian analogue/imitation of Mao's Long March. The KONR, after regrouping, then proceeds to set up a continuation of the Russian Republic in the lands immediately beyond German control, a healthy compromise between the clique of ex-Soviet officers who really didn't care for a continuation of the old Tsarist regime and White emigrés who were very much pro-Romanov.

OP, what would be the realistic extent of such a state, do you think?

Reservation noted.

As for the extent of the state, I would like for 3-4 Russian states ideally, we've already got someone claiming coastal Siberia, so I guess from those lands in yellow? If that is alright with you, that is.

[Upper Magica]

RESERVATION
NS Name:Upper Magica
RP Name:The Russian Republic
Territory:TBD pending discussion with GM, but roughly around the Trans-Urals bordering Germany

Do not remove - 1960RP

Posting to express interest in playing a Russian successor state; the long and short of the backstory I have in mind is basically: KONR, the Russian collaborationist forces raised up by the Germans in 1941-42ish, realizing Germany doesn't intend on actually liberating Russia after their victory over the USSR, mutinies sometime in '48-'52. Although many of the mutineers meet an unpleasant fate that needs not be elaborated since it's Nazi Germany we're talking about here, a great deal of KONR forces and fellow travelers they picked up along the way manage to cross the AA Line in a Russian analogue/imitation of Mao's Long March. The KONR, after regrouping, then proceeds to set up a continuation of the Russian Republic in the lands immediately beyond German control, a healthy compromise between the clique of ex-Soviet officers who really didn't care for a continuation of the old Tsarist regime and White emigrés who were very much pro-Romanov.

OP, what would be the realistic extent of such a state, do you think?

Reservation noted.

As for the extent of the state, I would like for 3-4 Russian states ideally, we've already got someone claiming coastal Siberia, so I guess from those lands in yellow? If that is alright with you, that is.

That's a big 10-4. I'll have my app up later tonight! Thanks

[Ovstylap]

I do hope that is actually a state which is close to being an actual Soviet successor, though I like the existing concepts, that former collaborationist one is pretty big! It would be cool, if it does stay that big, to have lots of Soviet partisans still in it as they still see them as traitors etc

[Upper Magica]

I do hope that is actually a state which is close to being an actual Soviet successor, though I like the existing concepts, that former collaborationist one is pretty big! It would be cool, if it does stay that big, to have lots of Soviet partisans still in it as they still see them as traitors etc

In the headcanon I've got so far, the Russian Republic isn't a Soviet successor per se, but a lot of policies the Soviets had in place that were popular - universal schooling and health care, women's equality, land reform(albeit collective farming has been rolled back) will remain in place. As for Communist partisans, I imagine when German tanks rolled into Moscow that a lot of popular support for the Soviet state and Communism eroded. There will be a big banditry/organized crime problem for sure though, as I imagine control over the countryside is quite loose. There'd be a big black market too, giving rise to a Russian Mafia on steroids; arms, ammunition and other contraband flow into occupied Russia, while German luxury goods and even staple products come back.

[Great Confederacy of Commonwealth States]

República Federal de Centroamérica

APPLICATION
NS Name: Great Confederacy of Commonwealth States
RP Name: Third Federal Republic of Central America
Capital: San Salvador
Territory: Guatalama, Costa Rica, Honduras, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Panama
Population: 25 million

Official Language(s): Spanish, English
Ethnic Breakdown: 41% Mestizos, 44% Indigenous, 10% Afro Central Americans 5% Europeans
Religious Breakdown: 90% Roman Catholic, 5% indigenous creeds, 5% other or n/a

Type of Government: Confederation of Presidential autocratic democracies
Head of State: Federation President General Miguel Ydígoras Fuentes. The Federation President is a powerless figurehead who serves as the soft hand of the government, and the scapegoat if anything goes wrong. He is elected semi-democratically by popular election, from a list of nominees selected by the Federative Council, which election rules so byzantine that the preferred candidate of the Federative Council wins every time.
Head of Government: Chairman of the Federative Council General Anastasio Somoza Garcia. The Federative Council selects from among its own members a chairman who governs the federal bureaucracy on a day-to-day basis, whose primary responsibility is to stop the bureaucracy from doing anything to interfere with the sovereignty of the member states. The current Chairman is the President of Nicaragua.
Legislature: Federative Council of the Central American Republic. The Federative Council consists of the heads of state of the various federated nations, and they make decisions through consensus. Which means not many decisions get taken at all.
Legislative Houses: Junior house: Legislative Committee of the Federal Republic of Central America. The Legislative Committee consists of the representatives of the various legislative houses of the member nations. Since most of those are practically defunct, so is this committee.
Party in Power: N/a.
National Issues:
Confederation of Banana Republics - Decades of interference by the three major US-based banana companies (United Fruit Company, Cuyamel Fruit Company, Vaccaro Brothers), leading to everything from local corruption to US military intervention, has turned the member nations of the Federation into de facto puppet nations of the US. The federal government exists partially as a method to make that corruption more efficient, as a more centralised system means that taking action against the capital powers is made extremely difficult. The rise of a left wing government in one state would lead to swift intervention by the others, so that Central America is secured from governance that would favour their own inhabitants over foreign-based companies. The result is a nation with an extreme wage gap and horrid working conditions.
Our valiant security service, Their jackbooted death squads - Fearing both communist uprisings and German interventions in a liberal democracy, the United States has ensured that the authoritarian presidents of Central America get all the help they need to stay in power. By making the success of these dictators intertwined with the success of US companies, the US has effectively ensured that a German alignment is not in the best interests of the current autocrats, moreso than if they had been democracies. This means that human rights in Central America are basically non-existent, and that the Central American states are only democracies in name, so that the US can claim to be making the world safer for democracy.
All the chains to lose - Labour exploitation by both foreign and domestic companies has grown large sympathies for syndicalist movements in the various nations, supported by Indigenous groups fighting against government discrimination and cultural genocide. Detached from Moscow interference, these groups are free to pursue their own goals, and what they lack in foreign funding they make up for in localised knowledge and theory that adapts to local conditions. As a result, these communist groups are growing stronger on their own, from within the country.
Public Goals: Securing the independence of the Federation members against foreign interference, especially the left wing forces of national socialism (according to government dogma)
Private Goals: Maintaining the balance of power within the Federation to the benefit of the ruling elites

GDP: 4 billion US dollars
Currency: No centralised currency, though much of international commerce is done in US dollars
Economic System: Capitalism
Major Trade Partners: The United States of America, Brazil, Gran Colombia
Alliance(s): NATO

Military Branches: Different per member nation. Most have an army, a navy and an air force, as well as some form of 'Republican Guard' or 'National Guard' that serves as a special forces unit. These units are better paid than their conscripted comrades, ensuring loyalty in the face of civil unrest, and equipped to modern standard with US aid. They form the most loyal core of troops in cases of civil unrest, when the conscripts cannot be relied on to crush popular dissent. These are often paratrooper regiments or mobile armoured infantry regiments, owing to use of and training with US equipment.

Active Duty: 100.000
Reserve Duty: 20.000
Total Manpower: 7.000.000

Land Forces: 75.000

Air Force: 10.000

Naval Forces: 15.000

Other Military Information: n/a

History: The formation of some sort of Central American federation was inescapable after the succesful socialist revolution of 1919. By then, the governments of the Central American republics were already firmly in the hands of US interests. The various fruit companies had turned these nations into production hubs for bananas and other export goods, which fuelled the growing European and American consumer markets. To these companies, not only was the welfare of the people of Central America not a concern, but quite the opposite: their value lay in cheap labour, and the better the circumstances, the more these people would demand adequate pay. Therefore, these companies used their influence to purposefully limit development of vital infrastructure like energy, roads, healthcare and education, insofar as it did not align with their goals. Because of this, and because tax laws in Central America had been constructed to place no burden on the fruit companies, the republics had almost no national income, and relied on investment by the same fruit companies to stay afloat. For their military, they relied on aid by the United States, which propped up regimes that were beneficial to US corporate interests. A step out of line would quickly lose a country investment and US aid, making it more likely to fall to someone more ready to march to the US tune.

Of course, this method of wealth extraction created its own opposition. Central America had been turned into a textbook example of late stage capitalism, and any explanation of Marxist ideology simply required one to point at the world around them. There were already considerable left-wing guerillas in Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua when left-wing forces won the Mexican civil war in 1919. This sent a shockwave through the region, and most notably, through Washington, which feared a domino effect in Central America. As a result, Washington jacked up interventions in the region, under the command of Marine Major Smedley Butler. Butler became the errand boy for the United Fruit Company and other US interests in the region, helping put down rebellions and coups, or when a government failed to live up to US expectations, remove them entirely.

In order to more easily manage the myriad of tax laws, immigration laws, transportation costs and the involvement in internal governance, as well as to organise a defence against communist intervention, the US pushed for the creation of a League of Free American Nations, of which the Central American republics would be a member. Panama resisted, but as a US protectorate it eventually had little say, and its membership became important in order to protect the canal from Mexican or Colombian anexation. The League was anti-communist, promising aid in the event of 'civil unrest' and 'events that were likely to disturb public order', which in practice meant threats to United Fruit and the other companies. These companies sponsored many of the administrative buildings of the new League, but in their usual way only leased the buildings to the organisation. The League practically became the local dictator's club, and since they all knew that one nation falling to communism could spell doom for them all, they naturally cooperated for their combined interest, knowing what would happen if the US ever lost interest in the region. The League of Free American States was transformed into the Third Federal Republic in the 1940s, after it became clear that the United Nations was never coming of the ground and there was no reason to maximise the number of UN seats under US control. This also made military procurement easier, as the nation was expected to help in the fight against Japan.

The victory of Germany during the war in Europe changed the balance of power in the world. It became clear to the United States that American business interests were one of the primary motivators that would keep countries firmly in its sphere, since unlike the pre-war USSR Germany made no requirements of the economic order of allied nations. Following the conclusion of the war the CIA was given a freer hand in Central America in order to prevent SS and Gestapo infiltration. This, in turn, made local governments playthings of the Agency. For example, they intervened in the 1951 election in Guatemala in order to prevent the election of Jacobo Arbenz, and when he won the election anyway, he was assassinated and his government overthrown in a coup with aid from US-backed Honduras. In 1954, Honduras suffered large-scale labour strikes that threatened to force the resignation of democratically-elected and CIA-backed Juan Manuel Gálvez, who had paid lip service to labour rights. In return, US marines, Guatemalan army forces and dreaded Nicaraguan paratroopers were sent in to break the strikes, leading to bloody fighting and the defeat of the syndicalist unions. In 1956, following an attempt on his life, president Somoza of Nicaragua used this justification to purge his country of leftist, and even liberal, elements, with aid from US intelligence. In Costa Rica, which held nominally democratic elections, police officers trained in the anti-communist US-backed Centro de Entrenamiento Latino Americano, Division Terrestre, or the School of the Americas, actually held sway.

This is where we find the Federation today. Its strongman grip on power is secure, but with both the US and United Fruit contuining to squeeze as much out of the region as possible, without much leeway, it is a question of time before serious opposition gathers enough power to create serious problems. At the same time, power struggles between pro-German and pro-US elements are starting to bubble up. The region is not as stable as it might seem, and the question in the air is: how long before there is a local spark that lights, and are the governments able to defend their position in that event?

Do not remove - 1960RP

[Benuty]

I do hope that is actually a state which is close to being an actual Soviet successor, though I like the existing concepts, that former collaborationist one is pretty big! It would be cool, if it does stay that big, to have lots of Soviet partisans still in it as they still see them as traitors etc

Not sure if successor is the right word as the politicians involved in the Confederation are former members of the CSPU. The Remembrance Party is a moderate center of former CSPU individuals who view the central reason that the Soviet Union fell as entirely in the hands of Stalin: The corruption of the Soviet bureaucracy, the degeneration of science under Lysenko, the great purge, and far more things (to find in Wikipedia) than can be listed here (such as Beria's noted use of sexual assault).

Essentially the Remembrance Party follows the view that Lenin's successor should have been Bukharin, and organize the party ideology, and view around him. However, they have a lot of problems to deal with before really creating a country that can be deemed wholly worthy. Such as the fact Yezhov (and by extension the NKVD) is very much alive, and his influence isn't limited to the Confederation...

[Benuty]

Population will be easy to figure out, but what about GDP?