RED DAWN: The Next World War, An Alt History of WW2 (IC)

[Hashirajima]

[Location: British Embassy in Tokyo, Japan]

"Minister, we've arrived."

Thanking his driver, Foreign Minister Hirota Kouki stepped out of the car, followed by his contingent of aides and scribes. Ahead of him, the embassy staff have already opened the main doors leading to the reception area...

[Location: Kochi, India]

11 days. That was the first leg of the journey entrusted upon CMDR. Hara and his crew. While this was no issue for the seasoned sailors, having underwent intense training immediately after their assignment, the same could not be said for the two landlubbers that accompanied them. As soon as the the gangplank was in place, the dock workers at Kochi became audience to two men, dressed in the uniform of the Imperial Japanese Army, rushing down to the docks.

Having informed his two guests as to when they're slated to depart for Italy proper, Hara was busy reviewing the duty roster for the coming days as his destroyer resupplied. "Anything from home, Comms?"

"Just that we're to head for Venice. It appears that the Italians might be in a spot of trouble, though that's not exactly within our mission perimeter for now."

"Right. Get the first batch of men off for shore leave. I'll be heading dockside to speak to... whoever the British sent to welcome us for our short stay here." With that, the commander strolled out of the bridge, leaving his Officer on Watch cursing the subcontinental heat.

[Location: Telegram, to Italy]

TO: Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Kingdom of Italy
FROM: Foreign Ministry, Empire of Japan
ENCRYPTION: SECRET

To the Foreign Minister,

We solemly receive your request for aid with heavy hearts, and our government will contemplate the support we can provide with great haste. However, we hope you can understand that at this point in time, as a neutral party our hands are tied up by international laws and norms. Nonetheless, a representative from the Foreign Ministry will be dispatched to your embassy to negotiate possible further developments in bilateral ties that might facilitate the provision of aide, at a time convenient to your embassy.

Also, we would like to inform you that the Imperial Japanese Navy destroyer Amatsukaze, under the command of COMMANDER Tameichi Hara, will arrive at Venice within 15 days, barring unforseen circumstances.

Regards,
Hirota Kouki
Foreign Minister
Empire of Japan

[Independent States of Tula]

Federal Republic of Germany
16th January, 1939

Monfalcone, Italy, Generalleutnant Heinz Guderian...

The skies above Italy roared with Stukas.

216 Ju-87D-5's and 24 Ju-87G-2's flew above Guderian's IX Panzer Corps, supported by 216 Bf-109G-6/U4 and 24 Bf-109G-5 fighters. The Yugos were in for a rude awakening, the entirety of the IX Panzer Corps began to role forward from Monfalcone, encountering enemy forces held up in Duino Castle almost immediately, a heavy-artillery battalion equipped with eighty 17cm Kanone 18's attached to the Panzer Division was tasked with shelling the fortress into submission with an infantry brigade from Panzergrenadier Division 67 being assigned to encircle and contain the two battalions stuck in the crumbling structure which would soon be collapsed upon its occupants by the 68kg shells raining upon them if they did not surrender soon. Panzer IV's led the way into hostile land, with mountains to the North blocking any real threat of a Yugoslavian counter-attack...leaving the enemy stuck in front of a steel assault that was as unrelenting and merciless as a tidal wave. Resistance was light initially, poorly armed and untrained "Worker's Brigades" attempted to fight at first but facing tanks and armored half-tracks with what was assumed to be mostly rifles, pistols, and a few grenades was a fight that could not be won and so most would probably surrender at the sight of German panzers and the best trained and equipped soldiers in all of Europe less they be killed in mass. At Miramare more stiff resistance was met at another castle, the small peninsula it was on was quickly cut off by the rest of Panzergrenadier Division 67 who's artillery batteries began shelling the entrenched Yugoslavians to force a surrender there as well.

With 6 Divisions left the rest of the Corps continued towards Trieste, towards the two waiting Yugoslavian and WUSR Divisions holding the city, however Guderian wouldn't assault the city immediately, rather he'd encircle it and cut the Communists off from Yugoslavia itself...all of which down south of the mountains dividing the Italian-Yugoslavian border and therefore within Italy itself with no assaults on Yugoslavian territory such as Ljubljana where the 2nd Armored Corps waited. Any armored vehicles the Yugoslavians had that were spotted by German forces would be set upon by Ju-87G's with their bombs and 37mm autocannons, with more static targets being engaged by the fast-diving Ju-87D's who for today had the hated sirens reinstalled on them in order to cement this day in the memory of all communist soldiers unfortunate enough to face the German onslaught. Of course there had to be a small hitch to this plan, Guderian had lost contact with the Italians in Trieste the night before, so he had no information on what the interior of the city looked like. If Trieste had fallen, it wouldn't matter much militarily, Guderian was in a very advantageous position against the Yugos...but the politics of the situation could be far worse if Trieste had fallen to the enemy, even if that enemy would soon be encircled and strangled by the German war machine.

///

Frankfurt, British Embassy, Minister of Diplomatic Relation Wilhelm Schmidt...

Schmidt was a member of President Hoffman's inner circle, as such he was well informed of all matters of state, making it possible for just him to be there for the quiet negotiations with the British where they had three to his one men.

Taking a seat provided to him by his hosts the Ambassador for Britain began ”Ah, Herr Schmidt, please take a seat - I’m so glad you could make it with such haste. I trust your drive went unhindered? I must say, this is a meeting well over-due, could I interest you in a drink? A Scotch Whisky, or perhaps it’s a tad too early for such things, in which case we can offer coffee, fresh from India at that.”

Schmidt gave a warm smile and replied in accented English "Ambassador, I do appreciate the offer, but I'm afraid I don't drink on business time so I'll have to go with the coffee."

It wasn't long before said coffee made it's way to Schmidt who thanked his hosts and took an appreciative sip before finally opening up the discussion "So, Great Britain vishes to make amends with her old rival? I'll say, this is most velcome news in the upper echelons of my government...though the people may see it differently. Nevertheless, ve are willing to hear you out, after all those dreadful Communists must certainly be making your Majesty a little hot under the collar...they already overthrew one Monarch and it'll only be a matter of time until they turn their eyes to you."

///

Graz, German-Austria, Field Marshall Fedor von Bock...

Commanding Army Group Wolf, a force of over 455,000 men with the II and VI Panzer Corps along with five Infantry Corps and all their support battalions was a tough job, it was therefore little surprise then that it fell to the capable Field Marshall Fedor von Bock, a well tested and trained German Officer of the highest caliber and a veteran of the Great War. However what was a surprise for the man leading one of the two Army Groups in Austria was the sudden sounds of artillery, machineguns, tanks, and everything else the Hungarian Army had to spare for military exercises on the German Border. At first some officers had believed themselves under attack from the Communist Hungarians and had ordered counter-battery fire, thankfully this was avoided by a last minute call from Abwehr that these were unannounced military exercises. As the Field Marshall came to that thought he grimaced and looked up from his desk filled with paperwork and out the window at the snowy streets of the city of Graz. The Field Marshall thought of the Hungarians as fools, with everything going on in Italy, the breaking of the Hague Convention, and the recent German involvement in the conflict to protect Italy's territorial sovereignty they had just played with fire.

There was consistent paranoia amongst the ranks in Austria that Germany was the next target of the Communists, that they were preparing to storm the rest of Europe and turn it red, that Trieste was simply a test of their capabilities. These were all too real of possibilities, and that's what worried von Bock, that the Communists were not aware of how current events put them in the international spotlight and in the sights of every well armed Western Military in Europe...how on edge they made the West. von Bock knew why the Hungarians were doing these tests of course, it was to distract their people from the recent ailments that the sickman of Europe was suffering from, to hide just how weak the Hungarian state was...how close it was to Revolution and potentially a return of their rightful monarch. Bock hoped that would be the case, that the Hungarians would free themselves of the communist scourge...but he knew it was also unlikely with the UESR looking over all the European Communist nations...far more likely for those movements to simply be crushed by tanks and machineguns. Shaking his head Bock went back to his paperwork, he had a lot of things to get in order come spring, OKW was shaking everything up in Austria and North Germany and that did not come without its pains for von Bock and the other officers of these units.

///

Communication from German Diplomatic Ministry to Yugoslavian Diplomatic Ministry, Copies sent to Italy and Ireland along with invitations to join the talks in Zurich if accepted by the Yugoslavians

To: Yugoslavian Diplomatic Ministry
From: President Hoffman of the Federal Republic of Germany
Subject: Immediate Exodus from Italian Soil

As of this Morning the German Heer and Luftwaffe led an assault on Yugoslavian soldiers illegally occupying Italian territory in conjunction with allied forces. It is with a heavy heart that it has come to this, but Germany sees no other option but to personally intervene in the conflict to remove those who have broken international law with blatant disregard. However, we need not clash for long, I personally invite President Gorkić to meet with myself and representatives of other allied nations in Zurich along with however many staff are required in order to successfully negotiate both a ceasefire and a just and equitable peace. Germany does not desire a war with Yugoslavia, but the German People cannot stand by and allow a Communist nation to blatantly violate the Hague Convention III by illegally invading a sovereign neighbor, as such should our offer of talks be refused Germany cannot be held responsible for the actions that may occur should Yugoslavia drag on this conflict any longer.

Respectfully,
Max Hoffman
President of the Federal Republic of Germany

[The Canadian North-West]

Rio De Janeiro
The United States of Brazil
Saturday, January 14th, 1939

It's a beautiful day out in the port city of Rio de Janeiro. The sun is shining, birds are chirping, a 20 ton warship on it's last legs awaits it's fiery doom in the middle of the harbour, alongside another, decidedly smaller though no less formidable warship, which prepares to deal the killing blow.

The day had been set for a long time now. The São Paulo had served the Brazilian navy faithfully alongside her sister ship Minas Geraes, who was now attempting a journey across the Pacific, course set for Japan. The Paulo, however, had been decommissioned almost three months now, after the defense department decided unilaterally that the São Paulo had fallen to disrepair too far to be salvageable, like it's sister ship was. Rather, it was decided that it would be a suitable test vessel for the new Battlecruiser Cabral, and her 14in (35.56cm) main armament.

At 10:45am, both ships steamed out of the harbour at the pace of around 10 knots, headed to a point about 1/4 of a mile out of the harbour: close enough to see the two ships, but far enough away that it wouldn't cause damage to the city, or wreckage in the harbour. There they sit until 11:00, when Vargas himself walks out and gives a brief speech about overturning the old and useless, for new, better technology, and how it will help Brazil prosper. This goes on for about 4 or 5 minutes, then Vargas steps down from the podium he had been standing on, and directs the crowd's attention to the two waiting warships. At 11:06, the first salvo from the Battlecruiser set to replace the São Paulo, Cabral, is fired, hitting the São Paulo directly in the Ammunition Citadel. However, having no ammo on board, the ship doesn't go up in a violent explosion. The second salvo is fired at 11:08, hitting the lower part of the São Paulo's command superstructure, where it meets the deck, causing it to collapse onto the fore deck. This causes a fire on the wooden deck, and before long the ship is almost entirely ablaze. However, still showing no signs of sinking, the Cabral unleashes a third salvo at 11:10, this time hitting the São Paulo's fuel stores, causing a massive explosion, and sending pieces of the Dreadnaught flying into the air. For good measure, a fourth salvo is unloaded at 11:13, and afterwards the São Paulo starts rapidly sinking, disappearing from sight at 11:17am. The entire affair was done in just over a half an hour. After this, the crowd is dispersed, and Vargas heads back to his office...

Aboard the Minas Geraes
The Panama Canal
Same day

The Minas Geraes was to meet a much different fate than the São Paulo, however. It had been in drydock for the last 9 months, getting it's old, rusted hull repaired and redone where needed. In addition, while there, the Geraes was stripped of it's main armament and upper, wooden deck, had it's engines replaced, it's engine room totally redone, and been reorganized on the interior to closer resemble the layout of modern battleships. The ship, without deck or guns, was about to make a crossing of the Pacific ocean, alongside a cargo ship filled with supplies to help rebuild the Dreadnaught from the ground up. They were headed to the port city of Kure in Japan, where the Geraes was to be fitted with the intimidating 18.1in (measured in cm originally, 46 cm) Type 94 naval guns, and finish refitting and repairs. For now, though, where the decidedly less intimidating 12in guns used to be. there was a hole cut in the framework of the deck, made to accommodate the larger turret needed to hold the two 46cm guns per turret.

The Captain of the vessel, Bruno R. Couto, stood in the bridge, looking down at the white sheets covering where the deck used to be. He knew that the ship was due for refit, and soon enough it would become the most powerful ship in the Brazilian fleet, but at this moment in time it looked like a ship on it's deathbed: No turrets, no deck, and spare parts and tools scattered about where they could be laid without fear of them falling into the sea. The Cargo Ship Redentor sails just off the Starboard side of the Geraes, carrying the supplies needed for the refit that had not been bought from Japan.

Captain Couto took a step back from the glass, finishing his inspection of the deck, and turning to the meagre crew onboard, instructing the Communications Officer to hail the customs office in the Canal, alerting them that the Minas Geraes was set to sail through the Canal, as it was en-route to the Japanese city of Kure for refitting and rearming, and that the Redentor was accompanying it with Repair and Construction crew and supplies. It then awaits further instructions before, after a good 15 minutes, it's passage is approved, and it starts it's trek across the Pacific.

Rio de Janeiro
The United States of Brazil
Same day, 2 hours after the sinking of the São Paulo
Vargas sits at his desk, tapping his fingers, as he thinks of his next move. The oil spilled from the sinking of the São Paulo was already being cleaned from the water, and it was only a matter of hours before the fire hazard the stunt had caused was completely nullified. Thinking for a moment, Vargas decided to act on the thoughts that he had held for almost a year now. He began writing a telegram to the United States, an attempt to legitimize the Brazilian government he had created...

Office of the President of the United States of Brazil
Palácio Gustavo Capanema
R. da Imprensa, 16 - Centro, Rio de Janeiro - RJ, 20030-120, Brazil

---

To the Office of Foreign Affairs of the United States of Amarica

---

I hope this telegram finds it's way in good time.

Me and my nation are of the opinion the Socialism as a force which, in the grand scheme of the globe, needs to be curtailed. As a matter of fact, my nation has plans to do such curtailing here in South America. However, there is only one problem: while the Monroe Doctrine is in effect, I am of the opinion that it might be dangerous for Brazil to annex the various nations needed to help stop Socialist expansion. Thus, I reach out to you a hand of friendship, an alliance. In return for assisting the United States in any war it may have with Socialist powers in the future, the US will turn a blind eye to Brazilian expansion in South America, and will allow the Brazilian navy access through the Panama Canal.

This will not only help Brazil in our attempt to unite South America, a task which was only ever accomplished briefly, but also allows the United States a powerful ally, and in a world in turmoil, a powerful ally is a valuable thing indeed.

I hope that you will consider this offer.

SIgned President Vargas of the United States of Brazil

[Vionna-Frankenlisch]

---

Venice
Italian Province of Veneto
Italy

January 16th, 1938

"How were the celebrations, my lord?" Lieutenant General Arlotti, the commander of the Italian 4th Corps, asked, "The King was well, I trust?"

"Quite satisfactory, thank you, General." Marshall Messe replied, "But there are more important matters at hand." Messe stood and tapped his glass to gather the attention of the officers around him. "Gentlemen..." He began, lowering himself back into his seat, "General Arlotti's Fourth Corps has defended Trieste bravely but it is time for their relief. In Slovenia the Germans along with General Galeotti's Third Army have begun the counteroffensive with the combined support of the Italian Royal Air Force and the German Luftwaffe suppressing the Yugoslavian forces on the alpine and Austrian fronts, these men will help the cutoff Fourth Corps in Trieste and encircle the Yugoslavians in return. It is time for our forces, in coordination with those of the Irish Expeditionary Force and Canadian Expeditionary Force and those Kaiser Korps forces that are still present in Monfalcone to join these efforts. In total there are approximately 45,000 men taking part in this operation. The advance down the Trieste neck will be spearheaded by mechanised forces of the IEF along with the First and Third Bersaglieri Regiments, this will quickly be followed by the Canadian Division, the rearguard of the operation will be made up of the Kaiser Korps units along with Blackshirts. Two divisions of motorised troops, the Seventh and the Ninth will be kept in reserve. Now... Any questions?"

"What will be supporting this operation, my lord?" General Galeotti asked.

"The Navy has deployed three battleships, three heavy cruisers, eighteen destroyers and the Aircraft Carrier Sparviero which carries forty aircraft. The battleships and cruisers will provide bombardment from the sea while the carrier will defend against submarines and provide CAS. The destroyers are solely for defence against submarines and the lacklustre Yugoslavian fleet. Also, the Royal Air Force has provided additional fighter and light bomber reserves to support the aircraft that the Irish brought with them. I'm sure we can also call upon the Germans if need be but I think that's a way off yet."

"And when will this all begin?"

"The Irish forces along with the Canadians and the Bersaglieri were informed yesterday, the operation will begin tomorrow, I expect full cooperation, gentlemen, if this fails then Trieste may fall. I trust General Arlotti's men to hold out but they've been hard pressed for some time, it's high time this farce ended."