The Democritus Gazette (approved participants only)

[United Democratic Christian States]

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January 15th, 1920

“As is the King, so are his people”

Election coverage page 5

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Military reform proposal announced; Submitted to Parliament for final approval!

Today his majesty King Alphonso XIII announced that during his meeting with the late generals 2 weeks ago they agreed to terms for military command reform, restructuring everything from officer salaries to command structure. While loosely based on the old Prussian command, which many Spanish generals and other officers are known to be fond of, the new command is expected to bring the Spanish Army fully into the modern era as it has lagged behind the world since before the Great War. Currently Parliament is expected to pass the proposal as the bottom line for the military is expected to be reduced significantly and thus ease the strain on the Spanish government budget. It is currently unknown what the additional funds will go to.

OOC:It passed and i dont feel like writing another small article about it

January 21, 1920

“As is the King, so are his people”

Election coverage page 5

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9 Terrorist taken into custody for actions related to attack on Spanish Council of Domestic Officers!

Today the Madrid police have arrested 9 associates who authorities believe all either aided in or directly contributed to the terrorist attack nearly 3 weeks ago. All 9 members are members of varying socialist, anti-monarchist and other movements on behalf of the working class people. So far every associated group has immediately distanced themselves from the individuals in question claiming violence is not what they stand for. Suggesting that these men acted alone in their barbaric attack on Great War hero's who defended our country in its darkest hour from the exploits of the central powers. Hopefully all 9 are brought to justice and are found guilty of treason.

[Nowa Polonie]

Poland Reorganizes Military Districts



Organized into two types - ''Special Districts'' and ''Central Districts'', the new Military Districts have been put in place to stratify the stationing of the units of the Polish Armed Forces, and to organize billeting, reorganize supply systems, and aid efforts to eventually downsize the Polish and professionalize the Polish Army. Encompassing the newly annexed German territories, and the 'Kresy/Poland B' area - facing Germany and the Soviet Union, respectively, the 'Special Districts' have seen the greatest concentration of forces.

The Pomeranian, Prussian and Silesian Special Districts have been designated at least one corps of the Army each, encompassing a total of 120,000 troops in total - or roughly one fifth of the army. In Kresy, in the Brest, Volyn, Pinsk, Galicia and Brest Special Districts, in addition to the garrison of a corps to each district, the Army has seen fit to attach the II. and III. Army Groups; the total concentration of forces in Poland's Eastern frontier is some 460,000 men.

The remaining forces at the disposal of the Polish Army are distributed throughout the remaining 'Central Districts', though the only District to possess its own corps-complement is the capital, Warszawa, where the corps protects the central HQ of the Polish High Command, Modlin Fortress. Additionally, Chief of Staff Marshall Pilsudski has seen fit to establish a secondary, junior command of the Eastern Theatre in Lwow, under the command of General Haller - General Haller's 'Blue Army' is one of the more formiddable formations that joined the Polish Army from the Austro-Hungarian and Germany troops that defected to the Polish cause throughout the war, and the general himself has had a storied career. He is one of the few men that the Marshall feels he can truly rely on to guarantee the defense of Poland's Eastern Frontier.

[Old Metropolitan France]

DATE: 9 February 1920

Embarrassment of Marash: 200 killed, 4500 retreat, city abandoned

Turkish Nationalist Forces have inflicted a decisive blow against the French Occupation Force in Anatolia, in a battle which has seen the city of Marash fall under insurgent control. Following a failed relief effort, ineffective artillery support, and total encirclement, the Franco-Armenian garrison was left with no choice but to surrender Marash in exchange for safe passage back to French lines. The loss of Marash is significant for not only being the first major defeat dealt by Kemal's Independence Movement to the Allied Powers, but also for endangering the remainder of French-held Cilicia. With French forces weakened, a limited number of officers stretched across sizable Armenian militia forces, and the Cilicia defensive line bent into a salient, it is clear that short of an immediate reinforcing effort the future of the enclave will be very short indeed. Should Marash now open the door to the rest of Cilicia, Turkish fighters may be able to eliminate an entire front of Allied occupying forces, and then refocus their attention elsewhere - towards Constantinople. It is understood that leading figures of the Allied Powers have discreetly opened negotiations with the Independence Movement in order to prevent the Embarrassment of Marash from becoming a complete military collapse across Asia Minor, however the domestic political implications of the defeat will only become apparent in the coming days. France has suffered one defeat, the public will not tolerate a second. For the time being, however, the radical shift in French foreign policy on Anatolia as a result of Marash is perhaps best demonstrated by France's complete abandonment of terms being drafted for presentation to the Ottoman Sultan. It is clear that whilst the Ottoman rump state had, for a time, been of use in justifying an occupation under the framework provided by the Armistice of Mudros, that time has past. French emissaries remain in Constantinople, however now leave the Sultan and remaining Ottoman officials to any fate the British - or Turkish militia - might choose to inflict upon them. It is clear that whatever happens next, plans for a humiliating settlement akin to Versailles, treating Turkey as a defeated Central Power, appears to have been truly shelved following Marash.

Independence for French Dahomey, Intervention for the Rif

Even as news of the Marash Affair reached Paris, French troops were already commencing a military campaign across the Rif. The 3rd and 4th Regiments of the French Foreign Legion have joined the beleaguered Spanish garrison in holding defensive lines protecting European settler populations from brutal reprisals, whilst a further 50,000 Franco-Senegalese troops under the direct authority of Commander-in-Chief North Africa, Marshal Pétain, prepare to launch probing attacks at weak-points identified by reconnaissance aircraft. Renault FT tanks are also in the process of being transported to North Africa, being heavily featured in propaganda alongside the Bréguet-14 bomber. The restoration of order across the Rif is essential for the security of North Africa, following the assassination of Spanish officers in Madrid which put the Spanish army into a state of confusion and exposed settlers to Riffian attacks. It is not known how many additional forces are being mobilized in neighboring Algeria, however it is believed that the total formation deployed by the end of 1921 will be the largest military force fielded by France since the Great War.

Meanwhile, French Dahomey has followed Guiana towards self-governance, with news that Paris will be granting the colony full independence within the next twelve months. France has formally requested that the East African Commonwealth engage with Dahomey local authorities in an effort to ensure that the new state, which will be landlocked due to the presence of Portuguese settlements along the coast, receives strong international support and protection. It is understood that a request for access rights through the Portuguese zone has been made to Lisbon, and the final outcome of those talks will be known in the near future. It is the view of the French government that good governance through international best practice of native rule be sought and implemented in Dahomey, however the ultimate fate of the fledgling country will ultimately be within the hands of its own people.

Developments to watch:

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Treaty of Ancona signed between Quadruple Entente and Kingdom of Italy, contents not publicly released.

Tariffs reduced on trade between Denmark-Norway (incl. Greenland) and the French metropole (incl. Algeria).

Denmark-Norway granted exclusive resource rights in French Guinea for a 25 year period, conditional on Danish investment in local infrastructure.

New civil code for French colonies to be considered following petition from émigré located in France.

France to seize assets and property of Russian communist figures and expel agitators, as part of Transcaucasia response.

[The East African Commonwealth]

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Afrika Daily - January 21st, 1920

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Commonwealth Expeditionary Forces Dispatched

While the Great War is now over the aftermath from the conflict is still sending shock-waves around the globe, most notably in Europe. With food rationing still in effect and Germany plagued by famine due to it being cut off from food imports during the war the Commonwealth has decided to continue its tradition of giving aid via the Expeditionary Fleet. The Expedition began preparations for its 14th aid mission called 'Pax Europa' to begin the delivery of food aid to France, Britain, Germany, Poland, Italy, the former Austro-Hungarian Empire, Greece, and The Soviet Union. This food is either being donated by farms and individuals or bought in bulk from tribal farming regions. In addition to food aid, warm clothing, medical supplies, and tents are being sent with the Pax Europa Mission. The fleet that will be dispatched to this Mission will include 27 transports, 3 hospital ships, 5 destroyers, 3 cruisers, and 2 Pre-Dreadnought battleships all of which will be carrying supplies to these nations. The Navy is confident in its ability to help Europe during this time of need and send a message that the EAC will remain a nation willing to give aid even to those it has historically considered adversaries. The fleet will conduct five runs of supplies to each nation in need over the next seven months to deliver supplies to the people of Europe.

In addition to the 14th Mission the government has given the go-ahead to conduct the 15th Aid Mission being called 'Pilgrimage' which will transport the White Russian Refugees from Siberia to Alaska. While the government was more divided on this issue as it will likely anger the Soviet Union, the Commonwealth has decided that under international standards that these people are refugees and as such the event can be labeled as a humanitarian crisis giving the nation the right to send aid. The EAC will be dispatching 10 coaler ships, 2 hospital ships, 5 cargo ships, 10 transports, 6 destroyers, 2 cruisers, and the battleship CNV Commonwealth to the Far East after the fleet is properly supplied in Merina. In addition, the Navy will be dispatching the incomplete flattop vessel AC-1 to the fleet, which lacks arms and armored plating, to act as a large open transport with makeshift metal tents being hastily assembled on the open deck. While the Navy is dispatching warships with the fleet they have been order not to fire upon any vessels and if they are intercepted by the Soviet Navy they are to avoid a confrontation but continue forward. The fleet is loaded with food and medical aid as well as construction material for the refugees so they will be able to set up settlements for themselves in Alaska. This fleet will operate for 6 months before begin recalled to the Commonwealth and ending its mission.

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| Donations Requested for Relief Fleets | Afrikan Rangers Increase Border Patrols | Kamba Tribe Expresses Interest Transition to Republic |
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[Fregantes Empire]

Hakimiyet-i Milliye

Date: 09/02/1920

Ankara Government Securing Favourable Peace Terms?

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After the Battle of Marash, French newspapers claimed that “… leading figures of the Allied Powers have discreetly opened negotiations with the Independence Movement …”. Sources in Paris and Ankara didn’t deny nor did they officially acknowledge the existence of such negotiations, but the amount of telegrams sent from Ankara indicates that something had been happening.

Some days after the initial indications, sources in Constantinople have started to report these negotiations to the Ottoman Government, whose members have leaked the fact and the possible terms, although the certainty of the terms could not be determined before 8th of February. On the 8th, sources within the Committee of Representation confirmed the existence, and the terms of the provisionary agreement:

Draft Treaty of Saint-Maurice

Recognition

1) The Allied Powers recognize the Ankara Government as the sole government of the Turkish nation.

2) The Ankara Government will inherit and honor the financial liabilities of the Ottoman Empire.
2.1) The Ottoman Public Debt Administration will be disbanded.
2.2) The Ankara Government will hold debt restructuring talks with the relevant creditors.

Constantinople

1) City authorities will allow for the free movement of people for four years, unless arrival rates exceed the levels experienced in 1919 by 15%.

The Straits

1) The Turkish Straits will be administered by an international commission recognized by the League of Nations.
1.1) The head of the Commission will be a Turkish national appointed by the Commission's representatives.
1.2) The Allied representatives will have a controlling majority of the votes.
1.3) The Commission will have representatives from: Turkey, France, Britain, Italy, Spain, Romania, Bulgaria, Syria-Palestine.
1.4) Greece will be entitled representation following the conclusion of the Greco-Turkish War.
1.5) Further representatives must be members of the League of Nations, and be located on either the Mediterranean or Black Sea coastlines.

2) Maritime commercial traffic will be open for all, while military traffic will be restricted at the discretion of the Commission.

3) The Straits will be demilitarized of forces not approved by the Commission.
3.1) A joint Allied-Turkish security presence will be stationed at the Straits, with personnel from each Commission state equally represented.

Minorities

1) Turkey grants full civil and political rights to its minorities, regardless of ethnicity, language or religion.
1.1) Transcaucasians within the recently-occupied territories will be afforded Turkish citizenship.

2) Turkey will not provide autonomy for any specific region, however will respect minority issues.
2.1) Armenians and other minorities will be permitted to operate their own schools and newspapers alike, and no infringements on their properties.

3) The Armenian Genocide will be recognized, and the CUP officials involved will be banned from the country, but no reparations can be made.
3.1) Emigration of Armenians and Transcaucasians will not be restricted, and Turkey will offer assistance to displaced persons returning to their home regions.

4) Extrajudicial killings will end with immediate effect.

Eastern Mediterranean

1) Turkey will renounce all rights to Dodecanese and Cyprus.

2) Turkey will renounce all rights to the Greek Islands in the Eastern Mediterranean.

3) Turkish naval vessels will remain in their home ports for 1.5 years from the date this Treaty enters into force.

Interpreted as a mutually beneficial deal by the Committee of Representation, it is an important cornerstone for the recognition of the Ankara Government as the sole, legitimate voice of the Turkish nation. As such, it is a diplomatic victory for the Ankara Government and all ADRAR aligned groups within the country.

Kuva-yi Milliye to be Centralised?

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The core of the Turkish forces in the Southern and Aegean regions, Kuva-yi Milliye irregulars have proven to be very effective in resisting the occupying forces and their organized armies. Their success cemented with the victory in Marash, and further raids into the Greek held regions proving effective, Kuva-yi Milliye will play an important part in the upcoming stages of the national cause.

Although having sworn allegiance to Ankara, Kuva-yi Milliye still operates independently and in an uncoordinated manner. Instances of looting also present, some within the ADRAR are calling to “reign in” the irregulars. Many voiced the idea of “creating a regular army out of the irregulars”. The idea is not far-fetched, since the members of the Committee of Representation are overwhelmingly military oriented; but reigning in the irregulars, who are led by influential local figureheads in the first place, might prove to be difficult.

Mustafa Kemal Pasha, when asked about the proposal, simply replied: “Such an important cannot be determined without consulting the people. Therefore, while plans and preparations are indeed made for the creation of full-fledged regular army, the issue must be addressed by the Grand National Assembly when it convenes”.

[Old Metropolitan France]

10 February 1920

France begins withdrawal from Anatolia

While public anger at the Embarrassment of Marash continues to grow as the updated casualty lists are released, the French government today issued a formal notice proclaiming diplomatic recognition of the Ankara government and authorized a withdrawal of forces from Anatolia over a 12 month period. The first area to be abandoned will be Cilicia, with Armenian militia and their families that fought alongside the French being given the option of leaving alongside the evacuated forces by embarking on ships of the French fleet. The French deployment in Constantinople will leave alongside the British garrison, with the United Kingdom having also signed the treaty, and it is understood that Italian occupation forces will follow suit across Anatolia despite the Rome government not signing the Treaty of Saint-Maurice.

Whilst 30,000 French personnel make the return voyage to France through the Mediterranean, a force of 26,000 has begun crossing the land border with Syria-Palestine following discussions with their government. It is believed that these troops will arrive in Rutbah Wells, British Iraq, over the course of the next three months.

Developments to watch:

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Forces continue to amass in Algeria. Public demonstration turns into celebration at news of French withdrawal from Anatolia. Andea discounts Panama Canal charge for French Polynesian vessels.

[Lendenburgh]

February 14, 1920

Military Reorganization
The great number of war veterans returning home to the Freikorps and People’s Armies continues to be a major concern, pushing the Ebert government to reorganize the military and create work programs. The restrictions imposed by Versailles will be a unique challenge for the German High Command to meet, with extensive requirements placed on the amount and types of equipment the nation can arm itself with. So far, the General Staff has released a plan that will dissolve the Navy entirely, replacing it with a coast guard; the Luftwaffe will be composed mainly of airships and biplanes for training; and the ground forces will be limited in personnel to just 750,000 from it’s 4.6 million personnel height at the end of the war.

Funding was also allocated for a number of intelligence branches of the military, and the creation of two new branches of the military that have not been officially disclosed in any documents. But, the General Staff has said these expansions to the intelligence capacity of the armed forces will be invaluable, and part of the brand new small-but-elite doctrine of the Army. Several Prussian conservatives were also expelled from the general staff in previous weeks, to great objections among members of the Reichstag, out of an effort to 'sensibly downsize' the command structure of the military. However, one conservative called it "evidence that Ebert is a communist intent on shattering the German nation." Though debates continue to rage at the highest level of government, it seems that the majority of the middle class and workers tend to support the work that Ebert is doing for Germany.

The Eastern Provinces
In Silesia and Stettin,
The Ebert government has agreed to work with unions and local councils to re-industrialize the East. With the massive influx of immigrants from the captured territories, the abundance of labor will be used to finish the shift in production from war material to civilian goods, ramp up production, and construct new factories. Officially, the effort is known as the Neues Rhinelandprojekt- it aims to employ nearly 1 million by the end of the year. The Polish expulsion of citizens from Prussia has turned into somewhat of an economic miracle for the area, driving a boost in construction for housing already. Though the social challenges of a large homeless population and high unemployment rates currently loom over the area, the promise of investment to take care of the refugee population is driving a sense of optimism.

Encounters along the border between Freikorps and Polish forces have somewhat lessened in recent months, as the food situation improves and there is more employment opportunity in nearby communities. There are also some rumors of secret talks between the German and Polish governments about a treaty to arbitrate the exchange in displaced peoples between the provinces. Already, KPD leader Liebknecht has stated a "willingness to work with the Polish workers" in the process. While the Ebert administration has yet to make a comment following the Polish appropriations of German territory- which caused an uproar among conservatives in the Reichstag- it seems his administration is not willing to respond beyond the embargoes placed earlier this year. While the border is still a hot zone, it does seem decidedly cooler than just a month prior, though still marred by the footsteps of those abandoning their lifelong homes.


Newly established Finanzministerium and Central Bank promise stability
Today, sweeping bank reform narrowly passed the Reichstag with a 220-192 vote. The bill created a Federal Ministry with regulating power over all economic functions, budgets, and financial transactions in the country- a sweeping Federal power that was only the first of two blows to the autonomy of the States. The bill also nationalized mortgage banks, savings and loans, and centralized the assets of the Staats Landesbanken into a single, national bank. The Reichslandesbank will serve as the near sole point of deposit for most German citizens, holding over ℳ20 billion in assets.

While private investment banks and some savings and loans will be allowed to continue to operate, this is a massive step in centralizing finance within the nation. A new Central Bank- the Reichsbank- was also established by the measure, with it’s primary goal being to manage the post-war inflation that has been accelerating in recent months, and to temper the government’s currency issuing power. The bank will be run by an independent council of economic advisors, who will have autonomy to act to control interest rates in the country, and also to advise the Finanzministerium on key matters involving foreign capital entering the country.

Food Shipments and Foreign Capital arrive on German shores
In Bremen,
Today, as barges unloaded the first of highly discounted grain from France and Britain, hope was spreading among the populace. Combined with the newly announced entrance of Pacifican companies into the German manufacturing sector, Hannover and the Rhur will likely be the sight of a German post-war revival. With a deal to acquire several factories, Pacifican investors are likely to employ thousands in the industrial heartland of the West over the next few months. The first loaves of bread are coming out of bakery ovens, and as the factories begin to reopen, it seems that the country may return to a new normal.

Additionally, the Foreign Ministry announced an increase in trade with the Soviet Union was one of the 'higher priorities' of Germany's foreign economic strategy, seeming to hint that there was a treaty in the works which would greatly reduce trade barriers. The Minister professed that "a combination of goods from our former enemies will doubtlessly propel the Reich into a new golden era- French grain and Soviet tools, they may be, but it is a German future that we look forward to."

Other News

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Conservatives promise revenge for slight of military staff
Liebknecht denounces use of foreign capital, says Silesian project should become nationwide
German Ostafrikaner Zepplin Gesellschaft Begins operations
Sawdust bread no longer at your local bakery
Berliner Philharmoniker to Return Next Month

[Nowa Polonie]

The March Constitution



In a move regarded by many within and without Poland as a move towards promised efforts to democratization, the Provisional Government has instituted a new constitution (the previous 'Emergency Constitution' being a product of the Crisis of 1917), the new 'March Constitution' has introduced a battery of new legislation. Based primarily upon the constitution of the Third French Republic, the new constitution has outlawed discrimination on racial and religious grounds (in what some view as further evidence of the stirrings of a potential detente between Poland and Germany), complete and comprehensive enfranchisement for women. In comparison to the previous constitution, and in comparison to the constitutions of some neighboring countries, the new constitution shows remarkable promise for a democratic, and some may even say progressive, future for Polish democracy. However, the constitution includes numerous clauses to enable and empower the provisional government, in-so-far that it does not, and cannot, currently govern the country 'democratically' (though most do agree that it does rule by popular mandate.), notably;

- The President may dismiss the Sejm (parliament) and the Senate.
- The President may issue acts (rozporządzenia) having statutory power with the approval of the Sejm.
- The Sejm may not dissolve itself.
- If the Sejm cannot agree on the state budget, the budget may be passed by the government.

Despite these 'pragmatic' clauses, the new constitution has been greeted with wide acclaim across the spectrum of Polish politics, with many applauding President Pilsudksi for honouring prior promises to bring about true democratic reform, and to make Poland a country that lives up to its title as a republic. There are stirrings among the more cynically minded, however, that the new constitution only serves as a front to appease liberalizers, while still empowering the president - though these come primarily from the 'Bolshevik' factions within the PSP.

In spite of doubts, Pilsudski has declared that the March of 1920 shall be remembered as the beginning of a 'Polish Spring', and that regardless of future challenges, that the new constitution will be abided by, and that whatever happens, the government will fulfill the ambitions of the people to make Poland a modern, pluralistic democracy.



Appearing at a public celebration of the new constitution, President Pilsudski walked among the crowd, shaking many hands. Being one of the first nations in the world to give women the vote, Poland has, in its own small way, taken a great step towards being recognized not as a backwards-facing 'Eastern' country, but a nation that can count itself proudly among the modern nations of Europe.

[Lendenburgh]

Special Edition
March 16, 1920

Ebert Dead - Government in Berlin Toppled

In Berlin,
The evening of March 15th started with a terrorist attack, targeted at the very heart of the German capital. As the Berlin Philharmonic prepared to give its first concert since Armistice Day, gunmen burst through the doors on both floors of the concert hall- shooting and killing President Ebert, a member of his cabinet, and two members of the Reichstag. The gunmen’s leader, likely a member of a Freikorps Epp or the National People’s Party, jumped up on stage and proclaimed a “new Reich”. Doctors were unable to reach the theater because of the amount of insurgents surrounding the Hall.



As the Freikorps Epp occupied Berlin occupied the streets, brief firefights emerged, but over 1,200 Reichswehr personnel surrendered or actively assisted the Putsch. The remaining units were able to hold parts of Berlin long enough to evacuate members of the government- who fled to Weimar.

This morning, General Walther von Lüttwitz delivered a speech from the steps of the Reichstag- with former members of the Army High Command, declaring a Second German Empire:

Friedrich Ebert and his government have betrayed the German people one too many times. The government has been forced to surrender its land, arms, money, and autonomy to the allied powers. Now it is an outright dismantling of our glorious military. The only compensation that we will see from Socialist governance is French bread. Today, the lies of the Social Democratic party, and their cooperation with Bolshevik elements comes to an end. Today, we look forward to a second German Reich, free of foreign interference.

Wolfgang Kapp has been declared the "Reichsführer" of the "Second German Empire", with von Lüttwitz as his Chancellor, and Waldemar Pabst as "First Minister". Conservatives, and government officials who remain in the city, seem only somewhat willing to cooperate so far, and the government has been unable to expand its influence beyond the city of Berlin thus far.

Cabinet regathers
In Weimar
Arriving in the town of Weimar this morning, a new government was formed primarily by the Conservatives who did not support the Putsch and members of the Zentrum party. Without Ebert's leadership, the SPD's coalition has totally collapsed. The contingent of elite army units protecting them has been supplemented by 10,000 members of the Reichsbanner Schwartz-Rot-Gold. Konrad Adenauer, previously the mayor of Cologne, was able to form a cabinet and meet to issue a call for a general strike. However, not much else can be accomplished by the government as the domestic situation spirals out of control.

Liebknecht and the KPD make their own response
In Munich,
In the early hours of the day, upon hearing of the Putsch, Karl Liebknecht and a contingent of the Red Bavarian Army stormed the Governor of Bavaria's residence just north of Munich. By morning, news of his abdication had reached the city. Supporters and unionists poured out onto the streets, taking control of the city hall and welcoming Liebknecht into the Marienplatz. Similar to the government in Weimar, he advocated a general strike of workers across Germany, against the "Prussian, reactionary, bourgeois takeover of the German people's government". Adenauer's government in Berlin has yet to make a response, but Liebknecht has made a call for open revolution across the country, saying that if the Social Democrats are not restored to their elected power, that Germans will be doomed to live under a "Prussian dictatorship".

The call has resonated in a few communities: In the Rhur, a group calling themselves "The German People's Revolutionary Army" has risen up, mostly workers from coal and steel factories in the area. They've engaged Freikorps loyal to the National People's party, resulting in an ongoing firefight in the streets of Dortmund. Of the the few comments leaked from the Weimar government was from the Minister of Finance who said it was a miracle the fighting had not spilled into the Rhineland, "lest the French take offense."

In the East, many Freikorps that were engaging in border skirmishes have been moving closer to large cities from Dresden to Breslau. The docks where just two weeks ago workers were unloading the first shipments of grain from cargo ships in Bremen, now hosts open fighting between supporters of the Putsch-disbanded navy officers-and the dock workers, many of whom are members of the KPD. Even in Kiel, an inspector from the League of Nations was reportedly thrown into the canal, though he only sustained minor injuries. This political upset has undoubtedly thrown the nation, so eagerly looking to recover, straight back into chaos. With three governments- the "Bavarian Soviet", the "German Empire", and the "Weimar Republic" all vying for control over the nation, it does not seem like this political confrontation will end peacefully.

[Anxiety Cafe]

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 FOUNDED 1857

CAPE TOWN, SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 1920

PRICE 3c 

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1920 ELECTION RESULTS CONFIRMED


Smuts to be replaced
By Hendrik Theron

New Prime Minister J.B.M. Hertzog

The election prospects for Prime Minister Smuts and the SAP had seemed favorable for weeks; Smuts, being an accomplished diplomat, general, and politician received widespread support, even from some Afrikaners, who viewed him as an appropriate mediator with the British. However, the formation of the National-Labour pact confirmed rumours that had been circulating for weeks - and doomed the SAP's hopes of holding onto power. The rise in black voting in the Cape was not enough to overcome the alliance, with Labour numbers swelling due to the post-war economic downturn.

No party alone received enough of the 163 seats in the House of Assembly to form a majority; but the coalition together held 88 of them when the results had been finalized. National Party leader J.B.M. Hertzog has now been confirmed to the position of Prime Minister, replacing Smuts and relegating the SAP to opposition party status. Prime Minister Hertzog will also be serving as the Minister of Native Affairs, while Labour leader Frederic Creswell will be Minister of Defence and Labour.

Like Smuts, Hertzog rose to prominence as a general for the Boer states during the South African War, and became a politician following the signing of the Treaty of Vereeniging. However, the similarities end there. Unlike Smuts' white unity stance, Hertzog advocates for for a two streams policy, under which the Afrikaner and British South Africans would be free from the domination of the other. He has advocated for bilingualism at a national level and is one of the more vocal supporters of restricting native movement, residency, and franchise. Frequently using a "South Africa First" motto, he considers the needs of the Dominion above all else, including the British Empire.

Despite this, he is considered to be of the more moderate branch of the National Party. D.F. Malan, who will be serving as the Minister of Education, has taken more extreme stances. Having publicly referred to the East African Commonwealth as a "black supremacist terror state," he considers its existence to be "against the natural order" and repudiated the non-aggression agreement signed between it and the British. Although not calling for outright secession, he has also supported constitutional changes concerning the establishment of a national flag and the replacement of Dutch with Afrikaans as a national language.

Creswell, unlike his National Party counterparts, is not so renowned as a politician, but is considered the champion of white labour. Having passionately opposed the importation of Chinese laborers and the use of natives in the mines, Creswell is dedicated to supporting white workers. He has frequently been on the frontlines of strikes in the mines and has been arrested twice under Prime Minister Smuts' rule for such action.

These three men are set to dominate the political scene for the coalition government term, and have already begun drafting legislation to these ends. This handover of power has left the SAP reeling, with leaders contemplating losses and potential moves. Some say a split is soon to happen, with the Cape Liberals forming their own party and leaving Smuts and the SAP even weaker in government.
 

[Nowa Polonie]

Poland responds to the German Crisis - Recognizes Adeneaur Government - Suspends Versailles Treaty Reperations

The attitude of the Polish Government after the war was that keeping the Germans weak would prevent another war, and ensure the long-term safety of Europe, and the prosperity of Poland. The news of the assassination of President Ebert, the collapse of the German Government and the prospect of a German Civil War have demonstrated that the actions taken in pursuit of this policy have proven too successful. Keeping Germany was the goal - turning it into a failed state was not, and it is clear to everyone within the Polish Government that Poland's security is dramatically imperiled by the prospect of a war in Germany, and the potential for a revanchist, or even worse, a Communist Government to ascend to power in the German state.

To this end, after a crisis meeting, the Polish Government has publically announced its recognition and support of the Adeneaur Government in Weimar. It has also announced that all outstanding reparation payments to be paid to Poland are to be suspended indefinitely - it is hoped that this concession to the Adeneaur Government will both legitimize the Weimar government, and disincentivize further support for German right-wing revanchists.

The Polish Army units posted to the German frontier have been placed on high alert in order to prevent the spillover of fighting, while the Polish Red Cross has been provided with limited funding in order to expand its assistance to German repatriation efforts, and the Government has even begun to provide token financial reparations for seized German property. Though this policy has left a sour taste in the mouths of most Poles, it is clear that the prior 'iron-fist' policies have proved to be unsuccessful, and therefore it must be exchanged with a silk glove if Poland does not wish to further enflame tensions and destablize its Teutonic neighbours.



Red-Cross volunteers working in a provisional kitchen to provide hot meals to the residents of a German repatriation camp located near the border - it is thought that if efforts are made to improve the conditions in these temporary camps, that when the refugees are finally moved on to Germany, they will be less likely to fall into the ranks of the German radicals of either political persuasion.

[Orostan]

COMMUNIST INTERNATIONAL DECLARES SUPPORT FOR GERMAN WORKERS

An attempted right-wing and anti-communist coup in Germany has resulted in the formation of a new pathetic government in the town of Wiemar of conservatives that simply "do not support" a coup, and presumably prefer more civil means of dictatorship. This nearly powerless capitalist committee is contrasted by the millions of workers in Bavaria and Ruhr have taken to the street to fight the coup government for real. Further fighting is reported in Bremen and in Kiel as workers all around Germany take matters into their own hands. The Communist International decided unanimous support for the German workers movement in its struggle to gain political power, and has further advised that German communists establish worker's councils around the country including in Wiemar or coup government territory. The KPD has also been urged to avoid direct conflict with the Wiemar government and even avoid challenging their authority in territory its workers councils are strong in but that it does not control. If Communists liberate an area from the coup government before the Wiemar do however there will obviously be an expansion of Soviet Germany however. Instead, the Communists should follow a strategy of not directly fighting the Wiemar government which enjoys a great deal of foreign support. This would obviously change if the Wiemar government decided to move against them under Polish or French pressure. Until that conflict becomes inevitable though the Communists will build up their support among the workers and soldiers with their opposition to foreign imperialism (namely Polish and French) and their end goal of real socialist democracy in Germany.

[The East African Commonwealth]

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Afrika Daily - March 22nd, 1920

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Rangers Consolodated

To many outsiders the Commonwealth is one of two things, a symbol of African possibility or a backwater nation lacking industry. However, something that the Commonwealth is known for across the world is its massive interior frontier which consists of every terrain imaginable from dense jungles and mountain ranges to harsh deserts and spares savannas. While the nations residing within this region have their own military forces it was common for these forces to be unable to have a firm grasp on the area leading to corruption, gangs of bandits, and hunters poaching protected animals before the Commonwealth was formed. In 1887 when the African Coalition, the EAC's predecessor, came into existence this was a major concern as the European forces were beginning to build up their forces across this frontier region and were conducting probing raids into member states to use the area as a way to force the nation into a multi-front war. Knowing the Army would be needed at the coastline and member states forces would be stretched thin the Coalition established the Afrikan Rangers, a group of the most experienced local forces from each border state. These Rangers numbered only 10,000 when the Great African War began, but their impact on the war cannot be understated. The Western front of the war is not often discussed as there were no large scale battles in the theater, however, the Rangers and their guerrilla tactics in the Kongo, Sudan, and Zimbabwe helped to stall or even halt the movement of many of the European colonial armies and helped to incite revolts behind colonial lines.

Following the end of the war the rangers were hailed as heroes and received international fame for their efforts. However, when the Commonwealth formed a year after the war many nations felt that the Rangers should not be under the new entity, but divided among the member states. The Rangers were dissolved due to this and in the 26 years since the EAC was founded the Ranger veterans of the war have been actively securing the frontiers within their own nations, that was until now. Rais Kutan has announced that the Rangers are to be reformed under the Commonwealth's command and consolidated into a single force. While many are concerned this gives the federal forces the most experienced and well trained force in East Africa, others see this as a logical move following the Great War and the mass of unrest spreading across Europe. While the Rangers have yet to be formed until the Assembly votes on the establishment of the force, it is expected that the assembly will ratify the legislation.

Kamba Tribe's Transition Causes National Concern

One of the largest and most prominent tribes in the Commonwealth caused a wave of uneasiness across the EAC as it announced that the nation would begin the transition from a tribal coalition to a proper republic with the help of the Zanzibar and Mombasa Republics. This announcement came as a major blow to the Tribal Party and to nativists as the Kamba Tribe holds one of the largest populations in the region and the largest tribal economy due to the city of Nairobi and many tribes have requested an immediate meeting with the leaders of the Kamba. The republics have welcomed the news as a herald of things to come while the Kingdoms and Sultanates have been cautious in commenting on the matter. However, regardless of interests and views within parties of all sides this transition has the possibility to give the idea of Centralization actual grounds to be presented in the Assembly. In the past, it has been thanks to the efforts of Kamba and Ethiopia that the idea of Centralization has been tabled again and again, but the transition to a republic indicates the nation may be changing its stance on the issue. Further, many other tribes in the region such as the Kipsigis, Maasai, Luhya, and Luo have been considering a similar transition for the past few year but were held back by the Kamba tribe. This transition could in itself cause a domino effect and shatter the power of the tribes within the EAC. The issue is currently being discussed with the Rais and his cabinet but there has been no comment from the Kutan Administration on the matter.

Naval Expansion Plan Presented to Assembly

The 1920 Naval Readiness Act has arrived on the Assembly floor after weeks of discussions with the Admiralty on the future of the fleet and its needs in the coming years. The only federal force has been the pride of the Commonwealth and is equal in strength and technological prowess to many of the European minors thanks to funding and aid from the Pacific States. However, with the lessons learned from the Great War now available to the EAC, the Admiralty feels that a new expansion program should be implemented. The Act includes funds for the construction of 5 dreadnoughts, 6 heavy cruisers, 9 light cruisers, 5 destroyers, and 16 submarines over the next ten years at the coast of 120 Million African Shillings. This also includes funds to retire the older vessels in the fleet and replace them with modern variants. The navy feels that it needs more of a battleship presence due to the high volume of British and French warships in the Indian Ocean and that the implementation of Submarines into the force is paramount due to their effectiveness during the Great War. In addition, funding will also be allotted to install new radio based communication on all ships and for the construction of a purpose built aircraft carrying vessel following testing on the converted liner being used for experiment on the matter. Being as the Navy is considered to be the front-line force against European influences in the region the Assembly is likely to approve the Act, but it is expected that funds will be reduced to 100 Million due to the new formation of the Rangers.

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EUROPA | German Relief Fleet Redirected to Poland Due to Civil War - German Aid Placed on Hold - Commonwealth Takes No Stance in Conflict - Aid Fleet Departs for Siberia|

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SOUTH AFRICA | South African Border States Hold Emergency Meeting - Concerns Expressed Over D.F. Malan's Appointment - Rais Considers Meeting P.M. Hertzog to Ease Tensions|

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AIR SERVICE | Airship Flight Results in Damage to the Nairobi, Grounded for Repairs - First Airplanes Expected to Join Force Soon - German Air Assistance Program on Hold|
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[Old Metropolitan France]

DATE: March 28, 1920

France condemns far-right coup in Berlin

The French Republic has officially condemned the Kapp–Lüttwitz Putsch, calling it a "far-right farce to German democracy", and begun to divert a force of 40,000 troops previously intended for the Rif to the Franco-German frontier border. The French Foreign Ministry has published a press release detailing "intended and actual violations of the Treaty of Versailles" by the Berlin regime, and expressed deep concern at news of the Kiel incident involving League of Nations personnel. In response, France has called for an emergency League of Nations meeting, whilst entering direct negotiations with the Adenauer cabinet on the situation and dispatching an envoy to the Ruhr's German People's Revolutionary Army.

It is understood that French tolerance for roaming Freikorps forces across Germany is wearing thin, and the fact that communication has been opened between Paris and both Weimar and Dortmund is indicative of potential intervention in the near future. This can already be observed, with the Anglo-French Rapid Response Force officially embarking on its first deployment to the Baltic to impose a 'military quarantine' of the German coastline. Whilst civilian goods - including food supplies - will not be stopped by the naval force, the ships will seek to prevent further instability in central Europe by stopping any weapons shipments intended for German shores.

Developments to watch:

Code: Select all

Rif offensive reduced in scope due to German Crisis, French forces reorient efforts towards holding current territory.

French citizens in Germany warned to safely evacuate if possible, or await arrival of assistance.

Withdrawal of Anatolia continues by sea and across Syria-Palestine, first elements begin to arrive in British Iraq.

[Lendenburgh]

March 28, 1920

General Strike takes hold- Reichswehr moves closer to Berlin
Government officials and common folk alike have refused to recognize the rule of the Putschers in Berlin. Wolfgang Kapp's government has issues over 200 edicts over the past week, struggling to convene a Parliament to actually pass legislation. But, with no popular or international recognition of their government, it seems that German democracy may prevail. Already, the Reichswehr and loyal paramilitary forces numbering in the tens of thousands have begun approaching the city. However, there are widespread reports of violence as well.

In Bremen,
Though a popular syndacalist group lead a charge into the city hall in Bremerhaven last week, a local Freikorps has descended on the city, searching houses for members of the Communist or Social Democrat Party, and even clashing with militia groups in the street.

In Silesia,
Large bands of armed men roam city streets at night. In the city of Breslau, chaos has descended, with people of Polish ethnicity being thrown into the Oder River. Though in the North, the Reichswehr has been able to stabilize the situation with refugees and ethnic tension- it does not seem the province of Silesia has fared as well.

In the Rhur Valley
Absolute bloodshed broke out in the streets of Dortmund. The Freikorps Lichtschlag attempted to encircle the Rhur Red Army inside the city, however, being outnumbered nearly 5:1, the Freikorps was totally slaughtered. The Rhur Red Army has officially occupied the entire Rhur Valley, declaring the "Soviet of Westphalia." Apparently, back-channel negotiations are occurring between the Red Army and the German government regarding cooperation against the Freikorps in the West of the Country. But, the situation remains uncertain as events in Berlin unfold.

From the city of Weimar, the Adenauer administration released a formal statement, essentially requesting French and Polish help in dealing with the German domestic situation. Saying "Germany cannot survive a civil war. If the Allied powers truly want the German state to survive, they will intervene at our time of greatest need against these destabilizing forces." The Foreign ministry reports that negotiations have already begun with the Allied powers over possible strategies for the intervention, and they were progressing well.

Center forms coalition with the SPD- Liebknecht says diplomacy is an option
Also from Weimar today, Conservative politicians became leery of Adenauer's eagerness to work with France and Poland on the domestic situation. Before the situation in the Reichstag could deteriorate, the SPD conceded to forming a governing coalition under Adenauer, provided the government seek to "actively work with the violent workers revolutions in the Rhur and Bavaria." This sentiment was echoed by Liebknecht in Munich. In addition to discussing the Communist International's statement, he explicitly said that Soviets established in Germany should be committed to working with the democratically elected government. When the news broke that the SPD had been restored to their governing position, Liebknecht remarked that it was a "victory for the German people."

[Orostan]

THE NINTH CONGRESS OF THE RUSSIAN COMMUNIST PARTY

"Comrades, we are opening this present Congress of the Party at a highly important moment. The internal development of our revolution has led to very big and rapid victories over the enemy in the Civil War, and, in view of the international situation, these victories, we find, are nothing more nor less than the victory of the Soviet revolution in the first country to make this revolution—a very weak and backward country—a victory over the combined forces of world capitalism and imperialism. And after these victories we may now proceed with calm and firm assurance to the immediate tasks of peaceful economic development, confident that the present Congress, having reviewed the experience of over two years of Soviet work, will be able to utilise the lesson gained in order to cope with the more difficult and complex task of economic development that now confronts us. From the international standpoint, our position has never been as favourable as it is now; and what fills us with particular joy and vigour is the news we are daily receiving from Germany, which shows that, however difficult and painful the birth of a socialist revolution may be, the proletarian Soviet power in Germany is spreading irresistibly. The part played by the German Kornilov-type putsch was similar to that of Kornilov revolt in Russia. After that a swing towards a workers’ government began, not only among the masses of urban workers, but also among the rural proletariat of Germany. And this swing is of historic importance. Not only is it one more absolute confirmation of the correctness of the line, but it gives us the assurance that the time is not far off when we shall be marching hand in hand with a German Soviet government." - Lenin, Opening speech to the 9th congress of the RCP (B).

The end of the April congress of the Russian Communist Party has decided several important ideological and political questions. With the red flag flying over Transcaucasia and operations being undertaken in the far east to end the Japanese occupation over Vladivostok the civil war is beginning to end in people's mind just as much as it is in real life. The congress has reflected that. The New Economic Policy in which the socialist state will retain control of the commanding heights of the economy while allowing private industry to dominate the light industrial and agricultural sectors has been finalized and approved. The NEP also includes provisions for attracting foreign investment and a plan for implementation of the grain tax as a replacement for grain requisitioning across the USSR in the coming months. Collectivization is only given minor attention though as a voluntary program that while being encouraged by the state is not made a priority at the moment or mandatory in any regard. In fact, violence against peasants interested in collectivization or contributing to cooperative farms is common in the villages. The violence is not as bad as it once was, but still is present enough and supported by the kulak class enough to dissuade attempts at collectivization in this unstable time.

The trade union question has also come up, and has been ruled decisively against Leon Trotksy's faction in favor of Lenin's view. Trotsky's position was that the trade unions should be militarized and brought under the command of the socialist state, while Lenin and the majority of the party's position was that the trade unions were vital educational centers of communism and administration as well as important support mass organizations for the people in general. Many Red trade unions assist in providing bonuses and workplace benefits to workers around the USSR, for example. Trotsky described his trade union policy as the following instead:

"....a regime in which every worker feels himself a soldier of labour, who cannot dispose of himself freely; if the order is given to transfer him, he must carry it out; if he does not carry it out, he will be a deserter who is punished. Who looks after this? The trade unions. It creates the new regime. This is the militarisation of the working class."

Prior to the 9th Congress Trotsky was at about even support with Lenin on the Central Committee for this subject in particular but the party as a whole has taken the side of Lenin and already men associated with Trotsky like Nikolay Krestinsky have been ousted from the Politburo in favor of men like Zinoviev who took Lenin's side in this debate.

That is not to say that factional conflict is over - debate over the NEP continues and the usual factional mud slinging continues at greater volume if anything. There has also emerged a significant divide on foreign policy when it comes to the AFN and the Entente. Lenin, backed by Bukharin and others, have argued that the interests of the USSR and the Alliance of "Free" Nations are similar on a number of key issues relating to national liberation and a general opposition to colonialism. The AFN is not seen as being able to project power as effectively as the Entente is and because of their temporary geopolitical interest in national liberation they are viewed as the somewhat less bad gang of imperialist criminals. Trotsky, backed by his own group, has argued that the AFN is no better or worse than the Entente and should be regarded as imperialists in just the same way. This generally works with Trotsky's view that the USSR should be a base to spread socialism to other countries rather than working to establish socialism on its own. The party's official foreign policy remains a pursuit of Soviet recognition and peaceful relations internationally as well as the drawing of investment from the west with the NEP and is generally unchanged. The debate over it was small compared to the discussion relating to the NEP and trade unions but the divide has no doubt been noticed by Europe's leaders and the Americans.

On the issue of Germany there was no divide. The geopolitical obstacle of Poland prevents much direct intervention from the USSR to the German soviets, but the congress of the party voted unanimously to support the German revolution and to encourage the eventual conquest of political power by the German workers. The Soviet diplomatic staff in Berlin has fled south to Munich to escape the far-right occupation of the city and the official soviet diplomatic position on Germany has not changed - but it is obvious who the USSR is supporting and why.

[Nowa Polonie]

Poland signs 'Oder Pact' with Weimar Government

In an agreement made between representatives from the German Weimar Government, and the Polish Government - in a move made after reports of violence against Polish citizens in German Silesia - the 'Oder Pact' has been signed. The pact, which in practice lays out the future of Polish-German relations, all but confirms that the Polish Government gives its outright recognition to the Weimar Government as the legitimate government of Germany.

In primary clause of the Pact is the creation of a joint Polish-German Commission to restore and maintain order in the province of German Silesia. The reason for the Polish Government's haste in making the agreement has reportedly been the news of violence against ethnic Poles, as well as the threat that unrest in the province may have on Polish efforts to successfully Polonize their newly re-incorporated territories.

As such, as the violence in Silesia has escalated, the Polish Government has begun to allow units of the Reichswehr still loyal to the Weimar Government to begin reorganizing along the Polish border, while organizing a specialist battalion of 1,000 men to provide support. To this end, the Polish Government has concentrated a great degree of its mechanized capabilities in order that this battalion will act in a supporting role to the Weimar Reichswehr to rapidly restore order to the province - and to support population exchange efforts, aiding Germans leaving Poland, and Poles leaving Germany.



Limited to a limit of 1,000 men, and with strength of the Freikorps in Silesia being significant, the Polish Army has chosen to dispatch a very large portion of its existing stocks of trucks and armoured cars to provide the greatest possible aid to elements of the Weimar Reichswehr, if not to restore order, then to facilitate the evacuation of Polish civilians from the troubled province.

[Arela]

World - Andea - Politics - Business - Opinion - Tech - Science - Health - Sports - Other

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The German Crisis

Following a violent far-right putsch, the democratically elected German government was overthrown, leaving Germany split between various factions. Although there are no clear front lines as of yet, in the west, the Entente-backed Weimar Republic reigns dominant. The Bolshevik KDP has taken control over Bavaria, while in the East the so-called "Second German Empire" has taken hold. Germany is now inches away from a devastating civil war.

In this state of chaos, Eduardo Garcia, Andea's minister of foreign relations, has announced the evacuation of non-essential diplomatic staff from Germany. "Andea shall continue its recognition of the Weimar Republic," Garcia stated. "However, we cannot commend the fact that the conservatives formed an unelected government following the putsch. While the elected government was brought back into the ruling coalition, we'll continue watching the situation closely."

The German Crisis has also grounded German-Andean trade cooperation to a halt - a critical issue for Andea's industrialization. The Andean government has reacted by offering German companies a five-year tax exemption for any business operations brought over to Andea, along with a 50% tax deduction for any corporate profits reinvested into the company's Andean operations for the five following years. To help implement these goals, President Herrera has created the Export-Import Bank of Andea.

Bolsheviks Abandon Communism

The Bolshevik leadership, apparently realizing the sheer destruction communist dogma has brought along with it, has taken a drastic and unexpected change of course. At the 9th Congress of the Russian Communist Party, the Soviets have brought back market economics under the guise of the New Economic Policy. This has huge ramifications, namely the legalization of private property and the encouragement of foreign investment.

The fact that the communists are now promoting private ownership would be deeply ironic - if it were not for the millions of Russians on the brink of starvation due to the failures of collective agriculture. Thankfully, collective agriculture has now effectively been abandoned, with farmers free to choose their destiny. Although the Soviets still continue to erroneously attack successful farmers, this too has subsided following the 9th Congress.

In the aftermath of the NEP, some observers think that the Soviets might liberalize further - and even allow democratic reforms. However, noted Sovietologist Victor Sanchez stated that such optimism is nonsense. "The Soviets may have retreated from socialism. But they won't restore democracy." Sanchez stated. "They won't abandon their suppression of religion, rival political groups, or anything else that could remotely threaten their dictational rule."

April 5, 1920

[The East African Commonwealth]

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Afrika Daily - March 28th, 1920

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Air Service Under Scrutiny

The newest branch of the Commonwealths' military has gone from high hopes to a train wreck. After test flights for three months for crew training both of the AAS's two Zeppelins are undergoing repairs after damage to each airship occurred during training. The Mombasa is repairing its control flaps and engines due to a loss of control during its maiden voyage in late January while the Nairobi has major structural damage to the keel and the lower gonadal. Both ships will be out of action for another month until repairs and services are complete, essentially making the service inoperable. The results from these test and training has left the public and government dismayed and disappointed leading to both the Army and the Navy requesting that the branch be dissolved and transferred to their control. The current commanding officer of the AAS, Admiral Tobea, has requested that the government refrain from making a hasty judgment and to give the branch the time it needs to properly establish itself to give a proper evaluation. These disasters have caused the cancellation of an order of aircraft in order to fund repairs for the two airships. It remains to be seen if Admiral Tobea and his AAS will be able to remain an independent force or if it is fated to be rolled into one of the present armed forces. Regardless, it seems that Tobea and his airmen are re-evaluating their current goals, plans, and funding to determine their primary focus for the near future.

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| Kamba Government Holds Emergency Meeting | Navy Act and Ranger Bill are Passed | Refugee Crisis Continues Unaddressed, Unrest Rising |
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[Lendenburgh]

Special Edition
April 1, 1920


Reichswehr Forces enter Berlin

On orders from Adenauer's government in Weimar, 20,000 Reichswehr soldiers dispatched from Stettin and Leipzig entered the capital last night. Intense fighting broke out in the streets, but the fractured and poorly armed Kriegsmarine were forced back to the Alexanderplatz by daybreak. The National People's Party, lead by a man named Adolf Hitler, were able to escape the city to the West, and are thought to be seeking refuge in Silesia. The people of Berlin lit up their windows for the Reichswehr forces and joined them out on the streets this morning. The Naval standard has been removed from the flagpole of the Reichstag and replaced with the Schwartz-Rot-Gold of the Republic.

Nearly all of aside from the NVP, nearly all those who participated in the putsch were killed in the fighting- the former Staff members and Wolfgang Kapp were taken into custody, and are now being transported to Weimar for trial. The Center-Left coalition now leading the government has forced the resignation of many of the Conservative MP's who collaborated with the government, with a general election being called this June to fill the nearly half-empty Reichstag.

In Bremen,
Nearly 10,000 SPD and KPD protestors, many of whom armed themselves from the recently closed naval base in the city, have completely surrounded the 600 members of the Freikorps Caspari which attempted to quell the general strike. After hours of complete bloodshed, and nearly 1,000 casualties, the Freikorps surrendered. A new Bremen Soviet was declared on the steps of the City Hall, making it the third to be declared within the Republic in these few short weeks- behind Bavaria and the Rhur valley.

The Adenauer government has sent representatives to Munich to negotiate with Liebknecht over a possible admission to the Federation as autonomous states. The KPD has also demanded their participation in the snap elections in June. Shockingly, a correspondent for a Munich newspaper saw two Russian nationals entering the Munich city hall to have a meeting with the Bavarian Soviet's leadership. This signals close cooperation between the KPD and the USSR. Liebknecht has publicly asked the Rhur Red Army and the Bremen Soviet to follow the Communist International's recommendations and not actively engage Reichswehr forces.

In Dortmund,
The Rhur Red Army continues to gain strength every day, with some saying membership has reached nearly 70,000 men. Small Freikorps units have attempted to engage, but have been rebuffed or slaughtered at every turn. Entire units have been wiped out by the Red Army, and the entirety of the Rhur Valley up to the Rhine and to the Border with the Netherlands has been secured.

April 16, 1920
Government returns to Berlin- Deal reached with the KPD and allies
The Cabinet and Reichstag returned to the capital this week, and quickly announced that a compromise had been reached with Red Army forces in Bremen, Bavaria, and the Rhur. Each will be admitted to the German Federation as a state with special rights under the constitution:

1. Control over internal labor laws including the organization of industrial ownership
2. Control over internal finances
3. Workers may politically organize at the state level independent of a bureaucracy

Reportedly, these terms were reached in tandem with negotiations with the allied powers. In what the Adenauer government is calling a diplomatic breakthrough, three diplomatic pacts were signed with Poland, France, and Great Britain. The Rhine Pact invited the French Army to intervene in the Rhineland against the revolting Freikorps units, secured the economic future of the Rhineland with French assistance for the damage done by the war, and forced the French to recognize the right of workers to organize. This included breakthrough rights like an 8-hour workday, retirement pensions, and greater safety requirements.

The Treaty reached with Poland guarantees a similar assistance to the Reichswehr in Silesia, as well as ensuring the safe evacuation of German nationals from Occupied Prussia under Polish military supervision. The Polish government has also outright forgiven reparation payments, and both the French and the Polish governments acceded to more favourable trade arrangements. An overarching agreement was reached with the Allied Powers which saw the German admission into the League of Nations, the recognition of German sovereignty over the Kiel Canal and their inclusion in the overseeing Commission. This included the right for German inspectors to review all cargo manifests and charge penalty fines for legal violations. All of the Allies also agreed to guarantee the freedom of German trade, and the Dutch and Belgian demilitarization of their borders with Germany, including a ban on any French troops in the Saar or within 50 miles of the German border in Alsace Lorraine. The French also conceded to withdraw from the Rhineland in 4 years.

The German military conceded to begin the project of transforming its airships to passenger carrying models, however none of the privately owned airships in the country were affected by the Treaty. Reportedly, many of the airships will be sold to the new German Ostafrikaner Zeppliner Company. Poland and France also signed non-aggression pacts with the German government, and guaranteed the freedom of Germany from foreign occupation. Thankfully, the French also agreed to have a popular referendum in the Saarland in 1930, where the territory may rejoin the Federation.

[Old Metropolitan France]

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GERMAN CRISIS SPECIAL

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Rhine Pact, Treaty of Saarbrücken and League of Nations resolution provide mandate for action

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High Diplomacy: Weimar Government recognized as legitimate, major agreements negotiated

Following an emergency League meeting, it has been agreed that the Weimar cabinet under Konrad Adenauer is the sole legitimate government of Germany, the conditions imposed by the Treaty of Versailles upon Germany may be renegotiated by the Primary Allied Powers, and all members in attendance voted unanimously to extend League membership to the country following the end of the current crisis. With these high-level diplomatic measures in place, the French government has moved quickly to secure bilateral and multilateral documents that will provide an effective response to the current German Crisis, and its aftermath.

The first document, a bilateral arrangement known as the 'Rhine Pact', was signed in Cologne by dignitaries from France and Weimar Germany. The Pact issues a formal German request for French military assistance in combating Freikorps and other paramilitary insurgent forces within the Ruhr Valley on behalf of the Weimar Government, provides potential terms for a common front with left-wing groups against the Kapp–Lüttwitz Putschists, removes French tariffs on German goods, and establishes a Ruhr-Rhineland Security Commission that will provide for equivalent labor protection laws on both sides of the Rhine river whilst establishing a special economic area across the Rhineland, Ruhr Valley, and Saarland.

The second document, a multilateral renegotiation of terms imposed at the Paris Peace Conference, was signed by Poland, the United Kingdom, Weimar authorities and France. On issues related to the seas, the Treaty of Saarbrücken seeks to specify and enshrine the powers extended to the Kiel Canal Commission, allow a French security force to join the existing Polish, British and German garrison in the Canal area, and also affords protection to German civilian vessels abiding by all relevant League resolutions. More significantly, the existing Rhineland DMZ has been extended to cover all territory within a 50 mile area of the German frontier with the Netherlands, Belgium and France in perpetuity, prohibits any non-Allied military presence in Germany, and disarms the German airship fleet.

FRANCE OCCUPIES THE RHINE

The final major provision within the Treaty of Saarbrücken was today unveiled, with Supreme Allied Commander Ferdinand Foch leading an initial force of 15,000 men across the border to occupy the Rhineland. In order to adequately conduct a counter-insurgency campaign within the Ruhr region, and prevent Freikorp units from approaching the French frontier, France will occupy the Rhineland for a maximum deployment period of four years. The French troops not immediately engaged in policing or combat against the far-right will serve to further verify the withdrawal of all German military and paramilitary personnel, weaponry, equipment and fortifications within the DMZ, and also conduct public relations activities in areas lacking utilities and supplies as a result of the Great War and its aftermath. The entirety of the occupation force will be drawn from the French metropole, with the majority of French colonial battalions either in the process of withdrawing from Anatolia or being deployed within the Rif region.

The new Prime Minister, Aristide Briand, proclaimed that the Treaty of Saarbrücken and new League resolution provide a full legal framework for the French intervention, stating;

[these measures are] a clear mandate for French entry into German territory in order to restore peace, forcibly disband Freikorps units in cooperation with the Reichswehr, uphold the Treaty of Versailles [and Saarbrücken], and defend European democracy from subversion.

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Published 8 April, 1920

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[Lendenburgh]

April 18, 1920

"Preußische Säuberung" declared- Adenauer Enacts Article 48
In a shocking turn of events, President Adenauer has forbid the trial of the Putschters to go ahead, instead invoking executive powers under Article 48 of the constitution to order their execution by firing squad. On the floor of the Reichstag he made the following speech:

If our nascent democracy, with the blessing of God, is to have any hope of revival- we must remove the malignant cancer which grows on its face. The reactionary Prussian elements which were able to take control of this government in a Putsch are the single greatest danger to the German people. No longer can we let the politically connected elite of the Prussian monarchy hold the puppet strings of our nation. No longer can we let military commanders usurp political power from democratically elected leaders. Today, I announce a policy of purge against these Prussian elements. They shall be expelled from this chamber. From the military. From places of influence in society. And, be replaced with true Germans, who have a soul instead of an Iron Cross in their chest.

Under this new 'purge', nearly 20% of the officers in the Reichswehr have been removed, state governors have been charged with sedition, members of the Prussian Assembly have been detained in the capital, and the Reichswehr has been mobilized. Though members of the SPD and Zentrum seem to be generally supportive of these measures in the wake of last month's Putsch, the Conservative party- or what remains of it- is in total uproar over Adenauer's decision.

Ultimatum presented to the Soviets- Rhur refuses to disarm
After intense negotiations, Liebknecht and the KPD have capitulated to the demands presented by the Weimar government. The Bavarian Red Army will be forced to surrender their arms, and the State of Bavaria will be subject to Reichswehr occupation. In exchange, the Soviet will be admitted into the German Federation with unique control over its internal labor and financial laws. Liebknecht called the guarantees of autonomy from the government a huge victory, and just hours after the Bavarian Soviet submitted to the demands, the provisional council in control of Bremen also agreed to be admitted to the Federation under its terms. However, the Rhur Red Army has refused to disarm. Leaders from the Valley say that the threat of French occupation has forced the Army to adopt a policy of non-violent resistance. Workers in the area have already begun blocking off highway and rail connections, fortifying themselves in city centers.

The general strike has come to an end across most of the country, with people returning to work as normal for the first time over the past couple of days as the Adenauer governement re-establishes itself in Berlin. However, the Rhur remains at a total standstill. Reportedly, the insubordination has spread to parts of the Rhineland as well. Smokestacks across the German industrial heartland have stopped billowing their plumes into the sky. In response to the Red Army's refusal to disarm, Adenauer has ordered 60,000 Reichswehr soldiers to be deployed to the region. Stating that the Left will be afforded "no more privilege than the right was in their insurrection"

Violence continues in Silesia
Today, Freikorps in the city of Breslau opened fire on citizens in the streets, and have been seen crossing bridges across the Oder into Polish territory. Reportedly, the paramilitary units have escalated to an entirely new level of violence. The summary execution of Polish nationals in Silesia has been reported, and even entire villages have been destroyed. After the capture of Berlin, the government has ordered military forces to the region, but given the near complete chaos which has taken over the state, it is unknown whether the Reichswehr will be able to make any significant inroads against the Freikorps without Polish support.

[Old Metropolitan France]

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GERMAN CRISIS SPECIAL

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Supreme Allied Commander oversees continuation of Rhine occupation, plans response to economic crisis and labor disputes

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Rhineland occupation continues

Supreme Allied Commander Ferdinand Foch is 'satisfied' with the initial progress of the French Army of the Rhine, with his troops having successfully occupied territory West of the Rhine and south of Mainz-Bingen with only minor delays. From these forward positions, the leading French cavalry forces will continue to advance on Coblenz, Andernach, and Remagen over the coming hours. The bloodless occupation is hoped to be completed across the entire left-bank before the end of April, whilst gendarmerie patrols are established to ensure that law and order is maintained behind the lines.

A call has been issued for any cooperative Rhenish civil society organizations, security personnel, trade unionists and political or special interest groups to gather in Köln, Bonn and Aachen in order to establish a provisional authority for German representative governance during the occupation. Upon the French arrival, these bodies would receive recognition and administrative support prior to a series of elections to a single four-year term supporting council authority.

Reports of strikes in the Rhineland have raised concerns that living conditions may deteriorate across the region, worsening the existing food distribution shortfall and household income uncertainty. In response the planned public works activities have been prioritized, more logistical support has been approved for French exported food and emergency rations, and Foch has issued an executive order as SAC of the Occupied Rhine Territories that prices of goods deemed 'necessities' and all accommodation payments are to be frozen for three weeks pending an urgent review of the situation. It is hoped that this will provide enough time for labor disputes to be resolved through negotiation between workers and their employers, however a Rhenish Labor and Commerce Judiciary will also be proclaimed once suitable personnel can arrive in the territory.

The French Republic has called on the Ruhr Red Army to disarm and comply with the German commitments made following the armistice of 1918, however once again reiterated the possibility of a common front against Freikorp militants.

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Published 19 April, 1920

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[Nowa Polonie]

Polish launch 'Emergency Intervention' in Silesia



The Oder Pact, so recently signed between Poland and the Weimar Government in Germany, permitted a battalion-sized complement of 1,000 men to assist Reichswehr forces in Silesia, intending to provide primarily logistical support. The response has been lackluster. Initial reports from the small intervention force have indicated that local Reichswehr units have been battered by defections - with many remaining troops, particularly officers, being openly sympathetic to Freikorps paramilitaries.

If this were not enough, reports from the Polish border have indicated that Freikorps units, some at a company-sized level, have launched raids into Poland itself, using German Silesia as a staging ground - resulting in a spate of murders, and acts of vandalism (primarily through the destruction of livestock and agricultural tools). Within Silesia itself, it has been reported that much harsher actions are taking place, including massacres of the Polish minority. Across Poland, the sensibilities of the public have been outraged, and the violence has fanned the flames of existing detractors of a detente with Germany. The Treaty, evidently, did not go far enough, and the Germans in spite of themselves, did not ask enough.

To this end, President Pilsudski has released an official statement through the League for Peace, read aloud by the Polish representative there, Jan Paderewski;

''It is the mandate of the Provisional Government of Poland to protect the nations under its stewardship - to this end, in contravention of existing treaties with the recognized Weimar Government of Germany, I have permitted a limited expansion of our efforts in Silesia in response to the emergency there. I take full responsibility for the initial failures in the appraisal of the severity of the crisis there, and I ask understanding from my German counterparts in tolerating it for the sake of peace.''

The 'limited expansion' President Pilsudski spoke of in this case has come in the form of 9,000 additional troops - the 4th. and 5th. Brigades of the Posen Military District, and the 8th. Cavalry Brigade, bringing the total number of Polish troops within Silesia to approximately 10,000. To this end, the Polish Army has temporarily organized each unit into a divisional structure, to be placed under the command of Władysław Sikorski - the appointment has been seen as a diplomatic, as well as military decision; while commanding the Podlasie Group and the 9th. Infantry Division in 1918, oversaw the trial of 36 officers in response to reports of rapine by his troops. It is hoped that Sikorski will ensure among Polish troops fighting in Silesia a good showing, despite this early breach of such a young agreement.

The announcement came as troops were dispatched across the practically unguarded border with Germany - Sikorski has ordered his cavalry to rapidly advance through the countryside, and to engage any and all dispersed Freikorps units found. Field commanders among the cavalry have been directed to push all Freikorps forces towards Breslau itself, and to force them to concentrate their forces within the city. In the meantime, the infantry will link with the motorized battalion already within Silesia, and whatever Reichswehr forces can be found, to encircle Breslau. Sikorski has allegedly referred to the city as 'The Witch's Cauldron', and the commander seemingly hopes that with a single, decisive act, that he can break the back of the Freikorps within Silesia, and allow the German government to reassert itself in the troubled province.

[Fregantes Empire]

Hakimiyet-i Milliye

Date: 23/04/1920

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Grand National Assembly of Turkey Convenes,
Mustafa Kemal Pasha Elected as Prime Minister

After the closure of the Chamber of Deputies, the Committee of Representation had called for the establishment of a new assembly in the town of Ankara, comprised of delegations from all loyal provinces. The call was heard, and on the 23rd of April 1920, the Grand National Assembly held its first meeting. Made up of members of the old deputies, local aghas, intellectuals, imams, Kurdish tribal leaders, army officers, villagers and alike, the assembly is a gathering of all the peoples of the Motherland.

In its first act, the assembly has accepted the resignation of the Committee of Representation as the acting executive body and proceeded to elect a new government. With a landslide, Mustafa Kemal Pasha was elected as the Prime Minister of the GNA, and the members of his cabinet, elected by the GNA one by one, were like-minded people such as military officers and the members of the Committee of Representation, but also various intellectuals and bureaucrats. A new government, one chosen by an assembly elected by the Turkish people.

In his speech following his swearing in, the Prime Minister has addressed the entire Turkish nation:

“ Esteemed members of the assembly, today I not only speak to you, but to all the citizens of our country. Our Motherland has been facing an existential threat of humiliation and subjugation. We have lost sons, fathers, brothers and loved ones in the Great War. The Turkish soldier has given its life in the Suez, Palestine, Syria, Iraq, Hejaz, Yemen, Galicia and Gallipoli. Our proud nation has entered this war on designs of incompetent men, however. The Enver Pasha Triumvirate, with its vain fantasies, pushed us to the brink of ruin just to try to fulfill a dream of an impossible empire.

Even then, when faced with such ludicrous reasons and overwhelming odds, the Turkish soldier and the Turkish people bled nobly and rose to the challenge. In Iraq, we have made the British taste the dry sands and the wet muds of the Mashriq, and only with continued reinforcement they managed to advance. In Galicia, the heroic actions of the XV. Army Corps, re-enacted recently in the liberation of our eastern provinces, showed the world that we are willing to go to great lengths to achieve victory. In Gallipoli, we faced the greatest armada ever assembled, and we made it turn back. We have fought honourably, suffered greatly and yet here we are: Left by our allies and in need of peace, we have signed an armistice that was mutilated immediately.

Thanks to the great victory in Marash, the Allied Powers are peacefully leaving with a mutually beneficial treaty that guarantees our independence and the legitimacy of our government. Our work is not complete however! Many of our provinces, inseparable from the Motherland, are still under occupation.

In the West, the Greeks still hold Eastern Thrace and Smyrna. While we have promised a diplomatic solution for Thrace, any agreement short of our lands before the war being returned to us is unacceptable, and the unity of our dear Smyrna with the Motherland is not open to negotiation. One way or another, these lands will re-unite with us.

In the East, our forces under the command of Kazım Karabekir Pasha have liberated our occupied provinces. Kars, Ardahan and Batumi are once again a part of the Motherland. We expect the conclusion of the conflict and a treaty with the Soviets soon.

In the South, the underground organizations have seized the apparatus of state and declared a Christian kingdom with a French monarch at its head. While we respect the will of the Syrian people in this, and thus willing to recognize the Syrian government, we ask that they respect the will of the Turkish people. As stipulated in the National Oath, the very first expression of the will of our people, all provinces under our control prior to the Armistice of Mudros and constitute a non-Arab Turkish-Muslim majority are the homeland of the Turkish nation. As such, the provinces of Hatay and Mosul are a part of our Motherland. We cannot accept their indefinite separation from us. These issues therefore must be solved after we conclude our national project.

Esteemed members of the assembly, I hereby swear, in the name of the Turkish nation, that I will only act in the best interests of the nation, respect and follow the will of the assembly and obey the dictates of the law. The new Government of the Grand National Assembly will do its utmost to uphold the will of the people and place it in the place it rightfully deserves: the source of all legitimate power within our nation.”

It has been confirmed that the GNA will soon start drafting a constitution, but many expect it to be broad and short, given the current circumstances.

Grand National Assembly Votes to Create a Regular Army!

After the formation of the Cabinet and the work on the Constitution in full swing, the Cabinet moved to unite all the irregular forces under a new regular army. While the irregulars proved to be successful, that success is not enough to complete the liberation of the Motherland. The French were not defeated, they were deterred, and deterrence will not be enough when it comes to the Greeks. Mere irregulars cannot liberate Smyrna

Citing the overwhelming success of the XV. Army Corps in the Caucasus, the Cabinet argued that the success that was achieved in that front must be achieved again and again, if not eclipsed in each conflict. Therefore, the Cabinet and the Prime Minister argued, the GNA must authorize the centralization of the irregulars under one command and the conscription process that will fill the new divisions.

The regular army will be armed through the seized armaments from the old Ottoman barracks', smuggled weapons from the other nations and the arsenals in Constantinople and other cities, and through Soviet material support. The limited number factories under the control of the GNA were ordered to produce rifles and other basic armaments as well.