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

[Sao Nova Europa]

Well unlike Yugoslavia, Germany is your immediate northern neighbor with a warmonger as its head of state. Do you really not understand how untenable the situation you have put yourself in? Germany is panicking because you are rushing in with your Anti German stance. You did
this without spending any effort building up support from within your country nor found allies in Europe.

I never said anything that was Anti German.

Leaving the EEC is a sudden, radical move that is certainly interpreted as anti-German. Accepting US financial aid - as you've suggested in the OOC thread - will essentially be a red flag. So it will be if Italy suddenly purged fascists. As I've said, doing so will lead to an Event which will coup (successfully) the Italian government. Many in the Italian government - due to both ideological reasons and fear of Germanic prowess - are opposed to such sudden moves, and will especially be mad if the King begins purging fascists.

If your goal is to make Italy more liberal, your moves should be more gradual. Undermine fascist influence by coopting fascist elites and gradually sidelining the more hardcore elements. Placate Germany while at the same time building up influence in Middle East and Mediterranean and building up your economy and military industry (perhaps even using German financial assistance to do so - I don't know if you have played the HoI4 mod The New Order, but if you have think of China and how it uses Japanese aid to become more powerful at Japan's expense). Use a time of crisis for Germany to assert greater independence.

What I am saying is not that you should make Italy a puppet of Germany or not try to liberalize the regime. What I am saying is that to do so you need to spend more time than one post. This should be a long term process taking weeks and many posts, instead of something you do in twenty minutes.

[The Palmetto]

I'll probably include Algeria, which would probably be the "core" of the nation, seeing as it has the most French people. As of the moment, Free France is probably some sort of colonial federation, with notable concessions to the native population out of necessity.

How would Free France have gotten Algeria though? Did Vichy France never own it, or did a military coup occur like in some other Vichy colonies IRL?

The Vichy Government lost it to Free French forces and local nationalists, also I'm glad to see a rival to my nation!

Likewise, our battle will be legendary! I should ask: is 13% Algerian a mistake in your app? It seems odd that mainland France has so many Algerians in this time period (They dont even have that many IRL), so did you import a large amount?

[American Pere Housh]

Partner, I don't think you are listening.

If Italy enters immediately in direct conflict with Germany or attempts to purge fascists outright without subtler efforts and long term preparation, there will be an event coup that will topple the King and install a new fascist ruler.

The OP just told you what will happen if you don't change course. I would suggest changing course. That's how these games work.

I will continue the course I'm on but if the Germans ask politely to rejoin then the king would reconsider his decision but he would become suspicious of Germany if a Pro German Party in Greece attempted to overthrow the government of one of my puppets. If Hitler and Speer can reassure the king that they had nothing to do with the coup and refuses to recognize the rogue government on Crete then he would reconsider.

[Great Confederacy of Commonwealth States]

Oof, that took some time to write, and longer than I expected. I'm sorry for the sudden word dump, next post will probably be focused around politics again, but I hope the story gives some life to the Commonwealth.

[Union Princes]

Oof, that took some time to write, and longer than I expected. I'm sorry for the sudden word dump, next post will probably be focused around politics again, but I hope the story gives some life to the Commonwealth.

It was certainly insightful. I'm gonna try to do the same with Gandhi, Nehru and Bose

[New New Sriker]

Oof, that took some time to write, and longer than I expected. I'm sorry for the sudden word dump, next post will probably be focused around politics again, but I hope the story gives some life to the Commonwealth.

Seems like things are going down in the Commonwealth, can't wait to see how it develops.

[Monsone]

APPLICATION
NS Name: Monsone
RP Name: The Dominion of Canada
Flag:

Capital: Ottawa
Territory: All IRL Canadian territory as of 1952.
Population: 15.8 million

Official Language(s): English and French

Ethnic Breakdown: ~80% White/European Descent (A broad term including everyone from Russians to Quebecois), ~10% Asian (Mostly Chinese with more limited numbers of Japanese and Korean and even smaller numbers from other parts of Asia like India and Ceylon/Sri Lanka), ~5% First Nations (All native groups of Canada), ~5% Other (Assorted groups).

Religious Breakdown: 30% Anglican, 15% Catholic, 15% Other Protestant, 7% Jewish, 10% Other, 23% Non-Religious/Atheist.

Type of Government: Liberal Parliamentary Democracy

Head of State:

Charles Vincent Massey (Head of State)(Premier of all Canada)

Head of Government:

Louis St. Laurent (Prime Minister)

Legislature (the name of your national legislature): Parliament of Canada

Legislative Houses (if your legislature is bicameral): House of Commons and Senate

Party in Power: Liberal Party (Center/Center Left)

National Issues:

Quebec --- While it may seem odd to single out a single province as being particularly troublesome, Quebec is a constant thorn in Canada's side. During WW2 Quebec actively fought against conscription while every other province was in favor of it. While every other province has embraced the idea of a welfare state, Quebec still firmly opposes it. While secularism has gripped Canada, Quebec remains staunchly Catholic. The list goes on and on, but the indisputable fact of the matter is that Quebec is different from Canada and hence has an outsized level of political leverage. Politicians are willing to do almost anything short of independence to placate Quebec's populace and ruling class. However, things are changing. The growing urban middle class of post-WW2 Quebec is more in line with Canadian ideals like a welfare state, which means a stage is being set for both cultural and likely physical clashes in Quebec as the staunch traditionalists attempt to stave off the waves of change. Such clashes will have nationwide repercussions for Canada and will certainly affect Canadian politics for decades to come.

A Facade --- While Canada seems like a modern nation, it is a nation of extremes. While the majority of the country is modern and not too different from the United States, there are parts of Canada in the far north where people live in very poor conditions with no running water, and even no electricity in some cases. It has been a goal of the Canadian government to modernize these areas since the mid-1940s, though there is still a lot of progress to make when it comes to remedying these issues and making Canada a truly modern country. While it's estimated that these issues shall be overcome by 1964, what remains to be seen is if this pans out.

Independence or Interdependence --- Following Canada's independence from the UK, ties with the US have grown significantly closer. Both nations have benefited from these closer ties and growing cooperation, but a question regarding this special relationship has been circling amongst the Canadian populace. Should Canada continue to grow closer to the US, or should Canada start to forge its own parallel and non-conflicting path alongside that of the US? While a seemingly innocuous debate, it has begun to dominate Canadian politics, with Laurent having been elected on a platform of compromising between the two sides, reconciling independence and interdependence. If a balance can't be struck, Laurent might be out of a job in 1953 and Canadian politics will be troubled and haunted by this question for years to come.

Public Goals: Stimulation of economic growth, continued opposition to fascism and authoritarianism, increasing living standards, electrifying the transcontinental railway between Toronto and Vancouver.

Private Goals: The possible annexation of Greenland (not exactly a secret that Canada has shown interest in Greenland but annexing it is a firing belief in mainstream society at the moment), developing and fielding nuclear weapons (again it's not exactly a secret Canada has the capabilities to achieve this, but whether Canada is serious about actually fielding nuclear weapons is an unanswered question outside the top echelons of power).

GDP (nominal): $42.2 billion

Currency: Canadian Dollar ("Loonie")

Economic System: Semi-Free Market/Semi-Command Economy with Government Regulation and Intervention. The Canadian government generally has a hands-free approach towards the economy, however, in the fields of defense and transportation as well as other strategic industries like electricity generation, Crown Companies (state-owned companies) act as proxies for the Canadian government. Crown Companies are subject to central planning and act as strategic assets not only for Canada's development but also for Canada's defense.

Major Trade Partners: The USA, the UK, China, India, Korea. Canada trades with most nations in the free world in everything from raw materials like minerals and timber to finished industrial goods. However, trade with the EEC is somewhat restricted due to a general mistrust in Canada of fascism. The one exception to this rule remains the UK, which Canada actively trades with due to longstanding historical ties.

Alliance(s): Canada still maintains strong alliances with all members of the Allies that have not fallen prey to the sway of fascism. The United States, Australia, New Zealand, and Free France count amongst Canada's closest and arguably most reliable allies. China is on paper a Canadian ally, however, the ties between the two nations were never particularly strong military and hence remain moderately distant.

Military Branches (names of official Armed Forces Branches): Canadian Army, Royal Canadian Air Force, Royal Canadian Navy.

Active Duty: 300,000
Reserve Duty: 30,000
Total Manpower: 5.39 million

Land Forces: The Canadian Army (formerly the Royal Canadian Army until the prefix Royal was dropped) is a relatively small force compared to the massive landmass it must defend. Like all branches of the Canadian Armed Forces, the Canadian Army is a fully professional army. Uniquely, the Canadian Army is the least well-funded force (though by no means underfunded) due to Canada's perceived distance from any significant military threat. The army currently serves as an internal security force (augmenting the RCMP) with no deployments abroad and none in the foreseeable future.

Air Force: The Royal Canadian Air Force is a moderately sized air force that has seen its size and budget decrease since the end of WW2. Like every other branch of the Canadian Armed Forces, the RCAF is a professional force. The primary focuses of the RCAF are to patrol Canada's shores and defend Canada's skies. The air force like all other branches has seen its reliance on England decrease dramatically since 1943 as Canada has been forced to rely on local industry to supply the armed forces. Currently, the main goal of the RCAF is the widespread introduction of Canadian-made jet fighter aircraft and improvements in Canada's early warning system.

Naval Forces: Due to the vast coastline of Canada and lack of any particularly hostile neighboring nations, the Royal Canadian Navy is one of the strongest branches of the Canadian Armed Forces. Thanks to the development of Canadian industry during WW1 and the interwar years, Canada formed a robust shipbuilding industry that has allowed it a high degree of naval self-sufficiency. Following Britain's withdrawal from the war, some Royal Navy ships ended up in Canadian hands to avoid surrendering them to the Germans. This provided a serious boost in terms of heavy equipment (like cruisers) for the Royal Canadian Navy. Currently, the Royal Canadian Navy possesses a moderately sized fleet adequate for the defense of Canada with future goals including the creation of a submarine force.

Other Military Information:

Canada has been actively pursuing a nuclear program of its own since 1949 (due to Germany acquiring the bomb) using some of the infrastructure left behind from WW2. Furthermore, Canada currently does possess the capability to manufacture chemical and biological weapons and currently possesses stockpiles of both.

Perhaps surprisingly, Canada's intelligence service is not a part of the armed forces. The RCMP's Special Branch acts as Canada's intelligence service, as its name implies, it is a part of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, not the Armed Forces. Previously, the military relied on the UK's intelligence services for information and intelligence, however, since 1943, the Special Branch has had to step up and fill this role. There are rumors and plans that a new, dedicated intelligence service for the military may be created.

History:

The Great Depression had hit Atlantic Canada hard and caused the then separate Dominion of Newfoundland to go bankrupt, reverting to British control in 1934. It was against this backdrop that in 1935 the Liberal Party returned to power with Mackenzie King winning on a platform of welfare programs, and big government. During the years leading up to 1939 (starting in 1936), King's administration would nationalize many companies and amalgamate them into large corporations. The mining and industrial sectors were particularly affected by these changes as it meant the near-total nationalization of these sectors. Also during this time period, large infrastructure projects were begun to reduce unemployment in addition to the implementation of welfare programs to try and improve worker productivity. These programs and projects helped Canada recover, albeit the outbreak of WW2 would change the process of recovery permanently as Canada was forced to transition to a war economy.

With the outbreak of war, Canada turned its economy towards feeding the British war machine with everything from food to tanks, planes, and ships. Meanwhile, tens of thousands of young Canadians were sent to fight for King and Country. But, the slaughter at Dunkirk and a perceived unwillingness (and inability?) from the British to actually go on the attack began to frustrate Canadian citizens and politicians alike. After all, Canadians were dying for the defense of the UK, and for what? The war in the air was lost, and in what seemed like short order, the UK was in talks with Germany to pull out of the war. It's needless to say that Britain entering in these talks without consulting its dominions irritated greatly Canada, and caused riots to break out in Newfoundland. As the talks progressed and the writing on the wall became clear, an influx of emigres from Britain began to arrive, mostly comprised of governments in exile from all across Europe and members of the military originally from now occupied countries (like the 303 Squadron of the RAF). They saw no future for themselves in the UK, so they came to Canada, a land still full of promise despite the chaos of the world.

When Britain finally did capitulate, two things occurred. First, Canada broke free from British rule. Second, parts of the Royal Navy defected to Canada with their ships to avoid surrendering them to the Germans. In Ottawa, the Canada Act passed unanimously. It revoked any and all British control over Canada and unilaterally rejected Britain's withdrawal from the war, stating that Canada would only accept a peace treaty ratified by its own parliament. In Newfoundland, British rule was also unilaterally rejected, with independence being declared the same day the passing of the Canada Act was announced. And the arrival of defecting Royal Navy ships boosted the ranks of the Royal Canadian Navy. Canada's continued participation in the war would be much more limited with it mostly consisting of anti-submarine warfare, maritime patrol, and convoy escort. It was around this time in late 1943 that talks between Newfoundland and Canada resulted in the annexation of Newfoundland in 1944.

Due to Canada's significantly more limited wartime participation starting in 1943, an emphasis began to be put on the nation's economic development. Major infrastructure projects like a new dam near Niagra Falls and the completion of the electrification of the Quebec City-Toronto railway line took priority along with continued long-term war projects like the construction of the ZEEP reactor. Eventually, the war craze would come to an end in 1945 with the defeat of Japan and the quiet acceptance of Britain's 1943 treaty with Germany, which removed the threat of U-Boats swarming off of Canada's coast. This allowed Canada to demobilize its armed forces and focus once again on civilian projects and spending, to the moderate chargin of the United States. In 1946, relations with the UK began to improve albeit slowly with trade between the two nations resuming. Already in 1944, but especially in 1946, a post-war boom of sorts began to be seen in Canada as trade with the UK resumed and the pre-war social programs finally reached fruition.

Despite Germany plugging into recession into 1946, the effects on Canada were nominal at best. Since the UK was still half-starved and rebuilding from the war, Canadian grain was proving invaluable not just as a tool of soft power but also as an economic asset. Indeed, Canada's vast resource wealth and lack of economic ties to Germany meant that Canada saw continuous strong economic growth between 1946 and 1948. Fueling this growth was also a somewhat steady flow of refugees and emigres from Europe, some barely fleeing death, while others leaving while they still could. Among them were incredibly bright minds that would have been shot for disloyalty in their home countries. Also in 1948, Mackenzie King stepped down as Prime Minister and was replaced by Louis St. Laurent. This election is noteworthy as it also saw the election of Canada's first non-hereditary head of state, Charles Vincent Massey, the Premier of all Canada (or just Premier of Canada for short).

Laurent would begin his tenure by working to bring about closer ties to the US as well as implementing even more radical liberal reforms like universal single-payer healthcare in 1949 and free college for all Canadian citizens in 1950. As a backdrop to these reforms, Laurent would preside over the liberalization of Canada's economy with an emphasis on foreign investment, particularly from US companies who were still stifled in their home market by draconian wartime regulations. Now in 1952, the Canadian economy is riding a nearly eight-year-long boom that has created a massive middle class. But as the Cold War begins to loom larger in the Canadian psyche, the question now being asked is: What will Canada's place in the world be?

RP Example(s): You know me.

Do not remove - 1952RP

[The Palmetto]

I'll readily admit I'm not very well-versed in economics, but would there be consequences to unifying the West African and Equatorial African Francs into one currency? I'm not sure if it would have been practical, but given the exile, and increased economic integration, I imagine some would want a united currency.

[Yaruqo]

My idea of pain is apparently writing an application for the Hashemite Kingdom of Iraq, only to realize an hour in that Iran already yoinked that territory. In that case, I'm gonna reserve Libya and cry in my corner as I do new research

[Monsone]

My idea of pain is apparently writing an application for the Hashemite Kingdom of Iraq, only to realize an hour in that Iran already yoinked that territory. In that case, I'm gonna reserve Libya and cry in my corner as I do new research

Wouldn't Italy control Libya since it was an Italian colony IRL? Just trying to spare you some pain.

[American Pere Housh]

My idea of pain is apparently writing an application for the Hashemite Kingdom of Iraq, only to realize an hour in that Iran already yoinked that territory. In that case, I'm gonna reserve Libya and cry in my corner as I do new research

Libya is under direct Italian control. You could play as Egypt.

[New New Sriker]

My idea of pain is apparently writing an application for the Hashemite Kingdom of Iraq, only to realize an hour in that Iran already yoinked that territory. In that case, I'm gonna reserve Libya and cry in my corner as I do new research

Libya is under direct Italian control. You could play as Egypt.

Egypt is also reserved

[Reverend Norv]

I'll readily admit I'm not very well-versed in economics, but would there be consequences to unifying the West African and Equatorial African Francs into one currency? I'm not sure if it would have been practical, but given the exile, and increased economic integration, I imagine some would want a united currency.

The real horror stories about currency policy are when the government demonetizes one currency overnight and replaces it with another. This is deliberately disruptive, and is usually done in order to wipe out the value of cash savings. Sometimes, that's wanton cruelty; other times, it's a way of targeting groups (minorities, criminals, etc.) who tend to keep most of their money in cash rather than in banks. Doing it that way would indeed cause serious - albeit probably short-term - economic pain.

If, on the other hand, the objective is simply to unify the various colonial francs into a common currency, there's a much simpler and more painless way of doing so: pick one of the two francs to serve as the surviving currency, peg the other's value to it at a fixed rate of exchange, and then stop issuing the dependent currency. Gradually, the surviving currency will replace it, but without demonetizing anybody's life savings. De Gaulle's government, perhaps advised by a few Harvard Business School types, would be quite capable of managing that sort of transition.

[Yaruqo]

My idea of pain is apparently writing an application for the Hashemite Kingdom of Iraq, only to realize an hour in that Iran already yoinked that territory. In that case, I'm gonna reserve Libya and cry in my corner as I do new research

Wouldn't Italy control Libya since it was an Italian colony IRL? Just trying to spare you some pain.

My idea of pain is apparently writing an application for the Hashemite Kingdom of Iraq, only to realize an hour in that Iran already yoinked that territory. In that case, I'm gonna reserve Libya and cry in my corner as I do new research

Libya is under direct Italian control. You could play as Egypt.

As far as I am aware, Libya was granted independence in 1951, the year before the RP starts (it does start in 1952, correct?). I don't see anything specific in the IC or OOC suggesting otherwise, unless I am missing something? And even if I am wrong, isn't someone else playing as Egypt?

[Reverend Norv]

Libya is under direct Italian control. You could play as Egypt.

Egypt is also reserved

I think your best bet is the Levant or Arabia proper. Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Hejaz, Nejd, Jordan, Oman, Yemen - or some combination of the above arbitrarily demarcated states - would all be interesting options for a recently decolonized Arab polity.

[American Pere Housh]

Wouldn't Italy control Libya since it was an Italian colony IRL? Just trying to spare you some pain.

Libya is under direct Italian control. You could play as Egypt.

As far as I am aware, Libya was granted independence in 1951, the year before the RP starts (it does start in 1952, correct?). I don't see anything specific in the IC or OOC suggesting otherwise, unless I am missing something? And even if I am wrong, isn't someone else playing as Egypt?

In this timeline since the Axis in Europe won, Italy retained her colonies though you could play as my puppet in Libya.

[The Palmetto]

I'll readily admit I'm not very well-versed in economics, but would there be consequences to unifying the West African and Equatorial African Francs into one currency? I'm not sure if it would have been practical, but given the exile, and increased economic integration, I imagine some would want a united currency.

The real horror stories about currency policy are when the government demonetizes one currency overnight and replaces it with another. This is deliberately disruptive, and is usually done in order to wipe out the value of cash savings. Sometimes, that's wanton cruelty; other times, it's a way of targeting groups (minorities, criminals, etc.) who tend to keep most of their money in cash rather than in banks. Doing it that way would indeed cause serious - albeit probably short-term - economic pain.

If, on the other hand, the objective is simply to unify the various colonial francs into a common currency, there's a much simpler and more painless way of doing so: pick one of the two francs to serve as the surviving currency, peg the other's value to it at a fixed rate of exchange, and then stop issuing the dependent currency. Gradually, the surviving currency will replace it, but without demonetizing anybody's life savings. De Gaulle's government, perhaps advised by a few Harvard Business School types, would be quite capable of managing that sort of transition.

Alright, thanks for the advice. I'll say the Algerian Franc was chosen as the surviving currency, and that the other Francs are in the process of being phased out.

[American Pere Housh]

Egypt is also reserved

I think your best bet is the Levant or Arabia proper. Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Hejaz, Nejd, Jordan, Oman, Yemen - or some combination of the above arbitrarily demarcated states - would all be interesting options for a recently decolonized Arab polity.

Syria and Lebanon are controlled by the Free French while Jordan, Yemen and Palestine are unde British control.

[The Palmetto]

I think your best bet is the Levant or Arabia proper. Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Hejaz, Nejd, Jordan, Oman, Yemen - or some combination of the above arbitrarily demarcated states - would all be interesting options for a recently decolonized Arab polity.

Syria and Lebanon are controlled by the Free French while Jordan, Yemen and Palestine are unde British control.

As Free France, I won't be claiming any Middle Eastern territory, so that region is free.

[New New Sriker]

Egypt is also reserved

I think your best bet is the Levant or Arabia proper. Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Hejaz, Nejd, Jordan, Oman, Yemen - or some combination of the above arbitrarily demarcated states - would all be interesting options for a recently decolonized Arab polity.

The Levant in this timeline is going to be interesting not matter who controls it, such a diverse area politically, religious, and ethnically, it's bound for great RP

[Monsone]

Syria and Lebanon are controlled by the Free French while Jordan, Yemen and Palestine are unde British control.

As Free France, I won't be claiming any Middle Eastern territory, so that region is free.

Probably the smart move to do. IRL Lebanon and Syria basically gave France the middle finger in 1943 and 1945 respectively. Both weren't thrilled by French rule to say the very least.

[New New Sriker]

I think your best bet is the Levant or Arabia proper. Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Hejaz, Nejd, Jordan, Oman, Yemen - or some combination of the above arbitrarily demarcated states - would all be interesting options for a recently decolonized Arab polity.

Syria and Lebanon are controlled by the Free French while Jordan, Yemen and Palestine are unde British control.

Britain's player has mentioned that many holdings of the British Empire have been lost to rebels so, Housh may still have a choice in a middle eastern Nation

[Yaruqo]

As Free France, I won't be claiming any Middle Eastern territory, so that region is free.

Probably the smart move to do. IRL Lebanon and Syria basically gave France the middle finger in 1943 and 1945 respectively. Both weren't thrilled by French rule to say the very least.

I guess I'll claim Syria and Lebanon in a single state - app will be coming up either tonight or tomorrow, time permitting.

[The Palmetto]

As Free France, I won't be claiming any Middle Eastern territory, so that region is free.

Probably the smart move to do. IRL Lebanon and Syria basically gave France the middle finger in 1943 and 1945 respectively. Both weren't thrilled by French rule to say the very least.

When you have 40 million Africans angry at you, it's best not to have another 5 million angry Arabs.

I don't see what they're mad about though, what has France ever done wrong? Liberty and Equality is in my motto, I'd NEVER exploit native peoples.

[New New Sriker]

Probably the smart move to do. IRL Lebanon and Syria basically gave France the middle finger in 1943 and 1945 respectively. Both weren't thrilled by French rule to say the very least.

I guess I'll claim Syria and Lebanon in a single state - app will be coming up either tonight or tomorrow, time permitting.

Good luck with you application my friend, can't wait to see what you do in Syria