The War That Never Was - An Alternate-History RP | (OOC)

[Shohun]

Talked with Op about this offsite, but to make it official:

Reservation Request

Country Name: Empire of Japan
Territory:

1938 Japan, Taiwan, Sakhalin, and Korea.

Control over Manchuria and Mengjiang.

Don't remove, helps me find this later: RESERVATION!

[Regnum Alea Spaceflee]

I would like to make my Yugoslavia as realistic as possible. Can someone help?

[Great Confederacy of Commonwealth States]

I would like to make my Yugoslavia as realistic as possible. Can someone help?

Sure! How can we help?

[Regnum Alea Spaceflee]

I would like to make my Yugoslavia as realistic as possible. Can someone help?

Sure! How can we help?

A looooot, mostly that I am trying to make a far more industry based yugoslavia, also ethnicities and other things
so pretty much everything

[Cybernetic Socialist Republics]

Sure! How can we help?

A looooot, mostly that I am trying to make a far more industry based yugoslavia, also ethnicities and other things
so pretty much everything

You've got about 24 years of time to play with to have Yugoslavia go from a purely agrarian society to and industrializing one. That'll be difficult.

It was an overwhelmingly agricultural economy that was mostly subsistence farmers. there was very little manufacturing as well and unlikey russia it doesn't have the population to brute force a start of industrialization. But it did have a decent mining sector.

The most I can say is perhaps Serbia goes communist sometime in the mid to late 1910s and then joins with parts of Yugoslavia after the Austrian-Hungarian Empire collapses. It could then possible become a sort of mining focused satellite state of the USSR in the Balkans.

an Additional possiblity is also just having a flat out Communist Balkan Federation made up of some combination of Yugoslavia, Romania and Greece. That's the best I can imagine for having a nation in the region that has the resources to spark its own industrialization.

[Great Confederacy of Commonwealth States]

Posted!

Sure! How can we help?

A looooot, mostly that I am trying to make a far more industry based yugoslavia, also ethnicities and other things
so pretty much everything

Generally I advise against nations that are ‘x but more industrialised’, as it basically boils down to ‘x but better’ while not investigating the factors that hampered industrialisation in the first place (and not exploring the downsides of industrial capitalism).

I like to stick as close to history as possible with minor changes (well, as minor as can be when you nation’s defining political struggle of the century did not happen.

[Cybernetic Socialist Republics]

I'd post but I don't know if I'm in the clear yet.

[Upper Magica]

I'd post but I don't know if I'm in the clear yet.

Ah, shoot, my bad. Accepted, fire at will.

I'll be catching up on apps and reservations tonight after work.

[The V O I D]

Apologies for the delay; unexpected internet issues + IRL getting in the way, but my app is still being fleshed out in the History section, taking into account histories that might be relevant for my Mexico.

[Upper Magica]

Sovereign Factbook

The Gran Colombia State

Flag:

(Image)

Sovereign Territory plus territorial claims, if any: Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador (owned), Panama, Peru, Bolivia, (currently claimed)

([url=mapurlhere]Image[/url])

People and Society

Population: 23,189,341
Ethnic groups: White-Mestizo, Afro-Colombians, Indigenous groups
Languages: Spanish, a series of Native languages
Religions: Roman Catholic, Protestant Christian, Dios solo (God alone)
Population growth rate: 3.2%

Government and Politics

Government Type: Unitary one-party fascist state under a totalitarian dictatorship
Capital City: Bogata
Head of State: Supreme Protector Calisto Félix Luna
Head of Government: same as above
Legislature: El Comité Central de Restauración (The Central Committee of Restoration)
Other Legislative Bodies:
Ruling Party: Union of Bolivar
Other Political Parties: Banned: Colombian Conservative party, Colombian Liberal party,

Economics

Nominal GDP: $22,957,821
GDP per capita: $1,022.82
Economic system:
Agricultural products: Coffee, Cocoa, Bananas
Industries: Oil and oil processing, Mining industries, Food Processing
Major trade partners: USA, Germany, Ottoman Empire, Soviet Union
Imported commodities: industrial equipment, transportation equipment,
Exported commodities: Gold, Coffee, Oil, ferroalloys
Exchange Rate: $1 = 6.09 Colombian Peso

Issues & Foreign Relations

Domestic Issues:

The Restoration of Bolivar's dream and the Nightmare
While many in the new Gran Colombsubscribe subscribe to the idea of a United South America, there remains a significant minority who wish to restore the old status quo of the three independent nations. But with the Central Committee using every available tool to maintain control, talk of breaking up the Gran Colombian state is quickly dealt with. That is not, however, ending all opposition, and there are still those who are seeking to bring down Gran Colombia and end Bolivar's dream once and for all.

The disunity of the Union
Gran Colombia was formed off the backs of multiple political groups, while the dominant political ideologue that formed the state was Latin Falangism; what ultimately formed the government was a coalition of right-wing parties across Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela. This has meant that power has not been concentrated in one single part of the Union of Bolivar, and there remain those in government that do not fully follow the line of the Supreme protector.

Transnational Issues:
The complete Dream of Bolivar
The unending goal of Gran Colombia is to unify the entire former Spanish colonies into a single state ruled and guided by a single leader, the dream of Bolivar. Because of this, the Gran Colombian state has made no secret of its goals and has made public donations and support to Latin Falangist parties in South American counties.


Treaties: Things like Britain's alliance with France, trade agreements go here.
International Organization membership: League of Nations

Public Goals:
-Bring the whole state under the direct control of the Supreme protector and the Central Committee of Restoration.
-End the Communist threat that is looming over Latin America
-Modernise the Gran Colombian State to bring it to the standard of the other Western Powers
-Unify the Spanish speaking peoples of Latin America
Secret Goals:
-Puppet Brazil
-Retake the Panama canal from America
-Become a global power through its control of Oil

Military

Military Branches:
The Gran Colombian Army
The Grab Colombian Air Force
The Gran Colombian Navy
Bolivarian Guard Force
Military Expenditure:
Personnel Strength(active service): 350,000
Personnel Strength(in reserve): 500,000
Total Personnel:
Overseas Deployments: N/A

Army:

Navy:

Air Force:

History

The history of Gran Colombia starts with the dream of Bolivar and his quest to liberate the people of South America from the Spanish Kingdom. After years of rebellion and resistence Simon Bolivar had achieved full independece for his people from the Spanish Monarchy and with it formed the nation of Gran Colombia. However this nation would not last long with infighting in Gran Colombia between those that wanted a Federal republic and those that wanted a central government for the new nation would ultimatly lead to the dissolution of Gran Colombia and the death of Bolivar's dream a united Latin America.

But ideas are not so quick to die in reality, as many still clinged to the ideals of Bolivar of a united Gran Colombia. The centuary that followed the end of Gran Colombia the nations of Venezula, Colombia and Ecuador all moved on as independet states with some being more succesful then others. But in 1910's change would occur political philosphy and ideas reach the shores of South America and with it new ideas regenrated the old long forgotten memories.

Don't remove, helps me find this later: APPLICATION!

Logged!

Reservation Request

Country Name: Kingdom of Italy
Territory:

(Image)

Don't remove, helps me find this later: RESERVATION!

Logged!

Talked with Op about this offsite, but to make it official:

Reservation Request

Country Name: Empire of Japan
Territory:

1938 Japan, Taiwan, Sakhalin, and Korea.

Control over Manchuria and Mengjiang.

Don't remove, helps me find this later: RESERVATION!

Also logged; sorry Dragos. Low-key feeling bad about that, but Shohun had the dibs, as they say, before you got to it.

I'm updating the roster right now to accommodate for finished apps. Lemme know if I forget one.

[Dragos Bee]

Also logged; sorry Dragos. Low-key feeling bad about that, but Shohun had the dibs, as they say, before you got to it.

I'm updating the roster right now to accommodate for finished apps. Lemme know if I forget one.

It's all right; at least I got a heads-up.

[HISPIDA]

IC's hopefully going up over the weekend or maybe next week. very busy this week.

[Remnants of Exilvania]

@Upper Magica I assume my app was overlooked or is there too much work at the moment?

[Upper Magica]

@Upper Magica I assume my app was overlooked or is there too much work at the moment?

Oop. I added you to the roster last night and forgot to tell you. Acceptaroni, by the way!

[Remnants of Exilvania]

@Upper Magica I assume my app was overlooked or is there too much work at the moment?

Oop. I added you to the roster last night and forgot to tell you. Acceptaroni, by the way!

Ah, thank you, thank you.

First IC post for me tomorrow then.

[Cybernetic Socialist Republics]

not sure its clear from my first post, but, basically as soon as uncle joe gives the go ahead (assuming he does) for help in Azerbaijan, the red army is going in.

[Reverend Norv]

Sovereign Factbook

The United Kingdom of Great Britain,
a constituent state of
The British Imperial Federation

Flag:

The Federation Jack, at left, and the Union Jack of the United Kingdom, at right.

Sovereign Territory plus territorial claims, if any:

Pictured is the entirety of the Imperial Federation, including the United Kingdom; the seven self-governing dominions; the protectorates of the British crown; and the British crown colonies administered directly from London. The Federation has no formal outstanding territorial claims; its primary geostrategic goal is to maintain control of the seas, not to expand further on land. The exception is in Africa, where imperial leaders continue to dream of the "Cape to Cairo" route that has eluded them for a century.

People and Society

Population: The population of the United Kingdom is 47.7 million. The population of the Imperial Federation as a whole is 545.4 million: almost a quarter of humanity.

Ethnic groups: The United Kingdom remains primarily English, Scottish, and Welsh. However, the influence of the rest of the Empire is readily apparent: more than 5 percent of British citizens are ethnically Irish, and smaller but substantial groups are West Indian, South Asian, and African. This ethnic diversity has grown in the last two years, as the open borders of the new Imperial Federation have brought increased immigration from other dominions. The Federation as a whole, of course, has more ethnicities than one can possibly count; it is the most ethnically diverse empire in the history of the world.

Languages: English remains the sole official language of both the United Kingdom and the Imperial Federation. In the UK, it is by far the most widely spoken language, with Welsh and Scots following as distant seconds. But in the Imperial Federation at large, English is often only the language of government and scholarship. And the myriad languages of the Empire can be heard with increasing frequency on the streets of the Britain proper as well.

Religions: The Church of England is the official faith of England, though not of Wales or Scotland. It has official status in crown colonies, but not in protectorates or in the dominions. Britain is primarily Protestant, with Anglicans predominating in England, Presbyterians in Scotland, and a variety of Protestant denominations in Wales. It has, however, a large Catholic minority; and as immigration from elsewhere in the Federation accelerates, so does the prevalence of more exotic faiths. In the Federation as a whole, nearly every major world religion can be found represented.

Population growth rate: The population growth of the Federation as a whole varies from dominion to dominion, and from colony to colony. The population of the United Kingdom has grown at a rate of 1.62 percent per annum since 1937, largely as a result of increased immigration from elsewhere in the Federation.

Government and Politics

Government Type: The United Kingdom is a unitary parliamentary democracy with a ceremonial monarch, defined by a largely unwritten constitution. The Imperial Federation is an experimental federal superstate characterized by the following structures:

• The Federation is an asymmetric federal system with four types of constituent countries. The United Kingdom is the official leader of the Federation, because its monarch is the head of state of all the dominions. These dominions, in turn, are largely self-governing in domestic affairs, and are represented in the Imperial Parliament on the same terms as the United Kingdom. The protectorates are theoretically independent states under British "protection": the British monarch is not their head of state, but neither are they represented in the Imperial Parliament, and in practice they are indirectly controlled by the United Kingdom through local leaders. Finally, the crown colonies are territories governed directly by the United Kingdom, with minimal local self-government, and without representation in the Imperial Parliament.
  
  
• The Imperial Parliament is a legislative body, sitting temporarily in the Crystal Palace in London while a more permanent home is constructed. It sets common foreign, trade, and defense policies for the Federation as a whole. The primary effect of the Federation is to transfer power over foreign and military affairs from the dominions (and the United Kingdom) to the Imperial Parliament; for the purposes of foreign and defense policy, the whole Federation speaks with one voice. Each dominion (and the United Kingdom) receives a number of seats in the parliament in proportion to its financial contribution toward the Federation's shared budget, which funds the Federation's diplomatic and military operations. Because the economy of the United Kingdom is as large as those of the seven dominions combined, this means that the United Kingdom's delegation dominates the Imperial Parliament - unless all the dominions cooperate to oppose it. Delegates to the Imperial Parliament are chosen by the legislature of each constituent country; in the case of the United Kingdom, therefore, they are chosen by Parliament.
  
  
• The diplomacy of the Imperial Federation, along with the common trade policy that regulates commerce among the Federation's members and with the rest of the world, is administered by the Imperial Civil Service. This is a bureaucracy funded by – and accountable to – the Imperial Parliament alone, and not to any of the Federation’s constituent countries. In practice, it is heavily disproportionately staffed by British citizens, which ensures that the implementation of Federation policies tends to serve the interests of the United Kingdom more than those of the dominions.
  
  
• The Imperial General Staff and the Imperial Admiralty are responsible for the administration of the Federation’s military policy, along with the direction of its armies and navies in wartime, and the execution of its intelligence operations in peacetime. It is the highest command authority for all the armed forces of the Federation’s members, including the army and navy of the United Kingdom. In practice, like the Imperial Civil Service, the Imperial General Staff and the Imperial Admiralty are disproportionately staffed by British citizens and they tend to prioritize British interests. The Imperial Secret Intelligence Service, or ISIS, is staffed by both the General Staff and the Admiralty, but it reports only to the Imperial Parliament itself; it is the main agency of the Federation’s best-in-the-world intelligence establishment.
  
  
• Because the United Kingdom tends to dominate the Imperial Parliament, the Imperial Civil Service, the Imperial Admiralty, and the Imperial General Staff, the rest of the Federation has one important shield against British control: the Imperial Council. This is a quasi-judicial body with one member appointed by the British Parliament, and one member appointed by the legislature of each dominion. On the Council, Britain has no more influence than New Zealand or Newfoundland. The Council (by majority vote) resolves disputes between members of the Federation, or constitutional challenges by member-states to the acts of the Imperial Parliament. It can be overruled by a two-thirds majority of the Parliament, but this would require Britain to secure the support of at least some of the dominions’ delegates. Therefore, the Imperial Council serves in practice to prevent complete British domination of the Federation: on crucial matters, a majority of the dominions can vote together in the Council to check the British agenda.

Capital City: London

Head of State: His Majesty King George V is king of England, Scotland, and Wales, and is therefore head of state of the United Kingdom. He is also King in Ireland and in South Africa; King of Australia and Canada and Newfoundland and New Zealand; Emperor of India; and Emperor of the British Imperial Federation: the ceremonial sovereign of almost a quarter of humanity.

Head of Government: The Right Honorable Harold Macmillan, the youngest premier in more than a century, is the head of the Imperial Federation League: the alliance of Conservatives, Liberals, and Labourites that commands a majority in the British parliament. He is, in other words, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. He sits simultaneously in the Imperial Parliament, as the head of the British delegation thereto; and because the British delegation (in coalition with several delegations from the more cooperative dominions) commands a majority at the Crystal Palace, Macmillan is also the Prime Minister of the Imperial Federation.

Legislature: The legislature of the United Kingdom is the British Parliament, which sits at Westminster. The legislature of the Imperial Federation is the Imperial Parliament, which sits at the Crystal Palace.

Ruling Party: British politics remain in flux; traditional divisions between right and left have been scrambled by the success of the Imperial Federation League. This group of young reformers, in the face of Britain’s long stagnation and several recent setbacks, succeeded in 1936 in winning a mandate for the reformation of Britain’s empire into a new superstate: the Imperial Federation. But the League remains more a movement than a political party; it has overlaid but not replaced Britain’s old party system. And in the new Imperial Parliament, politics are even more chaotic, as the delegations of the various dominions trade favors and negotiate deals in a new political system without precedent in world history - a multi-continental superstate.

Other Political Parties: In Britain, the traditional parties remain: Conservative, Liberal, and Labour. Notably, most members of Parliament identify both with a party and with a movement: Harold Macmillan is a Conservative and a Federalist, for example, while Clement Atlee is a Labourite and an Anti-Federalist (or “Little Englander”). Federalists and Little Englanders can be found in all three parties; the parties are not aligned with the movements. In the Federation Parliament, delegates identify primarily with their home country, and a country’s delegates are usually all of the same party – since they are appointed by the ruling party in that country’s legislature.

Economics

GDP: The United Kingdom’s GDP is $333.35 billion (1990 US dollars). The GDP of the Imperial Federation as a whole is $672.81 billion (1990 US dollars).

GDP per capita: The United Kingdom’s GDP per capita is $7,457 (1990 US dollars); Britain remains, despite its slow stagnation, the wealthiest society in Europe. The GDP per capita of the Imperial Federation as a whole is $1,233 (1990 US dollars); but this wealth is appallingly unequal in its distribution.

Economic system: The United Kingdom – and the Imperial Federation generally – are broadly laissez-faire capitalist economies. The U.K. has a basic social safety net, predicated on employment: compulsory health insurance for workers, a pension system based on lifetime employment, labor exchanges to help people find work, and so on. Some dominions have similar (or even more generous) systems. In global commerce, the Imperial Federation is the world’s traditional champion of free trade; instead of tariffs, Britain uses subsidies to support its strategic industries. Crucially, the Imperial Federation itself constitutes a multi-continental free-trade and single-currency zone: British prosperity rests substantially upon Britain’s ability to access natural resources across a quarter of the world’s surface, and to sell its products duty-free to a quarter of the human race.

Agricultural products: Britain imports more than 70 percent of its food from the rest of the Federation. It produces wheat, oats, barley, potatoes, sugar beets, beans, cabbage, apples, pears, chickens, pork, beer, cider, and hay. But the Federation as a whole produces almost every agricultural product known to man, from West Indian sugar to West African rubber to Australian beef to Indian tea to Malayan coffee, and a plenitude more besides.

Industries: Britain remains the main industrial engine of the Imperial Federation: raw materials from the rest of the Empire feed Britain’s industrial economy. The “Workshop of the World” – Earth’s first industrial society - produces machinery, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, automobiles, locomotives, armaments, steel, coal, aircraft, electronics, textiles, processed foods, porcelain, glass, refined sugar, and more. The City of London is second only to Wall Street as a global financial center; Oxford and Cambridge Universities remain at the cutting edge of research and scholarship.

Major trade partners: The majority of Imperial trade is internal, and therefore free of tariffs: British companies buy raw materials from the Empire, and use those materials to manufacture industrial products, which they then sell back to the colonies and dominions. Outside this loop – a free trade zone encompassing a quarter of the Earth – Britain trades extensively with the United States, France, Germany, Japan, and China. The Federation considers free trade a pillar of the Pax Britannica, and it works assiduously to build its commercial presence in every country, large or small.

Imported commodities: The United Kingdom imports almost everything, with the exception of coal: it is overwhelmingly a manufacturing economy, not an extractive one. But the Imperial Federation as a whole needs to import almost nothing: it covers so much of the Earth that it can supply itself – oil from the Trucial States, diamonds and gold from South Africa, grain and lumber from Canada, beef and iron from Australia, and so on and on. The Federation’s main imports from outside its free trade zone are luxuries: French wine and brandy, Russian caviar, and the like. Its necessities it supplies for itself.

Exported commodities: Britain itself exports mostly manufactured goods: machinery, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, automobiles, locomotives, steel, aircraft, ships, electronics, textiles (especially of Egyptian cotton), tinned food, glass, fertilizer, refined sugar, and the like. The Federation as a whole is also a major exporter of raw materials: crude oil, diamonds, gold, wheat, timber, beef, iron, tea, coffee, rubber, tobacco, and so on. The Federation is a selective exporter of arms; arms sales require government approval, and are treated as a tool of national policy.

Exchange Rate: One British pound is worth $4.61; the pound is the strongest major currency in the world. This disadvantages British exports, but controls inflation and stabilizes commerce within the Federation, where the pound is universal legal tender. It also means that Britons can travel cheaply for tourism or business.

Issues & Foreign Relations

Domestic Issues:

• The Great Experiment: The Imperial Federation is an unprecedented phenomenon in British politics, and indeed in world history. It represents an attempt to unite a myriad of peoples on five continents within a single self-governing political structure, characterized both by national self-determination and by supra-national systems of diplomacy and defense. As such, the Federation is not merely a blueprint for imperial management; it is a first draft at global governance. Only profound national ennui and stagnation provoked the normally staid British political system to such a radical leap of faith. In the last year, the Federation has inspired widespread public enthusiasm, and it has set much of Britain alive with hope for a glorious future. But it remains profoundly controversial, both at home and in the various dominions; and none can say whether the new super-state will reach 1940 without collapsing under the pressure of its own contradictions.
  
  
• The “Great Blah”: After more than a century as the world’s preeminent power, the 1920s found Britain experiencing a kind of national existential ennui. Imperial glory had gone stale; Britain remained the wealthiest country in Europe, but its economy had largely ceased to grow any further; Victorian propriety became a cultural straightjacket. There seemed little chance that tomorrow would be better than today, or even very different at all; after all, life had barely changed in decades. This stagnation – cultural, economic, social, political – has dominated British life for the last two decades. Radicalism – artistic, political, and social – became popular simply as an escape from boredom. Ultimately, the creation of the Imperial Federation brought the triumph of experimentation over stagnation: it kick-started the British economy, and upended national politics altogether. But the United Kingdom continues to struggle with the legacy of what the playwright Noel Coward called the “Great Blah”: Britain is a nation in search of a reason for its own existence. The Imperial Federation will rise or fall based in part on whether it can answer that question.
  
  
• Rivers of Blood?: The Federation has bound the British Empire into a single super-state, with open borders and free trade and a single common currency. It has, in consequence, accelerated an already controversial phenomenon: immigration to Britain from the various dominions and colonies. Every major city in Britain is now home to substantial populations of people from the West Indies, South Asia, and Ireland – and these communities are growing at several times the rate of the indigenous British population. As Britain becomes more diverse, ethnic and racial and religious tensions abound, and the rise of “Little Englander” nationalism threatens to undo the newborn Federation. It threatens, moreover, to undermine British democracy itself.

Transnational Issues:

• Pax Britannica: The long Pax Britannica, which began more than a century ago with Waterloo, has not yet reached its end. Britain – now through the Imperial Federation – remains the lynchpin of global order. Though the United States and Soviet Union have equaled or surpassed the British Empire economically, American isolationism and Soviet pariah status mean that neither power can replace Britain diplomatically. The Royal Navy remains the global policeman against piracy and smuggling; the Federation Civil Service is still the largest diplomatic corps in the world, gently guiding events from behind the scenes; and British companies control access to a quarter of the world’s natural resources. Economically, diplomatically, and militarily, the Federation serves by default as the final guarantor of global stability. That is a terrible responsibility, and it is not certain how much longer Britain can pay the price that it entails.
  
  
• Freedom Delayed, Freedom Denied: Britain’s power and prosperity is founded upon the exploitation of at least a fifth of the human race. The people of the protectorates and crown colonies are ruled by imperial puppets or British administrators; most of the people of the Dominion of India live in terrible poverty, though they outnumber Britons by almost eight to one. The Imperial Federation has extended limited but real self-government to India; however, it has done little for British colonies in the rest of Asia and in Africa. For much of Britain’s empire, the Federation is a cruel joke – a facsimile of freedom offered in place of the real thing. It has bought British imperial power only a brief lease on life, and soon the demand for self-determination will return across the globe, stronger than ever before.
  
  
• Perfidious Albion: British leaders like to call their country the “Conductor of the Concert of Europe,” and they seek to preserve the peace by ensuring that no country can ever grow so powerful as to threaten the (British-dominated) world order. This entails a constant triangulation of allegiances: Britain will side with an underdog to cut down its ambitious neighbor, and then side with the fallen neighbor to cut down the former underdog in turn. (Notably, for example, Britain was the only major foreign backer of the 1927 Great Arab Revolt). For this reason, most countries – including Britain’s main ally, France – have come to the eminently reasonable conclusion that British assurances are basically worthless, and that Britain’s friendship is reliable only so long as friendship remains in Britain’s interests. Thus, the Federation’s diplomatic position is a paradox: the indispensable guarantor of global institutions is also the least trusted of the global powers.

Treaties: Britain maintains a treaty of alliance and mutual defense with France, though many in either country have questioned whether the other would actually honor that treaty. Britain also maintains a centuries-old alliance with Portugal. Elsewhere, British influence is attenuated but real: the U.K. provides arms and aircraft to Poland-Lithuania, for example, and it guarantees the independence of Greece and Siam. The Boxer Protocol and other unequal treaties give Britain rights of trade and navigation – including military navigation of gunboats – in China. Britain is also a signatory of the Hague Conventions and of the Paris Naval Treaty, which guarantees it the right to maintain the world’s largest navy.

International Organization membership: Britain is a member of the Executive Council of the League of Nations; all of the Imperial Federation’s constituent countries are also seated in the League, even though Federation law requires them to vote as a bloc. This obviously serves to inflate the Federation’s voting power. The United Kingdom is also a member of the Permanent Court of International Justice, the International Criminal Police Association, the Universal Postal Union, the International Telegraph Union, and most other major international organizations. Britain considers these organizations to be essential pillars of the global order, and it prefers to advance British policy by co-opting them rather than by ignoring them.

Public Goals: Britain’s grand strategy is a matter of public record: it wishes to maintain the European and global status quo, avoid great-power war, maintain its mastery of the world’s seas, curb piracy and smuggling and the slave trade, gradually open the world’s markets to free trade, and support the development of international institutions and international law. Above all, Britain seeks to prevent the emergence of any power strong enough to threaten the delicate balance of power that has mostly kept the peace since Napoleon’s fall. It would be the ultimate status quo power, were it not for the fact that Britain also wishes to make a success of the Imperial Federation – and therefore to prove the viability of a kind of decentralized, peaceful global governance.

Secret Goals: Britain’s covert goals are merely the logical extensions of its public goals. Britain wishes to maintain the global balance of power and to prevent the emergence of any too-powerful rivals; it therefore seeks to sow division between France and Germany; to support Germany’s efforts to contain Soviet expansionism; and to protect small states in Asia from Japanese interference. Britain supports free trade; it therefore seeks to make British investment essential to Soviet prosperity, and to pressure smaller countries into opening their markets. Britain wishes to ensure that the Imperial Federation succeeds; it therefore seeks to undermine independence movements throughout its empire. This is the consistent theme of British foreign policy: high ideals advanced by bloody and underhanded tactics.

Military

Military Branches: The armed forces of the United Kingdom are the British Army, the Royal Navy (including the Royal Marines), and the Royal Air Force. These forces are subordinate to their corresponding branches of the Imperial Federation military: the Imperial Land Forces, the Imperial Combined Navies, and the Imperial Air Forces. While the militaries of the Federation’s constituent countries remain largely separate and operate mostly autonomously, they cross-train closely and are deployed side-by-side. This is especially true of the British Army and the Indian Army, which until 1937 shared a single chain of command, and which remain tightly intertwined. Finally, Britain treats intelligence as an independent branch of national policy, and a potentially war-winning weapon in its own right: the Imperial Secret Intelligence Service (ISIS) is the largest and most sophisticated intelligence agency in the world.

Military Expenditure: 4.55 percent of Britain’s GDP is spent on its military ($15.16 billion in 1990 U.S. dollars); a total of 3.79 percent of the Imperial Federation’s total GDP goes toward its collective armed forces ($25.49 billion in 1990 U.S. dollars).

Personnel Strength(active service): The British Army numbers 224,000 active-duty, professional soldiers. The Royal Navy adds another 200,000 officers and sailors, and the Royal Air Force has 174,000 officers and airmen. This figure does not include the personnel of the imperial dominion militaries. The British military is all-volunteer.

Personnel Strength(in reserve): The British Army is supported by 173,000 reservists. Britain also maintains the Territorial Army: a volunteer reserve of part-time citizen-soldiers, separately organized and intended for defense of the British home islands from invasion. It numbers 458,000. The Royal Navy and Royal Air Force are professional forces with no significant reserve component. The imperial dominions maintain their own, separate reserve systems.

Total Personnel: 1.23 million men under arms, active and reserve - not inclusive of the Imperial Federation's dominion militaries.

Overseas Deployments:

• Aden: 1 infantry battalion (Indian); 1 Royal Artillery regiment; Aden Protectorate Levies.
• Egypt: 1 armored division (British); 1 infantry division (British); 2 infantry brigades (British); 1 infantry brigade (Indian)
• Sudan: 1 infantry brigade (British); Sudan Defense Force
• Gibraltar: 1 infantry brigade (British); Gibraltar Defense Force
• Malta: 1 infantry brigade (British)
• Cyprus: 2 infantry battalions (British)
• Hong Kong: 1 infantry brigade (British), Hong Kong Volunteer Defense Corps.
• Shanghai: 2 infantry battalions (British), Shanghai Volunteer Corps
• Tientsin: 1 infantry battalion (British)
• Singapore and Malaya: 1 infantry brigade (British), 1 infantry brigade (Indian), Federated Malay States Volunteer Force.
• Ceylon: 1 artillery battalion (British), Ceylon Volunteer Force
• Mauritius: 1 artillery battalion (British), Mauritius Territorial Force
• Fiji: 1 infantry regiment (British-officered)
• Sarawak: Sarawak Rangers (brigade-strength, British-officered)
• West Africa: Royal West African Frontier Force (3 infantry brigades, British-officered)
• East Africa: 2 infantry brigades (local, mostly natives with British officers); 2 infantry battalions (white Rhodesian).

Army: The British Army, unlike its continental rivals, is a small all-volunteer force. This gives it a very high level of professionalism and training, and it saves the government money, but it puts the Army at a grave numerical disadvantage. To even the odds, the British Army is almost entirely motorized, and it boasts superb artillery and anti-tank units. But it has relatively few tanks or armored vehicles; its survivability is based on its capacity for rapid maneuver, not on its ability to weather enemy fire. Because of this, it is a highly aggressive force characterized by remarkable tactical ingenuity: the Army includes special operations units ranging from the Royal Parachute Regiment to the Special Night Squads to the Long Range Mountain Patrol to the (technically naval) Royal Marine Commandos. While it is not a paragon of modern mechanized warfare, the British Army is the undisputed inventor of modern special forces. Moreover, British troops are accustomed to fighting in a variety of climates, alongside a variety of allies, against a variety of enemies; they are seasoned veterans of a myriad of colonial wars. In particular, British forces are adept at training and leading allied armies. This allows them to serve as a force multiplier for a more numerous allied force (usually the Indian Army). The Imperial Land Forces rely on this paradigm, and usually assign a British brigade to each dominion division: the latter provides numbers, and the former provides professional expertise. Together, these imperial armies make for a formidable combination.

Navy: The Royal Navy is the best-funded and most powerful branch of the British armed forces. It remains, as it has been for centuries, the world’s largest navy - and the principal protector of global trade and maritime law. While Britain is a signatory to the Paris Naval Treaty, that agreement guarantees the U.K. the world’s largest navy, and so the Treaty has not prevented the Navy’s steady expansion. In 1938, the Royal Navy sails thirty-five battleships and battlecruisers (with five more under construction); seven aircraft carriers (with five more under construction); 66 cruisers; 185 destroyers (with 32 more under construction); 60 submarines (with nine more under construction); and 101 escort craft, patrol vessels, and gunboats. Its size and prestige means that the Royal Navy relies more on raw power than on innovation; it lacks the creative tactics of the British Army. Instead, the Navy seeks mostly to bring the enemy to a single Trafalgar-like battle, where overwhelming British gunnery can send the main enemy fighting force to the bottom of the sea. But the Navy’s technological innovations compensate for its strategic backwardness: the Royal Navy is the pioneer of ASDIC and RADAR, which allow it to identify enemy fleets and submarines at previously impossible distances. These technical advances have given rise to the Royal Navy’s one major contribution to modern naval tactics: the use of RADAR and ASDIC to coordinate long-range carrier operations, targeting enemy ships for dive-bombing long before they come within range of British gunnery. There is an ongoing debate among British admirals as to whether naval air operations will some day replace gunnery altogether, or whether they will only ever be supplemental to the final decisive clash of battleships.

Air Force: The Royal Air Force was the first independent air force in the world, and it remains one of the most powerful: 2,600 British warplanes are combat-ready at any given moment. The British government, unusually, has always treated airpower as a war-winning weapon in its own right, rather than as an adjunct to land operations; air operations allow Britain to reach across the Channel to continental Europe without putting the small British Army at risk. Therefore, the RAF is built around an offensive force of strategic bombers and long-range escort fighters, which is intended not to support ground operations but to shatter enemy war industry (and, if necessary, whole cities). This offensive force is complemented by a defensive force of dedicated interceptor fighters, whose task is to keep enemy bombers from doing the same to Britain; fighter aircraft are aided in this by the new RADAR network protecting the British Isles and many British bases overseas. Tactical reconnaissance and battlefield support, while not entirely neglected, are distinctly secondary priorities. The RAF is in the process of replacing most of its airfleet with modern, all-metal monoplanes: the key designs are the Supermarine Spitfire interceptor fighter, the Avro Lancaster heavy bomber, and the Bristol Beaufighter escort fighter. These new designs represent a major advance in aerospace technology, and they are expected to give the RAF a qualitative edge over most of its rivals.

History

Until 1914, the following timeline reflects only events that diverged from real-world history; any events not mentioned can be presumed to have occurred according to real-world history.

• 1884: The Imperial Federation League is founded. It represents the first attempt to resolve the contradiction of British settler colonialism: how can Britain remain a world-spanning empire without provoking the Canadians or Australians or New Zealanders (or the Irish) to revolt against a system that fails to represent them? The League proposes a solution: the British Empire must federalize, forming a single superstate spanning multiple continents, in which all the “children of Britain” are represented. The idea is inherently racist, excluding non-white and non-English-speaking subjects of the Empire. It is nevertheless a radical act of democratic imagination.
  
  
• 1887: To celebrate Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee, the Imperial Federation League petitions Parliament to hold a conference of British and colonial leaders, to discuss greater imperial integration. The First Imperial Conference is a modest success: New Zealand and Australia agree to contribute financially toward their protection by the Royal Navy, in return for the promise that the Navy will not reduce its Pacific Station without their consent. It is the first step toward a defense policy set by the whole Empire, not just by Britain. The League’s popularity begins to grow; its leader, Joseph Chamberlain, is soon named Secretary of State for the Colonies.
  
  
• 1897: Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee provides an opportunity for Joseph Chamberlain to convene the Second Imperial Conference. Chamberlain calls for an imperial council – an early version of what will become the Imperial Parliament – but the Conference rejects this idea. It does, however, develop a comprehensive plan by which all colonies fund the Royal Navy and, in return, receive partial control of its operations within their respective regions.
  
  
• 1902: After the conclusion of the Boer War – to which British colonies contributed large numbers of troops – the Third Imperial Conference convenes and establishes the Committee of Imperial Defense, a permanent joint headquarters staffed by Britain and by all its major (settler) colonies. In return, the colonies guarantee that their armies will be at the disposal of the Committee. This essentially federalizes control of the Empire’s land forces in the same way that the Second Imperial Conference federalized control of the Royal Navy.
  
  
• 1907: Amid increasing unrest in Ireland and India, the Fourth Imperial Conference convenes. For the first time, the Conference seeks to use imperial federalization to quiet colonial agitation. Canada, Australia, Newfoundland, and New Zealand are formally declared to be self-governing dominions – not crown colonies – with full rights over most domestic legislation. (Britain remains responsible for the dominions’ diplomacy, militaries, and international trade.) The Dominion of South Africa is founded later that year by combining the Natal Colony, Cape Colony, Orange River Colony, and Transvaal Colony. Dominion status is held out to Ireland and India as a potential reward for cooperating with imperial rule.
  
  
• 1911: Global tensions rise, and the fear of world war dominates the Fifth Imperial Conference. Britain promises not to sign treaties directly concerning the dominions without their consent, essentially creating a single imperial diplomatic policy. This guarantee becomes known as the Chamberlain Declaration. A Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs is formed, with delegates from each dominion and from Britain.
  
  
• 1914: Europe weathers the Black Hand Crisis, in part thanks to British diplomatic mediation between Vienna and St. Petersburg, which ensures that Russia does not retaliate against the Austrian crackdown on Serbian nationalists. “The Concert of Europe,” Prime Minister Asquith declares, “plays on.” But the Times reports on a strange national malaise that follows the relaxation in tensions, accompanied by an unusual wave of suicides. “War,” reads one such suicide note, “would at least have been interesting enough to live for.”
  
  
• 1915: The Liberal government of Prime Minister Asquith, under pressure from the rising popularity of the Labour Party, passes a sweeping set of economic reforms. These include a child labor ban, maximum working hours legislation, old age pensions, workplace safety rules, and a national health insurance system for Britons who earn less than £160 per year. Britain’s economic growth, previously rapid, slows as American and German competition begins to challenge British control of world markets. 1915 will mark the high-water mark of the British economy, and the beginning of twenty years of gradual stagnation.
  
  
• 1916: Irish nationalists and socialists rebel in Ireland, and seize key sites in Dublin before they are crushed by British troops. The Easter Rising spreads, becoming a durable rural insurgency. Irishmen fight each other along political and religious lines, and the Royal Irish Constabulary is initially the primary force on the British side.
  
  
• 1917: As the Easter Rising intensifies, British Army regulars are deployed in large numbers to contain the rebellion. George V tours the troops, and survives an assassination attempt, but is thrown from his horse. Shaken, he quits smoking – with the result that he will not die of bronchitis in 1936.
  
  
• 1918: Michael Collins assumes overall command of Irish forces and leads a brilliant campaign of sabotage and assassination. Prime Minister David Lloyd George announces a ceasefire and invites Collins to London to negotiate a settlement. Inspired by Irish resistance, Bengali insurgents (the “Jugantar”) launch a violent campaign of their own in Calcutta.
  
  
• 1919: As a result of the Anglo-Irish peace talks, Ireland is officially granted self-rule as a dominion, on the same terms as Canada or Australia. Low-level terrorism continues, as Protestant radicals and Irish republican hardliners both reject dominion status. Parliament passes the Government of India Act, which establishes power-sharing between British officials and elected Indian legislators; it stops short of dominion status. Together with the arrest of most Jugantar leaders, the Act nevertheless quiets Indian calls for independence – if only temporarily.
  
  
• 1920: The Russian Revolution breaks out. Shocked by the Black Hundreds’ massacre of liberal parliamentarians, British public opinion initially favors Lenin and the communists as the best alternative to “rule by murderers.” Riding a wave of pro-Lenin sentiment among liberals and socialists alike, the Labour Party wins a parliamentary majority for the first time.
  
  
• 1921: The new Labour government attempts to resolve labor disputes at the Glasgow shipyards by nationalizing the shipbuilding companies. The House of Lords blocks the nationalization bill. In response, the Trades Unions Congress (TUC) – Britain’s labor federation – calls a general strike, which continues on and off for months. In India, Mohandas Gandhi launches the noncooperation movement, posing a serious nonviolent threat to British rule. Right-wing extremists, fearing Russian influence on the TUC, begin a campaign of street violence and intimidation in order to break the general strike.
  
  
• 1922: In Russia, Lenin purges non-Communist political parties. The British public belatedly realizes that Lenin is not the liberal hero it had supposed. The Labour Party repudiates the Russian Revolution as a betrayal of truly democratic socialist principles. The TUC, noting eroding support for the general strike, settles for a favorable end to the original shipyard dispute. A measure of tranquility returns to Britain’s streets. Abroad, Britain intervenes directly to aid Eastern European nations in breaking free from the USSR: British officers arm and train and advise Polish and Ukrainian forces, and the Royal Navy blockades Murmansk and St. Petersburg – ensuring the independence of Finland and Latvia-Estonia.
  
  
• 1923: Prime Minister Lloyd George announces the dispatch of a British Empire force to Vladivostok, to relieve the last stronghold of Russian liberalism. Canada and Ireland refuse to send troops, arguing that Britain’s unilateral action violated the Chamberlain Declaration of 1911 – the principle that Britain would not make foreign policy for the dominions without their consent. Lloyd George is forced to back down; no British troops reach Vladivostok. Later that year, Australia refuses to consent to the renewal of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance; because the alliance directly concerns Australia, London is unable to overrule Canberra. The alliance lapses.
  
  
• 1924: After the Vladivostok Crisis and the failure of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance, the Chamberlain Declaration is revealed as a recipe for gridlock. The Sixth Imperial Conference recognizes the need for a true empire-wide foreign policy that will be safe from veto by any single dominion. Therefore, the Conference grants to the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs an exclusive power to bind the British Empire as a whole, over the objections of any dominion – or even over the objections of Britain itself. A crucial step toward federalization has been taken. In India, Gandhi leads the Salt March, and demands (at a minimum) full and immediate dominion status for India. British writers note a cultural climate of alcoholism, drug abuse, nihilism, and malaise; the young British playwright Noel Coward dubs the national mood, “the Great Blah: nothing is wrong, and nothing will ever be wrong, and what could be more soul-shatteringly dull than that?”
  
  
• 1925: The final communist victory in the Russian Civil War panics even Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald’s Labour government: Soviet expansionism in Central Asia poses an obvious threat to India. British secret agents assemble a motley army of Central Asian warlords, jihadists, and bandits to fight the Red Army, with little effect. MacDonald declares that “the old Great Game has returned with a vengeance.” As Austria-Hungary becomes unstable amid Emperor Franz Ferdinand’s reforms, the British Foreign Office begins “contingency operations”: supporting Slovak and Ruthenian and Croat nationalists in preparation for a possible Austro-Hungarian collapse.
  
  
• 1926: The Seventh Imperial Conference convenes. Prime Minister Joseph Ward, of New Zealand, emerges as the most eloquent advocate of imperial federalization. He convinces the Conference to create a Committee on the Imperial Constitution, which will spend the next seven years developing a detailed plan to federalize the Empire. Its work is assumed to be futile: even if the Committee produces a draft, no one expects the proposed constitution to be adopted. Nevertheless, for the first time, the Imperial Federation League endorses a list of candidates – Conservative, Liberal, and Labour – in Britain’s elections. The question of federation begins to predominate over traditional political divides.
  
  
• 1927: Under pressure from Hungarian chauvinism (and British “contingency” meddling), the Austro-Hungarian Empire collapses and the Great Balkan War begins. Acting through the Imperial Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Britain declines to back either Austria or Hungary; instead, British officers and advisers support Serbia and Romania – and, later, Poland and Ukraine – in claiming much of the Austrian empire’s periphery. British guns and training provide crucial assistance to these smaller regional powers, and the experience of British advisors teaches the British Army valuable lessons in modern war. In the Middle East, the Turkish-chauvinist policies of the Ottoman leadership provoke the Great Arab Revolt.
  
  
• 1928: Sensing an opportunity to weaken Germany (and, to a lesser extent, France) – and thereby to preserve the balance of power in the Mediterranean – Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin convinces the Committee on Foreign Affairs to back the Arab rebels against the Ottoman Empire. British advisors and materiel assist the Arabs to a number of early victories, before German and French intervention finally turns the tide. An especially effective Arab army in the Hedjaz is led by a flamboyant British officer named T.E. Lawrence, who becomes a romantic hero to the British public. Unlike the bleak war in central Europe, the desert rebellion captures the imaginations of Britons, providing a brief escape from the prevailing mood of national ennui.
  
  
• 1929: The crushing of the Arab Revolt brings with it a resumption of the “Great Blah.” As fighting in central Europe continues, Slovak and Hungarian and Croation and Romanian refugees pour into London, heightening ethnic and religious tensions at home; many join far-right or far-left groups, which assume an internationalist and revolutionary character. The Bank of England reports that the British economy has grown by only seven percent in the fourteen years since 1915 – a shocking stagnation for one of the world’s traditionally dominant economies. The poet Ezra Pound writes of “a sleep of death in England / that only bloody birth can wake to life.” Anarchists bomb the Prime Minister’s car, killing three MPs and wounding Stanley Baldwin. Their trial becomes a sensation; it is swiftly evident that the terrorists are more popular than the government, if only because they have added some excitement to daily life.
  
  
• 1930: The Great Balkan War grinds to a close; British diplomats and agents help to organize and fund anti-war protests in Vienna, Prague, and Bratislava. Britain’s proxies in Romania, Serbia, and Ukraine keep their shares of Austrian territory. In Constantinople, British spies avenge their defeat in the Great Arab Revolt by supporting the Ottoman Army’s coup against the İTF. At the Paris Naval Conference, even Britain’s rivals recognize the Royal Navy’s irreplaceable role in stabilizing global trade, and Britain is guaranteed the right to maintain the world’s largest navy.
  
  
• 1931: Britain experiences a temporary insurgence of economic growth, powered by investment in Romania, Serbia, Ukraine, and Poland: these countries, which Britain backed during the Great Balkan War, represent the beginnings of a British sphere of economic and diplomatic influence in Eastern Europe. (The notable exception is Bulgaria, which remains hostile to many of Britain’s regional partners.) In India, where noncooperation has begun to hamstring the British administration, London begins almost two years of trilateral Round Table Discussions between the British government, the Imperial Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, and Indian leaders (led by Gandhi). It is the first time the British have formally negotiated with India’s independence movement.
  
  
• 1932: The British embassy in Constantinople – newly influential after its support for the 1930 Ottoman Revolution, and reasoning that a stronger Ottoman Empire is likelier to resist Franco-German pressure – provides legal and technical support for the drafting of the Mustafa Code and the Senate Reform Act. It also promises Kemal Pasha intelligence and military support should those reforms provoke unrest. British influence waxes accordingly. The British investment boom in Eastern Europe turns to bust, as numerous British-supported companies fail to turn a profit, and economic stagnation returns with a vengeance. At the Eighth Imperial Conference, the Empire turns to drastic measures to stimulate economic growth: the British Empire abandons the gold standard, turns the entire empire into a single free trade zone, and adopts the pound sterling as its single currency (though it will be years before the Canadian and Australian dollars, or the Indian rupee, are finally phased out.) Prime Minister Baldwin is an early and emphatic supporter of the League of Nations, and Britain becomes a founding member (and an executive committee member) thereof.
  
  
• 1933: The Round Table Discussions conclude: Gandhi agrees to a relaxation in noncooperation, in exchange for which Britain will grant India full dominion status. The Dominion of India Act passes Parliament just two months later. Unrest in India diminishes. The Committee on the Imperial Constitution – formed at the Seventh Imperial Conference in 1926, and chaired by New Zealand’s Joseph Ward – also concludes its work. It publishes a draft “Ward Constitution” that would establish a true Imperial Federation of Britain and the dominions: complete with a federal civil service and military establishment. The new Federation would balance a British-dominated Imperial Parliament against a quasi-judicial Imperial Council in which the dominions would have more power. Late in the year, Tsuyoshi Inukai is assassinated in Japan, and Japan invades Manchuria. Australia and New Zealand, alarmed and seeking strength through unity, announce their support for the Ward Constitution.
  
  
• 1934: Tensions rise with Japan and with the Soviet Union. The Committee of Imperial Defense warns of a possible multifront war that could include Britain’s Eastern European partners, its Indian frontier in Central Asia, and its Pacific dominions. The Committee therefore recommends shifting the entire Empire to a war footing. Military shipbuilding and especially aircraft-building increase, and the RAF announces plans to shift to a force composed entirely of all-metal monoplanes. In China, Britain provides training, arms, and military advisors to the Anhui Clique in its fight against Wu Peifu, earning Wu’s lasting enmity. Immigration from the Empire increases, and British mobs attack immigrant communities in a violent backlash.
  
  
• 1935: Elections in Canada return a Conservative majority; prodded by pro-federation British commercial interests, the new government announces its support for the Ward Constitution. William Butler Yeats, the Irish writer and statesman, publishes his last great work: Long Was the Road, a speculative novel set in 1950. In the novel, the adoption of the Ward Constitution has restored British economic dynamism, but it has also done more than that: the Imperial Federation has inspired a worldwide movement for peace, mutual respect, and benevolent global governance. It has made Britain a moral leader to all mankind. The novel greatly increases support for the Ward Constitution in Britain. The British Army founds the world’s first dedicated airborne unit, the Royal Parachute Regiment. Tellingly, it is initially based in Australia as a warning against Japanese aggression.
  
  
• 1936: Elections in the United Kingdom return no majority for any single party, but they yield a decisive majority for supporters of the Imperial Federation League in all three parties. As a result, Harold Macmillan forms a multiparty government with a mandate to establish the Imperial Federation. George V indicates his support for federalization, wishing Macmillan “success for the sake of all our peoples.” Britain funds the establishment of the first intelligence agency under the direct control of the Imperial Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs: the Imperial Code and Cypher School at Bletchley Park. It attracts the finest mathematicians from across the Empire, and targets Japanese and Soviet cyphers for decryption.
  
  
• 1937: Harold Macmillan calls the Ninth Imperial Conference, which will decide whether or not to adopt the Ward Constitution. Initially, Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Newfoundland support federalization; India, Ireland, and South Africa are opposed. South Africa’s Prime Minister Jan Smuts is ultimately persuaded by his old friend Winston Churchill to switch sides; Ireland is pressured into compliance by the threat of exclusion from the imperial single market; India agrees to join the Federation in exchange for the guarantee of an independence referendum in 1945. By the end of the year, the British Parliament and the parliaments of all the dominions have voted, and on December 1 the Imperial Federation officially comes into being.
  
  
• 1938: The Imperial Parliament sits for the first time in the Crystal Palace, pending construction of a more permanent home. The British and New Zealand delegations vote together to make Harold Macmillan the Prime Minister of the Federation, as well as the British Prime Minister. The Imperial Parliament establishes the Imperial Civil Service (replacing the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs); the Imperial General Staff and Imperial Admiralty (replacing the Committee of Imperial Defense); and the Imperial Secret Intelligence Service, a brand-new unified spy agency. A combination of Empire-wide free trade and renewed investor confidence produces Britain’s first sustained economic growth since 1915. Imperial armed forces strengthen British (and other Western) concessions in China, as Wu Peifu consolidates control and threatens British territories. The threat of war looms larger than ever, as does the risk of global recession. But for the Imperial Federation, a new single market including a quarter of mankind, the future nevertheless seems bright.

Don't remove, helps me find this later: APPLICATION!

[Reverend Norv]

A quick note: the name and flag of the UK in this app are deliberately a bit off, because Ireland is a dominion within the Imperial Federation. Therefore the St. Patrick's Saltire is missing from the Union Jack, and the country is the United Kingdom of Great Britain - not the United Kingdom of Great Britain and (Northern) Ireland. Historically, one of the major arguments in favor of federation was that it would allow something like Irish independence without creating a full separation of Britain and Ireland. In this timeline, that argument was considerably more successful than in our own.

The app will continue to grow as my schedule permits.

[New Eestiball]

WIP application:

Sovereign Factbook

The Federal Republic of Latvia-Estonia

Flag:

img isnt working, so just go to https://imgur.com/gallery/5K2dVEf

Sovereign Territory plus territorial claims, if any:

1918-1940 Estonia and Latvia

People and Society

Population: 3,125,000
Ethnic groups:
Latvians, Estonians, Russians, Jews, Germans, Poles
Languages:
Latvian (Official), Estonian (Official), Russian
Religions: Lutheranism 65%
Roman Catholicism 30%
Others 5%
Population growth rate: 2.45%

Government and Politics

Government Type: Federal Republic
Capital City: Riga
Head of State: Konstantin Pats
Legislature: Riikikogu
Other Legislative Bodies: Saeima
Ruling Party: Farmer's Assembly (Riikikogu) (centre-right), Democratic Workers' Party (Saeima) (centre-left)
Other Political Parties: Catholic Party (right), Centre Party (centre), Peasants' Party (far-left) Many other parties exist

Economics

Nominal GDP: 944,937,500 USD
Economic system: Market Economy with an agrarian focus and moderate state intervention
Agricultural products: cattle, pig, sheep, barley, potatoes, wheat, oats, flax, horses, eggs, butter to name a few
Industries: textile, engineering, construction, chemical growing shale oil, growing aviation
Major trade partners: Poland-Lithuania, Finland, Britain, France, Sweden, Ukraine, German Empire
Imported commodities: Industrial equipment, agricultural technology, energy sources (growing less dependent), Medicine, consumer goods
Exported commodities: Shale oil, produce, meat and eggs, some chemicals
Exchange Rate: 3.77 kroon per USD

Issues & Foreign Relations

Domestic Issues:
The Russian Question
Over 10% of the population of Latvia-Estonia is of Russian heritage. With an unfriendly Russian state on the border, there is a constant worry of invasion. To manage their wants, which, if left unheeded, will be noticed by the Soviets, while still balancing that with the general populace's needs, is a constant governmental struggle. These issues are concentrated around Narva, Petseri and Daugavpils.
Fractured Politics
Over 20 political parties have seats in the Saeima and Riikikogu. Mergers do happen, but very rarely. Marginalized issues are the norm, and anyone who has some popularity in their city can get elected over any silly thing. Coalitions take months to form, with a government not fully functioning for upwards of 90 days in some cases. It's also very hard to create legislation covering both Estonia and Latvia, because the Saeima and Riikikogu often have different coalitions in power.
Machinery Needs
Agriculture and construction are 2 of Latvia-Estonia's biggest industries. Those both often need heavy machinery, for which Latvia-Estonia is very reliant on imports. There are talks beginning to make the town of Voru a manufacturing hub, but it'll take a while.
Transnational Issues:
Neutrality? Nope!
Latvia-Estonia strongly
Treaties: Things like Britain's alliance with France, trade agreements and such go here.
International Organization membership: Things like Interpol, IOC, League of Nations membership.

Public Goals:
Secret Goals:

Military

Military Branches:

Military Expenditure: ex. 6.9% of GDP($420,000,000)
Personnel Strength(active service):
Personnel Strength(in reserve):
Total Personnel:
Overseas Deployments: If applicable, otherwise put down N/A

Army:

Navy:

Air Force:

History

Put a description of your nation's history here. Applications of insufficient quality will be rejected pending revision. I don't expect a Neil Gaiman novel or the CIA World Factbook, but be a little detailed. Or a lot detailed. It's up to you, just don't put down 'haha funny mustache man took power and now he's about to invade Europe'

Don't remove, helps me find this later: APPLICATION!

[Shohun]

Sovereign Factbook

Empire of Japan / Dai Nippon Teikoku

Flag:

Sovereign Territory plus territorial claims, if any:
Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Sakhalin
Influence over the Empire of Manchukuo and Mengjiang

People and Society

Population: 77,114,308
Ethnic groups: Japanese, Ainu, Korean, Chinese
Languages: Japanese (official)
Religions: Shinto and Buddhism
Population growth rate: 5.6%

Government and Politics

Government Type: Unitary parliamentary semi-constitutional monarchy under a totalitarian military dictatorship
Capital City: Tokyo
Head of State: Emperor Hirohito
Head of Government: Prime Minister Fumimaro Konoe
Legislature: Imperial Diet
Other Legislative Bodies: House of Representatives and the House of Peers
Ruling Party: Rikken Seiyūkai, Shakai Taishūtō, Shōwakai, Kokumin Dōmei, and others (Coalition)
Other Political Parties: Rikken Minseitō, Tōhōkai, and others

Economics

Nominal GDP: $18.23 Billion
GDP per capita: $236.40
Economic system: State Capitalism
Agricultural products: Rice, fruits, fish, and livestock.
Industries: Naval construction, silk, coal, paper, fishing, chemicals, metal and machinery, lumber, and arms.
Major trade partners: United States, United Kingdom, Manchukuo, Mengjiang, British India, and the Dutch Indies.
Imported commodities: Cotton, wool, iron, petroleum, machinery, soybeans, and wheat
Exported commodities: Wool articles, raw silk, rayon, machinery, iron, and ships
Exchange Rate: Yen per US dollar: 3.6

Issues & Foreign Relations

Domestic Issues:
The Rise of Nationalism - Since the formation of Meiji government, nationalism and fascism have surged in Japan, leading to a number of domestic issues. Political repression of left-wing dissident has squashed the opposition, with the rise of the Tokko, also known as the Thought Police, and the Kenpeitai. Radicals call for war, demanding expansion into China and for war with either the Soviets or the United States. Military commanders regularly exercise insubordination, going against Tokyo's wishes and launching operations in China without Tokyo's prior knowledge.

Many of the political elite fear conflict with China, Russia, or the West at the hands of the nationalists.

Political Deadlock - Despite the lack of left-wing opposition, the two main political parties clash for control, offering differing opinions on how to go about Japanese domination of Asia. This deadlock has brought down governments, as the Toseiha and Kōdōha military factions battle for influence. While the Toseiha has taken the lead as notable Kōdōha advocates retire, the government remains bitterly divided.

While there is some hope for the new government, it faces an uphill battle in the political arena.

Transnational Issues:
Asia for Asians - As Japanese nationalism surges, propagandists push under an idealized Asia for Asians slogan, advocating for Japan to lead Asia in pushing out the West. Such sentiment risks conflict with Western powers, and alienating traditional allies such as Britain.

The Northern Menace - With Soviet claims over Manchuria, and the increasing rate of border skirmishes, the situation is tense in the north. Now the government faces a predicament of managing deterrence with the Soviets, while pursing its China agenda.

Imperial Way - With nationalists increasingly calling for war, and skirmishes frequent, the risk for war in China has never been greater. While politicians weigh their options in Tokyo, local commanders operate with a degree of independence, calling for Japan to launch an invasion.

Under pressure from the regime in Mengjiang, it is said Japan has already begun to formulate plans for an eventual operation in China, and has begun to prepare strong reprisals against Chinese-backed rebels.

Import Reliant - For most basic industrial goods, and even food, Japan is reliant on its colonies and the international community. As Japan expands, it risks sanction from the West, potentially driving it towards drastic action.

Treaties: Signatory of the Hague Treaties and semi-observer of the Paris Naval Treaty
International Organization membership: League of Nations

Public Goals: Protect Asian sovereignty, maintain military power, increase global influence, align with European powers, and avoid economic downturn.
Secret Goals: Occupy China, decisively deter Russian expansion, seize territory in the south, and establish Japanese domination of Asia.

Military

Military Branches: Imperial Japanese Army and Imperial Japanese Navy

Military Expenditure: 8% of GDP
Personnel Strength(active service): 1,540,000
Personnel Strength(in reserve): 1,760,000
Total Personnel: 3,300,000
Overseas Deployments:
Kwangtung Army (Manchukuo): 237,240
Japanese North China Area Army (Manchukuo, Tianjin Concession): 336,090
Shanghai Expeditionary Army and Shanghai SNLF (Shanghai Concession): 2,000
Hankou SNLF (Hankou Concession): 300

Army:
The Imperial Japanese Army currently consists of 820,000 active and 1,600,000 reserve personnel in 34 active and 70 reserve divisions, with additional independent brigades. Following conflicts in China and skirmishes along the Soviet border, a large bulk of the Imperial Army is already deployed in mainland Asia, with 17 divisions currently deployed on the border with China, and 12 divisions stationed along border hotspots with the Soviets in the north. 2 divisions are deployed in Korea, and 3 divisions are deployed in Japan, including the elite Imperial Guards Division.

Soldiers of the Imperial Army are known for their fanatical devotion to the Emperor, and represent one of the most highly trained and best equipped militaries in Asia. Armored vehicles of the Imperial Army includes 404 Medium Tanks, 300 Light Tanks,167 Cavalry Tanks, 830 Tankettes, and 1,835 Armored Cars.

Navy:
The Imperial Japanese Navy consists of 720,000 active and 160,000 reserve personnel. The Imperial Navy is the most powerful branch of Japan's military, capable of projecting power around the Pacific. The Imperial Navy specializes in night fighting, and is one of the best trained and disciplined forces world-wide. The Imperial Navy adheres to the Kantai Kessen naval doctrine, relying on a decisive naval battle to win any war.

The lack of strict adherence to any naval limitation treaty has seen the advancement of Japan's battleships to ridiculous proportions, only limited in the early 30s in favor of the Army's budget. Among these powerful beasts are the Amagi Class, the Kii Class, and the Taihoku Class (Number 13 Class). The Imperial Navy currently maintains:

18 Battleships
10 Battlecruisers
9 Coastal Defense Ships
3 Aircraft Carriers
2 Light Aircraft Carriers
2 Seaplane Tenders
7 Armored Cruisers
16 Heavy Cruisers
18 Light Cruisers
3 Protected Cruisers
109 Destroyers
12 Torpedo Boats
40 Submarines
18 Minesweepers
2 Minelayers
16 River Gunboats

The Imperial Navy also maintains its own marine unit, known as the Special Naval Landing Forces, or SNLF for short. The Kure SNLF operates 6 units, the Maizuru SNLF operates 5 units, the Sasebo SNLF operates 8 units, and the Yokosuka SNLF operates 8 units as well. Each of these units is composed of 3,000 marines, with special guard units such as the Shanghai SNLF and Hankou SNLF operating only 2,000 and 300 marines respectively.

These elite troops are the backbone of naval invasion forces, and are known as one of the most elite units in all of Japan.

Air Force:
There is no independent air force in Japan, rather being composed of the separate Imperial Army Air Service and the Imperial Navy Air Service. The Imperial Army Air Service's primary task is tactical ground support with limited interception capabilities, while the Imperial Navy Air Service is tasked with national air defense, deep strike, and naval warfare.

The Imperial Army Air Service consists of:
311 Heavy Bombers (6 x Mitsubishi Ki-20; 187 x Mitsubishi K-2; and 118 Mitsubishi K-1)
243 Light Bombers (243 x Kawasaki Ki-3)
1,261 Fighters (673 x Nakajima Ki-27 and 588 Kawasaki Ki-10)
2,304 Reconnaissance Aircraft (437 x Mitsubishi Ki-15; 516 x Nakajima Ki-4; 234 x Mitsubishi 2MR8; 1,117 Kawasaki Type 88)
42 Transport Aircraft(19 x Nakajima Ki-34; 20 x Nakajima Ki-6; 3 x Tachikawa KKY)

The Imperial Navy Air Service consists of:
1,027 Attack Bombers (1,027 x Mitsubishi G3M)
786 Light Bombers (125 x Mitsubishi B5M; 250 Nakajima B5N; 205 Yokosuka B4Y; and Mitsubishi B2M)
129 Flying Boats (47 x Hiro H4H; 17 x Hiro H2H; and 65 x Hiro H1H)
1,167 Fighters (780 x Mitsubishi A5M; 221 x Nakajima A4N; and 166 Nakajima A2N)
1,441 Reconnaissance Aircraft (755 x Nakajima E8N; 533 x Kawanishi E7K; and 153 x Nakajima E4N)
625 Transports (625 x Mitsubishi K3M)

History

Following the Meiji Revolution, rapid Japanese modernization and industrialization saw the expansion of the Japanese Empire, culminating in a stunning victory over China in the First Sino-Japanese War in 1895. As Japan sought to gain power in the region, it would join the Anglo-Japanese Alliance in 1902, cementing a partnership with the British Empire in the aim of curtailing Russian influence in Asia. Following yet another victory in the Russo-Japanese War would be a time of relative peace in Japan. Under Emperor Meiji, a series of reforms would continue to occur, rapidly transitioning Japan towards an industrial economy. As the government and businesses adopted Western technology and ideas, Japan would undergo further cultural and educational reform, with the Emperor personally supporting increasing literacy rates.

By the end of the decade, when Japan officially annexed Korea, Japanese zaibatsu were on the rise, and mass urbanization was occurring around the country. However this industrial change was not perfect. Experiencing similar problems as Western nations many years before, industrialization saw poor working conditions, increasing socialism and left-wing dissident. An assassination attempt on the Emperor would result in the creation of the Tokko Secret Police, utilized to brutally crack down on dissident. As a result, by 1911 the government would adopt legislation setting a maximum number of working hours, laws on working conditions, and age limits.

Following the Emperor's passing in 1912, he was replaced by his eldest son, Emperor Taishō. The following years would be filled with political crisis, as Japan struggled against mass democratic protests organized by political parties. The Seiyūkai and Minseitō parties came to rule the period, creating a stalemate in government. While economic and military power continued to grow, a struggle persisted over who would wield it. Due to the ailing condition of his father, Crown Prince Hirohito would be appointed regent in 1921, effectively becoming the ruler of Japan. By 1923, due to diverging interests for the future of Asia, the Anglo-Japanese alliance would be allowed to lapse, however Japan would continue good relations with Britain. While military factions continued their struggle for control, Japan would expand democracy with the passing of legislation in 1925 legalizing universal male suffrage. The same year the Peace Preservation Law would go into effect, granting the Tokko and regular Japanese police the free ability to suppress dissident. The period would see some of the greatest literary developments to date in Japanese culture, as many learned to read and book prices dropped. The same year, the government would pass legislation making public education from ages 6 to 12 mandatory, with exceptions granted for families operating farming and fishing businesses.

1926 would see the passing of Emperor Taishō, and in his place his son Hirohito would become the emperor. Fascism and nationalism would grow rapidly in popularity, especially among military circles. With the outbreak of war in Europe in 1927, Japan would initially declare neutrality, but later the same year would send Japanese military attaches to Austria-Hungary with the hopes of learning lessons from the modern war. In a bid to gain German favor, in light of tensions with the Soviet Union and the end of the alliance with Britain, Japan would offer economic aid to Austria-Hungary during the conflict. At the Paris Navy Conference, Japan would act as an observer, unofficially committing to several naval limitations. While not implemented in practice, the Navy would take several measures of cancelling ships or converting them to carriers in effort to gain favor of the West and avoid being seen as a threat.

Seizing on the instability in Europe, in 1931 nationalist Kwangtung Army officers would initiate the Mukden Incident, leading to the Japanese invasion of Manchuria. Despite initially being furious over the insubordination, Tokyo would ultimately be surprised with the successes and support the move. In the following months, a new government would be set up under Puyi as the Emperor of Manchukuo, with the Kwangtung Army taking control over this vast territory. Prime Minister Tsuyoshi Inukai would attempt to rein in the military, leading to his assassination in 1932 by right-wing militarists. Due to increasing opposition in the military and right against political parties, the military would effectively take control of government following 1932, with Admiral Makoto Saitō from the Navy being selected as Prime Minister. Despite opposition from the right-wing, in 1932 Japan would join the League of Nations, able to avoid much of the international criticism from the invasion of Manchuria due to the distraction from the wars in Europe.

Military control in Japan would be cemented after a failed attempt at a military coup in 1936, resulting in the assassination of a large number of moderate politicians. With Prime Minister Fumimaro Konoe taking control of government in 1937, Japanese expansionists would pursue a more aggressive stance, with increasing calls for an invasion of China. The only thing preventing this thus far has been concerns among the Kwangtung Army officers over Soviet aggression. While frequent border skirmishes on both borders continue, and rebels continue to resist Japanese puppets in Manchukuo, the empire stands poised to act. Emboldened, the Prime Minister passed legislation in 1937 greatly expanding the defense budget, putting Japan towards a wartime stance. As Chinese aid continues to flow to rebels in Manchukuo, the empire's patience wears thin, and risks all out war.

Don't remove, helps me find this later: APPLICATION!

[Upper Magica]

Sovereign Factbook

Empire of Japan / Dai Nippon Teikoku

Flag:

(Image)

Sovereign Territory plus territorial claims, if any:
Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Sakhalin
Influence over the Empire of Manchukuo and Mengjiang

People and Society

Population: 77,114,308
Ethnic groups: Japanese, Ainu, Korean, Chinese
Languages: Japanese (official)
Religions: Shinto and Buddhism
Population growth rate: 5.6%

Government and Politics

Government Type: Unitary parliamentary semi-constitutional monarchy under a totalitarian military dictatorship
Capital City: Tokyo
Head of State: Emperor Hirohito
Head of Government: Prime Minister Fumimaro Konoe
Legislature: Imperial Diet
Other Legislative Bodies: House of Representatives and the House of Peers
Ruling Party: Rikken Seiyūkai, Shakai Taishūtō, Shōwakai, Kokumin Dōmei, and others (Coalition)
Other Political Parties: Rikken Minseitō, Tōhōkai, and others

Economics

Nominal GDP: $18.23 Billion
GDP per capita: $236.40
Economic system: State Capitalism
Agricultural products: Rice, fruits, fish, and livestock.
Industries: Naval construction, silk, coal, paper, fishing, chemicals, metal and machinery, lumber, and arms.
Major trade partners: United States, United Kingdom, Manchukuo, Mengjiang, British India, and the Dutch Indies.
Imported commodities: Cotton, wool, iron, petroleum, machinery, soybeans, and wheat
Exported commodities: Wool articles, raw silk, rayon, machinery, iron, and ships
Exchange Rate: Yen per US dollar: 3.6

Issues & Foreign Relations

Domestic Issues:
The Rise of Nationalism - Since the formation of Meiji government, nationalism and fascism have surged in Japan, leading to a number of domestic issues. Political repression of left-wing dissident has squashed the opposition, with the rise of the Tokko, also known as the Thought Police, and the Kenpeitai. Radicals call for war, demanding expansion into China and for war with either the Soviets or the United States. Military commanders regularly exercise insubordination, going against Tokyo's wishes and launching operations in China without Tokyo's prior knowledge.

Many of the political elite fear conflict with China, Russia, or the West at the hands of the nationalists.

Political Deadlock - Despite the lack of left-wing opposition, the two main political parties clash for control, offering differing opinions on how to go about Japanese domination of Asia. This deadlock has brought down governments, as the Toseiha and Kōdōha military factions battle for influence. While the Toseiha has taken the lead as notable Kōdōha advocates retire, the government remains bitterly divided.

While there is some hope for the new government, it faces an uphill battle in the political arena.

Transnational Issues:
Asia for Asians - As Japanese nationalism surges, propagandists push under an idealized Asia for Asians slogan, advocating for Japan to lead Asia in pushing out the West. Such sentiment risks conflict with Western powers, and alienating traditional allies such as Britain.

The Northern Menace - With Soviet claims over Manchuria, and the increasing rate of border skirmishes, the situation is tense in the north. Now the government faces a predicament of managing deterrence with the Soviets, while pursing its China agenda.

Imperial Way - With nationalists increasingly calling for war, and skirmishes frequent, the risk for war in China has never been greater. While politicians weigh their options in Tokyo, local commanders operate with a degree of independence, calling for Japan to launch an invasion.

Under pressure from the regime in Mengjiang, it is said Japan has already begun to formulate plans for an eventual operation in China, and has begun to prepare strong reprisals against Chinese-backed rebels.

Import Reliant - For most basic industrial goods, and even food, Japan is reliant on its colonies and the international community. As Japan expands, it risks sanction from the West, potentially driving it towards drastic action.

Treaties: Signatory of the Hague Treaties and semi-observer of the Paris Naval Treaty
International Organization membership: League of Nations

Public Goals: Protect Asian sovereignty, maintain military power, increase global influence, align with European powers, and avoid economic downturn.
Secret Goals: Occupy China, decisively deter Russian expansion, seize territory in the south, and establish Japanese domination of Asia.

Military

Military Branches: Imperial Japanese Army and Imperial Japanese Navy

Military Expenditure: 8% of GDP
Personnel Strength(active service): 1,540,000
Personnel Strength(in reserve): 1,760,000
Total Personnel: 3,300,000
Overseas Deployments:
Kwangtung Army (Manchukuo): 237,240
Japanese North China Area Army (Manchukuo, Tianjin Concession): 336,090
Shanghai Expeditionary Army and Shanghai SNLF (Shanghai Concession): 2,000
Hankou SNLF (Hankou Concession): 300

Army:
The Imperial Japanese Army currently consists of 820,000 active and 1,600,000 reserve personnel in 34 active and 70 reserve divisions, with additional independent brigades. Following conflicts in China and skirmishes along the Soviet border, a large bulk of the Imperial Army is already deployed in mainland Asia, with 17 divisions currently deployed on the border with China, and 12 divisions stationed along border hotspots with the Soviets in the north. 2 divisions are deployed in Korea, and 3 divisions are deployed in Japan, including the elite Imperial Guards Division.

Soldiers of the Imperial Army are known for their fanatical devotion to the Emperor, and represent one of the most highly trained and best equipped militaries in Asia. Armored vehicles of the Imperial Army includes 404 Medium Tanks, 300 Light Tanks,167 Cavalry Tanks, 830 Tankettes, and 1,835 Armored Cars.

Navy:
The Imperial Japanese Navy consists of 720,000 active and 160,000 reserve personnel. The Imperial Navy is the most powerful branch of Japan's military, capable of projecting power around the Pacific. The Imperial Navy specializes in night fighting, and is one of the best trained and disciplined forces world-wide. The Imperial Navy adheres to the Kantai Kessen naval doctrine, relying on a decisive naval battle to win any war.

The lack of strict adherence to any naval limitation treaty has seen the advancement of Japan's battleships to ridiculous proportions, only limited in the early 30s in favor of the Army's budget. Among these powerful beasts are the Amagi Class, the Kii Class, and the Taihoku Class (Number 13 Class). The Imperial Navy currently maintains:

18 Battleships
10 Battlecruisers
9 Coastal Defense Ships
3 Aircraft Carriers
2 Light Aircraft Carriers
2 Seaplane Tenders
7 Armored Cruisers
16 Heavy Cruisers
18 Light Cruisers
3 Protected Cruisers
109 Destroyers
12 Torpedo Boats
40 Submarines
18 Minesweepers
2 Minelayers
16 River Gunboats

The Imperial Navy also maintains its own marine unit, known as the Special Naval Landing Forces, or SNLF for short. The Kure SNLF operates 6 units, the Maizuru SNLF operates 5 units, the Sasebo SNLF operates 8 units, and the Yokosuka SNLF operates 8 units as well. Each of these units is composed of 3,000 marines, with special guard units such as the Shanghai SNLF and Hankou SNLF operating only 2,000 and 300 marines respectively.

These elite troops are the backbone of naval invasion forces, and are known as one of the most elite units in all of Japan.

Air Force:
There is no independent air force in Japan, rather being composed of the separate Imperial Army Air Service and the Imperial Navy Air Service. The Imperial Army Air Service's primary task is tactical ground support with limited interception capabilities, while the Imperial Navy Air Service is tasked with national air defense, deep strike, and naval warfare.

The Imperial Army Air Service consists of:
311 Heavy Bombers (6 x Mitsubishi Ki-20; 187 x Mitsubishi K-2; and 118 Mitsubishi K-1)
243 Light Bombers (243 x Kawasaki Ki-3)
1,261 Fighters (673 x Nakajima Ki-27 and 588 Kawasaki Ki-10)
2,304 Reconnaissance Aircraft (437 x Mitsubishi Ki-15; 516 x Nakajima Ki-4; 234 x Mitsubishi 2MR8; 1,117 Kawasaki Type 88)
42 Transport Aircraft(19 x Nakajima Ki-34; 20 x Nakajima Ki-6; 3 x Tachikawa KKY)

The Imperial Navy Air Service consists of:
1,027 Attack Bombers (1,027 x Mitsubishi G3M)
786 Light Bombers (125 x Mitsubishi B5M; 250 Nakajima B5N; 205 Yokosuka B4Y; and Mitsubishi B2M)
129 Flying Boats (47 x Hiro H4H; 17 x Hiro H2H; and 65 x Hiro H1H)
1,167 Fighters (780 x Mitsubishi A5M; 221 x Nakajima A4N; and 166 Nakajima A2N)
1,441 Reconnaissance Aircraft (755 x Nakajima E8N; 533 x Kawanishi E7K; and 153 x Nakajima E4N)
625 Transports (625 x Mitsubishi K3M)

History

Following the Meiji Revolution, rapid Japanese modernization and industrialization saw the expansion of the Japanese Empire, culminating in a stunning victory over China in the First Sino-Japanese War in 1895. As Japan sought to gain power in the region, it would join the Anglo-Japanese Alliance in 1902, cementing a partnership with the British Empire in the aim of curtailing Russian influence in Asia. Following yet another victory in the Russo-Japanese War would be a time of relative peace in Japan. Under Emperor Meiji, a series of reforms would continue to occur, rapidly transitioning Japan towards an industrial economy. As the government and businesses adopted Western technology and ideas, Japan would undergo further cultural and educational reform, with the Emperor personally supporting increasing literacy rates.

By the end of the decade, when Japan officially annexed Korea, Japanese zaibatsu were on the rise, and mass urbanization was occurring around the country. However this industrial change was not perfect. Experiencing similar problems as Western nations many years before, industrialization saw poor working conditions, increasing socialism and left-wing dissident. An assassination attempt on the Emperor would result in the creation of the Tokko Secret Police, utilized to brutally crack down on dissident. As a result, by 1911 the government would adopt legislation setting a maximum number of working hours, laws on working conditions, and age limits.

Following the Emperor's passing in 1912, he was replaced by his eldest son, Emperor Taishō. The following years would be filled with political crisis, as Japan struggled against mass democratic protests organized by political parties. The Seiyūkai and Minseitō parties came to rule the period, creating a stalemate in government. While economic and military power continued to grow, a struggle persisted over who would wield it. Due to the ailing condition of his father, Crown Prince Hirohito would be appointed regent in 1921, effectively becoming the ruler of Japan. By 1923, due to diverging interests for the future of Asia, the Anglo-Japanese alliance would be allowed to lapse, however Japan would continue good relations with Britain. While military factions continued their struggle for control, Japan would expand democracy with the passing of legislation in 1925 legalizing universal male suffrage. The same year the Peace Preservation Law would go into effect, granting the Tokko and regular Japanese police the free ability to suppress dissident. The period would see some of the greatest literary developments to date in Japanese culture, as many learned to read and book prices dropped. The same year, the government would pass legislation making public education from ages 6 to 12 mandatory, with exceptions granted for families operating farming and fishing businesses.

1926 would see the passing of Emperor Taishō, and in his place his son Hirohito would become the emperor. Fascism and nationalism would grow rapidly in popularity, especially among military circles. With the outbreak of war in Europe in 1927, Japan would initially declare neutrality, but later the same year would send Japanese military attaches to Austria-Hungary with the hopes of learning lessons from the modern war. In a bid to gain German favor, in light of tensions with the Soviet Union and the end of the alliance with Britain, Japan would offer economic aid to Austria-Hungary during the conflict. At the Paris Navy Conference, Japan would act as an observer, unofficially committing to several naval limitations. While not implemented in practice, the Navy would take several measures of cancelling ships or converting them to carriers in effort to gain favor of the West and avoid being seen as a threat.

Seizing on the instability in Europe, in 1931 nationalist Kwangtung Army officers would initiate the Mukden Incident, leading to the Japanese invasion of Manchuria. Despite initially being furious over the insubordination, Tokyo would ultimately be surprised with the successes and support the move. In the following months, a new government would be set up under Puyi as the Emperor of Manchukuo, with the Kwangtung Army taking control over this vast territory. Prime Minister Tsuyoshi Inukai would attempt to rein in the military, leading to his assassination in 1932 by right-wing militarists. Due to increasing opposition in the military and right against political parties, the military would effectively take control of government following 1932, with Admiral Makoto Saitō from the Navy being selected as Prime Minister. Despite opposition from the right-wing, in 1932 Japan would join the League of Nations, able to avoid much of the international criticism from the invasion of Manchuria due to the distraction from the wars in Europe.

Military control in Japan would be cemented after a failed attempt at a military coup in 1936, resulting in the assassination of a large number of moderate politicians. With Prime Minister Fumimaro Konoe taking control of government in 1937, Japanese expansionists would pursue a more aggressive stance, with increasing calls for an invasion of China. The only thing preventing this thus far has been concerns among the Kwangtung Army officers over Soviet aggression. While frequent border skirmishes on both borders continue, and rebels continue to resist Japanese puppets in Manchukuo, the empire stands poised to act. Emboldened, the Prime Minister passed legislation in 1937 greatly expanding the defense budget, putting Japan towards a wartime stance. As Chinese aid continues to flow to rebels in Manchukuo, the empire's patience wears thin, and risks all out war.

Don't remove, helps me find this later: APPLICATION!

Accepted!

[Sao Nova Europa]

Will be making a post later today.

[Orostan]

If the USSR keeps posting cringe I might put Mao into power later and show them how it's done.

Will be making a post later today.

Did you get my telegram? Whatever money you lose by ending the sale of metal to Japan can be regained by selling weapons and farming equipment to China.

[American Pere Housh]

I will try to get my app up as soon as possible.

[Cybernetic Socialist Republics]

If the USSR keeps posting cringe I might put Mao into power later and show them how it's done.

the cringe is the baby-brained parody of Marxism-leninism that some how revolves around giving you everything you want for nothing that you want me to play in a fundamentally different timeline.