A War of Blood and Steel [Althis|PT|IC|Ended]

by **Remnants of Exilvania** » Sat Oct 02, 2021 11:34 am

A War of Blood and Steel

IC Thread

[url]ANNOUNCEMENTS[/url]

OOC - MAP - [url]DISCORD[/url]

“This war is a new kind of war. It is warfare in terms of every continent, every island, every sea, every air lane in the world.”

–Franklin D. Roosevelt, February 23rd 1942

Hello and welcome to A War of Blood and Steel, your very average WW2 era nation RP. Well, not quite considering that we're playing with some alternate history and alternate nations here. Either way, let's introduce you all to the setting. It's 1937 and the world's still reeling from the aftereffects of the Great War. Borders have been redrawn, ethnicities displaced, extremist ideologies fanned, independences declared and economies crashed. Now the defeated and the betrayed of the last war rear their heads again, beating the drums of war as they prepare to unleash the ever vaster arsenal of modern weapons they have accrued.

Are you one of the defeated, seeking to reclaim what you have lost? One of the betrayed seeking to right a wrong? An opportunist seeing their time to shine? A neutral hoping to survive the coming mess unscathed? Or a victor hoping to maintain the status quo you have fought for so much? Only you can tell and only you can succeed...or fail.

Roleplay Rules

1. The OP is the god of this roleplay. Their word is law.
2. The Co-OP is a saint. In the absence of the OP, heed his word. Also, no bulli because he really is a saint.
3. All NS Rules apply.
4. No OOC writing in the IC.
5. No godmodding.
6. No metagaming.
7. No flaming.
8. No trolling.
9. No harassment.
10. 1 nation per player.
11. This is alternate history. It is up to you whether you are mostly IRL 1937 Sweden, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania or the Hungarian Soviet Republic. Anything goes. Except fully original nations/concepts like, oh, say, Exilvania.
12. As alternate as the history is, a Great War still happened in the 1910s. It may have lasted for different lengths of time in different parts of the world but it happened. Incorporate it into your nations’ histories. Note, we can't all be winners in this or white peacing losers.
13. We’re still having the late 20s/early 30s economic crisis and accompanying social and political upheaval.

Tech Rules

1. In order to avoid cherrypicking, each nation may only pick one "tech tree" of one IRL nation. You are free to cherrypick as much as you'd like from among that nation's designs but you are stuck with their overall design philosophy. This is to ensure that not everyone ends up fielding the same equipment on the battlefield but also to ensure that people don't need to create extremely detailed lists of domestic equipment and one can, if one so wishes, simply defer to what the nation developed IRL.
2. Because I am aware that like any alt-his RP there will be plenty of nations with much more developed industrial bases and the like than IRL, prototypes are open game, including paper prototypes. Yes, you can bring in wacky World of Tanks things.
3. Because I am aware that likely plenty of nations will be so much more industrialized than whatever IRL tech trees they choose, IRL introduction dates for technology need not necessarily apply. Of course this doesn't mean that you should be bringing Maus tanks into 1937. Rather I'd like you to look at your nation's capabilities and then your nation's neighbours and as such the need for such advanced technologies. I am sure you do not require Panthers if you are surrounded by naught but African tribesmen that still use spears in certain cases.
4. I am aware that there is plenty of co-developed or license-produced equipment IRL that blossomed into equipment later attributed to those producing nations. In the interest of broadening tech trees since, to reiterate, I am quite certain there will be more people with plenty more advanced industries in dire need of domestic designs, these designs will simply become...well...domestic designs of those nations.
5. If you'd like to produce something another nation has, I implore you to ask them OOCly or ICly if you are allowed to license produce it. In rare cases I'd be willing to, if both players agree, move a domestic design from one nation to the other in terms of who came up with it.
6. You may produce or have Great War Era equipment of other nations without asking. This is not a domestic invention of yours but much rather signifies equipment captured, purchased or license produced plenty of time ago. Don’t take this as your excuse to go “every third man a Maxim” or something like that. Keep it realistic.
7. Each IRL nation's tech tree can exist up to two times in this setting. Yes, this will hurt your suspension of disbelief but I am certain enough that it hurts suspension of disbelief just as much when near everyone's undoubtedly large, industrialized and scientifically advanced nation is incapable of funding an R/D department capable of granting you your vision of how your nation's very own extensive arms development goes. And since in an althis setting there are probably more than the 5-7 large nations capable of doing so IRL, it's for the best if we double the number and just do our best to ignore the fact that these independently developed arms just so happen to look and work the same.

by **Sao Nova Europa** » Tue Oct 05, 2021 9:13 am

'Build!' Metaxas Proclaims Infrastructure Modernization

Prime Minister Ioannis Metaxas has announced that his government will focus on infrastructure modernization to drive economic growth. The government, over the next five years, will spend ₯45bn in a variety of projects including: land drainage and irrigation projects meant to substantially increase agricultural output, an expansion of the railway network to speed up commercial travel, the construction of three new commercial airports, and the modernization of telecommunications infrastructure.

"This economic program of ours," Metaxas proclaimed before a joint session of Parliament, "will rejuvenate the Roman Empire. Just like our glorious ancestors constructed the most extensive road network of Europe, we too shall now build extensively. All our population centers will be connected and travel will be a matter of hours rather than days. Our farmers will be able to produce greater quantities of food, to feed our people and export our products abroad. The new commercial airports shall facilitate tourism and contribute greatly to our national income, allowing us to put behind once and for all the slowdown of the global economic crisis. Modernizing our telecommunications infrastructure will ensure that the Roman Empire is not left behind and shall foster innovation. Building those projects will require thousands of working hands, thus creating many, well-paying jobs for Roman workers. While past administrations were content to allow high unemployment, we are putting the Roman people back to work!"

The opposition has blasted program, but with different reasonings. The conservative People's Party, through their spokesman in Vouli, criticized the cost saying that it will add up debt "which future generations of Romans will have to pay up". Many in the People's Party have also expressed their belief that the program will force the government to raise taxation on the middle class. The liberal Modernist Party, on the other hand, has stated through their spokesman that they are in support of the overall direction of the program, but that they disagree with the way it is handled; "instead of the government undertaking those infrastructure projects by itself, it would be better if the government instead offered tax breaks to private corporations to encourage them to undertake those projects or if they at least favored a public-private partnership approach."

The spokesman of Metaxas' National Rally rejected those criticisms. "Those projects will drive economic growth," he stated, "and as a result of that growth, any debt accumulated will be a fraction of our GDP. What matters is not the debt as a number, but as a percentage of our national wealth; by expanding our national wealth, debt will be reduced as a percentage. We have also repeatedly stated that any tax hikes will concern solely the richest groups of society. The National Rally is the party of the workers and the middle class. We are the party of the common people, and not of the elites, so any such accusations are unfound. As for the Modernists' criticism, we are regretful that they have so little faith in the power of the nation. A national government - backed by the willpower of the Roman nation - can accomplish greater things than any private corporation."

Conservative - Liberal Electoral Alliance

As the upcoming election for 100 (of the 150) Senatorial seats approaches, the conservative People's Party and the liberal Modernist Party have put aside their differences and past rivalry to form an electoral alliance to face the nationalist-populist National Rally. 50 of the Senate seats are elected with a First-Past-the-Post system, with two Senators representing each Thema. A split of the opposition vote would thus allow the National Rally to prevail in those elections, hence why the two opposition parties have decided to work together. The other 50 Senators are elected proportionally on a party-list, based on the overall national percentage of the parties. The People's Party and the Modernist Party will have the same number of candidates on their common party-list.

The electoral alliance has officially been named United Front. Heading the electoral campaign, and being at the top of the common party-list, will be Georgios Konydlis. A popular general of the Great War, Kondylis saw action in the Caucasus where he and his troops won acclamation and glory for their victories. Kondylis is considered ideal for his position; he fought under a Modernist administration in the Great War and he is a cousin of a prominent People's Party politician. As such, he has supporters on both sides of this electoral alliance.

The United Front is expected to focus on the need to protect Roman democracy and on curtailing a 'radical administration'. Prominent politicians of the opposition have accused Prime Minister Ioannis Metaxas of harboring radical, anti-democratic elements in his party. On the other hand, the National Rally is expected to run a campaign which will highlight the contrast between the two 'old and corrupt' parties and the 'new and efficient' National Rally. Giving a taste of what is to come, Metaxas himself stated in a press conference: "voters will have to decide; do they want to bring back the old, corrupt parties that humiliated and mutilated our Empire, that led us to defeat and almost bankrupted us? Or do they want to continue down the path of national rejuvenation and restoration of imperial glory?"

by **Hanovereich** » Tue Oct 05, 2021 9:54 am

The Royal Palace of Brussels had been extensively renovated by Leopold II for decades. It was now the official palace of the King, where he would do his official work. It was a grand, neoclassical palace, in the very centre of Brussels, with many important and grandly-titled officials coming in and out daily. If somebody would stand outside the Palace all day on this day, they would find military officers (recognisable in olive green uniforms) entering the building from late morning to midday.

Inside, Leopold II of Belgium marched up and down his meeting room. In front of him was the Chief of Defence, Thierry Deboeck, who was watching the King anxiously. Behind him were 5 other officers- 3 from the Army, 2 from the Navy.

Leopold looked up.

"So, give me the briefing."

After an exchange of files, the King sat down and scanned the file. Then he looked at Deboeck.

"In short, this independence movement- the Alliance Congolaise- has some 600 members in its first year, has captured 22 Minerva armoured cars, and is gaining support near the port, where our valuable rubber exports are being threatened."

The Chief of Defence could only nod.

"We have plans being put into action as we speak." he said hastily. "300 soldiers of the 5th Infantry Division will board specially requisitioned ships in Antwerp and sail into Boma in a few weeks, where they plan to, under the command of Major Auguste Colpin, recapture the cargo ships carrying rubber that have been intimidated into staying in port. They will then march into Leopoldville, where they will reinforce the Force Publique."

Leopold II looked to each of the officers, silently asking for anything to add, but they all kept quiet. Finally he sent them away and sent a handwritten note to the Army Headquarters, in French: "I want the Alliance Congolaise to be removed from history in six months.

To Prime Minister Jaques de Kadt, of the Kingdom of the Netherlands,

Greetings!

I am Paul-Henri Spaak, Prime Minister of Belgium. I seek to further relations between our two nations, with a long shared history together.

I propose a military defence agreement, where Belgium will seek to purchase, either equipment, or the licenses to produce the equipment. We would like the following:

To purchase 2 Holland-class cruisers and one Java-class cruiser.
To have licensing rights to produce the Fokker C.V.

We look forward to further correspondence with you.

Signed,
Prime Minister Paul-Henri Spakk

by **Wansul** » Tue Oct 05, 2021 3:19 pm

President Agustín Justo looked out from an open balcony in the Casa Rosada. He drummed his fingers as he stared down the crowd in the plaza before him. Even in the summer heat, they marched together and protested in the Plaza de Mayo. Trade unions and fascists, and even a few social liberals joined together in demanding he step down. “Dictador!” he heard some shout, as if their new leader Perón wasn’t preparing to seize power the same way Agustín had. The same one who helped him take power now schemed to take it away. He turned away as an aide approached. “Presidente, Lamas has arrived. He is waiting in your office”, the aide said, bowing slightly.

His minister of Foreign Affairs, Carlos Lamas, had greatly aided in making and passing the Roca-Runciman Treaty that had helped Argentina so much. Now, as the rabble of the opposition united against it, he was the man who might be able to change it enough to keep Argetines happy. His idea, one that could win a few more trade concessions at the cost of a few railways switching ownership, would quiet the labour unions from their threats of strikes and get them back into mines and factories. Agustín Justo sighed, knowing the travel and talk between Buenos Aires and London would take weeks, if not months, to finalize. But, if it could keep Perón’s strength from growing, then it was worth it.

In the Plaza de Mayo

Outside the Casa Rosada, where the President and administration did their work of betraying the Argentine people, at least in the minds of the current protest’s organizers and speakers- Pedro Ramírez and Juan Bramuglia talked politely. Ramírez was a prominent far-right organizer, who had formed some of Argentina’s finest nationalist paramilitary units throughout the country. Bramuglia was one of Argentine labour’s most vocal legal defenders. Despite the wide political gulf between them, both men had attached themselves to Perón’s stardom, and like the cars of a train were pulled away towards new stops on their way to the top stations of Argentine politics, with both being promised ministries by Perón.

The crowd was milling around right now, earlier chants having died out. The purpose wasn’t to sing or say any one thing, but to stand united in front of President Agustín Justo. A bill was about to be proposed in the Senate by a Perónist ally, aiming to take back control of railways from foreign owners and put them into the hands of the workers, two clauses that guaranteed its defeat. To support it, both men had been assigned to rally their nationalist and labour supporters for a week to occupy the Plaza de Mayo. Many others joined them, and many sympathetic Argentines gave water and food to the protesters. The two men, despite their broad ideological differences, were united by Perón, as was the crowd. Slowly, a sound picked up, and swept through the crowd. “Perón, Perón, Perón, Perón,” was chanted by the square. Ramírez and Bramuglia broke off their conversation as it reached a crescendo, the obsessively-shouted name sure to shake the pink bricks of the Casa Rosada.

by **Wansul** » Tue Oct 05, 2021 6:11 pm

La Nación
Lamas Dispatched To London To Renegotiate Treaty
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced at a recent press conference that it would be undergoing efforts to renegotiate parts of the recent Roca-Runciman Treaty- not, as Peronist agitators have demanded, to repeal it, but to strengthen parts of it that have been seen to not be ideal for Argentina's economy. Already, Foreign Minister Carlos Lamas' steamer is heading to London, to continue President Agustín Justo's fight for Argentine economic sovereignty and growth against the Perónist calls for isolation. The Foreign Ministry has stated that "This event was already prepared for and noted down, in the case of needing to revise any sections of the Treaty and is not due to any extremist activity and attempts to disrupt political administration and economic activity. Foreign Minister Lamas' talks are expected to be quick, and to smooth details of some clauses have not seen perfect implementation. The nation expects his soon return and in the meantime prosperity under the prevailing structure of this great Treaty and accomplishment of our President.

Agustín Justo finished skimming over the rest of the article, before giving a small nod. An aide whisked it away, the President's approval of it ensuring it would be allowed to be on the front pages tomorrow. The headaches were starting to roll in, from the cheers and jeers of the crowd, feeling triumphant that they had forced his hand. He did not want any newspaper to parrot those Perónist talking points, which could only embolden them to obstruct everyday life for Argentines. But, a small change to the Treaty could satisfy the unions enough to go home and stop threatening strikes. Nationalists might decry it as selling out to foreign nations, but enough of Argentina's rail was owned by foreign companies already that it shouldn't change much. And if the Perónist coalition, that chimera, could be split up, then he would fall into obscurity. And eventually, into the gutters of Buenos Aires where so many ambitious would-be Presidents also laid. The thought made him smile.

The day before, a telegram had been sent to the north and across the Atlantic, for the Argentine Ambassador in London. It instructed him to contact the British Foreign Ministry and request Walter Runciman attend a renegotiation of the Roca-Runciman Treaty, to refine several specific clauses. The ambassador is told, in secret, that all that will be asked for is a removal of the coal clauses, allowing Argentina to buy coal from other countries and levy its own duties, which are promised to be minor for Britain and higher for other countries. In return, British companies would be granted ownership of several state-owned railways that go west to east, carrying some of the same coal the earlier rules kept unmined and other mineral wealth. The telegram stresses that this should not harm Britain's profit from Argentina, and will set it up for long term growth as the mining industry grows, which will give their new railways more use.

Once Foreign Minister Lamas arrives, it is hoped that the talks go quick between Argentina and Britain(The Traansval). It is mentioned that the talks are more performative than anything, and the handover of the railways should be done quietly and without mentioning in the public side of the talks. The ambassador and Foreign Minister await the British response.

by **The Orson Empire** » Tue Oct 05, 2021 9:57 pm

United Kingdom of Egypt and Sudan

Al-Waqa'i' al-Misriyya (The Egyptian Affairs)- Top Headlines

Malik In Recovery From Surgery

CAIRO. Malik Faud I's operation was performed successfully at the Cairo Citadel by staff of the Citadel Medical Unit and doctors assigned from the esteemed Cairo University Hospital, as reported by the Royal Household Agency.

Malik Faud I, 62, underwent an emergency appendectomy after being hospitalized for acute appendicitis days prior, and is currently awake and responsive as reported by his wife, Queen Consort Nazli Sabri. Various other members of the royal family also expressed relief and joy after the operation was completed.

Upon the Malik's hospitalization, Crown Prince Ismail was declared Regent by the RHA with the consent of Parliament and the Prime Minister, granted full authority to rule in his father's name for a period of one month while the Malik rests and recuperates. The Crown Prince has asked the public to pray for a speedy recovery.

There was a significant outpouring of support and sympathy from across the realm, with Imans organizing their congregations in prayer sessions for the Malik and thousands of letters being delivered to the RHA, which has returned letters of gratitude in response. Radio and television broadcasts temporarily ceased their normal schedules to discuss the situation and wish the Malik well, while politicians from across the political spectrum offered prayers or support. Malik Faud has remained highly popular throughout much of his reign, having successfully led the United Kingdom to victory alongside the Entente in the Great War. Even with the ongoing economic depression, Egyptians remain hopeful that the Malik and Parliament can guide the realm in the correct direction.

Salih Sentenced To Death

KHARTOUM. Yaser Salih has been sentenced to death by hanging at the High Court of Sudan in Khartoum.

Salih was the perpetrator of the 1936 Khartoum Stock Exchange bombing, one of the most savage acts of terrorism carried out in the kingdom's history. Salih was a disgruntled worker who had been terminated from his employment at a steel mill in 1933, during the height of the economic depression. He ultimately turned to extremism, joining the Communist Party of Sudan, advocating for a revolution among the working class and the death of Egyptian capitalism. He considered the stock exchange as the most prominent symbol of "bourgeoisie domination" and believed that destroying the building would be the signal needed to cause workers all across Sudan to rise up.

On 9 March 1936, Silah stashed multiple suitcases of dynamite in an alleyway next to the stock exchange and fled the scene. The following explosion ultimately gutted the building, killing 54 people and injuring 160. After a lengthy investigation, Silah was apprehended by Sudanese police and held on charges of murder, terrorism, and possession of illegal weaponry. He was ultimately found guilty, with the execution date to be scheduled in five weeks. The verdict has been widely applauded by the general public, with the survivors of the bombing and family members of the deceased believing that proper justice was served.

The fallout of the bombing led the Sudanese Parliament to ban the Communist Party of Sudan, while dozens of members were arrested on suspicion of being involved with bombing, such as through planning or procuring the explosives. Others remain under surveillance and investigation by the Internal Security Agency for any ties with foreign nations, such as the Soviet Union or Germany. While rightful despised by many people in the United Kingdom, the scourge of communism continues to gain support throughout the realm, especially as the depression lingers on and workers become increasingly exasperated.

Reserves to Increase By 224,000
CAIRO. In Parliament, the anticipated Act for Total Defense has passed by an overwhelming majority of 246-59 in the Commons and 33-9 in the Senate. The Act will create 19 new divisions in the Royal Egyptian Guard, which serves as the reserves for the Royal Egyptian Army. Utilizing the national conscription system, which all men between 18 and 40 must register for, 224,000 new recruits will receive conscription notices in the mail, and be required to report for service at their designated army base. Women will also be eligible to join select units. Failure to comply could result in arrest, with a prison sentence of up to 30 years and a fine of 100 pounds. Over the course of four years, the Act is expected to increase Royal Egyptian Military's total strength to over 800,000 personnel by 1941. In addition to additional recruits, the Act appropriates funds to purchase 400 new tanks and armored vehicles, 500 new aircraft, tens of thousands of rifles, artillery, explosives, and millions of rounds of additional ammunition.

The Act was primarily opposed by the Socialist Party, who prefers a doctrine of pacifism on the international arena, seeing the further expansion of the military as a sign of aggression and a waste of funds during an economic depression. The conservative-nationalist Wafd Party and Liberal Democrats were largely in support, due to the threat posed by Fascist Italy and the Roman Empire.

The goals of Benito Mussolini in creating a Mediterranean empire "present an existential threat towards the United Kingdom," Prime Minister El-Nahas said in a speech justifying the Act. He proclaimed that Egypt would "fight to the last man, woman, and child" in the event of any invasion, and that the government would take all actions necessary to secure Egyptian sovereignty, no matter how extreme. This had sent a stark warning to Il Duce, who should not expect a swift an easy campaign should he make a move.

Meanwhile, an extra 10,000 troops are expected to be deployed in Northern Palestine and on the Ghassanid border, bolstering the 40,000 personnel already present in the region. The existing of the Ghassanids has long been seen as a threat to Egyptian interests, and the Parliament of North Palestine has continuously lobbied for the United Kingdom to conduct further security operations to maintain the peace. Continuous concerns of a possible alliance between the Ghassanids and Rome mean that the Egyptian General Staff is always monitoring the region, as conflict could erupt at any moment.

by **The Cascade and Saint Islands** » Wed Oct 06, 2021 8:14 am

In the Attitude of Peace and Co-operation, I, king Jabalah VIII ibn Al-Chemor of the Second Ghassanid Kingdom, invite Prime Minister Mostafa El-Nahas of Egypt and Sudan to come to Ramallah to formally Discuss the terms of the Ghassanid Kingdom becoming an Egyptian protectorate. However, this, invitation is only extended on the condition, that the Kingdom of Egypt and Sudan cease threatening the Second Ghassanid Kingdom with war. The people of the Second Ghassanid Kingdom believe that threatening us with war conflicts with the Peace that we both seek. The Second Ghassanid Kingdom also requests that the Kingdom of Egypt and Sudan stop antagonizing us among its own populace, whether it be by newspaper or by radio or any other means, for it will make both of our Populaces less open to Co-operation.

In the Name of Peace and Co-operation, the Second Ghassanid Kingdom will welcome the Prime Minister of Egypt and Sudan with open arms. We sincerely hope that we can reach an Agreement.

by **Countesia** » Wed Oct 06, 2021 1:13 pm

Republic of Hungary
Budapest
Hungarian Parliamentary Building

Prime Minister Péter Nándor stood at the window of his office which gave him a unfettered view of the Danube. Several barges passed peacefully beneath, carrying shipments of coal and ores from what he assumed were likely from the mines in Slovakia. A small testament to the hopeful, albeit slow, industrial recovery of his nation since its split from is sister kingdom of Austria. Outside of a few scattered pockets of militias in the more rural parts of the region, was little resistance to the industrial revitalisation in the area, largely thanks to the efforts of the Honvéd and its loyalist allies in the region.

There was a knock at the door behind him which shook him out of his brief daydream. Péter quickly took his seat and took a moment to himself look occupied. After a few seconds he replied with a simple "Enter." and the door opened to allow his Minister of foreign affairs, Kozma Zoltán, to enter.

"I've finished the final drafts all of the letters you wished me to send to our neighbours, Sir. With your approval I will dispatch the couriers." Zoltán spoke politely.

"Take a seat, friend. I'll go over them now" Péter said as he motioned for his minister to sit. "Pour yourself something to drink whilst I read here"

After a few minutes going over the two letters he had ordered to be written, he nodded in approval as each one was acceptable. Zoltán had poured himself Pálinka and fumbled with the glass in the silence.

"This is more than sufficient. Have them delivered to our embassies for our diplomats to present them personally as gesture of solidarity. With any luck we'll strengthen our position in this region."

Zoltán thanked the Prime Minister, finished his drink and gathered up his papers to have them finalised and sealed.

(OOC: Even if the Italy player hasn't been accepted yet, these letters still stand.)

by **Monsone** » Wed Oct 06, 2021 2:17 pm

Netherlands, The Hague, Binnenhof

Sitting in a negotiation room at the Binnenhof in the Hague, Prime Minister de Kardt read over the letter that had recently arrived from Brussels in the company of the Minister of Defence. The Trêveszaal was a well-appointed room with elegant decorations dating back to the era of Stadtholders and it was a perfect venue for discussing treaties and relations with foreign delegations, or merely holding a meeting to discuss the recent letter that had arrived from Brussels.

"Surely, the cannot be serious?" Jaques de Kardt asked his Minister of Defence -- Adriaan Dijxhoorn -- who merely shook his head in silence.

"The Holland-class can be done, albeit it would require the procurement of a new training vessel. As for the Java-class; we don't have any to spare. And I am fairly certain the original blueprints are not easily accessible considering the modernization program. Even then, I still do not understand why the Belgians would not request the procurement of a De Ruyter-class cruiser." Was Dijxhoorn's reply as he exasperatedly glanced at the letter.

"Regardless, what do we tell them? Our shipyards will not have the spare capacity within the next few months to build any foreign orders. And we don't control Fokker or Tony Fokker. Not that I particularly care who he sells to as long as he clears the sale by us first. No. I am quite befuddled by the Belgian request, especially considering the tensions we have had with them; not to mention our shared history not exactly being one of amicable relations. And, we will need something in return from the Belgians. Arguably medium anti-aircraft guns are what the KLu and ML-KNIL need. I doubt the Belgian would be willing to give up their supply of said weapons for two pre-dreadnought cruisers that haven't seen proper service since the 1920s." De Kardt analyzed the situation at hand while thinking out loud; Dixjhoorn merely observed him.

"Quite right." The Minister of Defence chimed in. "Especially as well are due for a large destroyer order, partly per the navy's desires and partly because of the situation in the Far East which demand new ships that are more capable than the Admiralens. That said, we should not neglect the army, which does mean we must procure proper anti-tank weaponry to deal with the threat of tanks, and to arm the armored cars DAF has been contracted to make."

"Right, right. You know that General Reijnders keeps pestering me about that, and he is absolutely right. As important as aircraft, air defenses, and ships are, we must neglect our army." Said the Prime Minister while glancing over the letter once more prompting him to say: "Sell the Belgians the two obsolete cruisers; they are of little use to us anyway. Talk to Fokker and see if he doesn't mind parting with the blueprints and license to produce a plane nearly fifteen years old. And see if, in turn, they will sell us some artillery pieces. Maybe their new 12cm field gun will be able to replace our most obsolete pieces. If not we may have to seek other suppliers or see what our local companies are able to produce."

"With all due respect, I don't think our industry has much experience in that field. Certainly, we could develop such pieces but we are talking about a timeframe that would take us into 1939 to 1940 at the earliest for the testing and introduction of these weapons. Our best option is to purchase from abroad and seek a production license considering that would be the fastest option available to us. Arguably beginning with Britain as a starting point we could ask other nations what they are willing to sell to us." Dijxhoorn proposed.

"Very well then. Begin inquiring; I will handle the political side." Was the quick response De Kardt gave Dijxhoorn.

To Paul-Henri Spaak, Prime Minister of Belgium.

Mr. Spaak,

While I can assure you that our nations do have a long shared history, it has been far from amicable. Hence, after conferring with the minister of defence, it is possible to sell to Belgium two Holland-class cruisers. However, the sale of a Java-class cruiser is not possible due to capacity constraints at Dutch shipyards, and the lack of an available ship to sell. Instead, if Belgium is truly determined to purchase a cruiser, a deal can be arranged regarding the temporary transfer of a De Ruyter-class cruiser while a new ship is built for the Belgian Navy.

Regarding the Fokker aircraft. I must inform you that Mr Fokker runs his business; I have little bearing regarding whom he sells his products to. If you wish to procure a production license, it would be advisable to correspond with him directly. While I am certain he will be thrilled to do business with Belgium, I do doubt he will be thrilled by you communicating your request to the Dutch government.

Payment plants for the ships can be conducted at a later date.

Cordially,
Jaques de Kardt
Prime Minister of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

To Whomever It May Concern At The British MoD Regarding Armaments Procurements.

Esteemed Sir,

I am General Adriaan Dijxhoorn, the Dutch Minister of Defence. The reason for this letter is my government's desire to procure ten Ordnance QF 2-pounder anti-tank guns for testing, as well as the option to produce the weapon under license in the Netherlands. Now, I understand possible hesitations in selling the weapon due to its novelty, but rest assured that the Netherlands is a neutral nation and these weapons would never be turned against Britain or any other nation save for in the case of self-defense and the protection of Dutch interests at home and abroad.

If a visit to Britain is required to sort out the deal is necessary, I shall be on the next KLM flight to London.

Sincerely,
Adriaan Dijxhoorn
Minister of Defence for the Kingdom of the Netherlands

by **The Orson Empire** » Wed Oct 06, 2021 5:20 pm

House of Parliament, Cairo Citadel, Egypt

The Cairo Citadel was an immense fortress at the heart of the Egyptian capital, having stood tall over the city for nearly a millennium. Originally constructed by the great ruler Saladin, it was the seat of all successive Ayyubid Sultans, their Mamluk usurpers and the Roman conquerors. It was expanded several times over the centuries, most notably by An-Nasir Muhammad (one of the Citadel's mosques was named after him), then during the reigns of Muhammad and Ismail Ali. While the districts around the Citadel had long since modernized and expanded, transforming from a sea of brick constructs into European-style office buildings, town homes, and apartment blocks, the Citadel remained a permanent reminder of Egypt's ancient past, alongside the Giza pyramids that stood to the southwest. Its curtain walls and towers had been maintained and reconstructed, while modern military installations were also installed within it. Defense measures passed during the Great War saw 500 troops and Palace Guards patrol the Citadel around the clock, with artillery, machine guns, and (most recently) anti-aircraft cannons installed to further bolster security.

Inside the House of Parliament, Prime Minister Mostafa El-Nahas met with the various ministers in the Egyptian Cabinet to discuss major issues facing the realm. Sitting at the head of the table was also Crown Prince Ismail, currently serving as regent for the Malik as he recovered from surgery. The pressing issue of the day surrounded the Ghassanid Kingdom, a rising power in Palestine and northern Arabia. A communique had been received from King Kabalah VIII ibn Al-Chemor offering to discuss the terms of becoming a protectorate, with the ministers arguing over the best course of action.

"This is a golden opportunity we cannot pass," Foreign Minister Hafez Afifi confidently stated. "We have, in our grasp, the chance to halt further Ghassanid expansionism into Palestine and the Arabian peninsula, thwarting their grand strategy of Christianizing the region."

"I agree. It is in our best interest for Arabian to remain weak and divided," the Prime Minister further added.

Crown Prince Ismail frowned, displeased. "The time for diplomacy is over. The Ghassanids are, and will always remain a menace! They dare lay claim on the Holy City of Jerusalem and occupy Palestinian territory directly belonging to us. The Muslims under their thumb might as well be second-class citizens- that is why the northern residents asked for our protection. We should strike hard and strike fast to break up the kingdom."

Finance Minister Abdel Hamid Badawi shook his head in disagreement. "A war at this time is not ideal. The economic depression has forced us to run a deficit, while the spending on social programs and the recent Total Defense Act is most of our economic priority. Starting a conflict over Palestine could lead to Roman involvement and the start of general hostilities across the region. Egypt could be condemned internationally and ensure serious sanctions, further damaging the treasury's prospects."

"I doubt the Great Powers will rush to defend a primitive backwater," the Crown Prince replied.

"But Rome surely would, likely to protect Christians in Jerusalem. Every soldier also deployed in the region is one not deployed in the west, defending against a far greater threat."

All the ministers went silent at the Foreign Minister's comment, as the dangers of Fascist Italy and their goal of creating a Mediterranean Empire had everyone within the United Kingdom on edge. Their acts of brutality in Ethiopia had already been witnessed, and the realm was bolstering itself to avoid a serious fate. Discussion continued for some time until the Prime Minister spoke again.

"You have all made your points, but I believe this offer is a worthwhile one. An attempt at peaceful negotiation will look better in the international community's eyes compared to immediate, unjustified aggression. I will cancel my schedule and fly out tomorrow morning. Should negotiations break down, this Cabinet will discuss taking further action against the Ghassanid Kingdom. In case of that eventuality, prepare your troops for a possible strike across the border, General Maher."

"It shall be done, Prime Minister," Army General Aly Maher, Chief of the Egyptian General Staff replied, who had been silent during most of the meeting.

To His Royal Highness King Jabalah VIII ibn Al-Chemor of the Second Ghassanid Kingdom,

Prime Minister Mostafa El-Nahas would be honored to convene with the King and discuss the arrangement of the Ghassanid Kingdom aligning closely with the United Kingdom as an Ally and protectorate. The Prime Minister will fly out to Ramallah at once to begin the negotiations. Our interests are not in terrifying or threatening the Ghassanids, but to maintain tranquility and order within the Palestine and Arabian regions, while also limiting Roman influence. We are committed to preserving Ghassanid sovereignty at all costs, and Allah willing, these negotiations shall be the start of a long, fruitful, relationship.

Signed,
Hafez Afifi
Foreign Minister, United Kingdom of Egypt and Sudan

by **The National Dominion of Hungary** » Thu Oct 07, 2021 11:13 am

The Soviet Union

Pravda Headlines

General Secretary announces preparation for the First International Socialist Summit

General Secretary Bukharin has in a recent press-conference expressed concern over the way the Communist movement is being treated in Sudan and urged an official summit between the world's socialist states as we see the dark forces of reaction and even fascism rear their heads around the world. "We see as our proletarian comrades in the CPS have been targeted by purgation, persecution and scapegoating by the reactionary regime in Cairo. It's intent in stifling the working classes into submission to their aristocratic and capitalist masters is clear, and that is a pain well known to the working masses of the Soviet Union. With reactionary forces running rampant, it is clear that the nations proudly proclaiming socialist and communist values need to aspire to closer partnership on the international stage." The meeting, planned in Moscow shall discuss ways to promote cooperation between Socialist and Communist states in matters of economics, investment, trade, military cooperation and provide a platform for such states to mediate potential conflicts of interest not to loose sight of the real enemy. One key element of the negotiations would be the discussion furthering of international trade between socialist states. "While there are some deviationists who believe that Great Revolutionary Father Lenin's New Economic Policy was a mistake, what these short-sighted men, like the traitor Trotsky and the villainous deviationist Bulganin fail to realize is that planning and market forces are not the essential difference between socialism and capitalism. A planned economy is not the definition of socialism, because there is planning under capitalist regimes while market economics operate under socialism too. Planning and market forces are both ways of controlling economic activity for social benefit which stands as a key tenet of Neo-Bolshevism." The General Secretary continued before expressing a heartfelt hope that the International Socialist Summit will be the first step on the road to close and stable relations between the brotherly socialist nations across the world.

Premier urging calm at Party rally in Stalingrad

"While some believe that war is around the corner, there are some that always do. Only calm and calculated policy-making can ensure the Soviet Union survives and thrives in war and peace alike. We must not give in to fear-mongering and it's temporary whims, fear always passes and when it does the ones who kept cooler heads prevail." Those are the wise words of Premier Lazar Kaganovich spoken at the Stalingrad Oblast Party Office. The Premier recently visited the city and in particular the Stalingrad Tractor Factory which has with great distinction aided in the mechanization of agriculture in Southern Russia. Still, that is not the only benefit the factory has provided to the Soviet Union. Tank production began in the Stalingrad Tractor Factory in 1932 with the launch of a T-26 light infantry tank production line. A marvel of Socialist engineering, the T-26 has proven easy to manufacture and operate and has been considered to be more reliable than foreign equivalents. The Premier highlighted the strong position of Soviet industries involved in the civilian sector to handily cover the material needs of the Red Army should the necessity arise for them to do so as well as highlighting the fact that re-writing the Plan to include a higher emphasis on munition and military equipment production will only result in half-measures across the board, with neither the military-industrial sectors or the heavy industrial sectors benefitting in any truly measurable sense. "The extension of the Military-Industrial Complex is not something that the Party and the government neglects as clearly shown by the ongoing investments in cities like Tula, Izhevsk and perhaps most notably Irkutsk where we are laying the foundation for Siberia's future air industries, but, for now, our focus must lie with the goals we have already given ourselves." The Premier concluded to rounding applause.

Construction ongoing in the Kuznetsk Basin

One of the key areas of investment under both the First and Second Five-Year Plans, the Kuznetsk Basin is second only to the Donbas Basin in it's potential as a steel-producing juggernaut across the Soviet Union and the Comintern. With the great growth of mining outputs in the region as a results of the mining investments during the previous Five-Year Plan, the current plan works to provide local industrial infrastructure to process the great wealth of iron and coal that the mines in the region are extracting. Previously, these raw materials have been shipped to Magnitogorsk and the steel foundries west of the Urals for processing, but with the current Plan, this will no longer be needed. The cities of Leninsk-Kuznestsky and Novokuznetsk have seen truly meaningful investments in the form of four great steel mills, two in each city along with accompanying new districts to house their workers, all built in the awe-inspiring Socialist Classicist style championed by Great Comrade Stalin and his successor, our General Secretary. In total each of the "Siberian Steel Blocks" will result in the development of a great tracts of land suitable for urbanization and extension of the cities where they shall be raised. Consisting of not only industrial plants, housing districts shall also be built with tramway and bus connections to the nearby plants, each district shall be able to provide homes for 50 000 people and will include apartment buildings, entertainment venues, service points, green spaces and commercial spaces. In this grand effort the Second Five-Year Plan walks hand in hand with General Secretary Bukharin's Siberian Plan. These great tracts of land have long been underused by the reactionary Tzarist regime, derided and forgotten as a frozen wasteland with nothing of value but pelts despite the great tracts of fertile soils and great reserves of metals waiting to used. It took the liberation of the working classes under the guiding hand of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union to began to turn these lands into new agricultural and industrial hearts of Mother Russia, all beating in tandem. A great labor we shall not abandon until it is done!

Red Army to grow under the following 3 years.

Any state's primary concern is that of security, if a state cannot guarantee a strong border through which interlopers and foreign enemies can come and steal the wealth of the working masses cannot call itself a state, much less a Socialist State! This is something the Communist Party is keenly aware of, after all, the liberation of Russia's working masses was only achieved through the struggle and sacrifice of thousands of thousands of revolutionary heroes fighting tooth and nail for their freedom in a bloody struggle against the Tzarist regime, now finally consigned to the dustbin of history where it belongs thanks to the sacrifice of these brave revolutionary fighters. Indeed, we owe the very existence of the Soviet Union to the Red Army where the now serving men carry on the great traditions of those revolutionary heroes. According to the latest announcement from the People's Ministry of Military Affairs issued jointly with the Party Council of Military Affairs, the Red Army of the Soviet Union is to gain an additional 200 000 active troops and 400 000 trained reserves while the Red Army Air Force shall gain 5000 active personnel and 500 new aircraft by the summer of 1940. According to the joint statement, orders have been placed for 200 I-16 fighters, 150 SU-2 strike planes and 150 R-10 light bombers as well as vehicles, tanks, artillery and other crew-served weapons as well as personal firearms and munitions to equip the new units. "This is a critical step to take in order to ensure the security of not only the Soviet Union but of the member-nations of the Comintern as a whole to safeguard the home of the Revolution from any aggression from any of the reactionary, imperialist powers of the world." Says Chief of the General Staff Marshall Vasily Blyukher.

by **Strala** » Thu Oct 07, 2021 7:17 pm

People's Daily

Domestic news:

While Nanjing and the great cities of China were the nation's industrial, financial, and cultural heart, it was the countryside that fed the nation. In the decades following the liberation wars and the great revolution, the life of the average Chinese farmer has not changed much. The farmers still tilled the land day in and day out while the landlords exported them for money. Many young villagers, seeking to escape this cycle of poverty, sought to escape to the cities, either through education or by joining the military and industrial workforce. For those that joined the industrial workforce, life was just as hard as it was on the farm, though the pay was significantly better.

By 1925, the migration of rural farms into urban cities had become a pressing issue for the Republican government, forcing them to promise land reforms, the industrialization of inland provinces, and the implementation of a quota system in 1927 to stem the flow of rural migrants into the urban centers of China. Recently, the president, Wang Jingwei, has announced that the construction of the new Beiyuan arsenal was completed in the inland city of Chongqing. Furthermore, an additional twenty factories have been or are partially completed in and around the city of Chongqing, Chengdu, Nanchong, and Changsha.

The legislative yuan after convening last week in Nanjing about the exposed and relatively unguarded waterways and coasts of China has agreed to fund further construction of coastal guns and other fortifications. President Wang Jingwei has stated that this has not been motivated in any way by foreign powers. Construction has already started in Nanjing, Shanghai, and along much of the southern coastline. Workers, equipment, and materials from as far away as Xinjiang could be seen traveling to and working at these designated work sites. Many are already praising this new project as a sign of Chinese unity.

The legislative yuan has also ordered 200 new aircraft to be delivered by 1939, with the vast majority of them being the Type 36 fighter, which has been universally praised as being one of the most advanced and capable fighter craft in production. Furthermore, the legislative Yuan has ordered for the construction of thirty thousand type 33 trucks to be completed by 1940 with the ultimate goal of retraining five infantry divisions into motorized divisions, and the rest being distributed among preexisting logistical units and infantry divisions. Whether such a daunting task can be completed is yet to be seen, but many in the government are confident of the Chinese industry to meet these demands and others that are soon to follow.

International News:

Our comrades in the Soviet Union have announced a meeting of socialist nations in the city of Moscow to discuss future cooperations between all nations attending the meeting. President Wang Jingwei has apologized for not being able to attend the meeting due to personal reasons (see page 10 on Wang Jingwei's personal life) and has announced that he will be sending the foreign minister Zhou Enlai to the Moscow meeting. Traveling alongside foreign minister Zhou Enlai will be the minister of national defense, Chiang Kai Shek, and colonel Sun Li-Jen of the National Revolutionary Army.

To Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk, Minister-President of the Danubian Confederation.

Mr. Masaryk,

The Chinese state and military have long admired the weaponry used by the European military. While our nations may not have had the most contact in the past, I wish to rectify that today. The Chinese states wish to obtain the licensing rights to produce your famous ZB vz. 26.

Sincerely,
Wang Jing Wei
President of the Republic of China.

by **Intermountain States** » Fri Oct 08, 2021 12:20 am

National Times: A Week in Review
Published January 24th, 1937

Howard Hughes sets world record

January 19th, 1937 - Billionaire and aviation enthusiast Howard Hughes sets a new world record by flying from Los Angeles to New York City in 7 hours, 28 minutes and 25 seconds. Hughes beats his previous record of 9 hours and 27 minutes with the same H1 Racer aircraft designed by the Hughes Aviation Company in 1935. He reported that his average ground-speed during the flight was 322 miles per hour. A few technical difficulties occurred during his flight; Hughes almost blacked out when his oxygen mask failed. He was awarded the Harmon International Trophy for the world's most outstanding aviator.

Garner inaugurated for second term

January 20th, 1937 - Chief Justice Charles Evan Hughes swears in President John Nance Garner and Vice-President Charles McNary for their second term. This marks the first Inauguration Day affected by the ratification of the 20th amendment in 1933 which moves the beginning and ending terms of the president and vice president from March 4 to January 20. Future inaugurations will occur on January 20th.

Garner's first term started with troubling developments over the hotly contested 1932 Presidential election between then-Speaker of the House John Garner and Minnesota Governor Floyd Olson. The Garner administration had to deal with bringing relief to the economic impact of the Great Depression and restoring law and order against socialist and anti-democratic insurgencies in the Midwest and the American South known as the Troubles. The victory over anti-American insurgents in 1934 and popular economic reforms and relief packages passed by Congress gave Garner a landslide victory over Progressive candidate Hiram Johnson in the 1936 presidential election. Currently, it appears that the electoral coalition between conservative and pro-business elements of both Democrats and Republicans (symbolized by Garner a Democrat and McNary a Republican) is growing strong, despite reported rifts over civil rights and foreign affairs.

To: Henry L. Stimson
From: Douglas MacArthur

Dear Secretary,

As we prepare for the eventual independence of the Philippines, I feel that the current state of the Philippine Commonwealth Army is at an unacceptable level. Few of the training camps are constructed and the first group of the 20,000 trainees did not report until a few days ago as of writing this message. The Philippine Commonwealth Army is using obsolete equipment and the military budget is completely inadequate. Our American bases aren't doing much better with equipment and vehicles as well. Any new enhancements to the Philippine Commonwealth Army are coming from our own salaries. The current state of the Philippine Commonwealth Army and the United States Forces East Asia would do us little good in case hostilities increase with China or Japan. I write this letter in hopes that we can enhance the Philippine's defensive capability with additional funds, more manpower and ships, and newer weapons from the federal government.

Sincerely,
Douglas MacArthur, Field Marshal of the Philippine Commonwealth Army

by **Northern Socialist Council Republics** » Fri Oct 08, 2021 1:04 am

The Commonwealth of Northern Socialist Council Republics
"The price of victory is this: the more you win, the more you have, and the more people want to take from you."

The Office of the Speaker, Government House,
Copenhagen, Danish Republic, the Northern Commonwealth
Monday, 04th January 1937

On the outside, the Northern Commonwealth presented a facade of power and influence unparalleled in Europe. Sure, it was no United States, but on a continent devastated first by the Great War and then over twenty years of violent revolutions and the Great Depression, it was practically an island of stability and wealth, the eye of the storm.

But that was all it was: a facade.

The fact was, the Northern Commonwealth had neither the economic wealth nor the military power to truly support its newfound status as a European great power. The fact that the Northern factory worker could outmatch any other in Europe except maybe the British in productivity on a worker-to-worker basis mattered little when all the other great powers had several times the number of workers that Norden did. The recent territorial expansions and military victories made by the Northern Commonwealth's soldiers were made in the immediate aftermath of the Great War, when all the other European great powers were too battered and exhausted to offer much in the way of resistance, but two decades later all those battered powers were rapidly recovering.

This, Speaker Jens decided, must have been what Chancellor Bismarck felt during the Second Concert. The enviable but also difficult position of holding on to more marbles than will fit in our hands and just hoping that nobody will ask us to roll them.

Jens didn't really want to find out how long the new coastal defences that the Northern Commonwealth had been funding in the Orkney Islands could hold off a siege of British battleships and British marines. He had no desire to know whether the Karelian forests were truly too rough for the Russian - Soviet now, Jens supposed - hordes to simply swarm over. The Speaker was quite comfortable not knowing whether the Danevirke Line could truly hold off the motorised divisions and heavy tanks of the German forces. Not to mention all those other more abstract territories in culture, academia, and politics that were more difficult to see on a map but were no less valuable - were considerably more valuable, in truth - than scraps of physical land.

And the best way to remain in that pleasant ignorance was to prevent the outbreak of a general European war in which Norden's neighbours might be inclined to put those to the test.

Too bad, then, that the world seemed to be heating up into conflict again. The ease and celerity with which the world forgot the horrors of the Great War, of shell-shocked boys from the trenches, was truly a depressing statement on the nature of humanity. Statesmen were so eager to stoke the fires again.

Yes, Speaker Jens decided. This definitely must have been what Chancellor Bismarck felt during the Second Concert. And that history, he concluded, would guide his way forwards. In the Second Concert of the 1870s and 1880s, Bismarck tried to pull the major European powers into a diplomatic system that would maintain the peace and buy time for the newly-established German Empire to consolidate its gains.

The position that the Northern Commonwealth found itself today was not too different. The Northern Commonwealth would have to spend what influence and power it still had left to bind its neighbours into a peaceful and stable international order. No matter what the Scandinavian Romanticists have to say, it was obvious that the decline of the Northern Commonwealth from great power status into the ranks of the secondary powers was inevitable; the only question was whether it would successfully engineer a graceful decline that would preserve its people's liberties and standard of living, or whether it would be dragged down amidst gunpowder smoke and the din of artillery.

To that extent...

Bismarck ran his Second Concert on a basis of the balance of power; of the desire of every great power to keep each other in check and prevent the emergence of a Continental hegemon.

The dead bodies draped over barbed wire across the Western Front is an adequate enough explanation of how that ended.

No... Jens Nordstjerne would not make that same mistake. A truly stable international order was not born merely out of a fear of war, but of a genuine investment, a moral, economic, and diplomatic investment, in the institutions and customs of peace.

And Jens would begin with that most ancient tie between distant nations: money.

by **Remnants of Exilvania** » Fri Oct 08, 2021 1:36 pm

The Galati Gazette
The Newspaper for Romanian Commerce
Issue from Tuesday the 5th of January 1937

Tsarist Air Force seeking new Fighter Aircraft

Yesterday on Monday the 4th of January, the Tsarist Ministry of War has of released an official press statement concerning the its intent to acquire new and modern fighter aircraft. This comes as no surprise, seeing how this paper has already reported on the repeated failures of the DAR to deliver promising designs over the past months. As such the Ministry of War has decided to widen the scope of their offer to include foreign designs.

The Tsarist Air Force seeks to acquire a light, single seat, monoplane fighter aircraft with an empty weight between 1.000 and 2.500 kg, a maximum speed of at least 400 km/h, a range of at least 500 km, and at least two machineguns. Trials are to be held in Pleven starting from the 27th of January, where the Bulgarian Air Force intends to rigorously test the foreign designs and compare their practical performance as well as their theoretical performance. To the winner of the competition goes a prize of 2 million Gold Leva as well as a contract for the production of 100 aircraft and a potential further contract for the continued license-production of their aircraft in Bulgaria.

Colonel P. Popganchev, who will be presiding over the competition, has expressed optimism about the event, citing technological advancements in the world that this paper has partially already reported on. When asked about why the Ministry of War intends to modernize the fighter fleet now, Col. Popganchev stated that the Tsarist Air Force must go with the times and not fall behind, especcially in these trying times, with tensions running high once more. For similar reasons the Tsarist Air Force introduced the DAR-10, a new light bomber and reconnaissance aircraft from DAR, into service last year, continuing a general trend of modernizing the armed forces. Observers are looking towards the Ministry of War already in anticipation of their next orders, as the testing period for the Armoured Battalion has recently concluded, a purchasing decision for either italian, danubian or polish designs likely being made soon.
Train derailed in Thrace, ITRO behind it?

Two days ago on sunday the 3rd of January, a passenger train was derailed in Roman Thrace causing an as of yet unknown number of deaths and serious injuries. Investigations are still underway but sabotage is claimed to be the most likely culprit by onlookers interviewed by this paper. No one has publicly claimed responsibility yet but allegations and rumours are already being leveled at the Internal Thracian Revolutionary Organisation, short ITRO, which used to commit acts of terrorism in Thrace before the Zveno Coup of 1934 which saw the ITRO disbanded alongside its ITRO organisations. Now there are strong concerns over whether or not the organisation has reconstituted itself following the fall of the Zveno government and whether or not the ITRO's reign of terror in Thrace will continue once more.

Bulgarian authorities from the Tsarist Ministry of Foreign Affairs have commented on the incident, calling it a tragedy but denying the allegations that the ITRO may have been involved, considering the affair to have been an accident or the work of Albanian bandits. They have also stamped all rumours concerning the reconstitution of the ITRO and its sister organisations as baseless fearmongering. There were no speakers from the Ministry of War available to comment on the affair. His majesty, the Tsar, has voiced his condolences for the victims of this horrible tragedy but declined to comment on whether this accident may have been man made.

The potential resurgence of the ITRO could be a major cause for concern for neighbouring states, with Belgrade already condemning the attack. Should the ITRO in fact exist again, there is a chance that other organisations such as the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organisation, the Internal Western Outland Revolutionary Organisation, the Internal Banatian Revolutionary Organisation, the Internal Transylvanian Revolutionary Organisation and the Internal Transnistrian Revolutionary Organisation could have reconstituted themselves as well.

by **The Cascade and Saint Islands** » Fri Oct 08, 2021 3:55 pm

Ghassanid Becoming an Egyptian Protectorate: Day 1 Discussions

"The Prime Minister has arrived."
"Thank you for letting me know. Let us go greet him." King Jabalah VIII ibn Al-Chemor stood up shakily, and walked out of the stable where he had been anxiously waiting. Admittedly, the stable was not a very kingly place, but King Jabalah liked it. Horses don't try to convince you to support nonsensical law proposals.
Putting on his best smile, the king strode up and greeted him, "Good day, Prime Minister. I'm King Jabalah. It's very nice to finally meet you."
"It's nice to meet you, too," the Prime Minister answered formally.
"Shall we head to the National Governmental Building to start discussions?" That very creative name was from the king's late father.
"Of course; that is why I'm here after all, isn't it?"
When the two reached the building, they headed to one of the smaller meeting rooms where a few senators and the crown prince were waiting for them. After all of the formalities and introductions they got down to business.
The king started, "Before we even begin discussing the terms of the protectorate-ship, the Senate has a few concerns they would like you to address," then, nodding to one of the senators, said, "Go ahead, Senator Papadopoulos."
" I hope you can understand my not standing up to speak. My years have taken a toll on my legs," the elderly senator apologized. "Anyway, the first of three concerns that the Senate would like to address is that of border security. As you probably already, know, the Second Ghassanid Kingdom has a border with the Roman Empire that is hundreds of miles long. We, the Senate, would like to know how you propose to guard the border."
The Prime Minister responded almost immediately, like he had been waiting for the question to be asked. "Of course we will station soldiers around the border, but in addition to that we could build airfields, military bases, and fortifications at strategic points. We could also aid you guys in equipping your own forces to slow down the Romans."
The king snorted, "What strategic points? The only strategic point we have is the Jordan River Valley. 90% of our border with the Romans is a desert with no strategic points. If you manage to discern one plot of sand as being more strategic than the next, be my guest and build your fortifications.
The Prime Minister, keeping his calm, responded, "I doubt the Romans will do much advancing through the desert if they invaded you. There's nothing there and they would take a lot of attrition. We will heavily fortify the Jordan River Valley to prevent them from ever taking the region. If they were to attack though, they would probably occupy the desert by default, since they could easily cut it off from the rest of the country, but I can assure you all your cities, from Ramallah to Gaza, will stay out of their hands."
"So you'll just let them take the desert?" a Senator, Narek Kherdian, asked.
"Defending the desert is more trouble than it's worth. There isn't anything there but sand."
The king suddenly stood up, outraged. "Maybe you wouldn't understand because your civilization is based entirely around a river, but that desert is the world to us. We are Arabs, people of the sands. That is our land and we will defend to the death!"
"Then die; that's a stupid cause."
Before the king could answer, one of the Senators, Matthew Stepanyan, stood up and cut in, "That's enough, you two! I'd suggest you sit, Al-Chemor." His blond hair caught a ray of sunlight, causing it to faintly glow and making him look especially impressive. The king sat down, slightly embarrassed. Despite being one of the youngest Senators, Mr. Stepanyan has always been a fatherly figure at meetings. He didn't talk much, so when he did, people listened.
As everyone sat back down, the prince suggested, "Senator Papadopoulos, how about we move on to the next concern first. This one can wait."
"Of course, let me see... are these the right papers? No, how about these? No those are for later. Is this it?" This went on for a few minutes, and a few others started helping him search before Senator Papadopoulos realized it was in his hand the whole time. "Sorry for that, let's continue," he said rather casually while others, particularly the king and the short-tempered Senator Kherdian, sighed frustratedly.
After taking a deep breath, the king agreed, "Yes, let's continue."
"The second concern that We, the Senate, would like you to address is one of war." The old man announced. "In the case of Egypt going to war, we recognize that Egypt will most likely have to fight on at least two fronts, one in Liberia, err, I'm sorry, Libya, and one in Ethiopia. If the Second Ghassanid Kingdom were to become an Egyptian protectorate, there would be another front in which the Kingdom of Egypt and Sudan would likely have to fight on: the Levant. Our concern is that of whether Egypt could handle a three-front war. We are not doubting your capabilities, we are just questioning whether anyone could handle a three-front war."
The Prime Minister responded quickly, "We will try our best to defend all fronts, but no promises can be made. However, we can say that the threat to our nation, Italy, has powerful enemies in Europe, most notably Germany and the Soviet Union. In addition, we will soon start negotiations with the Germans."
"Somehow I doubt Germany and the Soviets could easily get their hands on Italy," Senator Kherdian remarked sarcastically. " Maybe it's because they don't even border Italy, probably couldn't get naval dominance in the Mediterranean, and even if they got military access to get to Italy they would have to fight through a mountain range! But who knows, maybe I'm horribly mistaken and they can get to Italy."
The Prime Minister, mildly annoyed, tried to think of an answer. After a moment he responded, "A general European war would nevertheless make it rather difficult for Italy to focus on its fronts in Africa; its homeland would take first priority, not its colonies."
"So you're just hoping that some other countries would attack Italy if it attacked you?" accused Senator Kherdian, "No offense, but that is a terrible plan."
"Also, the Europeans are quite a dirty bunch; I wouldn't trust them to uphold their part of an alliance," the king added.
"Listen here, I don't have the Egyptian military plans with me right now, but I can assure you we do have plans. They're confidential, though, so I couldn't tell you or show them to you even if I wanted to. Military planning is done by the by the generals, not me, anyway, so I wouldn't be the best person to be explaining military plans. Does that answer the question, Senator... umm, Padopoloupos? Pasodalupus? Papadaluspos? I'm sorry, I've forgotten your name. Could you remind me what it was?"
"It's Senator Papadopoulos, but you could call me Georgios if that's too difficult," the Senator chuckled. "And yes, I think that does answer the question, so let's move on, shall we? Umm, now where are those papers?"
"They're in your left hand," informed the prince.
"Ah, yes, of course, thank you. Now where are we?... Ah, right here. The third and final concern that We, the Senate would like you to address is that of stability. The Ghassanid populace, and in fact many Senators, are in favor of closer ties to the Romans as opposed to Egypt. The concern of ours is that unless the agreement we make here is better than something the Romans could give us, the agreement may not even get passed by the Senate, and even if it does, many of our citizens would be unhappy and may even rebel."
"We can offer you economic prosperity, the demilitarization of our border, and non-interference in Ghassanid Palestine," the Prime Minister answered confidently.
"You think the Romans haven't offered that to us?" asked Senator Kherdian.
"We don't need your sarcasm here, Kherdian," chastised Senator Stepanyan.
Senator Kherdian glared at Senator Stepanyan. Stepanyan took no notice.
Meanwhile, the Egyptian was deep in thought. Finally, he said slowly, "The only other thing I could think of is giving you Northern Palestine, but that is unfortunately not possible."
"No one asked for North Palestine." said Senator Kherdian matter-of-factly. Senator Stepanyan glared at him. Kherdian took no notice.
"You know, maybe if you weren't always threatening us, some of our other problems would appear in the news where you could read about them." added the king.
"Well, they don't, so tell me, what other problems does your country have?" asked the Prime Minister.
The prince started listing them out. "There is a lack of running water, no air force, out of date army equipment, occasional raids from southern tribes..." He kept going for about three minutes before Senator Stepanyan told him to stop.
You know, with all of those problems, it sounds like it would be a better idea for Egypt to just invade your kingdom." said the Prime Minister.
The king stood up again, "Over my dead body!"
"I wouldn't mind that."
The king's face was growing increasingly red.
"I have 50,000 soldiers near your border who will attack the moment I give the command." said the Prime Minister dryly.
Soon, this supposedly civil conversation became a yelling match.
"You dare come into my kingdom and threaten me on my-"
"Yes I do dare because at my command it will be mine within-"
"Now, now, how about we just settle down and-"
"Shut up, Georgios!"
"You know, if I wanted to I could make a deal with Rome right now."
"And in a week you'll be hanged in Cairo."
"You'll be dead in a minute if you keep that up."
"You were invited to Ramallah on the condition of Peace, and now that you've clearly broken it I kindly ask you to FU-"
"That's enough!" shouted Senator Stepanyan.
The room became silent.
"You know, I'm sure the Prime Minister is quite tired from his trip, so how about we call it here for today and Andreas can show him to his rooms." suggested the prince. "Andreas!"
"Oh, that's nonsense; it's only been half an hour." argued Mr. Kherdian.
"Some people can't handle long trips; the Prime Minister's come all the way from Cairo, you know." the prince responded. A servant came into the room. "Show the Prime Minister to his rooms, would you?" and then the prince handed him a piece of paper with an address on it.
After the Prime Minister had left, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
"That could have gone better," said the prince.
"You think?"

by **Tracian Empire** » Sun Oct 10, 2021 9:18 am

Danubian Confederation
Donaubund
Podunajská konfederace

The Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Crown of Saint Wenceslas
Die im Reichsrat vertretenen Königreiche und Länder und die Länder der Heiligen Wenzelskrone
Království a země zastoupené v říšské radě a v zemích Svaté koruny svatého Václava

Unteilbar und Untrennbar
Indivisibiliter ac Inseparabiliter
Nedělitelný a Neoddělitelný

Gottes Sonne strahl' in Frieden, Auf ein glücklich Österreich!

Vienna
Wien

Vom Landl an der Traun
Rückn`s an
vom blauen Donaustrand
vom Mühelland
von Enns-und Steieretal
und überall
mit ein Stolz ein jeder nennt:
Das Hessenregiment!

The sound of soldiers singing, and of the heavy and synchronized steps of groups of men marching at once could be heard throughout the center of Vienna, as the military parade intended to celebrate the beginning of the new year, and to commemorate the death of Emperor Franz Joseph was moving throughout the grand boulevard of the Ringstraße. As the tradition had dictated ever since 1919, the first three regiments to open the parade were the three regiments which had remained loyal to the Habsburgs and which had helped maintain order in Vienna during the tumultuous autumn of 1918. The very first was the regiment which had protected the Emperor himself from the mutinous and rebellious actions of a band of Hungarian rebels, the k.u.k. Infanterieregiment „Ernst Ludwig Großherzog von Hessen und bei Rhein“ Nr. 14. The soldiers marched in the cadence of their song, dressed in their field gray uniforms and in the steel helmets that had already become a well-known mark of the Imperial and Royal forces. Despite the German origins of the Stahlhelm, the over a million Austro-Hungarian soldiers that had fought for the Emperor during the final years of the Great War had turned it into a potent symbol of imperial power. Even as several figures in the higher ranks of the military had pointed out the issues that could arise from the use of similar uniforms and helmets to that of potentially hostile neighbors, the k.u.k. Armee had continued to use and to develop this style. The banner held by the first of the soldiers was filled with decorations – unsurprising for a regiment that was older than some of the nations that exist in Europe at this time. Some, especially political opponents, compared such regiments with the legions of the tyrannical Roman emperors of old, but regimental pride was important, as was rewarding loyalty. The 14th Infantry Regiment had its origins in 1733, in the War of Polish Succession, and had fought against the French, in Italy, against the Russians, the Romans, and the Prussians.

The soldiers of the 14th Regiment were proudly armed with the semi-automatic ZH-29, and the squad commanders with the KP vz. 38 submachine guns, to be expected from a modernized force. But for the strict purpose of this parade, its tradition and legacy were more important, as the regiment was ceremonially led by its old commander from the Great War, Oberst August von Ontl.

Österreich, lieb`s Vaterland
dein sei mein Herz
dein sei mein Sinn
dein sei die Hand
schwören es in Glück und Not:
schwarz die Farb, Gold das Herz,
treu bis in den Tod!

Following the first regiment of soldiers came the sounds of tank tracks and engines, as they were followed by the k.u.k. Panzerdivision „Kaiserin und Königin Maria Theresia“ Nr. 32, one of the armored formations of the Imperial and Royal Army, equipped with the Panzerkampfwagen 35/Lehký tank vzor 35, the pride and joy of Škoda’s engineers, and one of the most advanced tanks in Europe.

The former regiment itself had an interesting history, as during the war it had been a mostly Hungarian regiment based in Budapest. With a strongly aristocratic officer corps, led by Oberst Heinrich Edler von Salmon in the final months of the war, the regiment had refused to mutiny alongside most of the Honved, and had instead remained loyal to the Habsburgs, with the purging of the few elements that would have been disloyal. The regiment distinguished itself in Vienna, during the street fights against socialists agitators, when the armored cars of the K.u.K. Panzerautozug No.1 were folded into the regiment. Reorganized into a mostly Czech regiment as most of its original Hungarian soldiers retired from their military service, the regiment was turned into one of the first armored visions of the army.

Es zog ein Regiment
Vom Ungarland herauf
Ein Regiment zu Fuß,
Ein Regiment zu Pferd,
Ein Batallion Deutschmeister!

And then a new song was heard behind them, as the elite soldiers of the k.u.k. Infanterieregiment „Hoch- und Deutschmeister“ Nr. 4 followed. The Hoch- und Deutschmeister was the regiment with the closest status to that of an elite guard unit from those among the regular army, having been founded in 1696 under the patronage of the Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights. A mostly German regiment stationed in Vienna, it was mobilized at the beginning of the Great War under the command of Oberst Freiherr Ludwig von Holzhausen who died in 1914 fighting the Russians, and it distinguished itself on all fronts. Finally, in 1918, as Archduke Eugen of Austria took command, it was considered to be the most prepared and best trained unit at the disposal of the Habsburg loyalists, with high morale due to its role in the Second Battle of the Piave.

As the soldiers reached the specially prepared podium in front of the Rathaus, they turned their heads to the right and saluted all at once. Karl von Habsburg, their Emperor and King, responded to their salute, standing on the podium alongside his family and the three old and retired Field Marshals of the Confederation, the heroes of the Great War, Franz Conrad von Hötzendorf, Arthur Arz von Straußenburg and Svetozar Boroević von Bojna, the men who had done their best to protect the Empire throughout the Great War. While many territories had been lost, and while many had died, the Empire and the Monarchy had survived. And while Europe was still filled with tensions and threats, the seeds of a new war long since sown, the Empire was always going to survive. Austria erit in orbe ultima.

by **The Imperial Warglorian Empire** » Mon Oct 11, 2021 9:29 pm

Streets of Berlin, Germany
January 5, 1937
Red. It was everywhere: the walls, the streets, the buildings, the very air was filled to the brim with crimson. Soldiers, arms by their sides, marched as men, women and children screamed and shouted; the red enveloping them all, their bodies packing the streets like canned sardines in a chaotic mass.

And scream and shout they did: screams of excitement and shouts of celebration.

Red banners flew from every window, every building, every rooftop; and even more were held in the hands of the people on the ground, in the clutches of soldiers and civilians, men, women and children as they all marched forward side-by-side. Bright wide smiles adorned their faces as they sang various tunes and shouted out phrases:
"Lang lebe die Revolution!"
"Es lebe die Sozialistische Republik!"
"Denken Sie an die Zweite Revolution!"
"Auf eine befreite Welt!"

Confetti filled the air as it was thrown from buildings, as was music as bands, both military and civilian, either sat on the side or walked with the crowd. Flowers, bright colours, the hammer and sickle and more decorations further littered the walls.

The atmosphere was that of jubilation and mass celebration, for today was the 18th Anniversary of the Spartacist Uprising, which began the Second German Revolution and ended in the victory of Socialism in Germany over the old Imperial Regime. Across Germany, similar events were occurring as every street was packed with people commemorating the event.

Soon, however, the frenzy seemed to reach a crescendo as flowers were flung at a particular group of people in the procession. It was this particular group that contained some of the most important people in Germany: the Commissar of Foreign Affairs, Herbert Frahm. The Commissar of Defence, Ernst Thälmann. The General Secretary of the KPD, Karl Liebknecht. The German Premier, Rosa Luxemburg. And even the Volkspräsident himself, Paul Levi. Surrounded by soldiers, the group was swarmed by people as they reached out, looking out in awe and admiration at the people who had begun the revolution.

Thälmann, in a simple suit and wearing his signature cap, edged over to Luxemburg's side.

"Frau Premier, I must again insist that we bring in more security; it's far too dangerous for you to be walking the streets so exposed!"

"Oh please, Thälmann, I survived a Revolution, I can survive a parade."

"If not security, then at least let me summon an automobile for you; I fear that with your conditio-"

Luxemburg abruptly stopped, staring down Thälmann dead in the eyes. "My condition? You mean that I'm an old, frail lady with a bad hip?"

Thälmann eye widened, his mouth mimicking a fish out of water. "No, Frau Premier! Of course not! It's just tha-"

Luxemburg snorted in a rather unladylike fashion. "These legs of mine can carry me down a few blocks; if you're so concerned, perhaps you'd like to carry me on your back?"

Thälmann said nothing, Luxemburg biting back another snort. "Well, then I suggest you let me carry myself like I carried this entire damn Revolution."

Luxemburg and the rest of the group continued to move on, as Thälmann let out an exasperated sigh. Behind him, the youthful face of Herbert Frahm snickered. "Y'know, for a lady of sixty-six, she still has spunk doesn't she?"

"Oh, shut up welpe."

"What? Don't act so flustered, Rota Rosa could've tripped up the Kaiser if they ever granted her an audience; Gott, what I'd pay for such a fine image!"

At this, Thälmann broke into a smile. "Heh, you and me both, but for now I suggest we continue looking out for trouble before our naive brothers and sisters get themselves hurt."

"Speaking of trouble..."

Thälmann and Frahm suddenly looked to the left, their smiles disappearing as another group began to join the main one. Where the main procession was composed of a cacophony of differently dressed individuals, a chaotic wave going in a general direction, this one was an organised uniformed column: every man wearing a dark burgundy military uniform and marching in sync. Black flags, the hammer and sword proudly displayed on them, contrasted greatly with the red banners.

Soon, the two were approached by another uniform-clad individual, the hammer and sword strapped to his arm. He was of short stature, with slicked black hair that looked drenched in oil and an almost skeletal complexion. Yet most notable was the limp he walked with as well as his eyes which were filled to the brim with dark emotions.

"Meine Herren! How absolutely wonderful to meet you all on this glorious day!"

"Goebbels," Frahm frostily greeted, a wooden smile on his lips.

"Oh, why so cold Frahm?" Goebbels replied, playfully smacking Frahm on his side. "Still recovering from your trip to Norway? Really, you shouldn't be in such a rush; you're beginning to lose all your baby fat."

"Like how you lost all yours?" Frahm retorted. "Maybe you should eat something more than just the souls of children every Krampusnacht. You just make sure those Bluthemden of yours don't cause any trouble."

Goebbels's smile fell from his face, instantly filled with furious indignation. "I don't have to take this from you, boy! If everyone were to just stay in their rightful place, we wouldn't have had any problems to begin with!"

The Volksführer quickly recovered, his smile icier than before. "Don't you worry, soon enough, those problems will be a thing of the past. But enough about all that, this is a day that all of us should come together for: a glorious day, one where Germany's destiny was paved with the purest of blood, no?"

He laughed, before walking off to join the rest of his posse, waving behind him. "Well, nonetheless, I beg both of you the best of days, Auf Wiedersehn!"

As the man walked into the distance, Thälmann and Frahm simply stood there. "Never did like that man, there's always something...foreboding coming off him."

"Tell me about it."

The atmosphere remained full of happiness, yet as the black flags joined with the red and soon sounds of curses and, eventually, violence began to follow, the clouds over the procession seemed to shade the smallest bit darker.

Die Rote Fahne
The Central Organ of the German Communist Party (Voice of the Communist Internationale)
—Headlines—
18th Anniversary of the Spartacist Uprising
Today marks the 18th anniversary of the uprising which brought the glorious Worker's Revolution to bear and began its road to victory in the Second German Revolution! Tens of thousands marched in the streets as entire cities celebrated the occasion, which will be marked off with the annual Arbeitfest, with food and alcohol provided by both the government and the KPD itself. Of particular note was the appearance of the government's top officials who joined the festivities, including the original leaders of the Revolution; Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht.

Yet trouble also found its way as civilians clashed with members of the Volkssturm; the paramilitary arm of the Nationalmarxistische Deutsche Vorhut-Partei (National Marxist German Vanguard Party). Though the scuffle did not interrupt the celebrations in any lasting way, street violence between paramilitaries has seen a markable increase since the turn of the century.

Nonetheless, Die Rote Fahne would like to wish all its readers a happy Liberation Day!

Comissariat of Defence organises the sale of military equipment
With the advent of new technologies comes the question of what to do with the old. The Commissariat of Defence and the NVA have decided to solve this issue by arranging a global sale of military equipment considered unessential by the state. This military equipment is to be available for purchase to any nation or organisation in the world that can afford them.

The catalogue includes:
Armour
-50x Leichtpanzerkampfwagen (80,000 Marks/US$32,000 per unit)
-100x Großpanzerkampfwagen (206,326 Marks/US$82,530 per unit)
-50x Mittlerepanzerkampfwagen (231,924 Marks/US$92,769 per unit)

Planes
-50x Arado Ar 68 Biplanes (200,000 Marks/US$80,000 per unit)
-100x Heinkel He 51 Biplanes (200,000 Marks/US$80,000 per unit)
-100x Arado Ar 65 Biplanes (150,000 Marks/US$60,000 per unit)

Naval Warships
-2x König Class Dreadnoughts November and Renner (90,000,000 Marks/US$36,000,000 per unit)
-1x Derfflinger Class Battlecruiser Geyer (118,000,000 Marks/US$ 47,200,000)
-3x Königsberg Class Cruisers Marxberg, Emden and Nürnberg (10,814,000 Marks/US$4,325,600 per unit)
-20x B 97-class destroyers (8,000,000 Marks/US$3,200,000 per unit)

Nations or organisations interested in purchasing may contact the Commissariat of Foreign Affairs.

Delegation to be sent to Moscow
In global news, the DSR has announced that it will be sending a delegation to Moscow in order to attend the first International Socialist Summit. Though the KPD has repeatedly criticised, and in some cases condemned (read Issue #86: "Luxemburg denounces Bolshevik purges of Army and CPSU") the actions of the Soviet government under General Secretary Bukharin, officials within the government have stated an interest in pursuing cooperation with fellow Socialist powers, including the USSR. Of particular note, Commissar for Defence Ernst Thälmann has voiced perhaps the most vocal support of an alliance with the USSR, stating that "...Spartacists, Socialists, Communists, Bolsheviks—all simply names on the same umbrella. The brothers and sisters of Socialism across the world must unite together and forget these petty squabbles if we are to survive the oncoming storm presented by...the Monarcho-Capitalist West..."

Neither Volkspräsidant Paul Levi nor Premier Rosa Luxemburg will be attending the summit, citing personal reasons. Instead, the delegation to be sent in their place will consist of Commisar for Foreign Affairs Herbert Frahm, as well as the aforementioned Commissar for Defence Ernst Thälmann and Oberst Ernst Volckheim of the Nationale Volksarmee.

by **Countesia** » Tue Oct 12, 2021 7:10 am

Fegyver- és Gépgyár Industrial Complex
Csepel
Budapest

Péter Nándor could barely hear the boasting of his overly enthusiastic guide, Szőke Antal over the sound of the machinery around him. They had to time their conversation in between the booming industrial of presses and high pitched grinding sounds of cutting metal. He had also dodged numerous sparks that saw fit to spray across the factory floor. He didn't envy the men who had to had to be here everyday, a small reminder of why he went into politics.

Eventually, him and his guide managed to traverse the floor of the factory without incident, leading him to a much quieter room led him where several women and children sat giving the factory fresh guns a clean before they could be boxed and shipped to out to the armies. He approached the nearest woman and gestured for her to hand him her weapon. She set down her oily rag and handed him the rifle without complaint, merely picking up another one and got back to work

"I'm sure you've seen more than a few of these during your time, Prime Minister. The Mannlicher M1895. Saw us through the great war, and has gone through nearly eight modernisations since then. A shining example of the industrial growth we have made as a nation." Szoke said as he fiddled with the bolt mechanism "It goes without saying this factory alone has surpassed its army production quota for the sixth consecutive year. Feedback from the frontlines in Slovenia are stellar, troops can't get enough of it. I've even heard tales of insurgents throwing down their old and shitty Russian rifles and looting them from dead soldiers... yes.. morbid, i know. But when the enemy wants your gun too, you can't deny its a good one.

"I can't lie and say i'm not impressed. FEG has been one of the top growing companies in Hungary for nearly a decade now. What concerns me, Mr Antal is that you've struggled to meet the quota the Honved has laid out for motorised vehicles.

Szőke Antal didn't drop his cheery demeanour, he set the rifle down and gestured the Prime Minister to continue following him "I'm aware, I suspected as much when word reached me of a personal visit from the top dog himself. I can't deny it, but neither can my competitors. Our homeland has bounced back well since the war that saw us split from our former Austrian overlords, but the great war claimed many lives, damaged a lot of infrastructure and shook every nation to its roots. Most of my new hires are barely men themselves." He said, almost solemnly. "Those that have some chest hair on them are a rare commodity. We don't have enough employees or resource flow to be able to manufacture cars and planes as fast as we product guns. You can visit any of our rivals and see that they struggle to do the same."

"I understand. My visit was never to reprimand you or your workers. I am eternally grateful for every man who swings a hammer to make our republic a stronger nation. I chose to come to you for advice, mostly. What do you suggest, Mr Antal?" Nandor replied

Szőke took a moment to ponder the question, before speaking "I am torn between my patriotism and my skill as a businessman. My inner patriot tells me that we must be self sufficient, but my inner businessman says we should look elsewhere. Buying Austrian would cause an outcry, if they ever decided to sell to their rebellious former subjects. Germany is perhaps the best option, they have recovered to a point that were likely wealthier and more industrialised than they were at the time the Great War erupted. I know from certain circles that they have begun selling abroad in greater numbers than before."

"I appreciate your candour, Mr Antal. I will take that into consideration" The Prime Minister replied

"For you, anything. Now, now, let me show you what we DO have on the production line at the moment." Szőke said with some excitement "We have a batch of scout cars ready to ship to the Carpathians as we speak."

To the esteemed members of the Comissariat of Defence

We have come to hear that you are selling finely crafted pieces of German engineering to the international community. It goes without saying that many of our armed forces were in marvel of the mighty war machines you threw at the forces of the Triple Entente during the great war. Needless to say, we are very much interested in what you wish to produce.

We would like to purchase all of the Arado Ar 68 Biplanes you currently have advertised, and a further fifty of your Arado Ar 65 Biplanes, along with flight manuals and training crews.

Furthermore, we would be interested in aquiring the licensing to begin producing homegrown versions of the Mittlerepanzerkampfwagen and Leichtpanzerkampfwagen. Name a price and we will be willing to negotiate the best deal for our two nations.

We wish for a prosperous future together.

Kind Regards

The Hungarian Ministry of Defence,

Bureau of Acquisitions

by **Arvenia** » Tue Oct 12, 2021 8:11 am

El Espectador
January 24, 1937

President Alfonso López Pumarejo Announces New Policies
BOGOTÁ - President Alfonso López Pumarejo has announced new policies that would help quell the social and economic fallout in Gran Colombia.

The following policies are:
1. A new Ministry of Development (Ministerio de Desarrollo) will be formed to formulate, implement and orient housing policy, urban development, water supply and sanitation. It would replace the Ministry of Housing and take over certain positions from the Ministry of Natural Resources.
2. A new Ministry of Welfare (Ministerio de Bienestar) will be formed to coordinate and implement the national policy and social services relating to health and social security. It would replace the Ministry of Healthcare and take over certain positions from the Ministry of Finance.
3. Both the new Ministry of Development and the already-existing Ministry of Transportation would help improve the country's infrastructure.
4. Both social and financial reforms shall be implemented in order to change the current situation.
5. Economic growth shall be increased by supporting smaller businesses and creating newer jobs.
6. Agriculture shall be supported through government subsidies and rural development.
7. Defense spending shall be lowered by 75% in order to spend more on welfare.
8. A new trade agreement shall be signed with the US in regards to the Panama Canal.

Reactions to these policies have been mixed, although the Patriotic Party were more opposed to them than both the Conservative Party and the Liberal Party. The PP has denounced the policies as "capitalist", "weak", "unreliable" and even "treacherous". The PP has been demanding more stronger policies from the current government.

Patriots Demands American Withdrawal From Panama
PANAMA CITY - Members of the Patriotic Party are currently protesting in Panama City (Ciudad de Panamá), East Panama (Panamá Este). They demand that the US relinquish control of the Panama Canal over to Gran Colombia. They consider the current status quo to be a form of American imperialism and threatens to attack any American if their demands are not met. They are burning US flags and chanting words such as "Death to America" (¡Muerte a América!), "Panama is ours" (¡Panamá es nuestro!) and "Give us back the Panama Canal" (¡Devuélvanos el Canal de Panamá!). So far, the Panama City Police Department (Departamento de Policía de la Ciudad de Panamá) is currently keeping the protesters away from American workers at the Panama Canal, although violence would soon erupt due to the current political situation in Gran Colombia.

To: United States of America
From: Greater Colombian Republic
Subject: Diplomacy
Encryption: Low
Dear President John Nance Garner, I congratulate on your victory as the new President of the United States. I would look forward our diplomatic and commercial ties. There have been some heated conflict regarding the Panama Canal, while my country continues to feel the effect of the Great Depression. We would like if we could strenghten our ties so that our countries could be lifted from further crisis. I propose a new trade agreement between our countries. We hope for a brighter future in Latin America.

Atentamente, President Alfonso López Pumarejo

by **Mifan** » Thu Oct 14, 2021 10:23 pm

Folha de São Paulo

Protests in the Capital

Protests have erupted this week in Rio de Janeiro as the price of food continues to stay at an all time high. Local Law Enforcement, as well as members of the National Guard, were sent to break the protests up. Over 200 people were wounded as Police and Military Forces used heavy handed tactics to disperse the crowds. Deputy Leandro Pessoa Simões came out with a statement, following the clash.

"It is a dark day in history when your own government uses violence to put down a peaceful protest. These people are hungry, starving. All they want is access to food and for this crisis to finally end. No, instead, they received beatings and bullets. If this is how our government responds to our own people, who can they trust? We're supposed to serve them, represent them, not assault them. Rest assured, my party and I, will be pushing for an official investigation of the matter."

Many throughout the nation have begun to call for the removal of the Emperor and for new elections. Conservative leaders have come out in support of the Emperor. "He is not a monster who abuses his power. Many would like to believe such a thing, but the reality is, he is nowhere near that. The police and National Guard only did what they had to in order to restore order; violent members of the crowd are to blame. The Emperor doesn't condone this violence; he allowed for law enforcement to do its job, and even kept the Imperial Guard out of the situation. A so called 'monster' would've unleashed them. People are angry and tired, that is understandable, but violence is not the way."

Subsidies for Farms

A bill, to begin subsidizing vast portions of the agricultural sector, has passed both houses of the General Assembly. Lawmakers are hopeful that the bill will increase food production and bring down prices, a major concern for vast portions of the nation. After the recent protests that turned violent, many hope to see that the bill actually does what it proposes and lower prices.

Many across all spectrums have come out in support of the bill. Socialists, however, believe the bill doesn't go far enough. "While it is nice to see the government take control in order to provide aide for the people, despite it being slow in doing so, there is still much work to be done. New bills that provide government funding to various social projects must be pushed through the Assembly in order to make a real change. The people have suffered long enough; the time for change is now!"

Liberals also wish to see the bill expanded, but are much more focused on the economic aspect of it. Many hope that once agriculture has boomed once again, that other aspects of the economy, mainly various industries, will be able to gain government support to expand.

by **Northern Socialist Council Republics** » Fri Oct 15, 2021 1:19 am

The Commonwealth of Northern Socialist Council Republics
"Anyone who has ever looked into the glazed eyes of a soldier dying on the battlefield will think hard before starting a war."

Conference Chamber, the Sound International Hotel and Resort
Helsingborg, Swedish Republic, the Northern Commonwealth
Friday, 29th January 1937

"Gentlemen," Speaker Jens Nordstjerne raised his glass, "a toast - to peace and prosperity!"

The Conference was not a full success - the non-participation of the Intermarium and Bulgaria-Romania meant that his vision of a sanitary cordon to contain the Soviet Union's Russian revanchism was destined to go unfulfilled - but it was not a failure either. Between Germany, the Netherlands, Danubia, Hungary, and his own Norden, there was no doubt that the stack of signed papers on the high table represented the beginnings of something truly great.

A cooperative Central Europe.

Now there only remained to deal with the resurgent British threat in the west and the resurgent Russian threat in the east... yes, indeed, the Speaker's work was never quite done. Still, that wasn't an excuse not to celebrate what little he did manage to accomplish, nor to refuse to enjoy himself in this historic day alongside his colleagues and foreign counterparts with whom he had made this happen.

"Sometimes I still wonder what you were thinking," a sour voice pierced his mood.

Jens turned around.

"Germany has as much population as the other four members of your little free trade bloc combined," Christian Rasmussen, the party chairman of the Scandinavian Romanticists who was attending this banquet in his capacity as the Leader of the Opposition, pointed out in distaste. "Oh, we'll vote for ratification, don't worry; we're not about to be party to a national humiliation by refusing to accept a treaty on which our signature sits, but I think posterity will show that what you've created is nothing more than a conduit that will let German communism dominate the rest of Europe."

Speaker Jens Nordstjerne raised his eyebrows.

"Consider," he rebutted, "that if I didn't bind Central Europe into a joint economic bloc, Germany's closest economic and military partner would have been the Soviet Union. Would that have been so much better?"

Christian scowled.

"Frankly, if letting Germany build their own little sphere of influence in the heart of Europe is the price that has to be paid to keep Central Europe's largest economy and great power out of the Soviet sphere of influence, I'd consider that a price very much well paid. And that's assuming that Germany will end up dominating the Central European Free Trade Association, which I don't think is at all a certain thing. You did notice how active the Danubian delegation was throughout this entire conference, right?"

"A free trade bloc doesn't change the fact that Germany is still surrounded by countries that are quite suspicious of it and its intentions. This Central European Free Trade Association is one of the few ways that Germany can break out of their isolation, their rivalry with almost every one of their large neighbours, and I very much doubt that Berlin is particularly willing to start picking it apart by abusing it for political gain."

"You overestimate the pragmatism of those German communists," Christian insisted. "They're insane and fanatical' you think they'll stop at anything to turn Vienna red?"

"Christian, if they weren't pragmatic, they wouldn't have won their little civil war in the first place."

by **Elerian** » Fri Oct 15, 2021 3:28 pm

Il Popolo d'Italia
The Newspaper for the People of Italy
10th of January 1937

THE HARAR INSURGENCY
The most recent updates on the unrest in Harar

With the conflict entering its first full year, the Ministry of Italian Africa has released a series of reports to explain the progress that Polizia Coloniale forces are making against the various insurgent organizations in Harar. The Ministry of Italian Africa, in a six-page report released to the public on Wednesday, told about the progress of the military operations - primarily those against the so-called "Shifta". According to the recent report, Polizia Coloniale forces have been working closely with Askari and irregular troops to "Curb Malcontents" - with police forces targeting gold mines, bandit-run farms, and many other key parts of the local resistance network. The Ministry of Italian Africa claims that they've "crippled key parts of these operations", and that "the Shifta has seen intense losses - inflicted on their ranks, and their will to fight itself." As of January 1st, the Ministry of Italian Africa has nearly nine-thousand regular troops in Harar Province - the heart of Shifta country - where efforts to stamp out opposition have ramped up in recent weeks. The Shifta are finding their operations crumbling, and their ability to project military power waning, despite their large base of sympathizers.

As of the start of this year, the Kingdom of Italy has just over 150,000 troops deployed throughout Italian East Africa and the Ministry of Italian Africa reports suggest that this number will likely rise as operations against insurgent groups increase, in an effort to "prevent these organizations from bouncing back." So far, 360 Italians have been reported to have been Killed in Action, with 2211 wounded, and around 253 Missing in Action. While this is a large number, it pales in comparison to the losses that Abbysinia's key insurgent groups have suffered - the Ministry of Italian Africa estimating that almost 11,170 hostile Shifta have been killed by Polizia Coloniale forces since Emperor Haile Selassie was captured and formally surrendered late last Spring.

A "change in leadership" has been reported by the Ministry of Italian Africa, Marshal Graziani has stepped down as Viceroy and as Governor-General of Italian East Africa. His replacement is said to be the first cousin, once removed, of Victor Emmanuel III; the Duke of Aosta, Prince Amedeo.

MEHDI FRASHERI VISITS ROMA, MEETS WITH MUSSOLINI
The Prime Minister of Albania travelled to Roma to meet with Mussolini to discuss financial commitments

Prime Minister Mehdi Frashëri visited the Kingdom of Italy today, leaving for the country the previous morning. He was hosted by Italian Prime Minister Benito Mussolini at the Palazzo Venezia.

During their meeting the two leaders addressed a number of key issues important to the people in their respective countries, including the controversy between Albania and Italy over financial commitments the Kingdom of Italy has made. The Italian Prime Minister, who has so far remained silent on the issue, stated that "Albania’s relationship with Italy is of great importance, and this should be handled with great care."

When pressed about opinions on trade, Albania being more pro free trade and Italy having become more weary of free trade, the Albanian Prime Minister said that, "It is the duty of any leader to look after his country's interests first and foremost and I respect Mussolini's pursuit in this regard, that said, trade is the lifeblood of nations and I believe that we can work out a trade deal that is favourable to both of our countries."

Concerning the promise of loans, an aide to the Prime Minister provided only a brief comment. "We intend on discussing the issue in private and I'm optimistic we can work out terms that will satisfy the needs of King Zog and his people."

Mehdi Frashëri’s meeting with the Italian Prime Minister is an important move in establishing a better working relationship with the Kingdom of Italy, Albania’s primary trade partner and financier.

The meeting is also important in securing the reinstatement of Italian nationals into Albanian civil service, and as military advisers, and re-privatize the nationalized Italian Catholic schools of northern Albania. In order to achieve this, it is expected that Italy will grant new loans for harbour improvements at Durrës among other projects that will help to keep the struggling Royal Albanian Government afloat.

FIAT GIVEN PERMISSION TO JOIN TSARIST AIR TRIAL
Fiat to send its prototype G.50 Freccia model to compete for Tsarist Air Force contract

After winning a contract with the Regia Aeronautica to produce 50 models, Fiat will now put its fighter aeroplane to the test against other European plane models. So far only one other model from the Danube Confederation has joined the trial. Fiat has sent Giovanni de Briganti, the chief test pilot for the G.50 program, to fly the prototype aeroplane in the trial.

by **The National Dominion of Hungary** » Sun Oct 17, 2021 5:25 am

The Soviet Union

Kremlin, Moscow - Soviet Union

The great city of Moscow was draped in red banners, fluttering gently in the winter winds. Large posters and murals extolling the virtues of communism and international socialist cooperation covered sometimes the entire side of a building. The AgitProp had been hard at work building up the summit as a grand occasion in history, the beginning of a new age of trade and prosperity for the Socialist nations around the world. The motorcade bringing in delegates from near and far were arriving at the Kremlin, greeted by a Red Army marching band as they walked down a snow-sprinkled red carpet to the building where the initial negotiations were to be held. On walls the buildings in the complex that was the Moscow Kremlin, grand posters glorifying the revolution and the Neo-Bolshevik Soviet ideals were hanging proud. There was large poster of workers storming one of the Imperial palaces, Bukharin at a podium giving a speech to a cheering crowd, a tractor factory, happy farmers tilling the land taken from the nobility and given to them etc. They were greeted at thr door by General Secretary Bukharin who later took a photo with each of the leading members of the national delegations before they proceeded inside. The walls of the hallway to the convention hall were a brownish-red color with portraits of Soviet leaders lining them, at the end by the door was a large portrait of Bukharin. Naturally, Leon Trotsky, Grigori Zinoviev, Nikolai Bulganin and Andrei Zhdanov were nowhere to be seen. It was like they had never existed.

Two NKVD guards opened the double doors at the end of the hallway and the delegates entered a large, surprisingly cozy hall. A fireplace was on one of the walls, and there were large shelves filled with books. A lot of it was communist literature- books by Marx, Engels, Robert Owen etc. A number of large, heavy and decorative tables had been placed in a semi-circle toward a slightly raised table for the General Secretary and the rest of the Soviet representatives, namely People's Foreign Minister Molotov, People's Minister of Commerce Leonid Krasin and Marshall Kliment Voroshilov representing the Red Army. As the delegations sat at down, Bukharin stood up, he was a little disappointed that the Nordics had not come, but in the grand scheme of things, that did not matter, the Germans were here, and the Chinese were here. Of course, representatives from the People's Republic of Mongolia and the United Socialist Republic of Turkestan were here as well.

"Comrades from near and far." Bukharin said in a calm tone of voice. "I hope your trips have not been overly strenuous, just as I hope that you have been looking forward to this day as much as I have. I can only repeat the words of our honored guest, Commissar Thälmann. Spartacists, Socialists, Communists, Bolsheviks—all simply names on the same umbrella. The brothers and sisters of Socialism across the world must unite together. Few are the times when truer words are spoken. I suppose our German comrades know this well, surrounded as the are by the capitalistic, aristocratic monarchists in France and Danubia. The forces of reactionism are growing, Italy has fallen under the dark spell of fascism, Rome nurses her wounds from the Great War, Japanese Showa fascism surely has dark designs on lands beyond those they already tyrannize."

Bukharin took a sip of water from a nearby glass before continuing. "That is why we are here, comrades. We need to build solidarity between the liberated nations that operate for the benefit, not the ruthless exploitation of the working masses. We are here to discuss trade and joint economic endeavors to bring us out of the recession caused by the irresponsible capitalists. We are here to discuss the possibility of technological exchange, of military training and cooperation, of mutual security and to lay a groundwork for conflict mediation between red states across the world." Bukharin said and sat down, nodding to Krasin.

"Comrades, let us perhaps start with discussing trade." The People's Minister of Commerce said. "The Soviet Union is a major producer of grains and processed foodstuffs, even before the Siberian Plan came into action. We see many opportunities to supply the great industrial cities of the Chinese heartland and the Rhur with quality food, as well as natural resources from the extraction operations we are developing in Siberia, is that something that Germany and China could be interested in?"

Fields near Prokhorovka, Kursk Oblast - Soviet Union

General Georgi Zhukov surveyed the terrain through his field glasses. It was a largely flat expanse covered with snow with a few gentle hills and a smattering of forested copses resting in the early morning. A light frost covered the ground this winter, but there were no more significant accumulations of snow in the region that usual if the meteorological report was to be believes. Shit... this is almost ideal tank country, surpassed perhaps only by the even flatter steppes further east. General Zhukov thought to himself. Hell, this was the whole reason why he was here. One Soviet armored division was conducting field maneuvers in the area under his supervision with 560 tanks moving across the fields. Mostly T-26's, but 60 tanks in this division, as in all Soviet armored divisions were the heavier T-28 multi-turreted medium tanks. What Zhukov was most interested in however was to monitor the performance of the new BT-7 in winter conditions. The BT-7 was a fantastic machine, quite superior to the T-26 but the decision of the People's Ministry of Military Affairs to keep the T-26 and only use the BT-7 as a complement annoyed Zhukov. He wanted all light tanks in the armored forces replaced with the BT, but there was little he could do at the moment.

So far, his troops had performed adequately though the lack of radios below the battalion echelon made command and control difficult and the whole exercise started with a traffic jam as units moved down the roads in long column. The tank division was a large force. Perhaps breaking them up into smaller units would remedy this... or actually give us the radios they keep promising. Zhukov thought as he observed the movement of his tanks across the snowy plains. He had taken a keen interest in the Soviet armored force and had been the driving force in its extension. General Zhukov had plans, fast moving armored units acting in the Deep Operations doctrine instead of tying down small tank units to infantry units. While such a doctrine may have been acceptable during the Great War when early tanks could barely move faster than a man on foot over good ground (to say nothing of rough trench lines) and were expected to simply power their way through the enemy defense lines with brute force, modern improvements allowed for faster, more mobile vehicles and the opportunity for breakthroughs based on speed. Marshall Tukhachevsky had indeed been onto something...

by **Intermountain States** » Sun Oct 17, 2021 5:44 pm

National Times

Security increased in Panama Canal

Balboa, Panama Canal Zone - January 27th, 1937
Governor Clarence S. Ridley of the Panama Canal Zone mobilized the Canal Zone Police in response to threats from Gran Colombia's Patriotic Party in a recent protest in Panama City. Governor Ridley also ordered an increase in troop security and advised that all American nationals living in Colombia to take safety precautions to minimize potential assaults.

"We hope to cooperate with Colombian police in regards to the threats made by radicals against American citizens," Ridley stated in a recent press conference from Balboa. "Our main priority is to protect American nationals in Gran Colombia from any assaults. At the request from Governor Ridley, President Garner ordered detachments of both the Atlantic and the Pacific Fleet to be sent to the Panama Canal Zone to reinforce troop presence until the threats die down.

"The United States will not take threats made to her citizens lightly," President Garner said. "The Panama Canal Zone remains under American sovereignty as a result of the Hay–Bunau-Varilla Treaty of 1903 and we will not abandon American territory from idle threats."

Military to eye southern states for new military bases

Austin, Texas - January 27th, 1937

Secretary of War Henry Stimson announced plans to construct new military bases for the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps in southern states as part of President Garner's plans in bringing much needed infrastructure and capital to the Southern United States and to continue the national economic recovery. According to Stimson, warm sunny weather of the South proved to be ideal environments to construct new army camps and airbases. New shipyards were to be built along the Gulf Coast and in the Chesapeake Bay.

In addition, major defense contractors announced constructions of factories and plants across the southern states with some interests taken in the Dallas-Forth Worth Area in Texas. It is estimated that the new bases and industries would provide the southern states billions of dollars in capita and a large boost in population. Southern politicians welcomed the decision made by the federal government as ways to provide much needed economic development to the poorest region of the country.

To: President Alfonso López Pumarejo of the Republic of Gran Colombia
From: United States Department of State

To Mr. President, his Senior Excellency,

It is preferable that diplomacy is the first action taken between the United States and Gran Colombia. While war is the last thing we want, America must look out for the safety of her citizen across the world. In regards to diplomacy, we are open to having representatives between the two great nations of the Americas to meet in regards to strengthening diplomatic ties and negotiating on our current economic relations.

With regards,
Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby for President John Nance Garner of the United States of America

A War of Blood and Steel [Althis|PT|IC|Ended]

A War of Blood and Steel [Althis|PT|IC|Ended]

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