Russia 1870-1881
Trouble has once again began in the Balkans. The Tsar Nicolai I has chosen, rightfully, to support his fellow Salvs under Ottoman rule. He has encouraged them to rise up against their captors, and free themselves of Muslim tyranny. Needless to say, the Turks have taken offense at this, being our allies.
These are uncertain times, and the future of the alliance is at stake. It is no time to have a Tsar on his deathbed.
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As expected, the Tsar has passed in Moscow. He went peacefully, as I was at his side. He shall forever be remembered as Nicolai the Great, a national hero for developing Russia into a first rate international force. Emissaries from all over the globe attended the somber service in St. Petersburg.
Also as expected, Aleksandr has been crowned Tsar. I weep for the future of Russia, as it is apparent that his mental state in unstable at best.
His first order of business was to take a hard-line stance on the Balkans. Aggressively pursuing the Ottomans to hand over Bulgaria, though stopping short of threatening war.
Also, Russia has withdrawn its support from the Alliance, due to tensions over the Balkans, as what the Tsar percieves as British efforts to constrain Russian influence. Instead a deal has been struck with the hated Germans, of which the exact terms are unknown, although the hard won provinces of Posen and Gnierzno have been repatriated to Germany, as an act of friendship.
As a result of the Russian withdrawl, the Alliance has utterly collapsed. The world order is at risk, all because of Aleksandr.
Russia is now party to a new mililtary alliance, known as the "Iron Fist", with the principal members being Germany and Russia.
Austria is in turmoil, and I have been orderd to Krakow to await development of the situation.
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War has been declared on Austria by Germany, and Russia was called to the fray. Russian and German troops raced across the border, and as always, the enemies of Russia have been swept aside.
Italy and the Ottoman Empire also entered the war against Austria, hoping to profiteer from the devastation of the Russian and German onslaught. Turkey has, as a result, placed itself squarely in the Russian crosshairs, as no more of the Balkans should be under Muslin rule.
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These are trying times....
Our old friends the British have declared war on Germany, due to the war in Austria. Russia and Italy have responded to the German call, per our alliance. The dastardly French have dishonored their responsibilities to Germany.
I have been ordered to crush the Austrians and march north to protect the capitol.
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The Tsar has negotiated a peace settlement with Austria with Russia gaining the Ukrainian populated state of Galicia, and meanwhile I have engaged the British at St. Petersburg.
Hoping for a quick victory, the British landed near the capitol, attempting to surround and sack it. Reinforcements had not yet arrived, and the capitol was only defended by 15 divisions. Luckily, the defenses I oversaw the construction of years ago, were fulled operational. The guard held out against the British, taking minimal casualties. Soon reinforcements arrived from the South, and pushed the British from the continent.
The world seems to be on its head, as Russia fights alongside Germany, against Britain.
The Turks seem to be getting theirs...France has declared war on them, seeing them occupied with Austria and revolts in the Balkans. It looks as if all of Africa will be overrun by the French. With this new threat, and Russia, Germany, and Italy all having concluded peace deals in Austria, the Turks are faced with the well prepared French in Africa, and the conscripts from Austria pouring in. They are falling back, and it seems Constantinople will fall before the year is out.
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The war drags on, it has been 5 years of war with Britian and no gains have went either way. Britian attempted small incursions in Crimea, Java, and Manchuria, although they have been pushed back each time to the sea. Lately, no hostilities have broken, as the British are sure they cannot succeed in an invasion. It seems that we are locked in everlasting war, all due to the greed and ineptitude of the Tsar Aleksandr. Had he only secured international approval for his actions, as Nicolai always did, we would not be in this mess.
I am told that the Imperial coffers are at an alltime high, however. While the war isnt costing the government any money, it certianly isnt helping the Russian peasants. All industrial and infrastructure improvements has ground to a halt. In addition, some goods have become scarce, especially for the poor. The Tsar grows rich from war, while the rest of the country bears the brunt of wartime taxes. If only our vast resources were distributed in a more fair manner, that all citizens could benefit equally, this war would be much less a burden.
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It is now apparent that the Tsar has been funneling massive amounts of money for years to the Germans, to build new navy cruisers. What treachery! The Tsar must be a madman to give the money earned by Russian blood and sweat to fund the German war effort! Russians starve while the Germans get new boats, something must be done.
And all for nothing...
The Tsar, having no military experience, fancied himself a strategist. With the new German boats rivaling that of the Royal Navy, a invasion force was hastily put together. If only some more planning had been done, we would be out of this war!
38 elite German divisions, as well as 20 Russian ones, (Russia having only 20 transports available), landed in the well defended region east of London. The Germans took Ipswitch, but soom english reinforcements arrived, swelling their numbers to over 60 divisions and growing. The Russian force landed just to the south, and set about taking control of the countryside. Having not cleared the British fleets, a smaller British force engaged the Germans off the coast. Just at that time, the British made their attack by land.
Being embroiled in battle, the German fleet, which was also the protection for the Russian transports, were unable to allow the army divisions to board. As a result, the Germans were caught between a superior British force and the coast. Meanwhile, with the bulk of the British force fighting the Germans, the Russian force stood relatively unmolested, although they were engaged enough to prevent reinforcement of the German ranks.
The German navy finally prevailed off the coast, allowing an evacuation. By this time, however, it was too late for the Germans, all 38 divisions had been destroyed, along with 3 Russian. The remaining 17 divisions set sail back to Germany in shame. The ill-conceived invasion was a complete failure due to the incompetence of the Tsar.
The war dragged on, but soon the British realized there was no hope for victory. All attempts to get Russia and Germany to repatriate lands taken from Austria had failed. A white peace was signed after 7 years of war.
The hardship on the peasantry has been unacceptable, all due to the greed of the Tsar. With my unit not engaged at all for years at a time, I have had time to let me mind wander, and explore new ideas. My efforts have turned to philosophy and politics.
Of considerable mention has been my reading of material produced by a German exile, Karl Marx. He advocated the centralization of all means of production, to be put to use for the entire population. Exactly what Russia could use after a long and costly war! I am convinced that the Tsar is taking Russia on a path to destruction, and I feel I must take matters into me own hands, for myself, my family, and my countrymen.
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The time has come for me to take action. I have championed a movement among some of my fellow officers, all of which share my fascination with Communism, and distrust of the Tsar. We will enact change in Russia, the future depends on it!
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Our plot has come to fruition! The Tsar planned a tour of the camps in Galicia in the Spring of 1877, and the opportunity presented itself to enact our plan. Many of the men were behind us by this time, seeing the suffering of their families back home. A reactionary traitor, however, caught wind of the plot to assissinate Aleksandr, and alerted him upon his arrival.
The Tsar turned as a coward and fled back to the capitol, as Cossacks loyal to the cause pursued him! Rumor has it that military units all over are denouncing their support of the Evil Tsar, and supporting our glorious cause for the proletariat! To Moscow!
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The army is in full mutiny, the Tsar has abdicated, and I have arrived at the Kremlin. Confusion reigns in the streets, what shall become of the Empire of Russia?
A band of officers has met me here in Moscow, to discuss the future of out nation. It has been agreed that the new state, to be known as the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, will be formed with its political capitol here in Moscow. The government will be overseen by a group of 20 of the most decorated and respected military officers in the nation, with myself as the foremost in power.
Now to set to work on fixing the many ills of the nation, not merely as a slave-General of the Tsar, but as Soviet Premier and head of the Army!