Democracy Prevails

[Sharkfreak06]

Democracy Prevails:
A History of the
United States
(1917-)

The Great Seal of the United States of America: Of many, comes one

Nation: USA
Goal: Total Victory

Contents:
Prelude: The American Psyche and World War I (below)
Part 1: The Ignorant Era
Chapter 1: Interbellum
Chapter 2: Fascist Consolidation: The Rhineland, The Onslaught, The Boiling Point
Chapter 3: The Departure: The Treaty of Munich and FDR's last straw, America's Great Schism, The Second Sino-Japanese War
Chapter 4: Fascism’s early triumphs: The Fall of Poland, The Fall of Scandinavia and the Low Countries, The Fall of France and Great Britain
Part 2: The Awakening
Chapter 5: Sides Chosen: The Chinese Catastrophe

Prelude: The American Psyche and World War I

The United States of America finally committed itself to military force in the First World War in 1917, after having watched the bloodiest conflict unravel over the previous three years. It was the common belief of our forefathers that if the fragile, experimental, American Democracy was to succeed, it must separate itself from the entangling nature of European alliances. Since the US found itself sitting securely with the natural, monumental barriers of two great oceans, she had no viable reason to invite many hundreds of thousands of her youth to the butcher shop, as her European counterparts had been doing for some time.

America did, however, have a free market economy which stood to gain from the bloodiest war in human history. Through the sale of supplies and ammunition, America profited from France and Britain (Triple Entente), which were fighting Germany and Austria-Hungary (Central Powers) for their survival. Finally, with the German adoption of “unrestricted submarine warfare” being used against American cargo ships, the loss of the American civilian vessel “Lusitania”, and the “Zimmerman telegram” sent to Mexico by Germany in hopes of a German-Mexican alliance against the US, the need for war increasingly weighed upon the public’s conscience. With Russia’s departure from the war, the Entente’s need for another world power to step in and tip the balance scale in the other direction became apparent. For better or worse, on April 6th, 1917, the United States of America formally announced its entry into World War 1.

With the arrival of countless fresh and battle-ready Americans supplementing the valiant but exhausted French and British, the end of the war was in sight. The total effect of America’s involvement on the final outcome of the war is legitimately arguable- but it’s certain their green, cocky soldiers were a God’s send to the millions of exhausted Allies at the front. Just a year and a half after America’s official entry, on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, the war was over.


An African-American regiment marches to the front


Many American soldiers quickly adapted to their new lifestyle in the trenches


An agreement to end the war with an armistice is finally signed in a railway carriage in the French forest of Compiègne...


...Immediately after the stalemate and the signing of the Treaty of Versailles, the US disbanded its army and went into an even deeper period of isolationism...

[Sharkfreak06]

Chapter 1: Interbellum (between the wars)

American troops returning home after the Great War

With the ending of the First World War came a short recession in the US, as its factories were no longer needed to produce war material, and it took some time to convert them back to consumer goods production. When the troops were returned home and demobilized, however, they had money in their pockets and ambition in their minds. The brief period of triumphant unity caused by the war quickly gave way to new domestic battles regarding the morality of some of man’s most common sins, including alcohol and war. The largely inept and murderous tactics of trench warfare became a catalyst throughout the world for social reform against all war, and ideas like the League of Nations (1920) were put in motion in order to prevent any massive future catastrophes. In America, the sale of alcohol was outlawed by the federal government (also 1920), which claimed it to cause various “social problems”. Although these ideas were created in good conscience, they would go on to cause much more harm than good.


Delegates from the failed League of Nations


Prohibition takes effect

Woodrow Wilson’s dream for a “League of Nations” which would serve to unite the world’s superpowers in cooperation instead of divide them in competition would backfire, and the US didn’t even join in fear of it being just another “entangling alliance”. Prohibition was also a tremendous failure. The United States underwent a small “social revolution” in that its states became increasingly connected through partnership and trade. The federal government in Washington had a hard time enforcing federal laws due to a severe shortage in federal law enforcement personnel, which wouldn’t be solved until the creation of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in 1924. This shortage caused thousands of underground clubs to open up called “speakeasies”, which would help to push the US into an even greater state of lawlessness. Also, a much more complex and interdependent economy was sprouting in the 1920’s, much faster than legislation could be introduced to regulate it. What would later be called the “Roaring Twenties” would do little more than set the nation, and the industrialized world, on a crash course towards disaster.


Underground "speakeasy"... there will always be ways.

On October 29, 1929, the New York Stock Exchange crashed. Overnight, millions of Americans lost everything. The blow was not only confined to the lower class, the rich investors who were so important to the concept of capitalism were affected first; and as the businesses began closing their doors, the working class began losing their jobs. Many factors were to blame for the Great Depression including buying stocks on the margin, billions in unregulated money flow, massive consumer fear, and an increasingly polarized political climate.


Might want to take that sign down...


Commonplace in the Great Depression

The Great Depression spread to every capitalist country in the world at different times and in different ways. In financial terms, the US was hit hardest, followed shortly by Canada and Australia. Many smaller nations were also hit hard economically due to a massive amount of yanked investment from the United States, mainly in Central and South America. The two large (capitalist) countries that successfully maneuvered around detrimental effects were France and the UK. Domestic agriculture was a huge part of the French economy, so it had a better degree of self-sufficiency. The UK was hit, but was able to recover much quicker than the US. Germany was hit especially hard by the bust, both economically and politically. Important loans which were going towards reconstruction and reparations from the US were withdrawn, so the German economy crashed quickly. The turbulent turmoil which followed forced much of the country to choose between extreme left and extreme right. Cities in Germany went back to the feudal era; a city run by a communist with its own militia could be miles from a city with a fascist mayor with a far-right militia. Hitler and the Nazis successfully managed to take over the Reichstag and get the Chancellery, before ending dreams of a democratic Germany indefinitely.


Hitler succeeds, what does fate hold in store for Germany?

Back in the US, life was descending to basic necessities. Franklin Delano Roosevelt was elected president in 1932, promising to do all that was possible to end the Depression. Instead it continued to take its toll, as the absolute worst years are said to have been 1932-1934. In response FDR launched the New Deal, massive government programs were set in motion to put the masses to work, including building highways, bridges, dams, and buildings. The common phrase “You dig the hole and I’ll fill it in” represented the desperation of the time. GDP began booming, and the unemployment rate was shrinking for the first time in 6 years. 1935 was a total recovery year for the US economy, finally progress could be seen.


FDR's campaign button


A public project in action

By the end of the year the GDP was back to what it had been in 1930, and all signs, at last, pointed to an end.

[Sharkfreak06]

Chapter 2: Fascist Consolidation, Part 1

The US was finally beginning to recover from the Great Depression as 1936 rolled around. The social plans of the New Deal had successfully stimulated the economy, and private business began to flourish once again. The stock market had long since recovered, so capital was finally changing hands and creating another lively economy. The rising standard of living and population increase in the middle class meant the government was finally able to pay off the rising debt caused from borrowing all the funds it needed. Although the end was still a ways off, GDP was rising, and the government had money to spare.

The world was recovering as well, albeit in different ways. Britain and the rest of Western Europe recovered relatively quickly and harmlessly, though France saw a permanent increase in its Socialist Workers’ Movement. Germany, one of the hardest hit of all, went entirely bankrupt in finally paying off its reparations. Now, aided by a military-minded dictator, it began to steadily increase the size of its military. In fact, Germany already broke two specific outlines of the Treaty of Versailles in 1935, it had reintroduced conscription, and the size of its army exceeded 100,000 men. Eager to finally live in harmony, the West willingly turned a blind-eye to Hitler’s minor “rule bending”. Hitler also boldly satisfied his promise of domestic consolidation when he ordered 35,000 troops into the Rhineland, claiming it was in response to French troops occupying parts of the border land when Germany defected on their reparation payments a couple years before. Again, France and the UK only slightly protested because it didn’t want to stir up Germany’s enormous fervor, especially on the eve of the Berlin Summer Olympic Games. Perhaps the West was also starting to believe they may have been a little harsh on Germany when they forced their signature of the “ceasefire”, before backstabbing them at Versailles.






On March 7th, German troops march confidently into the Rhineland for the first time in over 15 years

With the slight tension increase in Europe, the US made drastic changes to its intelligence program. Most of the Western European nations had better spy programs than it did, and America didn’t want to be outdone. With the creation of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in early 1936, all of America’s rather loose intelligence organizations now acted as one. Although it was still a relatively primitive group made up of field agents, signal corps personnel, and code-breakers, it made the system easier for the President to manage, and a daily combined report was written for him. FDR justified the massive increase in intelligence attention by claiming “the world needs a strong, democratic, intelligence network, and these organizations are sure to be a crucial factor in the coming years.” The FBI was also given higher intelligence funding, as it was now the only strong federal domestic intelligence agency within the US. Agents were placed around the country in the attempt to shutdown foreign spies which were surely planning attacks against the country.


The Seal of the newly created Central Intelligence Agency


William F. Friedman, the first (lame duck) director of the CIA


Friedman is replaced by the highly competent Vincent Astor on April 27, 1937


The FBI spreads its influence throughout the country. Within a year, almost all foreign spies are caught and executed/imprisoned

Also, perhaps due to its lack of possible geographic threat, the US chose to take a harsher stance against Nazi Germany. In September 1936, an embargo was passed by Congress against the Nazi regime, immediately canceling trade relations. This move, accompanied with the harsh protest letter sent directly to Hitler discussing reports of Human Rights violations and the complete dissolution of democracy, ensured the US was now becoming a key democratic figure in foreign affairs. The CIA was given orders to step up infiltration in Germany, in order to obtain as much information as it could. Such orders were later given to the CIA regarding Italy and the Soviet Union due to their belligerence in the Spanish Civil War.

Debates regarding what forms of government should be considered “democratic” had been taking place in Congress in order to create a “hotlist” in which to classify all countries which were not democratic and therefore needed further attention. Once created, the list was given to the President, and then passed onto the CIA to aid ideas for potential future missions. The prevailing opinion was all countries which held fair elections, no matter what economic system they had, should be classified as democracies. There was an increasing minority claiming, however, that even if a country held fair elections, they should only be considered “free” if that nation was a capitalist country. The minority successfully tweaked the “hotlist bill” to classifying countries into 3 categories; 1) Capitalist Democracies, 2) Intermediate Democracies, 3) Non-democracies. Diplomatic relations with many countries began to fade once they found out they had been targeted on a top secret “hotlist” by the US government, but such was the plan all along.


FDR addresses a Joint Congress on the necessity of a strong democracy. Congress passes the "hotlist bill" the next day.

[ShadowWarrior]

You created a good background and a good setting for your next step.
I like it and await your next update.

[Nathan Madien]

I am very impressed by the attention to detail; although, I get the feeling I have read this AAR already.

*reads the note at the beginning*

Oh, okay. I have read this AAR already.

[Capibara]

Excellent background, gives a great overview, I'll be following.

[Sharkfreak06]

You created a good background and a good setting for your next step.
I like it and await your next update.

Thanks ShadowWarrior,

I'm going to be slightly secretive in my actions, so any questions about my intentions just yet will be referred here, but they'll be known soon enough .

As I said in the first post, I started this last December and got the first 2 chapters done, but I decided to buy Armageddon and it kind of distracted me.

I'm editing the first 2 chapters to fit into my current game, and I'm adding a lot of pictures to go along with it... I like pictures so I hope you do too!

There are 3 sections to Chapter 2 and the 2nd one will be ready this afternoon!

Enjoy!

EDIT: Haha that's funny, 2 new posts that quickly! I'll respond to them here.

Nathan- Err... yaaa... There's more pictures this time though! ... new content will be ready soon because as I said I only did the first 2 chapters.

Capibara- Thanks, welcome aboard!

[PrussianPrince]

I like the background story, cant wait to see what happens in the future, nice beginning. I'll be reading.

[Sharkfreak06]

Chapter 2: Fascist Consolidation, Part 2

The World had reached a crossroads as it finally began to recover from the Great Depression. The economy in the United States was starting to pick up again, but consumer confidence was still frighteningly low. The public was unsure what to make of the advances; whether they should commit to and invest in the new rebuilt economy, or continue to work for and hang on to every penny they earned. Therefore, despite the strengthening financial system, people fell back on the lessons they learned during the Depression, which eventually stunted further possible growth. But as the US slowly shook itself off from the largest tragedy in its history, the rest of the world was much quicker to recuperate; especially the countries that turned to radical political climates to erase their troubles.

Nazi Germany had already reoccupied the Rhineland with military force and it had also begun to enforce racist laws that were pushing German culture towards barbarism. Italy was also beginning to exude the consequences of fascism. In October of 1935, Italy launched an offensive into Ethiopia out of Italian Somalidad and Eritrea, which ended just 4 months later with the annexation of Ethiopia.

The only independent African nation to successfully stand up to the Imperial European powers into the 1930s had been taken over by Italy. Ethiopia formally surrendered to Italy on February 29, 1936. Not wanting to be branded as hypocrites and have their own imperial aspirations exposed, France and Britain did nothing. The US also took no action against Italy, FDR claimed “This is just another consequence of the evil vermin that is global fascism. Italy has already been branded as fascist by the CIA”.


Fascist dictator of Italy, Benito Mussolini.


The Italian axis of advance into Ethiopia.


Italian troops begin amassing for their push on Addis Ababa in February, 1936.


A defeated Ethiopia falls under the rule of a madman who claimed to have created a "New Roman Empire". Italian Somalidad, Eritrea and Ethiopia are henceforth classified as "Italian East Africa".

The Nazi Olympics
Jesse Owens led the way for the US in the 1936 Berlin Olympics. After lengthy US talks to boycott the games bounced, the Americans arrived in force and were very difficult to handle. When all was over, Germany out gunned all others in the medal race (with 89 medals, 33 of them gold), but the US came in a solid 2nd (with 56 medals, 24 of them gold). Italy placed 3rd overall (22 medals, 8 of them gold), Sweden 4th (20 medals, 6 of them gold) and France and Finland completely tied for 5th place (both 19 medals, both 7 of them gold).


The advertisement poster for the Berlin '36 Summer games in August


The Opening Ceremony on August 1st, Nazi Germany used the event to show off its new strength.


Jesse Owens won gold in Berlin, Hitler walked out before the medal ceremony


Spanish Civil War
Spain’s Republican-Socialist Government collapsed and outright civil war began on July 18, 1936. Franco and the Fascist-Nationalists raised an army, supported by both Germany and Italy. The Soviet Union began aiding the Socialist government, so Spain was forced to choose between two extremes. Fighting and civil unrest were routine throughout the country as front lines were relatively transparent. To America’s dismay yet again, France and Britain did nothing to represent the idea of a strong, democratic Western Europe. Americans began to think that their French and British counterparts might lack the testicular fortitude to deal with German ambitions.


As soon as war erupted, the Republican government tried to recruit as many peasants as it could. Here is a company of Republican regulars marching towards Bilbao.


Nearly the entire Republican army of 200,000 men was based in Tarragona in Eastern Spain at the outbreak of war. After Madrid fell to Franco at the onset, 5 Republican divisions were tasked to retake the formal capital. Here shows the Republican army marching through Guadalajara on their way to Madrid.


The most intense fighting in the first few months of the Spanish Civil War occurred in and around Saragossa and Bilbao in Northern Spain. Here, a Republican soldier guards a civilian on the outskirts of Bilbao.


Saragossa, Spain. The Nationalist Army rests near the former city square. Civilians trying to flee the city to the North are questioned here before they can continue.


Civilians look toward the sky as Saragossa endures intense bombing from both sides.


Republican troops reclaim Madrid a month after it was seized by Franco. The Nationalists would take it again a week later.

Meanwhile, in Asia, tensions were also mounting. Chinese conspirators had learned of possible Japanese ambitions to conquer China. The Chief of the Nationalist army, Zhang Xueliang, warned Chinese dictator, Chiang Kai-shek, that a united China was their only hope for survival against Japan. At first, Chiang ignored Zhang's warning, instead coming up with a new way to crush Mao and his communist army. Frustrated and desperate, Xueliang kidnapped Chiang Kai-shek in Xi'an for almost a month and forced him to accept a peace deal with Mao. Finally, on March 30th, Chiang agreed to unite in an alliance with most of the Chinese warlords, and agreed to a peace deal with Communist China. The United Front was Forged.


Nationalist China agrees to a United Front to stand against the possibility of Japanese aggression


Chiang Kai-Shek with Nationalist General Zhang Xueliang at the time of the Xi-an Incident.

US President FDR is believed to have mistrusted the information regarding the incident. Years later, on the verge of Operation Tsunami, FDR made the statement "That incident was a communist hoax if ever there was one". Roosevelt's belief would be a crucial factor in the eventual formation of the "Second United Front"...

[HKslan]

Jesse Owens won gold in Berlin, Hitler walked out before the medal ceremony

Is this the AAR's point of departure?

[Sharkfreak06]

Is this the AAR's point of departure?

No, that happened with creation of the CIA before WWII starts .

FYI: The CIA was really made after the war was over.

[HKslan]

No, that happened with creation of the CIA before WWII starts .

FYI: The CIA was really made after the war was over.

Is there a big difference between this premature CIA and the OSS though?

[PrussianPrince]

Nice update, the Spanish Civil war is on the rise so who's winning the war?

[Sharkfreak06]

Is there a big difference between this premature CIA and the OSS though?

Yes

Prussian Prince- Neither side is winning... but neither side is a Democracy, so what does it matter? Catch my drift?

[ShadowWarrior]

I like your pics, you have coincide it nicely to get your story going.
Keep it up.

[GermanWehrmacht]

very nice background. It really grabbed my attention.

[Sharkfreak06]

Thank you both, I'll try not to disappoint!

Working on Section 3 tonight, I'll have it done by today sometime.

[Carlito Gambino]

Nice AAR, especially nice way of writing. I'd like to add a little something though. Hitler indeed walked out on the ceremony, and afterwards decided not to congratulate any of the medalists, but did wave his hand at Owens. FDR on the other hand did nothing to congratulate Owens, not even a telegram or a phone call.

Just a little historical trivia I wanted to add a long with your great AAR.

[Sharkfreak06]

Oh I know what happened. It wasn't the President's job to congratulate medal winners either though. It's still a bit odd that Hitler would stay and watch all of the events, congratulate only the German gold medalists, and then leave before the medal ceremony when Jesse Owens won.

But that's just my thought on the subject. Anyway, there will be some more little historical inaccuracies that come up in the next few chapters. I'm trying to make it like a biased history book... you'll soon find out why .

[Carlito Gambino]

Oh I know what happened. It wasn't the President's job to congratulate medal winners either though. It's still a bit odd that Hitler would stay and watch all of the events, congratulate only the German gold medalists, and then leave before the medal ceremony when Jesse Owens won.

But that's just my thought on the subject. Anyway, there will be some more little historical inaccuracies that come up in the next few chapters. I'm trying to make it like a biased history book... you'll soon find out why .

No, I figured you knew that already but just in case others didn't I just felt like writing up that little piece of information. Please do make historical inaccuracies, it means there'll be more a historical events, a subject I find quite fascinating.