The Darkest hour of the Russian Empire 2
Chapter Three: 1936-1939
Part XV: The era of peace is finished
At the end of March Abyssinia was fully annexed. The Italians won the war, but the Ethiopians decided to continue fighting as partisans. Massive rebellions began very soon, and the Italians had to keep their new colony under military control.
Ethiopia is defeated
Italian propaganda poster
While the Italians were fighting against the Abyssinian partisans (who were funded and supplied by the Russians), Imperial Navy planned great maritime maneuvers in the Indian ocean. Southern squadron, based in Persia, left the base and moved to Vladivostok to meet the Pacific fleet. All the ships, including heavy cruisers and the battleship
Imperator Nikolay II, started their journey under command of admiral Gernet.
Southern squadron maneuvers, phase 1
Imperator Nikolay II
The second phase, the fleet reaches India
Maneuvers were successful, new Russian ships showed its strength and good technical characteristics, while the crew was skillful and capable. It showed, that the southern maritime border of the Empire was defended well.
The third phase, Gernet goes to Vladivostok
In June new elections occurred in France. The people of the republic decided to elect left social-democratic bloc and Albert Lebrun.
Elections in France
In China Imperial Japanese army was stopped - Chiang Kai-shek's troops managed even to perform a good counter-attack, when the city of Changde was recaptured. The Japanese didn't expect such a resistance and decided to transfer more forces to the Chinese territories. That war was more and more interesting...
The Japanese army falls back
Japanese soldiers
In Europe the strange and scary affairs continued with growing speed - in July Germany together with the UK signed the treaty of Munich, and after that Sudetenland (an area in Czechoslovakia what was inhabited by the ethnic Germans) was reclaimed. The Czechoslovakian government didn't have any another path to choose, because after the death of Nicholas II diplomatic relationships were worsened and Czechoslovakia with her "independent and sovereign state" policy couldn't receive any help from the Eastern giant.
The treaty
Faces of Munich
Mussolini signing the treaty
After these treaties the menace of war became obvious for everybody in Europe, Africa, Asia and America. Egyptians decided to break the treaties with the British Empire - the British reaction was simple - most of Egyptian territory (except Cairo) was reclaimed under the British control. The storm was close...
Egypt decides to cancel the pact
Faruq I in "Time"
On 11 of November Kemal Ataturk passed away - the Turkish republic, a country created by him, was in mourning. Ismet Inonu became the new president of the young state. Turkey had a long way to go, and without Ataturk it became more difficult to complete the task.
New Turkish leader
While the Germans were celebrating one more diplomatic conquest, the Russian military industry continued preparing for the war. For example, in Arkhangelsk (Russian Arctic) the Navy founded a special squadron of heavy submarines to control the northern trade routes.
We'll defend our Arctic!
Together with heavy submarines Russian factories were producing new tanks to make the army stronger and more mobile. A lot of tank brigades were ordered to build.
Russia is gearing up for war
Military defeats in China led to a right-wing coup d'etat in Japan - a group of generals and admirals took the key posts in the government, while a lot of ministers had to resign. The Japanese emperor had to agree with all changes. Japan was becoming more and more aggressive.
Generals are in charge now
New Japanese prime minister, Senjuro Hayashi
1939 was close, as well as new parliamentary elections. Who would win them? Octobrists? Liberals? Nationalists? The situation wasn't clear at all...
To be continued
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Next update: January, 15
