The Darkest hour of the Russian Empire 2
Chapter Seven: The Epilogue
Part XXXVIII: The Final
In 1942 the illness of the emperor progressed and he fell into a deep coma. Alexis II was in terrible conditions - all these war news, battles, casualties reports and other things affected his health badly. Wrangel's government decided to hide all information about emperor's illness and told that the emperor and his wife were evacuated to Siberia. Court medicians managed to return Alexis from coma only in the year 1946. When the Tsar recovered from his long incapability, he was told that the Russian Empire won the WW2.
Russian artillerymen with the shells. The signs tell: "To Hitler", "On Berlin", "On Reichstag".
The campaign of 1942, however, was lost - the Germans and the Japanese managed to occupy Poland and northern Manchuria. But wise actions of some notable Russian commanders like Myshlaevsky and Pavlovsky helped the Russian army to save its supplying lines, resources depots and artillery parks. The Germans established a General-Governorate on the territory of Poland and started creating Reichskomissariat Ost on the lands of Baltics and Belorussia.
Imprisoned soldiers of the Imperial army
The general counter-offensive of 1943 liberated eastern Poland and Belorussia - massive tank attacks and the overwhelming Russian supremacy in manpower played its role - Hitler had to pull his forces back. Revolts in Britain, France and operations in Africa returned Germany to the 3-front war. It was a painful blow.
Russian soldiers on a parade in liberated Polish town
The year 1944 was one more decisive counter-attacking phase of the war - Russians concentrated on the Japanese front and managed to invade Korea and Southern Manchuria once again. Americans also did well in the Pacific islands and Indo-China, so Tojo Hideki needed more and more men and resources to prevent the front from collapse. Anyway, the Axis was becoming weaker and weaker - revolt in Britain was spreading and the Germans controlled only key cities like London and Manchester.
Russian soldiers prepare to cross the Dnepr
In the beginning of 1945 Russian soldiers were close to Berlin, while Americans conquered almost all France and Benelux - a D-Day in Normandy was one more strike on Nazis. On the 8 of May it was over - four years of desperate fighting between Russian Empire and Third Reich were ended.
Russian tanks and SP-Art in the suburbs of Berlin
Victorious troops of the Imperial army
When the war was over, Field marshal Wrangel retired and ordered to start new free elections. He made as he promised and didn't become a ruthless dictator with a puppet-emperor. Alexis II ruled the Empire until 1955, and died without a heir - unfortunately, a hemophiliac emperor didn't manage to have a son. Wrangel lived until 1960s and wrote some books about strategy, tactics and politics. Vladimir, Alexis' cousin and son of Grand Duke Cyril became a new Tsar - Vladimir III.
Retired Black Baron
New Russian emperor - Vladimir III
Now it's finished
Thanks for reading and sorry once again
We'll continue our journey in Mongolia