The Return of The King: A Canadian DH KaiserReich AAR

Canada. Modern Canada was formed with the union of the 4 British colonies of Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick through Confederation in 1867. Since then, Canada saw increasing amounts of settlement from Europe and Asia, large scale economic development with industrialization, while also expanding its territory across the entire width of North America. By the time of the First World War in 1914, Canada's borders stretched from British Columbia on the Pacific, to Nova Scotia on the Atlantic and all the way north to the Arctic Circle.


When the First World War broke out in the Summer of 1914, Canada immediately joined the war on Britain's side when the British declared war on Germany, due to Canada's status as a proud Dominion of the British Empire. During the war, Canadian soldiers fought in numerous battles along the Western Front in France, most notably at Vimy Ridge where the Canadian Corps greatly distinguished itself in action against the German Army. Canada sent 625,000 soldiers to fight in France during the Great War, a major contribution that also cost Canada 60,000 dead and 173,000 wounded in action.


However, it was not enough against the might of the German Army and its allies. Germany's crushing offensives of 1919 destroyed any chances at Entente victory in the war, forcing Canadian troops to evacuate alongside the British Army when France surrendered to German forces that year. The war would linger onwards for a couple years more, until 1921 when the war was ended with the "Peace with Honour" between Britain and Germany, as neither side could hope to defeat the other completely. Canadian soldiers came home proud however, having done their duty and everything they could to try and achieve victory. Canada then looked forward to an uncertain future, not sure of what would happen next.


Then, the 1925 British Revolution happened. Heavy handed responses to striking workers by the British government led to some military units in Britain revolting against their commanders and siding with the strikers. Panic gripped the British government as a widespread revolt broke out throughout the country, eventually leading to the defeat of the government and the exodus of hundreds of thousands of British royalists to Canada. The Royal Family, aristocracy, rich industrialists and capitalists, the vast majority of the middle class and many regular British citizens (fleeing the feared purges and reprisals that had been experienced in the earlier violent French Syndicalist Revolution), as well as much of the British Royal Navy and Royalist elements of the British Army fled to Canada into exile from their homeland. This influx of people, wealth, and military strength turned Canada into a major power overnight, as it worked hard to accommodate the exiles whilst also working to salvage what could be saved of the quickly crumbling British Empire. Many colonies were lost as local authorities took control or as those colonies were seized by the German Empire in the name of international stability.



With the British Home Islands lost to French inspired syndicalist rule and the empire in tatters, Canada has become the new leader of what remains of the once mighty Entente Alliance. Although greatly shaken by these events and facing very tough odds, many in Canada vow that one day, the British homeland will be liberated from syndicalist rule, and that Canada will fight to bring peace, order, and good government to a dangerous and unstable world.

@Everyone: thanks for the comments!

Canada, 1936. Canada is bordered by the United States along its southern and northwestern borders, and surrounded by oceans along the rest of its territory. Canada is far away from many of the world's more unstable places, but growing unrest in the United States could shatter that sense of security.


The Government of Canada by 1936. After the arrival of the British Exiles, the office of Governor General was abolished making the King of the British Empire, King George the 5th, Canada's Head of State. The Canadian senate was also changed, being rebranded as the Canadian House of Lords and under the control of top British leaders. The rest of the government is dominated by Canadians, such as Liberal Party Prime Minister Mackenzie King and the various members of his cabinet. The Military meanwhile is also run by Canadians, but veteran British Royalist commanders play very strong roles in the running of the Canadian Armed Forces.


The Canadian Army by 1936. Very small and somewhat outdated compared to many other countries, the Army will need massive expansion in the coming years to enable Canada to have any chance at liberating the British isles from syndicalist rule. Still, in comparison to many other armies, such as the United States Army, Canada's forces are well trained and very capable, even if there are not nearly enough of them to really take on the major powers like France, Germany, or others.



The Royal Canadian Airforce is in somewhat similar shape. Canada has a number of rather old fighters and bombers, including a wing of strategic bombers, all manned by very capable pilots and aircrews. Many British and Canadian Air commanders such as Hugh Trenchard and Billy Bishop view the airforce as being of vital importance in any future war, so expansion of the RCAF with new planes and manpower will be a necessity.



Finally, there is probably the most potent asset that Canada's military has at its disposal: the mighty Anglo-Canadian Royal Navy. Canada inherited many of the British Royal Navy's warships when they fled their homeland in 1925, and in the years following new vessels such as submarines and most importantly aircraft carriers have been added to their ranks. More aircraft carriers, destroyers, submarines, and troop transport ships will be constructed for the Royal Navy in the coming years to combat the growing power of the Syndicalist British Republican Fleet, whose powerful battleships and carriers are a great threat to Canada on the North Atlantic.



Internationally, Canada does not have that many friends left. The collapse of the British Empire meant the loss of many colonies, but at least some regions have remained loyal to the British crown and have remained members of the new Entente Alliance. First is the Caribbean Federation, formed with the union of various British and French caribbean colonies such as Jamaica, Guyana, and the Bahamas into one state. Canada maintains strong commercial ties with the Caribbean Federation, generating lots of trading revenue. However, the Caribbean Federation's military strength is somewhat weak, with its forces geared more towards territorial defense than overseas expeditionary warfare.


Next is the remnants of the old French regime, represented by the Nationalist French Government that controls West Africa from its home in Algiers. When the French government was overthrown by a bloody syndicalist revolution, many top French leaders, military units, and regular citizens fled across the Mediterranean into exile in France's North and West African colonies, much like how the British fled to Canada in the 1925 revolution. Since then the French Nationalists have lingered on, fighting for their survival in a very hostile region with little resources at their disposal. National France represents the Entente's only hold in Africa, due to the loss of British colonies to the massive German colonial regime of Mittelafrika and the exit of South Africa from the Entente alliance, which took with it Rhodesia and Bechuanaland when it turned its back on Canada and the British exiles.


In the South Pacific meanwhile lies one of Canada's strongest allies, the Australasian Federation, formed with the union of Australia and New Zealand in the mid 1920's. Australasia took control of various Pacific island territories after the British Revolution and continues to be one of Canada's closest allies. Australasia is very strong militarily, maintaining a powerful navy with various cruisers and battlecruisers at its disposal while also housing a strong army. However, politically the country is susceptible to many various powers who wish to overturn the country's status quo and add it to their various blocs, including not only the Germans but also the mighty Japanese Empire and even the syndicalists. Hopefully, the country will remain loyal to Canada and the Entente in the years to come.


The final member of the Entente Alliance is the Indian state of Delhi, which represents the remnants of the pre-revolution British Raj which remained loyal to the British Empire in the wake of the 1925 revolution. India has since then split into 3 major states: Delhi, bordered by the syndicalist Bhartiya Commune to the east, the Princely Federation to the south, as well as the little Chennai Republic which is based in Southern India. Germany meanwhile took over Ceylon after the revolution, while other states like Nepal and Afghanistan also seized some border regions. The balance of power is very delicate in India at the moment, but hopefully one day the entire subcontinent will be reunified under the rule of Entente friendly Delhi, though it is not likely that will be achieved without all out war here.


Finally, Europe, by 1936, has changed greatly since the end of the First World War. In the wake of Germany's victory over its rivals, Germany took control of vast regions of Eastern Europe from the defeated Russian Empire, forming the Mitteleuropa economic and military alliance between Germany and the new countries it established in Eastern Europe. The Hapsburg ruled Austro-Hungarian Empire meanwhile decentralized due to political and ethnic tensions in 1927, turning it into a collection of various semi-independent states which are still dominated by the governments of Vienna and Budapest. To the South is Italy, which was split apart after the war by the victorious Austrians creating two different Italian states: one in the North which has become dominated by the Pope and the Catholic church, and one in the south, which has formed into the Syndicalist Republic of Italy. Further West are the powerful syndicalist regimes of the Union of Britain and the Commune of France, both powerful rivals of the Entente alliance as well as great threat's to Germany's new order in Europe. Finally, there are Spain and Russia, both on the periphery of Europe geographically. Both countries are highly unstable, threatened by syndicalist, ultra nationalist, and various other forces within their borders. Europe is a powder keg of instability and potential conflict. If war begins anywhere, the best bet is that it will be here.

@everyone: Thanks for the comments!

The government and military begin a reorganization of the Canadian Armed Forces, beginning with the disbandment of old garrison divisions located in BC, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, and Quebec. The manpower freed up by this demobilization will be used to form up new offensive military units.


Canadian military construction at the beginning of January 1936. Canadian shipyards get to work building new Aircraft Carriers for the Royal Navy, while the army starts to raise new divisions of cavalry, infantry with heavy artillery brigades, and new units of Royal Marines. Also, a massive industrialization program is begun in Toronto and Montreal, to ensure constant Canadian industrial growth for many years to come.


Canadian research projects in January 1936. Not really anything special at the moment, just better industrial practices, decryption devices, and new infantry equipment.


Meanwhile, internationally, Russia's government is overthrown in a military coup led by Pyotr Wrangel after President Kerensky, the ineffective leader of Russia since the quashing of the Bolshevik Revolution, is killed by an assassin.


Back at home, things are getting interesting. The Prime Minister is working hard to maintain political stability, amongst the loud cries of the conservative party and the British exiles for much more dramatic measures to eventually retake the British homeland. The King meanwhile is falling more and more ill, with fears of his death growing more and more by the day. The Prime Minister and the British exiles are now getting themselves ready for the rise of King George V's successor and what it may mean for the future of the country.


A few days later, the inevitable happens. King George V passes away from illness and old age, far away from his home in Britain. Now, the throne of the British Empire passes to his son, who is crowned King Edward VIII.



Before he is crowned King however, various factions within the Canadian leadership begin to approach him with their ideas for Canada's future plans. Conservative elements advocate strongly for massive military production at the expense of Canadian civil rights and liberties with the final end goal being the liberation of Britain, while the Prime Minister and his supporters are advocating a much more balanced and stable approach, which guarantees Canadian civil stability while working to retake the British Home Islands. In the end, it is the Prime Minister and Edward's civilian advisors who win over the King's approval. King Edward VIII declares that he will not go against the civilian government's policies in how the country is run, something that pleases many people who feared a heavy handed British centric rule over the country.


Meanwhile, across the ocean in Africa. The German colonial regime of Mittelafrika, led by Herman Goering, threatens Portugal's rule over many of its African colonial holdings. Mittelafrikan political pressure, backed by Germany, forces Portugal to the negotiating table, where Goering demands that Sao Tome and Principe, as well as all of Angola, be sold to Mittelafrika. After some tense negotiating, Portugal agrees, granting these regions to Mittelafrikan rule. Portugal does not lose all of its colonies however, as they still get to keep Mozambique.


In Europe, the German economy suddenly and very dramatically nosedives. The crash of the Berlin stock market ruins the earnings of many hundreds of thousands of Germans, and plunges nearly all of Europe into economic recession. Unemployment rises dramatically all over Germany as people run on their banks, causing further economic turmoil. Economic turmoil meanwhile almost always results in some form of political instability, so it will be interesting to see how these events will play out in the future.



Finally, Edward VIII is crowned King of the British Empire in Ottawa. After a massive and opulent ceremony, the King makes his first speech to the country, expressing his admiration of Canada's political and economic system, as well as Canada's past achievements and successes. The King states that he will support Canada and its elected democratic government however he can, to ensure the country will have a brighter future, free from the fear of Syndicalist influence wherever it may come from. The King's Speech is a great hit throughout the country, which makes the British monarchy very popular all over Canada. It appears the British throne is in good hands, while the Prime Minister's position and policies also seem secure from too much criticism...at least for now.

@Gukpa: They are the Francesco's models mod, which can be found in the user modifications section of the DH forum or something.

@Asalto: I hope my allies stay loyal as well. Last time I played as Canada, only National France actually stuck by Canada's side. The Caribbean Fed got itself stuck in a stalemate war with Venezuela for some reason, Australasia was overthrown by the Germans and joined Mitteleuropa, while Delhi left the Entente to make an alliance with the Princely Federation in a major war with the Bhartiya Commune (which was turning into another stalemate as well).
Also, nice avatar and title.

@CylonAndrew & oberstbrooksy: I don't know, I don't think there are events or anything for that, but it could be a possibility...

@everyone else: thanks for the comments!

While Canada celebrates the coronation of Edward VIII and Canadian prosperity, south of the border, it is a much bleaker story. America is being torn apart by civil strife and political instability. Strikes, such as a major battle that recently broke out between workers and private security firms in Detroit, combined with economic malaise, are spiraling out of control and threatening the unity of the once great United States of America. The situation is very tense, with Canada extremely worried about the actions and presence of the Combined Syndicates of America party, led by Jack Reed out of the industrialized midwestern regions of the USA. Later this year, elections are slated to be held, something that Canada will be watching with great concern as they could even result in a Syndicalist government in the White House.



Meanwhile, the Australasians crush an attempted coup which broke out after the country's Head of State, Stanley Bruce, passed away. Billy Hughes as re-established national order throughout the Confederation and has communicated to Canada that the situation is completely under control.


Back in Canada, British Admiral Beatty passes away at 65. His last request before death was that a British Admiral should take command of the Canadian navy, but the government decides that no change is really necessary.


In Europe, Canada's arch nemesis, the Union of Britain, contemplates sailing its powerful naval fleet towards Ireland in an act of aggression and intimidation towards the Irish state. However, the UoB's top fleet commanders decide against doing so, figuring that a major threat to the Irish would probably push Micheal Collin's government right into the waiting arms of either the German Kaiser or the Canadian government.


In conversations between King Edward VIII and Prime Minister Mackenzie King (Canada seems to be quite the land of Kings these days....), Edward suggests allowing British military commanders a greater role in the Canadian military. Many of these commanders are veterans of the Great War and very skilled military theoreticians, so the Prime Minister allows such a move, even though it somewhat angers some people over a perceived loss of Canadian sovereignty to the British Exiles.


To help silence such criticisms, the PM selects a Canadian General, Georges Vanier, to the position of Chief of Staff of the Canadian Armed Forces, despite British protests.


In Asia, the Russian Baron Roman Ungern Von Sternberg, who seized control of Mongolia during the Russian Civil War, antagonizes a neighbouring Chinese warlord state to declare war on Mongolia and Tibet, so Sternberg can attempt to conquer the entire region. Nobody in Canada really cares.


Much more importantly for Canada, is pending legislation that is tabled by the Prime Minister and his government dealing with various military and security issues, legislation that should give the government a green light to be able to launch a major rearmament campaign allowing Canada to be able to sit among the major world powers. The bill will be known as Bill C-7, and to hopefully increase its chances of passing, the Prime Minister seeks out the opinions and input of various Conservative Party MP's and leaders.


Meanwhile, the Syndicalists are meeting for a major congress in Paris, the heart of the global Syndicalist political movement.


The first issue dealt with in the formulation of Bill C-7 is Canadian industrial policies. While the Conservatives want to nationalize all Canadian heavy industries, the Liberals want to leave it in the hands of the private sector and Free Market forces. Instead, the Prime Minister is able to form a compromise between the two view points, implementing elements of both proposals.


Back in France, the Syndies announce their ultimate goal of overthrowing all so called "reactionary" states in Europe and elsewhere. This isn't really surprising to anyone in Germany, Canada, Russia, America, or in any of the other countries the Syndicalists are hostile to.


The next major issue to come up regarding Bill C-7 is the very delicate issue of Military Conscription. While many conservative leaders wish to implement full mandatory military service all over the country, many Canadians have no desire to do so, especially in Quebec or within certain pacifist religious communities such as the Hutterites in the Prairies. Conscription caused a lot of civil disruption in Quebec during the Great War, something the Prime Minister wants to avoid at any cost. Instead of implementing conscription for greater military manpower, the government puts in place various incentive measures, such as far better pay for soldiers, better living conditions, and many various incentives such as post-military service university tuition among other things. These measures are met with approval by many, including in places like Quebec.


The final issue which is brought forward with Bill C-7 is domestic security. Many conservatives are fearful of the threat posed by possible domestic syndicalist elements present within Canada, which could disrupt any war efforts with the Union of Britain. The conservatives propose certain limits on civil liberties and less barriers to police actions when dealing with possible dissenters, however, these measures are immediately struck down by the Prime Minister. Canada is a proud democratic country, one of a very few seemingly left in the world these days. No matter what happens, Mackenzie King declares that Canada will never become a police state.


At long last, the Bill makes its way through the Parliament, where it passes the parliamentary vote by a very good margin. It then makes its way towards the British dominated House of Lords, where it could be struck down for not being seen as strong enough. However, after much political backroom deals and discussions, the House of Lords approves the bill. C-7 is given Royal Assent and becomes Canadian law, a great victory for the Prime Minister and the Canadian government.