The Third Empire - An Imperial France HOI1 & HOI2 AAR
The Personal standard of Emperor Napoleon V
Recognition:
* WritAAR of the Week (February 27, 2005)
* People's Choice AwAARds: Best narrative (or novella) AAR (July 25, 2005)
* Weekly AAR Showcase (July 31, 2005)
* Best Character Writer of the Week (July 17, 2006)
Background
After the Great War France was one of the victors and the main proponent of the harsh peace terms imposed on Germany. However France had been almost mortally wounded by the appalling losses of men in the conflict and was in turmoil. Just hours after the peace treaty was signed chaos enveloped the republic as communists and socialists whipped the people and many soldiers into a frenzy. Several regiments joined the insurgents and seized control over many cities. The government fell and as parliament argued, order dissolved in the streets and soon the situation in Paris could only be described as pure anarchy.
A new government was hastily appointed but was rejected by the insurgents. After six weeks the general staff decided to act before the situation deteriorated into civil war. It ordered the regiments assumed to be still loyal into the streets and they fought bloody street battles to regain the capital. The General Staff then dissolved parliament and arrested the government. Order was restored to rest of the country within a month. All left wing politicians and agitators were arrested.
The military rule did not become the stabilizing force the General Staff had hoped. A cabal of younger officers overthrew the new government. They wanted to reform France and reclaim its past glory. But they only ruled by force and lacked legitimacy and at the same time they didn’t want to return to the hated republican system that was seen as the root of evil. After heated discussions it was decided to restore the Imperial Monarchy. The crown was offered to Charles Bonaparte* the son of Eugene Bonaparte (aka Napoleon IV).
Charles accepted and received a hero’s welcome by the enthusiastic crowds at his arrival to Calais. The new constitution of 1923 gave the head of state vast powers including the appointment of ministers and the right to dissolve the Senate. Charles was crowned Napoleon V Emperor of the French in December 2nd 1924 in ceremonies at the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris. Exactly 120 years after his ancestor Napoleon I was crowned.
In the beginning of 1936 France has a vibrant economy and powerful armed forces protecting it. Democracy is emulated by the elections to the mostly powerless Imperial Senate and rigorous rules for the press keep unwanted views of opinion out of the papers. It’s a “successful” Paternal Autocracy. It has rejected Britain and its democratic ideals and built its own alliance to contain Germany and further its foreign policy goals: The Paris - Rome Axis with ties to Imperial Japan. The relation with Tokyo has been very cordial since the successful French state visit of 1933. The Emperor married Sophia* of Habsburg in 1927 and has two children: Louis Eugene and Pauline.
More to come soon.
* This of course is a character of fiction
The Third Empire
The Personal standard of Emperor Napoleon V
Recognition:
* WritAAR of the Week (February 27, 2005)
* People's Choice AwAARds: Best narrative (or novella) AAR (July 25, 2005)
* Weekly AAR Showcase (July 31, 2005)
* Best Character Writer of the Week (July 17, 2006)
For those of you who wants to get into the story quickly or just need to refresh your grasp of the storyline - here's a summary of the story so far (graciously provided by VILenin):
Table of Contents
1936
1937
1938
1939
1940
1941
1942
A regularly updated pdf file version of the AAR can be found here
1937
1938
1939
1940
1941
1942
A regularly updated pdf file version of the AAR can be found here
1936
- * -
Part I - Cabinet Meeting
Part II - The Occupation of the Rhineland
Part III - The French Response
Part IV - February 1936
Part V - A Worried Father / The Empress' Guest / Developments in Spain
Part VI - The Medicine Man
Part VII - The Spanish Civil War
Part VIII - A Meeting in Berlin
Part IX - Forbidden Knowledge
Part X - The Monvoisin Manor
Part XI - The Belgian Question
Part XII - The Lyon Conference
Part XIII - Long Live The King! / The Marshal of France
Part XIV - The Belgian War
- * -
- * -
Part I - Cabinet Meeting
Part II - The Occupation of the Rhineland
Part III - The French Response
Part IV - February 1936
Part V - A Worried Father / The Empress' Guest / Developments in Spain
Part VI - The Medicine Man
Part VII - The Spanish Civil War
Part VIII - A Meeting in Berlin
Part IX - Forbidden Knowledge
Part X - The Monvoisin Manor
Part XI - The Belgian Question
Part XII - The Lyon Conference
Part XIII - Long Live The King! / The Marshal of France
Part XIV - The Belgian War
- * -
1937
- * -
Part XV - A New Year
Part XVI - A Quiet Evening
Part XVII - A Monarch Without A Nation
Part XVIII - The Obsession Of Joachim Molyneux
Part XIX - The Atlantic Wall / Hypnosis / March / A Maiden Journey
Part XX - Dunkerque / The Axis Grows
Part XXI - The Escape
Part XXII - Inspector Legrasse / The Grand Duke
Part XXIII - The Case / Tennis
Part XXIV - Chamberlain / A Chinese Initiative / von Manteuffel
Part XXV - Spain Recognized / Heir To The Throne / Gangsters / A Nobel Prize
- * -
- * -
Part XV - A New Year
Part XVI - A Quiet Evening
Part XVII - A Monarch Without A Nation
Part XVIII - The Obsession Of Joachim Molyneux
Part XIX - The Atlantic Wall / Hypnosis / March / A Maiden Journey
Part XX - Dunkerque / The Axis Grows
Part XXI - The Escape
Part XXII - Inspector Legrasse / The Grand Duke
Part XXIII - The Case / Tennis
Part XXIV - Chamberlain / A Chinese Initiative / von Manteuffel
Part XXV - Spain Recognized / Heir To The Throne / Gangsters / A Nobel Prize
- * -
1938
- * -
Part XXVI - January / Manchukuo / An Unnatural Construction
Part XXVII - The Heart of Darkness / The Liore et Olivier LeO 451
Part XXVIII - Munich
Part XXIX - Crime Wave / A Deal Made In Moscow / Madagascar
- * -
- * -
Part XXVI - January / Manchukuo / An Unnatural Construction
Part XXVII - The Heart of Darkness / The Liore et Olivier LeO 451
Part XXVIII - Munich
Part XXIX - Crime Wave / A Deal Made In Moscow / Madagascar
- * -
1939
- * -
Part XXX - A Brave New Year / Syria & Lebanon / A New Pope / Conclusion Of Business
Part XXXI - The End Of Czechoslovakia / Memel / Albania
Part XXXII - The Road To War
Part XXXIII - Pay Back Time / The British-Irish War / The Strasbourg Head Quarters
Part XXXIV - Operation Jena - The Start Of The German Campaign
Part XXXV - The Rhineland Falls / The Spanish Armada / Infantery Weapons
Part XXXVI - The Reich Strikes Back / Volkssturm & The First Snow
- * -
- * -
Part XXX - A Brave New Year / Syria & Lebanon / A New Pope / Conclusion Of Business
Part XXXI - The End Of Czechoslovakia / Memel / Albania
Part XXXII - The Road To War
Part XXXIII - Pay Back Time / The British-Irish War / The Strasbourg Head Quarters
Part XXXIV - Operation Jena - The Start Of The German Campaign
Part XXXV - The Rhineland Falls / The Spanish Armada / Infantery Weapons
Part XXXVI - The Reich Strikes Back / Volkssturm & The First Snow
- * -
1940
- * -
Part XXXVII - A New Year / The Haunter In The Dark
Part XXXVIII - The War In The Air / Operation 'Hansa' / A Counter Attack
Part XXXIX - The Grand Army To The Rescue / Operation Wittelsbach / Another Failure In The Alps
Part XL - Landsberg Prison
Part XLI - Diplomacy / Bregenz / An Irresistable Offer
Part XLII - Innsbruck / Le Club des Feux de l'Enfer
Part XLIII - The Battle Of Vienna / A New Axis Member & The Ambitions Of Governments In Exile
Part XLIV - A Presidential Coup / The Battle Of Bratislava
Part XLV - Indochine
Part XLVI - The End Of An Army Group / Field Marshal Mola
Part XLVII - The House of Austria
Part XLVIII - Haddo's Plantation
Part XLIX - The Machinations of Admiral Horthy / Operation 'Tilsit' / The Reichstag
Part L - In The Rain Forest / The Crime Syndicate Falters
Part LI - The resurgence of Hermann Göring
Part LII - France Triumphant!
Part LIII - Rise Of The NDVP / The Peace Negotiations
Part LIV - The Treay Of Strasbourg
Part LV - America 1936 - January 1941
Part LVI - The Enemy Within Part I
Part LVII - The Enemy Within Part II
Part LVIII - The Enemy Within Part III
- * -
- * -
Part XXXVII - A New Year / The Haunter In The Dark
Part XXXVIII - The War In The Air / Operation 'Hansa' / A Counter Attack
Part XXXIX - The Grand Army To The Rescue / Operation Wittelsbach / Another Failure In The Alps
Part XL - Landsberg Prison
Part XLI - Diplomacy / Bregenz / An Irresistable Offer
Part XLII - Innsbruck / Le Club des Feux de l'Enfer
Part XLIII - The Battle Of Vienna / A New Axis Member & The Ambitions Of Governments In Exile
Part XLIV - A Presidential Coup / The Battle Of Bratislava
Part XLV - Indochine
Part XLVI - The End Of An Army Group / Field Marshal Mola
Part XLVII - The House of Austria
Part XLVIII - Haddo's Plantation
Part XLIX - The Machinations of Admiral Horthy / Operation 'Tilsit' / The Reichstag
Part L - In The Rain Forest / The Crime Syndicate Falters
Part LI - The resurgence of Hermann Göring
Part LII - France Triumphant!
Part LIII - Rise Of The NDVP / The Peace Negotiations
Part LIV - The Treay Of Strasbourg
Part LV - America 1936 - January 1941
Part LVI - The Enemy Within Part I
Part LVII - The Enemy Within Part II
Part LVIII - The Enemy Within Part III
- * -
1941
- * -
Part LXIX - A New Year / Christmas In Chamonix-Mont-Blanc
Part LX - The Provisional Russian Government
Part LXI - The General Directorate for External Security
Part LXII - Negotiations With Romania
Part LXIII - The National Council of Austria / A Letter From An Old Friend
Part LXIV - A Meeting At The Soviet Embassy / Italy Declares War / A Midnight Call / Murders
Part LXV - Abandoning The Playground / Beyond Time And Space
Part LXVI - Vital Information
Part LXVII - The Capture Of Crete / That Accursed Vessel
Part LXVIII - The Patient
Part LXIX - The War In Greece / Two New Ministers / The ‘Cape Ann’ incident
Part LXX - The Souma S40 / Old Man Waites / French Air Power In Bulgaria
Part LXXI - A New Shadow Over Innsmouth / Bulgaria Invades Greece / German Elections
Part LXXII - A Tragedy At Devil’s Reef
Part LXXIII - The Reich Reborn
Part LXXIV - Offerings To The Daemon Sultan / Axis Advance In Greece
Part LXXV - The Black Man
Part LXXVI - Victory In Greece
Part LXXVII - A Meeting In Washington Part I
Part LXXVIII - A Meeting In Washington Part II
Part LXXIX - The Emperor Of The House Of Austria / Reichsmarschall
Part LXXX - Washington D.C. Infested / Finland
Part LXXXI - Haddo Returns
Part LXXXII - The Two Werners
Part LXXXIII - Trains...
Part LXXXIV - American Madness Discussed
Part LXXXV - En Route To Cherbourg
Part LXXXVI - The Iron Commissar
Part LXXXVII - Metamorphosis
Part LXXXVIII - Imperial Order #411
Part LXXXIX - The World at the brink of the Second Great War
Part XC - The War Economy Committe
Part XCI - Operation Martel
Part XCII - The Opening Blows
Part XCIII - 'The Man of Steel'
Part XCIV - A Monster is Slain
Part XCV - The Seer
Part XCVI - The New Leader Of America
Part XCVII - Soviet Justice
Part XCVIII - Second Phase of Operation Martel & The Fall of Finland
Part XCIX - The Huntsman's Pain
Part C - The Japanese Government
Part CI - A Hero Falls
Part CII - Paganon Furious / Riga
Part CIII - The Baltic Offensive
Part CIV - Autumn & Winter in Europe / Winter Offensive
- * -
- * -
Part LXIX - A New Year / Christmas In Chamonix-Mont-Blanc
Part LX - The Provisional Russian Government
Part LXI - The General Directorate for External Security
Part LXII - Negotiations With Romania
Part LXIII - The National Council of Austria / A Letter From An Old Friend
Part LXIV - A Meeting At The Soviet Embassy / Italy Declares War / A Midnight Call / Murders
Part LXV - Abandoning The Playground / Beyond Time And Space
Part LXVI - Vital Information
Part LXVII - The Capture Of Crete / That Accursed Vessel
Part LXVIII - The Patient
Part LXIX - The War In Greece / Two New Ministers / The ‘Cape Ann’ incident
Part LXX - The Souma S40 / Old Man Waites / French Air Power In Bulgaria
Part LXXI - A New Shadow Over Innsmouth / Bulgaria Invades Greece / German Elections
Part LXXII - A Tragedy At Devil’s Reef
Part LXXIII - The Reich Reborn
Part LXXIV - Offerings To The Daemon Sultan / Axis Advance In Greece
Part LXXV - The Black Man
Part LXXVI - Victory In Greece
Part LXXVII - A Meeting In Washington Part I
Part LXXVIII - A Meeting In Washington Part II
Part LXXIX - The Emperor Of The House Of Austria / Reichsmarschall
Part LXXX - Washington D.C. Infested / Finland
Part LXXXI - Haddo Returns
Part LXXXII - The Two Werners
Part LXXXIII - Trains...
Part LXXXIV - American Madness Discussed
Part LXXXV - En Route To Cherbourg
Part LXXXVI - The Iron Commissar
Part LXXXVII - Metamorphosis
Part LXXXVIII - Imperial Order #411
Part LXXXIX - The World at the brink of the Second Great War
Part XC - The War Economy Committe
Part XCI - Operation Martel
Part XCII - The Opening Blows
Part XCIII - 'The Man of Steel'
Part XCIV - A Monster is Slain
Part XCV - The Seer
Part XCVI - The New Leader Of America
Part XCVII - Soviet Justice
Part XCVIII - Second Phase of Operation Martel & The Fall of Finland
Part XCIX - The Huntsman's Pain
Part C - The Japanese Government
Part CI - A Hero Falls
Part CII - Paganon Furious / Riga
Part CIII - The Baltic Offensive
Part CIV - Autumn & Winter in Europe / Winter Offensive
- * -
1942
- * -
Part CV - The King of Boston
Part CVI - Late for The Opera
Part CVII - The private journal of Vitaly Gusev
Part CVIII - Offensives in Northern and Southern Russia
Part CVIV - The Abduction of Samuel Taliaferro Rayburn
Part CVV - Partisans
- * -
- * -
Part CV - The King of Boston
Part CVI - Late for The Opera
Part CVII - The private journal of Vitaly Gusev
Part CVIII - Offensives in Northern and Southern Russia
Part CVIV - The Abduction of Samuel Taliaferro Rayburn
Part CVV - Partisans
- * -
Background
After the Great War France was one of the victors and the main proponent of the harsh peace terms imposed on Germany. However France had been almost mortally wounded by the appalling losses of men in the conflict and was in turmoil. Just hours after the peace treaty was signed chaos enveloped the republic as communists and socialists whipped the people and many soldiers into a frenzy. Several regiments joined the insurgents and seized control over many cities. The government fell and as parliament argued, order dissolved in the streets and soon the situation in Paris could only be described as pure anarchy.
A new government was hastily appointed but was rejected by the insurgents. After six weeks the general staff decided to act before the situation deteriorated into civil war. It ordered the regiments assumed to be still loyal into the streets and they fought bloody street battles to regain the capital. The General Staff then dissolved parliament and arrested the government. Order was restored to rest of the country within a month. All left wing politicians and agitators were arrested.
The military rule did not become the stabilizing force the General Staff had hoped. A cabal of younger officers overthrew the new government. They wanted to reform France and reclaim its past glory. But they only ruled by force and lacked legitimacy and at the same time they didn’t want to return to the hated republican system that was seen as the root of evil. After heated discussions it was decided to restore the Imperial Monarchy. The crown was offered to Charles Bonaparte* the son of Eugene Bonaparte (aka Napoleon IV).
Charles accepted and received a hero’s welcome by the enthusiastic crowds at his arrival to Calais. The new constitution of 1923 gave the head of state vast powers including the appointment of ministers and the right to dissolve the Senate. Charles was crowned Napoleon V Emperor of the French in December 2nd 1924 in ceremonies at the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris. Exactly 120 years after his ancestor Napoleon I was crowned.
In the beginning of 1936 France has a vibrant economy and powerful armed forces protecting it. Democracy is emulated by the elections to the mostly powerless Imperial Senate and rigorous rules for the press keep unwanted views of opinion out of the papers. It’s a “successful” Paternal Autocracy. It has rejected Britain and its democratic ideals and built its own alliance to contain Germany and further its foreign policy goals: The Paris - Rome Axis with ties to Imperial Japan. The relation with Tokyo has been very cordial since the successful French state visit of 1933. The Emperor married Sophia* of Habsburg in 1927 and has two children: Louis Eugene and Pauline.
More to come soon.
* This of course is a character of fiction
Last edited: