History is Written by the Winners

[RealityGuy]

"L'histoire est écrite par les vainqueurs"​

Napoleon​

It is 1936. The world has recovered from the Great War which was raging just 20 years ago. Metropolitan France today remains one of the most well developed regions of the world. 30s were quite destructive for entire world's economy, including ours but we have got up to our feet, most of which we owe to our new government.

Eugene Deloncle is French prime minister, ruler of National Socialist party of France (Front National-Socialisté) rules with a strong cabinet and is respected among the people. Masses want him to be the next Napoleon, to restore the fame and fortune of France which was lost at the start of 20th century.

Jaen II of Orleans is the King of French, but his role is more or less figurative. France has no current allies, but has many friends who would surely help France in any possible war that is to erupt.

THE WORLD​

North America, ever since the American Civil War is a place of constant hostilities and crisis. Right now, Canada is still a British dominion, former union had fallen into Socialist hands in the revolution and it is now United Socialist States of America. To the south, Confederacy and Mexico.

Latin America has seen some changes in the last years, one of which is a formation of Peru-Bolivian Confederacy, as well as Argentinian expansive policy which has led to Uruguay, Paraguay and part of Chile being part of their nation.

Southeast Asia and Oceania are a place of peace and have been that way for a while. Spanish and Dutch still have colonies in these areas.

Asia, however, has seen a lot of changes in 20th century. China is united under Fascist government, we are friendly with. India is British dominion, while Indochina has been taken from us and given to the British and Thailand, we never forgot that.

Middle East still hosts the Medieval empire of Ottomans which, even defeated in the Great War, maintained a lot of territory. Egypt, Iraq and Iran are independent.

South Africa and Portugal have expended their possessions, as well as Germany by occupying part of our colonies.

West Africa holds our only colonies. They are valuable to us and we will give it all to maintain them in our hands. Morocco is in Spanish hands while Germans and Brits have taken the coast and Italians Tunisia, but Algiers and Sub-Saharan Africa still mean a lot to French government and people.

Europe has seen the most changes in the Great War. Austria-Hungary has disappeared, opening the place for many other nations to emerge. Some of them are: Slovenia, Croatia, Czechia, Slovakia, Poland and Hungary. Serbia has taken Bosnia, Ottomans still hold part of the Balkans, Finland is free, while Scandinavia is united. And worth noting is Corsica, given to the Italians after the Great War, this former French territory is still considered part of our country, just like some northern territories.




Chapters:
Part I
Part II
Part III
Part IV
Part V
Part VI
Part VII
Part VIII
Part IX
Part X
Part XI
Part XII
Part XIII​

​

 

[Battle bunny]

Okay, I'm interested in this. I don't think I remember any AARs with this setting.

 

[Moskva]

Bonaparte Legacy? Interesting. I shall watch this.

 

[Aniknk]

BL! How nice of you!

 

[Gukpa]

YAY!A Bonaparte Legacy AAR!

(did you know?I worked in this mod :3 )

 

[Migthy]

Following.

 

[Tommy4ever]

Very interesting setting. Will be following.

 

[RealityGuy]

The look back​

We are where we are. History can't be changed, but it can be learnt from. Mistakes France made in last 50 costed us greatly and we got to this situation we are currently in.
Ever since the end of the American Civil War, France was known as the most powerful nation in the world. Tensions with Prussia had led to France putting Alfonso XII on throne of Spain which was our ally. But then came the Great War.

At the start of the war Europe was in these political borders. But it was all gonna change.

It began in Dresden in 1914 when the Prussian King Wilhelm II is assassinated by a lone Czech gunman. Austria-Hungary was accused of the assassination and Prussia sent them a ultimatum which was rejected. Prussian mobilization made French emperor Louis I declare war. Soon major nations chose their sides; France had Austria-Hungary and Ottoman Empire as the allies, while the Entente contained United Kingdom, Prussia, Russia and Italy. For the next 5 years war rages in Europe and ends in French defeat, after USA joined the war.

Victory was being celebrated in Berlin, while France fell into chaos as peace treaty was being put together.

In Potsdam, Treaty is signed. It completely destroys France as a great power. The terms are as follows:
-France secedes French Congo, Madagascar and Chad to Germany. The departments of Briey and Longwy are demilitarized and occupied by the Reichsheer. Other French colonial posessions are divided amongst the victorious powers. France is also forced to pay extensive war reparations.

France is rocked by internal unrest when the Communist Party of France starts a series of attacks on government institutions across the country, in an attempt to trigger a civil war that would enable a communist takeover.

Battles rage in Paris, civil war was close to erupt. The provisional government uses demobilized soldiers to quell the unrest, but order is restored only after Russia and Germany send troops to help. The French Third Republic is established, with Georges Clemenceau becoming its first Prime Minister.

Situation was bad for 13 years, but in 1931 things started to change. That year, elections brought the Front National-Socialiste to power, with its leader Petain (pictured) appointing the 41-year old Eugene Deloncle as the new Prime Minister.

French President Petain suffers a heart-attack after which he retires from office at the age of 78. Facing a vacant presidential office, the Nazi government decides to restore the French Monarchy, ending the Third Republic. The head of the House of Orléans, Prince Jean, is crowned as Jean III, King of the French. Proclamation of the new state is held in Paris and celebrated all around France. British and German governments don't like the political developments in France.​

 

[Gukpa]

Good

 

[pafnus]

I am following.. very good

 

[RealityGuy]

History of others

Not only France underwent changes in the last 50 year. The world is changed, and now lets take a look of the world's biggest powers and a quick history of theirs.

Our southern neighbor was for a long strait of years our ally. Ever since Napoleon's rule we have been struggling to keep them in our sphere of influence but that changed in 1871 when Napoleon III staged a revolution in Spain to overthrow unpopular government and get a friendly government to the cabinet. But after the Great War, without French support this government struggled to keep country together.

All that resulted in a coup against the kingdom by Jose Sanjurjo which forms a military government. That coup was helped by us on which Spanish are thankful and our relations are quite good.

To the southeast lies Italia, ancient land of emperors. We were enemies in the Great war, and after our defeat Corsica was given to the Italians. But Italy was quite unstable in 20s as fascist attempted to seize power but were thwarted by the King, who orderd the military to intervene. Benito Mussolini, their leader, was arrested and sentenced to jail.

However, unhappyness grew over the years, and culminated in 1930 when supported by the military, the business class and the right-wing, Italo Balbo’s National Fascist Party won the election in Italy and takes power. National Socialist government was formed and distanced themselves from the Entente. Balbo had a great support of the Italian people, and organised frequent speeches from his palace in Rome. Italian army and navy are considered among the best in Europe, which Italy used to occupy Ethiopia in 1936. Ever since Deloncle's rise to power, our relations have been greatly improved, most of history is forgotten.

Germany is the reason France is weak. They took our fame and prestige in the Great War, but they also took our territory. German Empire was formed in 1918 with a ruling House of Hohenzollern. They played a big role in the Russian Civil War and since then had been concentrated on their borders. Ever since the Great War their economy has not fully recovered, and they try their best to prevent any future wars.

Nation of traditions, on the British Isles are recognized as the strongest nation in the world. Their colonial possessions and commonwealth surely approve that statement. Quite stable politically, but quite razed economically ever since the London stock market crashed in 1929, causing The Great Depression, a period during which the world will go through an economic recession. Played a major role in the Russian and Second American civil wars, their navy rules the seas and people are very united. Hostile toward our government but until now that has not been a important thing.

Although victorious in the war, Russia suffered the most since its end. After a assassination of a Bolshevik official, October revolution started. Red Army took control over St. Petersburg and Moscow and had to fight anti-communist forces in a civil war for a couple of years. That civil war was very destructive and deadly for newly formed Soviet Union, as the Whites were supported by the Entente. However, in 1923 the war ended in Soviet victory and a period of peace and rebuilding had started.

When Lenin died in 1930, he was followed by Ivan Nikitich Smirnov who started to play a role on a world stage. Soviet Union supported the Socialist revolution in USA. Our ideologies can't stand each other, that is why we consider the Soviets our truly biggest enemies.

United Socialist States of America are the second biggest communist nation in the world. The civil war in the early 30s resulted in their victory over the Federal government. To the south are the Confederate States of America which are quite isolated, but still dreaming of uniting entire USA into one country.

The proclamation of the USSA shocked the world. No one believed that Federal government would so easily crumble and leave the space open for socialists to rise. We don't like each other.

The last nation worth mentioning is China. Its history is quite plentyfull and hard to understand, but the short of it is that Qing were toppled in 1911 by the republicans, but they had little to no power in decentralized China. That changed in 1922 when a fascist ruler Yuan Shikai united China, which had already occupied Mongolia and Manchuria from Russia, restoring much of former fame. Its fascist government is friendly to us, and China is our only Asian friend.​

 

[OnFire]

Subscribed...interesting scenario choice.

 

[Tommy4ever]

I like the looks of this scenario. Many similarities to KR but less socialism .

 

[nachopontmercy]

Subbed.

 

[RealityGuy]

Back to reality


And that reality is getting better every day.

Area 50km west of border was demilitarized after the war, but time has finally come to get our territory back. Deloncle orders the Army to send some 10 divisions to the German border and reoccupy the DMZ. This is celebrated in entire France, while Entente members are not too happy about it, we don't care.

Finally, French soldiers can look at the river Meurthe in Nancy, which flows into German-controlled Metz and then to the holy river of Rhine.

Just as we take back the DMZ, we find out that the German government has ordered an expansion of the Siegfried line. That is a defensive line, built alolg the pre-war border of Germany and France with a task to stop the French once and for all. Showed here on plans with a red line, entire defense of Germany is focused on this line. Deloncle sends a spy to Germany, to discover as much about this line as he can.

He manages to take some photos, like this one.
Full report was: "Germans are busy, work on expansion of the line are going on day and night. They are putting even more blocks called Dragon's teeth, which are designed to stop the tanks. Entire line is a huge minefield making it impossible for infantry to pass. If we plan to enter into Germany, this is not the way we will do it."
That report was very shocking for the Government, but not for Deloncle who orders his best generals to start making a plan for a possible attack on Germany in case of war. They have to bypass the line somehow. Generals start the work and promise to find a solution by 1938, hopefully our army will be advanced by then.

Speaking of army it is not in very good shape. Our navy, for example, has come ,from the biggest in Europe before the war, to the mere 36 ships in service, with no carriers. The strongest ships of the navy are battleships Courbet, Paris and a heavy cruiser Algerie. Admiral Darlan reorganizes the navy, leaving only couple of ships in Toulon and moving the rest to Brest, while submarines are based in St. Nazaire.

Navy is to play a vital role in the upcoming years. Base in Brest has to be expanded and modernized for all our ships to use. British navy is still a major threat.

Our army is redeployed to 3 fronts. Firs one is called Pyrenees front, situated to the border with Spain. 12 divisions are sent there with a mission of maintaining high spirits, as we doubt Spain would become our enemy in the near future.

Ligurian front with Italy also has 12 divisions. Our intel is not sure about a possibility of Italy being our enemy, but troops are stationed any way.

Priority for High Command is the Eastern front, bordering Belgium and Germany. Most of troops are put there and considering aggressive policy of Deloncle and a wish for revenge, no doubt that sooner or later we will be at war with Germany again.

Some troops are left guarding the major ports and interior as well, they are reserves.

Important news come from Austria. Following the assassination of President Dulfuss, Adolf Hitler is elected as Chancellor of Austria, bringing National Socialist party to power. Hitler promises to restore the Austrian prestige and is loved by the masses.

Relations with Austria were ever since Great war good, but with the same ideologies now ruling, we can hope for a greater cooperation between our nations.

Great plan for developing the French economy and infrastructure is seen in a form of motorways.

Entire France is to be connected by these modern roads, wide and used by everyone. The problem now is going to become a question of cars, as there are not much of them in France, and those existing are quite expansive. Hopefully by the end of work on Motorways government will have a solution to that problem as well.​

 

[SnichtheWalrus]

Sound like you need to work on the Air Force and Army since your biggest fights will be on land. The Navy may concentrate on coastal defense. You would also work on better relations with Italy and Austria to go around German defenses.

 

[Tommy4ever]

I find the idea of a Hitlerian Austria and a Monarcho-Fascist France aligning in the fight against German hegemony strangely hilarious, can't wait for more!

 

[RealityGuy]

Modernization

Ottoman airforce, quite obsolete one, wants to buy some old plains of ours. We accept, as this offer from Ottoman Empire actually brought our attention back to our airforce, which is not so good either.

All the planes in active service have been brought to Nantes, the main air base of France. The variety is not plentyfull, only 8 air divisions, some tactical bombers and some interceptors. We have to improve our airforce for the future combats.

Dewoitine D.520 is under development and is expected to enter production in two years. Factories promise we will get a modern, fast and a plane superior than anything others have to offer. We will see...

One of the countries that did not exit the depression yet is Portugal. And it starts to show as thousands of workers, unemployed and poor get to the streets and protest against the government who isn't doing much to improve the situation.We will keep an eye on Portugal in the near future.

Interesting event happened in the Balkans, where on Serbian offer, Greece and Bulgaria have formed a Balkan league, to counter the Ottoman power on the Balkans. Soviet Union sent a official statement that this alliance won't improve on workers status in those countries, while Italy decided to stay neutral in all these events.

French economic recovery is still in full undergoing, now the time has come to develop our colonies even more. The priority is put to Algeria and Senegal, and a plan to connect the two regions is being made. Although we have only a part of our former colonies, we will still make the best use of them.

In spring of 1936, situation explodes in Portugal as Socialist declare independence in the south and a civil war starts.

Socialist militia and volunteers from other Socialist countries manage to get around 50% Portugal under their control. Battles start in Lisbon's outskirts where Socialists try to storm the city and bring a monarchy down. We can't let that happen, and is time to intervene.

In late April, Deloncle decides to send volunteers and a part of regular army in Portugal to ensure it doesn't go fully red. Week Portuguese army welcomes our troops and sends them to the front right away. By May, Lisbon is safe as the reds have been pushed east.

Among the troops who went to Portugal were 15 bombers of the French Airforce. In mid may they are sent to bomb the socialist capital of Setubal to lower their moral and destroy a harbor. It is a complete success, not a single bomber was lost and Setubal lay in ruins. Socialists came under attack from the north. This attack on Setubal, however was quite badly published in Western media, and Britain and Germany condemn the French intervention and call for a cease fire. We don't accept.

Seeing that socialists are getting more and more influence around the world, Delonce decides to proclaim the Anti-Comintern pact, aiming at containing the socialist power in the world.

The first nation to sign the pact is Spain, declared our biggest ally, although not officially.

Back in Africa, work starts on Trans-Saharan railroad that is to link two most important cities- Dakar and Algiers. Workers are the natives who are used to work and live in these horrible conditions in Sahara. Work however proceeds.

Somewhere at Algerian-Mauritanian border, temperature reaches 50 degrees. Workers are going through hell, but French government will wealthlly reward all of them when the work is done.

In Portugal, however, more interesting events. King Carlos has died, setting a stage for a coup by Salazar to be staged. Just as Covihla fell to the government, it fell as well. Salazar took an effective control over Portugal. Some didn't like this and chose to defect to the south and fight Salazar while others fled to Spain, Mexico or Confederacy.

In his office in Lisbon, Salazar now has to make a plan on how to unify the country. Portuguese army was weakened by defections and the offensives stopped. But army is reorganized and the war continues.​

 

[der Kriegsherr]

Nice.
It's been a while since I've seen a Bonaparte Legacy AAR.
I know the Allies and (especially) the Soviets need to be destroyed, but please don't be too hard on Germany.

 

[Gukpa]

Good luck Salazar!