Chapter 3: Fools rush in
(Last meeting of the Holy Roman dominated World Council)
By 1938 the World Council which had been intended to be a new Holy Roman means to keep peace in the world had drifted into irrelevance. Outside of passing several naval treaties and a ban on chemical weapons following Imperial-Mexican War any decrees made in the council that the Empire disagreed with were often overturned. The Axis, simply ignored them entirely and the entire organization had slowly become as influence as a local newspaper while still being a major diplomatic expense. On the next Scheduled meeting in the summer of 1938 Octavia announced a final dissolution of the world council and the creation of the Pan-Imperial Congress which would be it's effective and far more conservative replacement.
Scheduled each Fall, starting in 1938 the New Imperial Congress would meet and be made up of Holy Roman Dominions, colonies and allied countries and conduct matters more intimate than simple treaties. While the Senate existed and Austrian Colonies held representation within it, the Congress would allow for Empire wide policies to be enacted, not just ones that affected the mother country.
Chancellor Dondolo following his success in Scandinavia was appointed to be the head of the 1938 Congress where he steered the direction firmly towards the Empire instead of it's Allies and economic partners. The original Ferdinandian Dominion system despite only being a few decades old was beginning to show it's age, there were barely any firm policies in place for law, education and trade within the dominion which mean often the default lied in old colonial charters, some dating back to the 1600's.
The first matter was Education, which also benefited Dondolo's domestic agenda. Each dominion as well as the Holy Roman Empire itself had completly diffrent systems of education. The Empire funded education for children up to the age of 16 but often no further meanwhile California and Japan both had referendums pending for the creation of several 'State Universities' which would provide federal funded education up to the degree level. More degrees would amplify another problem in that there was no standard recognized Empire wide, degrees earned in California, Japan or Lindi often were worthless outside the country. Similarly a Holy Roman degree from a private university might not be recognized in America.
(Albert Hoffenberg and Chancellor Dandolo shaking hands after Hoffenburg's appointment to first Chair of the IAC, President Ezra Rothstein of Israel stands in the middle)
The ultimate focus of the Imperial Congress would set mandatory minimum levels of education investment, forcing all Dominion members to fund education up to the age of 16. A series of official Imperial Universities were created alongside the Imperial Academic Council (IAC) whose academic leadership would set standards in regards to degrees as well as offer 'Theoretically' uniform education across the entire Empire. Dondolo also agreed to propose Californian style university funding to the Senate which would provide State aid for those pursuing Math, Engineering and Science degrees. Though there were skeptics about the Empire's new Initiative as while the Chancellor preached prosperity to the Empire as a whole Anti Fascist and Communist Propaganda was seething into every aspect of life back at home.
With nothing much to report and extra incentive from the Imperial minded government, Media across the Empire had begun producing what was quickly being labeled as 'Octavian Propaganda'. Anti Fascist and Anti Communist Propaganda found itself into newspaper and magazines and movies such as 'The Celtic Menace' were rushed out of production and into theatres across the empire. It was no coincidence that such a rise was occurring before the 1938 elections and afterwards things had died down for a bit, though not completly.
Militarily the Imperial Navy was also going through heavy modernization just as the Air Force had. Thoughout the Holy Roman Empire's entire history the focus remained always on the Importance of the Capital ship. now the Admiralty was split, between bigger and better battleships which had guns capable of reaching further inland or new American and Japanese styled Aircraft carriers that could promise to give the navy one thing it sorely lacked, diversity. Ultimately like many Naval decisions in recent history, Politics interfered and not knowing any better, Bigger and fancier looking battleships were chosen to be the focus of the Navy and the Super-Heavy 'Royal' Class Battleship complete with it's 17' guns was chosen for production over conversion of some of the older dreadnaughts into carriers despite the massive drain of the Empire's Oil and Steel reserves.
Meanwhile armor companies were now looking to make improvements in regards to the LPz.35. However Great War Era tanks were still being phased out across the board mostly due to limited production of the Lpz35 and Austrian Military leadership saw no reason to introduce a replacement so soon. Eventually General Herman Richter, the foremost promoter of newer mobile warfare tactics sidelined his superiors and put in requires for improved, heavier variants of the LPZ.35 that could sustain anti tank rifle fire for 'testing' purposes.
(The Pz.39 an improved Version of the 35 Model with a superior armament and slightly better armor
Skoda seeing the opportunity presented to them did all they could to impress and introduced the new Pz.38 an up armored version of the Pz35 with superior weaponry and internal equipment. The more traditional Austrian Military leadership shot down the proposal stating that for a Light tank the Pz35 was enough. Next year Skoda made the proposal again, this time however completly replacing the turret as well as replacing the old riveted design with a welded one. This new Pz39 was proposed as Medium Tank that could fill the role of the Outdated heavy tanks while still being able to keep up with Troop Transports. This time the Generals accepted after seeing the performance of the L/60 gun and the general speed of the tank, Skoda was told to equip the Pz39 with the L/60 Gun and to begin production, Orders would follow for revised Lpz.35's with Welded hulls to enter production in limited numbers as well.
As 1938 drew to a close military buildups in Finland and Southeast Asia were starting to become commonplace. As the Holy Roman Empire continued to make it's intent to deal with the Axis known a pre emptive strike was quickly becoming the only alternative, realizing this the Republics of India and Scandinavia formally asked for increased protections and assurances from the Empire. Empress Octavia of course accepted which did nothing for relations with China and Russia.
With world tension now rising rapidly the 1939 Congress that year was focused primarily on the Military defense of the Holy Roman Empire and it's allies. To state his intent Chancellor Dondolo stated during his address that "The Holy Roman Empire and it's Partners must become the Arsenal of Democracy, For while not all peoples under her protection can be considered free, There are those that seek not to advance the world, but to keep it in darkness" A firm statement that now reassured Austria's new allies she would protect them, though whether anyone truly knew exactly what was boiling behind the curtain is unknown.
The Congress, alongside Empress Octavia, officially organized the Imperial Luftwaffe as well as the Imperial Navy into proper branches of the Armed forces alongside the army. Dated systems from the Colonial Era that favored the nobility and those that could purchase officer commissions were tossed away in favor of a more educated admiralty. For the Air Force it was a major win as now it was no longer bound by the more conservative admiralty and generals for newer models of infrastructure and aircraft. Many older naval officers however quit in protest of the new meritocracy stating that the old system made the Empire the premier naval power of the world, and by removing the last bastion of noble hierarchy within the armed forces the Monarchy was setting itself up to fall.
On February 27th 1940 an Imperial Transport ship exploded in Edo harbor killing two hundred and making the port unusable for months as well as severely damaging the Battleship Bohemian Pride. Upon investigation to the explosion Japanese officials discovered that the source cause wasn't accidental and had likely been the result of sabotage. Three days after the explosion the Imperial Cruiser 'Luminous' opened fire on a suspected Chinese submarine. Only to find out too late that it was a Passenger ferry. By March 18th Chinese Union bombers were sighted over Port Arthur, where one was shot down and another forced to land.
A week later on the 27th the Chinese Union State issued a formal declaration of war and advanced into Northern Manchuria and into the Himalayas. Twelve hours later a similar declaration was made by the Eastern Roman Republic, both stating that they 'Intended to End German Aggression'.
Perhaps caring less of appearances Joseph Stalin took his opportunity and announced his final intent to Socialize Scandinavia and ordered an advance into Sweden. Meanwhile word from the North German Union and Greater Albion remained quiet outside pledges to send equipment and volunteers to aid the Greeks and Chinese in their struggles.
The Holy Roman Empire meanwhile received pledges from Canada and Templar Republic for aid against the Chinese. Israel which was being invaded by the Eastern Roman Republic also pledged to aid the Holy Roman Empire, despite it's own situation.
(Empress Octavia announcing the Holy Roman Empire's declaration of war)
The Holy Roman Empire was now at war and for the second time in 50 years the fate of the entire world Hung in the balance.