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That's basically my school. I didn't know anything about WWI until about seventh grade, and that was because I read Scott Westerfield's Leviathan (young adult alternate history trilogy about the Central Powers using mechas to fight the Entente's genetically engineered monsters which incidentally got me into alternate history). I didn't learn about WWI in a class until high school. Even then the causes were just reduced to "Balkans are a powder keg, don't question it, then a guy got shot." We focused a lot on trenches and the military technology (but not on specific battles) and then jumped straight to Versailles, Hitler, Nazis, and World War II. We did a little about the Great Depression, mostly in the context of the Dust Bowl, Roosevelt and the New Deal (but mostly Roosevelt), and a little Lend-Lease (or I might be confusing that with my college courses). For World War II, we focused on Germany and Japan (and not much about Italy other than mentioning Mussolini). After a brief discussion on the causes, which focused on Hitler and the Nazis and a little on Chamberlain and appeasement, we jumped straight to the invasion of Poland, then to Pearl Harbor/Stalingrad, and then to D-Day and the rest of the war. At least for Japan we learned about Midway and some of the Pacific campaign before going to Okinawa, Iwo Jima, and the atomic bombs (no mention of China or the Southeast Asia campaigns). We also sped through the Nuremberg trials a lot. We stop around the founding of the UN. At least we did get some focus on the home front and the Manhattan Project (though most of the stuff I learned on Manhattan Project came from my physics class, of all places). The only other time I learned about the home front was a college course I took on Britain in World War I, and that only focused on the British home front. It was a shame we glossed over so much. There was a lot of nuance in both wars and the interbellum that would've helped us understand the wars and their consequences much better.

Sorry for the wall of text, I just needed to vent after realizing how little my middle and high schools covered in history.
You’re lucky you actually covered the war. For me, I already knew quite a lot about WWII and a bit about WWI as I was going into year 10 from books, documentaries and HOIV. And the pre ww2 stuff was only about Germany in my school.
 
And then there's my school which ended before we even reached 1920s.
Ouch. At least we were lucky enough to briefly cover the Cold War (though we mostly focused on the Cuban Missile Crisis and the space race, but even then a lot of the stuff I learned on the space race came from physics class) and end in 1989 with the fall of the Iron Curtain.
 
Ouch. At least we were lucky enough to briefly cover the Cold War (though we mostly focused on the Cuban Missile Crisis and the space race, but even then a lot of the stuff I learned on the space race came from physics class) and end in 1989 with the fall of the Iron Curtain.
That definitely is a shame. At least my American History class (which ironically has covered more stuff than my world history classes ironically so I guess I’m lucky there) is going to cover the Latin American revolutions soon and I don’t know much about Latin America so I’m pretty interested in that.
 
Chapter 4 - Jul 1938: The Battle for Manchuria

Prime Minister Gratz looks over the countryside outside of Modena from his Summer villa as he sips his tea. His aids stand to the side, nervous. In front of him is general Guilla, his most trusted military adviser. Guilla salutes and leaves as their conversation ends.

Lotharingia and Carinthia are both Fascist nations; each believes the ends justify the means. However, each also has a very different idea as to what those means are. Meenen of the Volksreich is not lying when he claims he stands for all the people of Lotharingia. He truly cares for his people. What makes the free world quaver is what he might be willing to do to extend Lotharingian power, including the destruction of any country which might oppose him.

Gratz, on the other hand, would gladly sacrifice his entire nation if he thought he might not be able to achieve his goals. He cares little for his own people. While his nation thinks he does what he thinks is best for the people, what he desires most of all is a rebirth of the Carinth-Hungarian Empire, and perhaps even a new Roman Empire.

Whether these two forms of Fascism will be able to work together is still to be seen.

One of the aids informs Gratz that, to keep on schedule, he would have to head to the private runway about a mile away. Gratz is well into his 60s and was a young man when the first aero plane took off, yet he has never liked air travel. He grumbles softly in acknowledgment of the aid.

He has also never liked Meenen. Meenen gave off such an eccentric and genuine desire to see Lotharingia strive that it comes off as almost fake. Their two personalities clashed quite a bit during the conference, but Gratz still chose to ally his nation with Lotharingia. This was partly because Prussia, a sizable foe, has been Carinthia's enemy since the Empire broke apart, and partly because Hungary, which was the subordinate in the union, may be thinking of reforming the Empire with a different hierarchy.

Thousands of miles to the east, the first of the American troops arrive on China's front. The operation is being called Operation Golden Tiger. 43 thousand troops led by General TheButterflyComposer (General TBC) form up with the Chinese and Russians in their first engagement: closing a small pocket of resistance in Jin Manchuria.

yhsMFzP.jpg


It is a quick and easy victory, and 7 thousand enemies are killed or captured. General TBC takes his men north to help with the last of the Jin.

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The men led by General BPM gets to the northern line in late September, and they begin an offensive to push the Koreans back to the Manchurian mountains and out of Mongolia.

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With the American boots on the ground, there is a definite change in the tide, and Korea begins caving in. By mid October, with 1.2 thousand Americans dead and twice that injured, Korea is on the verge of collapse.

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Stateside, there is a small opposition to the war, led by the American Fascist party. However, War Support overall is very high, and the opposition gains no traction.

The push into Manchuria is a success, and the next push, to cut off hundreds of thousands of enemy troops, is planned. This will be a risky push to the coastline just south of Vladivostok, eventually up the coast to cut off all supplies to the troops still left in Manchuria. The plan is not launched yet, allowing reinforcements to arrive and Chinese and Russian troops to shore up the line.

dBf6CCO.jpg


To the north, the difficult push through the mountains must be made. Plans are drawn up to cut off enemy divisions by an offensive straight south into the mountains. It will not be easy.

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The push to Vladivostok begins on New Years day. In -17C weather, the troops smash through Korean and Japanese lines, until they reach the mountains. Supply lines seize up in the frigid temperatures and rough terrain, and the offensive slows. All across Manchuria, the offensive move has stopped. General BPM's troops stop making progress in the north, and all Russian and Korea attacks are halted. As mid January is reached, temperatures drop to the -20s.

gwcXYIi.jpg


In Europe, a strange war has started. The tiny nation of Olomouc has declared war on the equally small nation of Domazlice. It appears that the Fascist government of Olomouc, unwatched by the free world, declared Domazlice rightfully part of Olomouc and now seeks to annex it entirely. This is a rather inconsequential war, but the US will keep an eye on it.

H2vMSac.jpg


The war does not last long, and within a week Domazlice is no more.

h2Uej0E.jpg


The offensive picks up again in late February, as temperatures rise. American troops are just miles from the coast, days away from cutting off the enemy in Manchuria. They break through the mountains, and there is no sign of enemy resistance on the flats leading to the coast.

QFNw6c6.jpg


Just weeks after the war ended, loyalists to the original monarchy of Olomouc attempts a coup of the Fascist government. However, it fails, but the remnants of Domazlice rise in support, and the Civil War of Olomouc begins.

aCx0VPA.jpg


On March 9th, 1939, the Pacific Ocean is seen. US troops reach the coast. Now the job of capturing the countless enemies cut off begins.

xF6Cemp.jpg


In Olomouc, the old monarchy prevails in April, and now Domazlice and Olomouc are united under King Nemecek.

NanyNp1.jpg


General BPM's army is moved south to the Korean peninsula, to prepare for the ousting of all enemy forces from mainland Asia. Their plan is to push back the enemy past the river.

Uk2nZUC.jpg


As the enemy is pushed back, Vladivostok holds strong, and more troops are landed in the city as it is surrounded. 7 divisions of mostly foreign troops from Hungary, Arabia, and Carinthia hold the city.

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The city finally falls on the 13th of June, 1939. The american deaths were upwards of 3000, with 5000 wounded. 70 thousand enemy soldiers are captured.

YrKslXd.jpg


With the capture of the city, Manchuria is all but secured. Korea is close to capitulation.

NOTE:
- I've added all the subscribers' names to the game, as well as removed a bunch of default names like Smith and Jones, so we should see some good generals in the future.
- Sorry this chapter is just the battle of Manchuria. Diplomatic and political stuffs is coming soon.
 
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A chapter focusing on a battle is hardly a bad thing considering how important this war is right now. Its end is on the horizon, now we wait for the fallout and how that shapes the rest of the campaign.
 
If you include me as a character, would it be possible for my character to be more involved in the political side of things than the military campaigns? It would be a nice change from the usual generals and military leaders. Just a small suggestion.
 
The operation is being called Operation Golden Tiger. 43 thousand troops led by General TheButterflyComposer (General TBC) form up with the Chinese and Russians in their first engagement: closing a small pocket of resistance in Jin Manchuria.

Huzzah! Now to create a noose and close it!

It is a quick and easy victory, and 7 thousand enemies are killed or captured. General TBC takes his men north to help with the last of the Jin.

The bombastic general's quotes to the international press about 'being home for christmas' are treated with some dubiousness, but there is no faulting skill and enthusiasm, something the country is always in need of.

On March 9th, 1939, the Pacific Ocean is seen. US troops reach the coast. Now the job of capture the countless enemy cut off beings.

The general and many theorists and reporters back home posit the power of a fast and mobile force to create such large encirclements in modern war, to avoid the horrors of trench warfare. Whilst men on the ground won the day, tanks, trucks and even horses remain vital in a modern army.

Critics debate, amongst other things, the resource vulnerability and practicalty of such tactics across all terrains, not just open plains.

In Olomouc, the old monarchy prevails in April, and now Domazlice and Olomouc are united under King Nemecek.

What a mess. But what a time to be a mapmaker!
 
It's kind of amusing to see Domazlice resist the fascists but support the monarchists. It was also funny to see the monarchy be based in Domazlice. Eastern European shenanigans.:p
 
It's kind of amusing to see Domazlice resist the fascists but support the monarchists. It was also funny to see the monarchy be based in Domazlice. Eastern European shenanigans.:p
Actually, that makes me think a Cold War between monarchist China and democratic USA might be interesting since Communism doesn’t seem to be big here at all. I know that this Megacampagin ends with WW2, but it is an interesting idea for an epilogue with Democratic vs Monarchist Cold War.
 
Chapter 5 - Jun 1939: The Spark

The North German Federation is a peaceful country between Lotharingia and Poland, with a rather large army for its size. Unfortunately, its government, a monarchy, is infested with Fascists. Intelligence suggests that up to 41% of the German nation supports a potential future Fascist government. King Hessen of the NGF is, for the moment, indifferent to the idea of Fascism. He has toyed with the idea of joining the Covenant of Steel but has thus far kept his nation neutral.

Unbeknownst to anyone, the Fascists in the NGF government have been receiving aid from Lotharingia. Soon, they will be able to take control of the nation...

jV2MLFj.jpg


To the East, the United Baltic Provinces have been largely quiet this half of the decade. They have expeditionary troops sent to Sweden, Castille, and Eretna, but they have not participated in any other diplomatic or military actions. Their current Prime Minister is a socialist named Brunis Pumpurs. However, the UBP upperhouse is 37% communist and 40% democratic. The UBP is also estimated to have around a million troops. This means the world could see a communist great power in the near future.

3Qd8Ain.jpg


The War in Asia continues, and Korea is further pushed back. Then, on the 22nd of June, Hungary, stating border grievances, and with the diplomatic support of Lotharingia, declares war on Poland.

Tw3sRGS.jpg


The US, Britain, Russia, and Sweden denounce the invasion, but they do no more than that. Then, in a shocking move, Poland joins the Stali Pact. Sweden and Castille join the war against Hungary, but Russia and Prussia do not.

3eFqstP.jpg

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Russia joins the war in August, as Poland loses ground. Hungary quickly makes progress in taking Russian land. Eretna still has not joined, so Hungary can focus the majority of its efforts on the Russian front.

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Late in August, President Dunaden is approached by Ruben Rijk of the Antillen Rebellion. The Rebellion has thus far done nothing but hold onto its small chunk of land. Jacobweller had been unwilling to aid militarily, but Rijk asks Dunaden whether he would change that. Dunaden agrees to Rijk's request for aid, but he does not declare war just yet. Sharing the same island as De Nederlandse Antillen is the Dominican Republic. The small nation is in the Anglo Alliance, and it has only 13 divisions, whereas Antillen is estimated to have over 40. Before declaring war, Dunaden tells Rijk the US will station troops in Santo Domingo.

p03mEmx.jpg


The 18 division strong 1st Army, led by General Lucas Luc, is sent. 12 divisions assigned to the Pacific Army are reassigned to the Atlantic, and General Alvious Kon is given command. They will be responsible for securing the smaller Antillen islands in the Caribbean.

Provence, a fairly weak Fascist nation south of Lotharingia, joins the Covenant of Steel later that night.

hfK35to.jpg


Prime Minister Gratz makes his first move at reforming the Empire on the 1st of September. at 5AM local time, Carinthia declares war on Lombardia, and troops flood over the border.

Kfnszui.jpg


Lombardia is a peaceful constitutional monarchy just to the west of Carinthia. The threat of Carinthia, Provence, and Lotharingia have always loomed close, but being a monarchy, neither the Anglo Alliance nor the Stali Pact have been willing to let Lombardia in.

pU9kdAQ.jpg


A few days later, Eretna joins the war against Hungary. Now Hungary must face great powers on two fronts.

SWF3Ray.jpg


2 weeks later, Lombardia capitulates, and Carinthia annexes the nation completely. To the east, Hungary loses ground against Russia and Eretna. Seeing the overwhelming odds against Hungary, Prussia joins the war as well. Now Hungary is completely surrounded.

KSRWrP7.jpg

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By mid October, Hungary is on the brink of collapse. Russia, Eretna, and Prussia have pierced to the heart of Hungary. What many begin contemplating is what will happen to Hungary after the war is over.

95pqONL.jpg


The War in Asia has trudged on slowly the past few months, and Korea and Japan have been showing fierce resistance.

67cC70Q.jpg


On the 25th of October, 1939, the US joins the Antillen Civil War on the rebels' side. The expeditionary forces in Asia are withdrawn, as the US Army Air Corps begins bombing Antillen troops and infrastructure. The US 1st Navy also begins blockading the island.

dFnOv8r.jpg


The combat is intense, and it takes nearly a month for the first break through the line. By this time, the US has 15 thousand casualties, and the Dominican Republic 14 thousand. Meanwhile, it takes several allied ships to bring the Antillen navy down. By mid November, only one enemy ship remains afloat.

FaKYroo.jpg


Hungary capitulates on the 30th of November, as the last of the resistance are captured by the Russians. In the ensuing peace conference, a few small provinces in Galicia are taken by the Russians, and a faux democratic government, led by the Russian puppet Kelemen Dessewffy, is put in power. Then, Hungary is given entrance into the Stali Pact. Russia's alliance is now hugely powerful and controls a large part of Europe.

jN7DqBz.jpg

v7B2OxH.jpg


Christmas day brings with it the gift of another province of progress against Antillen. This war is far more difficult than originally predicted.

G1oZyJL.jpg


Several tank divisions arrive to aid in capturing the island, and progress speeds up. By the end of January, US troops march into the Antillen capital of Port Au Prince. With the fall of the capital, the rest of the enemy troops surrender. The rebels declare themselves victorious, and the government is reformed as a democracy based in Saint Lucia. The US troops are sent home.

kEDxwcJ.jpg


The US troops were out of shape compared to the Antillen troops, who had been fighting the rebels for the past few years. The last war the US fought was in the early 30s.

In Asia, Korea capitulates, and Japan seizes control of the rest of the peninsula, but they are fighting a losing battle.

8LRlAAl.jpg


The next few months are uneventful. Delhi invades and annexes Sindh, finally gaining access to a coastline, and Turkestan invades the southern part of Afghanistan.

Kvi5y8K.jpg


Tension builds across Europe. Lotharingia makes no moves, yet Meenen's desire to do something is obvious. In early May, during a rally in Luxembourg, he riles up his people with talk of an expanded German Empire. The Lotharingian nation is too small for such a numerous and prosperous people. The state of Wallonie alone, he says, has 20 million people. Lotharingia is too crowded, and perhaps more room can be found elsewhere.

Picardy is in a dire situation, and the Picardian king is indeed glad that Great Britain has agreed to defend the small nation against any Lotharingian threats.

But the spark does not come from Lotharingia or even Europe. It comes from North Africa. On the 28th of May, 1940, Arabia invades the Teutonic port of Al Rif, determined to oust the imperialist Order from Africa.

m6TJquF.jpg


Suddenly, the full force of the Covenant of Steal is unleashed on the Teutonic Order.

LgCC4H4.jpg


Now Congress must decide what the US will do. It is time for a vote.

A) Join the War against the Covenant
B) Send expeditionary units and supplies to the Teutons
C) Do nothing

Just comment and make sure it is obvious which choice you prefer. This vote will end at 11 PM EST the 2nd of January

NOTE
- Happy new year!
 
A chapter focusing on a battle is hardly a bad thing considering how important this war is right now. Its end is on the horizon, now we wait for the fallout and how that shapes the rest of the campaign.

I cannot wait until everything falls apart!

I’m wondering what would the leadership portrait of the Lorthinga Facist leader look like here, or would it just be a generic portrait spawned by the game?

It's a fairly creepy looking generic portrait!

If you include me as a character, would it be possible for my character to be more involved in the political side of things than the military campaigns? It would be a nice change from the usual generals and military leaders. Just a small suggestion.

All I do is put the names in the game files, and the game randomly picks first and last names whenever it generates a character.

Huzzah! Now to create a noose and close it!

The bombastic general's quotes to the international press about 'being home for christmas' are treated with some dubiousness, but there is no faulting skill and enthusiasm, something the country is always in need of.

The general and many theorists and reporters back home posit the power of a fast and mobile force to create such large encirclements in modern war, to avoid the horrors of trench warfare. Whilst men on the ground won the day, tanks, trucks and even horses remain vital in a modern army.

Critics debate, amongst other things, the resource vulnerability and practicalty of such tactics across all terrains, not just open plains.

What a mess. But what a time to be a mapmaker!

Love the roleplay!

It's kind of amusing to see Domazlice resist the fascists but support the monarchists. It was also funny to see the monarchy be based in Domazlice. Eastern European shenanigans.:p

There are loads of monarchies all over the world, many more than OTL. I do think a Democracy-Monarchy Cold War is very possible.

Actually, that makes me think a Cold War between monarchist China and democratic USA might be interesting since Communism doesn’t seem to be big here at all. I know that this Megacampagin ends with WW2, but it is an interesting idea for an epilogue with Democratic vs Monarchist Cold War.

Oh, someone beat me to the punch!

The only communist nations I know of are Benin and Georgia. The UBC has a very large percentage of Communists in the upperhouse and an impressive army, so they could be a formidable communist nation soon.
 
Russia is getting way too powerful. They have to be stopped before they destroy the balance of power even more!

(Obviously I choose A, because it's FREEDOM time!)
 
Wow, I didn't realize Russia had gotten so strong. Yeah, they need to be toned down a bit and I'm a fan of the Teutonic Order surviving so long here so I'll also vote A.
 
The US could barely handle tiny Antilean Nation. What chances do we have against the Stali Pact? We should send observers and volunteers to train our troops in modern combat, but joining the war directly is a suicide.
B)
 
A: We must put the Fascists to the sword for the good of democracies and Western Civilization.

They are a threat!

Russia is getting way too powerful. They have to be stopped before they destroy the balance of power even more!

(Obviously I choose A, because it's FREEDOM time!)

Yes, the Stali Pact is more powerful than I ever thought they would be...

Wow, I didn't realize Russia had gotten so strong. Yeah, they need to be toned down a bit and I'm a fan of the Teutonic Order surviving so long here so I'll also vote A.

Yes, the Teutons are pretty great to have around, I never would have expected them to last this long.

The US could barely handle tiny Antilean Nation. What chances do we have against the Stali Pact? We should send observers and volunteers to train our troops in modern combat, but joining the war directly is a suicide.
B)

The Antillen nation had a hugely powerful army for its size, like 35 - 45 division. It also has a population of somewhere around 30 million people! With a front of just two provinces, it could field over a dozen divisions in each one. That's why I had to bring in a few tank brigades to help with the final push. The US hasn't fought a war since the early 30s, and that was won with a surprise attack at Chile's heart, not with any sort of push through a front. This combat was new to the majority of the US's military.