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Every disaster like this is a tragedy, of course, but it's good to see such support for the Dutch in their hour of need, even with all that's going on in the wider world. Some matters simply transcend politics (or they should, anyway).
 
Valuable to see the power natural disasters still has over man even into the modern age.

Interesting that the Netherlands are developing into Japan’s main friend in Europe. If you go through a major economic boom like the OTL Japan in the postwar years, then that relationship could prove very profitable for the Dutch.
 
The Schism

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“This is London, you will now hear a statement from Chairman Mosley.”
“Comrades! I’m speaking to you at a time of great joy to bring news of great sorrow.
Whilst we have studiously worked to root out the threat of rootless cosmopolitanism, feudalism and factionalism - these tendencies have festered in those that we once perceived to be our allies.
I’m speaking of course about the Socialist Republic of Italy, who under the leadership of the Social-Reformists have strayed further and further from the path of Syndicalism. Following the return of our brave comrades, who saved Italy from the brink of certain defeat at the hands of the white butchers, certain nationalist-bourgeoisie elements in cooperation with reactionary criminals slowly, but surely took control of the party in the past 2 years.
In the span of this take-over the Italians slowly, but surely began to abandon all pretences of being a vanguard party throwing both revolutionary principles and class struggle by the wayside.
Their descent into depravity has not however gone unnoticed. I thoroughly reprimand the Greater Italian Union for not taking this path and urge them to mend their ways. I also implore them on behalf of all Syndicalists around the world to explain their actions at the next congress of the Syndicalist Internationale.
Remember that together we have lit a flame that the ages shall not extinguish. Thank you and good night”
“That is the end of the Chairman’s announcement. Now back to your regularly scheduled programming.”

Excerpt from the evening radio broadcast by Chairman Mosley on the 5th of January 1953 condemning Italian revisionism

By 1953 the decision to engage in trade with a capitalist nation such as India was just a small addendum on an ever growing list of faults that Syndicalist thinkers in the Union of Britain and Combined Syndicates of America raised when discussing their Italian comrades. Pertini's decision to cultivate autogestione, self-management, in the economy as a replacement to central planning in replacing the private enterprise had popped up in the French occupation zone had caused many waves. The policy of harbouring both deserters and dissenters from America and Britain was also highly contentious, despite multiple attempts by officials from both countries to have them extradited. Tired of Italian stonewalling the issue was largely solved when the majority of Anglo-American forces were redeployed to North Africa. Both Browder and Mosley however maintained their view that the Italians were an important partner in the region and that they would calm down if given enough space, which caused them to grudgingly maintain their tacit support for the Social-Reformists. Those hopes would however come crashing down on the 2nd of January. In a speech to the Greater Italian Congress, Premier Pertini announced the withdrawal of his country from the military arm of the SynIntern. In addition Pertini countered any and all accusations that the Italians were breaking from Syndicalist orthodoxy. The denial of heterodoxy was however on purpose worded rather vaguely, in a way to signal that both Mosley and Browder were themselves the heretics. The Pertini Declaration would prove to be the final straw for both Mosley and Browder and following a heated discussion by telephone, it was decided that the autonomy afforded to the Italians was going too far and that they would be condemned post-haste. Additionally when the SynIntern Congress was to convene the expulsion of the Italians would be discussed, if they would not mend their ways.

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Pertini's speech had included unnamed attacks on cults of personality that Mosley
had been cultivating for a while now through propaganda events such as this.

Pertini and the leadership of the Social-Reformists was however unwilling to yield and face humiliation. After mulling over their options it was decided that they would attempt to win over what remained of the non-national Syndicalist parties that were not eating out of the palm of the Anglo powers. In order to aid in this Pertini openly attacked the British and the Americans for straying from the path set out by the Commune of France as well as abandoning the principles of democracy and unionism. L'Unità, the official mouthpiece of the SRI began publishing reports on the British purges as well as the ongoing atrocities committed by the Americans in their continued efforts at collectivization. These reports largely originated from the same dissidents that the Italians were sheltering and were thus often embellished. Despite this they were quickly picked up by news organizations around the world as a rare window into the clandestine internal nature of the two leading Syndicalist states. These actions however did little to win over support of the non-national parties, many of whom saw this as undermining revolutionary unity, and quickly eroded what little good will remained towards the Social Republic of Italy and Italians in general in the CSA and UoB. Many British and American Italians quickly found themselves treated more and more like foreign spies or potential fifth columnists. This came in various ways such as legislation advanced by General Secretary Foster in the CSA to have them designated as enemy aliens to raids such as Mosley's call to “collar the lot” in front of the London Popular Militia. The speech was quickly followed by thousands of Italian of all ages hearing the dreaded knock on the door. Among those arrested was Brigadier Profumo - a hero of the Italian campaign.

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Profumo had quickly risen through the ranks during the Syndicalist War, his Italian heritage
which had aided him so much during the War would prove to be his undoing after it

The split was finally legitimized at the Fifth SynIntern Congress, on May Day 1953. Seeing their dwindling support the Italians refused to attend, both due to a fear of detention by security forces in the Union of Britain and losing what little support remained among the non-national parties due to the dressing-down they were no doubt about to recieve. Bereft of opposition the delegates at the congress unanimously voted to expel the Italians citing their actions ‘undermining Syndicalist unity’ as well as falling under the control of ‘nationalist-bourgeoisie elements’. The declaration would prove to be the basis for the purge of suspected “Pertinists” in nearly all Syndicalists parties across the world as well as a ramping up of detainment of Italians in both the CSA as well as the UoB. In response to the expulsion, the Social-Reformists answered in kind by suppressing those that supported the resolution calling them “Internationalists”, among them the leadership of the national syndicalists. Many of them were sent to the Pontine Islands and housed in labour camps similar to those employed by the Union of Britain. This would however prove to be just the first step in the propaganda war that would follow in its wake. The Italians once again went on the offensive making their first step through Times of India. In an interview to the paper Pertini openly attacked the Americans and British not only for the previous claims, but also for engaging in social imperialism in former French Africa. He also alluded that the real reason for the Italian expulsion was an attempt to stop the Totalists from engaging in little better than the French that came before them. Although the break and the continuing attacks on the de-facto leadership of the SynIntern did little to impress the non-national parties it did contribute to a warming of relationships with capitalist powers other than India.

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Originally established by the Bourbons the prison of Ventotene would be repurposed by the SRI to house dissidents
The expulsion of the Italians would however not be the only significant overhaul of the SynIntern in 1953. Although the UoB and CSA continued to pay lip service to the idea of world revolution the ascension of the German Empire into the nuclear powers club, in March of the same year, made such an event increasingly unfeasible through military means. Despite claims by British and American scientists of being just on the verge of a breakthrough tangible results seemed to still be far in the future. Owing to this the Fourth Congress chose to abandon the policy of “world revolution” endorsed at the First Congress and instead replaced it with a more policy of “building syndicalism at home”. Proof of the superiority of the Syndicalist economic system would prove the push necessary to finally destabilize the Capitalist nations and realize revolution across the world. In order to shed the burden of association with the Syndicalist Wars the leaders of the Combined Syndicates of America and the Union of Britain, as well as their 'puppets' gathered in Montreal. The Montreal Treaty, signed on the 24th of August, saw the dissolution of the military arm of the Internationale and the establishment the Atlantic Treaty Organization as collective security agreement treated as independent from the SynIntern.

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Flag of the Atlantic Treaty Organization. Originally a symbolic flag established following the CSA entry into
the war and the defeat of Canada, it would quickly rise to be the symbol of cross-Atlantic relations

------------------------------------------------------------------

Every disaster like this is a tragedy, of course, but it's good to see such support for the Dutch in their hour of need, even with all that's going on in the wider world. Some matters simply transcend politics (or they should, anyway).

Indeed, however that is not to say that isn't to say that this might not spiral into political influence.

Valuable to see the power natural disasters still has over man even into the modern age.

Interesting that the Netherlands are developing into Japan’s main friend in Europe. If you go through a major economic boom like the OTL Japan in the postwar years, then that relationship could prove very profitable for the Dutch.

Dutch-Japanese relations have a long history, although coloured in this timeline due to the treatment of the Indo-Dutch there is certainly an economic carrot with it. Besides this the Dutch are one of the few nations in Europe not in the German sphere that aren't in the periphery like say the Balkans or Iberia.

A very interesting uptade. It's refreshing to see someone writing about natural disaster in AAR.

Thanks, I've not seen them that often either hence why I felt like including it.
 
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Fascinating!! I have only now fully caught up with this most excellent story. Such a great read, and such immense imagination!! I thank you from the bottom of my heart for the hours of thrill, entertainment and education. :)

I do wonder about one thing though. With the Syndintern now renaimed Atlantic Treaty, how much of the Atlantic actually do the two main Syndie powers, CSA and UoB, control? Theoretically, if their build naval forces to their heart's content, they can turn the north Atlantic into a red ocean. The Germans can't possibly keep up, they lack the drydocks and the industrial power. What does this mean for world trade? How do the Germans feel now that their overseas trade is in such dire situation? It's quite similar to Napoleon vs the British blockade, and we know how that turned out for Napoleon.
 
And now the split is official. I wonder how Pertinism will continue to develop in the coming decades -- will it become a viable competitor to main-line Totalist Internationalism, or will Italy gradually be brought back into the orbit of the Mitteleuropan consensus and become "syndicalist in name only"?

That, of course, begs the question of what the German Empire may make of this development. The SPD has been gradually pulling Germany towards social democracy themselves, but I wonder if closer ties with a group of erstwhile Internationalists will be politically palatable with the voting public -- or, for that matter, with a Kaiser who is undoubtedly casting leery eyes at the leftward trend of his country.
 
It is pertinent to purge the Pertinists. Where's Miyamoto Kenji's BFF Enrico in all this and what is he up to?
 
New Blood (Part 2)
[...]
The Crown Prince's pseudo-regency during his fathers bouts of illness had made him a known quantity in the circles of power. It had been the Crown Prince after all that convinced his father to give approval to the SPD lead coalition government, as the Prince saw them as the chance to reunite the German people. His tendency towards liberalism was only further confirmed when he took the regnal name of Ferdinand IV, in a visible attempt to buck tradition and establish himself as the spiritual successor to his great-grandfather Ferdinand III. Despite this however Kaiser Ferdinand IV continued to believe that this unification of the people and empowering of the people should not come through the rapid weakening of the powers of the Kaiser, something which he believed would lead to strong backlash from the Junker establishment. Instead the Kaiser supported a more gradual transition of power like that of his great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria. Additionally the state of Europe posed further worries for the Kaiser, who although more of an engineer than a soldier fancied himself a student of Bismarck and sought to ease the ever present tensions between the Russian and the German Empire. He did so by reaching out to his brother-in-law, who although originally little more than a puppet of his generals had begun accruing support in his own right. Although there was little the Kaiser could actually promise, as the talks the two Emperors largely circled back to the issue of Ukraine, the Kaiser conceded to recognize White Ruthenia, a German client-state that the Russians had occupied since the Syndicalist War, as a part of Russia. In exchange the Tsar would do whatever was possible to push for an amelioration between their two states.


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The ascension of Prince Louis Ferdinand to the throne of Kaiser
marked a tangible end to the Wilhelmine period
Just a small remark: Wilhelm II's father had ruled, ever so briefly, under the name Friedrich III, not Ferdinand III. Prussia / Imperial Germany had in their history no rulers named Ferdinand, the last German emperor to rule under that name had been Ferdinand II of Habsburg whose actions led to the start of, and who ruled during most of, the thirty years war.
 
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Fascinating!! I have only now fully caught up with this most excellent story. Such a great read, and such immense imagination!! I thank you from the bottom of my heart for the hours of thrill, entertainment and education. :)

I do wonder about one thing though. With the Syndintern now renaimed Atlantic Treaty, how much of the Atlantic actually do the two main Syndie powers, CSA and UoB, control? Theoretically, if their build naval forces to their heart's content, they can turn the north Atlantic into a red ocean. The Germans can't possibly keep up, they lack the drydocks and the industrial power. What does this mean for world trade? How do the Germans feel now that their overseas trade is in such dire situation? It's quite similar to Napoleon vs the British blockade, and we know how that turned out for Napoleon.

Great to have you Jodel and many thanks for the praise.

Germany does have outs to the actual Atlantic, but with the exception of France, the Iberians and their colonies and Morocco almost all of the North Atlantic, barring of course the North Sea, is under the "control" of the Internationale. As to trade I do believe that the importance of the Med as well as the Suez, still in German hands, would continue to rise in the eyes of the Germans. Whilst the ATO would maintain a presence there, if for no other reason than to mess with the Germans and the Italians, the Med also hosts other countries that could be drawn into the German sphere to keep the Syndicalists out.

And now the split is official. I wonder how Pertinism will continue to develop in the coming decades -- will it become a viable competitor to main-line Totalist Internationalism, or will Italy gradually be brought back into the orbit of the Mitteleuropan consensus and become "syndicalist in name only"?

That, of course, begs the question of what the German Empire may make of this development. The SPD has been gradually pulling Germany towards social democracy themselves, but I wonder if closer ties with a group of erstwhile Internationalists will be politically palatable with the voting public -- or, for that matter, with a Kaiser who is undoubtedly casting leery eyes at the leftward trend of his country.

As cheesy as it sounds, only time will tell. On the topic of Italy and its attempt to mend fences with capitalists after being expelled by the Syndicalists, many would likely dislike it especially as an attack on the heritage of Schumacher, who did whatever possible to destroy what little vestiges remained of

It is pertinent to purge the Pertinists. Where's Miyamoto Kenji's BFF Enrico in all this and what is he up to?

Rising through the ranks, probably participating in purging the Internationalists for the SRI. That is of course, if he isn't a radical in the North given that the Papists control Sardinia.

Just a small remark: Wilhelm II's father had ruled, ever so briefly, under the name Friedrich III, not Ferdinand III. Prussia / Imperial Germany had in their history no rulers named Ferdinand, the last German emperor to rule under that name had been Ferdinand II of Habsburg whose actions led to the start of, and who ruled during most of, the thirty years war.
Right, right. My mistake. Thanks for pointing it out, I've fixed it now.
 
I’ve enjoyed seeing Italy become this TL’s Yugoslavia. I wonder if they will try to win some influence across the Left internationally, or if they will be satisfied with guarding their independence.

This ATO alliance looks like it could well be the world’s foremost military power - and although aimed in the Atlantic, it will undoubtedly be a threat to Japan in the Pacific too.
 
Found this is the OT / Polandball thread, it's oddly fitting for this most recent chapter of the AAR



Ofc the flags are off but geez, isn't that exactly what WK3 between a nuclear armed (N)ATO and Mitteleuropa would look like o_O:eek:

Warsaw is the new Sydney.
 
I think that Italians might eventually unite if all goes well.

And about the ATO: the decision to abandon military expansion might be the fundamentall error, which will lead to it's collapse, just as it did with Warsaw pact IRL.
 
I think that Italians might eventually unite if all goes well.

And about the ATO: the decision to abandon military expansion might be the fundamentall error, which will lead to it's collapse, just as it did with Warsaw pact IRL.
Did they really say that?? I would think that, given the militancy and totalitarianism of the CSA, the many unsolved issues between the CSA and Mexico, and the unprotected situation of Mexico as a Pertinist deviant left wing radical regime, Mexico would be certain to receive a re-education treatment at the hands of Uncle Comrade Sam's Misguided Children and the CSA Army. The whole western hemisphere, except of course those states that the CSA navy would need to reach visa the pacific, is up for grabs by the Americans, or is it not? Who's protecting them from a rebuilt, nuclear armed, totalitarian CSA? Mitteleuropa can be held in check via the threat of the ATO's nuclear bomber force, stationed on Airstrip One, and Japan has no bases from which to interfere in a grand anti-pertinist house cleaning operation?
 
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I’ve enjoyed seeing Italy become this TL’s Yugoslavia. I wonder if they will try to win some influence across the Left internationally, or if they will be satisfied with guarding their independence.

This ATO alliance looks like it could well be the world’s foremost military power - and although aimed in the Atlantic, it will undoubtedly be a threat to Japan in the Pacific too.

Perhaps, however unlike our timelines Yugoslavia it doesn't have the advantage of swathes of nations it can attract due to the non-aligned movement. Given that many of the nations that joined it in our timeline are on a much shorter leash in this timeline.

I think that Italians might eventually unite if all goes well.

And about the ATO: the decision to abandon military expansion might be the fundamentall error, which will lead to it's collapse, just as it did with Warsaw pact IRL.

The Austrians are still a roadblock, but it could of course happen. As to military expansionism.

Did they really say that?? I would think that, given the militancy and totalitarianism of the CSA, the many unsolved issues between the CSA and Mexico, and the unprotected situation of Mexico as a Pertinist deviant left wing radical regime, Mexico would be certain to receive a re-education treatment at the hands of Uncle Comrade Sam's Misguided Children and the CSA Army. The whole western hemisphere, except of course those states that the CSA navy would need to teach visa the pacific, is up for grabs by the Americans, or is it not? Who's protecting them from a rebuilt, nuclear armed, totalitarian CSA? Mitteleuropa can be held in check via the threat of the ATO's nuclear bomber force, stationed on Airstrip One, and Japan has no bases from which to interfere is a grand anti-pertinist house cleaning operation?

It hasn't been abandoned of course, just like in real life a collective security arrangement doesn't mean that the nations in it don't engage in "expansionism". You could even call it a ploy of sorts to cast yourself as the ones that want peace, whilst conveniently leaving out on whose terms the peace will be made. However yes, the Western Hemisphere is open for meddling, given that the only real opposition to it is offered by the La Platan alliance. However, the CSA isn't really what one would call rebuilt, at least not yet, but the looming threat of a resurgent America however remains in the background for all players. As to Mexico, they haven't been labeled Pertinist yet, as they voted to expel the Italians - unanimous vote and whatnot.
 
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Hopefully the revisionist dogs in Italy can be swiftly brought into line, allowing the continued advance of Moselyite-Browderite thought and the Liberation of All Mankind.
 
Theorethically speaking, La Plata could form a military alliance with Germany in order to receive nuclear umbrella from any CSA attack. However I agree, that Mexico has no chance of survival against CSA.
Theoretically. But from which bases could the Reich actually launch nuclear armed strategic bombers against the CSA? Do they have anything in range?

The big problem with the CSA rebuilding the traditionally strong American naval power is that, until Germany develops intercontinental missiles, the CSA and UoN easily have the means to go Cuba blockade on any and all German bases in and around the north Atlantic against the rather mediocre German navy. The CSA can use all the Canadian naval and air bases, and the UoB can contest/control all the naval lanes from France to Norway from airstrip one. So really the only leverage the Germans have, in any conflict, is to yell that the syndies must back down or they'll nuke London. That's hardly effective in a setting where the syndies can blockade, infiltrate or salami-tactic their way all across the western hemisphere. Nuclear threats only carry so far, there are ways to stay below the threshold especially when it's a democratic government holding the trigger.

Essentially, power protection abilities of Germany in the Atlantic and the Americas are going to be super weak in the face of determined and rebuilt Syndie naval power. A nuclear umbrella strategy isn't workable when the bases aren't available and the sea lanes aren't under your control.
 
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