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Just asking :)
 
Union Party victory in the US elections agitated the ASR's populace like nothing else could As new economic reforms wiped out the defecit and the military budget sky rocketed, it seemed the slumbering Giant was about to wake and 1903 would see this to be all too true. In Febuary of that year US forces crossed the Mexican border and smashed left-wing rebels at the Battle of Baja, before going on to Mexico City, deposing the corrupt President Diaz and replacing him with the puppet, Meurtos. The Americans also left behind a substantial number of advisors for the Mexican army and Roosevelt defended his actions by saying:

In these dangerous times we must not falter. There is a Marxist behind every corner and if we [the governments of the world] fall to the temptations of corruption and sloth he will rise up and strike us down. Marxism is the Reaper, the equalizer and if we mistreat our people then all shall suffer under it's heel. In this Diaz was a threat, not only to his country but his neighbours as well. My message to the free nations of the world is simple, either you are with us or against us.

'Roosevelt's Doctrine' was obviously heard as the governments of Argentina, Brazil and Colombia all contacted the US within a week to put forward the idea of an anti-Marxist alliance of North and South American states. Talks began and by the next year the Americas Defense League, or Washington Pact as it was more commonly called, was signed. It's first members being the United States, Texas, Mexico, Colombia, Argentina and Brazil.

America's actions had also been noticed in Europe, with Kaiser Wilhelm inviting 'Teddy' to the Berlin Summit of 1904. The Kaiser and President were joined by King Edward VII of Great Britain, Tsar Nicholas II of Russia and Prime Minister Turo of Japan, while representatives from Austria, Sweden, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands and the Czech Republic were also present. The summit's main objective was how to deal with the International and Communism's growing hold on the world populace. Over the two weeks of the meeting several key points were agreed on by the 5 powers and the other nations. One of the most important was the global trade embargo that would divide the world for decades to come. All members of the International were to be cut off from trade with nations present, it was hoped that while nations like the ASR and Hungary(which had had an industrial explosion since its independence) would be able to survive the blockade, smaller nations would collapse and leave the International, there by weakening it. Such action had been considered in the past but with Britain fearing the effects it would on her economy it had never been possible, but with growing tensions in India and Ireland she was now willing to join such an agreement.

The Kaiser also took advantage of the meeting to try and bring nations into his Axis which up until now was no more than an informal friendship but he hoped to turn it into a fully-fledged military alliance. Roosevelt refused to join as the US had commitments in the Washington Pact, and for the semi-isolationist Union Party that was more than enough. Britain also flat out refused, commited to previous alliances, this time with her Dominions though she did sign treaties with Germany regarding colonial disputes and stressed close cooperation between the 'Big 5'. Russia, her Tsar's throne won with German blood quickly joined up as did Japan whoes expansionism was starting to encroach on the ASR's and France's own holdings in the Far East. The Czech Republic and Portugal also joined.

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A Bad Time

In the early hours of January 3rd, 1905, after struggling with an intense fever for several weeks, Peter Robert James Wilson, Deputy-Head of the Communist Party, Economics Minister, AM for Brooklyn South, Comrade-Chairman of the Assembly and de facto Head of the American Socialist Republic died at the age of 61.

The death of the 'Father of Modern Socialism' sent shockwaves through the Party, the government and indeed, the world. Hated by thousands but loved by millions, all member states of the Internationale declared March 3rd to be forever a day of rememberance for the Chairman and all comrades who had died in the 'Great Struggle' for world socialism, while nations like Russia and the Czech Republic forbid such celebrations on penalty of death. Many well respected newspapers the world over aired their disgust for the 'Red Menace' while some actually complimented him, though these were few and far between with police threats of shutting the pressworks down often being implemented. One event that was considered over the line for even the most right-wing newspaper and politician was the infamous 'Funeral Ball', when Kaiser Wilhelm organised the biggest social gathering of royality, nobility and the rich in over a century, which just happened to be on the day of Wilson's funeral. Disgust was world-wide, and while all Axis member heads of state appeared several actually left as photographers began to appear, and King Edward and Roosevelt didn't respond to their invitations, with Teddy even asking to participate in the funeral, but Union Party heads held him back and with a political crisis going on, the ASR Intelligence Office told him they wouldn't be able to garentee his security and so the idea was dropped.

While the outside world showed their love, hatred and respect, the Manhatten government put on a face of calm while political in-fighting broke out, with Wilson's Assembly merely enlarging the problem. Some in the anarchic factions called for the Assembly to rule as a whole to finally gain (almost) leaderless government, others demanded the opposite and to return to the small council so order could be instated while the Free Communists, who made up the majority of the Assembly called for a fresh nation-wide election and an Assembly vote to pick key members for the interim-Cabinet. Most Cabinet member remained in their posts, with Leone as Head of Internal affairs and Counter-Intelligence being one of the more important, while ageing Frenchman, Devereux was replaced as Propaganda and Information Minister by the Free Communist, Tankian and, despite his earlier intention to retire Admiral Moultrie stood to become the new CinC of the Armed Forces but Hugo, whether honestly or not, won the vote by only 161 to 138.
With interim government set-up, the general election was underway. Assembly politics wasn't simple and the election wasn't actually for Chairman as such, but amongst the subtle sub-parties within the Communists, who each had a candidate they intended to vote into office with a parliamentary majority. The Free Communists ran the Trade Union leader, Pat Simmons, whoes working class appeal but obvious intelligence and political skill charmed many, who believed he might be even more 'nice' than Wilson, but others were turned off, seeing a man ill-equipped for the tense geo-political situation of the time. The more hardline 'Strong Communists' put Marshal Hugo up for office, while the anarchic factions refused to put up a candidate meaning the portion of votes was to fall dramatically.

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Simmons famously played for his factory's soccer team*, helping his everyman image, here he is in 1897 (he is in the back row at the centre)

Hugo used Leone's position to gadge public opinion, inspite of Cabinet memeber 'neutrality'. What he saw displeased him, it seemed Simmons' fluffy and kind image would end up enlarging the Free Communist majority from 170 to over 200, which was also helped by anarchic voters turning to Simmons or refusing to vote at all. Hugo after seeing this in late Febuary managed to get Moultrie to leave his General Staff, Leone was able to get the Free Communist Economic Minister imprisoned after being found guilty of corruption, which helped Hugo's vote, and also began to bring in more Hugo-ite officers into important commands while more openly liberal and moderate ones were either removed or placed in the Mandate Territories.

Throughout March, the numbers of key Free Communists being convicted of corruption and other acts rose sharply but after a while people began to see what was going on, as the number reached ridiculous levels. The Republican reported some 200 priests being arrested for trivial matters days before the election. Finally on the day, with heavy monitoring to make sure of no foul play, the Free Communists won, gaining an extra 5 seats giving them 175, the Hugoites took 113, the Anarchics took 10 and the Independent Trade Union Labor faction gained 2 in their first election. Hugo was furious at the result but knew Simmons wasn't Chairman until the Assembly agreed on it, and with a knowledge of the institution's workings, he hoped to use this to his advantage.

The day to vote on a Chairman and Vice-Chairman was March 23rd, and went ahead smoothly with the Assembly Members voting in Simmons as their pick, however he had to have the approval of the Cabinet, and much to the shock of many members they voted 7 to 3 against him. Leone declared the Union leader to have connections with the American Federation of Patriots and criminal elements plus to be heavily corrupt. Many laughed at the idea, seeing just another desperate Hugoite ploy to halt Free Communist government, but that sooned stopped. The Assembly House became an ad-hoc Court as pages and pages of documents appeared to back Leone's claims, while a nervous Simmons defended himself. At the same time, Red Guard units began to take over government buildings, claiming insurgent and terrorists attacks were expected. As the debate raged long into the night, and seeing he wouldn't get the re-vote he wanted, Leone finally took on Plan B and more Red Guard appeared and took control of the Assembly building. Leone then declared that his documents also implemented the entire Free Communist faction and as such all should be postponed from government, a quick vote amongst the other factions, of whom 113 of 125 were Hugoites, quickly saw this happen. Finally at about one o'clock in the morning, the rump Assembly voted unanamously for Hugo to become Chairman.

On the same night, the free press was shut down, the worker's cooperatives declared 'illict capitalist cliches' and the Free Communists and all other factions apart from the Hugoites banned. A bad time had begun.

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Chairman Hugo, Red Napoleon, Red Tyrant​



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*soccer took off as the ASR's favourite sport at the turn of the century, the team Simmons played for would one day become the world famous Hudson Red Stars
 
1905

The ASR's new leader, Marshal Hugo, along with his ally, Minister Leone quickly consolidated their power after the coup. Their rump Assembly was able to maintain control and give needed legitimacy to the new regime while total control was secured. Newspapers quickly printed proof of the Free Communist corruption, including figures showing the hidden decline of the economy, strong connections with 'reactionaries', and even accusing them of poisoning Chairman Wilson, despite him being their former leader. The Army at home, heavily Hugotie was easily secure, while the Navy was kept loyal with a wage increase. In Africa and Asia, with the help of the indiginous militant Nationalist and Marxist groups that had great influence over the Mandate Territory governments, Hugo secured native military units and the general populace alike.
The first meeting of the Internationale after the coup was a strange affair. The ASR was without a doubt THE power of the socialist world, but as many member states had based their own regime's on Wilson's liberal model, sometimes even more liberal, there was great un-ease over the sudden radical change over, on the other hand several members applauded the coup. The ASR's Latin American puppets, who themselves had quite authoritarian governments quickly praised Hugo, while other independant hard-line states, like France, Liberia and much of the Eastern Bloc openly called for similar action in all of the 'People's Republics'. While no nations opposed the new government in Manhatten, many lost a little respect for the ASR and worried where Hugo might drag the Internationale.

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The 31st meeting of the Socialist World Congress, in Havanna, Cuba May 5th, 1905​

One question that circulated through the world press, was what had happened to the Free Communists, and other moderate factions. It was almost certain that Simmons and leading Ministers were dead but the lesser Assembly Members were suspected to be interned somewhere in the ASR world. Rumours began to appear of labour camps in Panama, the Phillippines, in Cuba, even deep in the New England forest. Only one major member of the Free Communists escaped the putsch, and that was the Propaganda & Information Minister, Tankian; with the help of the still-liberal Italian government, Tankian was able to escape to Switzerland along with supporters and set up the 'Free Manhatten' movement, which would use the new invention of Wireless to organise peaceful opposition to the Hugoite regime.

By autumn of 1905, everything seemed to have settled down and the Hugo-Leone alliance began to reshape the Republic to their liking. The military budget almost doubled, and weapons training for civilians became mandatory for all over the age of 16. Research into new weapons, like the aeroplane, flame-thrower, 'track' and submarine was pushed to the forefront and any revolutionary ideas about military strategy were welcomed with open arms by Hugo.
Despite his Army credentials, Hugo seemed more interested in the Navy expansion than anything, and especially in over-taking the Royal Navy which was now the only remotely dangerous threat to the ASR's own Red Fleet. Major naval bases were set in Belgium, Iceland, Zanzibar and Cyprus, which Hugo had bought off Egypt for that sole purpose, all simply to threaten British hegemony of the seas. Hugo even ear-marked British holdings like Gibralter, Singapore and Ceylon as valuable targets for ASR expansion.
Hugo managed to pull one over on the British in Janauary 1906 when he unvieled the massive gunned battleship Juggernaught, only weeks before the Admiralty had planned to unveil their own Dreadnought. The political debacle finally commited England to a renewed Naval expansion of her own, depsite the money for such an operation not existing, though events on the Continent would show this to be unnessacary for the time being, much to the relief of the Exquequer.

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The world's first all-big gun battleship, the Red Fleet's Juggernaught
 
Im still following this please continue!
 
Yay screenshots! :D And another update yay!

Sorry for the late reply. A thing called "finals" took me over. :eek:
 
Is the October Revolution still going to occur?, maybe even a visit by Lenin to the ASR
 
Well since the timeline has been changed so much, I doubt it will happen exactly as it did but...... just keep watching Mezzo, wouldnt want to spoil the suprise

Lenin has lived in the ASR! He was the Bolshevik representative to the World Congress, around the time of the European Revolutions. He is mentioned briefly under his real name, as having given Chairman Wilson a bottle of Russian Vodka as a gift. Not much but hey, whatever.

I'll fit him in later, possibly and I'll defeinately put Trotsky in
 
The Hugoite Wars:1906-1913: Prelude

France's 'Buy Back' policy of regaining land lost from wars fought with Germany in her pre-Revolution days with large sums of money was very unpopoular amongst the general populace despite Wilson's government having often paid upto 75% of the cost. The Hugoite government (after the Manhatten Coup, most authoritarian, semi-Nationalistic Communist governments went under the name Hugoite) in Paris itself disdained in buying back it's own land from one of it's most hated enemies, especially as the closer they got to the original border the prices sky-rocketed and Berlin often skirted around the issue of buying back Alsace-Lorraine. When the fifth in a series of deals was being prepared for the beginning of 1906, Hugo approached Paris and offered to fully support them in 'more aggresive forms of liberation of French territory'. President Jules Guesde knew France couldn't afford to keep paying Germany but to keep the people on his side, he had to take hold of the lands under German occupation, and with the economy failing and their less than subtle imperial actions in Algeria meeting general oppositon, it was the last card the government could play. Hugo also promised money to prop up France if success was met in defeating the Germans whether it be 'politically or militarily'.

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Situation of the Franco-German border, Febuary 1906

The next meeting took place in the one of the last neutral pockets in the ever polarising armed camps of Europe; Luxembourg. The Grand Duke had held the 'Buy Back' talks since after the first meeting in socialist Brussels when the German delegation had complained about the lack of 'luxury' for it's members, which included the former Chancellor, Bismark, and then after the second meeting in Rotterdam, when the French delegation had accused the pro-Axis government of bugging their rooms. It was in Luxembourg the seeds for the most destructive period in human history were sown.

In a realtively calm manner, the mercurial French Foreign Minister, Edouard Vaillant told the assembled German diplomats that France demanded ALL land under their occupation to be returned without cost and for an apology for 'German imperialist aggression' to be issued within the next week. Shocked by the ultimatum, Bismark flat out refused, confusing the French before withdrawing from the talks and returning to Berlin to advise the Kaiser. An official refusal was later presented on Febuary 12th with four days to go until the ultimatum's deadline, and the German military began to mobilise.

Much to the Kaiser's suprise only hours after the refusal, the Red Fleet's North Sea Battle Group made contact with his own Navy, sinking the battleship's Baden and Fredrick der Grosse before withdrawing back to their harbour at Zeebrucke. The Kaiser, who had always been jealous of the much publicised Red Fleet-Royal Navy arms race over his own arms race with Britain, ordered the entire High Seas Fleet to attack Zeebrucke, even if it did end in war with Belgium. The German force was suprised when the smaller North Sea B.G attacked them head on off the Dutch coast, using their large numbers of torpedo boats and destroyers to close quickly. After less than an hour of battle, the Juggernaught, at the head of the entire Red Banner Home Fleet appeared and over the next few hours went about annihilating the German Imperial Navy. An attempt to escape the battle made by several cruisers ended in failure as two dozen of the ASR's brand new submarines lured them into a minefield and then attacked from all directions.

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The new Submarines, though small, proved very deadly, seen here is the boat S7

The battle ended at around 2300Hrs, the Red Fleet had lost a dozen Destroyers, several Cruisers, a Submarine and the Heavy Cruiser SCR New Jersey, and the Germans had lost practically everything, only a few ships returned home, some were captured while some made it for Holland, fearing to run the submarine screen. At 0500Hrs the next day, all three Red Marine Corps, a total of 108,000 men, the largest amphibious assault ever, landed along the German North Sea coast. War had begun.

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Reading this finally, i was miffed that everyone got freedom EXCEPT the south, and the USA was turning commie. With californians and communists (arent they the same thing?) sweeping everywhere, i thought you were trying to go and take the fun out of succession and dissolution of america.


Then the CSA owned you :D

Im convinced the ghost of forrest infested your computer and backhanded the save file.

I give you my condolences for losing your hard work, but i think it was karma.

Well written, subject matter notwithstanding.
 
Keep the updates comming!
 
Sweet! War with Germany time! Amphibious landings! Now its getting great! :cool:
 
Great AAR. I mean really great.
 
Lettow: Well the game started in 1881 and you can't release the CSA from the United States, I would of to help with the annhilation of America but I couldn't. WAIT A MINUTE :mad: , if u remember correctly I finally saved your precious South in my Scotland AAR, so back off you said you worship me like a god, im not feelnig very worshiped here :cool:

Mezzo: Coming up soon sir, coming up

HvK: Ha good to know i've peaked your interest with landing craft and men in pointy helmets :D

Sir Humprey: Thank muchly, nice to be complimented by the king of the alt history AAR *proceeds to grovel* we're not worthy!, we're not worthy!

More coming soon, there's gonna be war with at least three major powers (including Germany), I've played them all out so they shall be realistic rather than commie wet dream about world domination, though they're cool too :rolleyes:
 
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Worshipped? aww..your a commie, i figured you wouldent know worship if you sat in it
But look at it this way, you got me to read an entire manhattan commune AAR

Smilies arent working? well thats just fine. Dont e'ver smile around commies. they can smell joy..