New Chapter time...
Chapter 3 - (January-June 1937)
As 1937 began, there was a sense that the USSA was not far off becoming the dominant power in the Americas like it had been on the way to being before the War of Secession. This time, internal dissent and imperialist interference in American affairs would not be allowed to derail the USSA's inevitable rise. With the inauguration of a new president mere weeks away, the USSA is at an important crossroads but Earl Browder has ambitious plans and the future of America looks bright.
South of the border, the Mexican Civil War continues to rage with both Revolutionary and Counter-Revolutionary Forces fighting bitterly. It seems as though neither side has yet gained an advantage but heavy fighting continues in Veracruz where, despite being cut off from the Revolutionary capital of Monterrey and being blockaded by Confederate warships the brave Revolutionaries hold out, inflicting heavy casualties on the attacking Imperialists. These heroes must be relieved and Chicago continues to funnel supplies to the Revolutionaries to aid them in trying to breakthrough to their comrades.
In Europe, fears of Socialism continue to grip the reactionaries as the Revolutionaries begin to gain the upper hand in Portugal. These fears result in the reactionary nations of Italy, Austria & China signing the Anti-Comintern Pact. This pact is growing in power and is sure to become a major thorn in the side of the Socialist cause.
Back at home the big day finally arrives when, on a sunny day in Chicago on January 20th Earl Browder is officially sworn in as the new President of the United Socialist States of America. In his inaugural address, Browder stressed the need for the USSA to strengthen at home and destroy the remnants of counter-revolutionaries within their own borders before spreading their influence abroad. He referred to the Confederacy as a 'Malignant Tumor on the map of North America' and promised to end Imperialism in America. His words inspired the loyal people of the USSA and is sure to have scared the foreign reactionaries. It is the beginning of a new age of American Socialism.
One of the major foreign attendees of this historic inauguration was Andrei Zhdanov of the Soviet Union. Zhdanov was Head of Propaganda in the Soviet Communist Party and one of the leading members of the Politburo. Later this year the Soviet Congress will elect a new Premier and Zhdanov is one of the leading contenders in the race to become the new Head of the Soviet Government. Browder and Zhdanov found much common ground in a meeting between the two and the new American President endorsed Zhdanov to become the next Soviet Premier. As notable as the presence of Zhdanov at the Inauguration in Chicago was the absence of any other leading Soviet officials, showing how they felt about the new President. The race for the Soviet Premiership will undoubtedly have a major effect on relations between the USSA & the Soviets and it seems that only Zhdanov is capable of ensuring cooperation between the two Socialist powers for the foreseeable future.
Back in Europe, the Spanish Kingdom continued to shift further to the Right as not long after the Reactionary General Franco took power as Prime Minister he began suppressing any opposition to his rule, particularly from Left-Wing political movements. Undoubtedly as a response to the situation in Portugal, Franco banned the Communist Party and shut down their meetings by force. Many were able to flee across the border into Portugal but many were not so lucky and fell victim to the counter-revolutionary violence of the Franco Regime.
A month after his inauguration, Browder began introducing his new policies which would massively transform the USSA, surely for the better. First, he purged the Socialist Party itself of those who opposed his ambitions. These opponents, who subscribed to the Trotskyist 'World Revolution' form of Socialism were deemed untrustworthy as they were surely more loyal to the Trotskyists in Moscow than to American Socialism, these foreign agents had to be dealt with so Browder could continue his plans without foreign interference.
With his opponents within the Socialist Party out of the way, Browder was now free to begin his massive industrialisation plans, known as the Five-Year Plans. This would drastically improve the industrial capacity and economic might of the USSA, making it the dominant power in the Western Hemisphere and beyond. He also announced the beginning of a vast program of Collectivisation across the country. This policy proved unpopular with many Americans but it would still be implemented, sacrifices have to be made so the USSA can become strong. Those who oppose these new policies will be punished.
In March Browder announced the nationalization of all industry in the USSA, transferring ownership of all privately run companies to the state. The fact that such companies still existed almost four years after the Revolution was a serious failure of the Thomas administration, which had tolerated a degree of private ownership to ease in the transition to Socialism. Well that "transition" is now over as the remaining Capitalists were dispossessed of that which they had gained at the expense of the American workers, many of whom were glad to finally see the end of a system which had lasted longer than it should have.
Meanwhile the Five-Year Plans were already beginning to bear fruit. The hard work of Americans will very soon propel the USSA to greatness.
As Browder consolidated his control over both party and state there were increased calls in the USSA for a restoration of Free Speech and other civil liberties that had been suspended in order to prevent a counter-revolution. In response to these calls, President Browder made a speech stating that in no uncertain terms these liberties can not yet be restored as long as reactionary elements and foreign agents continue to infest American society. Many were angered by these words but many more saw that reactionaries could easily use these liberties as a weapon as they had in Europe. Such dangerous ideology cannot be allowed to regain traction within the USSA.
In April the Soviet Congress met to decide who would be the new Premier of the USSR. The hopes of the USSA and of Socialist cooperation worldwide rested with Andrei Zhdanov but unfortunately he failed to win the Premiership. Instead, to the horror of Chicago, the Right-Wing branch of the Soviet Communist Party won out and NIkolai Bukharin became the new Premier. This was no less than a betrayal of the International Proletariat as Moscow came under the control of Revisionist traitors. It seems now that only the USSA and their Mexican comrades to the south are the only true Socialist countries in the world. Protests were staged across the USSA denouncing Soviet Revisionism while the Soviets denounced their American counterparts as Radicals and spoke out against Browder's "Personality Cult" in the USSA. It is clear that any solidarity between the USSA and Soviet Union is now dead.
This Soviet betrayal showed that the USSA, now the true vanguards of Socialism, must increase their aid to Left-Wing movements across the world and prevent a spread of revisionism to other countries. While this is generally a long-term goal there are measures the USSA can take now in regards to Socialism in the Americas. There was an increase in intelligence funding to aid American agents operating in the Western Hemisphere and not long after the newly-formed Bureau of Propaganda established 'Radio Free America' to spread the message of true Socialism to the oppressed proletariat of the neighbouring American countries. This Radio Free America encouraged Socialists to arm themselves and promised USSA aid to any Revolutionaries in America.
Unsurprisingly, the most enthusiastic recipients of Radio Free America's message were the oppressed blacks of the Confederacy. In Missouri, where blacks had gained many rights in the decades after the War of Secession, saw heavy violence as these blacks resisted the loss of the rights it had taken them so long to gain. Even basic demands such as a Right to Education were denied by the tyrants in Charleston. Once again the evil Confederates show why they are a Malignant Tumor on the map of North America. Yet every day more and more weapons are smuggled across the border to help blacks fight back.
Back in Europe there were some major developments as the Balkans exploded into armed conflict. Encouraged and funded by the Soviets, Socialist Revolutionaries in Serbia, Croatia and Bulgaria rose up against their oppressive monarchies. While it is good to see more Socialist Revolutions in the world this also presents a danger of the Soviets spreading their disgraceful ideology to the Balkans. Agents from the USSA are sent into these newly established Socialist countries to see if Revolutionary leaders can potentially be convinced to turn away from Soviet Revisionism and towards true Socialism. Meanwhile this conflict causes territorial grabs against the weakened Balkan nations by the Romanian reactionaries and the Soviet lackeys in Hungary.
Meanwhile, the racial violence in the Confederacy continues as a Paramilitary group known as the Black Panthers is formed, these black freedom fighters fight a guerrilla war against the racist police force and state militias sent to stop them with some success. It doesn't take long for the Confederate Government to realise that the Black Panthers are being armed by the USSA, which unfortunately legitimizes the views of certain Right-Wing Confederate congressmen who have been for years speaking out against the 'Negro-Bolshevik Conspiracy' within their country. These demagogues and their hateful rhetoric are able to further intensify the ongoing Red Scare in the Confederacy which directly leads to violence against black communities in the south. The situation is growing extremely dangerous south of the Mason-Dixon Line and the USSA must be ready to intervene should this violence escalate further against the oppressed blacks. For now Chicago will continue to smuggle arms and money to both the Black Panthers and other Socialist movements in the south.
Meanwhile in Mexico the Civil War continues with the Revolutionaries making gains in Central Mexico, bringing them within striking distance of Mexico City itself. Heavy fighting occurs north of the Mexican capital as Imperialist Forces fight desperately. Meanwhile the long Siege of Veracruz has ended with the starving defenders forced to surrender, many of whom being executed by Imperial soldiers after the battle. These brave revolutionaries were a testament to the Socialist cause and their sacrifice will not be forgotten as many Revolutionaries on the frontlines push forward determined to avenge the 'Heroes of Veracruz'. Meanwhile the Imperialist failures in the field have led to the formation of the National Synarchist Union, a group of reactionaries who criticize the Imperial Government's failure to crush the Socialists and try to inspire a 'Holy War against Socialism' amongst the Mexican citizens.
Meanwhile an Imperial Conference is ongoing between the British Empire and its lackeys. Along with the Canadians came a representative from the New England Republic who, unknown to the Canadians, was an informant for the USSA. This agent gained first hand knowledge of the Empire's intentions and it seems like they are for the most part mostly concerned about their own stability but when the time came to discuss mutual defence the Canadian representative spoke of the threat the USSA poses to world peace and requested massive aid from the British to defend themselves. Within a day the transcript of this speech was on President Browder's desk in Chicago, leading to concerns that the British Imperialists and their Allies might be preparing for war with the USSA. This is why policies such as the Five-Year Plans are necessary, to defend Socialism against those who wish to destroy it.
Meanwhile in the Balkans the Bulgarian Government surrenders to the Revolutionaries. In the other parts of the 'Great Balkan Revolution' the Serbians have suffered defeats by the Royalists who have effectively cut their territory in half while the Croatian Revolution remains a stalemate.
As June comes to an end the USSA continues to speed inexorably forward as the policies introduced by the new President Earl Browder aim to bring American dominance over the Western Hemisphere within a decade. While reactionaries gather strength in Europe and the Confederacy and while the Soviets turn towards revisionism the USSA remains isolated diplomatically. But their loyal comrades in Mexico have gained the upper hand in their war against the Imperialists and hopefully by the end of 1937 will have reunited their country. Internally, the USSA is growing more united and more determined to defeat the evil regimes which surround their country. Hopefully this dream will soon be realized.