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So I'm confused, is this new Indian state a monarchy or not? You say they went against the power of the monarchy but at the same time they're still called the Empire of India. I suppose they could have made the monarchy constitutional. Either way they're who I'm rooting for; let them avenge their brethren murdered by Makarov's thugs.
 
what a crazy AAR is this? One doesn't know what to expect :) I mean I don't think you'll lose the war against the internationale, no matter how successful they start. On the other hand, I don't know what kind of a turning moment will happen and they really seem to be strong. Will the war be avoided and we'll wait for it to come like Godot? Let's just wait and see :)
 
All nations dealing with socialism must also deal with the changing power dynamics.
 
Just caught up with this, and wow, what a wild ride. I can't believe I've found myself rooting against the protagonists, like so many other readers. Up with the European nation-states!
 
1936-1940 – Weltkrieg
1936-1940 – Weltkrieg

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In the second half of the 1930s the new age of conflict arrived in Asia in earnest. In May 1936 the two greatest powers of the Far East went to war as Japan invaded on China. The Japanese had controlled a small toehold on continental Asia since the 1900 with the city of Shanghai. However, they had watched with great alarm as the Xi Republic slowly defeated most of the remaining warlords to unify almost the entirety of Han-speaking core of the Chinese nation. Fearing that, given time, China would undoubtedly become the dominant force in the region, the Japanese looked to strike while they still held a technological advantage. Over the course of 1936 and 1937 they launched a series of ambitious invasions around coastal China, occupying large parts of her richest lands. However, as they attempted to drive inland their progress stalled and a war of attrition began to settle in that pitched the superior firepower of the Japanese against the sheer manpower at China’s disposal.

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The outbreak of the Sino-Japanese War only worsened the breakdown of all semblance of order across the eastern Steppe and Central Asia. In the west, 1936 two major broke out in Papal Central Asia. In the north, the Kyrgz, a Muslim Tatar people, established a small state around Dushanbe. Influenced by the socialists of Europe and Turanist thought within Russia, their state had a clear left-leaning character and offered a safe haven to dissident Tatars escaping Radical tyranny across the border. Further south, another Altaic group – the Hindu Kashgarians – took control of the eponymous city of Kashgar before riding south into Kashmir. The Kashgarians had less ideological pretensions that their Kyrgz neighbours and, with close cultural links to the Uighur faction in the Mongol civil war, looked to involve themselves in the conflict raging to the north east. Struggling in the fight against the International, and facing disquiet across much of its empire, the Papacy found itself unable to spare the resources to quash these rebellions – leaving only a small garrison in Kabul to warn off further revolts.

After half a decade of fighting, the Mongol civil war showed no signs of slowing. The anti-Russian Gegeen faction had faired rather poorly. Not only had they failed to crush Toghan in the west, the pretender and his Uighur horde had struck forth to capture Ulaanbaatar and Beijing. He had undoubtedly been aided in this success by the withdrawal of all Chinese assistance to the Mongolian government after the outbreak of the Sino-Japanese war. However, neither side had the strength to land a knockout blow. Indeed, after exhausting his armies with their eastward advance, Toghan himself was murdered by group of his Uighur generals in February 1937 after he refused to bow to their demands to return to their homeland rather than push on into Manchuria. Although both sides were exhausted by years of fighting, there was still no end in sight.

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With the Papacy and China withdrawing to deal with existential threats closer to home, there was an emerging power vacuum in the heart of Asia. Into this two states sought to insert themselves – India and Russia. Since unification, Indian interest in Central Asia had grown immensely, and they were quick to grant official recognition to Kyrgyzstan and establish relations with the Kashgar Khan – seeking to negotiate a transfer of authority in Kashmir to themselves in exchange for aid and protection. These manoeuvrers were deeply alarming to the Russians, who feared Indian encroachment on their frontier. They therefore made the first move, invading and occupying Kyrgyzstan in December 1936. The occupation of Kyrgyzstan was a shocking act of aggression. Although Papal authority on the ground had been absent for months, they had not surrendered their legal authority in the region and therefore considered Kiev’s actions to be a violation of their territory. The Pope denounced Russia’s actions yet, ultimately, found himself unable to contemplate opening up a new front that would undoubtedly doom his regime to destruction. The Papacy therefore did nothing actively to resist Russia’s move, even as it condemned it and refused to recognise it.

Success in Dushanbe emboldened Makarov, who set his sights on a grander prize – Mongolia. The chaos on the southern frontier was an unwanted source of instability in the region that could only be ended by the involvement of troops on the ground. In May 1937, Russia negotiated an alliance with the Uighurs, whose fortunes had faded significantly since the murder of Toghan, with the promise of independence and aggrandisement. The involvement of Russian troops, albeit in modest numbers with very few division being able to be spared from the European frontier, ensured an inevitable defeat for anti-Russian forces in Mongolia. Nonetheless, in the vast expanses of this restive region it would take some time before all opposing forces were brought to heal – with the Mongol Khagan fighting on all the way until January 1938 when he was captured near the Korean border. In the west, the Russians were lured into a second violation of Papal sovereignty as their Uighur allies crossed the border into the nominally Papal territories occupied by the Khashgarians. With their hands on the matter forces, the Russians supported this invasion that created a lengthy border between the Uighurs and the Indians through the high mountains of the Himalayas.

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By the spring of 1938 order had been restored across the lands of the old Mongol Khanate, which was split into a series of smaller Khanates under close Russian supervision and with permanent garrisons. In the west, the Uighurs were rewards with territories stretching from Kashmir and Kashgar in the south-west to Yichuan in the east – assuming the role as the most powerful of the Mongol successor states. To the north, a rump Mongol state ruled the historic homeland. In the far east, the resource rich Manchu lands gained their independence, while a Mongol-Chinese Beijing Khanate was established along the border with the Xi. Russian dominion over the eastern Steppe had been secured once more.

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The two years after the surrender of Denmark in April 1936 are often described as the ‘Phony War’. After three years of gruelling fighting across Europe, the conflict reached a calmer point with relatively few major battles or campaigns. The most important fighting was in the air and on the high seas where the initial advantage of the Allies in both fields slowly started to weaken as the incredible industrial might of the Socialist International churned out the planes and warships needed to break out of the European fortress. That said, key battles did take place during these years. Through 1936 the Skots were able to turn the tide in Ireland, establishing an effective blockade of the island that prevented any further assistance reaching the rebels and slowly reconquering all of Ireland by early the following year. In the Mediterranean, the International achieved their own insular success on Sardinia. The Kingdom of Sardinia was an ancient state tracing its roots all the way back to the ninth century, and was one of Christendom’s greatest powers for much of the Middle Ages and into the Early Modern era. That proud history was brought to an end in 1937 by a successful Italian-led invasion that saw the strategic island fall with shocking ease, in what proved to be a practise run for larger operations.

While the land war between the Allies and International had died down, the VSVR began to deploy the large majority of its armed forces away from any active front and to its eastern boundaries with Russia, Pannonia and Serbia. As both parties sized one another up, the Russians became concerned that the VSVR might outflank in the Balkans by overrunning a weak Serbia before striking into their heartlands. Mutual fear of socialist attack therefore drove a détente between Belgrade and Kiev – two traditional enemies that had fought countless wars over the centuries. This began with a Russian guarantee of Serbian independence in early 1936 – with Makarov threatening war should the reds attack then-neutral Serbia. Over the next years a series of diplomatic initiatives by the two states saw Russia and Serbia bind closer and closer together, although the Serbs remained stubbornly opposed to Makarov’s calls for the deployment of Russian troops onto their territory – and were reluctant to shut off their relations with the Allies by adopting the anti-western stance pushed for by Kiev. Despite these misgivings, the need for a formal alliance in the face of the red threat pushed the Serbs into becoming a founding member of the Eurasian League – a Russian-led military defence including Serbia, Pannonia, Greek Crusader Anatolia and Israel.

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In June 1938 the false sense of calm that had come over war was halted as a multinational invasion force of Germans, French, Italians and Andalucians brought the red flag to Africa. With the Skots focussed on their home islands, particularly after having wrestled Ireland back under control, the naval war in the Mediterranean had become the responsibility of the Papacy. While the Papal navy had been able to hold the whole sea under a tight grip in the mid-1930s, its Egyptian shipyards had little capacity to replenish losses in comparison to their continental rivals. As time went by, it become increasingly focussed on defending Egypt and the eastern Mediterranean over the west. This provided the opening for a hugely ambition International invasion of Algiers – a state that had never truly recovered from the Berber revolt. Red troops landed in Morocco, Algeria-proper and Tunis – pushing on to destroy to Duchy and overwhelm the Maghreb. Although stiff Papal resistance held back an invasion of Egypt itself – a largely Italian army suffering a heavy defeat just over 100 miles west of Alexandria – socialist units drove deep into the continent, crossing over the Sahara in an effort to threaten colonial West Africa, and stoke anti-imperialist revolution. The International ultimately found popular support in the region weaker than they had hoped, and the logistics of campaigning across vast deserts difficult to overcome. However, despite their offensives beginning to stall by 1939, they remained in control of Africa north of the Sahel and west of Egypt through to the following year.

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While the International had struggled to rouse an anti-imperialist revolution in West Africa, they found much greater, and unexpected, opportunities in the Middle East. Ever since the conquest of their homelands by the Papacy in the aftermath of the collapse of the Caliphate, the Arabs had chaffed under theocratic Christian rule. Yet, the region was of incredible economic and political importance to the Pope – and therefore kept on a tight leash. Furthermore, the left had historically been very weak in the region – where American and Australian inspired democratic movements, or more conservative Islamist currents, tended to dominate anti-imperialist circles. For these reasons the International had held little hopes of finding the sort of sympathetic revolutionary fervour here that had supported them in Europe and the Maghreb. The Arab Revolt of 1939 therefore took all sides by surprise, as a nationalist revolution broke out in Iraq that quickly swept over much of the Papal Middle East and swore its allegiance to the International. The western Allies appeared on the verge of collapse.

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In Russia, the fear of war and invasion had become the unifying current running throughout society. As the regime provided gruesome details of the revolutions occurring in Europe, and the shocking successes the red war machine, the Radical Party defined itself as the guardian of civilisation against the advance of godless barbarism. Makarov himself began to speak of the need for a palingenetic national rebirth through a civilisation struggle against the socialist hordes that would cure the ills that had befallen the Radical’s own revolutionary project during the 1920s and 1930s. That said, many regime insiders were terrified of the coming conflict. Despite nearly a decade of rebuilding from the purges, the military command remained novices and the Russian army had struggle to keep up with the rapid development of military technology and ideas that the war years had produced. On June 21st 1940 the moment finally came as Russian troops launched a surprise attack across the frontier into Germany. The Second World War had reached its largest and bloodiest frontline. In the ensuing struggle, the fate of world history would hang in the balance.
 
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Alle Waffen Gegen Makarov!

Here we go :D.


Haha, I hate myself for doing this but I'm not suddenly posting over those threads just to say it, but, damn. It has been an amazing run, right now I'm by 1853, going full speed to catch up. :p

I can only say, the more I read, the more my hype builds up regarding the latest updates, it truly is a marvelous AAR and it has been so fascinating the way Poland has evolved. I mean, when I started reading it I was like "Huh, maybe this Poland will expand westwards and form some sort of Poland-Germania" haha though it's amazing the way Poland ended up becoming some sort of Russian-core Poland, anyways, :p will stop now to not derail from the current thread, will be back when I've reached this part of the AAR. ^^

You're powering through this! Very pleased that you've enjoyed the journey so far and I hope you are still on board come the 20th century :).

When the war finally comes, it is against an almost united Europe. Dangerous. Yet also potentially rewarding if you succeed of course!

Indeed. The enemies arrayed against us are very fearsome indeed. Germany, France, Italy, Andalucia, Scandinavia and the Netherlands - none of these countries are puppets, all are producing at maximum output. Its going to be a hell of a fight.

Comrade Bronstein is presumably looking on from some other realm, feeling really rather vindicated. Striking just how much of the success of the revolutionary wave seems to have been popular rather than strictly strategic from the VSVR’s point of view.

Perhaps one day his political successors will hold sway in Poland once more.

The wave of popular revolts has started to decline by the late 1930s (although not before the drama in the Middle East), but it has undoubtedly played a huge role in the International's successes. Only really Italy and the Netherlands were conquered by external military might above all else, every other country to fall to the International saw uprisings play a big role.

Wonderful AAR, really gripping. Hopefully it won't be too insulting that I'm definitely rooting for the socialists; these Russian Radicals are just awful people with a domestic policy built on racism and an economy built on military expansion. They deserve a reckoning! The minute things kick off on the Eastern Front the oppressed minorities and the Indians should stab the fascists in the back.

I think you definitely aren't alone in that sentiment.

Could this be the moment where that reckoning finally comes? :eek:

So I'm confused, is this new Indian state a monarchy or not? You say they went against the power of the monarchy but at the same time they're still called the Empire of India. I suppose they could have made the monarchy constitutional. Either way they're who I'm rooting for; let them avenge their brethren murdered by Makarov's thugs.
I mean, in a perfect world the Indians and Reds would meet at the Volga. But we all know that's not happening.

Sorry if that wasn't clear. I meant for the Indian revolutionaries to essentially turn India into a constitutional monarchy with a weak emperor - this Indian Empire. The Indians are a real wild card in this - with a big interest in the Hindu lands under Russian and Papal rule. If the International can get them to throw their lot into the fighting, with their limitless manpower, the outcome of the war becomes very unpredictable indeed.

I won't reveal how this goes though ;).

I have a feeling the Indian state is going to war with Russia as soon as they seem distracted by an European front

The Indians certainly have a big bug to bear with the Russians to say the least, and now a direct land border with one of their eastern satrapies in Kashmir (who would have thought Kashmir would be a diplomatic sore spot in this TL as well ! :p)

what a crazy AAR is this? One doesn't know what to expect :) I mean I don't think you'll lose the war against the internationale, no matter how successful they start. On the other hand, I don't know what kind of a turning moment will happen and they really seem to be strong. Will the war be avoided and we'll wait for it to come like Godot? Let's just wait and see :)

War took a while coming, but it has finally arrived! To arms!

And only time will tell which way things turn in this war ;).

All nations dealing with socialism must also deal with the changing power dynamics.

Definitely, all those countries where the Socialists are pushing through will be experiencing huge social changes as the reds try to implement their socialist vision.

Lol kinda strange to see this AAR and Russia One and Indivisible in the same forum section.

Even more strange is that One and Indivisible was one of the top AARs on this subforum when I previously wrote DH AARs in 2012 and 2014 - and it's still right at the top now!

Just caught up with this, and wow, what a wild ride. I can't believe I've found myself rooting against the protagonists, like so many other readers. Up with the European nation-states!

Glad you have enjoyed it! It seems everyone has ended up in the anti-Russian camp by this stage. Let us see who comes out on top in the coming battle!
 
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Here we go, here we go, here we go!

Imagine the anti-climax if the Russians steamroller the international and the entire readership are left rueing the day they ever read the name "Boris Makarov". No pressure, Tommy. :p
 
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They therefore made the first move, invading and occupying Kyrgyzstan in December 1936.
Enemies to everything that's even mildly nice!

OMG second world war has already arrived! Even that came unexpected in a game which has WW2 as its topic. Asia is still a mess, Africa is a mess, Europe is still not balanced, only God knows how will America react to all this, everything is chaotic!
 
So Russia struck first. I didn't expect that.
 
Skotland still stands. Hope springs eternal.

Dammit, America. This is some Red Scare to be ignoring. The Reds aren't under the bed; they're already in Paris!
 
Skotland still stands. Hope springs eternal.

Dammit, America. This is some Red Scare to be ignoring. The Reds aren't under the bed; they're already in Paris!
With this the Americans might actually side with the Reds. Remember, they're an Islamic settler colonial state, many of whose recent immigrants came fleeing Makarov's atrocities. This would be a bit like Israel siding with Nazi Germany against Communism.
 
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With this the Americans might actually side with the Reds. Remember, they're an Islamic settler colonial state, many of whose recent immigrants came fleeing Makarov's atrocities. This would be a bit like Israel siding with Nazi Germany against Communism.

That's a fair point.

It's bad choices all around. If you want to save the last liberal democracy in Europe, you need to stop the VSVR, but then you're indirectly helping the Radical Republic, who are worse than the Communists on pretty much every other front (and equally 0/100 on the liberal democracy front).
 
This could end up larger than our own OTL second world war. :oops:
I could see that. Eventually Makarov will become so desperate to show the non-Russians who’s boss that he decides to just blow up the moon.
 
Oof, okaaaay so, after speed-reading through almost a thousand years of alternate Polish history, here am I, haha.
Damn, it has been such an amazing trip through this world's history, as someone in the V2 part said, the only thing that kinda made me go "Wut?" was USA still appearing, though you are right that for picture simplicity is something vital (I myself know it haha).

Though, that small detail can easily be ignored with the quality in this AAR, gotta say it has been quite impressive, I really enjoyed reading it up to this point. :p
I really like the way all has evolved aaaand: the absence of Uber-Blobs, well, yeah, there are some, though it's nothing like entire-Eurasia blob or something like that, which really adds some bonus points to it.

I'm so excited to read the next update already. ^^
 
What a horrific time. And it's only going to get worse.