Ch.4 Where the World Stands.
With war now here its time to go over the various factions. Of the World's Four Factions Two are set against the Holy Roman Alliance or 'Allies'. The Allies consist of Primarily the Holy Roman Empire, It's dominions and it's economic partners and dependences. Since weve gone over the Holy Roman Empire in detail already we'll be focusing on the other nations.
(Governor Arthur Macdunn in his prefered Uniform)
(President Jaime Ortega of the United States of America)
(Grandmaster Harrison 'Harry' Eden)
Outside of the Holy Roman Empire's Sphere of Influence was The indian Empire, The fledgling empire was now once again caught between a hostile China and a Hostile Eastern Roman Empire, this time however the Soviet Union was also against them, leaving supplies and aid from the Empire to come only by way of Africa, or the Malaysia straights. Worst still was the Anti War, Liberal party of the Empire had remained in control of the government up until 1938, only finally being ousted by the more Hawkish Mahat Patel, still however there was resistance to rebuilding the military, especially among the Holy Roman Empire's Warmongering. With the onset of war however there was no choice and the Empire's Massive population looked to be readying to mobilize again, India did have one saving grace in that it's Industrial might was second only to the Holy Roman Empire and if given enough time to properly mobilize the Indians could stand more than a chance against the radicals surrounding her.
(Erikr Skirstag's presidential photograph)
In 1936 Johan Aesirling shocked everyone and stated he would not run for reelection in 1936. The following election could only be described as a free for all as Extremist and more conservative candidates all vied for control of the fledgling government allowing Erik Skirstag, leader of the Nordic Conservatives to win with a mere 23% of the vote. Skirstag was a mild tempered man and inoffensive man and spent the next four years resolving his divided government and finding an ally in the Holy Roman Empire to the south. The Russians across the Baltic however were furious as not only had Scandinavia left the Socialist International but was now sleeping with the enemy. Skirsdag by allowing himself to align with the Holy Romans had unwittingly set the Soviets and the Axis onto the same side.
(Landsverk L/60 Tanks alongside Scandinavian Soldiers marching North into Lappland.)
Still Scandinavia was not weak, it had the old Kingdom of Sweden's industry and infrastructure backing what would otherwise be a very fragile federation and had its own established armor and aircraft production lines. Skirstag during his radio address to the nation would later say "If the Russians plan to make war on us, I trust they be properly prepared to leave in a timely manner"
The Chinese Union State which was the most powerful, industrialized and populous state in the entire alliance. Since it's founding the Chinese Union State has done nothing but expand and consolidate territory in the Far East, eventually growing past traditional chinese borders with the annexation of Southeast Asia and Mongolia.
Looking under the fascist curtain reveals the sad perversion of old chinese cultural traditions. The Union State had done everything to inject itself to be no different than the Wu or Ming Dynasty before it, and all aspects of civilian life from religion to the economy to cultural pursuits was always done for benefit of the state first.
(Chairman Hong Liao of the Chinese Union State)
(Michael Anatolios I of the Eastern Roman 'Republic')
The Leader of the Eastern Roman Republic was Basilius Michael Anatolios. Anatolios ruled a Republic only in name, having absolute power no different than the Holy Roman Empire. The difference between the two being rhetoric, namely of Anatolios' fiercely nationalist followers who saw peoples of Antiquity to be Superior to that of those that came after, The Greeks of course being to to of the list. The Common narrative of all Fascist parties the world over was that of German Oppression, entitlement and fierce Nationalism, which stood in stark contrast to Holy Roman Principles of Multiculturalism, Tradition and Meritocracy. A conflict that would be most apparent in Israel, where Anatolios called the creation of such a state a monstrosity, as well as claiming the Roman Catholics and Jews that called the state home no better than cultists worshipping the pope alongside their 'Sun God'.
Following a prolonged struggle for Leadership, one Joseph Stalin had ascended to party Chairman and finally leader of the USSR after the death of Trosky. More pragmatic and authoritarian than the two deceased leaders of the Soviet Triumvirate Stalin saw the opportunity to establish a Socialist Republic in Scandinavia as well as potentially win allies in America and Asia by removing their only better alternative.
The Soviet leader however was fiercely paranoid and in the years leading up to the war had purged the Soviet leadership twice, and many suspected similar ideological winnowing was going on with civilians and lower military staff as well.
(Edward Mosley, Supreme Leader of Greater Albion)
Outside of the Major powers there still remained several key Neutral States. The most Important being Mali, The North Germanic Union and Sudamerika. The People's Republic of Mali being relatively politically irrelevant due to internal troubles, The North Germanic Union which despite a Fascist regime found itself surrounded by Anti German or Anti Fascist Powers and of course Sudamerika which was also German, and found itself diplomatically isolated. Sudamerika was of course the most relevant of the three due to it's vast quantities of Venezuelan Oil as well as Rubber which the Chinese Union State and Greater Albion desperately needed.
Racial tensions within the new empire quickly became a very severe issue, mainly in the more immigrant heavy north where large Chinese, Slavic and Hispanic minorities had not properly integrated yet as well as African Americans which made up over a third of the country's population. To solve the 'issue' Sudamerikan leaders proposed several ways to remove the troublesome minorities, all of which were adamantly struck down by Von Brasilia who was fearful that any such action could lead to a costly and dangerous civil war.
Von Brasilia's decision would be widely unpopular with some of Cosimo's more ethnic minded underlings who staged several assassination attempts, all of them failing. With Cosimo's more moderate flavored leadership constantly getting in the way the the Unified Continent grew more and more akin to just a simple dictatorship than it's original creator's Ideal Fascist Utopia.
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