Russia after Great War
Everyone felt great relive when Bolsheviks finally surrendered in Moscow in summer 1920 and new Russian Republic was re-established before end of year in Petrograd Grand National Assembly (GNA). According its first President Kerenskys vision of new Russia was meant to be democratic capitalist multiparty state where parliament holds greatest authority. New constitution was heavily influenced by Switzerland’s and USA’s but still including visions of Mensheviks social democracy. It was short time of optimism and mans goodwill without rationality.
First GNA ended in February 1921 leaving nation waiting results. Main principles were:
1. Disarming rebels, white armies and all third party forces and creating new Russian army.
2. Establishing authority in cities, villages and countryside.
3. Re-creating domestic- and foreign trade.
4. Outlaw and bring justice above all rebels (Bolsheviks, Greens, terrorist, anarchist…)
5. Held universal free elections after all above are fulfilled.
Kerensky put lot of effort rebuilding Russia but failed to foresee futures crises.
After ink had dried the new government faced unexpected crisis: Cossacks rebelled. History of Cossacks has been same almost four hundred year: after been submitted to Russia Cossacks decide to serve Czar for privileges. Until 20th centuries revolutions relation between Cossacks and Czar had been unchanged but after Romanovs were executed and Kerensky became figurehead of new Russia Cossacks felt they had fulfilled their promises and decided return to home. General Wrangel couldn’t do anything when he saw how his army packaged their good and disappeared. Kerensky raged openly in Duma of “betrayal of Cossacks” but while Russia was paralyzed world moved forward.
Military intervention was hottest topic. Russia couldn’t allow losing last warm water region to slip away but reality was rough. Cossacks were century’s old military caste and open war against them could destroy what was left of Russia. But still, it was seen as a good opportunity to “show strength of Russia” and promote new government. Before any decision was put in action, two new bombs exploded. The Senate of Finland refused acknowledge Kerensky as head of Grand Duchy of Finland and backed Lenin’s recognizing of independent. Germany strengthens Finns demands by marching troops to Karelian Isthmus to restore order and before meeting in Duma concerning Finns had ended the second bomb exploded: Japan recognized independent of Republic of Transamur.
The Duma, Kerensky and white generals were in shock. For a second it seemed like Russia would be partitioned like Poland. After few speeches and votes Russia was declared under martial law and all troops had to report immediately. This decisions lead massive riots trough Russia. People fearing military coup made public demonstrations, peasant expressed their mistrust in traditional way: burning buildings and Bolsheviks played international in streets once again. Anarchy and “normalization” took 16 days and results were pitiful once again for Russian greatness: Nomads in Mongolia and Central Asia had break away and new unsolved border threaded existence of Russian Siberia.
Sceptics in America wondered if Russia would be removed from map and be painted on white like old African maps. It seemed like there wouldn’t be bottom of Russians troubles and soon long dead nations like Kazan and Novgorod are able to reappear on map. However, Russia isn’t ever so strong as you fear, and so weak as you hope. Martial law had done it purpose meanwhile and situation once again was under control. Second Grand National Assembly was hosted in Perm. Independent of Finland and Cossacks-nation (Don-Kuban Union) was recognized. Military actions against Japan was impossible because Siberian railroad was blocked by nomads but due to international pressure Japan was forced to made Transamur (city of Vladivostok) free trade city allowing Russians freely export and import cargo there. Surprisingly Kerensky managed make a treaty with Nomads and accepting new border between Russia and Mongolia and recognize Alash Ordas independent. Still many viewed Kerensky as a failure while he personally did everything to stop Russia breaking apart. New treaties were tricky, Kerensky received weekly reports how Mongols killed personnel in Siberian railroad, shelled it or how Japans invented new special taxes in Vladivostok.
Russia in Asia was deeply humiliated.
After Cossacks had settled in Dons basics power vacuum was formed in Caucasus. Without land connection to Georgia and Baku there wasn’t way to hold authority in south. Armenia felled under Ottoman influence and national riots in Baku forced Kerensky accept lose of authority there. Georgia under Menshevik majority organized party congress and voted for independence, creating Socialist Republic of Georgia and Lavrentiy Beria was first Chairman.
Russia after second GNA in Europe.
“Happy times”
Russia after second GNA in October 1922 was more stable than after Great War but severely weakened. Territorial loses after Great War was extraordinary significant: Caucasus, Vladivostok, Northern Mongolia, Central Asia and Finland. Russian dissenter called this catastrophe “second treaty of Brest-Litovsk” claiming new Russian Republic was incapable decentralized feudal nation. In fact so it was. Most of industry was state owned or held by few ultra rich oligarchs who had succeeded protect their gold reserve during chaos.
After having established new domestic stability and guarantying borders Kerensky had his chance. Five-point program from first GNA was revived and economy started strength. Economy life in Petrograd and Archangel flourished again when goods from Western Europe filled markets first time since 1914. Internal trade routes had been cleared and were safe from bandits, anarchist and activity of Greens had ceased to be danger on travellers. Although Russia had lost Ukraine she was still capable to product surplus grain and exports it to abroad. In remote regions engineers and scientist searched new natural resources and begun capitalize old ones. In 1926 Kerensky proclaimed that “five-point” program had fulfilled and general elections would be hold in next six months.
For Kerensky elections held special meaning. In 1917 elections was cancelled by Bolshevik coup so elections of 1926 had to be successful but once again something completely unexpected happened: Bolsheviks made their move.
Nikolai Bukharin. Leader of Russian Socialist Republic in future.
Nikolai Bukharin was last high ranking Bolshevik who was still alive in Russia. Stalin had fled to America, Trotsky was touring professor and Lenin had died in 1924 by illness of previous assassination attempt. Bukharin had failed to leave country and he was sentenced for rest of his life in prison Siberia. However prison of Republic and Soviet isn’t same at all. Bukharin was able to send letters and have contact with few trusted comrades outside. His letter were all carefully read and after hearing news about elections and Kerensky still holding chair of President he didn’t have anything to lose. In his mind he had two choices: follow old ways and demand end of parliamentary to transform it Dictatorship of Proletarian or show regretting and propose peace between Mensheviks and Bolsheviks.
Kerensky delayed his answer after elections and outcome favoured him: as expected Mensheviks had majority and he had little room to make independent decision. After Duma re-elected him for second period as a President of Russia general amnesty was proclaimed including all parties of civil war. Kerensky hoped new begin of politics and prosperous after sweeping last dust and skeletons of civil war away but it was all only wishful thinking.
*you thought I had given up? Writing completely alternative history aar is damn hard like I haven’t even mentioned Sailor of Kronstandt, specified borders, economy or Japans influence in Vladivostok. I will try making new update during this week including some game play*
If so, then your goals should be simple - retake Belarus, Ukraine, Caucasus, central Asia and Transnamur, and THEN think about pre-WWI goals like controlling Dardaneles, Constantinopole and so on 
