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Will the Soviet Union start up a new fast food chain? Trotsky Fried Chicken?
In Soviet Russia fast food chains fry's you. But perhaps he will, afterall he was impressed by his state visit to Kentucky earlier. Perhaps the lead up to new conflicts are merely to gain access to KFC and the oil to fry the chicken. Who knows, anything can be possible
Wait, what. Troysky got assassinated?
Yup! He's dead and so the AAR is over and there is peace.
No he survived
It's a backlash against the oppressive regime against religion and Wars of conquest, and a way to justify going to war. It will play a bigger role later on.Next update will come tomorrow and feature the Soviet-Turkish war and rest of 1944.
Chapter 37.
Chapter 37: Euthanize the Sick Man.
One for each side
The president of Turkey.
Mustafa İsmet İnönü was the President of Turkey. And he refused to give in to the Soviets. He proclaimed that the Straits were sovereign Turkish territory and the Soviets had to abide by international laws and appealed in the UN to stop the Soviet aggression. He topped by saying Trotsky's claims in eastern Turkey was nothing but pure imperalism remiscent of Hitlerism. He demanded the nations of the world to respect international law and protect weaker nations against aggression from great powers. The Americans and British, and the liberal democracies, no doubt sympathised with Turkey. Moreover it was a nation with a strategic location, it was Turkey who was the gatekeeper containing the Soviet Black Sea Fleet and posing a threat to the Caucasian and Romanian oil-fields. Allied military attachés was sent to Ankara to help the Turkish prepare for a war. Vague promises was also made that if Turkey held out for a prolonged time, wearing the Soviets slowly out to the east while holding the Straits open they would intervene. The Allied intervention plan was simple: put in security forces in western Turkey and proclaim it as a no-go zone for the USSR and send in their navies to crush all foreign war vessels who were not confined to their homeports and waters. Then they would negotiate for peace, with the USSR being in the delicate position of having the majority of their army locked up in the Turkish mountains. However it all depended upon the Straits being open for the Allies to intervene in the first place..
One of the few times where the sea not being red is good.
The crisis turned to war was a major hallmark for the Red Fleet. For the first time they were expected to conduct large scale offensive operations of their own. The eastern Mediterranean saw a major Soviet naval presence. The hawks among the American and British governments said that this major naval presence was a chance they should not give up on. The Royal and US Navy had to strike and trap the Red Fleet closing the Suez Canal and Strait of Gibraltar. However the doves won out and the Allied fleets was ordered to anchor up in Gibraltar, Malta, Crete and Cyprus. Still paranoia could be felt at every turn and the Allies waited for a turn to intervene. The Soviet Navy on the otherhand focused on boxing in the Turkish Navy and the straits and to disrupt Turkish trade and potential seaborne reinforcements. The Mediterranean naval presence was proected to be dominant in the Soviet favor, however the Black Sea was predicted to be the battleground. It was here the Black Sea Fleet would prove its worth, to fight its way out of the Straits and claim the title as a Mediterranean Fleet, or if it would be laid to rest at the bottom of the seas.
Soviet Russia master both the sea and air.
But the seas was quiet. The Turkish Fleet was ordered to be in being and only occasionally harass their adversary and strike when an opportunity presented itself. But where the first hours at the high seas were anti-climatic, the war in the air was nothing but that. As per Soviet air doctrine there wasn't to be any air supremacy for the sake of air supremacy. The first air offensive came as a shock and in quick bursts, only supporting their advancing forces 10km into enemy terrain. However as with the wars in Southern Thrust new doctrines was tested, and especially the western variants. Strategic bombing had often been neglected in the Soviet Air Force for the simple reason that "the bombs don't hit their target", instead tactical bombing was favored. However now heavy bombers stroke as deep as Ankara and Istanbul. The once vibrant cities was left as ghost cities as its inhabitants fled their homes and were confined to their basements. Moreover there started be a constant presence of Soviet fighters in the air from the first hour, depriving the Turkish Air Force of any chance to take to the skies and severly hindering their supply routes. This was deemed necessary by Soviet High Command. The Chief of the Air Force reasoned that in a war with British and Americans, who both had major and veteran air forces, the tactics thast was employed against the Germans and Japanese on vast territories couldn't be employed in a concentrated attack on the Allied footholds in Europe. As with the Navy Southern Thrust and now especially the war with Turkey would be a major hallmark, and a testing ground for a war against the Allies.
Not a dream start..
14:00, local time. After 6 hours of intense bombing the Soviets crossed their common borders. In the mountain passes near Armenia and Georgia the first Soviet recon units found themselves in fierce fighting. They were expected to simply walse in, as during Southern Thrust to find an enemy on complete disarray and on the run. Instead they found a well entrenched enemy, composed of no less than 22 infantry divisions, 2 mountain cavarly divisions and 3 highly specialized mountain divisions. The recon units was rapidly pinned down by the Turkish strongpoints, and their light tanks and armored vehicles was no match for the anti-tank weapons the Turkish held was either German and Italian imports, and more lately during the Soviet aggressive stance in the region British and American anti-tank weapons. It dawned upon the Soviet invaders that this would not be a war as the Southern Thrust. The tanks was grinded to a halt and the air force and infantrists alike had difficulties taking the fortified areas. What was meant to be a rapid assault turned into a static war, with the Trotsky tanks (LT-2s and LT-3s) instead of being used as mobile platforms such as the T-44s, T-34s and T-60s were instead dug down with only their turrets being exposed. From there they would provide fire support with their massive 122mm turrets. This was a nightmarish situation for the Soviet High Command, a prolonged war would be shown as a weakness and encourage the Allies to intervene.
Roosevelt won the election.. no awesome pipe president then.
The US election of 1944 was especially close. It was Roosevelt vs. MacArthur. Many saw it as New Deal style Liberalism (or "socialism" by many) vs. American Conservatism. MacArthur made a strong opening swaying voters left and right to his side. For his popular and moderate New Yorker Republican running mate, but most decisively for his popularity as the General that defeated the Japanese. He was portrayed as the right man for the job, to defend America and the world at whole against Socialism. This was the main argument from MacArthur's campaign, America needed a strong character to put them up against the wicked Trotsky and his henchmen. However Roosevelt managed to sway voters to his side by saying that in fact it was he who was at the helm during the war against the Axis, moreover he went back on his promises of the Fair Deal and instead opted to finalize the New Deal, and allocate funds that would have gone to the Fair Deal to instead focus on the Armed Forces. This swayed a lot of conservative and anti-soviet voters, but he lost the support of many in the Steel Belt who had been promised new labor rights. But it was ironically the Soviet aggressive stance in Turkey that sealed the deal. MacArthur had already monopolized on being the anti-soviet candidate even going so far to say that if he were elected President he would order a UN intervention (bypassing France and the USSR) in Turkey and the Middle East. Roosevelt and Truman gambled and said they were to use diplomatic and not military means to solve the crisis, merely to put up another alternative. In the end diplomacy won as when it became clear the USSR had no intention of peace. Many Americans got cold feet at the prospects of another World War, many having served in the Second World War or having lost dear ones, and voted for Roosevelt. However it was a close race. Roosevelt attained 52.2% of the votes and MacArthur 47.1% of the votes. The election was also majorly polarizing and shifted both the Democratic and Republican Party to a more hawkish stance. The few Red Guards and Internationale inspired unions in the Steel Belt announced that if Roosevelt's Fair Deal program was not pursued and the "Anti-Proletarian foreign policy" was not abandoned the industrial powerhouse of the United States of America would be crippled, in the name of international solidarity.
Perhaps the Turkish like mountain retreats better than city life?
8th of November, 1600 local time. There was chaos. It was panic. The unlikely scenario had just happened: A Soviet amphibious assault right into the Bosphorous and the ancient metropolis of Istanbul, the former seat of power for empires. Now the old Russian dream had finally been fulfilled; conquest of Constantinople. Two Rifle Divisions invaded the flanks of Istanbul quickly pacifying the area and taking the defenders with ease. The 131st Motorized Rifle Division was tasked with taking on Istabul directly. And they succeeded. The Soviet soldiers was appereantly baffled themselves: "We heard stories of the assaults in the Pacific and Japan. We expected the worst, we expected a wall of death once the ramps went down. But instead we faced sporadic fighting. The worst fighting was when we entered the city itself to take control, and that from the civilians themself. It was a good day to be a soldier". With minimal casualties the three divisions fanned out to secure their foothold for the rest of the Front. The 100th Rifle Division would strike to the south, securing the local airbase and the Dardanelles, while the 23rd RD and the 131st Mot. RD would advance to the east, taking on Ankara.*
Soviet soldiers hiding in the forests of Ukraine.
But how was this possible? How could the Soviets invade the Straits with such ease? Deception. The Soviet military excelled in deception. In a cunning move they allowed Allied and Turkish signal stations and reconnaissance planes to reveal the planned Soviet invasion force, even leaking parts of the invasion plan to them. However it was a ruse. The plans detailed an invasion from Armenia and Georgia, and an invasion into the Straits itself was not preffered due to the poor state of the Black Sea Fleet and out of fear of the Allies intervenening from such a proposal. Moreover this deception led the Turkish and Allies to believe that there wasn't a force build up in Ukraine and Crimea to cross the Black Sea and into Turkey. The Soviet air movements backed this up, true Istanbul was under strategic bombing, bu the majority of the Soviet tactical and strategic bombing took place to the east, and not along the Straits. But it was all a sham. The real Soviet intention was quickly showed off, the attack in the east was merely to bind up the forces there and lay the Straits vulnerable for an all out assault. This was a crippling blow to the Turkish war effort.
A glorious first true test of the Black Sea Fleet.
Alarmed by recent turn of events the Turkish turned to their Allies. However their pleas for intervention was met with nothing but silence. Perhaps the Allies realized with the Straits lost the war was in effect lost. With the Straits under Soviet control the war was essentially over and the Allies didn't want another Gallipoli, nor attack a Soviet stronghold. The Allied fleets remained in being, the West had again left the Middle East to their own fate. It was then a Turkish strikeforce was sent out to scout the area and sink any Soviet ships in the region, an attempt to end the Soviet Naval Supremacy and prevent further Soviet reinforcements. During the night of the 9th the Turkish fleet got reports of 4 Romanian destroyers escorting Soviet convoys. This was almost certainly either Soviet reinforcements or supplies. With a total of 17 warships, backed up by several submarines and led on by the former German Battlecruiser "Yavuz" the Turkish navy was intent on going for a hunt. But before they reached their target Soviet bombers dropped in from from the clouds and filled the sea with torpedos. The Turkish battlefleet managed to evade these torpedos, except for one light cruiser. This proved to be fatal. In the chaos the lead battlecruiser ordered a retreat, but they soon realized their mistake. The Battlecruiser drew on the Soviet submarine fleet that was reported. In its place another light cruiser and several destroyers departed in the guise of the clouds, take a long turn around and resuce the immobilized light cruiser. Meanwhile Yavuz was hotly pursued by Soviet submarines and naval bombers. The subs tried to penetrate its escorts, but failed as the destroyers blocked their path with depth charges along with filling the skies shrapnel to prevent navl bombardment. This suceeded as three Soviet submarines was sunk. However it was too successfull. The hunt for the Battlecruiser was called off, instead reports ticked in of a Turkish squadron moving toward the light cruiser. What followed was a carnage. The submarine fired their torpedos taking out several destroyers before surfacing and firing their cannons on them. A total of 9 Turkish destroyers were sunk along with the light cruiser to the rescue at the cost of further 3 Soviet subs. After the massacre at seas the crew of the last light crusier, the first to be taken out, a Soviet destroyer was dispatched to destroy it. Once the destroyer lit up a squadron of Turkish submarines ambushed the lone destroyer and sunk it. The Soviets won the battle, the Yavuz strike force was forced back to its homeport, losing 9 destroyers and 2 light cruisers in the process, however at the cost of 6 submarines and 1 destroyer.
Battles in the mountains.
Massacres by the sea was followed by a prolonged massacre in the mountains. Despite their defeats in the west and the Black Sea the Turkish held their position. Under constant and heavy bombardment from Soviet artillery, close air support and interdiction they were true to their common purpose, to contain Soviet aggression. However the sheer Soviet supremacy was taking its toll. But the most important factor was the Turkish command was divided upon their course of action. Were they to stay in place and contain the eastern aggression, or retreat away fro the favorable position to reinforce their heartland?
With this the Black Sea Fleet will become the Mediterranean Fleet.
The days passed by in the snowy mountains of Turkey, and the soldiers on both sides fell in the thousands. But in the Black Sea the last naval battle took place. This time around it was the Soviet and Romanian fleets who were on the offensive. Recon elements reported the Yavuz was spoted. The Soviets led the attack with Sovyetskiy Ukraina at the helm. It was this battleship that opened up with their cannons pounding the Turkish navy. This bound up the majority of the screening vessels and the Black Sea Fleet moved in to te kill, supported by the battleships. The screens valiantly protected the pride of their fleet. However they were sunk. A lone Soviet destroyer took up the hunt on the Yavuz, but it was sunk by a Turkish submarine before being sunk itself by another destroyer. The Yavuz was pursued by several Il-4s and but suffered only minor casualties. Despite managing to escape, it was a major defeat for the Turkish. This finally led to Black Sea dominance by the Soviets, and it sealed their fate. Now the Allies had no motivation to intervene with the Straits seized and the navy defeated.
One pocket here, and one pocket there and the entire Turkish Army will be removed.
By the 14th, nearing midnight, the Iranian and Iraqi government delivered their declaration of war to the Turkish government. Two entire new fronts opened up in the south from, just as the Soviets managed to break the Turkish lines after some 10 days of combat. Most concerning for the Turkish forces was a pocket containing 3 infantry divisions and one mountain divisions. Meanwhile Soviet armored forces spread out from their bulge, with the southern fronts making their move threatening to close off the lines as a whole. However it was still a difficult battle for the Soviets. It was nearing winter in the mountainous region and it swtiched between snowing and raining. "When it snowed we froze, and our weapons malfunctioned. The snow hindered our advance. When it rained we also froze and the ground turned to mud. It didn't help much with the many craters from bombs and shells. It was a muddy hell and we had a hard time moving around. All I could think of was to come home", a Soviet soldier said. For the next days the thousands of Turkish soldiers caught in the pocket would be under serious Soviet attacks, while the invaders prepared to take on the rest of Turkey.
Now to close the major gap..
Four days passed. The Turkish opposition loosened. The mechanized army that invaded was simply too much for the Turkish who was running out of supplies and becoming demoralized following their defeats at seas and in Istanbul. But most importantly the Turkish plan for offensive was basically to hold out in mountains, contain the aggressors and wait for the Allies to intervene by diplomatic means or military force. Now it was out of the window, the Turkish either surrendered en masse, retreated or deserted. Concerningly a salient was created with the Soviets being in a favorable position to committ a pincer from the north and south. This new development was taking even the Soviets by surprise who expected nothing else but brutal fightings in the mountains, remiscent of the fighting in the Alps and Carpathia. Instead the Turkish was beaten by in a matter of days and the Soviet armored and motorized divisions went on with full speed ahead. The Soviets were winning on every front.
Wrong type of Turkey.
In the US the people were preparing. They were preparing to take on the Turkey. But it was another Turkey entirley, it was a turkey to eat. Thanksgiving was right around the corner, and all talk of direct military intervention was called off. A Turkish minister wrote in a letter to a British diplomat "while you prepare to devour turkeys, the Soviets devour Turkey". All hope was out for Turkey, instead the US sent a diplomatic delegation to end the hostilities. The American people were preparing to live a life in peace and prosperity and not wage a war in some far away country.
The Turkish really doesn't like the western part of their nation.
Despite their best attempts, the Turkish couldn't manage to make a unified resistance in the west. By the 22nd of November all of the Turkish European mainland had fallen. Meanwhile Ankara had fallen with most of the government was held captive in Ankara. At gunpoint the Turkish government held negotiations with American and Soviet officials. It was a farce and it was clear what the outcome would be. In Izmir some Turkish government officials and officers gathered to create a provisional government. However it was mostly in vain. Most of western Turkey was under Soviet occupation with Izmir itself being virtually defenseless as the local garrison deserted and joined the nation communist uprising. This uprising was enabled by the collapse of the central government and large parts of Turkey falling under Soviet occupation. Being motivated by agitators, a desire for better living conditions and simply a desire for peace large parts of Turkey turned communist and swore fealty to a communist puppet regime set up in Instanbul.
The Turks are either obliterated or decide that the west is perhaps of some importance.
The Turkish faced defeat after defeat. The Soviet overmight was just too much, too much to bear. The brutality of mechanized warfare tore the Turkish military apart. Still they were a formidable foe. One can only begin to wonder how the war would have gone if the Straits was fortified and shielded from a naval invasion. But three divisions was all it took to spread chaos and prevent an Allied intervention. Still one have to take into account that the combined Soviet Army and Air Force did in fact break the Turkish lines. By the 23rd of November eastern Turkey was virtually defenseless against the Soviet war machine.
That went better than expected.
On the 24th an armistice was signed. The Americans managed to "meditate" the peace, but the Turks was eager to accept it as they were under occupation. The Soviets renounced the claims of the Georgian and Armenian Soviet Republics, however they demanded the straits to come under joint Soviet-Turkish administration. This was of course all a farce. The Turkish was forced at gunpoint to accept the treaty, and the US accepted the gravity of the situation. Once the US government fell a communist coup took place, backed up by the Soviets. The Turkish communists under Sefik Hüsnü. Soon thereafter the Republic of Turkey ceased to exist officially, with the Socialist Republic of Turkey being its successor. The USSR cited the reason to restore order to straits from revolution and civil war to incorporate the provinces of Istanbul, Izmit, Ismir and Bursa into Russia itself. Instanbul who was coveted by the Russians for centuries as "Tsargrad" was renamed to Trotskygrad by the Russian SFSR. This signalized the sheer power and prestige of Trotsky. Yet another nation fell to the Soviet Union, would this be the last of their demands and acts of aggression?
Patton won't stand a chance..
Meanwhile the Soviet Armed Forces continued to improve upon their arsenal. The Katyusha rocket systems was improved to be more mobile and to fire more rapidly with bigger warheards. The AT guns was meant to be standardized with the 76.2 mm ZiS-3 field gun and the 85mm divisional gun D-44. These two anti-tank guns was created to penetrate most armor, even the heavy Trotsky tanks and the T-44 armor head on.
Trotsky need new vacation isles.
But the Soviet demands didn't end. Officially the Soviets stated Greece housed several Axis and Turkish war criminals in the Aegean Islands, and violated their neutrality by allowing the Turkish to use these islands as bases. The Soviets demanded these regions to be handed over to the Soviet Union for the collective security of the world, with the terms being the Aegean islands would be under Greek sovereignty, but with Soviet basing rights. This was an obvious move to further consoliate the Soviet power in the Aegean Sea and move further into the Mediterranean. These claims would escalate into a crisis over the New Year, but for now the US was celebrating thanksgiving, and the Allies would be intent on observing Christmas Peace the following month. This looming crisis would resurface on the new year..
It's 1945, smile!
Trotsky had done it. He had conquered most of the Middle East and finally "opened up" the Straits. The Soviet position was massively increased, but their eyes were fixed on Greece. Trotsky's appetite for power and territory was not stilled. The New Year celebration of 1945 was an awkward one with the coming year being uncertain, would the world be plunged into war in the coming month?
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*So the plan worked, the Turkish Army was tied up in the east and my invading divisions managed to get to the straits. Now if you remember I mentioned a bug where several divisions was stuck in the Kurill Isles, this was that Front. So by issuing the naval invasion it solved that bug, but it takes a lot of time for them to actually get to Ukraine, so that is why it is, as of now, a small naval force invaded the straits.
So that was it. Turkey fell, and only the Aegean Islands remain from my focuses (beside getting a war goal against Britain)! So now it remain to be seen if Greece folds and give us the islands or if it escalate into the third world war. But before that happen, we will have an update on the Second Congress of the Internationale
One for each side
The president of Turkey.
Mustafa İsmet İnönü was the President of Turkey. And he refused to give in to the Soviets. He proclaimed that the Straits were sovereign Turkish territory and the Soviets had to abide by international laws and appealed in the UN to stop the Soviet aggression. He topped by saying Trotsky's claims in eastern Turkey was nothing but pure imperalism remiscent of Hitlerism. He demanded the nations of the world to respect international law and protect weaker nations against aggression from great powers. The Americans and British, and the liberal democracies, no doubt sympathised with Turkey. Moreover it was a nation with a strategic location, it was Turkey who was the gatekeeper containing the Soviet Black Sea Fleet and posing a threat to the Caucasian and Romanian oil-fields. Allied military attachés was sent to Ankara to help the Turkish prepare for a war. Vague promises was also made that if Turkey held out for a prolonged time, wearing the Soviets slowly out to the east while holding the Straits open they would intervene. The Allied intervention plan was simple: put in security forces in western Turkey and proclaim it as a no-go zone for the USSR and send in their navies to crush all foreign war vessels who were not confined to their homeports and waters. Then they would negotiate for peace, with the USSR being in the delicate position of having the majority of their army locked up in the Turkish mountains. However it all depended upon the Straits being open for the Allies to intervene in the first place..
One of the few times where the sea not being red is good.
The crisis turned to war was a major hallmark for the Red Fleet. For the first time they were expected to conduct large scale offensive operations of their own. The eastern Mediterranean saw a major Soviet naval presence. The hawks among the American and British governments said that this major naval presence was a chance they should not give up on. The Royal and US Navy had to strike and trap the Red Fleet closing the Suez Canal and Strait of Gibraltar. However the doves won out and the Allied fleets was ordered to anchor up in Gibraltar, Malta, Crete and Cyprus. Still paranoia could be felt at every turn and the Allies waited for a turn to intervene. The Soviet Navy on the otherhand focused on boxing in the Turkish Navy and the straits and to disrupt Turkish trade and potential seaborne reinforcements. The Mediterranean naval presence was proected to be dominant in the Soviet favor, however the Black Sea was predicted to be the battleground. It was here the Black Sea Fleet would prove its worth, to fight its way out of the Straits and claim the title as a Mediterranean Fleet, or if it would be laid to rest at the bottom of the seas.
Soviet Russia master both the sea and air.
But the seas was quiet. The Turkish Fleet was ordered to be in being and only occasionally harass their adversary and strike when an opportunity presented itself. But where the first hours at the high seas were anti-climatic, the war in the air was nothing but that. As per Soviet air doctrine there wasn't to be any air supremacy for the sake of air supremacy. The first air offensive came as a shock and in quick bursts, only supporting their advancing forces 10km into enemy terrain. However as with the wars in Southern Thrust new doctrines was tested, and especially the western variants. Strategic bombing had often been neglected in the Soviet Air Force for the simple reason that "the bombs don't hit their target", instead tactical bombing was favored. However now heavy bombers stroke as deep as Ankara and Istanbul. The once vibrant cities was left as ghost cities as its inhabitants fled their homes and were confined to their basements. Moreover there started be a constant presence of Soviet fighters in the air from the first hour, depriving the Turkish Air Force of any chance to take to the skies and severly hindering their supply routes. This was deemed necessary by Soviet High Command. The Chief of the Air Force reasoned that in a war with British and Americans, who both had major and veteran air forces, the tactics thast was employed against the Germans and Japanese on vast territories couldn't be employed in a concentrated attack on the Allied footholds in Europe. As with the Navy Southern Thrust and now especially the war with Turkey would be a major hallmark, and a testing ground for a war against the Allies.
Not a dream start..
14:00, local time. After 6 hours of intense bombing the Soviets crossed their common borders. In the mountain passes near Armenia and Georgia the first Soviet recon units found themselves in fierce fighting. They were expected to simply walse in, as during Southern Thrust to find an enemy on complete disarray and on the run. Instead they found a well entrenched enemy, composed of no less than 22 infantry divisions, 2 mountain cavarly divisions and 3 highly specialized mountain divisions. The recon units was rapidly pinned down by the Turkish strongpoints, and their light tanks and armored vehicles was no match for the anti-tank weapons the Turkish held was either German and Italian imports, and more lately during the Soviet aggressive stance in the region British and American anti-tank weapons. It dawned upon the Soviet invaders that this would not be a war as the Southern Thrust. The tanks was grinded to a halt and the air force and infantrists alike had difficulties taking the fortified areas. What was meant to be a rapid assault turned into a static war, with the Trotsky tanks (LT-2s and LT-3s) instead of being used as mobile platforms such as the T-44s, T-34s and T-60s were instead dug down with only their turrets being exposed. From there they would provide fire support with their massive 122mm turrets. This was a nightmarish situation for the Soviet High Command, a prolonged war would be shown as a weakness and encourage the Allies to intervene.
Roosevelt won the election.. no awesome pipe president then.
The US election of 1944 was especially close. It was Roosevelt vs. MacArthur. Many saw it as New Deal style Liberalism (or "socialism" by many) vs. American Conservatism. MacArthur made a strong opening swaying voters left and right to his side. For his popular and moderate New Yorker Republican running mate, but most decisively for his popularity as the General that defeated the Japanese. He was portrayed as the right man for the job, to defend America and the world at whole against Socialism. This was the main argument from MacArthur's campaign, America needed a strong character to put them up against the wicked Trotsky and his henchmen. However Roosevelt managed to sway voters to his side by saying that in fact it was he who was at the helm during the war against the Axis, moreover he went back on his promises of the Fair Deal and instead opted to finalize the New Deal, and allocate funds that would have gone to the Fair Deal to instead focus on the Armed Forces. This swayed a lot of conservative and anti-soviet voters, but he lost the support of many in the Steel Belt who had been promised new labor rights. But it was ironically the Soviet aggressive stance in Turkey that sealed the deal. MacArthur had already monopolized on being the anti-soviet candidate even going so far to say that if he were elected President he would order a UN intervention (bypassing France and the USSR) in Turkey and the Middle East. Roosevelt and Truman gambled and said they were to use diplomatic and not military means to solve the crisis, merely to put up another alternative. In the end diplomacy won as when it became clear the USSR had no intention of peace. Many Americans got cold feet at the prospects of another World War, many having served in the Second World War or having lost dear ones, and voted for Roosevelt. However it was a close race. Roosevelt attained 52.2% of the votes and MacArthur 47.1% of the votes. The election was also majorly polarizing and shifted both the Democratic and Republican Party to a more hawkish stance. The few Red Guards and Internationale inspired unions in the Steel Belt announced that if Roosevelt's Fair Deal program was not pursued and the "Anti-Proletarian foreign policy" was not abandoned the industrial powerhouse of the United States of America would be crippled, in the name of international solidarity.
Perhaps the Turkish like mountain retreats better than city life?
8th of November, 1600 local time. There was chaos. It was panic. The unlikely scenario had just happened: A Soviet amphibious assault right into the Bosphorous and the ancient metropolis of Istanbul, the former seat of power for empires. Now the old Russian dream had finally been fulfilled; conquest of Constantinople. Two Rifle Divisions invaded the flanks of Istanbul quickly pacifying the area and taking the defenders with ease. The 131st Motorized Rifle Division was tasked with taking on Istabul directly. And they succeeded. The Soviet soldiers was appereantly baffled themselves: "We heard stories of the assaults in the Pacific and Japan. We expected the worst, we expected a wall of death once the ramps went down. But instead we faced sporadic fighting. The worst fighting was when we entered the city itself to take control, and that from the civilians themself. It was a good day to be a soldier". With minimal casualties the three divisions fanned out to secure their foothold for the rest of the Front. The 100th Rifle Division would strike to the south, securing the local airbase and the Dardanelles, while the 23rd RD and the 131st Mot. RD would advance to the east, taking on Ankara.*
Soviet soldiers hiding in the forests of Ukraine.
But how was this possible? How could the Soviets invade the Straits with such ease? Deception. The Soviet military excelled in deception. In a cunning move they allowed Allied and Turkish signal stations and reconnaissance planes to reveal the planned Soviet invasion force, even leaking parts of the invasion plan to them. However it was a ruse. The plans detailed an invasion from Armenia and Georgia, and an invasion into the Straits itself was not preffered due to the poor state of the Black Sea Fleet and out of fear of the Allies intervenening from such a proposal. Moreover this deception led the Turkish and Allies to believe that there wasn't a force build up in Ukraine and Crimea to cross the Black Sea and into Turkey. The Soviet air movements backed this up, true Istanbul was under strategic bombing, bu the majority of the Soviet tactical and strategic bombing took place to the east, and not along the Straits. But it was all a sham. The real Soviet intention was quickly showed off, the attack in the east was merely to bind up the forces there and lay the Straits vulnerable for an all out assault. This was a crippling blow to the Turkish war effort.
A glorious first true test of the Black Sea Fleet.
Alarmed by recent turn of events the Turkish turned to their Allies. However their pleas for intervention was met with nothing but silence. Perhaps the Allies realized with the Straits lost the war was in effect lost. With the Straits under Soviet control the war was essentially over and the Allies didn't want another Gallipoli, nor attack a Soviet stronghold. The Allied fleets remained in being, the West had again left the Middle East to their own fate. It was then a Turkish strikeforce was sent out to scout the area and sink any Soviet ships in the region, an attempt to end the Soviet Naval Supremacy and prevent further Soviet reinforcements. During the night of the 9th the Turkish fleet got reports of 4 Romanian destroyers escorting Soviet convoys. This was almost certainly either Soviet reinforcements or supplies. With a total of 17 warships, backed up by several submarines and led on by the former German Battlecruiser "Yavuz" the Turkish navy was intent on going for a hunt. But before they reached their target Soviet bombers dropped in from from the clouds and filled the sea with torpedos. The Turkish battlefleet managed to evade these torpedos, except for one light cruiser. This proved to be fatal. In the chaos the lead battlecruiser ordered a retreat, but they soon realized their mistake. The Battlecruiser drew on the Soviet submarine fleet that was reported. In its place another light cruiser and several destroyers departed in the guise of the clouds, take a long turn around and resuce the immobilized light cruiser. Meanwhile Yavuz was hotly pursued by Soviet submarines and naval bombers. The subs tried to penetrate its escorts, but failed as the destroyers blocked their path with depth charges along with filling the skies shrapnel to prevent navl bombardment. This suceeded as three Soviet submarines was sunk. However it was too successfull. The hunt for the Battlecruiser was called off, instead reports ticked in of a Turkish squadron moving toward the light cruiser. What followed was a carnage. The submarine fired their torpedos taking out several destroyers before surfacing and firing their cannons on them. A total of 9 Turkish destroyers were sunk along with the light cruiser to the rescue at the cost of further 3 Soviet subs. After the massacre at seas the crew of the last light crusier, the first to be taken out, a Soviet destroyer was dispatched to destroy it. Once the destroyer lit up a squadron of Turkish submarines ambushed the lone destroyer and sunk it. The Soviets won the battle, the Yavuz strike force was forced back to its homeport, losing 9 destroyers and 2 light cruisers in the process, however at the cost of 6 submarines and 1 destroyer.
Battles in the mountains.
Massacres by the sea was followed by a prolonged massacre in the mountains. Despite their defeats in the west and the Black Sea the Turkish held their position. Under constant and heavy bombardment from Soviet artillery, close air support and interdiction they were true to their common purpose, to contain Soviet aggression. However the sheer Soviet supremacy was taking its toll. But the most important factor was the Turkish command was divided upon their course of action. Were they to stay in place and contain the eastern aggression, or retreat away fro the favorable position to reinforce their heartland?
With this the Black Sea Fleet will become the Mediterranean Fleet.
The days passed by in the snowy mountains of Turkey, and the soldiers on both sides fell in the thousands. But in the Black Sea the last naval battle took place. This time around it was the Soviet and Romanian fleets who were on the offensive. Recon elements reported the Yavuz was spoted. The Soviets led the attack with Sovyetskiy Ukraina at the helm. It was this battleship that opened up with their cannons pounding the Turkish navy. This bound up the majority of the screening vessels and the Black Sea Fleet moved in to te kill, supported by the battleships. The screens valiantly protected the pride of their fleet. However they were sunk. A lone Soviet destroyer took up the hunt on the Yavuz, but it was sunk by a Turkish submarine before being sunk itself by another destroyer. The Yavuz was pursued by several Il-4s and but suffered only minor casualties. Despite managing to escape, it was a major defeat for the Turkish. This finally led to Black Sea dominance by the Soviets, and it sealed their fate. Now the Allies had no motivation to intervene with the Straits seized and the navy defeated.
One pocket here, and one pocket there and the entire Turkish Army will be removed.
By the 14th, nearing midnight, the Iranian and Iraqi government delivered their declaration of war to the Turkish government. Two entire new fronts opened up in the south from, just as the Soviets managed to break the Turkish lines after some 10 days of combat. Most concerning for the Turkish forces was a pocket containing 3 infantry divisions and one mountain divisions. Meanwhile Soviet armored forces spread out from their bulge, with the southern fronts making their move threatening to close off the lines as a whole. However it was still a difficult battle for the Soviets. It was nearing winter in the mountainous region and it swtiched between snowing and raining. "When it snowed we froze, and our weapons malfunctioned. The snow hindered our advance. When it rained we also froze and the ground turned to mud. It didn't help much with the many craters from bombs and shells. It was a muddy hell and we had a hard time moving around. All I could think of was to come home", a Soviet soldier said. For the next days the thousands of Turkish soldiers caught in the pocket would be under serious Soviet attacks, while the invaders prepared to take on the rest of Turkey.
Now to close the major gap..
Four days passed. The Turkish opposition loosened. The mechanized army that invaded was simply too much for the Turkish who was running out of supplies and becoming demoralized following their defeats at seas and in Istanbul. But most importantly the Turkish plan for offensive was basically to hold out in mountains, contain the aggressors and wait for the Allies to intervene by diplomatic means or military force. Now it was out of the window, the Turkish either surrendered en masse, retreated or deserted. Concerningly a salient was created with the Soviets being in a favorable position to committ a pincer from the north and south. This new development was taking even the Soviets by surprise who expected nothing else but brutal fightings in the mountains, remiscent of the fighting in the Alps and Carpathia. Instead the Turkish was beaten by in a matter of days and the Soviet armored and motorized divisions went on with full speed ahead. The Soviets were winning on every front.
Wrong type of Turkey.
In the US the people were preparing. They were preparing to take on the Turkey. But it was another Turkey entirley, it was a turkey to eat. Thanksgiving was right around the corner, and all talk of direct military intervention was called off. A Turkish minister wrote in a letter to a British diplomat "while you prepare to devour turkeys, the Soviets devour Turkey". All hope was out for Turkey, instead the US sent a diplomatic delegation to end the hostilities. The American people were preparing to live a life in peace and prosperity and not wage a war in some far away country.
The Turkish really doesn't like the western part of their nation.
Despite their best attempts, the Turkish couldn't manage to make a unified resistance in the west. By the 22nd of November all of the Turkish European mainland had fallen. Meanwhile Ankara had fallen with most of the government was held captive in Ankara. At gunpoint the Turkish government held negotiations with American and Soviet officials. It was a farce and it was clear what the outcome would be. In Izmir some Turkish government officials and officers gathered to create a provisional government. However it was mostly in vain. Most of western Turkey was under Soviet occupation with Izmir itself being virtually defenseless as the local garrison deserted and joined the nation communist uprising. This uprising was enabled by the collapse of the central government and large parts of Turkey falling under Soviet occupation. Being motivated by agitators, a desire for better living conditions and simply a desire for peace large parts of Turkey turned communist and swore fealty to a communist puppet regime set up in Instanbul.
The Turks are either obliterated or decide that the west is perhaps of some importance.
The Turkish faced defeat after defeat. The Soviet overmight was just too much, too much to bear. The brutality of mechanized warfare tore the Turkish military apart. Still they were a formidable foe. One can only begin to wonder how the war would have gone if the Straits was fortified and shielded from a naval invasion. But three divisions was all it took to spread chaos and prevent an Allied intervention. Still one have to take into account that the combined Soviet Army and Air Force did in fact break the Turkish lines. By the 23rd of November eastern Turkey was virtually defenseless against the Soviet war machine.
That went better than expected.
On the 24th an armistice was signed. The Americans managed to "meditate" the peace, but the Turks was eager to accept it as they were under occupation. The Soviets renounced the claims of the Georgian and Armenian Soviet Republics, however they demanded the straits to come under joint Soviet-Turkish administration. This was of course all a farce. The Turkish was forced at gunpoint to accept the treaty, and the US accepted the gravity of the situation. Once the US government fell a communist coup took place, backed up by the Soviets. The Turkish communists under Sefik Hüsnü. Soon thereafter the Republic of Turkey ceased to exist officially, with the Socialist Republic of Turkey being its successor. The USSR cited the reason to restore order to straits from revolution and civil war to incorporate the provinces of Istanbul, Izmit, Ismir and Bursa into Russia itself. Instanbul who was coveted by the Russians for centuries as "Tsargrad" was renamed to Trotskygrad by the Russian SFSR. This signalized the sheer power and prestige of Trotsky. Yet another nation fell to the Soviet Union, would this be the last of their demands and acts of aggression?
Patton won't stand a chance..
Meanwhile the Soviet Armed Forces continued to improve upon their arsenal. The Katyusha rocket systems was improved to be more mobile and to fire more rapidly with bigger warheards. The AT guns was meant to be standardized with the 76.2 mm ZiS-3 field gun and the 85mm divisional gun D-44. These two anti-tank guns was created to penetrate most armor, even the heavy Trotsky tanks and the T-44 armor head on.
Trotsky need new vacation isles.
But the Soviet demands didn't end. Officially the Soviets stated Greece housed several Axis and Turkish war criminals in the Aegean Islands, and violated their neutrality by allowing the Turkish to use these islands as bases. The Soviets demanded these regions to be handed over to the Soviet Union for the collective security of the world, with the terms being the Aegean islands would be under Greek sovereignty, but with Soviet basing rights. This was an obvious move to further consoliate the Soviet power in the Aegean Sea and move further into the Mediterranean. These claims would escalate into a crisis over the New Year, but for now the US was celebrating thanksgiving, and the Allies would be intent on observing Christmas Peace the following month. This looming crisis would resurface on the new year..
It's 1945, smile!
Trotsky had done it. He had conquered most of the Middle East and finally "opened up" the Straits. The Soviet position was massively increased, but their eyes were fixed on Greece. Trotsky's appetite for power and territory was not stilled. The New Year celebration of 1945 was an awkward one with the coming year being uncertain, would the world be plunged into war in the coming month?
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*So the plan worked, the Turkish Army was tied up in the east and my invading divisions managed to get to the straits. Now if you remember I mentioned a bug where several divisions was stuck in the Kurill Isles, this was that Front. So by issuing the naval invasion it solved that bug, but it takes a lot of time for them to actually get to Ukraine, so that is why it is, as of now, a small naval force invaded the straits.
So that was it. Turkey fell, and only the Aegean Islands remain from my focuses (beside getting a war goal against Britain)! So now it remain to be seen if Greece folds and give us the islands or if it escalate into the third world war. But before that happen, we will have an update on the Second Congress of the Internationale
The dream that has motivated Russians for 500 years, if not more, achieved. Trotsky should be pleased.
The Western allies are ... very quiescent.
The Western allies are ... very quiescent.
The city of Constantin was named after him, that should please his ego
And yes they are just observing it all. I thought this would lead to an all-out war. But I were wrong, but now as USSR are moving towards Greece it might be the final straw.. But it got me thinking, perhaps Trotksy, who are influenced by KFC, will create "Trotsky Fried Turkey". Also Waking the Tiger and Cornflakes are coming out soon. Is there anyway to revert to the current patch so I can continue the AAR? (Gameplay wise I am much further ahead, but it would be nice to finish it).
Yes. In Steam they set up all previous versions of the game using the Beta system. There are instructions usually posted at the top of each game forum (ok, I can't see one in HoI4 forum right now, but here is the one from Stellaris).The city of Constantin was named after him, that should please his ego
Also Waking the Tiger and Cornflakes are coming out soon. Is there anyway to revert to the current patch so I can continue the AAR? (Gameplay wise I am much further ahead, but it would be nice to finish it).
Second Congress.
Second Congress of the Internationale.
The delegates of the Congress march, followed by grand military parades.
1945. The year opened up to much fanfare as the Second Congress of the Internationale was to be held in Paris, the powerhouse of the revolution in western Europe. As with the First Congress delegates from all communist and radical parties, unions and nations were invited. However this time around many delegates and journalists were not allowed to participate in fear of "counter revolutionary" and "subversive" elements. Across the channel and the pond the paranoia was reciprocated; it was deemed treason for any citizen of the United States, United Kingdom and their allies to participate or observing the Congress. As a result only already exiled members were attending, and they had to be vetted by the Internationale. Still the Congress was opened up by a major parade with the leading members of the various communist nations. They were again being escorted and led by the elite forces of their nations. Despite the cold and wet January weather, Parisians flocked to the streets to observe the parade. Following the leaders of the communist nations was military parades of most nations - except for Germany and Italy as they were still officially demilitarized. The newest tanks and vehicles from all nations were paraded around, including the new T-44s and Trotsky tanks and the latest inventions of the other communist nations. Several formations of disciplined and cohesive parade and drill troops paraded around showing off the might of the communist militaries. Overhead endless formations of airplanes flew over Paris, despite the foul weather. But those who basked in the glory was the returning heroes, who was portrayed as liberators in the communist world and oppressors in the west, who paraded in front of the cheering masses. Through the entire Congress military exercises would be held on the plains of France, with selected members of the populace being allowed to observe. The favorite show was when Allied captured tanks was wrecked.
Thorez opens up the Congress.
The President of the Commune of France had the honor to open the Congress. He held a thundering speech about the need of world revolution and the progress France had seen since the inception of the communist regime. After the somewhat erratic speech Trotsky entered. The delegates was silent as they listened in awe to the eldering man who had just survived an assassination attempt and conquered the Middle East. As with Thorez, Trotsky stressed the needs for a final push to world revolution, or else the capitalist and imperialist powers would end the revolution and socialist experiment. He ended his speech by quoting Marx "If we have chosen the position in life in which we can most of all work for mankind, no burdens can bow us down, because they are sacrifices for the benefit of all; then we shall experience no petty, limited, selfish joy, but our happiness will belong to millions, our deeds will live on quietly but perpetually at work, and over our ashes will be shed the hot tears of noble people". In the eyes of Trotsky and many others this justified their new course.
One of the many Bulgarian demonstrations.
During the Congress the situation in Bulgaria was hotly debated. Hundreds of Bulgarians gave heartbreaking testimonies of atrocities by the "white terrorists", most of them were fabricated and it didn't take into account the crimes the communists committed. Still it fielded enough support among the delegates and it became clear a civil war was on the horizon. The Bulgarian communists exclaimed they were "ready to use force" and even buddied up with Trotsky by quoting him "Not believing in force is the same as not believing in gravity". All the communist powers gave their assurances that they would support the Bulgarian cause with weapons, industrial machines, resources and even a full blown military intervention if it was needed. In addition backroom deals was made with the NKVD and other intelligence services who would help the communists to pull off a putsch.
A Norwegian communist poster saying "witness the revolution's light over the world".
Another nation that was up to discussion was Norway. A loyal ally to both Britain and America, it was nevertheless an unstable nation. Being hit hard by recessions, a tradition of radical socialism, months of war on its soil and a heavy Finno-Soviet and Swedish presence during the war enabled the rise of radical socialist movements. In fact the Labor Party was split between communist leaning and democratic leaning members and even MPs. This led to a paralyzation of the government, and it was unknown for how long it could continue. It was decided the Internationale would send several delegates (in the forms of fronts) to Norway to tip the nation toward the Fourth International. There even came pledges to exiled Norwegian communists and socialists than in case of a full blown civil war the Finnish Democratic Soviet Socialist Republic and Sweden would intervene on its behalf. That would certainly put the Allies and the Internationale on a collision course.
Communism bring Europe together.
Following the war the Americans offered an aid program to the former Allies and even the members of the Internationale. This was named the Marshall Plan. However this economic and industrial relief and rebuilding program came not without a cost. All nations who recieved this aid had to carry out reforms making them liberal democracies, this in turn led the Soviet Union, Spain and France to fear Europe moving toward the American sphere of influence and an undoing of the revolution. The American aid was thusly rejected by the Congress of the Internationale. During the Congress they also agreed to block Poland by air, land and sea to prevent American aid to enter the nation that had growing communist elements within its nation. The nations of the Congress also agreed upon to form Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (COMECON) which would be the Soviet and French counterweight to the American plan. This was intended to be an economic zone where the richer and more prosperous nations were to aid and rebuild the other nations, to enable socialism and end poverty. However this also reinforced Soviet and French dominance of the other communist nations. Most notably Germany, Italy, communist Yugoslavia, Romania, Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, PRC, Mongolia and Sinkiang agreed to share their five years plans with the USSR. This in effect led the USSR to be in full control of these economies, this was of course all done in the name of international cooperation. In the Rhineland the crisis between Germany and France was solved by Schumacher. He proposed that the Saarland and Rhineland ws to be under French sovereignty, but it was to be under a joint German-French administration. During the Congress Schumacher furthered this to be a free-trade zone (ECSC) between Spain, France, Germany, Austria and Belgium. It was hoped this was to bring about a lasting peace and cooperation in Europe. The last reform by the Internationale for closer European integration was the creation of the Information Bureau of the Communist and Workers' Parties, or more simply "Cominform". This was a forum for the various communist parties of the world to coordinate their efforts outside of the Congresses of the Internationale, however it was still to be a part of the Internationale, just like the ECSC and COMECON. These new reforms and international bodies was welcomed by the Congress, and dreams was made of the Internationale one time replacing the UN, and then on a later date becoming the World Government before ushering the world into utopian communism.
The foundation of the Paris Pact, obviously made to establish everlasting peace.
Perhaps the most important decision was made on the 14th of January. It was then the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance was signed. This was more populary known as the Paris Pact. The Pact was a formalized military alliance between the European nations of the Internationale. It pledged that if one country was attacked, all had to come to its aid - that included preemptive strikes against percieved threats - and further military cooperation. This formalized military alliance was again made a part of the Internationale, but with its proclaimed goal of "containing American and British imperialism" it was a major provocation and on the height of the Aegean Crisis the former Allies founded NATO in response, which consisted formally of USA, Britain, the Commonwealth, Yugoslavia, Denmark, Ireland, the Netherlands and Norway. The two blocs in Europe was now clearly set. NATO vs. Paris Pact, with both sides pledging to not demobilize their armed forces, but rather to increase them.
The colors of the First Mechanized Regiment in the National People's Army.
In line with the decision to found the Paris Pact and to increase the militaries of the Pact, Italy and Germany was allowed to - officially - re-arm by the Internationale. Many members, especially French and Belgian delegates, had reservations against allowing Germany and Italy to rearm. First of all many of them still remembered the horrors of the First and Second World Wars, and didn't want Germany or Italy to start yet another war. However the greatest reservations was in fact with regards to NATO. This was a clear breach of the Paris Treaty and a major provocation. When news reached to NATO that Germany was starting to re-arm, the red flags was waving all over the place. Not only was it a breach of the Paris Treaties that were aimed to bring peace to Europe and the world at large, but a militarized Germany and Italy was a major threat to NATO. Nevertheless it was passed in the Internationale narrowly. The German Army was named the National People's Army and was to be comprimised exclusively out of professional soldiers, and their officers had to go through a new education, part militarian and part political, in the Karl Marx Academy. French, Spanish and Soviet political officers also had a major finger in the training and rehabilitation of the German and Italian armed forces. The following day the German and Italian military was officially established in Paris, with foreign press invited. This angered the western powers who threatened with invasion of Germany and Italy if the Paris Treaties was not respected..
Perhaps there are some hope for the British overclass..
For years the Soviets, French, Spanish and Belgian intelligence services placed several spies in British society. The most famous of them was the Cambridge Five, however during the Spanish Civil War many returned home as sleeping spies, and so did many soldiers and officers who had fought alongside the Belgians. Since the last Congress the funding to these cells and British unions and radical elements had paid off. British society was becoming more and polarized and radical as in Norway, and near 40% of the population had open sympathies with the Soviet Union. Clandestine plans was made during the second Congress to create an open insurrection in the industralized city of Liverpool. That would cripple the British industry when the workers, with a professional vanguard, took control of the northern industry and the Red Army invaded England and took the southern industrial heartland. So was the plan.
All in all theupper class delegates workers decided to stay together.
By the end of January the Second Congress of the Fourth International came to a conclusion. It was decided from now on these Congresses would only be held each fourth year, with a pause from now on and until... the end of the coming World Revolution. Yes there was no doubt, the delegates fully expected a war between the Pact and NATO within four years. During the end of the Congress the delegates agreed that "all men and women, workers and peasants of the world are under an eternal brotherhood and readiness. To face the forces of oppression whereever it is, let that be reaction, fascism, imperialism or capitalism. And to be ready to confront them and strive toward and be loyal to the common goal of breaking the chains of the workers". This again translated to full support from the Internationale to the USSR in the Aegean Crisis, and that the members of the Internationale would support the likely communist uprisings in Bulgaria and Norway, and stand united against American or British aggression. During the final act Trotsky announced "The dynamic of revolutionary events is directlydetermined by swift, intense and passionate changes in the psychology of classes which have already formed themselves before the revolution." before they all sang the International. The Internationale and the Pact was ready for war..
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So in short: In case of civil war in Norway or Bulgaria, the USSR will support them. Bugaria will be subjected to a Soviet boosted coup, and so is Britain in a time of war. In case of a pre-emptive war against the Allies (now called NATO, pre-emptive being if they have a wargoal) the non-European members will not be called in as they are not part of the Paris Pact. However if NATO strikes first then they are to join in. If Greece refuse to give up the Aegean Islands, then the Soviet Union have been given the blessing of the (Soviet dominated) International to claim these islands by force.
So there is many areas where a war can be made over. Greece, Bulgaria, Norway or just a war of aggression
The delegates of the Congress march, followed by grand military parades.
1945. The year opened up to much fanfare as the Second Congress of the Internationale was to be held in Paris, the powerhouse of the revolution in western Europe. As with the First Congress delegates from all communist and radical parties, unions and nations were invited. However this time around many delegates and journalists were not allowed to participate in fear of "counter revolutionary" and "subversive" elements. Across the channel and the pond the paranoia was reciprocated; it was deemed treason for any citizen of the United States, United Kingdom and their allies to participate or observing the Congress. As a result only already exiled members were attending, and they had to be vetted by the Internationale. Still the Congress was opened up by a major parade with the leading members of the various communist nations. They were again being escorted and led by the elite forces of their nations. Despite the cold and wet January weather, Parisians flocked to the streets to observe the parade. Following the leaders of the communist nations was military parades of most nations - except for Germany and Italy as they were still officially demilitarized. The newest tanks and vehicles from all nations were paraded around, including the new T-44s and Trotsky tanks and the latest inventions of the other communist nations. Several formations of disciplined and cohesive parade and drill troops paraded around showing off the might of the communist militaries. Overhead endless formations of airplanes flew over Paris, despite the foul weather. But those who basked in the glory was the returning heroes, who was portrayed as liberators in the communist world and oppressors in the west, who paraded in front of the cheering masses. Through the entire Congress military exercises would be held on the plains of France, with selected members of the populace being allowed to observe. The favorite show was when Allied captured tanks was wrecked.
Thorez opens up the Congress.
The President of the Commune of France had the honor to open the Congress. He held a thundering speech about the need of world revolution and the progress France had seen since the inception of the communist regime. After the somewhat erratic speech Trotsky entered. The delegates was silent as they listened in awe to the eldering man who had just survived an assassination attempt and conquered the Middle East. As with Thorez, Trotsky stressed the needs for a final push to world revolution, or else the capitalist and imperialist powers would end the revolution and socialist experiment. He ended his speech by quoting Marx "If we have chosen the position in life in which we can most of all work for mankind, no burdens can bow us down, because they are sacrifices for the benefit of all; then we shall experience no petty, limited, selfish joy, but our happiness will belong to millions, our deeds will live on quietly but perpetually at work, and over our ashes will be shed the hot tears of noble people". In the eyes of Trotsky and many others this justified their new course.
One of the many Bulgarian demonstrations.
During the Congress the situation in Bulgaria was hotly debated. Hundreds of Bulgarians gave heartbreaking testimonies of atrocities by the "white terrorists", most of them were fabricated and it didn't take into account the crimes the communists committed. Still it fielded enough support among the delegates and it became clear a civil war was on the horizon. The Bulgarian communists exclaimed they were "ready to use force" and even buddied up with Trotsky by quoting him "Not believing in force is the same as not believing in gravity". All the communist powers gave their assurances that they would support the Bulgarian cause with weapons, industrial machines, resources and even a full blown military intervention if it was needed. In addition backroom deals was made with the NKVD and other intelligence services who would help the communists to pull off a putsch.
A Norwegian communist poster saying "witness the revolution's light over the world".
Another nation that was up to discussion was Norway. A loyal ally to both Britain and America, it was nevertheless an unstable nation. Being hit hard by recessions, a tradition of radical socialism, months of war on its soil and a heavy Finno-Soviet and Swedish presence during the war enabled the rise of radical socialist movements. In fact the Labor Party was split between communist leaning and democratic leaning members and even MPs. This led to a paralyzation of the government, and it was unknown for how long it could continue. It was decided the Internationale would send several delegates (in the forms of fronts) to Norway to tip the nation toward the Fourth International. There even came pledges to exiled Norwegian communists and socialists than in case of a full blown civil war the Finnish Democratic Soviet Socialist Republic and Sweden would intervene on its behalf. That would certainly put the Allies and the Internationale on a collision course.
Communism bring Europe together.
Following the war the Americans offered an aid program to the former Allies and even the members of the Internationale. This was named the Marshall Plan. However this economic and industrial relief and rebuilding program came not without a cost. All nations who recieved this aid had to carry out reforms making them liberal democracies, this in turn led the Soviet Union, Spain and France to fear Europe moving toward the American sphere of influence and an undoing of the revolution. The American aid was thusly rejected by the Congress of the Internationale. During the Congress they also agreed to block Poland by air, land and sea to prevent American aid to enter the nation that had growing communist elements within its nation. The nations of the Congress also agreed upon to form Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (COMECON) which would be the Soviet and French counterweight to the American plan. This was intended to be an economic zone where the richer and more prosperous nations were to aid and rebuild the other nations, to enable socialism and end poverty. However this also reinforced Soviet and French dominance of the other communist nations. Most notably Germany, Italy, communist Yugoslavia, Romania, Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, PRC, Mongolia and Sinkiang agreed to share their five years plans with the USSR. This in effect led the USSR to be in full control of these economies, this was of course all done in the name of international cooperation. In the Rhineland the crisis between Germany and France was solved by Schumacher. He proposed that the Saarland and Rhineland ws to be under French sovereignty, but it was to be under a joint German-French administration. During the Congress Schumacher furthered this to be a free-trade zone (ECSC) between Spain, France, Germany, Austria and Belgium. It was hoped this was to bring about a lasting peace and cooperation in Europe. The last reform by the Internationale for closer European integration was the creation of the Information Bureau of the Communist and Workers' Parties, or more simply "Cominform". This was a forum for the various communist parties of the world to coordinate their efforts outside of the Congresses of the Internationale, however it was still to be a part of the Internationale, just like the ECSC and COMECON. These new reforms and international bodies was welcomed by the Congress, and dreams was made of the Internationale one time replacing the UN, and then on a later date becoming the World Government before ushering the world into utopian communism.
The foundation of the Paris Pact, obviously made to establish everlasting peace.
Perhaps the most important decision was made on the 14th of January. It was then the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance was signed. This was more populary known as the Paris Pact. The Pact was a formalized military alliance between the European nations of the Internationale. It pledged that if one country was attacked, all had to come to its aid - that included preemptive strikes against percieved threats - and further military cooperation. This formalized military alliance was again made a part of the Internationale, but with its proclaimed goal of "containing American and British imperialism" it was a major provocation and on the height of the Aegean Crisis the former Allies founded NATO in response, which consisted formally of USA, Britain, the Commonwealth, Yugoslavia, Denmark, Ireland, the Netherlands and Norway. The two blocs in Europe was now clearly set. NATO vs. Paris Pact, with both sides pledging to not demobilize their armed forces, but rather to increase them.
The colors of the First Mechanized Regiment in the National People's Army.
In line with the decision to found the Paris Pact and to increase the militaries of the Pact, Italy and Germany was allowed to - officially - re-arm by the Internationale. Many members, especially French and Belgian delegates, had reservations against allowing Germany and Italy to rearm. First of all many of them still remembered the horrors of the First and Second World Wars, and didn't want Germany or Italy to start yet another war. However the greatest reservations was in fact with regards to NATO. This was a clear breach of the Paris Treaty and a major provocation. When news reached to NATO that Germany was starting to re-arm, the red flags was waving all over the place. Not only was it a breach of the Paris Treaties that were aimed to bring peace to Europe and the world at large, but a militarized Germany and Italy was a major threat to NATO. Nevertheless it was passed in the Internationale narrowly. The German Army was named the National People's Army and was to be comprimised exclusively out of professional soldiers, and their officers had to go through a new education, part militarian and part political, in the Karl Marx Academy. French, Spanish and Soviet political officers also had a major finger in the training and rehabilitation of the German and Italian armed forces. The following day the German and Italian military was officially established in Paris, with foreign press invited. This angered the western powers who threatened with invasion of Germany and Italy if the Paris Treaties was not respected..
Perhaps there are some hope for the British overclass..
For years the Soviets, French, Spanish and Belgian intelligence services placed several spies in British society. The most famous of them was the Cambridge Five, however during the Spanish Civil War many returned home as sleeping spies, and so did many soldiers and officers who had fought alongside the Belgians. Since the last Congress the funding to these cells and British unions and radical elements had paid off. British society was becoming more and polarized and radical as in Norway, and near 40% of the population had open sympathies with the Soviet Union. Clandestine plans was made during the second Congress to create an open insurrection in the industralized city of Liverpool. That would cripple the British industry when the workers, with a professional vanguard, took control of the northern industry and the Red Army invaded England and took the southern industrial heartland. So was the plan.
All in all the
By the end of January the Second Congress of the Fourth International came to a conclusion. It was decided from now on these Congresses would only be held each fourth year, with a pause from now on and until... the end of the coming World Revolution. Yes there was no doubt, the delegates fully expected a war between the Pact and NATO within four years. During the end of the Congress the delegates agreed that "all men and women, workers and peasants of the world are under an eternal brotherhood and readiness. To face the forces of oppression whereever it is, let that be reaction, fascism, imperialism or capitalism. And to be ready to confront them and strive toward and be loyal to the common goal of breaking the chains of the workers". This again translated to full support from the Internationale to the USSR in the Aegean Crisis, and that the members of the Internationale would support the likely communist uprisings in Bulgaria and Norway, and stand united against American or British aggression. During the final act Trotsky announced "The dynamic of revolutionary events is directlydetermined by swift, intense and passionate changes in the psychology of classes which have already formed themselves before the revolution." before they all sang the International. The Internationale and the Pact was ready for war..
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So in short: In case of civil war in Norway or Bulgaria, the USSR will support them. Bugaria will be subjected to a Soviet boosted coup, and so is Britain in a time of war. In case of a pre-emptive war against the Allies (now called NATO, pre-emptive being if they have a wargoal) the non-European members will not be called in as they are not part of the Paris Pact. However if NATO strikes first then they are to join in. If Greece refuse to give up the Aegean Islands, then the Soviet Union have been given the blessing of the (Soviet dominated) International to claim these islands by force.
So there is many areas where a war can be made over. Greece, Bulgaria, Norway or just a war of aggression
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Well the intention could not be clearer. But what will happen if the Allies do not bite?
Has he...did he pay any attention at all to the last few years of world events? I'm not saying turkey deserved its fate but he does, for having the sense of a capitalistic can of spam.
Yup. The Middle East is Russian now, or it will be soon. The salami tactics are working and now there is no way for anything to be done about it until, perhaps (hopefully? I mean, come on...) the Russians reach suez.
Yup the salami is indeed delicious
But if the Suez canal, along with Gibraltar, is taken then Britain is in real trouble at least in the Mediterranean. Still that would open up Iraq and Turkey to the war, putting the soft belly at risk of a NATO invasion..
Polish Communist Revolution.
Communist Revolutions: Poland is not yet lost.
At least Poland is free now?
After the Great War it was said Italy won the war, but lost the peace. After the Second World War no where was this more accurate than Poland. The German Blitzkrieg campaign through Poland was especially devastating, crippling the nation with ruthless bombing campaigns, innovative use of motorized and armored units combined with atrocities that need no mention. But the hardship for the young free nation enjoying hard fought liberty did end here. The Nazi occupation and Generalgouvernement imposed an oppressive regime to put it lightly. But again, it did not end there. During Operation Icebreaker, the Soviet invasion of the Axis, it is easy to look over that in the Central and Northern fronts most of the fighting actually took part on Polish soil. During the Great War the German and Russian Empires fought eachother with the Polish nation caught in the midst, caught in their fury with total destruction following both armies. History repeated itself. Poland was ravaged and mutilated after the liberation by the blood, sweat and iron of the unstoppable Red Army. But again, it did not stop there, the hardship of the Polish people had not come to an end. On the 9th of July Soviet Belarus and Ukraine demanded Eastern Poland to be returned. This crisis almost turned war, but the Allies abandoned Poland and the Soviet Union gobbled itself further to the west. At first glance one could believe the already strained Soviet-Polish bonds would be forever broken. The Polish government cut off all contacts with the Soviet government, never forgetting their expansionism. But they would never forget the betrayal of their western Allies, and the world was very different in 1945 than 1942..
The reds of Poland.
Despite their later united front the leftist movement in Poland wasn't united being dominated by two parties: Polish Workers' Party (PPR) and the Polish Socialist Party (PPS). The former was the successor of the Polish Communist Party who was banned in 1938 who wanted to establish socialism through revolution, while the latter wanted to achieve socialism through democratic principles. In the end this was two very opposing worldviews, as one wanted to end democracy in one whim, while the other wanted to operate within the frames of the liberal democracy. The PPR was in turn more orientated toward Moscow and Internationalism, while the PPR was orientated toward London and democracy and nationalism. For the first years of the new Polish republic the PPS supported the Republic and were in opposition to the USSR. However the USSR had indeed supported entryism and radical socialism in Poland for years, the coming years would result in their investments paying off..*
A British state visit to the new Poland.
The Third Polish Republic emerged from the ruins of the Second Polish Republic. It's leaders returned to Poland after three years of exile and promises of a new democratic Republic were made. However it quickly turned out to be nothing but a republic ran by oligarchs and the military. Despite the Allies being in favor of democracy and liberty, it was believed Poland was too vital to contain Soviet expansion in Europe. However the Allies turned a blind side to the increasingly authorian regime in Poland. Elections were all but a farce in Poland, the media was controlled by the state and the political opposition was arressted or harassed. It was almost as repressive as the communist nations. The PPS envisioned that the new Poland would be a free Poland enjoying political and social rights. Instead the party was forced underground. This radicalised the members of the PPS (and other social democrats and liberal democrats) who again turned toward the PPR for cooperation and the communist world. If the Allies could not provide political support to Poland, then perhaps the communists (who at least were becoming more democratic?) could save them from the at best illiberal, at worst dictatorship of Władysław Sikorski.
The American oppressors send in planes to oppress the Polish by granting them foodstuffs.
Still the majority of the people at least accepted the current regime. Despite large socialist and democratic leanings among the populace and great resentment of the ruling oligarchs, most saw the regime as a stable regime and Sikorski as a national hero. That was to change. During the onset of 1945 the financial world fell into a minor recession. This recession worsened during January and the already fragile Polish economy nose-dived. Poland was in a stage of economical rebuilding, and just as the arrows slightly pointed upwards virtually all of Europe in 1944 embargoed Poland following the American embargo of the USSR in 1943. This lead to severe grain shortages in Poland and a drop in market activity and jobs, but the Polish nation stood strong - for now. As mentioned a recession broke out in Britain, which then spread to all of the capitalist nations as they were unable to do the much needed world-economy reforms, which the Internationale stubbornly refused. The Polish economy crashed and its banks closed. It is in times of economic and political crisis that the fringe elements of society thrive. The far right was a taboo for obvious reasons, and the military-oligarchic dictatorship of Sikorski couldn't prevent the crisis for all to see. The democratic path was simply too.. moderate and wasn't it afterall the liberals of Britain and America that threw Poland under the bus? It was then the communists and socialists apperead as a Messiah of sorts, the saviour of the Polish people. A way to end the economic crisis and the possibility to prevent an all out war with the Paris Pact. The Americans wanted to break the blockade of Poland and sent several thousands of airplanes an ships toward Poland, full of foodstuffs and industrial goods. But Trotsky would have nothing of it. The blockade of Poland was only worsened, and ships and airplanes were ordered to shoot down anyone who attempted to break into Poland by air or sea. This Polish Air Corridor Crisis almost ended in war, and it ended in famine in Poland, but the Americans became pre-occupied with the ongoing Aegean Crisis. The Americans pulled back on the 11th hour and left the Polish people to itself. Trotsky would brutally break down the Polish people, only to lift it up again in his own image.
The Polish leftist are united under a charismatic commie. Good news for Trotsky, concerning news for Roosevelt - oh never mind, I heard the other day he's a commie too.
In the time of crisis, unemployment and famine Władysław Gomułka entered. Being imprisoned for communist loyalty in 1926, he left for Moscow in 1934 to recieve proper education in Soviet style political correctness. As he returned home to Poland in 1935 he was again imprisoned, but he was liberated as the Red Army fought its way over Poland and into Germany. It was then he encouraged Trotsky to reform a Polish Communist Party, that Party became the PPR. Gomulka became the leader of the Polish communists, and in the time of crisis his charisma managed to merge the PPR and PPS together into the Polish United Workers' Party (PUWP). The communist and radical wings soon took over as the situation back home in Poland only worsened and NATO stood helpless and could only observe the unfolding situation with great concern. Gomulka went on the offensive calling Britain and America for "cowards". He went so far to say that America didn't enter the war until it was absolutely clear the Nazis would win. The British was led by the cowardice of Halifax and only stood by and watched as Hitler conquered the Little Entente, it was argued if Britain and Poland stood up for their democratic brothers Hitler and his perverse ideology could have ended in '38. But the current situation in the Middle East was exclaimed to show that USA and the UK were unreliable allies, that would leave Poland to its own faith. Furthermore the PUWP, who was now firmly Marxist and Revolutionary Socialist, came up with specific economic reforms that were meant to give "bread and work" to all. The PUWP also showed assurances from the Internationale that the COMECON would provide relief to Poland and help rebuild Poland. That it was the communist bloc who starved out the population of Poland was.. ignored.
You guessed it.. pro commie demonstrations.
Late January and early February. The Aegean Crisis reached its height. War brewed over the horizon of the Aegean Sea. But Poland was ignored. The famished and downtrodden nation was left to itself, they were abondoned - again. Or so was the popular belief. The PUWP banded together with moderate socialists and democrats and demanded a free and fair election in Poland, and a withdrawal from NATO to appease the Internationale - in order to break the blockade of Poland. Gomułka soon became the leading figure for Polish democracy and a better economic situation. But the Polish government rejected it, saying it was nothing but treason. This angered the Polish people, and the PUWP along with agents from the Pact agitated the people into action. All over the nation worker's councils was formed, and violent demonstrations and strikes was the norm.
Now the Polish people are truly liberated!
The Polish Crisis boiled over as it did in the Aegean Sea. But NATO couldn't manage to juggle two crisis' at the same time, and Poland was deemed a lost cause. Despite it strategic location, there was little chance of British and American troops managing to reach the young republic before the Baltic Sea was closed off. The Soviet Union demanded the Polish regime was to give in to popular demand and restore democracy, otherwise they were needed to intervene on humanitarian grounds. This came as a shock. The USSR abused their position in the UN to gain the highground, if the Polish government refused they might as well start another world war, but again they had doubts USA and UK would follow through unless they had a UN mandate. But most importantly the people were opposed to the military regime. In the end, as endless columns of Soviet armies closed in on Poland, the junta of Sikorski resigned and fled to Britain to again set up a Polish Government in Exile. The PUWP led by Gomułka took power in Poland, and hours later 9 Soviet divisions crossed into the border of Poland, guarding the new government against any opposition. In the following days an election were held, hastly put together and with PUWP controlled unions, councils and thousands of Soviet troops the results ended not to the surprise of anyone to the favor of the PUWP. In short order the Third Republic was no more, but replaced by the Polish People's Republic with Poland left NATO, and instead became a full member of the Internationale and all its organizations - includinng the Paris Pact and COMECON and the embargo of NATO. Yet another nation fell to communism, and to the south the Aegean Sea was boiling over..
The Polish Army stand with the Paris Pact to liberate the rest of Europe.
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*Remember that I boosted the ideology in Poland for quite some time. After Poland gave up the east to the USSR they turned communist. But I thought that was kinda weird for them to do that then, so until the end of WW2 I cheated and gave Poland a political advisor that protected them against foreign submersive actions (e.g my boosting of ideology isn't that good anymore) and gave them a democratic advisor, so the communists lost a lot of support from the annexation of eastern Poland and until the end of WW2. Then I only removed the democratic guy and let them keep the counter-intelligence advisor (don't remember the title).
**Well so in game they are non-aligned, authorian regime and having Oligarchy as sub-ideology.
And yup! The Communist Revolutions are not over. Poland fell after years of influencing, but we will move forward. The next update will take on the Aegean Crisis and the first period of 1945.
Edit: Some typo corrections.
At least Poland is free now?
After the Great War it was said Italy won the war, but lost the peace. After the Second World War no where was this more accurate than Poland. The German Blitzkrieg campaign through Poland was especially devastating, crippling the nation with ruthless bombing campaigns, innovative use of motorized and armored units combined with atrocities that need no mention. But the hardship for the young free nation enjoying hard fought liberty did end here. The Nazi occupation and Generalgouvernement imposed an oppressive regime to put it lightly. But again, it did not end there. During Operation Icebreaker, the Soviet invasion of the Axis, it is easy to look over that in the Central and Northern fronts most of the fighting actually took part on Polish soil. During the Great War the German and Russian Empires fought eachother with the Polish nation caught in the midst, caught in their fury with total destruction following both armies. History repeated itself. Poland was ravaged and mutilated after the liberation by the blood, sweat and iron of the unstoppable Red Army. But again, it did not stop there, the hardship of the Polish people had not come to an end. On the 9th of July Soviet Belarus and Ukraine demanded Eastern Poland to be returned. This crisis almost turned war, but the Allies abandoned Poland and the Soviet Union gobbled itself further to the west. At first glance one could believe the already strained Soviet-Polish bonds would be forever broken. The Polish government cut off all contacts with the Soviet government, never forgetting their expansionism. But they would never forget the betrayal of their western Allies, and the world was very different in 1945 than 1942..
The reds of Poland.
Despite their later united front the leftist movement in Poland wasn't united being dominated by two parties: Polish Workers' Party (PPR) and the Polish Socialist Party (PPS). The former was the successor of the Polish Communist Party who was banned in 1938 who wanted to establish socialism through revolution, while the latter wanted to achieve socialism through democratic principles. In the end this was two very opposing worldviews, as one wanted to end democracy in one whim, while the other wanted to operate within the frames of the liberal democracy. The PPR was in turn more orientated toward Moscow and Internationalism, while the PPR was orientated toward London and democracy and nationalism. For the first years of the new Polish republic the PPS supported the Republic and were in opposition to the USSR. However the USSR had indeed supported entryism and radical socialism in Poland for years, the coming years would result in their investments paying off..*
A British state visit to the new Poland.
The Third Polish Republic emerged from the ruins of the Second Polish Republic. It's leaders returned to Poland after three years of exile and promises of a new democratic Republic were made. However it quickly turned out to be nothing but a republic ran by oligarchs and the military. Despite the Allies being in favor of democracy and liberty, it was believed Poland was too vital to contain Soviet expansion in Europe. However the Allies turned a blind side to the increasingly authorian regime in Poland. Elections were all but a farce in Poland, the media was controlled by the state and the political opposition was arressted or harassed. It was almost as repressive as the communist nations. The PPS envisioned that the new Poland would be a free Poland enjoying political and social rights. Instead the party was forced underground. This radicalised the members of the PPS (and other social democrats and liberal democrats) who again turned toward the PPR for cooperation and the communist world. If the Allies could not provide political support to Poland, then perhaps the communists (who at least were becoming more democratic?) could save them from the at best illiberal, at worst dictatorship of Władysław Sikorski.
The American oppressors send in planes to oppress the Polish by granting them foodstuffs.
Still the majority of the people at least accepted the current regime. Despite large socialist and democratic leanings among the populace and great resentment of the ruling oligarchs, most saw the regime as a stable regime and Sikorski as a national hero. That was to change. During the onset of 1945 the financial world fell into a minor recession. This recession worsened during January and the already fragile Polish economy nose-dived. Poland was in a stage of economical rebuilding, and just as the arrows slightly pointed upwards virtually all of Europe in 1944 embargoed Poland following the American embargo of the USSR in 1943. This lead to severe grain shortages in Poland and a drop in market activity and jobs, but the Polish nation stood strong - for now. As mentioned a recession broke out in Britain, which then spread to all of the capitalist nations as they were unable to do the much needed world-economy reforms, which the Internationale stubbornly refused. The Polish economy crashed and its banks closed. It is in times of economic and political crisis that the fringe elements of society thrive. The far right was a taboo for obvious reasons, and the military-oligarchic dictatorship of Sikorski couldn't prevent the crisis for all to see. The democratic path was simply too.. moderate and wasn't it afterall the liberals of Britain and America that threw Poland under the bus? It was then the communists and socialists apperead as a Messiah of sorts, the saviour of the Polish people. A way to end the economic crisis and the possibility to prevent an all out war with the Paris Pact. The Americans wanted to break the blockade of Poland and sent several thousands of airplanes an ships toward Poland, full of foodstuffs and industrial goods. But Trotsky would have nothing of it. The blockade of Poland was only worsened, and ships and airplanes were ordered to shoot down anyone who attempted to break into Poland by air or sea. This Polish Air Corridor Crisis almost ended in war, and it ended in famine in Poland, but the Americans became pre-occupied with the ongoing Aegean Crisis. The Americans pulled back on the 11th hour and left the Polish people to itself. Trotsky would brutally break down the Polish people, only to lift it up again in his own image.
The Polish leftist are united under a charismatic commie. Good news for Trotsky, concerning news for Roosevelt - oh never mind, I heard the other day he's a commie too.
In the time of crisis, unemployment and famine Władysław Gomułka entered. Being imprisoned for communist loyalty in 1926, he left for Moscow in 1934 to recieve proper education in Soviet style political correctness. As he returned home to Poland in 1935 he was again imprisoned, but he was liberated as the Red Army fought its way over Poland and into Germany. It was then he encouraged Trotsky to reform a Polish Communist Party, that Party became the PPR. Gomulka became the leader of the Polish communists, and in the time of crisis his charisma managed to merge the PPR and PPS together into the Polish United Workers' Party (PUWP). The communist and radical wings soon took over as the situation back home in Poland only worsened and NATO stood helpless and could only observe the unfolding situation with great concern. Gomulka went on the offensive calling Britain and America for "cowards". He went so far to say that America didn't enter the war until it was absolutely clear the Nazis would win. The British was led by the cowardice of Halifax and only stood by and watched as Hitler conquered the Little Entente, it was argued if Britain and Poland stood up for their democratic brothers Hitler and his perverse ideology could have ended in '38. But the current situation in the Middle East was exclaimed to show that USA and the UK were unreliable allies, that would leave Poland to its own faith. Furthermore the PUWP, who was now firmly Marxist and Revolutionary Socialist, came up with specific economic reforms that were meant to give "bread and work" to all. The PUWP also showed assurances from the Internationale that the COMECON would provide relief to Poland and help rebuild Poland. That it was the communist bloc who starved out the population of Poland was.. ignored.
You guessed it.. pro commie demonstrations.
Late January and early February. The Aegean Crisis reached its height. War brewed over the horizon of the Aegean Sea. But Poland was ignored. The famished and downtrodden nation was left to itself, they were abondoned - again. Or so was the popular belief. The PUWP banded together with moderate socialists and democrats and demanded a free and fair election in Poland, and a withdrawal from NATO to appease the Internationale - in order to break the blockade of Poland. Gomułka soon became the leading figure for Polish democracy and a better economic situation. But the Polish government rejected it, saying it was nothing but treason. This angered the Polish people, and the PUWP along with agents from the Pact agitated the people into action. All over the nation worker's councils was formed, and violent demonstrations and strikes was the norm.
Now the Polish people are truly liberated!
The Polish Crisis boiled over as it did in the Aegean Sea. But NATO couldn't manage to juggle two crisis' at the same time, and Poland was deemed a lost cause. Despite it strategic location, there was little chance of British and American troops managing to reach the young republic before the Baltic Sea was closed off. The Soviet Union demanded the Polish regime was to give in to popular demand and restore democracy, otherwise they were needed to intervene on humanitarian grounds. This came as a shock. The USSR abused their position in the UN to gain the highground, if the Polish government refused they might as well start another world war, but again they had doubts USA and UK would follow through unless they had a UN mandate. But most importantly the people were opposed to the military regime. In the end, as endless columns of Soviet armies closed in on Poland, the junta of Sikorski resigned and fled to Britain to again set up a Polish Government in Exile. The PUWP led by Gomułka took power in Poland, and hours later 9 Soviet divisions crossed into the border of Poland, guarding the new government against any opposition. In the following days an election were held, hastly put together and with PUWP controlled unions, councils and thousands of Soviet troops the results ended not to the surprise of anyone to the favor of the PUWP. In short order the Third Republic was no more, but replaced by the Polish People's Republic with Poland left NATO, and instead became a full member of the Internationale and all its organizations - includinng the Paris Pact and COMECON and the embargo of NATO. Yet another nation fell to communism, and to the south the Aegean Sea was boiling over..
The Polish Army stand with the Paris Pact to liberate the rest of Europe.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Remember that I boosted the ideology in Poland for quite some time. After Poland gave up the east to the USSR they turned communist. But I thought that was kinda weird for them to do that then, so until the end of WW2 I cheated and gave Poland a political advisor that protected them against foreign submersive actions (e.g my boosting of ideology isn't that good anymore) and gave them a democratic advisor, so the communists lost a lot of support from the annexation of eastern Poland and until the end of WW2. Then I only removed the democratic guy and let them keep the counter-intelligence advisor (don't remember the title).
**Well so in game they are non-aligned, authorian regime and having Oligarchy as sub-ideology.
And yup! The Communist Revolutions are not over. Poland fell after years of influencing, but we will move forward. The next update will take on the Aegean Crisis and the first period of 1945.
Edit: Some typo corrections.
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- 1
Thanks for your post! This AAR is one of my absolute favorites. Very excited to see what happens next.
Oh my, thank you too! I'm excited as well, it is very undertall for both sides right now.
I think it is far to say that nowhere shows Trotsky's brutality and hypocrisy more than Poland.
And. Europe. Is. Won.
There's a few errors in typing and spelling in this chapter that you might want to correct. Unless the communists started an online party, Polan will just be written off as the last mistake of a corrupt and decadent western government.
The Russians do seem unbeatable here. An illusion I got uess since the Americans can still kill a lot of people on both sides I feel they want to play now...many more than they would have lost if they'd have been tough in 1942 but still.
I'm amazed the British still have bases in the Med. Malta, Gibraltar and Cyprus are going down.
There's a few errors in typing and spelling in this chapter that you might want to correct. Unless the communists started an online party, Polan will just be written off as the last mistake of a corrupt and decadent western government.
The Russians do seem unbeatable here. An illusion I got uess since the Americans can still kill a lot of people on both sides I feel they want to play now...many more than they would have lost if they'd have been tough in 1942 but still.
I'm amazed the British still have bases in the Med. Malta, Gibraltar and Cyprus are going down.