Interlude I: Red Continent
Portugese countryside, post revolution.
While the major theaters of war get the majority of the attention during the pivotal months of late '45 and early '46 the rest of the world was not without struggle, war and social upheaval and revolutions. By the end of WWII and the following communist revolutions (or coups, depending on your political creed) most of Europe had fallen to communism. Long gone were the dreams of a liberal-democratic Europe following the Great War. Instead it was the revolutionary socialists and internationalists who prevailed. Dreams were formulated of the abolishment of national states, end to class struggle and a utopia was promised. Marx's, Engel's, Lenin's and even Trotsky's long dream seemed to come at hand. However a few nations resisted. NATO and non-aligned nations alike were according to Trotsky's own formulated theory of the permament revolution a threat to the socialist experiment. With the fall of Denmark, Greece, the Netherlands and even the superpower of the United Kingdom there was only a few nations left in Europe that had not followed in the steps of the October Revolutionaries. Among them was Switzerland, Portugal, Albania and Yugoslavia. By July of 1946 only two of these nations would remain outside of the communist sphere.
The "Portugese" will rise up.
In November of 1945 NATO unleashed their atomic power upon the Spanish Republic followed up by an offensive that nearly took control of the second communist nation, before the Soviets and French intervened, resulting in the fall of Gibraltar, Algeria and Morocco. Around this time the intelligence services of the PACT took an extra interest in Portugal. Spain had strained relations with Portugal ever since their civil war, which almost led to a Portugese intervention into the territories controlled by the Popular Front. Portugal was for a number of reasons of vital interest for the Internationale, and especially Spain, France and the USSR. Trotsky himself and his clique of socialist ideologues welcomed the thought of a revolution in Portugal, mainly to spread their ideology, liberate the masses and prevent counter-reactionary elements from harboring in Portugal. Their reasons was mainly ideological, however there was also primarily realpolitik behind their ultimate decision to "speed up" the revolution in Portugal. The Iberian nation was rich in minerals that the nations of the Internationale could not import, due to the severe meltdown in trade relations during the interwar years, said minerals that the Soviet war industry was in desperate need of. However Portugal served as a potential threat. Being forced to become western orientated they could indeed be a staging point for the US Navy, Army and their air forces. Portugal could very well be the next base for the many US aircraft carriers, battleships, an invasion into Spain or even worse; to harbor long range atomic bombers. The many sleeper agents that had been sent out in Portugal years prior would be activated, their spy networks utilized and arms depots opened. By the end of November Soviet intelligence services would again move weapons, advisors and special forces into Portugal readying themself for battle, while the exiled Portugese communists (who had survived purges by both Stalin and Trotsky) would be prepared to return from Moscow to Lisbon. With a population increasingly disillusioned by the increasingly autocrtic measures of the Salazar regime and their inability to solve the economic downturn, the Soviet machinations added fuel to the small fire that had already been lit, a fire that was soon to burn brightly and consume the nation.
Yugoslavia is to be reunited. But under who?
However the first nation to fall was not Portugal. Rather it was the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. Yugoslavia being the "Land of the Southern Slavs" was only so in name. Following the peace treaties and great power meditations the Magyar dominated Balkan Socialist Union occupied all of Croatia, Bosnia and parts of Serbia. Meanwhile the Serbian and Montegrian core territories elected communist governments of their own and in practical terms refused to be ruled by the Yugoslav central government (who had to evacuate to Istria) and Prince Paul. Instead they relied upon directions from Moscow. Serbia and Montenegro was in effect puppet states of the Soviet Union while the Regent only being able to extert control over Istria and Macedonia. In February of 1946, while the world turned its gaze to North Africa, Tito announced his re-arrival. Being flown in from the Soviet Union he landed in Belgrade and announced the creation of the provisional government of the Democratic and Socialist People's Republic of Yugoslavia. This directly challenged the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, however despite Prince Paul and his regime fearing a civil war or revolution, it did not come. Serbia and Montenegro was already under communist rule, that Tito was flown in changed little to nothing. All it did was to confirm the fractured state of Yugoslavia. Prince Paul had made great efforts in remaining neutral in the conflict, fearing that siding with NATO would result in a complete communist occupation, on the other hand allying with the Internationale to prevent an occupation was seen as "inviting the devil" and would only result in a takeover by Tito and his communists. Instead the regime of Yugoslavia elected to remain neutral, this is what may have cost them their independence. While Italy coveted Istria, Tito and the Balkan Union desired all of Yugoslavia, the rest of the PACT was concerned that Istria could be used as a port by NATO in conjunction with Albania. While NATO suffered great defeats in northern Africa, especially by the total PACT control over the Gibraltar strait, they feared that American and Commonwealth troops who were caught would be evacuated to Istria and Albania, and from there pose a threat to the Balkans and the oil reserves of Romania. Without warning the Soviet air force begun a major campaign from 19:00 without warning over Istria reducing the peninsula to a moonlandscape. The naval and air port was under massive pressure being rendered useless. Over the night Hungarian and Italian troops crossed into Istria, while a coalition of forces from Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia and Montenegro crossed into Macedonia.*
Now there's only two, possibly three, contenders for Macedonia left..
The Kingdom of Yugoslavia stood no chance. Its air force was crippled by the PACT with its troops being surrounded on all sides and hopelessly outgunned and outmanned. The Yugoslav army was mostly composed of outdated equipment and suffered from the lack of any native arms industry (that was not in the control of neither the Balkan Union nor Tito). To make matters worse the old communist partisans mobilized drawing several bodies away from the Royal Army. After a few hours of brave resistance the Yugoslav army all but collapsed as their logistical system could not keep up and with mass desertion, either to the side of the partisans or to simply go home. During the early morning of the 3rd Prince Paul recognized the situation and made an unconditional surrender ordering a demobilization. Some parts of the government, however, fled to neutral Albania plotting their return. Macedonia was in effect under control of Serbia and Tito, while Istria fell under joint Magyar-Italian occupation zones. With the fall of the largely nominal nation of Yugoslavia only Albania remained as a non-communist nation in the Balkans. However tensions rose both domestically in Albania and with the young kingdom and the Internationale as it saw a massive influx of Yugoslav refugees and exiled elements. But Albania would not be the only source of tension in the region. In many ways the rapid conquest of the rump state of Yugoslavia revived an abscessed issue. Namely the division of the Balkans. While the Balkan Union, as its name implies, sought in the name of internationalism to unite all of the Balkans into one socialist federative republic, the communist movements in Italy, Bulgaria and the former Yugoslavia resisted such notions. While the Balkan (read Hungarian) movement was mostly rooted in pre-war Leninist and Trotskyist thoughts of replacing the national state with a borderless and classless society, the movements advocated by Bulgaria, Tito and Italy got most of their popularity by indeed mixing strong nationalism with communist ideals. Tensions were sure to get overhand sometime as Bulgaria aimed to unite with Macedonia, Italy with Istria and Tito to gain control over all of the former Yugoslavia.
Trouble is brewing...
Further to the west the Soviet efforts to stage an uprising paid off. In the wake of the devastating economic war between the Internationale and USA, the British Commonwealth and allies, Portugal was a small natin caught in the crossfire. In short the recession of the economy evolved into social and political unrest. With the fall of the British Empire and Europe Portugal was as a whole left outside of most of the world market. The leading regime was staunchly against liberalizing their political program or striving toward social reforms. By June of '46 several exiled anarchists, socialists and communists returned to Portugal, under the guide of Soviet, French and Spanish agents, and quickly restored the Portugese Communist Party (PCP) and their news organ the O Comunista (the Communist). While still illegal the PCP was well funded and was even armed by the Internationale. Several illegal unions and syndicates "sprung up all out of sudden" - in reality they had been established several years earlier by the Spanish and lately the Soviets to help an eventual revolution in Portugal. However the Soviets did not only fund overtly revolutionary and communist groups. In addition they made contacts with democrats, liberals, social democrats, clandenstine oppositionals etc. Army officers were being recruited both by the Soviet intelligence services directly to the socialist cause, but others were also recruited by proxies to non-socialist/communist groups. Trotsky understood that in order for a revolution to succeed, the liberal and social middle class(es) needed to be on the side of the working class. It culminated on 13th of June as the varius factions held demonstrations in Lisbon. The demonstrators called for political liberalization and social reforms. The army and police was sent to the streets and maintain order, they were not order to fire or arrest anyone. Yet.
... no worries, order is restored.
On the 14th several young officers launched a coup in the major cities as the government failed to meet the demands of the government. The officers declared that the government was now "illegal" and the social contract was "void". At the same time several vanguard elements within the PCP (most of them actually being Soviet, Spanish and French agents and special forces) informed the masses of the situation. Where the moderate and liberal officers believed they came in to save the day, with the revolution being a bloodless affair the appereance of red flags and slogans such as "international solidarity", "support the people" and "long live the revolution" the army soldiers and police men panicked. Four demonstrators was shot at, and while several of the demonstrators scattered, however many were armed by the Soviets and promptly returned fire. The revolutionaries soon streamed out, even press ganging several people going from house to house forcing them at gun point to join their march. They marched toward the government buildings and army units. Martial law was declared, and the coup by the officers soon failed as the government declared that a communist coup was at hand, a struggle for the very fabric of the Portugese culture. The professional revolutionaries locked horn with the Portugese security forces, and the liberal demonstrators even attacked the socialists, anarchists and communists. Lisbon was soon turned into an outright warzone with the police and military forces going on indiscriminate raids in suspected communist neighbourhoods. Their heavy handed measures, however, harvested great discontent among many even moderates, soldiers and police officers. By the evening of the 14th it apperead as if the situation was under control and the coup cracked down.
Well that little spot can't last for long?
However it was not. Lisbon lost communications with their garrisons and government officials north in Porto. It was first believed to be an act of sabotage, but it soon became clear that the army units had defected, in fact they had not been informed that the coup was called off, while others was recruited by the Soviets or Spanish. During the night and early morning the International Brigades (that had trained in northern Portugal for a time) advanced toward the river of Douro and took up positions along with the few army forces there. By noon of the 15th Bento António Gonçalves set up a provisional government in Porto and passed on the formulation of the officers in Lisbon, claiming the current regime was illegal, that it could rule with blood of their fellow countrymen on their hands and that it was time to end the "last dictatorship of Europe". In theory this provisional government was a popular front between all socialists and democrats, but non communists was soon purged. The government in Lisbon soon realized they were facing a civil war and instead of responding with force (no doubt wary of provoking Spain) they sought out diplomatic measures. Meanwhile through backchannels they informed USA they were under invasion by communist forces and requested support.
Spain can handle this minor theater.
The diplomatic measures, however, were in vain. Spain gave Salazar a 48 hour deadline on the 16th to step down and cede power to the provisional government. Trotsky, however, pressured Diaz and before the 48 hours elapsed Spanish regular army troops invaded Portugal. The Soviet air force that took part in the campaign in Spain and north Africa largely aided the Spanish and PCP by bombing vital railroad nodes, ports and taking complete control over the skies, not only obtaining air superiority, but outright supremacy. The Portugese air force was more or less wiped out on ground during the first few hours, well helped by Soviet agents on ground running sabotage missions. By the 20th the Spanish regular army advanced well into Portugal, with the International Brigades and the Portugese Red Army holding Douro and Porto.
Scene from the fighting in Angolia.
To spread extra mayhem, the Soviets had funded and trained rebels in Angola and Mozambique, with Gonçalves officially declaring Angola and Mozambique as independent nations. Naturally he had little actual sway over these colonies, but it managed to prevent the colonial Portugese troops from being sent to the mainland, moreover several American and Commonwealth troops was diverted from their grueling campaign in Congo, and had to embark on an even more savage guerilla war in the jungles and savannahs of Portugese Africa. The battles here would rage on well beyond the fall of Lisbon.
And so falls Portugal..
Speaking of which, it came on the 9th of July the Portugese capital fell. The Portugese Army proved to be largely unprepared for modern war, and especially dealing with the demoralizing Soviet air attacks, partisans within their own ranks and the collapse of their supply system. Their strategy revolved around delaying the advance of their enemy long enough for NATO (which Portugal was now a part of) to reinforce their collapsing front. However the Americans only managed to send in one infantry brigade before Lisbon fell after vicious fighting. Lisbon itself came under attacked from all sides outside of the city, but also within as the revolutionaries from the 13th and 14th again took it to the streets. After a three day battle the government surrendered and admitted defeat. Their strategy had failed, and their was no point in dragging the battle out any further. Over the next days the Spanish Army and the International Brigades (along with Soviet and French agents and special forces) helped Gonçalves with the task of restoring order. That is by purging all non PCP elements or make them fall into party line. Worker and Soldiers Councils was created in all of Portugal along with unions and syndicates (the latter to appease the anarchists) with their intention to form a constitutional committee and social and political programs. Gonçalves announced that the Second Republic had ended, and was instead replaced by the "Maximalist and Soviet Federation of Portugal". Another nation had fallen to the red scare, only Switzerland and Albania remained for Europe to be a truly red continent. However there was another continent that had already seen its fair share of revolutions, but with the world descending into utter chaos in 1945 and 1946 further revolutions and national struggle was to paralyse said continent..
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*If you are confused and need to be refreshed on the weird Yugoslav situation look here. Also if you look at the map you'll see that Romania occupies some parts of Bulgaria, I fixed that by making Bulgaria controlling them again.
And this is the first "interlude" chapter, it is basically just going to adress important stuff that happen outside of the traditional theaters of war. First of was the fall of Portugal and "Yugoslavia". The next one is about another set of revolutions in countries far away. Then it will be about the internal policies of the communist nations, the occupation of Europe, the British Empire (as interesting stuff happen in the Dominions) and internal policies in US.
