Late Game Event/Divergent History DLC Idea, along the lines of Sunset Invasion, so this may not be popular.
This idea will work on the assumption that Paradox may extend the end date of HOI-IV to at least 1953, as to include the Korea War, (arguably a final remnant war of WW2, and the first Cold War proxy stand off).
In 1951, Douglas MacArthur makes a series of comments and actions that are seen as undermining the presidency of Truman, including the possibility that MacArthur could use nuclear weapons against Communist China, and the going behind of the president's back to Congress directly in regards to Korea. These comments and actions ultimately result in Truman's relieving of MacArthur's position on April 11th 1951, a wildly unpopular move which later sees Truman face the lowest serving presidency approval rating of 22%, and a factor in deciding against his seeking reelection the next year.
This PoD sees what if MacArthur refuses Truman's reliving of his position as General of the Armies and commander of the combined UN forces in Korea. MacArthur was a extremely popular and respected war-hero and general (especially after the resounding Battle of Inchon months earlier), both within the military structure, the eyes of the public back in the states and by the US Congress (a feat impressive in itself).
Truman meanwhile in comparison was less adored, he had none of the personal charisma of FDR, and though he ended Japan's actions in the war, it was through the arguably questionable use of nuclear weapons on semi-military, large population center targets. Though MacArthur's potential use of these in a hypothetical against China would of course damaged admiration towards him.
Though his relief came due to the fears of MacArthur's willingness to use nuclear weapons and a possible restructuring of the US military forces towards Asia (a fact that scared Europe), the general was widely respected in many parts of the world and could possibly be backed by many Asia-Pacific nations including, Japan (which he quasi-ruled, until his relieving in 1951), the Philippines (which he freed in WW2), and Australia (which he weathered the Pacific theater in).
In this DLC, a potential 2nd civil war or constitutional crisis could play out, though with the odds stacked against Truman, it could be quite short. MacArthur could gain power within Korea, and then on to the surrounding Pacific and US in the same manner he held in post-war Japan, that of a enlightened autocrat.
This is just a suggestion, this could easily work as a late game event, that could invest some interesting instability into the US, a state at the time which was remarkably and irritably (in gaming terms, politically and revolt wise) stable between 1936-1948/1951, despite the circumstances.
The consequences of MacArthur's potential act could change the nature of the world in terms of Europe's role, Communist relations and the role of the US as world police in post-war period, but what are your thoughts or ideas to this potential area of divergence or end-game event area?
This idea will work on the assumption that Paradox may extend the end date of HOI-IV to at least 1953, as to include the Korea War, (arguably a final remnant war of WW2, and the first Cold War proxy stand off).
In 1951, Douglas MacArthur makes a series of comments and actions that are seen as undermining the presidency of Truman, including the possibility that MacArthur could use nuclear weapons against Communist China, and the going behind of the president's back to Congress directly in regards to Korea. These comments and actions ultimately result in Truman's relieving of MacArthur's position on April 11th 1951, a wildly unpopular move which later sees Truman face the lowest serving presidency approval rating of 22%, and a factor in deciding against his seeking reelection the next year.
This PoD sees what if MacArthur refuses Truman's reliving of his position as General of the Armies and commander of the combined UN forces in Korea. MacArthur was a extremely popular and respected war-hero and general (especially after the resounding Battle of Inchon months earlier), both within the military structure, the eyes of the public back in the states and by the US Congress (a feat impressive in itself).
Truman meanwhile in comparison was less adored, he had none of the personal charisma of FDR, and though he ended Japan's actions in the war, it was through the arguably questionable use of nuclear weapons on semi-military, large population center targets. Though MacArthur's potential use of these in a hypothetical against China would of course damaged admiration towards him.
Though his relief came due to the fears of MacArthur's willingness to use nuclear weapons and a possible restructuring of the US military forces towards Asia (a fact that scared Europe), the general was widely respected in many parts of the world and could possibly be backed by many Asia-Pacific nations including, Japan (which he quasi-ruled, until his relieving in 1951), the Philippines (which he freed in WW2), and Australia (which he weathered the Pacific theater in).
In this DLC, a potential 2nd civil war or constitutional crisis could play out, though with the odds stacked against Truman, it could be quite short. MacArthur could gain power within Korea, and then on to the surrounding Pacific and US in the same manner he held in post-war Japan, that of a enlightened autocrat.
This is just a suggestion, this could easily work as a late game event, that could invest some interesting instability into the US, a state at the time which was remarkably and irritably (in gaming terms, politically and revolt wise) stable between 1936-1948/1951, despite the circumstances.
The consequences of MacArthur's potential act could change the nature of the world in terms of Europe's role, Communist relations and the role of the US as world police in post-war period, but what are your thoughts or ideas to this potential area of divergence or end-game event area?
- 1