robw963 said:
@ cegorach: VERY interesting map.
Language map, but I find it most accurate overall - ethnical maps are from later times, religion map is only accurate to some degree (greek-catholics counted as catholics, Polish protestants in Tseschen sometimes mixed with Germans etc) while this map actually uses early XXth century data which is a great thing.
I used a very similar version of that map when I was planning the areas outside Poland proper to includes as cores when the Wielkopolska event fires. Perhaps this is a good moment to reveal a bit more detail about the event itself. Given the pre-war animosities that existed between Poland and Lithuania, I felt it was unrealistic to create anything along the lines of a renewed Polish/Lithuanian union
Indeed it is.
Lithuanians were lost since the beginning of the XXth century - Lithuanian national revival, rise of nationalism and russyfication made that almost impossible.
Belorussians were too weak - Piłsudski initially toyed with the idea of an allied state, Bulak-Bułaczewski's division in 1920 is one of many proofs so autonomy was maximum they would ever get and even that was hard in the reality of late 1920s (border conflist with the SU continued and the Belorussians were one of many tools).
Ukranians however are much different option...
At the same time, Poland is crippled with relatively low manpower so (using a map very similar to yours) I identified Polish speaking regions in neighboring countries and meshed that with the historical geographical range of previous Polish empires. The result awards Poland the following cores:
Lithuania:
• Jekapils
• Jelgava
• Mazirbe
• Kaunas
• Alytus
• Siauliau
Questionable, but considering the manpower of the area and sizable Polish minority everywhere it might be fine. Besides some Lithuanians would find together with Poland - after all the 2nd Polish Corps had a Lithuanian battalion in real life in 'Wilno' Brigade of Kresowa (eastern borderland) division.
Some links were still pretty strong (sometimes literally between brothers or cousins - president Mościcki's for example)) and if propaganda makes Smetona look like a loser some might decide to throw their lot with Poland.
So overall fine with me.
Prussia:
• Memel
• Konigsberg
• Elbing
I don't think that Memel should count - Elbig and Konigsberg had Mazurian population which spoke in a dialect of Polish.
Eastern Germany:
• Stettin
• Kustrin
• Oppeln
• Breslau
Stettin wasn't even considered Polish by most optimistic nationalists, quite similar with Kurstin.
Slovakia:
• Zilina
• Kosice
• Presov
• Ostrava
• Banska Bystrica
In my opinion only a part of Ostrava and Presov if the Rusyns are convinced by propaganda + this would create a common border with Hungary (the task of Hungarian and Polish diplomacy during the entire interbellum) which could make a nice ally when Germany are finished and you leave the Allies - after all what they did for you ?
Perhaps a one time MP bonus ? 10 MP once in the game for example ?
IN addition you might add the old Polish Livonia i.e. southern Latvia, at least one obvious area with sizable Polish minority. In 1920 it was first liberated by Poles from Bolshevics and mostly given to Latvia, however certain region (15-25 villages/small towns) was later seized by the Latvians which had actually no meaningful impact on very good relations with this country (contrary to the similar move from the Czechs).
Liberated Latvia might be however greateful enough to actually return that area.
The trigger requires the following conditions:
Poland must control Kaunas - the Lithuanian capital
Lithuania cannot exist - to prevent a simple Polish invasion of Lithuania. I'm forced to wait for the scripted events which have the USSR annexing the Baltic states. I felt an event like this might change the hearts and minds of Lithuanians and make a re-union with Poland more possible.
Poland and the Soviet Union must be at war - I'm imagining a tide of Polish patriotism in context with yet another struggle vs. the Russians
There are a few other minor effects of the event, but I'll leave a little something to mystery for now.
Considering the entire Promethean doctrine and movement there are some possibilities.
Poland had pretty good links with Georgians, Azeri and Armenians as well as Crimean Tartars and of course Ukrainians.
Obviously not with all of those, but certain factions, yet there were Ukrainian, Georgian, Azeri, Armenian and Tartar officers (even several generals) in the Polish army (later many killed in Katyn).
We know that there was a plan to create Ukrainian liberation force consisting of three infantry and two cavalry divisions in case of a war.
It is quite easy to imagine a mixed 'Caucasus' division (legion).
After all the entire Prometheism was about blowing the SU/Russia (Russia since initially it was about the Tzarist empire and the idea is actually in a modified way still is in use) to pieces so creating a number of independent buffor states.
Not without some gains of course - Poles had a very important part in the creation of oil industry in Baku owning many of them before 1917 - surely there will be time to reclaim those rights ?
I know you didn't ask for an opinion, but here you have it anyway.