Author's Note: The following is my "past-history" for my latest Aurora Campaign. Note that while it is an alternate history, instead of assuming one small change and extrapolating changes from there, I am starting with a big change, the assassination of Adolf Hitler prior to WW II, and I am assuming that there are a lot of smaller-scale changes that make the larger changes possible. For example, in this universe the German Army was more inclined to meddle in internal German politics, although not to the point of taking over completely, which meant that Hitler and his cronies were unable to seize complete power because they were afraid of provoking the Army. This facilitated the rapid fall of the ####s after Hitler?s assassination. In other words, I know that this alternate history is not only unlikely, but pretty far out. I think that it is interesting, though, which is what I was going for.
1938 Adolf Hitler is assassinated along with his aides and several top ####s while on a state visit to Italy in the aftermath of the annexation of Austria. The assassin, Antonio Campolini, uses a car bomb that not only wiped out Hitler?s motorcade but also most of a city block in Rome. Very little of Campolini remains after he sets off the bomb, as he was present in the car when it detonated. A note is found in Campolini?s flat claiming that future generations would thank him for killing a "genocidal monster".
The #### party is caught off guard by the unexpected assassination of most of their leadership. After several days infighting breaks out within the party over the succession. The fighting quickly becomes nasty, with assassinations and open fighting between factions. Several high-ranking Army officers are messily killed in what most view as a heavy-handed attempt to discourage the Army from taking part in the succession fight.
After a month of increasingly vicious fighting in Berlin and several other major cities, a group of German Army colonels decisively intervene in what most fear is turning into a civil war. In one fell swoop German Army units decapitate the #### Party, arresting or killing every major leader. The colonels are then left in charge of a nation in disarray. With the weakened government looking to them to provide stability, the colonels form the Provisional Ruling Council.
The Provisional Ruling Council, or PRC, is left in a difficult position. The people are outraged over the death of Hitler, and are uncertain about the removal of the #### Party from power in spite of the unrest and open fighting after Hitler?s death. In an attempt to divert attention from their own takeover, the PRC deifies Hitler, who is already widely loved and respected, and demonizes the #### Party, who they claim let Hitler down and allowed him to be killed. The PRC then accuses the Italian government of complicity in the assassination of Germany?s beloved ruler, and later links the #### Party to a conspiracy to kill Hitler with the Italian government. The Italian government rushes to distance itself from the assassin, whom it claims is not even an Italian citizen. They go so far as to claim that the assassin had no records what so ever, a ludicrous claim on its face.
The PRC declares war on Italy, catching the world by surprise. The UK and France immediately protest Germany?s action, claiming that Germany?s leaders are merely using the Italian situation to distract the public from their usurpation of power. The German government claims that Italian agents assassinated Hitler and that their action is a completely justified act of self-defense. Regardless of the truth, there is substantial anger among German civilians over the assassination and the war with Italy is viewed very favorably.
German units smash Italian border defenses in hours and push deeply into Italy before the Italian Army can react. Italy is totally unprepared for war with Germany and most of its Army is in Africa. Italian Army units put up a desperate defense as they retreat south, but are overmatched by German armored units. Finally, just north of Rome the German Army comes to a halt after outstripping its supply lines. This gives the Italians a chance to bring units north and construct a hasty line of defense. After taking three weeks to bring their infantry units up and rebuild the strength of their armored units the Germans go back on the offense, breaking through the Italian lines in a matter of hours. In a week the Italians are pushed all the way to Sicily.
The Italian government, operating in exile in Sicily, sends a delegation to the Germans asking for a truce to discuss terms. Ultimately the PRC agrees to terms that leave Germany in control of almost the entire Italian peninsula, excepting only Rome, and most of Italy's overseas possessions. In less than a month Italy has been reduced to Rome, Sicily, and a few African colonies.
The UK and France strongly protest Germany's annexation of the Italian peninsula, and issue what amounts to an ultimatum - Germany must give up its territorial acquisitions or face war. Germany is outraged by the ultimatum and it is turned down flatly, with no option for continued talks.
In an effort to secure their rear area, the PRC offers Poland a very favorable trade and neutrality pact. Polish officials are distrustful of Germany, and turn down the initial offer, but seem willing to talk.
1938, Oct. The UK and France declare war on Germany. German infantry, secure in their extensive Siegfried Line fortifications, easily repel weak French attacks into Germany. It quickly becomes clear that in spite of their tough talk, the Allies have not prepared for war.
The PRC goes to extreme lengths to secure the neutrality of Poland. Poland agrees after Germany offers generous trade and mutual defense agreements. There is outrage among the western governments at what is portrayed as a betrayal of the western powers by Poland, but the Poles are content to let others fight Germany for now.
After several weeks of repositioning units, a German offensive into the southeastern portion of France is launched from northern Italy. Initially, French resistance is strong but coordinated attacks by German armored and air units eventually wear the defenders down and Wehrmacht units are set loose in the largely undefended areas of southern France.
German armored spearheads strike north in an attempt to cut off the large numbers of French troops stationed in the Maginot Line. Central France is the scene of several large and freewheeling armored battles as the French Army desperately attempts to stop the Germans from cutting off their eastern armies. The Germans, at the end of a long supply line stretching through northern Italy, are hard-pressed to fight off increasingly desperate French counter-attacks and ultimately the bulk of the French divisions manning the fortifications on the border manage to escape before the Germans reach the northern border of France, cutting off the Eastern portion of the country. Six French infantry divisions are trapped in a cauldron between German units ahead of them in Germany and behind them in central France.
The initial German offensive comes to a halt after eliminating the trapped French divisions, and much shorter supply lines are set up across the newly liberated border. German units are re-supplied and replenished during the lull while the French try to reorganize and establish some sort of defensive lines. In the south the German offensive continues nearly unopposed until it reaches France's more central regions. At this point French forces are in control of perhaps 40% of France, including Paris. Resentment is high in some quarters over the UK's decision to not deploy ground troops and limit their assistance to air squadrons.
1938, Dec. Late in December the Germans start a new offensive aimed at encircling Paris. French resistance is initially strong but collapses quickly after German armored units penetrate their defense lines. Paris is captured in two weeks and the French government offers to surrender. Vichy France is established, giving Germany direct control over most of France and leaving the Vichy government in control of the southeastern portion of the country and France's colonies. The UK is now alone in the war.
1939 Yugoslavia tries to play the Germans off against the UK in an attempt to gain greater concessions from whichever alliance finally wins its support. This is a fatal mistake as Germany decides not to play their game and declares war. Yugoslavia is overrun quickly and German units continue advancing into Greece, an ally of the UK. Greece is annexed shortly after Yugoslavia.
As the year progresses it becomes clear that German armed forces are not strong enough to launch an invasion of England. The campaign by the Luftwaffe and the Kriegsmarine to bomb the British into submission and sink their merchant shipping end with heavy German losses, a humiliating defeat for German arms after the triumphant defeat of France. Worse, UK bombers flying from their North African bases are striking deep within Germany. The best military and economic minds of Germany are called in to formulate a long-range war plan. The new plan calls for a gradual consolidation of Europe under German control, while increasing air defenses to limit the UK's ability to strike at Germany's industrial might. It seems clear that the UK cannot hope to match Germany's military might on the ground. The PRC is warned to avoid a two-front war with another major power (the Soviet Union) at all costs. England must be conquered before another major conflict can be started.
The #### Party is officially disbanded and its remaining armed personnel are inducted into the Army where many of the lower level leaders die in 'training accidents'. The ####?s anti-Jewish pogroms are quietly dismantled, and although lingering prejudice remains, Jews are no longer officially persecuted and can count on at least some protection from the government from private persecution. Privately, the reactions of the members of the PRC range from anger and dismay to tacit support for what they have learned of the ####'s attempts to rid Germany of the Jews, but a consensus soon emerges. It is clear that they cannot reveal what the ####'s did or it would further damage Germany's already tarnished image throughout the world. Jews are allowed to leave if they wish, or return, and are tolerated, if not always liked. In attempt to distance itself from the stranger #### policies, the German government encourages prominent Jews to return to Germany and restores their properties, wealth, and positions. This campaign is bolstered by the public trial of several prominent ####s for violations of various laws, although not for involvement in killing Jews. Several well-known Jews return, including several high-level scientists and businessmen.
UK air raids on former French and Italian territories are reduced to nuisance value by the redeployment of Luftwaffe fighter assets. The UK launches several invasions of the Italian peninsula, but the Wehrmacht easily crushes them before they can consolidate their gains.
1940 Germany declares war on Czechoslovakia, which is annexed after a short campaign.
Vichy France is dismantled and absorbed by Germany after the bulk of the French colonies declare for Free France.
German research turns to nuclear physics, which promises weapons of untold power. German research benefits from the government's repudiation of the anti-Jewish policies of the former government.
1941 Japan attacks America's Pacific territories. America declares war on both Japan and Germany. This action outrages and dismays Germany's leaders. They had gone to extreme lengths to avoid becoming entangled in the war they knew was coming between Japan and America, even going so far as limiting their submarine attacks to avoid sinking American flagged ships. Knowing that Japan was intent on expanding its Pacific holdings, the PRC had not signed any treaties with Japan or taken any action to help them. Outrage is felt throughout Germany at what is seen as unwarranted American interference in what they view as an internal European conflict. The newly established German National Parliament votes to declare war on America.
Germany declares war on Hungary, annexing it in a matter of weeks. Spain is the next to fall, although it takes somewhat longer to conquer given its larger size. Gibraltar falls to a concerted armored attack, supported by motorized infantry and numerous tactical air units.
American air units join the UK's in Britain and North Africa. The Luftwaffe is enlarged throughout the year and most allied air raids only cause limited damage.
1942 American ground units begin landing in North Africa to support UK units already present. The Mediterranean is increasingly seen by the PRC as Germany's soft underbelly. The capture of Gibraltar has limited the Allies' ability to launch amphibious attacks in Southern France and Italy, but Allied air units are able to strike many targets within both Germany and the occupied territories and the Luftwaffe is having trouble covering all of the vast territory now controlled by Germany.
Germany attacks and annexes Bulgaria. The PRC has no wish to share a border with Russia, and so treaties have been signed with Poland and Romania guaranteeing their independence. Poland, in particular, is given extensive assurances of neutrality and is given favored trade status with the Reich.
German V-1 weapons begin striking at targets within the UK. They are not very accurate and largely good only for harassment value, but they are the only German weapons currently capable of breaking through the UK?s naval and air cordon.
America and the UK fight a sporadic war with the Japanese in the vastness of the Pacific. The Japanese, after initial aggressive moves to seize territory throughout the Pacific basin, seem content to fight a defensive war against the Allies, who are focused on the European conflict. This is perhaps due to the Japanese preoccupation with their Chinese holdings, which have been greatly enlarged over the last several years.
1943-1944 German V-2 missiles begin striking at UK targets by mid-year. This year sees a massive effort by German industry to re-equip the various branches of the military with newly designed weapons. The Luftwaffe, in particular, is given priority to upgrade its squadrons to the newly developed jet fighters that are seen by the PRC as a way of ensuring continuing dominance of the skies over Europe.
Japan completes its conquest of China and turns its attention to increasing the strength of its navy against an expected counterstroke from the Allies. Sporadic skirmishes take place between Japanese ground forces in the western areas of conquered China and British forces in India. Neither side makes a serious effort to attack the other.
Japanese and Allied naval forces fight several pitched battles in the Pacific during this period of time. Almost all of the battles are indecisive, with heavy casualties inflicted on both sides. While the Allies have a much larger manufacturing base than the Japanese Empire, they have decided to focus the bulk of their effort and attention on the European situation.
The USSR is beset by continuing internal economic and political problems. Based on what he believes is a firm non-aggression treaty with Germany, Stalin decides to remain neutral while still asking for and receiving as much aide as the Americans will send. With his western border secure, Stalin turns to what he views as his primary problem, continuing unrest within the USSR. The Army is of particular concern to Stalin, and in mid 1943 he begins turning his attention towards reforming the Army. A number of small purges of the officer corps of the Army and a rumor of a much larger purge in the offing result in a successful coup against Stalin towards the end of 1943. The Red Army establishes a shaky government in Moscow and publicly executes Stalin. The Soviet political leadership immediately launches a successful counter-coup that takes the military by surprise. The new political leaders decapitate the Army yet again, gravely compromising the Red Army?s combat ability and precluding Soviet involvement in the ongoing conflict.
1945 German V-2A2 missiles are deployed. These missiles are capable of striking the UK from anywhere in the Greater Reich. Unfortunately, the Reich is not able to divert significant amounts of resources towards the deployment of large numbers of rockets, and so they continue to be of little more than nuisance value. Several attempts by the Luftwaffe to deploy long-range strategic bombers to bomb England prove unsuccessful when the raids run into massive air defenses.
American and UK bomber attacks launched from North Africa have become the government?s primary concern. Although the new turbojet fighter and interceptor squadrons have proved to be more than a match for allied bombers and fighters, the Allied position in North Africa means that their bombers can attack nearly any city in the Reich, and the Luftwaffe is hard pressed to provide fighter coverage everywhere. Therefore, the PRC approves Operation Lightning Strike.
Operation Lightning Strike gets underway with the invasion of Turkey. Turkey has long been neutral in the ongoing conflict, but unfortunately for Turkey it lays directly astride Germany's path to Arabia and Africa. Turkey is conquered in a matter of weeks by fast moving German tank divisions. Although the conquest of Turkey has now given the Reich access to the UK's Arab territories, it has also given the Reich a common border with the Soviet Union for the first time. German alpine divisions move into place along Turkey's border with the Soviet Union and work is begun almost immediately on a network of heavy fortifications to secure the border. German intelligence reveals that the USSR seems to have been caught off guard by the conquest of Turkey and has only relatively light units available on the border. Intervention by the USSR or the Allies is deemed unlikely at this time.
German Army units pause on the Turkish border with Iraq to rest and reorganize. The UK seems to have been caught off guard by Germany's invasion of Turkey and it has only a few infantry divisions present in Iraq. After a pause of several weeks, German units cross the border and smash the UK divisions attempting to set up a defense line. Iraq is annexed.
After the annexation of Iraq German units move into the UK?s territories bordering the Mediterranean. These fall in a matter of weeks and the UK's forces are pushed back across the Suez and into Africa. German units halt at the Suez and await re-supply and reinforcements.
1946 The German Army moves into Africa, meeting only light resistance from Australian and Indian infantry divisions. Twelve armored divisions, six mechanized infantry divisions, and three motorized infantry divisions make up the Wehrmacht?s main strike force. This is the bulk of the Reich's armored strength, aside from three mechanized and three armored units just forming up in central Germany. The rest of the Wehrmacht?s infantry strength is spread out along the Atlantic coast to defend against possible Allied invasions.
The bulk of the assembled divisions move along the north coast of Africa, pushing UK infantry and armored divisions back with ease. Luftwaffe reconnaissance flights detect a large build up of American armored and infantry divisions in the north western areas of Africa and plans are drawn up to engage and destroy the American Army before it can consolidate its positions.
The motorized infantry divisions detached from the main attack force to push south from Egypt encounter stiff resistance from British, Australian, and Free French forces that seem to increase in numbers daily. Eventually the German motorized infantry is forced to halt around the old southern border of Egypt and begin entrenching. As reluctant as he is to weaken the main attack against the Americans, the commander of the main assault on the American forces recognizes the possible disaster on his southern front and detaches several mechanized divisions from the main force as reinforcements.
The main Wehrmacht force is now in Libya and has paused to re-supply and reorganize. The plan for the assault on the American army, which has grown to over 24 divisions, is complete and involves a massive effort by nearly every branch of Germany's armed forces. Luftwaffe tactical bombers flying out of Spanish bases will start the attack, supported by numerous fighter squadrons. Luftwaffe maritime bombers flying out of Gibraltar will interdict the northwestern African coast in an attempt to cut off American supplies and reinforcements, while four full parachute divisions will assault the American rear area in an attempt to do the same on the ground. Marine units transported by the Kriegsmarine?s Mediterranean squadron will attack the Allied rear areas along the North African coast when the main Wehrmacht thrust begins. The attack is scheduled to begin in June.
Three weeks before the scheduled start time of the attack, the American army launches an amphibious assault from England to southwestern France and northern Spain. The attacks in France either fail on the beaches or are crushed by rapid response mechanized forces stationed close by. The landings in northern Spain are largely unopposed, as the defense line has not been extended that far south yet because units earmarked for coastal defense were drawn off to support the African offensive or guard its incredibly long supply lines. In an incredibly short amount of time the Americans have eight divisions ashore and begin moving north into France.
Germany is in a difficult position. The bulk of its armored and mechanized forces are deployed to North Africa preparing for battle with the American African Army. The reserves available in France and Germany are inadequate to counter the American assault, which has grown in a matter of days to over ten divisions of infantry and armor. Worse, if the Americans break out of their foothold in the north of Spain then Germany could be facing a general uprising throughout its conquered territories which would be difficult to put down. The PRC quickly decides to abandon the African campaign and bring its forces back to Europe. The Kriegsmarine?s Mediterranean squadron is pressed into service, and covered by the overwhelming Luftwaffe presence assembled for the attack; it begins ferrying the German army back to the south of France. In the meantime, all available reserves are rushed to the south of France, and the four parachute divisions originally slated for the attack on the American rear area are dropped just ahead of the Americans to slow them down.
The evacuation of North Africa goes smoothly, and in a short amount of time all of the armored and mechanized divisions have been ferried to Europe and are moving to engage the Americans. The Luftwaffe, flying out of its extensive airbases throughout France, easily gains the upper hand against the American air force and the American divisions are subjected to around the clock bombardment. For several days the battle hangs in the balance, but ultimately the weight of the Wehrmacht crushes the Americans. In a matter of weeks the American foothold in Spain is completely eliminated. The Americans lose the best part of fifteen divisions, but Germany has been forced to abandon its African venture. British and Free French forces are quick to take advantage of Germany?s distraction and German controlled territory in Africa quickly dwindles. The motorized and mechanized divisions operating in the southern part of Egypt are forced back, not by the UK and French forces in front of them, but by the UK and American forces advancing unopposed from the west to cut them off.
The Churchill and Roosevelt sack most of the Allied High Command, including Eisenhower and Montgomery. Patton died on the beaches of northern Spain, fighting to the last. The blame for the defeat is largely laid at the feet of the three highest Allied commanders. Their inability to effectively coordinate the Allied ground forces in Spain and Africa to prevent a German pullout from Northern Africa led to the defeat of the European invasion force, and the Allied cause has suffered a major setback.
The PRC decides against another African venture. While the Allied airbases in Africa are poised like a dagger at the soft underbelly of the Reich, Africa itself is large and undeveloped, and deploying a large mechanized force to this area means that the Reich?s heartlands will be left relatively undefended if the Allies launch another attack, or if the USSR decides to declare war. Work is begun on fortifying the Middle Eastern side of the Suez Canal. Reserve units are diverted to man the defenses, and the units retreating from Egypt are directed to move directly to the new defenses rather than standing and fighting. Africa is to be abandoned.
German scientists working on the nuclear bomb project are pushing ahead on projects that they claim will lead to working nuclear weapons within a year. They have warned, though, that Germany?s nuclear infrastructure has lagged behind their research and will not be capable of producing nuclear bombs for eighteen months to two years, even if they finish work on schedule. The PRC diverts as much of Germany?s industrial output as it feels it can to the vast nuclear works south of Berlin.
German Intelligence believes that the Allies are far behind in nuclear research. While the reasons are not clear, information has been developed that a group of scientists who apparently believed that nuclear weapons were too dangerous for humanity to use successfully downplayed their importance to the Allied governments. It now appears that Allied research has been delayed by at least several years.
1947 The German defense lines along Europe?s Atlantic coast are firming up. Infantry divisions have been stationed along the entire coast, with mechanized or armored divisions backing them up in key positions. Coastal fortifications are being completed as rapidly as Germany?s overstretched industry is can churn out cannons, machine guns, concrete and armor plate. The fortification of the Reich?s border with the Soviet Union in Turkey is moving forward as well, as are the fortifications along the Suez.
Switzerland is given an ultimatum ? join the Greater German Reich or be annexed. Switzerland declares war, in the mistaken belief that its mountain strongholds will suffice to defend it. The conquest takes longer than projected, ten weeks, but in the end the result is the same.
The PRC has begun turning its attention to a growing problem throughout the Reich. Although the public was not told, the entire assembled armored striking force of the Reich was barely sufficient to stop the American invasion of Spain and southern France. In spite of a significant disparity in favor of the Reich in terms of tanks, planes and men, Germany?s transport capacity, and thus its ability to supply its divisions, has been stretched beyond its breaking point. In every major engagement in the last four years of the war the Wehrmacht?s ground forces have shown little staying power when they encountered significant opposition, and in many cases they had to hold back so that supplies could trickle forward. It takes little study to determine the reason for this. Vast areas of the Greater Reich suffer from significant partisan activity and general unrest, and this activity significantly hinders the efforts of the supply corps to get supplies and reinforcements to the front lines. A new plan is put together to divert a significant portion of the Reich?s production to the garrisoning of the conquered territories to reduce partisan activities and ensure the delivery of supplies to frontline troops. In addition, new industrial sites are funded in Germany proper, to take advantage of the surplus of raw materials that are now flowing into the Reich from the conquered territories. All of this diverts production away from the construction of front line units, but that matters less than most might think. The Wehrmacht has been stable at its current size for quite some time, and no large expansions were planned given the problems Germany?s industry was having supporting frontline forces even without expansions.
German scientists complete developments on a nuclear waste bomb and immediately begin working on an improved version. The bomb will be much too large to install on one of the V2A2 rockets, so plans are developed for a strategic nuclear bombing force. Research begins almost immediately on improved strategic bombers, which have been neglected due to Germany?s reliance on rockets to strike at England. Due to problems in the nuclear production facilities, Germany?s first nuclear bomb will not be available to some time in 1948.
The Luftwaffe, which has enjoyed a significant advantage in terms of quality over the Allied air forces ever since its deployment of turbojet fighters several years ago, now begins to encounter more and more Allied jets in action. The result is a serious struggle for control for the skies over Europe. The Allies have the additional advantage that they can pick the area they want to attack, while the Luftwaffe must defend all of Europe. A renewal of the campaign in Africa is considered, but ultimately that decision is put off. The Reich has no real interest in Africa except that it is being used as a jumping off point by Allied forces for attacks on Europe. With Germany already having problems supplying its forces a venture in Africa is seen as extremely risky given the vast undeveloped expanses that would have to be crossed by any large assault force. If the Allies should invade, or if Russia should awaken from its internal problems and invade through Poland, the consequences of having that much of the Reich?s striking power out of position would be severe. Instead of a ground assault, some rockets are diverted towards runways servicing Allied bombers in Africa in an attempt to disrupt their operations. This effort is largely ineffective.
The PRC is increasingly focused on the nuclear bomb as a method of stopping the war. Several times in the last few years the PRC has sent delegations to the UK in attempts to end the war, only to be rebuffed by Churchill, who appears to be set on nothing less than a return to pre-war conditions. England?s naval might, along with that of the Americans, has made England unassailable, but the PRC hopes the threat of nuclear weapons will force the British to come to terms.
1948 Germany is as secure as it is going to get. The entire Atlantic coast has been fortified and garrisoned, and the rear-area garrison project is well under way. As a result of the garrison project partisan activity has been reduced significantly. Both the Suez and the border with the Soviet Union are well fortified and garrisoned as well. The Mediterranean is almost completely under Germany?s control leaving the Allies able to launch air raids into Europe from North Africa but unable to do anything more substantial. A stalemate, though, is the last thing the Reich?s leaders want. While better than defeat, of course, in the PRC?s view a stalemate will only delay the inevitable if the Allies get the nuclear bomb first.
Germany produces its first nuclear bomb in February 1948. A delegation is sent to England to ask for a cease-fire and negotiations to end the war. The negotiators make it clear to the UK?s leaders that Germany has developed ?terrible new weapons?, and that they will be used if the UK refuses to at least discuss terms. The UK and America refuse to discuss anything less than a full and complete return to pre-war boundaries and massive reparations by Germany.
On March 13, 1948, Luftwaffe bombers drop Germany?s first nuclear weapon on London. The city is largely destroyed. Churchill is killed, but the royal family was moved out of London a long time ago and is unharmed. The use by Germany of a nuclear weapon on London causes massive unrest throughout the Empire far beyond the actual effects of the physical destruction of the city. The fact that the Empire cannot respond in kind coupled with the realization that the Germans apparently have the ability to destroy any city they wish causes widespread riots and uncertainty, and the UK economy quickly collapses. The effects on America are serious as well, and American leaders are quick to realize that Washington D.C. or New York could have been targeted by Germany as easily as London.
A second German peace delegation is rebuffed, largely because of the disarray in the UK?s government.
The PRC is convinced that speed is of the essence. If the Allies had previously underestimated the importance of nuclear weapons, that surely wouldn?t remain true after the destruction of the British Empire?s prime city. After the destruction of London no one in the PRC doubted that the Allies would be doing everything possible to remedy the current situation. Germany must strike now to end the war on terms advantageous to it or face a war with nuclear weapons on both sides. Work is begun on plans to invade England, using a nuclear device to cripple the defenders before the attack goes in.
In America, the so-called ?Group of Five? is arrested and accused of treason. The G5 are the five prominent scientists that successfully downplayed the importance and possibility of nuclear weapons. After a quick trial all five are convicted and sentenced to death. Their conviction leads to a general roundup of nuclear scientists by the FBI and the OSS. Many are also tried and sentenced to death. Unknown to the rest of the world, the scientists are not actually executed but are rather offered pardons in exchange for secret participation in America?s revitalized nuclear program. The scientists remain hidden in top-secret facilities until well after the war, accepting what amounts to internal exile in exchange for avoiding the death penalty. The scientists are ?rehabilitated? after the war, at which time the government announces that they were part of a top-secret plan to develop America?s nuclear weapons.
In October the invasion of England is begun when Germany detonates a second nuclear weapon in the southwestern portion of England, devastating the area and crippling the British Army units stationed there. German fighter units range widely over England, while ground support and tactical bomber wings pound the remaining British frontline units. German maritime bomber units concentrate on the entrances to the Channel, and along with Germany?s remaining submarine units they succeed in sealing off the area. German naval transport units, escorted by old light cruisers and destroyers, begin ferrying Wehrmacht armored strike units across the Channel, while the rest of the Kriegsmarine sorties into the North Sea in a diversionary attack.
The German navy suffers heavy losses during the operation, and the losses among the units that went into the North Sea are almost 100%, but Allied naval attempts to penetrate the cordon around the Channel are rebuffed by the combined Luftwaffe and Kriegsmarine defenses. Wehrmacht armored and infantry units defeat the already weakened UK units stationed on the beaches and begin to move inland almost immediately. The British Army and the Territorial Guard puts up fierce resistance but their capabilities have been sapped by the destruction wrought by the two nuclear weapons used by the Germans and the collapse of the Imperial economy. Within a matter of weeks the British Army has been pushed far to the north and shortly after that the Wehrmacht is in control of Britain.
No Allied offers for peace talks are forthcoming, and in truth the Allied command structure seems to be in shock in the aftermath of Germany?s deployment of nuclear weapons and the fall of England. In order to put pressure on the Allies Germany begins transferring armored units to the east, to the border with Afghanistan, which stands between the Reich and the UK?s Indian possessions.
The Reich?s next nuclear bomb will not be ready until mid 1949, and the PRC is extremely concerned about America?s next move. With the collapse of the Empire and the conquest of England, the UK is effectively out of the running, even if the Royal Family did escape to Canada. The most recent attempt to get America to the negotiating table by means of a threat to use nuclear weapons against an American city were rebuffed with counter threats of a similar American strike against a German city. Although the PRC is fairly sure that the Americans don?t have a bomb yet, they are equally sure that the Americans are close. Except for India, the rest of American and British holdings are effectively out of reach for the Reich, which cannot hope to mount an invasion of mainland America in the foreseeable future. Worse, even if the Reich did have another nuclear bomb, no missile or bomber in the Reich?s arsenal has the capability of reaching America, but America does not have the same problem. America has many bomber squadrons in North Africa, and any of them could deliver a nuclear bomb to Berlin as easily as the Luftwaffe?s bombers did to London. Germany has been extremely successful thus far, but if the Allies manage to nuke Berlin and other major German cities all of that would change overnight. The two nuclear strikes on England demonstrated just how easy it was to destroy entire cities, and the PRC is painfully aware that America is likely devoting every resource it has to do the same to German cities. It has become clear to all that if the war continues it is likely to degenerate into a slugging match between Germany and America, with each taking out the other?s cities until neither is capable of building more nuclear bombs. In that case Russia and Japan would win and everyone else would lose.
Afghanistan falls in just over a month, giving Germany an even longer border with Russia and opening up even more territory to amphibious assault from the Pacific, but German armored units now have access to British controlled India. Unfortunately for Germany, though, Japan has taken advantage of the collapse of the Empire and has pushed far into Britain?s Indian territories. Little is left for Germany by the time Afghanistan is pacified, although Germany does manage to carve several provinces out of the western portion of India before Japan can get to them.
1949, Feb. The Iceland Summit: German overtures to America are finally met with an agreement to at least meet and talk. Germany asks to meet only with American negotiators, out of recognition that America is their only real opposition at this time, but the Americans refuse to attend the meeting unless the exiled government of the UK is represented. Additionally, America asks the Japanese to attend as well. The Japanese have also had a very good war, taking advantage of the Allies? preoccupation with the European situation, but they rightfully fear what would happen if America was free to focus on them alone and agree to attend. Interestingly, the Americans don?t mention the Free French at all, which the Germans take as an unstated understanding that France has been conquered for ten years and the Germans are unlikely to entertain the thought of giving up their former country. The Americans begin by demanding that Germany leave England immediately as a precondition for further talks. The German delegation refuses, but indicates that they are willing to discuss the return of England to UK control as a starting point for the negotiations. The Allies are caught off guard by the offer, which they had not thought the Germans would make, and the talks go forward. Ultimately America and the UK agree to peace with the Greater German Reich and the Japanese Empire in March of 1949.
Terms of the Reykjavik Peace Accord:
*Germany will evacuate all military and civilian units now in England and return it to UK control within six months of the signing of the treaty.
*America and the UK agree to maintain England as a semi-demilitarized zone. While Germany will allow the UK to maintain reasonable numbers of infantry and armored divisions in England, and fighters for defensive purposes, the UK will not be allowed to station offensive missiles, long-range bombers, or nuclear weapons of any type on British soil.
*The Greater German Reich and the Japanese Empire will retain all other territories acquired during the war, including the territories in the Middle East, India, China, and throughout the Pacific. (Note: This was a particular sticking point for the British, who wanted to reassemble their Empire, but the Germans and Japanese were intractable on this point. The British had little leverage, and the Americans didn?t really care about these areas, so the Allied negotiators ultimately agreed to this condition.)
*The Allies agree to leave North Africa in exchange for a German and Japanese promise to stay out as well. (Note: This was the single most difficult issue encountered during the summit. The Americans had no real interest in Africa except for maintaining their air bases there, but didn?t want to see it gobbled up by Germany. Germany had no real interest in Africa either, but wanted to deny it to the Allies as a platform for launching attacks into Europe in the future. The UK and Free France had a large interest in North and South Africa, but had very little influence in the negotiations.)
*Germany agrees that Central and South America are to be considered within America?s sphere of influence. America agrees that Europe and the Middle East are within Germany?s sphere of influence. Both sides agree that all of Africa except for South Africa is to be considered non-aligned.
Two months after the signing of the Reykjavik Peace Accord the United States announced that it had successfully tested a nuclear weapon in the Arizona desert.
In the aftermath of the 2nd World War, as America called it, or the War of European Unification as Germany called it, the world was left with four supra-national alliances. These Great Powers had varying levels of cohesion and strength, and all of them had very different problems facing them:
The Japanese Empire: Japan had a very successful war and currently has the largest population of any power, due to its annexation of the bulk of India and all of China. If it can absorb this population and modernize its conquests then it is well placed to become a veritable superpower, however, it faces significant challenges. First and foremost, Japan has the weakest economy of the four major powers, which means it will inevitably have significant problems modernizing and exploiting China and India. Even the UK, with access to the resources of a world-spanning Empire and hundreds of years to work with only managed relatively superficial improvements to India. The second challenge will be the real hurdle. Imperial Japan is significantly racist and xenophobic, it will be difficult if not impossible for them to treat the non-Japanese as anything but peons and/or serfs, which will limit the willingness of those populations to cooperate with or actively participate in the Japanese nation. Finally, the Japanese Empire is the most backward of the four powers scientifically, and it has struggled to keep up with the other leading nations.
The USSR: The USSR was focused on its internal problems throughout the war and thus remained neutral. This was both good and bad. The good is that the USSR emerged from the 40?s untouched by war, with a relatively strong economy and a large and well equipped military. The bad was that they were unable to take advantage of the general distraction of the other nations to expand their territory or eliminate potential threats. The USSR?s economy is larger than Japan?s but significantly behind the other two great powers, and it is technologically lagging behind Germany and America. Now that it has emerged from its time of isolation the USSR faces a time of unparalleled threats. The German Reich is to its west and southwest, while Japan is on its east and southeast, meaning that powerful enemies surrounded the USSR.
The United States: The US is in an extremely difficult situation. While it has a very powerful economy, the Greater German Reich has a slightly stronger economy and it appears that as Germany moves from wartime conquest to peacetime accommodation with the other European powers that the European economy will only get stronger. In addition, the former Allied nations are in disarray in the aftermath of the destruction of London and the conquest, occupation, and then release of England. It is quite obvious to nearly all within the former Allied governments that a more permanent alliance to face the other three great powers is needed, but no one has yet stepped forward with a proposal. Many of the Allied governments are facing a crisis of confidence in the aftermath of the war, and this is particularly true in America. While they didn?t lose the war, they certainly didn?t win it either. The loss of the European invasion force, in particular, shook America?s confidence in itself, and the fact that Germany developed nuclear weapons first was a second grave shock to America. In spite of this America is the natural leader of any new alliance, given its leadership in the economic and technology areas. Unfortunately, America is currently gripped by a wave of isolationism resulting from the poor resolution of the war. There are signs that America is coming to grips with its new leadership position, but they have a long way to go as of yet.
The Greater German Reich: The Reich is in the most advantageous position of the four powers. Germany emerged from the war with significant territorial acquisitions and a reputation for military prowess, efficiency, and ruthlessness, but not brutality. It also has the most powerful economy in the immediate postwar time period, the most nuclear weapons, and a significant lead in technology. Germany faces several significant problems, although these are of a lesser extent than the other great powers. First and foremost, Germany must find a way to integrate the other European nations into a supra-national framework in a way that reduces the likelihood of rebellion and discontent. Secondly, it will have to spend large sums of money and resources to repair war damage and bring the rest of Europe, particularly Eastern Europe, up to German economic and social standards.
1950 The PRC announces that it will dissolve after a constitutional convention is held to determine the form that the new government of a united Europe will take. Many of the members of the PRC are exhausted after more than ten years of war, and the steadily emerging democratic movement within Germany has put significant social pressure upon them to move aside and allow Germany to return to a more stable and democratic form of government. The convention is held in Berlin early in the year. The convention leaders make it clear from the first that this will be a united European government by inviting representatives from every European country taken during the war, and even the ones that were not taken, including Poland, Romania, and Portugal. Although these delegations cannot vote, they are invited to observe and speak before the assembly.
Six months after the convention convenes a new government is announced. Germany itself will be governed by a constitutional monarchy, headed by Kaiser Reinhardt I, the current leader of the PRC. The actual day to day running of Germany will be done by the Kaiser?s Prime Minister, however, the Kaiser will retain very real, although limited, power and will also head up the Greater United European Reich. The Greater Reich will have a Parliament of representatives elected from member Countries, and a Council of Ministers appointed by the Kaiser and approved by Parliament. In effect, the Kaiser will have limited power within the member nations, and significant power to deal with foreign countries and Reich Territories. Countries already within the Reich could apply immediately for membership, with approval depending on the level of participation in pan-European programs and resistance to German garrison troops. Countries within the Reich that are not approved for membership, or who do not qualify (based on non-cooperation or resistance) for membership, will be considered Reich Territories and will continue to be administered by the Wehrmacht.
France is the first country within the Reich to be offered full membership within the Greater Reich. The French government, based on the old Vichy government, quickly agrees. One by one all of the other nations absorbed by Germany agree to membership and resistance groups and partisan activity largely dies out. Many of these groups lost their purpose and many of their members when the war ended and it became obvious that Germany was not going to leave. Turkey, along with the Middle Eastern and Indian territories taken during the war, are not offered full status within the Greater Reich and continue under military control. Although the Wehrmacht is harsh in its governance of these areas it is also relatively even handed, and in many cases throughout the Middle East the people?s standard of living has significantly increased since their conquest by the Reich. After a few years most of the inhabitants of those areas recognize that the corruption and clan feuds of the old days are gone, and the people begin to believe that things might actually be better, although old nationalistic or clan feelings still run deep.
Bitter and disillusioned by what they call a betrayal by the Allies, Free French leaders use what resources they have to set up the French Economic Community. The FEC controls some areas in Africa and the South Pacific, but does not have the backing of any of the greater powers.
Continued in Part 2
