Updated Sunday 15 May, 2011 12:18 PM

A War to End All Peace

PART 2 OF “A PEACE TO END ALL WAR”

Matt Paige

Author’s Notes:

First off, I would like to point out the fact that careful strategy influenced by the Nazi rivalry kept Stalin from attacking the West. If Greater Germany did not exist, then Stalin would probably have attacked the West at one point. After WWII, the United States had emerged as a nuclear Great Power, and only the threat of nuclear annihilation prevented a Soviet-American war. (Also, in this TL, Stalin’s purges still occur.)

I’m going to call the European Union the Commonwealth of Europe, since Chris Nuttall desired a better term.

The Ottoman Empire collapses in 1925 under a coup executed by Mustafa Kemal, similar to OTL, but with Turkey retaining Syria. And what of Japan?

A note on Hitler. Myself being uber-German, I have come to look upon Hitler as a stain upon German history, one I personally really, really don’t like. So, I’m only going to deal with him for the sake of consistency with the original.

One final thing, I am in no way stealing Chris Nuttall’s story. I had e-mailed him with some ideas about what should happen in this AH. He replied, asking me whether I wanted to write it, as he had similar ideas. Obviously, I accepted, and therefore here is the continuation of “A Peace to End All War.”

The year is 1942. The Commonwealth of Europe is struggling to maintain unity, while tension between Germany and France over Alsace-Lorraine is steadily increasing. Stalin and his Soviet Union are eyeing the Balkans and its lost territory hungrily, as he anticipates war.

The world focuses its attentions upon Europe and the escalating problems, especially the reconstruction of Spain after Franco’s defeat. The communists, after the removal of their most difficult enemy, Franco, silently detach themselves from their truce with the republicans, and seize Madrid. Taking advantage of the opportunities created by the earlier years of the civil war, ironically instituted by Stalin, the communists manage to consolidate their rule through the creation of local soviets throughout Spain. However, the republicans were not going to shrivel up and die. Barricading themselves in Barcelona, they declared the independence of the Republic of Catalonia. This nation was immediately recognized by Germany, Britain, and France; therefore the new premier of Spain, one Pablo de Romero, is in a very precarious position- he wants to reintegrate Catalonia into his “Soviet Spain”, but if he does so, he risks war with the Great Powers. So, now there is a divided Spain to add to the new powder keg- this time, of the world.

Japan, a nation that had inflicted many humiliating defeats upon its neighbors, finally broke China in early 1943. Moving south from its Manchurian stronghold in response to suspected Kuomintang guerrilla attacks there and in Korea, they approached Beijing in April. When news of the coming onslaught reached the capital of China, panic ensued, collapsing the Nationalist government under Chiang Kai-Shek. Panic reached record highs, and many fled to the French and British spheres of influence in China. Beijing fell the same day that Japanese forces arrived, and China fell apart. Tibet, and Xinjiang (NW China), ripped themselves out from China (ultimately becoming British and Soviet protectorates), and Inner Mongolia was annexed to Mongolia itself as Japan installed a puppet government in Ulan Bator. By the end of 1943, aside from the European spheres of influence, Japan had attained absolute control over Manchuria and China proper, turning many European heads.

The United States of America is one of the world’s economic powerhouses, and also highly isolationist. After successfully staying out of the Great War, the American people reaffirmed their neutrality by reelecting Wendell Willkie, one who has advocated Wilson’s foreign and domestic policies, in 1944. After weathering the Depression under Democratic administration, the United States had once again sought comfort in the Democratic Party, electing Democratic presidents through the Twenties and Thirties. Willkie began his term by granting independence to the Philippines, which had become a risk to American security, being in close proximity to the belligerent Japanese Empire. Americans throughout the nation gave thanks as they viewed the conflicts in Europe and Asia with grim, if detached, concern.

The final days of peace came in late August 1945. Stalin, seeking a distraction for which to preoccupy the Allies while he reconquers Eastern Europe, has found it in the Spain-Catalonia standoff. He orders Romero to attack Catalonia, but interestingly enough, Romero refuses. Stalin, outraged, dispatches Soviet troops to Spain, where they overthrow the Romero regime and install a military governor, one General Zuchov. By this time Hitler, and indeed the main CE powers, are screaming for heads to roll. Realizing that his window is rapidly closing, Stalin commences his invasion, a bit early, on 13 November 1945. Stunned, the CE forces are unable to repel Stalin’s initial attack and he reclaims Finland, the Ukraine, and the Baltic states with almost no effort. However, in Poland he meets a strong German presence and is unable to advance. The Red Army fortifies and the horrors of trench warfare are beginning to leak into a new era.

After the quick stalemate in Eastern Europe, the Spanish Civil War resumes as CE forces from France and Catalonia cross into Spain. Zuchov’s forces meet the CE troops within twenty miles of each border, but, with the Mediterranean and Baltic Seas swarming with the CE navies and German U-boats, they are cut off from Stalin and the resources of the Soviet Union. The Spanish war soon becomes a waiting game; CE forces are inflicting constant damage to Zuchov’s diminishing military, and in Spain a new revolution is brewing, the people do not want Communism, they wish to be a democratic country. Democracy minded representatives gain a majority in the soviets and they unite to overthrow the Soviet occupation and Communism. With insurrections flaring up throughout Spain, Zuchov is unable to restrain them and hold back the CE military at the same time. In December of 1946, Zuchov finally surrenders his army, communism is overthrown, and Spain reunified. The CE can finally turn its attention fully on Stalin’s assault on Eastern Europe, where, rebuffed in Poland, he has sent forces into the Balkans. This onslaught has brought about the severe maiming of Austria-Hungary- its Slavic states (Croatia, Bosnia, and Slovenia) have joined and declared independence as Slavia, with a semi-communist government. Romania, Bulgaria, and Greece each fall under Communist regimes following Soviet intervention.

Alienated and realizing that he is in a dire position without strong allies, Stalin negotiates an alliance treaty with Japan in January 1947. Japan, far removed from the events in Europe, sets its eyes on the quietly prospering United States. Slipping past the base at Pearl Harbor, Japanese forces make their way to the coast of California, when, on 9 March 1947, air raids against San Francisco, San Diego, and Los Angeles commence. Outraged, the American people, once isolationist-minded, pressure Willkie to declare war on Japan. Reluctantly he complies and America enters the fray on 11 March.

The year 1948 was an influential year in the development of the Second Great War, as it came to be called, as Stalin’s lines were broken. After constant, unceasing bombardment, the substandard Red officers aren’t up to the task of reorganizing the lines and EU forces break through. Unfortunately, they are met with another fortification, hastily constructed, at Minsk. The war slows down again, but this time the CE forces are making headway, and Stalin is beginning to sweat back in the Kremlin. In late 1948, also, CE troops cross into southern China while American forces are busy defending their shores from the relentless Japanese navy. Late 1948 also saw the collapse of the communist regimes of the Balkans, the CE reluctantly placing military governors there as provisional governments. This was a result of their mistake in Spain; the CE’s refusal to intervene doomed that nation to many more years of dissension. Stalin’s final fortifications were crushed in March 1949 after an intense CE air campaign. Enthused, the CE army advances deep into the heart of Russia itself. Portions of the army break off and liberate the Baltic states, and begin an advance into Leningrad and Finland. Moscow is captured on 1 May 1949, and Stalin is imprisoned. He is forced to concede defeat, and is tried and executed for war crimes.

The final blows of war would fall upon Japan. After the Soviet Union’s defeat, Japan blindly continued fighting. But, as 1950 progressed, it became apparent that Japan was to be destroyed as American and CE forces won victory after victory in the Pacific, closing in on the Japanese archipelago itself. Kuomintang guerrillas pick up activity in China, due to aid received from Britain and France. Also, Mongolia topples its Japanese puppet government and installs a Western-sympathetic regime in its place. Japan, desiring to live to fight another day, calls for a cease-fire. Japan retains Korea but must grant China independence and cede Manchuria back to China. Japan also cedes its Pacific possessions to the U.S., who also stakes a claim to Kamchatka in the crushed Soviet Union. The Treaty of Beijing is signed on 12 December 1950, ending the Second Great War.

With CE forces occupying western Russia and a newly imperialistic America advancing on Siberia, the will of unity within Russia dissolves. The Muslim Central Asian countries declare their sovereignty, as do the Caucasus republics. The eastern European nations reaffirm their independence, and Siberia shatters. The nominally independent republics of Kamchatka, Amur, and Okhotsk are swallowed by the U.S., and the republic of Siberia aligns itself with China to guard its freedom. Within the occupied zone, Stalin and other “war criminals” are tried by a CE tribunal. They are found guilty and executed on 23 May 1951, the Russian people looking on with mixed emotion. Stalin had destroyed many families and communities with his purges, but on the other hand brought Russia to glory that would probably not be regained for many years to come. The final CE occupation forces withdraw from Russia into Eastern Europe at the end of 1952.

Now we have an imperialistic U.S., a defeated Japan, a crushed Russia, a Spain in disarray and an unstable Commonwealth of Europe. Part 3, The Final Stand, will deal with what happens in the latter half of the 20^th Century. I’m open to ideas for this part, which is already coming together a bit.

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