World War II (Mexican Empire)

Military Coup in the CSA
In the defeated CSA, a pro-Mexican government led by John W. Davis was forced upon the country. While the economy worsened, the President, Davis, refused to do anything. In the meantime, a fascist organization called the Sons of the South was formed in 1925. The organization was soon outlawed, but it continued to grow underground until 1931, when it was allowed to participate in Congressional Elections. This was not enough, however, for its leader, General Omar N. Bradley. In 1933, Bradley became Minister of Defense, and took control of the army, appointing his colleagues as Generals. With the army under his hand, he moved in January 1934 against the President. On January 16th, 1934 he overthrew the President and outlawed the constitution. He forced Congress, before dissolving it, to name him President and Leader of the CSA. His coup came as a surprise to Mexico, who decided not to intervene (because of the economic depression).

Renewed Problems with the CSA
In 1934, after the Bradley coup, Mexico recognized the new country unwillingly. Secretly, the Mexican government tried to overthrow the fascist regime in the CSA, without success. In 1937, President Bradley arrested the Mexican ambassador and his staff for plotting against the government. After much negotiation, the ambassador was released, but left permanent stains on the Mexico-CSA relations. Two year later, the Mexican Minister of Foreign Affairs was assassinated during a visit to Richmond. The CSA’s government paid the assassin. Without warning, Mexico declared war on the CSA on August 9, 1939. This declaration of war coincided with the Nazi invasion of Poland in September 1939.

Early Problems
Mexico and the CSA were both caught unprepared for war. Even tough Mexico had the strongest army in the Americas, its equipment was outdated, and its planes neglected due to the economic depression. The soldiers of the Mexican army wore outdated khaki and trousers, and their guns were no match to the new European arms. In the CSA, the country still had a small military; its few troops were very well armed. President Omar Bradley’s alliance with Nazi Germany had given his country German equipment such as planes, guns, and new ships. The war ended the depression in Mexico very quickly, when old shipyards and factories were reopened and the army was quickly built up.

World War II from 1939 to 1942
The Great War Mexican general, General Pancho Villa was now Commander of the Imperial Defense Force. With his great military experience, he quickly conceived a plan for victory. But in December 1939, the Confederacy already captured New Orleans and Mexican Louisiana. The Mexican army in Louisiana fled to Texas. The Confederates pursued them into Texas where both sides met in Galveston, TX in a bloody battle, which the Mexicans won. The Mexicans were not willing to retake Louisiana just yet, however. From December 1939 to August 1940, the war in the “Deep South” was at a stalemate. However, in August 1940, a stronger Mexican army in Florida crossed the border into Georgia. Meeting only minor resistance in costal Georgia, the Mexicans continued until they reached Savannah, GA. The much weaker Georgian militia was no match for a superbly trained Mexican army. By September 1940, Savannah and the rest of costal Georgia had fallen. After reforming, the Mexican army, joined by poor African-Americans (subject to apartheid in the CSA), marched a few miles north to Charleston, SC. The Confederate Army of the Carolinas was ready for battle and offered a real match for the Mexicans. At first, the Confederates held the upper hand. Row after row of Mexican soldiers fell, but on the third day, joined by the 5th Division, 1st Imperial Fleet, the Mexicans pounded on the Confederate rows. By January 15th, 1941, the Confederates fled the city for the north. The Mexicans pursued them north, and defeated the CS troops in Greenville, SC. After being defeated in Greenville, the Confederates (pursued by the Mexicans) moved north to Shiloh, TN. In the Battle of Shiloh, the Confederate troops were defeated by a stronger Mexican army. Ironically; the Confederate general was captured by an African-American, not a Mexican. The battles in South Carolina also meant the beginning of the integration of foreign units in the Mexican Army; in this case, the foreigners were the Confederate African-Americans. From January 1941 to January 1942, the war in the “Deep South” came at a stalemate, again. Meanwhile, in the north, the US’s luck was better than in 1916, with the capture of Maryland (Baltimore), Roanoke, VA, and Kentucky. Although the war on land in the south was at a stalemate, the war at sea was not. The Confederate navy, built up with German investment, attacked the Mexican blockade of the south. The Mexican fleet, joined by the Colombian Navy and the British Royal Navy attacked the Confederates in Norfolk, VA. In February 1942, the most famous naval battle of World War II took place off Cape Hatteras. In the Battle of Cape Hatteras, 5 Mexican battleships heroically fought off 10 Confederate ships. At the end, 3 crippled Mexican ships sank the remaining Confederate vessels. This battle also marked the end of Confederate naval adventures against Mexico. The crews of the 5 ships were awarded the Imperial Order of the Eagle of Mexico.

World War II from 1942 to 1944
After the Mexican campaign in the Carolinas, the Mexican Army, now led by General Felix Diaz, moved north towards Kentucky. The Mexicans marched through the Appalachians along the TN-NC state border. In January 1943, the Mexicans reached Raleigh, NC. The few Confederate defenders quickly surrendered and the Mexicans moved on Norfolk, VA, supported by Marines and the Navy. General Diaz’s complex plan of the attack of Norfolk was ready. Meanwhile in Galveston, Veracruz, and Ciudad Agustin (Brownsville), Marines and armed troops prepared for a huge invasion of Louisiana in New Orleans. Using information from African-American informers in occupied Louisiana, the Mexicans paid attention to every small detail of the invasion. The landing, Operation Libertad, was scheduled for July 1944. In the mean time, African-American rebels destroyed the Confederate supply in New Orleans. In July 1943, the Mexicans launched their first attack on Norfolk, VA. Mexican marines landed on the beaches of the Yorktown Peninsula and Norfolk. Meanwhile Mexican troops laid siege on Norfolk. Mexicans advanced slowly towards the center of Norfolk. In August 1943, the Mexican Air Force pounded on the cities of Hampton, Newport News and Portsmouth. Finally, in November 1943, Mexican troops progressed into Norfolk, taking the city on November 16th, 1943, after the bloodiest battle in North American history. However, Confederate sailors, soldiers, and white citizens resisted the Mexican occupation. From November to December 1943, the Mexican Army and Marines fought a defensive war in the city. Back in Texas and Mexico, the Mexican Marines, Navy, Air Force, and Army prepared Operation Libertad. On July 1st, 1944, while the Mexicans in Norfolk were deadlocked with rebels, Operation Libertad was on the way. On July 2nd, 1944, the Mexicans landed in the swamps of the Mississippi Delta in Louisiana. Meanwhile, Mexican air force parachutes landed near New Orleans. On July 4th, 1944, with the help of African-American rebels, Mexican troops fought their way into New Orleans. The Confederate trenches were no match for the Mexican marines who quickly destroyed the Confederates in New Orleans. However, troops from Mississippi, and Arkansas came to the rescue of the Confederates. Street fighting between the Mexican and the Confederates continued in August and September 1944. In September 1944, Mexican hopes for victory in New Orleans were bleak. The visit in mid-September 1944 of the Empress, Maria Josepha and Prime Minister Manuel Ávila Camacho gave renewed hope to the troops. In October 1944, the Mexicans crossed the Mississippi River from their base in Harvey to downtown New Orleans. On October 13th, 1944, the city fell and the Mexicans marched north, liberating villages along the Mississippi. In December 1944, the Mexicans defeated the Confederates in Lecompte, LA.

The War Ends
In 1945, the Confederacy was falling apart. US troops entered Missouri and Arkansas, waging a lightning war. Mexican troops in Norfolk finally defeated the rebels and moved to Richmond, the capital. Petersburg was captured on March 28th, 1945. On April 1st, 1945, US, Colombian, and Mexican troops attacked Richmond. The few soldiers remaining in the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia tried in vain to save Richmond. On April 15th, 1945, the Confederate President, General Omar Bradley committed suicide. His Vice President, Harry S Truman became Provisional President. The Confederate Congress charged Truman to negotiate the CSA’s surrender. On April 30th, 1945, the Mexican flag flew over Richmond for a second time. However, the war was not over yet. The Confederacy fled to Lynchburg, VA. The Mexicans and Americans followed the Confederates and met the government of Harry S Truman on May 3rd, 1945. For two days after that, the Confederates negotiated with the Americans only. On May 5th, 1945 the Confederate States of America surrendered to the USA. On May 8th, 1945, the CSA surrendered to Mexico and Colombia. The Confederacy’s surrender coincided with Nazi Germany’s and the USSR’s surrender. World War II had ended.

Terms for the Confederacy
After the defeat of the Confederacy in 1945, world delegates (from the European Allies and American Allies) met together in Mexico City. The purpose of the meeting: the post-war world. Mexico and Colombia, the two major North American powers to date agreed that no occupation zones would divide the defeated South, and no land concessions were to be made. Although the Americans wanted to gain Maryland, Mexico refused to concede. Even though the CSA would not be occupied, its armed forces were to be disbanded until 1955, and after 1955 limited. The government of the Confederacy was to be replaced by a democratic regime, under a pro-Mexican President. Mexico also demanded equal rights for African-Americans in the Confederacy. The CSA officially accepted, but in practice, the apartheid regime held on in the South.

Mexico Celebrates Victory
On May 30th, 1945, a Mexican transport plane touched down in Mexico City carrying the first troops returning home. On the airfield, the whole 146th Imperial Marines Division (who had served heroically in Norfolk, VA) was awarded the Imperial Order of San Carlos for bravery by the Empress, Maria Josepha I. The next days, planes landed in a constant succession nationwide. Mexican flags flew everywhere, but on July 4th, 1945, flags flew at half mast to remember the victims of war in the Confederacy. In New Orleans, African-Americans who had been mistreated by the CS troops embraced the Mexican soldiers who had liberated them.

Effects of the War
World War II had ended the economic slum of the 1930’s and created a new sense of national pride. Flags flew proudly in Mexico City once more. However, there was also much rebuilding to do in Louisiana and in cities that the Confederates had destroyed. In New Orleans, everybody joined in to help rebuild. The returning troops came back to civilian life; sometimes it was hard for them to find a civilian job. However, nationwide, jobs were created in the defense sector, building sector, and industrial sector.