La Republique Populaire

1870 Napoleon III is killed during a skirmish in the Saar. Provisional Republic established in Paris vows to carry on war with Germans, however communards demand peace at any cost. Victor Hugo returns from exile to lead the radical socialists.

Workers and peasants led by slogans of Peace, land and bread storm the streets of Paris and Lyons, and communes are established throughout France.

The Union of Socialist Communes is established and agrees to the treaty of Metz which turns over large areas of Eastern France to the Germans. Hugo however is satisfied at the survival of the socialist state which he believes will soon be joined by revolutions throughout Europe.

Due to the political situation in Europe instead of directly annexing Alsace-Lorraine the Germans establish a puppet monarchy under the Bourbons with all monarchies agreeing to uphold neutrality.

1871 Conservative peasants rise up in the south and Vendee. Following the establishment of War communardism the Reds are able to crush the revolt in a Civil war.

1871-1885 Victor Hugo begins a series of five year plans. The small peasants are all forced into collectivist establishments and heavy industry is built up in the west and south, safe from German attacks. With the breakup of the small farms output increases greatly, and the combination of abundant food and end of the small farmer leads to a massive population increase. Following the death of Hugo, Clemanchu intensifies the industrialization process.

1890 Kaiser Wilhelm signs a nonaggression pact with France, and prepares to seize the Netherlands and Belgium

1891 Germany invades and occupies eastern Belgium and the Netherlands. France claiming to be maintaining the peace occupies the remnants of western Belgium and the Netherlands most of Alsace Lorraine is also reannexed. England and Italy declare war on Germany and Austria.

1892 Germany and Austria launch a combined blitzkrieg into Italy virtually knocking her out of the war. Naval attacks on Britain intensify, however the combined fleets of Germany and Austria are crushed in the epic battle of Gibraltar.

1893 Failing to defeat Britain the Germans turn on their French allies in Operation Charlemagne. The French initially suffer vast defeats in their newly acquired eastern territories. However thanks to rapid industrialization in the west the nation is able to survive and launch a counteroffensive near Paris.

1894 The Germans launch an all out assault on Lyons in the south. The French manage to hold the city in an epic battle, followed by a massive counteroffensive that encircles a large German army. 1895 British forces land at Anizo and begin the liberation of Italy; meanwhile French forces regain most of their eastern territories.

1896 British offensives advance into Austria and begin to threaten western Germany, French forces cross the Rhine.

1897 Germany and Austria surrender. The allied powers agree to a temporary partition of Germany and Austria but it soon becomes permanent.

1899 China falls to communists led by Sun Yatsen and becomes a loyal ally of the French who quickly promise aid.

1897-1943 A phony war develops between Britain and France. England continues to maintain a vast colonial empire while the French support Guerrilla modems around the world.