Republic of Gemeo (Gemeo)

The Republic of Gemeo (Portuguese: República de Gêmeo) is a country occupying the two Twin Islands, or Ilhos Gêmeos, in the Macaronesia region of the North Atlantic Ocean; as well as nearby Ram Rock and Shankly Island.

History

 * Main Article: History of Gemeo

Early History (14th - 19th Centuries)
First sighted in the 14th Century by Moroccan explorer Mahmoud ibn-Rabat, on his Voyage of Discovery which allegedly reached the Americas; Gemeo wasn't permanently inhabited until Joao Ferreira claimed the islands for Portugal in 1441, and founded the Capital city, Refúgio. For the next 300 years, Gemeo remained a Portuguese colony, but was considered fairly worthless by the Portuguese government. Because of this, little effort was made to keep order on the islands, and they quickly became a hot-spot of Pirate activity - used by countless Buccaneers as a safe stopping-off point between Europe, North Africa and the Caribbean. Gemean governors were typically very corrupt figures, and the ones who weren't usually 'disappeared' before a year of service.

However, in 1739, the British Empire purchased the islands as a colony for a comparatively small amount; and clamped down hard on Piracy in the area. At first, the locals were grateful to the British for ridding them of the rampant crime which the Pirates had brought; but soon they realized that their economy relied almost entirely on the trade generated by the Criminal Seafarers. The British attempted to fix the situation by emphasizing the islands' agriculture; but the effects of this were limited. However, fishing and aquaculture quickly became popular occupations, and were soon integral to the local economy.

At this time, the majority of Gemeans were of Portuguese or African origin, and at first, very few British immigrants arrived. It wasn't until the mid-19th Century that many upper-class Britons began using the islands as a location for an exotic holiday. Shortly, the richer socialites began purchasing Summer Houses in Gemeo, and a few moved over permanently - bringing with them lower-class British employees. One thing led to another, and by the year 1900, British immigrants made up an estimated 10% of the population. Moroccans, too, began arriving at the very end of the 19th Century, but their numbers were nowhere near as large as the British.

Modern History (20th Century - Present)
World War I was the first time Gemeo fielded its own troops in battle. While Gemeans had fought in several earlier wars (most notably the Boer War), they had had to travel to Britain itself (or some other country), and enlist in the local army; as Gemeo itself had no armed forces. By 1914, this had changed, and 320 Gemean infantrymen formed into a single battalion led by Col. Winchester Holt, which was attached to a Canadian regiment in the Trenches of France. Though this battalion saw little action during the war, and suffered minimal casualties, its men were greeted as heroes upon their return to Gemeo; and every veteran was offered a newly-built house, completely free, by the Colonial Government.

During the inter-war period, Gemeo entered a Tranquil Period, during which the country suffered no major disasters, and its economy and society began to develop quickly. In 1924, the islands were made into a Protectorate of the British Empire, and the Gemean people were granted increased Home Rule, and the power to elect their own government - though the Colonial Governor was still selected by the British Monarch.

At the outbreak of WWII, many Gemeans expressed a desire to remain neutral, but as they were a part of the British Empire, they entered the war as a member of the Allies. In late 1939, for the first time in history, a full Gemean 'army' was mustered - over 3,000 men (around 4.3% of the country's entire population at that time). Following basic training, all but 500 of the Gemean troops were stationed in Egypt, and fought in the Western Desert Campaign until the end of 1942, when they were reassigned to the Tunisia campaign. After victory in Tunisia in 1943, the Gemean troops remained in North Africa as 'peacekeepers' until late 1944, when they were all shipped back to Gemeo.

However, the best-known aspect of Gemeo during the Second World War was its role as a safe harbour for refugees from the Vichy French, German and Italian regimes. The Gemeans themselves ran frequent boats between their islands and the North African coast (Morocco in particular); as well as less-frequent runs all the way to France; and even used the Refúgio Airstrip (which later became the Gemeo International Airport) to fly refugees from places as far-flung as Amsterdam and Greece. Though several of these "Anjo Runners" were captured or killed during their missions; they continued with them nontheless. Many of the people brought to Gemeo during this period moved on to the USA or Canada; and many more returned to their home countries after the war; but some stayed in the islands, and had significant effects on the local culture. In 1970, the Governments of Morocco and France funded large Memorials to the Anjo Runners in Lyons, Casablanca and Refúgio; and the surviving Runners were awarded a collective Legion of Honour award.