The Great European Collapse

Brexit

June 23, 2016. The Brexit Referendum is held. This is the PoD. Unlike in our timeline leave gets an overwhelming majority, 5:1! Of course the government then activates Article 50, thus leaving the EU.

Revolts and Referendums

The French people who dislike the EU see Brexit as an excuse to get France out too. Soon riots break out as the people demand a referendum. This movement will only gain popularity. In other EU countries the governments consider holding referendums too. However, a new problem arises. The UK wants to secure its borders, but they agreed to not protect the border with Ireland. The UK decides to ignore the previous agreement and protect it anyway, building fences and putting soldiers there.

The Revoking of Article 50

Exit referendum take place across the EU, with some being successful. Soon the EU leadership fears a collapse, so they revoke Article 50. No country leaves, including the UK. People are infuriated by this, but their governments take a more calm approach. By they I mean they try to leave anyway. After a while the British government issues an ultimatum, let us go or war. The EU leadership shakes this off as an empty threat. 3 days later the British government declares war on the EU. Poland, Hungary, Romania, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Italy all join the UK's side. The French people demand France joins the anti-EU side, but the government joins the EU side. France soon collapses into civil war, with the people rallying in the North and the military securing the South. Paris is put under siege, and the government trapped there.

The Collapse

The first thing that happens in the war is the UK invades Ireland swiftly and easily. Germany begins to push into Alsace-Lorraine. Poland invades Germany and Lithuania. Italy begins to invades the French Loyalists in the South. Romania and Hungary team up on Greece and Bulgaria. Greece and Bulgaria surrender in a few months. The war continues with no major border changes for quite a while. Trump declares the USA, and NATO for that matter neutral. Though they do send medical aid to both sides to attempt to minimize casualties. Putin declares neutrality too, thinking that not doing so would anger the USA. December 3, 2016. Italy conducts Operation Explosive Spaghetti, and invades Southern France with much more force now. The Siege of Paris ends with the French people taking it. UK lands a naval invasion in the Netherlands on December 16th. This came as a surprise to both sides, as it was thought the UK would send troops to existing fronts, not make new ones. After the Fall of Amsterdam on Christmas the Netherlands surrenders. Soon after Lithuania surrenders to Poland. In February of the next year the Italian Front meets of the Northern French one. Thus cutting South France, Spain, and Portugal off from the rest of the EU. Soon after the French military surrenders, though the government technically doesn't surrender until the end of the war. Belgium is invaded to attempt to united the West Front and the Dutch front. Germany moves troops from the West front to the East one. They capitulate the Czechs, and advance into Poland. At the same time Latvia surrenders to Poland. The Battle of Brussels then happens. It is the bloodiest battle in the war. The EU defends it to the last man, but loses. Belgium surrenders, Luxembourg follows suite. Spain surrenders after the fall of Madrid. Portugal sees its outnumbered and surrenders without a fight. In the Eastern Front the German advance is stopped just outside of Warsaw. The government demands that troops be moved to the West front to liberate Belgium. Italy launches a surprise invasion of Slovenia and Austria. Slovenia falls quick while Austria puts up quite a fight, however Hungary attacks front behind, taking Vienna and forcing an Austrian surrender.

The War Ends

June, 2017 the anniversary of Brexit. Croatia surrenders to Italy. Estonia switches sides to avoid being invaded. Italy advances into Bavaria while France occupies the Rhine. Poland liberates the Czech Republic and advances into Germany. Malta is invaded and surrenders on the same day. Finland is naval invaded, but it takes 6 months to get them to surrender. Sweden is completely unprepared, and is quickly invaded from behind. On December 18, 2017 Berlin falls to the Polish. Germany surrenders. Denmark and Cyprus know they can't win so they give up.

Aftermath

The EU is disbanded, and most Pro-EU and Pro-Remain parties are outlawed. NATO comes back together. THE END