Never Ending Great War

The Never Ending Great War is an alternate history written by Mitro. This ATL is currently open for anyone to edit.

"This is the war that doesn't end...yes, it goes on and on my friend...some people started fighting it not knowing what it was, and they'll continue fighting it forever just because...This is the war that doesn't end... - James Kane"

1914
The Great War begins with the assassination of Franz Ferdinand.

1915-1916
Stalemate continues on western front with no movement whatsoever and huge losses of life.

British begin invasion of Mesopotamia in the Middle East. Russians drive Turks out of Armenia.

Italy enters the war on the side of the Entente.

Bulgaria enters the war on the side of the Central Powers. Serbia falls to Germany, Austria-Hungary and Bulgaria. Montenegro and Albania also fall to Austria-Hungary.

1917
Germany signs a secret alliance with Mexico in case the United States enters the war on the side of the Entente. At first several generals in the Mexican army are against the idea but the President of Mexico agrees to the proposal. Germany begins sending money, arms, and German military advisers to Mexico.

The United States declares war on Germany due to their unrestricted submarine warfare. Mexico enters the war on the side of the Central Powers, wins some early victories in the south-west against ill-prepared American forces. General Pershing becomes the supreme commander of American forces on the Mexican Front. It will now take longer for American troops to arrive on the Western Front.

Bolshevik Revolution begins in Russia.

The British capture Jerusalem.

The Central Powers capture Romania.

Civil war begins in Greece between Pro-German and Pro-Entente forces after King Constantine I refuses to abdicate.

The War spreads to South America as the different nations take sides. Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador and Chile join the Central Powers while Brazil, Peru, Argentina, Bolivia, and Panama joins the Entente. The United States sends troops to help their allies to the south.

1918
Attempted cease-fire between Germany and Bolshevik Russia fails after the sudden death of Lenin and Leon Trotsky taking control of the Bolsheviks and ending negotiations. Fighting on the Eastern Front continues. Petrograd comes under siege by German forces. On July 17, 1918, Nicholas II and his family are assassinated by their Bolshevik guards. These two events lead to an outbreak of civil war in Russia between the communists and the anti-Communists.

Germany begins organising their new territories in the east promising them autonomy in the German Empire under German “kings.” Ukraine proves to be the most loyal of the new eastern kingdoms providing soldiers to help support German troops occupying former Russian territories.

Germans aid Austria-Hungary in fighting the Italians.

Damascus falls to British/Arabian troops.

1919
Petrograd and Moscow are captured.

In an effort to keep the population happy Germany rush through several liberal reforms giving more power to the elected assembly. In Austria-Hungary the principles of the Ausgleich are given to all the major ethnic groups in the Empire. The new nation is renamed the Austrian Empire. However some wonder if this is only a temporary solution to the crumbling empire.

Pro-Central Powers forces win a major victory in Greece. Entente troops are evacuated from Greece.

Turkish nationalists begin rebelling against Ottoman rule. Sultan Mehmed VI asks for assistance from his allies. German and Bulgarian troops enter Constantinople while British and Colonial troops continue to advance west into Asia Minor in support of the nationalists.

The Hashemite Caliphate is founded in Damascus, with Sharif Hussein becoming the first Caliph, and is immediately recognised by Britain and France. The new nation includes former Ottoman territory (minus Asia Minor) along with the entire Arabian Peninsula. However the Kurds have declared independence as the nation of Kurdistan. No one is sure what side they will join. The Entente hopes to use the Arabians to help them fight the Central Powers who are now entering what is left of the Ottoman Empire.

Zionists, upset with this because they were promised a Jewish homeland in Palestine in the Balfour Declaration of 1917, enter into secret negotiations with German agents. If the Zionists promise to support Germany they will give them a homeland in Palestine. Jews around the world begin finding ways to enter Germany to be trained in an all-Jewish military division.

1920
German offensive succeeds in reaching the outskirts of Paris, but American reinforcements manage to hold onto the city. Long range artillery manages to destroy the Eiffel Tower, causing a wave of hate to spread through France. Many French politicians are demanding the unconditional surrender of Germany as the only way to end the war.

A German/Russian nobleman is crowned the Czar of Russia in Petrograd. He orders all forces loyal to Russia to stop fighting the Germans and help defeat the Communist menace. Many White Russians throw their support behind the new Czar, tired of fighting a two-way war against the Germans and the Red Russians.

Mexico surrenders to the United States after American troops reach Mexico City. General Pershing is made military governor of Mexico until a new government can be created.

Fighting continues in Asia Minor. Central Powers high command begins to prepare for an invasion of the Middle East from the Caucasus peninsula. The force being assembled includes Germans, Cossacks loyal to the new Czar, and soldiers from the former Russian territories.

1921
Kaiser Wilhelm II presides over the creation of the European Zollverein, an economic union led by Germany and Austria with members made up of all the members of the Central Powers and their vassal states.

A group of less radical Bolsheviks overthrows Trotsky. They form a coalition government with the remaining White Russians. General Wrangel is made supreme commander of all Free Russian forces. He orders all forces under his command behind the Urals; taking anything that’s valuable and destroying whatever is left. Thousands of Russians follow the retreating armies behind the Urals. German troops follow after them but they make no move to follow them across the Urals fearing they might outrun their supply lines.

Allied offensive pushes Germans back away from Paris. Tanks are used to drive them back but they are unable to penetrate heavily fortified German lines.

Central Powers launch offensive out of the Caucasus peninsula driving into pro-Entente Armenia. Persia joins the Central Powers to throw off British control over their country.

US and Royal Navy succeed in ending the German U-boat threat once and for all. Both navies begin to put up a blockade around the South American members of the Central Powers.

New Provisional government of Mexico asks to be annexed into the United States. The debate in the US is mixed. Some expansionists are overjoyed about the possible of new territory, while other fear the possibility of a large Catholic voting bloc. Eventually a compromise is reached giving Mexico a Commonwealth status similar to Puerto Rico.

Spain and Portugal join the Entente after being pressured by Britain, France, and the US.

Ireland is given a dominion government by Britain to keep them from joining the Germans.

1922
Japanese troops seize Vladivostok and the rest of the Sakhalin Island. Japanese troops also land along the Russian Pacific coast on the premise of protect this land from the rightful Russian government. The new Republic of Russia, created out of the coalition government of White and Red Russians, protests this move. However they are not the recognized government of Russia by the Entente because of their support of communists. Instead a Russian government located in France under the new Czar Nicholas III is considered by the Entente as the true government of Russia. However this government in exile lacks any army with most of Imperial Russia’s soldiers either in the Kingdom of Russia or out east with the Republic.

As for the Republic of Russia, it is currently in no position to enforce its protests. With its new capitol in Omsk, the Republic of Russia is weaken by constant squabbles between the White and Red factions. Not only that but also most of the territory they claim is being chewed away. To the west, forces under the Kingdom of Russia are attempting to break out of the Urals to reunite the Russian Empire. Central Asia has been lost to new Muslim states. Cossacks in eastern Russia refuse to recognize the Omsk government and have declared themselves independent. Also there are warlords throughout the Republic territory who are also refusing to recognize the Republic government unless they are promised an important position within its operation.

The Western Front has stabilized between France and Germany. Along the front huge concrete bunkers and artillery positions make it almost impossible for any breakthrough to occur, not even from tanks, stretching from the North Sea winding down all the way to the Adriatic Sea. A huge stretch of no-man’s land now exists between what one what reporter has called “The Great Walls of Europe.” No Man’s Land is so big that it contains the ruins of whole villages. Raids are launched every once in a while looking for weaknesses but currently most of the fighting is being contained in the Middle East as the Central Powers race to reestablish the Ottoman Empire and take the Suez Canal from Britain. The Kurds have joined the side of the Entente after Germany refuses to recognize their independence.

The Emperor of Austria dies and is succeeded by the ten year old Otto. Not old enough to reign by himself, a regency is established until he comes to age. However the Hungarians take the opportunity to announce their independence, followed by Bohemia and similar outbreaks of calls for independence among the southern Slavs. The Germans, not wanting to risk war in the Balkans with the fighting in the Middle East brings everyone into negotiations in Kiev. At the Kiev Conference the Austrian Empire is disassembled. Hungary and Bohemia gain independence. Hungary is ceded the Galicia and Bukovina regions along with all of Romania. Austria and Slovenia will be annexed into Germany, but will have a degree of autonomy under the Habsburg dynasty. Albania is ceded to Greece while Macedonia is ceded to Bulgaria. The rest of the Austrian Empire (Dalmatia, Bosnia, Serbia, and Montenegro) is created into the nation of Pan-Slavia and placed under a German king.

1923
The Turkish nationalists are defeated as the Central Powers begin attacking into Kurdistan. British, French, Kurd, and Caliphate troops hold out in Kurdistan and Iraq where Persian troops attack there and into India where Colonial Indian troops hold them from entering into the rest of India. The 1st Zion Division arrives on the front marking a rise of anti-Semitism in the Entente nations for their support of Germany (everyone conveniently forgot the Balfour Declaration). Some Jews attempt to distance themselves from the more militant Zionists while other seek to move to a pro-Central Powers nation.

Germany and Japan enter into secret negotiations. Japan, only a marginal member of the Entente wants more territory than the Entente can give them. Even their foray into Eastern Russia has started to upset Britain, France, and the US. Some in the Entente have suggested reconciling the Russian government in France with the one in Omsk. Germany promises to recognize the Pacific as Japan’s sphere of influence if they change sides. Japan considers this, but it is not ready yet to betray its allies.

The Republic of Russia begins hiring mercenaries from China to hold the Ural Front. The Kingdom of Russia asks for assistance from his allies to send aide. Ukrainian and Finnish troops begin arriving to help the Kingdom.

1924
Dominican Republic is invaded by the US after coup by pro-Central Powers factions. The US immediately begins work on turning the Dominican Republic into a Commonwealth similar to Mexico.

Central Powers capture Damascus. Caliphate moves to temporary capitol of Jerusalem. Large numbers of Muslims are immigrating to the Middle East to support the Caliphate and its attempt to unite Islam. UK, France, and the US look on this with worry.

Stalemate continues on Western and Eastern fronts. Japanese end advancement into Siberia at the request of allies. Japan is driven further into the German camp.

1925
Persian troops driven out of Iraq while at the Battle of Jaffa, German and allied troops are driven off by the British and Arabians.

The Bordeaux Accords signed between Nicholas III and representatives of the Republic of Russia. Nicholas III is recognized as Czar of Russia, but will have no formal power. This brings the Republic of Russia into the fold of the Entente again. Entente airships begin flights across Central Asia bringing supplies the help out the Russians.

1926
Peace talks begin in Geneva. By now the war has dragged on for 12 years. France is adamant against ending the war, as is the Republic of Russia who does not wish to loss the European half of Russia. The United States for their part is being taken over politically by those who have profited from American expansion into Latin America. New calls of “Manifest Destiny” can be heard in many American cities. On the side of the Central Powers no nation does anything without Germany’s say, and Germany is going to try to see how much they can get out of the Entente. Both sides do agree to trade prisoners, but nothing much else is worked out.

While there are peace talks in Geneva fighting continues in the rest of the world. Scattered fighting along the Western and Eastern Fronts keeps those armies there in the trenches, but in the Middle East it’s a different story. Persia is being invaded from both sides as British, India, and Arabian troops march into the country. The Central Powers hold Syria, but attempts to dislodge the Kurds or Arabs out of their positions has failed. The Caliphate’s new “Arab Legion”, outfitted with the best weapons the Entente nations can provide, has begun to make life difficult for Germany and it’s allies.

Germany is attempting to cut off supplies to the Republic of Russia using new air bases along the Caspian Sea. German planes have dropped the bi-planes for the more efficient mono-wing planes. The British airships are sitting ducks to these interceptors, prompting to British to unveil a new airship that can carry and launch escort fighters to defend the convoys of airships.

1927
Peace talks in Geneva end after Japan launches a surprise attack on Manila, destroying the American ships docked there. Japanese forces land in the Philippines, French Indochina, and Dutch Indonesia. Thailand joins the Entente fearing that Japan will come after them next.

The Germans for their part declare war on the Netherlands and quickly overwhelmed the small nation using their newest “mobile fortresses,” the newest generation of tank, which supposedly will bring about the end of the stalemate in the west. The Germans don’t stop there but launch an invasion of Denmark. The Germans hope to use the nation as a springboard into the rich iron and coal region of Scandinavia. Already fighting has broken out along the Swedish/Finland border. Norway and Sweden join the Entente.

Persia surrenders to the Entente. British and colonial troops that can be sparred are sent east to fight against the Japanese in the Pacific. Persia’s occupation is left to the Caliphate, who secretly begin to hunt down powerful Shiite clerics.

1928
British and American troops begin arriving in Norway. German airships and naval transports begin ferrying German and allied troops into southern Sweden. France launches a new offensive on the Western Front to help the Scandinavians out.

Japanese forces occupy Indochina and begin their invasion of Thailand. American forces in the Philippines are ordered to retreat. New American troops begin arriving in Australia in case of invasion. New divisions raised from the Commonwealth of Mexico join them.

Fighting in South America continues without much of the world noticing, but both sides continue to send aides to their respective allies.

1929
A major famine begins for the Entente after a drought on the Great Plains destroys most of the crop. The US for years has been the breadbasket for the Entente, since most of their farms were not in use with most of their men fighting in the war. Ration riots begin in many major Entente nations, especially in UK and France.

Germany is not effected by the famine in the US since most of their food is coming from the Ukraine and the Kingdom of Russia. Still Germany begins hammering along the Western Front in an effort to weaken the resolve of the French. Sweden falls to Germany, but American and British troops help the Norwegians keep the Germans at bay

Out in the Pacific, the Japanese have overrun Thailand. Two Japanese armies are now on the march with one heading toward Singapore and the other ready to drive into India. British and colonial troops rush to build up their defenses.

In Omsk, the city is thrown into violence when the Chinese mercenaries under their leader, who believes himself to be the reincarnated form of Genghis Khan, orders them to turn on the Russians. The city quickly falls and other cities with strong Chinese presence are captured. The remaining free Russian forces fight on, but things are not looking good. What is left of Russia is once again thrown into chaos and the Entente can do nothing about it.

1930
Khan orders an invasion of Mongolia, which is carried out by his army of Chinese soldiers armed with Entente weapons. Khan also signs a formal peace treaty with Germany and Japan, allowing both nations to free up more troops for their offensives in other theaters. Both nations recognize the newest nation to come into existence, the New Mongolian Empire.

The resolve of the Entente is beginning to weaken. The Germans are hammering the western front, diverting troops from Norway, which is slowly being overrun by German forces. To the south a huge offensive has begun in Italy as German troops hope to knock out Italy from the war. Out east Japanese troops slowly make there way through Burma and Malaysia, however the American Pacific fleet has ended any threat of a possible Japanese invasion of Australia.

In the United States itself, there is a growing anti-war movement that has been spurred on by the current famine in the Great Plains. Entente leaders worry that they will lose one of their most powerful allies.

1931
In an effort to be better organized to fight the Germans, the European members of the Entente unite and form into the loose confederation known as the European Community. With its capitol located in Seville, Spain, the first President is Jean Monnet, who begins the integration of the European economy.

Even with the war still raging on several fronts, Wilhelm II approves a massive plan to reconstruct portions of Berlin with monuments commemorating German victories in the war. Some critics feel that this plan is highly arrogant of the Kaiser, especially since the resources necessary to complete these projects could hurt the war effort.

German advances continue slowly in Norway and Italy, with no movement on the Western Front. Out east the New Mongols have complete their occupation of Mongolia, plans soon are set in motion for further territory grabs. In India, the first American troops arrive in India in an effort to halt the Japanese advance onto that sub-continent. The Middle East has pretty much been ignored by the major powers, but problems are growing as Zion Division soldiers begin killing Arabian prisoners, while inside the borders of the Caliphate Sunni and Shiites have begun attacking each other.

1932
The New Mongolians go on the offensive again, this time into neutral China. The Chinese military tries to put up a fight, but they are disorganized and badly trained. Large amount of land quickly falls to the New Mongolians.

The European Community is ceded the power by its member states to temporarily administer the colonies and raise colonial conscripts so that all members of the Community can benefit from the colonies.

The Sultan of Turkey is unable to keep order in his country, hurting the war effort in the Middle East. The Central Powers agree that they could do a better job keeping a lid on the situation. So the Sultan is deposed and the remaining territory of the Ottoman Empire is divided between Germany, Bulgaria and Greece. Greece will get the west coast area of Asia Minor, Bulgaria would get Thrace, Germany would get the rest of Asia Minor and Syria, and the city of Constantinople (renamed from Istanbul) would be a free city administered by a government chosen by those three nations.

1933
New Mongolian advances into China continue. By now they control Manchuria and are beginning to drive down the coast. Japan is beginning to worry about this growing power on the mainland, even with assurances from the Khan that they would not invade Korea. Sadly Japan can’t do anything with most of their troops tied up in India and Indonesia.

Norway collapses as the EC evacuates its armies and the Norwegian government. In Italy Rome is being bombed from the new Goliath artillery, which can fire huge shells at targets far from the front.

Many colonies of the EC want equal representation in the organization, arguing that if their sons can die in a European war, than they should be able to participate in the European government. While the EC is not ready to yet to grant such abilities to all of their colonies, nations like Canada, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand are given Associate membership.

The anti-war movement in the United States gains ground as many influential politicians begin to sign onto the ideology of the movement to further their own careers. There are many worries among the EC if they can stop Germany without the United States.

1934
The Ganges Crisis leads to the complete destruction of an American battalion after bad British intelligence leads them into an ambush by the Japanese. Anti-war politicians and members of the media milk the tragedy for all it is worth and the Congress and the President agrees to end the war. American diplomats meet with German, Japanese, and other belligerent nations to request a cease-fire. They are more than happy to agree.

As American troops begin to be removed from their respective fronts plans are already being planned for new offensives. Germany hopes to breakthrough the Western Front and has already pulled soldiers from Italy to accomplish it. Japan, denied a chance to invade Australia by the American fleet, now is preparing for the eventual invasion of the continent.

The EC high command has an emergency meeting and comes to the conclusion that without American help, they might not be able to hold off German or Japanese advances. It is suggested that the EC government be moved to Britain since the island nation would be easier to defend then mainland Europe. Eventually it is agreed to relocate the government to London.

In Asia, China’s government surrenders to the New Mongolians. The Khan now looks for new land to conquer, eying his neighbors for signs of weakness.

1935
As the last American troops leave, the Germans launch the largest attack on the Western Front in the history of the war. Hundreds of Land Fortresses use their massive cannons to tear wholes along the Entente defenses, while German Airships carry fighter planes deep into French and British territory. Soon a breakout happens and the Germans drive toward Paris. The city falls in a matter of months.

The French government announces an evacuation of France, moving the government to Algeria. The French Navy, with the help of the British try to move as much of the French army to North Africa. French civilians crowd the ports hoping to flee German occupation. Those who can’t find a ship take the long road to Spain. Britain does everything it can to evacuate the British Expeditionary Force who is in a fighting retreat toward Brittany.

The Italian government flees to Sicily after the Germans pull a similar breakthrough almost takes Rome. Slowly but surely the Germans are driving the European Community off of mainland Europe.

The New Mongols occupy Tibet and the Central Asian nations. After this minor conquest the Khan has made his decision. He now knows where his next attack will be and his armies are put into position to begin the invasion.

Without the American fleet to worry about, Japan launches its invasion of Australia. ANZAC forces in the country fight bravely but are forced to fall back into the Outback. Luckily the Japanese can’t use the force necessary to take the continent since many of their forces are tied up in India, trying to create their own breakthrough that their allies the Germans enjoy. Also a significant part remains along the border of the New Mongols, fearing they might break their non-aggression pact.

The US government puts through a series of reforms to rebuild the population. Women are given tax breaks to have children, regardless if they are married or not, and are given free fertility drugs. The government even offers to adopt any unwanted children as part of a new plan to rebuild the military using state homes as military schools. Children are put through the rigors of military life as soon as they are given to the government.

The Caliphate government enters into secret negotiations with Germany, hoping to work out a separate peace deal in case the EC fail to be victorious.

1936
The New Mongols invasion commences; striking deep into Caliphate occupied Persia. The Germans break off talks of a cease-fire with the Caliphate, hoping to split the Middle East with the Khan. The Caliph desperately calls for EC troops to stem the tide, but it looks like with the chaos in Europe that won’t be happening. Soldiers from the German 1st Zion Division enter the outskirts of Jerusalem.

The Ethiopian military begins to mobilize. It appears they too want to take advantage of the weakening Europeans but there is still no word on what they will do next. The French government in Algeria sends a few units to Djibouti in case there is an attack.

EC commander General De Gaulle defeats a German invasion of Sicily keeping the island free from Germany and protecting North Africa from future invasions across the Mediterranean.

Spain falls to civil war after factions for staying with the EC and those who wish to switch sides succumb to violence. EC forces attempting to rebuild a defensive line at the Pyrenees find themselves cut off from supplies. British airships and new cargo subs (huge subs that can hide from German airships and planes) attempt to keep those forces supplied.

Back in London the European Community government attempts to work out a plan on how to win the war, even though they are close to defeat. Britain, defended by shore fortresses and anti-aircraft towers, can easily withstand any sea invasion from Germany and still has the Royal Navy to protect the home islands. However many in the British government are wondering why are they bearing the brunt of work for a war that their allies have already lost.

1937
Portugal, at the behest of Britain, launches a major invasion of Spain. Portugal had given a significant force to the war effort in the past, but they still had reserves and now they had been unleashed on war torn Spain. This action at first is approved by the EC government, until the infamous Churchill Letter is discovered, which has the British government promising to support a Portuguese annexation of the region. The EC government demands an explanation, but the only thing they get from London is an ultimatum saying that they now had to fight the Germans without their defeated allies who did not have the resources to be effective. Britain told the EC governments to surrender their colonies to Britain as payment for continuing to wage the war. As can be expected the EC members didn’t take it that well. Britain was expelled and the EC made preparations to move their headquarters to Algeria.

German and Mongol ambassadors meet at an island in the Caspian Sea. Together they come to an agreement. The Hashemite Caliphate was divided between the two empires, with the Mongols getting Persia and the Germans the rest. Not only that but a non-aggression pact is signed between them. This agreement worries the Japanese who are becoming more paranoid about a Mongol invasion of their territories. The Germans are more than happy to foster this, hoping to pit the Mongols and Japanese against each other and then sweep in to take the pieces.

The Caliphate is on its last legs. Joint German-Mongol attacks has devastated the army. The Caliph and his family have already fled to Algeria where the EC is regrouping, hoping to seek asylum. The Germans promise the cities of Mecca and Medina that they will be free from German control, as long as they do not incite the new power of the Middle East. Still the fight has not gone out of all the Arabs; especially with nomadic tribesmen launching hit and run raids on the Germans and Mongols. The Kurds too eventually surrender.

Britain sends more forces to shore up India and Australia from the advancing Japanese. With the front stable in Spain, the British now turn to defending its empire before it loses anymore of it. British soldiers fight alongside African and Indian colonial troops. Commanders note how well the men from different cultures are getting along and relay it back to the government.

In South America, anarchy rules over the nations on the continents. The ongoing war has caused the governments to collapse, leaving the people open to be preyed upon by former generals turned warlords. In steps the United States, which in a few impressive amphibious assaults secures control over several enclaves around the continent. They then begin to to strike into the interior. Imperialists inside the United States government are in strong support of this, seeing this as the moment to build a true American Empire. Already America has troops stationed in almost every single independent nation in Central America and the Caribbean.

1938
Portugal completes its pacification of Spain. The entire nation is annexed into Portugal proper except for the Basque region, which is; granted independence on the condition they declare war on Germany. Britain gains control of Spain’s colonial empire. British troops continue to hold the line in the Pyrenees.

The European Community disbands itself. In its place is the highly centralised Free European Federation. General DeGaulle, Hero of Sicily, is elected the first President. Interestingly, he does not resign his commission with the military, showing how important the military is in the new government. The FEF’s territory includes all of the colonies of those European nations that are not occupied by foreign power, plus Sicily.

One of DeGaulle’s first acts as President is to declare war on Ethiopia. The country quickly falls to FEF forces (mostly made up of French and Italian units) and it annexed as a joint-colony of the FEF members. Several African leaders in both the FEF and other parts of Africa protest this action. Independence movements gain strength throughout Africa, even in British territories. The British government is forced to condemn the invasion out of fear their colonies would revolt. Liberia, fearing the FEF might attack them, asks to become a Commonwealth of the United States. The US is more than happy to agree.

The massive building program ordered by the Kaiser for Berlin is finished. The entire city has been transformed into a series of massive structures based on classical design. The architect, Albert Speer, is present with the Kaiser at the ceremonies. As a mark of the new future Germany has as the dominant power in Europe, the city is renamed New Berlin. Also present at the events are the new puppet leaders of occupied France and Italy.

Tide turns against the Japanese in India and Australia. Japanese commanders are calling for more troops, but the Japanese High Command won’t dare remove a single unit from the Mongol border. If necessary, the Japanese government is willing to abandon India and Australia to consolidate their position. The Mongol Khan, noticing the Japanese government’s wariness, senses weakness and begins to make plans. He does not have to worry about much dissension in his empire; he is practically worshipped as a God.

A new political party in the United States, the Remembrance Party, runs candidates on the platform of continued American expansion and a war of revenge against Japan for the humiliation they gave them. Though small, the party is growing and could tip the balance in American politics.

1939
Germany succeeds in pushing back offensives by the Spanish, forcing an unconditional surrender. The Spaniards plead clemency, insisting they were forced into war with Germany by the Portuguese. The Germans are willing to respect their independence as long as they ally themselves with Germany, to which the Spanish unhappily agree. To celebrate their latest victory, the Germans unveil their latest airship model, the LZ 144, which is capable of both military and civilian use. It is immediately placed into mass production. As a token of friendship, the Kaiser gifts one to the Mongol Khan to be used as his flagship.

Mongol forces begin massing in the East. Upon receiving intelligence of this, the Japanese High Command assumes the worst; that the Mongols are preparing for an attack. With deep misgivings, Japanese forces withdraw from Australia and India and begin consolidating along the Mongol border.

Furious that the British and Americans allowed them to be conquered by the Japanese, the Australian government severs its ties with Britain, makes contact with the FEF and openly declares its allegiance, although they stop short of full-scale membership. New Zealand, however, wanting to avoid the same fate as Australia, applies for Commonwealth status of the United States, to which they happily agree. Meanwhile, in India, an independence movement by several nationalist groups gains public attention. The British, to quell rising anti-British sentiment, grants India semi-autonomous status within the empire.

Portugal renews its offensive against Germany, successfully pushing along the Mediterranean into German-occupied France. However, the Germans retaliate using their new airship squadrons to devastating effect, halting the advance after Portuguese forces take Monaco. The Germans only lose a single airship, which was destroyed due to a malfunction in the fuel lines.

American gains in South America grind to a halt as the terrain turns against them. South American warlords retreat into the Amazon and the Andes and commence small-scale guerilla attacks against American forces. On their own they do little, but as a whole they severely hurt the American war effort. The Remembrance Party leader, Jonathan Everett, pushes for more troops to be sent, but Congress refuses, claiming the Armed Forces are already stretched too far across the Americas.

1940
The New Mongolian Empire declares war on Japan, making a full frontal assault towards the Korean Peninsula. The Japanese Army is shocked by the magnitude of the attack and mounts a partially successful counter-offensive, stopping the advance but suffering heavy losses in the process. Mongol advances also occur into North- and South-east Asia. The land size of the Japanese Empire is reduced by two-thirds. By the end of the year, Mongol forces reside only 2000km from the Japanese mainland, but are unable to enter into the Korean Peninsula.

Jonathan Everett, seeing Japan falling, calls for a war of revenge against Japan, but Congress dismisses this as impractical without removing forces from South America. Jonathan then declares he is running for President in the upcoming election next year.

With the help of the FEF Navy and Air Force, Portuguese forces consolidate Monaco. The FEF, having forgiven Portugal for their role in the annexation of Spain and seeing an opportunity to gain a foothold in Europe, begin moving their forces into Monaco, making it the new provisional capital of liberated France.

India, fearing a Mongol invasion following the presumed fall of Japan, allies with the FEF. It begins a comprehensive program of industrialisation and militarisation. The British, still opposed to the FEF, greatly resent this, but sense that India is growing away from them.

1941
The war in the East drags on with horrendous losses of life on both sides in the stalemate between the Mongols and the Japanese. The Mongols make repeated attempts to invade the homeland, but the Japanese have turned their homeland and the adjacent Korean Peninsula into a near-impregnable fortress.

The Mongol Khan, seeking to use of India's large population to his advantage in their war against Japan, goes to India to negotiate an alliance. However, over the Himalayas, his airship malfunctions and crashes, killing everyone on board. Two Indian sentries, seeing the explosion over the mountains, mistake it as a bombing raid and notify the High Command that the Mongols are invading. The Indians declare war on the New Mongolian Empire and launch a successful assault into the Pashto region, as the Mongol Army is in disarray due to the sudden loss of their Supreme Leader.

Within weeks, the situation turns catastrophic. The death of the Khan leads to his subordinates fighting over who is in command, as well as other ordinary citizens coming forward claiming to be the late Khan's successor. Ethnic tensions and nationalism re-emerges, and by the end of the year, the whole New Mongolian Empire has dissolved into a massive civil war.

Meanwhile, in Europe, two more LZ 144 airships malfunction and blow up, causing a panic in the German Air Service. Having established beyond reasonable doubt that there is a serious flaw in the LZ 144's design and out of concern for more lives, the Germans are forced to ground all their new models. This results in the German Air Force only being able to function at half capacity.

The FEF, seeing a window of opportunity, takes it. Having virtually abandoned airship technology since 1936 in favour of more precise light bombers, the FEF launches a series of tactical bomb strikes on German strongholds in Naples, Rome, Lyon, Bordeaux and Nantes, crippling German forces in those areas as well as cutting off several major German supply lines. Using their new handheld anti-tank weapons, they successfully punch through German tank blockades in a campaign to liberate France and Italy.

Portugal, however, is unable to take advantage of the situation, as its forces and its economy exhausted from last year's push. Britain, meanwhile, seeing little point in continuing the war effort any further, quietly signs a truce with Germany, agreeing not to interfere further in Europe, so they can focus on consolidating their remaining empire.

In America, Jonathan Everett of the Remembrance Party successfully wins the Presidential election, running on a platform of populism and American exceptionalism. One of his first and most controversial acts is the widening of the base for compulsory conscription. This boosts American military forces by 15%, but does little to help the war effort in South America. By this point, American forces have now occupied former Columbia, Peru, Ecuador, Chile, Venezuela and much of southern and coastal Brazil.