Pax Russiana (Atlantic Resolve)

Pax Russiana is an alternate history page within the alternate history world of Atlantic Resolve and gives an overview on what might have happened had the All Russian Federation won the Third World War. There were several differences from the primary AH which contributed to this alternative outcome. The first was France choosing to remain neutral in the global conflict by abstaining from confirming the Artcile 5 invocation made the United States in response to the Russian invasion. The second was the Russian General Staff choosing to assign Colonel General Vyacheslav Borisov to command the North American Front instead of being the second in command of the European Front. Meanwhile, Colonel General Sergei Surovikinis was given command of the European Front.

Alternative World War III

Conventional War

2016

World War III began in 28 September 2016 when the All Russian Federation invaded the US Pacific Northwest and NATO Eastern Europe. That same day, North Korea invaded South Korea. Through the remainder of September and the first half of October, the Russian military had secured a significant beachhead in the Pacific Northwest region of North America, occupied the Baltic States, and overran much of eastern Poland and other NATO territory. By the start of November, the Russians had begun an inland ground offensive further into the United States and Canada while in Europe they managed to secure all of Poland east of the Vistula and were fighting for control over the Polish capital city of Warsaw. The Battle of Warsaw lasted until late December 2016, ending with a Russian victory and significant bridgeheads along the River Vistula. Former NATO member Turkey shocked the world in November 2016 by joining in the war on the side of Russia, further compromising the NATO defense against ongoing Russian offensives. The Republic of Serbia and Republika Srpska were drawn into the war on Russia's side in early December 2016. On the Korean Peninsula, the North Koreans had reached the South Korean capital city of Seoul one month into the war and heavy fighting continued there through the remainder of the year.

2017

During the month of January of 2017, Russian troops occupied several cities in westerm Poland including Wrocław and Poznań. NATO defenses throughout western Poland began to crumple. The Russians also overran the Czech capital city of Prague. By the end of January, Russian forces reached the Oder-Neisse line and the German-Polish border in several locations. Even as the Russians secured the remainder of Poland and the Czech Republic, multiple reconnaissance in force assaults were carried out across the border into Germany. On the North American Front, the Russian military had taken Okanogan, Yakima, Bend, Klamath Falls, Yreka, and Eurika, thereby allowing a major breakhthrough through US National Guard lines and reaching Redding and Spokane by the end of the month. Though the war clearly favored Russia in Europe and North American, the fighting on the Korean Peninsula gradually shifted in favor of Allied forces with the North Koreans being driven from Seoul and Inchon. The Russian military began a full-scale invasion of the Federal Republic of Germany in mid-February. The Battle of Berlin began within the first week of the latest Russian offensive. By the beginning of March, the Russians had overrun what was once East Germany and Berlin had become a city under siege. Throughout March and April of 2017, Russian forces pushed further into western Germany through the Fulda Gap. As the Russians closed on the River Rhine, US President John McCain threatened to use any and all means to stop them.

Work-In Progress

Nuclear escalation

Tactical Exchange in Europe

In a bid to halt Russian advancements, US President John McCain authorized the use of tactical nuclear weapons. The attack was carried out on 25 April 2017 with multiple battlefield nuclear warheads airburst over advancing Russian troops along the frontlines in western Germany which resulted in tens of thousands of casualties. Additional tactical nuclear strikes targeted key supply routes throughout Central and Eastern Europe. Unwilling to use nuclear weapons on their own soil, the US Air Force instead hit Russian combat and support units in North America with conventional MOABs. Russian forces on both fronts immediately halted all offensive operations and assumed defense positions. In retaliation for the use of tactical nuclear weapons, Russian nuclear-armed 9K720 Iskander short-ranged ballistic missiles (SRBMs) were launched against US military forces throughout unoccupied Germany and Netherlands, inflicting an equal number of casualties and preventing NATO from being able to launch any major conventional counterattack.

Strategic Counterforce Strike on the US

Even as the Russian tactical nuke strikes in Europe were under away, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a strategic nuclear counterforce strike against the United States. RSM-56 Bulava submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) were launched from Russian Borei-class submarines off the US West and East Coasts against early warning radar sites, key points of communication, and strategic bomber bases throughout the United States. A number of the warheads were detonated at high altitudes for EMP effect. This was quickly followed up by RT-2PM2 Topol-M intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) being launched against hardened strategic targets including Cheyenne Mountain Complex and all three of America's LGM-30G Minuteman III ICBM bases. Nuclear-armed TU-160 Blackjack strategic bombers also took part in the attack. Simultaneously, the Russians launched nuclear-armed anti-ship ballistic missiles (ASBMs) against all confirmed and suspected locations of US Ohio-class submarines as well as multiple US carrier strike groups. US President John McCain started to issue a strategic launch order against the All Russian Federation but was cut off when the Cheyenne Mountain Complex was destroyed from multiple direct hits, killing the President as well as the Secretary of Defense. By the time Vice-President Ted Cruz was sworn in as the 46th President of the United States and a new Secretary of Defense appointed, it was too late: America's entire strategic nuclear triad was destroyed, millions of Americans were dead, three-quarters of the country was darkened by the EMP, and the United States faced the prospect of disproportionate annihilation. President Cruz ordered all US forces worldwide to ceasefire.

Post-nuclear Conventional Offensives

TBD

End of the War

NATO Surrenders to Russia

With the Americans effectively knocked out of the fighting, all unoccupied NATO and other Allied countries sued for peace over the following days with the All Russian Federation accepting limited surrender from all except one: Russian President Vladimir Putin harshly declared that the United States started World War Three as the primary aggressor and that Russia would therefore accept nothing but unconditional surrender from that country. On 30 April 2017, the United States of America surrendered unconditionally to the All Russian Federation. Following the signing of the instrument of surrender, US President Ted Cruz was subsequently removed after only five days in office and was placed under arrest pending war crimes tribunal. All 17 officials along the United States presidential line of succession were removed from office and arrested as well. Tulsi Gabbard, the U.S. Representative from Hawaii's 2nd district, was subsequently sworn in as the 47th President of the United States. The new US President addressed the nation with the news of America's surrender and acknowledged that the United States of America were the aggressors in the Third World War, stating that Obama had approved an off-the-books military campaign through the private military company Academi, formally Blackwater, in an effort to destabilize the All Russian Federation. She also condemned the decision made by the late President John McCain to authorize the use of tactical nuclear weapons in Europe thereby forcing Russia to mount a strategic nuclear attack against the United States which resulted in the deaths of millions of Americans. She then announced that American sovereignty was temporarily suspended and that the United States was under the provisional control of the All Russian Federation. The President's speech was followed by a playing of the State Anthem of the Russian Federation instead of the Star-Spangled Banner. The American "Stars and Stripes" was also lowered across the nation and the Russian white, blue, and red tricolour flag was risen in its place.

Victory Over America

In Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared 30 April (2017) as Victory Over America Day and proclaimed that Russia had ascended to its rightful place as the sole global superpower. Putin declared that the United States was directly responsible for the collapse of the Soviet Union and that the Third World War was only the final phase of the Second Great Patriotic War which officially now included the Novorossiya War, the South Ossetia War, the Chechen Wars, the Kosovo War, the Nagorno-Karabakh War, and even the economical turmoil that plagued Russia during the 1990s. As such, the Second Great Patriotic War had a start date of 20 February 1988 and an end date of 30 April 2017 with the overall timeframe being 29 years, 2 months, and 11 days. The Russian President stated that a dark chapter in Russia's history had been concluded and that, not just Russia, but the entire world was now free from the oppression of American Imperialism. Celebrations in Moscow began in the late afternoon and lasted throughout the night with a military parade being held, patriotic music being played and fireworks being set off. 

Initial Aftermath

Europe

The All Russian Federation occupied the Baltic States, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Germany (east of the Rhine), and Netherlands (north of the Rhine). Additionally Hungary, Romania, and most of Bulgaria (minus North Thrace) were jointly occupied by Russia and Serbia while Turkey formally annexed North Thrace (Bulgaria) and West Thrace (Greece). The Turkish Republic of North Cyprus annexed the entire Cypriot island. NATO was required to dissolve itself with immediate effect as per terms of the peace agreement. The All Russian Federation was given expedited membership in the European Union as the new dominant political and military power within the supranational organization. As a result the All Russian Federation had achieved de facto economic control over Europe and used its new position to avoid the economic collapse the pre-war Russian government feared. The Serbian Commonwealth was formed as a loose coalition between the Republic of Serbia (including Montenegro), Republika Srpska (formerly Bosnia and Herzegovina), Republic of Serbian Krajina (formerly Croatia), the Republic of Serbian Macedonia (formerly North Macedonia), and the Serbian Republic of Slovenia (formerly Slovenia).

North America

In North America, the United Stated was occupied by the All Russian Federation, the Commonwealth of Independent States, and other Russian allies. The United States was also required to pay trillions of dollars in war reparations which greatly increased the national debt. All US Armed Forces overseas were required to return to the United States and many countries even expelled American citizens.

Asia

Despite Russia winning the Third World War, their North Korean allies weren't so fortunate. After failing to take Seoul, being driven from South Korean soil, and ultimately facing a joint US-ROK invasion of Kaesong, North Korea was on the verge of launching a full-scale nuclear counterattack. That was prevented when North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un was overthrown in a Chinese-sponsored coup which led to a re-establishment of the armistice with South Korea gaining control of Kaesong. When America unconditionally surrendered to the All Russian Federation, Russian military officers arrived in South Korea to take command of United States Forces Korea and to oversee their withdrawal back to the States. Though North Korea was significantly weakened, they still posed a significant threat due to being reinforced by half a million Chinese troops. With the Americans no longer around to defend them, South Korea signed a mutual defense pact with Japan and eventually entered into an alliance with the Commonwealth Realms which had become an EU-like entity to counter Russian dominance of much of the northern hemisphere.

Nations, Supranational Unions, and Factions

All Russian Federation

The All Russian Federation became the most powerful nation in the world following its victory in World War Three and America's unconditional surrender. Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania were annexed into the All Russian Federation as member states on par with Belarus and Novorossiya. Many prominant Russians, including Ultranationalist leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky, are calling for the annexation of all remaining Soviet republics, Finland, and even Alaska in order to complete Russian irredentism once and for all. Armed Forces of the All Russian Federation continued to grow in numbers and strength due to economic boost from war reparations and dominance over the EU allowing for a much bigger defense budget. By November 2019, the Russian military had reached Soviet-era strength levels this time as a modernized professional fighting force. As such the Russians were able to further reinforce their occupational forces in the United States while still maintaining enough forces for homeland defense and keeping its hegemony in Eastern Europe in line. Sergey Shoygu served as Prime Minister of Russia since the assassination of his predecessor Dmitry Medvedev during a diplomatic visit to the United States in January 2020. The late Prime Minister was greatly mourned by the Russian people with most demanding a severe disproportionate reprisals against the United States and its citizens.

Union of Sovereign States

A joint summit for the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) in Sochi, Russia on 11 October 2017. It was during this meeting that all members opted for the Creation of the Union of Sovereign States through the merger of both groups thereby resurrecting the vision of Mikhail Gorbachev. Russian President Vladimir Putin declared the Creation of the Union of Sovereign States effectively undid the collapse of the Soviet Union which Russia officially blamed on the United States since V-A Day. The Union of Sovereign States temporarily used the CIS flag though there have been proposals including the old Soviet flag, a red version of the CIS flag, and several flags previously proposed for the EAEU. Eventually one of the previous proposals was officially adopted as the Official Flag of the Union of Sovereign States. The Sovereign Union of Nations was adopted as the State Anthem of the Union of Sovereign States which played to the tune of the State Anthems of the Soviet Union and the Russian Federation. The All Russian Federation retained the latter anthem with Vladimir Putin outright rejecting a proposal from a moderate minority to restore the Patriotic Song. All individual European member states retained membership in the European Union which heightened Russia's dominance over that supranational organization. The Russian-occupied United States of America was given provisional membership in the Union of Sovereign States. Boris Gromov is the current Executive Secretary of the Union of Sovereign States though it is believed he will step aside and turn the office over to Vladimir Putin once he steps down from the presidency in 2024. Russian Ultranationalist leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky has called for the annexation of all former Soviet republics within the Union of Sovereign States into the All Russian Federation.

Collective Security Treaty Organization

Following the end of World War Three, all remaining Soviet Republics not yet members of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) joined the Russian-led alliance. CSTO membership had also expanded outside the former Soviet Union to include Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, the Serbian Commonwealth, Syria, and Afghaniatan. CSTO peacekeeping missions also took place in the United States as part of the overall UN mission there.

European Union

Following the end of the Third World War, the All Russian Federation joined the European Union as per terms of the peace treaty which ended the fighting. Due to being the top political and military power within the European Union, the All Russian Federation had achieved de facto control over nearly all of Europe. Russia's control over Europe was first challenged when the United Kingdom left the European Union and created the Commonwealth Union. Relations between the All Russian Federation and the post-NATO French Republic greatly improved over the years until eventually France had achieved equal partnership with Russia in running the European Union. The European Union offically classified the American Resistance and similar groups in the Russian-occupied United States as terrorist organizations following the assassination of the Russian Prime Minister during a diplomatic visit.

Occupation of the United States

Almost immediately following the announcement of America's unconditional surrender and subsequent forfeiture of national sovereignty to Russian military occupation, a communications blackout was implemented with all internet, phone, and most cable services nationwide were temporarily cut to prevent demonstrations. A total curfew was also enforced and all businesses, including essential, were required to close down immediately. Russian military officers quickly assumed command over all major United States military units worldwide while FSB officers took charge of most law enforcement agencies around the country. Tulsi Gabbard was appointed President of the United States on V-A Day though her office was now considered mainly symbolic with the true executive power resting with Russian General Vyacheslav Borisov who served as the Prefect of the Federation Occupational Authority of the United States. The Federal Unity Party (United States), aka United America, was founded through the official merger between the Republican and Democratic Parties, effectively making America a one-party state. War crimes tribunals were also held with many US political and military leaders being forced to stand trial including former US President Barack Obama, former US President Ted Cruz, former Secretary of Defense Ash Carter, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Joseph Dunford, etc. A total shutdown of all government throughout the United States was implemented on V-A Day and lasted a total of three months so as to give the Russians time to consolidate their control over the government. All government paychecks, including military payroll, were cut off during this time with no back pay provided for anyone forced to work during the shutdown.

Due to rationing during the war, most households in the United States had begun running out of food and other essentials within one week after the end of the war due to the curfew as well as the closure of all stores. To counter this, the Russians arranged for shipments of food and other essential aid to be shipped to the American people under the Antonov Plan which is effectively a modern-day version of the Marshall Plan and named for its architect Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Anatoly Antonov. This new Russian initiative also helped with post-war recovery in the United States including improving US economy, repairing wartime damages, radiation cleanup, combat terrorism, etc. The United States Department of Education took a more direct role in determining school curricula including making it more supportive of the new order, mandatory learning of the Russian language, and even revisions in American history. Due to the "Stars and Stripes" flag becoming the symbol of the American Resistance which was officially considered a terrorist organization, the flag was temporarily banned from both public and private display. Eventually the old United States flag was replaced by a modified version of the United States flag with the Russian Coat of Arms included in the center, which was first introduced during the war. The Star-Spangled Banner was immediately banned at the start of the occupation and was officially replaced by the State Anthem of the Russian Federation for the duration of the occupation though Hail, Columbia was eventually reintroduced as the unofficial national anthem of the United States. The Pledge of Allegiance was revised to be supportive of the new order.

Independent Republic of Texas

The Republic of Texas seceded from the United States of America on 28 April 2017 three days following the destruction of America's strategic arsenal and the subsequent cease-fire. When Russian Vladimir Putin vowed to accept only unconditional surrender from the United States, the Texas state government rightfully concluded that Russian military occupation was inevitable so Governor Greg Abbott gave a speech declaring that the Republic of Texas was once again an independent nation. US President Tulsi Gabbard declared that the Republic of Texas was in violation of the Constitution for trying to secede while Russian leaders reiterated that unconditional surrender applied to the United States as a whole not just the federal government. Eventually Russian ground and Airborne forces invaded the Republic of Texas, resulting in the start of the Texan War which had quickly become comparable to the Chechen War. The fighting continues to this day with a significant portion of the self-proclaimed country, including San Antonio and Austin, still controlled by the Texan Liberation Front while the Russian Army was able to take Houston and El Paso. Russian troops also held most of Dallas though heavy urban warfare comparable to Stalingrad was still taking place with TLF rebels determined to retake the city.

American Resistance Government

Following the unconditional surrender of the United States of America to the All Russian Federation, the American Resistance had become a nationwide organization seeking to bring an end to Russia's gradually increasing occupation of US soil. Eventually, the American Resistance created its own government which they declared was the one true government of the United States of America while denouncing the current federal government as a puppet regime that was collaborating with a hostile foreign power occupying American soil. The Battle Cry of Freedom was selected as the official anthem of the American Resistance Government. The American Revolutionary Party was founded by Republicans and Democrats who rejected the creation of the Federal Unity Party by the pro-Russian government. Wesley Clark, retired general of the United States Army, was elected President of the American Resistance Government. The Rush Limbaugh Show, hosted by Rush Limbaugh himself, had become the primary radio program of the American Resistance and was comparable to Radio Free America and the Voice of Freedom in the now illegal fictional works of Red Dawn and Homefront respectively. US President Tulsi Gabbard declared the American Resistance to be a domestic terrorist organization with no legitimacy whatsoever. Following the assassination of Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev during a diplomatic visit to the United States in January 2020, the Russian military began mass arrests of American Resistance members as well as sympathizers and even family members. The United Nations General Assembly voted to formally recognize the pro-Russian US federal government while simultaneously denouncing the American Resistance as a terror group with absolutely no regard for the Geneva Conventions nor the rule of war. Only the veto power of the United Kingdom saved the Resistance from a UN Security Council Resolution.

Commonwealth Union

The withdrawal of the United States from the international scene triggered a power vacuum throughout the West. In an effort to fill in the void, the Commonwealth Union, aka the Second British Empire, was founded by the post-EU United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms. Another goal was the creation of a new global superpower meant to replace the United States and to counter Russia's growing domination around the globe. The Commonwealth Union also aligned with Japan and South Korea to defend both countries from a potential attack from the Chinese.

People's Republic of China

Having been neutral during World War III with the exception of a military incursion into North Korea in coordination with a coup there, the People's Republic of China was able to solidify its hold over the East and South China Seas including further construction of artificial islands and military adventuralism in the disputed Spratly Islands. A border skirmish between China and Russian-backed Vietnam took place during the height of the war which resulted in a steady decline in Sino-Russian diplomatic relations. Following the end of World War III and the dissolution of NATO, China was able to take advantage of the vacuum left by the American withdrawal by invading Taiwan. The All Russian Federation, the Commonwealth Union, and the People's Republic of China are currently in an undeclared tripolar cold war. North Korea was formally annexed into China in 2020.

People

Incumbent World Leaders

Leader	Description
Vladimir Putin	President of the All Russian Federation and is considered to be the most powerful man on the planet.
Xi Jinping File:Xi jinping.jpg	President of the People's Republic of China and General Secretary of the Communist Party of China.
Elizabeth II	Head of the Commonwealth Union and Queen of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms.
Tulsi Gabbard	47th President of the United States of America and US Representative to the Federation Occupational Authority.
Wesley Clark	President of the American Resistance Government and Supreme Commander of the American Resistance Militia.
Greg Abbott	President of the Republic of Texas and the Commander-in-Chief of the Texan Liberation Front.

Other Political and Military Leaders

Person	Description
Andrey Serdyukov File:400px-Andrey Serdyukov, 2018.jpg	Russian Army General and current Prefect of the Federation Occupational Authority of the United States.
Sergey Shoygu	Prime Minister of the All Russian Federation and Vladimir Putin's likely successor for the presidency in 2024.
Boris Gromov	Executive Secretary of the Union of Sovereign States.

Other Notable People

Person	Description
Rush Limbaugh	Host of the The Rush Limbaugh Show on Resistance Radio.