Stars and Sickles - An Alternative Cold War
- Thread starter Hrvatskiwi
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- cold war
Indonesia could use a segment or two. After all, they had the world's third largest Communist party up until they were thoroughly slaughtered by Suharto's forces. Perhaps a US intervention there instead of Vietnam? (esp. considering the strategic importance of the Straits of Malacca)
I could also suggest some alternate paths for post-colonial Africa to take, once TTL reaches the 60's (*Cough* Congo *Cough*).
Judging by that excerpt from his memoirs, and depending on how hawkish future regimes will be, that's likely going to be the case.
for the moment i wonder how they react in USA
in OTL they saw how communism expand, start to worry, then to panic, then the witch hunt began and the rise of Joseph McCarthy.
In this TL Communism expand a lot faster
will Wallace be publicly attack by Anti-communist force in US ?
will Joseph McCarthy or other start a impeachment against the President ?
On post of China / Korea, i'm curious what event butterfly here, two Chinas ?
in OTL they saw how communism expand, start to worry, then to panic, then the witch hunt began and the rise of Joseph McCarthy.
In this TL Communism expand a lot faster
will Wallace be publicly attack by Anti-communist force in US ?
will Joseph McCarthy or other start a impeachment against the President ?
On post of China / Korea, i'm curious what event butterfly here, two Chinas ?
Except that Roosevelt was determined to replace Wallace. A group of senior Democrat power brokers were convinced that with Wallace on the ticket, the Democrats would lose in 1944, and Roosevelt accepted their insistence that Wallace must go.
Truman did not "usurp" anything. He agreed to accept the VP nomination only after Roosevelt told him by phone he wanted Truman in place of Wallace.
Truman already knew that Roosevelt wanted to drop Wallace, but he thought that Roosevelt wanted James Byrnes. He went to the convention expecting to make a nominating speech for Byrnes.
It is interesting that in 1940, Roosevelt had to bully the convention into accepting Wallace; and in 1944, Roosevelt had to bully the convention into dropping Wallace.
Hey guys, sorry it's been so long since an update, I've been super busy 
, but I will be bringing up a new update in the next few days, on East Asia.
But I'd like to know if you guys have any suggestions for the Chinese Civil War, Korean War, US occupation of Japan etc. Just throw around ideas. Although I have a pretty good idea of the direction I'll take the CCW and KW in, I'd like to see what y'all think.
, but I will be bringing up a new update in the next few days, on East Asia.But I'd like to know if you guys have any suggestions for the Chinese Civil War, Korean War, US occupation of Japan etc. Just throw around ideas. Although I have a pretty good idea of the direction I'll take the CCW and KW in, I'd like to see what y'all think.
Maybe have US occupation of Japan fail or be unsustainable? Or the Japs resisting so much that they go outright commie?
If that is the case, or the US does not develop the bomb (or if Japan does not surrender and provokes Operation Downfall), Japan goes commie as the People's Democratic Republic of Japan. It has probably got a Juche-like, extreme ideology, and thus the Korean War will either not take place at all, or it will end in a total win for "North" Korea.
Otherwise, have the KW won by the North, just as the CCW is won by Maoists (maybe with a Kuomintang base a bit larger, i.e. also on Mainland China or Hainan), and then start a proxy war in Japan!
19..-1949/50?: Chinese Civil War, Mao wins (since you are, according to your title at least, a "Socialist Revolutionary").
1950: Short Korean War, the US is occupied with crushing resistance to Japan, Kim and his forces win within a few months.
1951-1956 (or so): Japanese War. The US is still unable to crush resistance, and the USSR and China, at this time still as best friends, intervene on the side of the JCP!
Also, I would love Germany covered! But most of all, we need a map!
EDIT: I am loving your TL attempt, it is even able to substitutes for MissWhatsittoya's TL on hold! And that does mean something! And I can assist you with mapmaking if you are unable to do that.
If that is the case, or the US does not develop the bomb (or if Japan does not surrender and provokes Operation Downfall), Japan goes commie as the People's Democratic Republic of Japan. It has probably got a Juche-like, extreme ideology, and thus the Korean War will either not take place at all, or it will end in a total win for "North" Korea.
Otherwise, have the KW won by the North, just as the CCW is won by Maoists (maybe with a Kuomintang base a bit larger, i.e. also on Mainland China or Hainan), and then start a proxy war in Japan!
19..-1949/50?: Chinese Civil War, Mao wins (since you are, according to your title at least, a "Socialist Revolutionary").
1950: Short Korean War, the US is occupied with crushing resistance to Japan, Kim and his forces win within a few months.
1951-1956 (or so): Japanese War. The US is still unable to crush resistance, and the USSR and China, at this time still as best friends, intervene on the side of the JCP!
Also, I would love Germany covered! But most of all, we need a map!
EDIT: I am loving your TL attempt, it is even able to substitutes for MissWhatsittoya's TL on hold! And that does mean something! And I can assist you with mapmaking if you are unable to do that.
Artatochor
Banned
I've got a dreary scenario in mind for Japan. After the atomic bombings, Hirohito loses his usually calmer mind, and in desperation, green-lights biological weapons to be used against US soil. Like in Geon's timeline(How Silent Fall The Cherry Blossoms), the attack is carried out by Seiran planes from surviving I-400 subs. He also authorizes surrendering only to the Soviets. So, America may find itself unable to exact revenge on the Japanese for the terrifying casualties caused by the disease.
Or the US occupation of Japan may simply be like an earlier Vietnam. Some parts of the Imperial Army, Navy and Airforce chip in, bound to help their country, no matter what would the ruling ideology be.
Or the US occupation of Japan may simply be like an earlier Vietnam. Some parts of the Imperial Army, Navy and Airforce chip in, bound to help their country, no matter what would the ruling ideology be.
katchen
Banned
I'm waiting to see what you have in mind for Yugoslavia since your name suggests that you are Croatian as well as from New Zealand. Will Tito hold Yugoslavia together? Will Tito retain his indepandence? For that matter, will the Russians stay out of Northern Italy? And will the Communists win or lose Italy's 1948 elections (they lost by a narrow margin with a lot of help from the CIA)? If the Communists win in Italy, what happens to the Vatican?
And what happens with the British Mandate in Palestine? Henry Wallace is hostile to the creation of a Jewish State. Does the Yishuv simply fight a guerrilla war to drive the British out of Palestine anyway, Viet Minh style? Do the Russians help them and does Israel then become a Communist Russian ally, maybe alongside the Kurds and possibly the Alawites and the Druse in Syria?
And what happens with the British Mandate in Palestine? Henry Wallace is hostile to the creation of a Jewish State. Does the Yishuv simply fight a guerrilla war to drive the British out of Palestine anyway, Viet Minh style? Do the Russians help them and does Israel then become a Communist Russian ally, maybe alongside the Kurds and possibly the Alawites and the Druse in Syria?
Chapter 5a: The Calm Before the Storm - The Far East (1940s)
Opening Moves: The Far East Pt.1
As the Japanese signed the document of surrender aboard the USS Missouri, preparations for war were already being made in China. Whilst Japanese armies on the mainland surrendered to Soviet and Chinese Nationalist forces, the rival Chinese factions prepared for a final chapter to their long civil war. The Kuomintang (KMT), led by Generalissimo Chiang Kai-Shek, were considered by most the legitimate government of China, and had access to larger stocks of weaponry, particularly artillery and armour. By contrast, Mao Zedong's Chinese Communist Party (CCP) forces were experienced in guerrilla warfare and commanded the loyalty of the vast majority of Chinese, who were agrarian peasantry. These peasants were attracted to the Maoist forces by the prospects of land reform, which appealed immensely to the starving and poverty-stricken farmers, who were promised land off of their semi-feudal landlords. These landlords were largely supported by the pervasively corrupt Kuomintang.
The first post-war peace conference between the KMT and CCP was held in Chongqing between August 28, 1945 and October 10, 1945. Although both sides rhetorically supported the idea of peaceful reconstruction, battles continued throughout the peace process. In the meantime, in order to gain a better negotiating position, both parties jockeyed for an advantageous position. The Soviets, having occupied Manchuria after Operation August Storm, allowed the CCP to take full control of North-East China. Chiang Kai-Shek agreed with the Soviets to delay the Soviet withdrawal until Chiang had redeployed his best forces to Manchuria, but under orders from Stalin, Marshal Rodion Malinovsky prevented the KMT from moving troops into the area, and armed Mao's guerrillas with captured Japanese weaponry. In response, American planes transported KMT troops into strategic cities of North China such as Peking and Tientsin. Airlifts were required due to CCP control of the surrounding countryside. In the winter of 1945, the KMT began an offensive intended to prevent the CCP from solidifying their position in Northern China. Kuomintang forces were supported by Close Air-Support (CAS) squadrons of the USAAF, which allowed Kuomintang forces to capture Chinchow [9] and advance halfway to Mukden, before a CCP offensive on the Shantung Peninsula drove out KMT forces (although US Marines in Tsingtao managed to rebuff Maoist attacks). The attack on US forces had a powerful effect on the opinions of the US foreign policy elite. Whilst Wallace vetoed any direct action by US ground forces, he authorised the positioning of more USAAF forces in China, under the command of General George C. Marshall.[10]
In March of 1946, Malinovsky's Soviet troops finally began to withdraw from Manchuria, but purposely delayed their withdrawal to allow CCP militias to take control of areas formerly under Soviet occupation. The Soviets played a double game: on the negotiating table, they made deals with the Nationalists for economic and industrial development (Stalin's plan in case of a KMT victory), whilst on the other hand supporting Mao's revolutionaries in their attempt to bring socialism to the world's most populous nation. The CCP's consolidation of power in the North-East coincided with an increasingly strict style of rule by the Nationalists: business interests aligned with the KMT seized most financial institutions, businesses and factories. They also hoarded supplies and used coercive recruitment techniques. This would prove counter-productive, generating resentment against the KMT, even in urban areas where the Communists were less popular. Severe deprivations ensued from such severe policies, and the unemployment rate in Shanghai almost hit 40% in 1946. Increasing levels of civil unrest were becoming problematic for Chiang, and sabotage was becoming increasingly common. To assist Chiang, vast numbers of combat-ready US forces began to trickle into Chinese ports...[11]
Meanwhile in Korea, the former Japanese colony was divided between the Soviet occupation zone in the North and the US occupation zone in the South. The superpowers soon set up client states on the peninsula: Kim Il-Sung's "Democratic People's Republic of Korea" (DPRK) in the North, and Syngman Rhee's "Republic of Korea" (ROK) in the South. Although in the 1943 Cairo Agreement, the Allies had decided on an independent, unified Korea, the superpowers proved incapable of compromise, and the division of Korea was decided as a temporary measure. This division would become permanent, however, with the withdrawal of Soviet troops from the North in May 1946 (coinciding with the withdrawal from Manchuria)[12] and the American withdrawal in 1947 (due to increasing pressure in China)[13]. In the South, Rhee established what was increasingly looking like a police state, with major crackdowns on demonstrators, who protested against the cronyism that was becoming apparent in ROK. In the North, Kim instituted land reforms by nationalising private property as well as Japanese and collaborationist-owned commercial and industrial operations.
Rhee aligned himself with America, being a fervent anti-Communist, and conscious of the need for American military aid in his eventual goal of "unification by moving North". He attempted to curtail domestic opposition by enacting laws that expanded the powers of his security forces, led by his right-hand man Kim Chang-Ryong. As he affirmed his anti-Communist position, military aid flowed in from the United States and Japan. The leadership of the DPRK, threatened by Rhee's aggressive posturing and superior military, requested economic and military aid (including advisors) from the Soviet Union. The Soviets were happy to oblige. The tit-for-tat competition between the two Koreas would eventually explode into a war whose consequences are only just really being explored, as it was considered by most traditional historians as merely a sideshow of the Chinese Expedition, a humbling and traumatic experience for America's ego.
[9] OTL, Chinchow was as far as the KMT advanced, but they've done better ITTL, with American help.
[10] Marshall was in China in the period 1945-47, but he was not leading a military mission. Instead, he was trying to broker a coalition government of both Nationalists and Communists.
[11] There were already American troops in Chinese port cities, but this is gonna step it up a notch.
[12]ITTL, the Soviets withdraw much earlier, redeploying troops to Europe, partially in response to increasingly chilly relations with the Yugoslav government.
[13]ITTL, the Americans also withdraw from Korea ahead of schedule. This is due to the need to deploy troops in a more crucial theatre...
TO BE CONTINUED...
As the Japanese signed the document of surrender aboard the USS Missouri, preparations for war were already being made in China. Whilst Japanese armies on the mainland surrendered to Soviet and Chinese Nationalist forces, the rival Chinese factions prepared for a final chapter to their long civil war. The Kuomintang (KMT), led by Generalissimo Chiang Kai-Shek, were considered by most the legitimate government of China, and had access to larger stocks of weaponry, particularly artillery and armour. By contrast, Mao Zedong's Chinese Communist Party (CCP) forces were experienced in guerrilla warfare and commanded the loyalty of the vast majority of Chinese, who were agrarian peasantry. These peasants were attracted to the Maoist forces by the prospects of land reform, which appealed immensely to the starving and poverty-stricken farmers, who were promised land off of their semi-feudal landlords. These landlords were largely supported by the pervasively corrupt Kuomintang.
The first post-war peace conference between the KMT and CCP was held in Chongqing between August 28, 1945 and October 10, 1945. Although both sides rhetorically supported the idea of peaceful reconstruction, battles continued throughout the peace process. In the meantime, in order to gain a better negotiating position, both parties jockeyed for an advantageous position. The Soviets, having occupied Manchuria after Operation August Storm, allowed the CCP to take full control of North-East China. Chiang Kai-Shek agreed with the Soviets to delay the Soviet withdrawal until Chiang had redeployed his best forces to Manchuria, but under orders from Stalin, Marshal Rodion Malinovsky prevented the KMT from moving troops into the area, and armed Mao's guerrillas with captured Japanese weaponry. In response, American planes transported KMT troops into strategic cities of North China such as Peking and Tientsin. Airlifts were required due to CCP control of the surrounding countryside. In the winter of 1945, the KMT began an offensive intended to prevent the CCP from solidifying their position in Northern China. Kuomintang forces were supported by Close Air-Support (CAS) squadrons of the USAAF, which allowed Kuomintang forces to capture Chinchow [9] and advance halfway to Mukden, before a CCP offensive on the Shantung Peninsula drove out KMT forces (although US Marines in Tsingtao managed to rebuff Maoist attacks). The attack on US forces had a powerful effect on the opinions of the US foreign policy elite. Whilst Wallace vetoed any direct action by US ground forces, he authorised the positioning of more USAAF forces in China, under the command of General George C. Marshall.[10]
In March of 1946, Malinovsky's Soviet troops finally began to withdraw from Manchuria, but purposely delayed their withdrawal to allow CCP militias to take control of areas formerly under Soviet occupation. The Soviets played a double game: on the negotiating table, they made deals with the Nationalists for economic and industrial development (Stalin's plan in case of a KMT victory), whilst on the other hand supporting Mao's revolutionaries in their attempt to bring socialism to the world's most populous nation. The CCP's consolidation of power in the North-East coincided with an increasingly strict style of rule by the Nationalists: business interests aligned with the KMT seized most financial institutions, businesses and factories. They also hoarded supplies and used coercive recruitment techniques. This would prove counter-productive, generating resentment against the KMT, even in urban areas where the Communists were less popular. Severe deprivations ensued from such severe policies, and the unemployment rate in Shanghai almost hit 40% in 1946. Increasing levels of civil unrest were becoming problematic for Chiang, and sabotage was becoming increasingly common. To assist Chiang, vast numbers of combat-ready US forces began to trickle into Chinese ports...[11]
Meanwhile in Korea, the former Japanese colony was divided between the Soviet occupation zone in the North and the US occupation zone in the South. The superpowers soon set up client states on the peninsula: Kim Il-Sung's "Democratic People's Republic of Korea" (DPRK) in the North, and Syngman Rhee's "Republic of Korea" (ROK) in the South. Although in the 1943 Cairo Agreement, the Allies had decided on an independent, unified Korea, the superpowers proved incapable of compromise, and the division of Korea was decided as a temporary measure. This division would become permanent, however, with the withdrawal of Soviet troops from the North in May 1946 (coinciding with the withdrawal from Manchuria)[12] and the American withdrawal in 1947 (due to increasing pressure in China)[13]. In the South, Rhee established what was increasingly looking like a police state, with major crackdowns on demonstrators, who protested against the cronyism that was becoming apparent in ROK. In the North, Kim instituted land reforms by nationalising private property as well as Japanese and collaborationist-owned commercial and industrial operations.
Rhee aligned himself with America, being a fervent anti-Communist, and conscious of the need for American military aid in his eventual goal of "unification by moving North". He attempted to curtail domestic opposition by enacting laws that expanded the powers of his security forces, led by his right-hand man Kim Chang-Ryong. As he affirmed his anti-Communist position, military aid flowed in from the United States and Japan. The leadership of the DPRK, threatened by Rhee's aggressive posturing and superior military, requested economic and military aid (including advisors) from the Soviet Union. The Soviets were happy to oblige. The tit-for-tat competition between the two Koreas would eventually explode into a war whose consequences are only just really being explored, as it was considered by most traditional historians as merely a sideshow of the Chinese Expedition, a humbling and traumatic experience for America's ego.
[9] OTL, Chinchow was as far as the KMT advanced, but they've done better ITTL, with American help.
[10] Marshall was in China in the period 1945-47, but he was not leading a military mission. Instead, he was trying to broker a coalition government of both Nationalists and Communists.
[11] There were already American troops in Chinese port cities, but this is gonna step it up a notch.
[12]ITTL, the Soviets withdraw much earlier, redeploying troops to Europe, partially in response to increasingly chilly relations with the Yugoslav government.
[13]ITTL, the Americans also withdraw from Korea ahead of schedule. This is due to the need to deploy troops in a more crucial theatre...
TO BE CONTINUED...
Artatochor
Banned
Nothing unusual going on in Japan yet. Soviets aren't going to forgive this much American intervention in China.
USA can not keep PRC down by aerial support and strategically placed troops for too long. They either need to give KMT full support or pull out. Regarding Korea, if the Korea war starts earlier than IOTL, plus the conflict in China, there will be hard to have any USA-Soviet diplomacy at all.
With more and more American troops now getting deployed into a quagmire in the making (Seems like Vietnam writ large to me), and your hint at increased Soviet-Yugoslav tensions, is Uncle Joe going to have the Red Army head in the direction of Sarajevo? Also, how are the Italian elections getting affected by all the PoDs so far?
A little humbling of America's ego is always a good thing
I agree with you on that count!
Chapter 5b: War Engulfs Asia - The Far East (1940s)
Opening Moves: The Far East Pt.2
In the July of 1946, Kuomintang forces mounted a strategic offensive on Communist territory with over 1.6 million troops. In the face of this massive assault, Mao's Communist forces instituted a strategy of "passive defence", falling back whilst harassing KMT forces, gradually eroding Nationalist military strength. After a year of fighting, this strategy proved successful, the KMT losing over a million troops, whilst the CCP had over 2 million troops under arms, largely mobilised from the peasantry in Communist-controlled areas. In March 1947, Chiang's forces achieved a propaganda victory by capturing Yan'an, but Communist forces rapidly counterattacked and retook the territory. This was followed by a general Communist offensive, culminating in the Liaoshen Campaign, which ended in a victory for the CCP. The Communist forces seized the cities of Shenyang and (after a lengthy siege resulting in the deaths of more than 150,000 from starvation) Changchun, where the elite KMT New 1st Army was captured.
The capture of these large Kuomintang forces, along with significant amounts of combined arms equipment, gave the Communists increased capability for mounting large-scale offensive operations. CCP acquisition of armour and heavy artillery panicked the US State Department, which authorised an increase in the number of US Marines stationed in Chinese coastal cities. After the disastrous KMT defeat in the Huaihai Campaign in early 1949, Marshall's forces were ordered by the new Dewey Administration[14] to engage CCP troops in active combat, rather than simply defend the cities. US forces were to be under their own command, but working in co-operation with the Nationalist Chinese military. US forces performed well in combat against the poorly-trained CCP armies, supported by American air power. whilst the Americans managed to secure areas near major ports such as Shanghai, they failed to take effective control over the countryside. US/KMT policy was to utilise American troops as "housecleaners" to rid rural areas of Communist forces, which was followed by KMT occupation, whilst American forces were deployed elsewhere. This strategy proved futile, as Communist forces, supported by the local peasantry, would eject KMT forces after the departure of American forces from the immediate area.
The inability of American forces to take control of the countryside also weakened their capacity to secure the coastal ports. Mao's forces cut off the cities from food supplies, necessitating mass import of food aid by the American military, increasing vastly the American operating costs in China[15]. In order to compensate for the dwindling KMT numbers and combat effectiveness, the United States mobilised a huge number of troops to fight the Maoist armies. By 1951, US forces numbered 450,000. In 1951, the introduction of the Sikorsky H-19 Chickasaw allowed increased mobility for US forces, making insertion into remote areas possible[16]. On a tactical level, there was still major shortcomings in troop transport. Although advantageous due to a lack of need for airstrips, the H-19s were highly vulnerable to enemy attack whilst landing, and several helicopters were disabled during or immediately after landing. At first, the Americans trying to counteract these dangers by bombing areas to soften resistance prior to landing. This proved counter-productive, in effect providing advance warning of where the Americans would attack. The failure of this strategy led to an increase in American R&D into the arming of transport helicopters for self-defense. Modified H-19s, armed with heavy machine guns, a 40mm cannon and rockets were deployed to provide self-defense capabilities during dangerous landings. Whilst further American R&D into armed helicopters would not have a major impact on the Chinese Expedition, it would be the basis for the development of American helicopter doctrine. Aside from their transport roles, the H-19s proved useful for "medivac" (medical evacuation) duties. This decreased the number of combat deaths dramatically, as well as the number of amputations.
Dewey's escalation of the conflict in North China proved to be in vain. American troops consistently defeated the Communist Chinese in open battle, but were incapable of securing a sustainable hold inland required to retain the coastal cities, due to political and budgetary reasons. In late 1952, American troops began to withdraw their troops back to the coastal cities, increasing their efforts to equip and train Kuomintang forces, rather than participating directly in the fighting on the ground. This preceded a general withdrawal of all US troops from China. By November of 1953, the KMT had been defeated on the Chinese mainland and fled to the island of Formosa. In the Western regions, the newly declared People's Republic of China (PRC) recognised the independence of the East Turkestan Republic (ETR), a Uyghur-led Soviet satellite state which controlled the "Sinkiang" region, once a part of China[17].
Whilst war raged in China, the Korean Peninsula was set ablaze. In 1950, troops of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) crossed the 38th parallel into the Republic of Korea (ROK). The DPRK army, equipped with heavy artillery and tanks supplied by the Soviet Union, rapidly advanced, routing the ROK army and capturing Seoul within a week. The Dewey Administration, whilst denouncing the invasion, did little to assist the corrupt South Korean regime of Syngman Rhee. The speed of the DPRK advance and the existing commitment to the war in China made intervention in Korea impractical. The prevailing attitude within the US State Department was that a unified Communist Korea would be easily undermined if pro-US governments were in place in both Japan and China, and therefore the Chinese theater was of paramount importance. Furthermore, a Communist Korea was not an immediate threat to Japan, given US naval dominance in the Pacific. After an unsuccessful last stand at Pusan, Rhee and his government fled to the United States, where many spent the rest of their lives in exile. Kim Il-Sung, leader of the DPRK, declared Seoul the capital of a unified Korea, which was immediately recognised by the Soviet Union and other friendly states. Evidence of ROK atrocities such as the Jeju Massacre were widely circulated, serving as effective propaganda by the new popular regime in Korea and as a means of demonising the United States by association.[18]
[14] ITTL, Republican candidate Thomas E. Dewey defeats Democratic candidate Harry Truman in the 1948 Presidential Election.
[15] ITTL, food aid was utilised by the US military in China in the same manner it was in OTL post-war Germany: weaken the opposition by using food to secure local support. Obviously, this policy was not feasible beyond large cities with large port capacity, and as such, was of limited strategic utility in the China theater.
[16]The Chickasaw was the US military's first true transport helicopter, and ITTL it has it's "trial by fire" in China, rather than Korea (as OTL). Given a more poorly-defined frontline compared to Korea, the Chickasaw sees more armament modification, creating an early nucleus for the concept of an "attack helicopter". This will have major effects on air cavalry doctrine in later years.
[17]In OTL, the ETR surrendered to the PRC, but ITTL, the Soviet Union is stronger and Maoist China is weaker and 'owes' more to Soviet support, so the ETR remains in existence as a member of the Soviet camp, ala Mongolia.
[18]Obviously, there has been no UN intervention in Korea ITTL.
In the July of 1946, Kuomintang forces mounted a strategic offensive on Communist territory with over 1.6 million troops. In the face of this massive assault, Mao's Communist forces instituted a strategy of "passive defence", falling back whilst harassing KMT forces, gradually eroding Nationalist military strength. After a year of fighting, this strategy proved successful, the KMT losing over a million troops, whilst the CCP had over 2 million troops under arms, largely mobilised from the peasantry in Communist-controlled areas. In March 1947, Chiang's forces achieved a propaganda victory by capturing Yan'an, but Communist forces rapidly counterattacked and retook the territory. This was followed by a general Communist offensive, culminating in the Liaoshen Campaign, which ended in a victory for the CCP. The Communist forces seized the cities of Shenyang and (after a lengthy siege resulting in the deaths of more than 150,000 from starvation) Changchun, where the elite KMT New 1st Army was captured.
The capture of these large Kuomintang forces, along with significant amounts of combined arms equipment, gave the Communists increased capability for mounting large-scale offensive operations. CCP acquisition of armour and heavy artillery panicked the US State Department, which authorised an increase in the number of US Marines stationed in Chinese coastal cities. After the disastrous KMT defeat in the Huaihai Campaign in early 1949, Marshall's forces were ordered by the new Dewey Administration[14] to engage CCP troops in active combat, rather than simply defend the cities. US forces were to be under their own command, but working in co-operation with the Nationalist Chinese military. US forces performed well in combat against the poorly-trained CCP armies, supported by American air power. whilst the Americans managed to secure areas near major ports such as Shanghai, they failed to take effective control over the countryside. US/KMT policy was to utilise American troops as "housecleaners" to rid rural areas of Communist forces, which was followed by KMT occupation, whilst American forces were deployed elsewhere. This strategy proved futile, as Communist forces, supported by the local peasantry, would eject KMT forces after the departure of American forces from the immediate area.
The inability of American forces to take control of the countryside also weakened their capacity to secure the coastal ports. Mao's forces cut off the cities from food supplies, necessitating mass import of food aid by the American military, increasing vastly the American operating costs in China[15]. In order to compensate for the dwindling KMT numbers and combat effectiveness, the United States mobilised a huge number of troops to fight the Maoist armies. By 1951, US forces numbered 450,000. In 1951, the introduction of the Sikorsky H-19 Chickasaw allowed increased mobility for US forces, making insertion into remote areas possible[16]. On a tactical level, there was still major shortcomings in troop transport. Although advantageous due to a lack of need for airstrips, the H-19s were highly vulnerable to enemy attack whilst landing, and several helicopters were disabled during or immediately after landing. At first, the Americans trying to counteract these dangers by bombing areas to soften resistance prior to landing. This proved counter-productive, in effect providing advance warning of where the Americans would attack. The failure of this strategy led to an increase in American R&D into the arming of transport helicopters for self-defense. Modified H-19s, armed with heavy machine guns, a 40mm cannon and rockets were deployed to provide self-defense capabilities during dangerous landings. Whilst further American R&D into armed helicopters would not have a major impact on the Chinese Expedition, it would be the basis for the development of American helicopter doctrine. Aside from their transport roles, the H-19s proved useful for "medivac" (medical evacuation) duties. This decreased the number of combat deaths dramatically, as well as the number of amputations.
Dewey's escalation of the conflict in North China proved to be in vain. American troops consistently defeated the Communist Chinese in open battle, but were incapable of securing a sustainable hold inland required to retain the coastal cities, due to political and budgetary reasons. In late 1952, American troops began to withdraw their troops back to the coastal cities, increasing their efforts to equip and train Kuomintang forces, rather than participating directly in the fighting on the ground. This preceded a general withdrawal of all US troops from China. By November of 1953, the KMT had been defeated on the Chinese mainland and fled to the island of Formosa. In the Western regions, the newly declared People's Republic of China (PRC) recognised the independence of the East Turkestan Republic (ETR), a Uyghur-led Soviet satellite state which controlled the "Sinkiang" region, once a part of China[17].
Whilst war raged in China, the Korean Peninsula was set ablaze. In 1950, troops of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) crossed the 38th parallel into the Republic of Korea (ROK). The DPRK army, equipped with heavy artillery and tanks supplied by the Soviet Union, rapidly advanced, routing the ROK army and capturing Seoul within a week. The Dewey Administration, whilst denouncing the invasion, did little to assist the corrupt South Korean regime of Syngman Rhee. The speed of the DPRK advance and the existing commitment to the war in China made intervention in Korea impractical. The prevailing attitude within the US State Department was that a unified Communist Korea would be easily undermined if pro-US governments were in place in both Japan and China, and therefore the Chinese theater was of paramount importance. Furthermore, a Communist Korea was not an immediate threat to Japan, given US naval dominance in the Pacific. After an unsuccessful last stand at Pusan, Rhee and his government fled to the United States, where many spent the rest of their lives in exile. Kim Il-Sung, leader of the DPRK, declared Seoul the capital of a unified Korea, which was immediately recognised by the Soviet Union and other friendly states. Evidence of ROK atrocities such as the Jeju Massacre were widely circulated, serving as effective propaganda by the new popular regime in Korea and as a means of demonising the United States by association.[18]
[14] ITTL, Republican candidate Thomas E. Dewey defeats Democratic candidate Harry Truman in the 1948 Presidential Election.
[15] ITTL, food aid was utilised by the US military in China in the same manner it was in OTL post-war Germany: weaken the opposition by using food to secure local support. Obviously, this policy was not feasible beyond large cities with large port capacity, and as such, was of limited strategic utility in the China theater.
[16]The Chickasaw was the US military's first true transport helicopter, and ITTL it has it's "trial by fire" in China, rather than Korea (as OTL). Given a more poorly-defined frontline compared to Korea, the Chickasaw sees more armament modification, creating an early nucleus for the concept of an "attack helicopter". This will have major effects on air cavalry doctrine in later years.
[17]In OTL, the ETR surrendered to the PRC, but ITTL, the Soviet Union is stronger and Maoist China is weaker and 'owes' more to Soviet support, so the ETR remains in existence as a member of the Soviet camp, ala Mongolia.
[18]Obviously, there has been no UN intervention in Korea ITTL.
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Chapter 6: The Long Hangover - Britain (1940s)
Opening Moves: The Occident (pt.1 Britain)
The late 1940s were largely a period of consolidation in Western Europe, with the notable exception of Belgium. British politics was most notable for the accession of a Labour government led by Clement Attlee, who (to the surprise of the international union) soundly defeated Conservative candidate and war leader Winston Churchill in the 1945 elections. Attlee's government focused on social policy, establishing the National Health Service (NHS), expanded council housing and nationalised major industries, including banking, civil aviation, coal, iron, steel and wireless. Given the expense of the expanded welfare state and the devastation Britain had endured during the Blitz, rationing and conscription continued throughout the 40s, albeit altered. In a section wave of nationalisations, electricity, gas and large swathes of the transport sector came under the control of the state. Despite the change from private to public ownership, and the expenses these curtailed, there was relatively little change to the structure of these industries, with existing management left intact. This dissatisfied many working-class Britons in nationalised industry, who hoped their unpopular overseers would be replaced by the state.
The Labour government's first term, that of the late 1940s, saw decreasing popularity caused by the consistently high prices of meat, the poor handling of nationalisation, and Aneuran Bevan's faux pas, a rabid diatribe against the Conservatives which alienated many Britons, who took pride in their culture of restraint. Labour only narrowly won the 1950 election.
The Labour government's foreign policy focused on collective security in Western Europe, alongside increasing disengagement with outside commitments, such as Palestine and South Asia, which they had fully vacated by 1948. Under Attlee, Britain pursued a nuclear program, primarily to produce nuclear weapons (coal was still seen as a sufficient power source, along with Middle Eastern oil imports). Labour's first term also saw Ireland leave the Commonwealth, becoming a fully independent and sovereign republic in 1948.
The late 1940s were largely a period of consolidation in Western Europe, with the notable exception of Belgium. British politics was most notable for the accession of a Labour government led by Clement Attlee, who (to the surprise of the international union) soundly defeated Conservative candidate and war leader Winston Churchill in the 1945 elections. Attlee's government focused on social policy, establishing the National Health Service (NHS), expanded council housing and nationalised major industries, including banking, civil aviation, coal, iron, steel and wireless. Given the expense of the expanded welfare state and the devastation Britain had endured during the Blitz, rationing and conscription continued throughout the 40s, albeit altered. In a section wave of nationalisations, electricity, gas and large swathes of the transport sector came under the control of the state. Despite the change from private to public ownership, and the expenses these curtailed, there was relatively little change to the structure of these industries, with existing management left intact. This dissatisfied many working-class Britons in nationalised industry, who hoped their unpopular overseers would be replaced by the state.
The Labour government's first term, that of the late 1940s, saw decreasing popularity caused by the consistently high prices of meat, the poor handling of nationalisation, and Aneuran Bevan's faux pas, a rabid diatribe against the Conservatives which alienated many Britons, who took pride in their culture of restraint. Labour only narrowly won the 1950 election.
The Labour government's foreign policy focused on collective security in Western Europe, alongside increasing disengagement with outside commitments, such as Palestine and South Asia, which they had fully vacated by 1948. Under Attlee, Britain pursued a nuclear program, primarily to produce nuclear weapons (coal was still seen as a sufficient power source, along with Middle Eastern oil imports). Labour's first term also saw Ireland leave the Commonwealth, becoming a fully independent and sovereign republic in 1948.
Truman didn't "usurp" anything. Roosevelt was persuaded by a group of Democrat party leaders that Wallace had to be removed from the ticket. Roosevelt, who was at his most devious and hypocritical in this maneuvering, agreed with them, but refused to tell Wallace that he was going to replace him. Instead he issued a sort of mealy-mouthed quasi-endorsement: "If I was a delegate I'd vote for Wallace."
Behind the scenes, various replacements were pushed. The front-runner was ex-Senator and Supreme Court Justice James Byrnes, the extremely able "Assistant President". Roosevelt all but explicitly told Byrnes that he was Roosevelt's choice.
Truman actually arrived at the convention expecting to make a nomination speech for Byrnes. But the party insiders didn't want Byrnes either. As a lapsed Catholic, he could alienate both Catholic and anti-Catholic voters; as a South Carolina Dixiecrat, he could alienate black voters. So Roosevelt picked Truman from among the suggestions made by the cabal. Truman was reluctant, feeling committed to Byrnes, until Roosevelt spoke to him on the phone.
Chapter 7: Preening and Posturing - France (1940s)
Opening Moves: The Occident (pt.2 France)
The French experience of the later half of the 1940s was one of instability and political turmoil. During the final months of the Second World War in Europe, and through 1945, war hero Charles de Gaulle led the Provisional Government of the French Republic. On 21st Oct 1945, legislative elections were held in France to elect a Constituent Assembly which would be responsible for drafting a constitution for the Fourth French Republic. De Gaulle and the Tripartisme alliance of the PCF (French Communist Party), MRP (Popular Republican Movement) and SFIO (French Section of the Workers International) voted in favour of a constitution, and 96% of French voters agreed with them. The PCF won the most seats in the French National Assembly, but were closely followed by the MRP, themselves tailed closely by the SFIO. Notably, the right-wing parties got little support, due to the their participation in the Petain government during the War. On the 13th Nov, de Gaulle was unanimously elected as Head of Government by the National Assembly. De Gaulle became increasingly frustrated by the parliamentary procedure, which hadn't been present during his leadership of the Provisional Government. De Gaulle devised a program of nationalisations and a new economic plan, but threatened to resign when the Communists proposed a 20% cut in military expenditure. In an attempt to use his personal prestige to hold the Assembly hostage, de Gaulle threatened to resign, leading political commentators across the Atlantic to characterise his actions as "an ego-driven tantrum not unexpected from a Frenchman". The MRP managed to cobble together a compromise, but on 20 January 1946, de Gaulle abruptedly resigned. This political ploy, intended to rally the French people behind him and restore him as a more powerful executive, backfired. The recovering economy (ironically largely caused by the actions of de Gaulle's government) made de Gaulle appear less indispensible. 'Combat', a Communist publication, said of the crisis: "there was no cataclysm; the plate did not crack".
De Gaulle was succeeded by Félix Gouin of the SFIO. Gouin's short tenure was marked by the introduction of widespread welfare programs, introducing the first ever compulsory retirement and worker's compensation laws, as well as the re-establishment of the 40-hour law and overtime pay. Workers councils were extended to firms with 50 workers, and industries including coal, gas and insurance were nationalised. In June 1946, Georges Bidault was elected by the National Assembly as the new President. Bidault, who had been involved in foreign affairs, had little enthusiasm for the role of President, and resigned in November after another round of elections. Léon Blum succeeded Bidault. Bidault's only notable changes in office was passing more laws regarding pensions and workers' compensation.
Blum called for unity of the centre-left and centre-right parties against the Gaullists and Communists, which didn't come to pass. His short, 5-week term in office was followed by Vincent Auriol as President and Paul Ramadier as Prime Minister. The Auriol/Ramadier government saw two major international crises: the Malagasy Uprising of 1947, and the Indochinese War.
The French experience of the later half of the 1940s was one of instability and political turmoil. During the final months of the Second World War in Europe, and through 1945, war hero Charles de Gaulle led the Provisional Government of the French Republic. On 21st Oct 1945, legislative elections were held in France to elect a Constituent Assembly which would be responsible for drafting a constitution for the Fourth French Republic. De Gaulle and the Tripartisme alliance of the PCF (French Communist Party), MRP (Popular Republican Movement) and SFIO (French Section of the Workers International) voted in favour of a constitution, and 96% of French voters agreed with them. The PCF won the most seats in the French National Assembly, but were closely followed by the MRP, themselves tailed closely by the SFIO. Notably, the right-wing parties got little support, due to the their participation in the Petain government during the War. On the 13th Nov, de Gaulle was unanimously elected as Head of Government by the National Assembly. De Gaulle became increasingly frustrated by the parliamentary procedure, which hadn't been present during his leadership of the Provisional Government. De Gaulle devised a program of nationalisations and a new economic plan, but threatened to resign when the Communists proposed a 20% cut in military expenditure. In an attempt to use his personal prestige to hold the Assembly hostage, de Gaulle threatened to resign, leading political commentators across the Atlantic to characterise his actions as "an ego-driven tantrum not unexpected from a Frenchman". The MRP managed to cobble together a compromise, but on 20 January 1946, de Gaulle abruptedly resigned. This political ploy, intended to rally the French people behind him and restore him as a more powerful executive, backfired. The recovering economy (ironically largely caused by the actions of de Gaulle's government) made de Gaulle appear less indispensible. 'Combat', a Communist publication, said of the crisis: "there was no cataclysm; the plate did not crack".
De Gaulle was succeeded by Félix Gouin of the SFIO. Gouin's short tenure was marked by the introduction of widespread welfare programs, introducing the first ever compulsory retirement and worker's compensation laws, as well as the re-establishment of the 40-hour law and overtime pay. Workers councils were extended to firms with 50 workers, and industries including coal, gas and insurance were nationalised. In June 1946, Georges Bidault was elected by the National Assembly as the new President. Bidault, who had been involved in foreign affairs, had little enthusiasm for the role of President, and resigned in November after another round of elections. Léon Blum succeeded Bidault. Bidault's only notable changes in office was passing more laws regarding pensions and workers' compensation.
Blum called for unity of the centre-left and centre-right parties against the Gaullists and Communists, which didn't come to pass. His short, 5-week term in office was followed by Vincent Auriol as President and Paul Ramadier as Prime Minister. The Auriol/Ramadier government saw two major international crises: the Malagasy Uprising of 1947, and the Indochinese War.