A Broken Deal, A Broken Nation: Poland, February 1937 -June 1937

Poland's position on the home front is now secure. With a new government and a new President, We can begin to plan our next moves

From where we left of, Igancy Jan Paderwski is our newly elected President and will remain as such for the next few years. His faction of Social Conservatives is dominated by members of the military and pre-war aristocracy. They're popular enough for now, but with a lack of policies beyond developing Poland its unclear as to how long they'll last before internal squabbles overwhelm them.

Any hopes the President had of a quiet introduction to the world of Geopolitics is shattered when a Syndicalist revolt in the Netherlands overthrows the Dutch Royal Family. How popular syndicalism is in the country is unclear, but its obvious that the rising would have been impossible without foreign support.

The surge of syndicalism in Holland has caused the governments popularity to rally.

New research on how to disperse our industry comes to the fore.

But our development must continue, and quicker!

The Austro-Hungarian Empire collapses! With the failure of the Ausgleich of 1937 the Austrians and Hungarians enter open conflict with one another. This is the most serious breach of the global order since the end of the Weltkrieg and it directly borders Poland

The reports of fighting are confirmed as the Government in Vienna announces 'mass civil unrest' in Budapest just as Budapest declares independence.

The war would turn former comrades on each other. Here Hungarian Soldiers can be seen, with many parts of their uniform simply modified from the stores of the Common army as the Hungarian Honved was unable to meet the demand for the newly enlarged army

Sensing blood in the water, the Italians declare war on Austria as well. Talk in Poland is of the similarities to the winter of 1937 and the summer of 1914 as the conflict spreads like wildfire.

The Italian army is far better equipped with a better supply chain compared to their Hungarian counterparts, although their combat pedigree is somewhat lacking since the defeats of the Weltkrieg.

Montenegro secedes as well, although this does little to expand the conflict

Galician troops are ill equipped but determined. Unfortunately determination doesn't stop artillery barrages.

The Romanians too smell blood and they declare war on Hungary to reclaim what they believe to be lost land. The Galicians find themselves at war with the Hungarians, an entirely unpleasant scenario for our own forces.

However around now its noticed that the Austrian system of puppet and client states has collapsed. Galicia is now no longer ruled from Vienna, but is fully independent.

Polish Generals see this differently. The nation is ripe for a cheap and easy annexation.

Serbia joins too! At this point, the Military begins to strengthen its frontline forces, renaming them the 'Legion of Liberation' to be commanded by the talented General Okulucki-Niedzwiadek. A respectable and comptent General. It is given 4 divisions, including the sole Polish Cavalry formation. It's sent to the Border with Galicia as Hungarian troops shatter Galician defences and reach the Vistula and the outskirts of Krakow

'If the Hungarians are able to march through Krakow and Lwow the cities will be lost to us forever. If a few spare rifles can help keep the cities under Galician rule, and not rule from Budapest or Vienna, its a small price to pay'

Our infrastructure improves yet again. This'll be crucial for the future, especially if the Galician problem is to solve itself

Our new priority is expanding our universities. A new school of further education is to be build in Lodz.

More and more factories are complete, and construction time has nearly halved. What progress!

In the US south, Federal troops take and hold Little Rock, a step on the road to the Southern capital Atlanta.

But disaster in the North as Syndicalists take Washington! Syndicalist Flags are photographed flying from the top of the Washington monument. Whilst fierce fighting takes place over the White House the federal government has already slipped away to the east.

US troops fought bravely, but they could do little to stop the relentless advance of the Syndicalists. As General MacArthur was evacuated, he was heard to promise to return to Washington.

With so much conflict, its easy for the military to secure funding for another infantry division. Especially since the leaders of the majority party understand its purpose is not entirely defensive.

'Emergency' plans are drawn up to have Polish cavalry cross the Vistula in the event of war with Galicia to secure the crossings into and out of Krakow. This is the first time these ideas have been put to paper and represents a definite moment in Polish policy. The nation was to be unified, by force if required.

Serbian forces make huge gains in Bosnia. Sarajevo has already fallen

And the Bosnians are aware their plight is useless. Austria's Balkan hegemony has gotten a mighty dent

The new Serbian border extends almost to the Adriatic.

A large reason for the victory was the combat ability of the Serbian army. They would prove a far more difficult foe for the Austrians than they could possibly have comprehended

The Authoritarians remain vocal and in our government. The president insists they have a right to be heard in the new democracy even as Generals cry treason.

Training will be completed by the autumn (although exercises will likely take place well into the winter to give them yet another edge in combat) giving our military much needed firepower and strength for next years campaigning season

Budapest has fallen! Surely the Hungarians cannot withstand the Austrians now

Heavy fighting left the city a shell of its former self, and all of the major bridges over the Danube where destroyed by the retreating Hungarians.

Trying to buy time, the Hungarians trade their Romanian lands for peace.

but it'll likely not be enough. The end is in sight for the Magyars

The new school is Lodz is complete! now our industrial and intellectual development will procede even quicker!

After the constitution day revelries have died down, a view of Poland in 1937 is possible. The army now maintains a watchful eye on the Galician border as well as significant garrisons in all of Polands regions.

Polish industry grows stronger everyday. Here workers in Lodz assemble automobiles based off of German designs for export and, increasingly, domestic use.

Research continues to strengthen the nation. In particular the air force are ecstatic at their new fighter plane being developed.

Meanwhile the army are excited at their new production lines being prepared.

Just in time too, as a new civil war breaks out in Spain!

The Civil war seems rather unbalanced, as the Kingdom can rely on far larger reserves of men over the Carlists

Hopes that this would be a syndicalist-less war are quickly squashed as the Spanish rise up, no doubt with French help

Its now a three way civil war

More detailed analysis reaches Poland. One can only pray for a quick conclusion to the war

The borders now look more even, even as fighting erupts in Madrid and the Basque country

And then breaking news!

The fall of Madrid causes the Spainish royal family to flee to Portugal. Its now the Carlists against the Syndicalists as Royalists either flee or defect

Hungarian troops have been removed from Galicia. Galicias security is now ensured. At least as far as the threat from Hungary

Secure enough that we may remove our aid to them.

As may comes to an end, as does Hungary as the Hungarians capitulate.

...However Galicia remains fully independent with no alliances. The stage is set for the liberation of the region.

June draws in to the sight of Austrian troops marching in celebration in Vienna

But in Spain the peace is shattered by the sounds of a new and brutal civil war.

And in Warsaw new maps are poured over of cities with familiar names. War is now seemingly less a possibility, more an inevitability.