Winning the Peace: Poland, May 1938-December 1938

Poland stands united with Galicia for the first time in centuries, but this poses wholly new problems to the young Republic

Once the reunion celebrations die down, the Government must return to the key issues of the day. In particular the Romanian Government has petitioned for the return of the province of Bukovina, home to many Romanians. Unwilling to deal with the potential fallout of denying this right to the Romanians, and sympathetic to their cause of uniting all Romanians under one banner, the Government accepts near immediately to negotiate the issue.

This throws off the Romanian diplomat sent to Warsaw to discuss the issue, who appeared to expect something of an incident with the Poles

Bukovina is, no doubt, a beautiful part of the world and Poland is sad to lose it, but happy for the Romanians who will be free at last to reunite

The negotiations last little more than a day, with Poland willing to accept Oil in exchange to help fuel the new industries picked up from Galicia. One clause does stipulate freedom of movement between the region for people who can prove that they, or their ancestors, lived there. This effectively means that border enforcement agencies don't have to move from their established positions

An overview of our logistical situation reveals that, aside from the pre-existing Ursus shortage we've come through the war rather well. We've also inherited a large number of Galician tanks which our officers are pouring over to think of ways to integrate them, and tanks in General, into the army

Our popularity rises upon news that we intend to implement a new air safety scheme so that in a plane crash, all are survivors. It proves again to be the bane of the aeroplane industry, so we don't do it

Instead energies are focused on repairing the signifigant damage done to Galicia. The Galicians attempted to destroy as many bridges over the Vistula as they could in their retreat, but due to the rapid retreat from Krakow the largest remain

Romanian oil will allow for our factories to run into the night until the stockpile runs out in about a year

The air-force has completed its post-war catalouging and it seems that casualties have been exceedingly light. One bomber was shot down by enemy machine guns over Krakow and another crashed when trying to land after a sortie. The Air force deems the losses 'acceptable' but expresses a dire need for replacements

Romanian forces are slowly making their way toward Sofia. Will the Bulgarians break?

Romanian troops now pose a real threat to the Bulgarian state. Bucharests spearheads are now closer to Sofia than the Danube

And in Russia the Whites have come close to cutting off Petrograd. Capturing the ancient capital of the Tsars would be a mightly impressive feather in the cap of the Whites

Petrograders now live in constant fear of White artillery barrages. Reports from within the city are harrowing, as the blockade cuts food but the Reds up the workload of the civilian population in order to build barricades and dig trenches

In Poland the first domestic tanks enter production. Resources are painfully short, but right now there is no pressing need for the tanks

An engineer publishes a report into more efficient ways to spread out our industrial capacity. This'll no doubt come in handy in the years to come

We instead turn our attention to the problem of Oil. Whilst we currently have Romania's gifted stockpile the oil fields of Galicia have been less prolific than hoped. There is a need for alternate sources, and it seems that synthetic production may be a way to fulfil our needs

Our efforts at developing our doctrines is now complete. Our lessons from the constitution day war will now be studied in more detail. Of note as well is the rapid recovery of the damage done by the constitution day war

Our equipment shortages cannot persist. Our next task is dealing with this by producing more military factories

From the middle east news arrives that the Egyptians have declared war on the Ottoman empire. This recieved rather a lot of attention in Poland with many expressing their support for Egypt, drawing similarities between the Polish struggle and the Egyptian fight

A complete contrast to the Russian war, this war will take place in some of the hottest, driest and sandiest conditions imaginable. Fighting in these conditions will be a task for both sides

A new and incredibly ambitious industrial project is announced with the end goal being a massive increase in industrial capacity for the entire nation. A key part of this is a Warsaw to Krakow highway

In the Balkans a curious event occurs as Romanian troops reach the east bank of the Danube where they stare across into Serbia. A large Bulgarian pocket is trapped between Austria, Serbia and Romania. Both nations are performing admirably. Serbia in particular has done a sterling job of seeing off the Austrians

Petrograd has fallen to the whites! church bells ring across White held territory as the news of the capitals liberation is announced

Petrograd was rocked by the siege and many civilians died, but due to its short nature and the warm summer weather it was spared the worst conditions that could've prevailed. Red Cross officials breath a sigh of relief as a winter or prolonged Petrograd seige could've brought on an unparalleled humanitarian crisis

The Ottomans, seeking to control the eastern Mediterranean, lash out at Cyprus

One of Polands great Patriots has died. He'll be given a grand funeral in Warsaw

in Spain the syndicalists rack up success after success, with the Carlists remaining divisions forced back to Spanish Galicia

The Whites summer offensive has succeeded in capturing Petrograd but at huge costs. The Whites have taken thousands more casualties

In the US the Southern and Northern Secessionists fight along the Potomac. The Federal Government has lost its Atlantic ports and the entire eastern seaboard

The loss of the Atlantic ports effectively made the US Atlantic fleet homeless and with no clear command structure it was forced to unilaterally relocate to Guantanamo bay in Cuba until such a time that they could return to the continental United states.

News from Vienna of their 'crushing victories' in the war against the breakaway states slowly draws up. Reports from the embassy in Vienna reveal that this is likely due to the fact that Austria is, almost unthinkably, failing to defeat the Serbians and have taken horrendous casualties for no gains

Austrian troops fighting the Serbs are becoming increasingly frustrated. The war is going poorly, and most of these men have fought in the rapidly victorious Hungarian and Italian campaigns. Being bogged down against the Serbs is an entirely new experience

On the other hand, the Serbs force these casualties through expert use of machine guns and terrain. Many times Austrian advances have found themselves surrounded by hidden machine gun posts. Far fewer are the times these advances escape without massive casualties.

Yet more wars are declared as the Syndicalist menace rises in Brazil

The two cities of Rio and Sao Paulo act as the capitals for the rival factions. Its certain almost all fighting will take place on the coastline between the two

One of our ministers dies as news of the Arabian surrender to the Ottomans comes in. No relation between the events is established

With the Serbs doing so well against the Austrians the Government establishes an aid shipment to Belgrade via the new 'Romanian route'. 250 rifles may not seem like much but it'll help supplement Serbians own beleaguered industry

In light of the new threats facing the state a new head of the armed forces is appointed. General Haller, veteran of the Polish Legions and the Blue Army is a suitably capable leader of this force. His expertise in Logistics will also stretch our finite resources as far as they can go

A new Boer war breaks out in South Africa. When will the violence stop?

New infantry equipment is designed. The Polish solider is increasingly well equipped

In its place we develop new training and equipment for our mountain troops. When we get some that is

Polish diplomats are suprised to learn of the return of the Kingdom of Spain after its defeat earlier in the civil war

The reality is that much worse. For some reason Spainish Galicia has been given to the Kingdom of Spain despite the syndicalists being on the brink of a major victory

New equipment designs are given grants to speed up their development. We continue to prepare grants for equipment after this as well

The Romanians now have a decided advantage over the Bulgarians, hopefully that war will be over soon

In America the Federal Government are forced west of the Mississippi aside from a few bridgeheads in the north. Will the Union survive

Morale is starting to become a major issue for Government troops. Many of them have been in retreat for months and more than a few lost friends and comrades in the loss of DC. For the first time, many are questioning their own ability to restore the Republic

The last drops of Romanian oil are used as the stockpiles run dry. We'll have to rely on our own or imported means from now on, although tank production has increased to weekly deliveries instead of monthly ones, and our new equipment grants are put through

Its again time to focus on our doctrines, new grants are prepared for their research

The American Unionists reach the great lakes! With New England only a short while away, its unknown if they'll see as legitimate the Canadian occupation of those states. They're also in the process of working their way up the Eastern Seaboard

In the West though the US federal government is making some inroads into Wisconsin and Illinois, with Miluwakke in their sights The CSA are under major threat of collapse under pressure from the West, South and soon possibly the East

The liberation of the city would be a major boon for the Denver government, as well as being a useful stepping stone on the route to Chicago

Japan declares war on Mongolia, expecting a quick victory

Romania succeeds in its war against Bulgaria!

Romania now stretches from the Aegean to Bessarabia. A true Balkan behemoth

Given the newly adjusted power balance in our region of europe, it seems appropriate to secure our relations with Romania. Polish diplomats talk amongst themselves of an anti-Austrian Warsaw-Bucharest axis

And with good reason, the Austrians continue to get pushed back by the Serbs and they continue to take massive casualties for the pleasure

New doctrines detailing methods to delay the enemy are put into practise throughout the Polish army

With research facilities and funds freed up we turn our attention to new methods of construction.

1938 draws to a close, and what a year its been! Poland has been reunited under the republic, and the great cities of Lwow and Krakow are once again under Polish control with minimal loss of life

In Bucharest Romanian troops parade to celebrate the crushing victories of the past two years. First in Hungary and then in Bulgaria Romania's young men have proven themselves excellent warriors, and at last a Balkan nation has the capacity to rival Austria

Speaking of whom, Austria continues to throw its armies against the Danube and it continues to see them come back in coffins. What will break first, Serbia's armies or Austria's resolve?

In the Americas too war rages as civil wars in the USA and Brazil are waged. No continent is free from the fighting. Will 1939 be any different?