hoi4 Ch 1

Chapter 1 - 1936: A Tattered World

Nearly 40 years after the greatest war ever fought ended, the world is in peace. Countless died in the bloodshed, yet the strain it was meant to relieve still exists. Europe is held together by a tattered mess of alliances and promises; North and South America are at odds after their most recent war; and Asia is a mottled field of vainglorious nations vying for power.

2 years ago, in Norfolk, England, a man named Leo Szilard proposed the idea of a nuclear chain reaction caused by neutrons. He specifically detailed the possibility of an explosion, given the required mass, that the reaction could bring about. He patented the idea and gave it to the British Admiralty to be kept secret. His innocent intentions do not stop the possible destruction this idea could bring about...

Europe

Britain dominates Europe, controlling the Isles, southern Scandinavia, Normandy, and Brittany. Also in their domain are parts of Africa, Patagonia, India, Oceania, and Canada. Lotharingia takes up much of central Europe. It remains as the most powerful nation in the world. It lost the title of largest industry when the US overtook it earlier this century. Squeezed uncomfortably between British Normandy and Lotharingia is Picardy. Once a powerful kingdom, it is but a shell, and its most important function is as an obstacle between Britain and Lotharingia. Neither nation is friendly with Picardy (in fact, no one is particularly fond of them), so invasion is likely in their future.

Iberia is split between the Teutons and Castille. The Teutonic Order came out on top on the peninsula (both metaphorically and literally), and Castille has had to rely on its allies to keep from total conquest. To the very north of Iberia is the small nation of Andalusia. This tiny country acted as median for the Great War's peace conference.

The former Carinth-Hungarian nations are thriving. The South German Federation has re-branded itself as the Kingdom of Prussia, ruled by King Jacob von Haynau. Carinthia, which once came the closest to uniting Europe since the HRE-Byzantium union, now controls only Northern Italy. It is also despised by all its former subjects. Hungary has the largest realm in Europe, if you do not count Russia, and controls much of Eastern Europe, Southern Italy, and parts of North Africa. Poland, like Picardy, finds itself sandwiched between several nations. To its east, the United Baltic Provinces looms terrifying. To its west, the Kingdom of Prussia and the North German Federation lie.

Stretching from Eastern Europe all the way to the Pacific is the behemoth Russia. While it gives the outward appearance of a democracy, even giving itself the title of 'the East's Defender of Democracy', corruption, persecution, and political assassinations are a common occurrence. Another 'democratic' nation is Russia's ally to the west, Sweden. It also suffers from the same political ailments that inflict Russia.

Middle East

Eretna rules the Middle East. While most of the independent nations of the Middle East are in chaos, recovering from the Middle Eastern wars from nearly 40 years before, Eretna stays strong. It, like Sweden, is allied with Russia and, like both of them, also suffers from a false democracy. Castille also controls a large part of the Middle East and North Africa. Fascist Arabia controls parts here and there, most of which is along the west coast of the Red Sea and a large part of Morocco. The rest is split between the nations resulting from the Civil War: Turkestan, Sanaa, Qara Koyunlu, Persia, Kurdistan, and Iraq.

Asia

Japan hungers for more conquest. At the moment, the Empire controls the home islands, Formosa, and Korea, but its eyes are set on China. China is currently locked in a standoff between Wu China, an imperialistic nation seeking to unite the Empire, and True China, a democratic alliance between the Yue and the Yi, who want to create a united democratic China.

Oceania

A few large independent nations still rule in Oceania. The kingdoms of Pagarruyung, Brunei, and Ternate control many of the large islands. Much of the rest is owned by Britain, Iraq, Haiti, and Castille. The Philippines is owned by the USA. Australia is split between Haiti, Britain, and Castille.

America

North America, with the exception of Cuba and de Nederlandse Antillen, is united in the Anglo Alliance, led by the USA and her partner Britain. Cuba and Antillen have both fallen to fascist revolutions, and they stand opposed to the US's alliance.

Much of South America is hostile to the Anglo Alliance. Brazil and Chile, in the Union of Silver, are still recovering from the war. Peru, Colombia, and Venezuela are controlled by fascists. It is clear the US has no friends in the South.

With Japan looking for conquests to the West, the fascists to the South, and Russia's Stali Pact to the East, the Anglo Alliance is surrounded by enemies. Despite the tight-nit alliance, the strength of the free world dwindles in comparison to the growing numbers of fascists and tyrants. The next decade promises more bloodshed than ever before seen in the history of the world.