Turns of all countries; WW1 Game

Russian Empire 1900 (Laurent de Gouvion)

"The Russian Empire must change with the world it occupies"
-Speech of Sergei Witte in the State Council

At the dawn of the new century, the Russian Empire encompassed two continents and had their hands dipped in European and Asian intrigue. It was the beacon of absolutism against the Republican cause. However, Emperor Nicholas II has given authority to Sergei Witte, as Finance Minister (and soon to be Chief Minister) to dictate Russia's policies as equals to the Emperor. Witte's centrist stance does not spark much celebration in the State Council, he has proven himself to be a competent Minister, substantially improving Russian economy. Some predict he would be the Russian Bismarck, but that future is far, and the present has more pressing concerns.

The Russian Empire, having decided its territories too huge to manage on its own, gives limited autonomy to each region. Each region is led by a Governor appointed by the Emperor and approved by the Duma, with the Regional Council democratically elected. So far, the region that has been given the most autonomy is Poland, the Poles having their own nation in personal union with the Russian Empire. The Kingdom of Poland or Congress Poland of the earlier days is formed. The policy of Russification is curtailed, much to the relief of the non-Russian populace.

Sergei Witte proposes the formation of a State Duma, much to the chagrin of landed nobility and gentry. However, Witte argues that the Duma, being a lower house in the Russian Empire, would function as a means to gain political experience for sons of nobles as well as political representation. Through much effort, the State Duma is formed, with the Ministers from the State Duma and the State Council forming a Committee of Ministers.

The Ministry of National Education is formed, with Count Lev Tolstoy reluctantly appointed Minister. Dmitry Tolstoy's system of gymnasiums is heavily reformed, giving way to the system created by Milyutin in the cadet schools, dramatically changing the curriculum to focus more on Russian literature, modern language (electives of English, French, and German are only available as of now), civil education, the natural sciences, and mathematics. Extracurricular activity is encouraged in these schools, with fresh debate clubs and sport clubs propping up in these schools. As a result, homework is decreased to fit extracurricular activity.

The Ministry of National Education forms a Teacher's Gymnasium, a school for all public teachers to go to. Pedagogical improvements around the world are discussed and teaching experiments done. The teachers are rigorously schooled in the new curriculum, along with five-year tests to ensure competence in teachers.

The number of the "new" gymnasiums increase as more are being built, especially in rural areas. In the areas without gymnasiums, decentralized education is encouraged, with parents and the local community as educators. Elementary education promises many benefits to the Russian peasant, including less time conscripted in the military and possibility of higher pay.

Foreign investment, mainly British, flow to Russia. Industrial growth is expected as the money is used to build factories for government-owned companies or companies which the government has interest in. Russia expects to disperse and diversify its industry by forming a Committee on Rural Industrialization, with the government sponsoring the growth of some small industries with potential. St. Petersburg, Moscow, and Tsaritsyn on the Volga River receive an influx of workers as they are planned industrial centers. Warsaw, Riga, Tallinn, Vilnius, and Sevastopol are also developing on their own.

In Civilian Industry, the Russian government begins investing heavily in Electric Power Plants, by using coal and Russia's many rivers for hydroelectric power. The Electricity is mainly funneled to factories, as success of electrified factories in the USA has shown. Russian Captains of Industry discuss revolution in the way labor is used in factories, such as giving laborers only one task in the development of the product, not create the whole product itself. Workers' rights, such as wages and work hours is also discussed. The Iron and Steel industry is greatly expanded.

To increase agricultural productivity, search for fertilizer formulas spread all across peasant villages in Russia. The chemist in Moscow and the peasant in Yaroslavl work together in an effort to increase agriculture. Research on tractors and mechanized agriculture start.

Russia, knowing of its huge oil reserves, begin drafting a National Committee on Oil, comprised of Captains of Industry. While Russia stresses on increasing its coal output, oil is experimented as a new fuel which may revolutionize the world. Already, some Russian Navy ships and some trucks are starting to use oil.

The military-industrial complex is expanded greatly from the investments. Russia especially plans to replace their old Berdan Rifles with modern Mosin-Nagant M1891 Rifles. About 2 million Mosin-Nagants are to be manufactured this year. Russia also plans to improve on the Maxim Gun design. Russia hopes to cooperate with Hotchkiss (France-Salah ad-Din ) and Vickers (Britain-Frederick the Great ) in development of the machine gun.

The shipyards of St. Petersburg bustle as the Russian Empire orders construction of a new class of battleship, the Borodino class. One of the battleships in the class, the Knyaz Suvorov, is expected to use a revolutionary design, with only four turrets of twin 12-inch guns as armnament. Russia seeks to refit its navy with Barr & Stroud coincidence rangefinders, Krupp Cemented Armor, and Russia experiments with HE shells. Russia plans to research torpedo boat tactics along with Italy (Desophaeus ).

Commercial shipyards bustle as well as the Russian government subsidizes construction of commercial merchant ships, to increase trade and put Russia on par with other economic powers. Some commercial shipyards are bought by the government in plans to establish a state monopoly.

The Russian government builds the port city of Murmansk in the Arctic, with meticulously planned designs. Port Arthur is substantially developed, both militarily (construction of fortifications) and commercially.

The Russian Army's horrible condition has forced the government to raise army budget to 25%, along with selling army bonds to the public. The Russian Army considers implementing a commission system, to fund each individual unit. Conscripts out of military service are asked to form associations, as to allow easier surveillance and for them to teach their local communities important skills they have learned in the army, such as reading, writing, and mathematics. Some conscripts are chosen to be NCO's.

A Decentralized command structure is proposed, as the Russian army plans to focus on effective small-unit tactics.

High Command has requisitioned Russian state companies to manufacture 600 trucks in this year for the Imperial Army's logistics. Railways in strategic positions, such as Georgia, Poland, and Siberia is developed more. The Army is currently in the process of re-equipment, with the M1891 Rifles requisitioned. Artillery pieces, including field guns and howitzers are made. 400 howitzers are requisitioned with 1,000 field guns as well.

Fortifications are built along borders with other countries, as well as building of extensive trench lines. Russian forces along the German border retreat to Warsaw and start building trench lines and fortifications there.

The Emperor invites all the World Powers (tagging everyone: best75 ,Napoleon Bonaparte ,Desophaeus ,ByzantineBall ,Salah ad-Din ,Frederick the Great ,Grand Admiral Thrawn ,Santa Anna ,Franz Jozef ,Slimane Kahia ,Wilhelm "Tödtenkopf" Strasse ) to St. Petersburg to renew the 1868 St. Petersburg Decree, adapting to weapon development in the modern age.

Witte and Nicholas outline a Ten-Year Plan, to substantially develop Russian infrastructure and truly industrialize Russia. Inspection of the existing infrastructure lines with improvement start, along with building of new infrastructure lines. Peasants who participate in this effort are given a substantial salary and are exempted from conscription.

RUSSIAN ARMY ORDER OF BATTLE

A division consists of about 10,000 men.

Total number of divisions: 70 infantry and 18 cavalry (standing army).

MANCHURIAN FRONT: 18 Divisions of Infantry and 6 of Cavalry.
BOXER REBELLION INTERVENTION: 4 infantry divisons; 2 in Port Arthur, 2 in Manchuria.
POLAND: 12 infantry Divisions.
RUSSO-AUSTRIAN BORDER: 8 infantry Divisions.
GEORGIA (Russo-Turksih border is DMZ): 8 infantry divisions, 6 Cavalry divisions.

RESERVE: 42 infantry divisions
(to be continued)

Kingdom of Romania. (Imperial RomeBall)

The Kingdom of Romania is proud, with its king being Carol I. Thats right, CAROLUS IS HERE.

The Kingdom shall now be divided into the following regions. The Army is 240,000 strong. (24 Divisions)

The Military order is reactive-if the enemy enters in force, neighbouring regions reinforce.

1. Craiova (far west) 5 Divisions

2. Targoviste (west) 3 Divisions

3. Bucharest (centre/Capital) 5 Divisions

4. Iasi (far north) 4 Divisions

5. Bacau-Galati (North) 3 Divisions

6. Constantia/Constanta (far east coast) 4 Divisions

Civil events 1900.

Some Romanians oppose the political union/close relations with Greece, claiming they are now ruled by Phanariotes. Nonetheless things go smoothly.

King Carol I gives birth.

Claims 1900.

Sorry, Franz Jozef, but history speaks, and the Romanian majority of Transylvania cries out for Freedom According to the Government

I understand the Hungarians would resist losing such a big part of the Hungarian crown. Thus instead of taking the entire region, like in World war 1, we ask only for 70% of the region, as 31% of the population is Hungarian.

I understand if this is hard to take, no need to declare war. Just vocalizing that we want our Vampires back.

Glorious Empire of Serbia 1900; Bismarck Jr

Serbia declares war against the Ottoman empire and sends full militia battalions to the borders with the Ottomans and any remaining vassal states, official or not. Terrorist bombing raids occur along the balkans and some officials are assassinated

Serbia, in preperation for turkish retaliation, launches it's only zeppelin to the Ottoman Empire mainland to drop bombs and leaflets to demoralizes the ottomans, however, the zeppelin is destroyed in a hijacking after stopping to refuel. 50,000 able bodied men are raised in addition to the 100,000 trained soldiers and complementing militia of unknown numbers.


Personal note; this was the "lolwut" kinda turn.

(Extension of 1900 Mongolian Turn)

The Tsagaan Khans, the paramilitary of the independence organization of Genghis Bataar, begin harassing Han Chinese and Manchu shops, property, and peoples. Still due to foreign issues, however, the Peking government is powerless to do anything. The Tsagaan Khans, upon hearing of a communist takeover in Serbia, begin what is called the Great Purge of 1900, where members of the Tsagaan Khans would go into the countryside and execute all those who are deemed to be communist or communist sympathizers. While brutal, the Mongolian Communists are essentially exterminated from Mongolia, with the remaining fleeing over the border into either Russia or Qing China. While some Mongols are now opposed to the Genghis Bataar organization, the majority still support the organization due to the desire for an independent Mongolian state and the fact that the heavily religious population is okay with seeing Communist atheists being removed from society.

British Empire: 1900



The turn of the century was celebrated with...well celebrations in Britain. The Empire currently encompasses just about every continent, from Cairo to Cape Town, Calcutta to Singapore, Perth to Sydney and countless more land across the planet. Realising that many of the Empire’s millions of subjects might end up developing some silly idea like independence, Prime Minister The Marquess of Salisbury (I’m sure I messed his title up, it's rather difficult to get British titles right) and his government pass the Dominion Act. This act grants some independence to the colonies in Canada, Australia (joined with New Zealand). The Dominion of Canada and Dominion of Australia (which includes New Zealand) have independence in all ways except for foreign policy and military affairs which are controlled by Britain. The Dominion's are ruled by a Prime Minister and Governor-General but are still subservient to the Monarch of Britain. Many in India want to become a Dominion however the British Government is skeptical about this idea and refuses to make India a Dominion at this time.

The Empire is also having some trouble in South Africa with the Boers who already have developed the silly idea of independence from the Empire. The Second Boer War is in full swing and British forces along with colonial forces from Australia and Canada who are eager to prove themselves to the Queen in service of the Empire. The Empire pushes into the Boer Republics and by September 1900 the British are in control of most of the Boer territory. However, the war is still far from over as Boer guerrillas begin harassing and attacked the British.

The turn of the century also marked the beginning of a potential arms race between the worlds powers, chiefly between Germany and Britain. In order to maintain its supremacy, Britain begins a modernisation and massive improvement of its fleet. The Navy begins experimenting with oil as a means for powering its fleet as coal is becoming more and more expensive and is less efficient compared to oil. In early 1900, Admiral Sir John “Jacky” Fisher is promoted and made the Second Sea Lord, the officer in charge of the navy’s personal. During his tenure, he introduces major reforms to officer training. However, Admiral Fisher’s texture as Second Sea Lord is cut short when the First Sea Lord, Lord Walter Kerr dies, leaving Fisher to be promoted to Admiral of the Fleet and made Second Sea Lord. Fisher continues to take an active role in reforming training, mentoring his successor. By the end of the year, Fisher had scrapped, sold off and put into reserve more than one hundred obsolete and old ships, calling them “too weak to fight and too slow to run away” and “a miser’s hoard of useless junk”. This move freed up crews and money, allowing Fisher to build more modern ships. Fisher constantly advocated for a fast all-big-gun battleship and played a major part in the development of a new, revolutionary type of battleship: HMS Dreadnought. This new ship was the first battleship to have a uniform main battery instead of a few large guns complemented by secondary smaller armament. The Dreadnought was also the first battleship to be powered by steam turbines which is expected to make her the fastest ship when she is finished. It is estimated to be finished some time in 1901.

With all of the new developments in the navy, the army feels left behind and begins funding new weapons for use on land. Inventors and officers from across the Empire begin submitting ideas for new weapons and tools though the army keeps those that they begin developing a secret. In cooperation with the navy, the two services open up a secret military base somewhere in or near Australia (the exact location is even more of a secret than its existence. Very few people know it exists and even few know where it is), that is nicknamed The Foundry (yes, I’m bringing it back from Latin America. I didn't get to play with this idea then so I’m going to do it now).


On the home front, the British government begins a large program to expand its industrial power even further. Although it's already by far the most industrialised nation in the world, Britain is worried that other nations are industrialising so fast that they might be overtaken if they don't further industrialise themselves. Huge amounts of money is poured in from government programs and also private citizens known as Captain’s of Industry. Britain also invests in Russia to help it industrialise. The government also begins to invest in finding new ways other than coal to reliably generate electricity.

As far as foreign policy goes, Lord Salisbury begins to move away from the policy of “Splendid Isolation”. This first becomes clear when Britain intervenes in the Greek Crisis, when Greece and Romania threatened war with the Ottoman Empire if they attempted to expand into Greece. British intervention led to the Ottoman-German Alliance to back down and a major war was thus averted. The British also intervened later in the year when Serbia attacked the Ottomans, causing the Ottomans to prepare an invasion. Britain, seeking to solve the crisis diplomatically to avoid a major war, managed to convince the two sides to sign the Treaty of Ottawa which ended the crisis. Britain’s new policy is to diplomatically intervene in any crisis that may cause a war.

Britain also joins the Many-Nations Alliance (it's more than 8 now but I forget who actually is joining) and assists in saving the European diplomats and citizens that are under attack by Chinese rebels. Backed by the Qing Dynasty, the rebels have been killing any Europeans they can and begin to threaten Hong Kong. In order to teach the Qing and Boxer Rebels a lesson, Britain dispatches and expedition led by Rear Admiral Alexander Harmon to Hong Kong. The Expedition consists of 3 British Divisions, 2 Indian Divisions and 1 Australian Division. A naval detachment led by the HMS Goliath, commanded by Rear Admiral Alexander Harmon with 12 Battleships, 5 cruisers and 10 Destroyers. The expedition lands in Hong Kong with Greek troops and prepares to invade China.

The Directorate of Millitary Intelligence is formed and is divided into X number of sections or departments.

MI1 is responsible for codes and cyphers
MI2 is responsible for intelligence in Europe
MI3 is responsible for intelligence in Asia, Africa and the Middle East
MI4 is responsible for Intelligence in the Americas
MI5 is responsible for counter intelligence
MI6 is responsible for coordinating all foreign intelligence and is also known as the SIS (Secret Intelligence Service)
MI7 is responsible for propaganda
MI8 is responsible for signals intelligence and communication intelligence
MI9 is responsible for interorgation
MI10 is responsible for security
MI11 is responsible for top secret technological development and is responsible for The Foundry
MI31 is a rumor. No one knows anything about it or even if it exists. Rumours say that Section 31 is responsible for protecting the empire by any means nessasary with no oversight. Very few people have heard the rumor and only some people in the Intelligence community have heard the rumours. (Jean-Luc Picard may get this reference)

Credit goes to Wikipedia. Some of the stuff I’ve wrote is very similar/the same as some Wikipedia articles I read as I was writing this in order to make this more realistic and detailed.

Y'all happy now? This quite obviously didn't take 15 minutes and certainly isn't 6 lines long. It's not as good as I would have liked it to be, thats what happens when these sorts of things are rushed.

Tag @coolguy14

France 1900 Jean-Luc Picard

January: France, in light of the catastrophe in China, and German aggression, imposes a draft. The army size grows to 2 million. It is set to reach 5 million by year's end

February-June: 25,000 Frenchmen, and 10 battleships, head to Port Arthur. There, they rendezvous with other national armies to join the Expedition against the Boxers.

March: 5,000 Frenchmen are on their way to the East. They are finally deployed in newly-acquired French Formosa

October: The Military is divided into 5 Armies:

Armée du Nord: Deployed near Belgium and the Channel. Functions as a reserve to the Armée d'Est, but trained for deployment overseas. Size: 500,000
Armée d'Est: Deployed along the German border, and deeper in. Trained both for defensive warfare, and a swift offense across the Rhine. Size: 1,000,000
Armée des Alpes: Deployed along the Italian and Swiss borders. May function as a reserve to the Armée d'Est. Size: 500,000
Armée des Pyrénées: Deployed along the Spanish border. Size: 500,000
Armées d'Outre-Mer: Deployed overseas. Size: 500,000
The remaining 2,000,000 are involved in the navy, or the reserves.
@coolguy14

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