Like many territories of the British Empire, Rhodesia committed man power, money and resources to the war against the Central Powers. Thousands of Rhodesians alongside the colonial sons of an Empire and when the peace finally came, unsatisfactory and with a whimper, the people of Rhodesia turned on their British masters with disgust. The Republican factions within the government capitalized on the situation and, with many Monarchists dead or returned to Britain, declared a independence from the old country and made the decision to go it alone in 1931.

Trouble started at once as the local tribes, long cowed by the might of the British Empire, took a chance at freedom and demanded Rhodesia submit to tribal authority. A small scale but bloody conflict quickly broke out and the tribesman found themselves no match for the returning Rhodesian soldiers, battle hardened by years on the front lines against German, Austrian and Ottoman troops.

In true Anglo fashion the Rhodesian government divided and conquered. Aligning themselves with certain tribes against others until the tribes were so busy fighting each other that they almost forgot the presence of their white overlords. Contrary to many other colonial powers, the Rhodesians quickly began to recognize the fighting quality of the tribesman and by 1943 the first Black Officers had been introduced into the Rhodesian Armed Forces even as fighting intensified across the country.

Nothing unites discontent quite like a common foe and in 1945 the Portuguese, long masters of Mozambique, attempted to back an Eastern tribe in their bid to seize vital diamond fields from the Rhodesians. White and Black alike, the Rhodesians turned on this new colonial menace. They drove back the Portuguese Colonial troops, soldiers who had never seen action in the Great War, and actually advanced into Mozambique.

Portugal panicked and quickly sued for a humiliating peace that saw them lose virtually all of south western Mozambique. Rhodesia had its first united victory and its first sea port. Tentative talks began between the factions within Rhodesia that looked promising until a tribal fanatic managed to penetrate security and blow himself and a dozen of the most promising political minds in the country into thousands of little pieces.

By 1950 the country had descended into strife once again. The Free State of Rhodesia was born from the white minority who, terrified of the possibility of a massacre should Blacks gain control, stripped the rights from many. Only those Blacks who served loyally in the military during the Mozambique Campaigns retained their right to vote.

The struggle for the country remains real as Rhodesia seeks to encourage white immigration, all the while attempting to stem the flow of Black refugees from neighbouring countries whose situation is somehow actually worse than Rhodesia's. Small unit actions by elite Rhodesian Security Forces have become common and most Black families live in perpetual fear of vanishing into the night without a trace.

Not to be outdone, the Peoples Army of Zimbabwe fights for the liberation of the country and has begun a campaign of bombings across the country that indiscriminately target Black and White alike. They are led by a fiery former Pastor who turns to god for guidance and while many Blacks are unhappy with the White leadership they acknowledge that it is better to have the devil they know then one they do not. There is food on the table, the power stays on most days, and taxes are actually fairly distributed amongst both races. Life could be much worse.

Nation: Rus Commonwealth

Location (on map):
Can't fill in map so I am just explaining what I want to claim.

All Russian territory south of Volgograd and Astrakhan. Not in including Crimea. Also if you think I have to much land I am willing to lose Georgia but would prefer not to.

History:
History of the southern Russian states from 1916 to 1960. While the southern states of Russia share the most of the same events that happened throughout Russia. However some events are unique to the southern regions and in fact defined there future.

In the year 1916 Russia left the war which had almost crippled the country. Instantly groups of people fled from their war torn countries to make a new life in Russia. Majority of refugees to the southern states weren't just coming to Russia to improve their lives but to save themselves. The Ottoman Empire had been committing genocide against several minorities within its borders. Thus the southern states became filled with Assyrians, Ottoman Greeks, Armenians, Kurds along with several other minorities. The Czar allowed these refugees to settle in the south of the country thus solidifying a loyal power base among these people.

In 1916 the country was also dealing with a workers movement. Luckily they didn't grow much after the war had ended. After a while some left the group not wanting to fight but instead tried to change things peacefully. Those that continued to be members would sometimes go missing or made a run for other countries. The revolution had been crushed before it began.

To begin with they were burden on the southern Russian states with shortages on supplies. It wouldn't be until 1920 before things stabilised with the refugees now being employed on farms that had lost many workers to the war. Some even set up there own farms on land with no one left to tend to it. In some areas new communities and businesses were set up by the refugees. Causing some division at first until people got used to the new foreign concepts and produce brought by these people. Thankfully the region was fairly diverse to start with so no major incidents occurred. However there are always some people who can't stand change causing several minor incidents.

By 1929 Russia had made a small fortune selling arms to both sides of this First World War. The industrial heartland of Russia had become more developed to meet demand. Railways had sprung up all over the country along with brand new buildings. Average workers even had enough money so they could save some minuscule amount of money. But with the war over there were only a few contracts left up for grabs. Well unless you did some shady business.

In 1931 the southern Russian states were mainly back to producing agricultural goods. What little industry that existed in the south was used locally or exported to countries in the Middle East. Along with most of the mined resources. The southern states were by no means impoverished but they were not as rich as many parts of Russia. Another problem was that in the remote Caucasus mountains crime was prevalent. Not your average crime either as micro factories produced guns and ammo for rebel groups.

Change would come to the southern states of Russia when of the royal family constructed two small palaces in the region. One was built in Rostov-on-Don to be a permanent residence and the other was built in Dagestan as a family retreat. The royal couple that would occupy these palaces would be Heinrich XLV and Grand Duchess Anastasia. The palaces would be complete in 1937 with the couple moving in shortly after completion. Over the years they would have one son Vadim and two daughters Valeriya the middle child and Alisa the youngest.

Over the years spent in the southern part of Russia the couple and their family became very popular amongst the people. They would listen to the people as the traveled southern Russia often. They even brought new businesses to the region that would appeal to their royal tastes. One of the biggest and most shocking thing the family did was to hire female guards to protect their daughters. This was mainly down to the fact that their daughters found male guards rather creepy and intrusive especially when they wanted some girl time. These female guards were first introduced in 1943 with several hundred serving alongside the male guards.

Change would come swiftly in 1952 with the of the Czar. First thing that happened before crowning a new Czar was a state funeral. Nobles began arguing about who would be the next Czar unconcerned with what was happening with the country. There were a few people who claimed they should be the rightful Czar. While the arguing went on and on Anastasia sent her children home on a royal train. While the royal family argued revolutions happened all over the country. Many of the royal family were killed trying to flee to their bases of power.

Unfortunately Anastasia was killed when the train she was on was shot up on the way home. Heinrich XLV luckily survived the attempted assassination making it all the way to home to Rostov-on-Don. As soon as he returned home he marshalled all the forces he could even drafting his own guards into this makeshift army. He quickly went about uniting everything south of Rostov-on-Don which wasn't difficult as many people had remained loyal. The small southern rebellions were quickly crushed by superior numbers and betrayal. Good rail connections also played a vital part in a speedy victory.

After the south was secured Heinrich XLV gathered most of his army to head back north to protect against the other Russian factions. The army was moved using mining carts pulled by the strongest trains he could find. A stone carving of this event is depicted in the new national gallery. Some soldiers had to be left behind in case of an opportunist attack from there southern neighbours. Arriving back in the north he wasted no time in preparing a defensive line realising the rest of Russia was beyond reclaiming.

Only a few weeks after returning home other Russian factions had finally gotten their footing and started to attack Heinrich XLV defensive line. For the next few months as power shifted in Russia various factions would try to break the line. The fighting would last for four years on the line. In that time Heinrich XLV created an emergency government with limited power to keep order in his territory. The country had to become self sufficient in order to survive mining, manufacturing and growing everything they needed. He even started a new project that he hoped would stop or stem the attack or at the very least minimise the blood shed. His plan was the construction of a fort line just two miles behind the front line that they would withdraw to once complete. The line would stretch the entire northern border.

A few weeks before the fort line was complete the northern Russian factions made one last concerted effort to break the defensive line. It was a brutal fight with wave after wave being sent in everyday. It got so bad that Vadim took the few males guards that were left at the palace plus retired veterans and lead them to the front line. However this would not be enough to stem the tide. In fact Vadim lost his life only a few days after arriving on the battlefield. With the situation dire Valeriya gave a rousing speech to the people of Rostov-on-Don in which she asked anyone capable of fighting to pick up arms to protect their freedom. In the end she managed to get several thousand young women to volunteer along with the elderly and the female palace guard.

The final days of the battle saw the most brutal fighting. In the midst of battle Heinrich XLV was wounded in battle but still managed to direct the battle from a nearby support trench. Eventually thanks to the reinforcements the line was to be held until the forts were complete. Heinrich XLV organised the retreat managing to withdraw most of his forces. With only a few soldiers left on the line the enemy forces realised the withdrawal and charged the line. No one survived with Heinrich XLV gutted and strung up on a cross or so the myths go.

With the fort line holding strong the south was saved from the invading northern armies. When Valeriya returned she was crowned Tsarina of this new country which she announced would be forever known as the Rus Commonwealth. She got rid of the temporary government that had been set up and instead created a council to govern the country. She would still be head of state which would give her a seat on the council along with the head of the military, navy and airforce along with a representative from each state. A new constitution was drafted and only a few basic laws were kept along with a few new ones. The biggest changes were to women's rights which would now allow a woman to vote and do any job she saw fit. Also succession to the throne is now based on age and not gender.

The is now 1960 and the country is in a difficult position. Raids happen frequently on the northern border but the fort line has kept the enemy from pressing a major attack. Men are still getting used to the position of women in society causing some tension. The country has been busy dealing with internal matters with barely any external trade or ties this new country finds itself with no strong ties to other countries.