In 1914 tensions rose between Europe's powers and war seemed to be on the horizon. In response Sweden was also steadily re-arming yet this notion was not supported by everyone. The liberal party made promises to reduce military spending and even at the verge of war they were intent to keep them. The period between 1909-1914 was particularly turbulent times in Sweden and at times even produced violent results. When the liberal-dominated government rejected the latest defense bill the conservatives arranged a massive mob of 32,000 peasants who marched up straight to Stockholm. King Gustav V responded to the protestors through his famous Courtyard Speech. He approved of the conservatives' demands and distanced himself from the opinion of the Parliament. Hiding behind his right to speak to his subjects the king effectively practiced political partisanship, something which he shouldn't have under the Swedish constitution. Even to the Prime Minister's urging Gustav V didn't retract his words nor seemed willing to cooperate. With such disregard of the Riksdag and the public opinion rapidly turning against them the governing party resigned. As temporary replacement King Gustav V appointed a new Parliament filled with conservative politicians. This "temporary government" continued to lead Sweden until the end of the Great War.

The Great War broke out in July of 1914. Sweden previously held talks with Germany to support them against Russia. Yet at the same time Sweden assured Russia they'd not participate in the war. As expected Sweden declared neutrality and sat through most of the war. While the fires of war avoided Sweden the nation struggled due to massively reduced influx of trade goods. This seemed to ease off somewhat after 1916 but Sweden struggled with food shortages throughout the war. To offset this Sweden proposed the Scandinavian Sphere which allowed increased trade between Denmark, Norway and Sweden. Thanks to the improving economy King Gustav V and the conservatives gained further approval. Scandinavism, a nationalist concept from the 19th century which calls for the union of all Scandinavian people, was on a steady return to the public conscious.

Though united through economic relations, politically all three Scandinavian countries saw things differently. The Great War kept dragging on and in late 1919 Britain secretly approached Denmark. They urged them to declare war against Germany and offered their support. King Christian X saw a great opportunity to resolve their old border disputes of Schleisswig-Holstein and break German dominance he agreed. Yet the parliament was unwilling to renounce their neutrality, much less to wage war against Germans. In response Christian X used his power to dissolve the parliament and install a new one loyal to him. To the urge of multiple political parties King Gustav V of Sweden chose to intervene. Coppenhagen fell to a rapid coup and Swedish soldiers marched into the country almost entirely unopposed. Christian X was exiled and Gustav V was temporarily elected as king of Denmark.

The following few months were complete diplomatic chaos as pressure increased at both ends. Germans urged Sweden to join the war as soon as feasible. So Denmark-Sweden formed an alliance with Germany. Yet Denmark-Sweden was more reluctant to declare war against Britain and France. They did declare war on Russia, though. King Gustav V wanted to reclaim Finland and soon mobilized his forces. They made considerable gains but then the Great War ended. The Central Powers and the Entente signed peace and this included Sweden recalling their forces. Turned out the Entente feared Swedish interference while Germans were approaching their limit. As such both sides agreed to end hostilities. The way the Great War ended was a sour note to Denmark-Sweden and it marred their relationship to Germany in the following years.

[To be continued...]

Potential post Great War topics to cover, in chronological order:

• Gustav V declared Danish king for life
• Danish throne crisis of 1931
• Coexistence with the Republic of Germany
• Finland Skirmishes
• Fourth Invasion of Åland Islands
• Oscar III
• Finland proxy wars

Military Information

Nation: The Republic of Turkey

Map:

History:
Following the defeat of the Central powers in the first world war, the Ottoman Empire was in a poor predicament. A noticeable part of its nation was under occupation by Entente and allied forces. The Sultan was weak, unable to free his country from the invader and the work fell into the hands of those who could show initiative. Mustafa Kemal Pasha in particular was a great leader, his role in both driving out the aggressors as well as establishing a civilian government gave him the great title Ataturk — Turkish Father.

Turkey became a radically different place, following an ideology that would later come to be known as Kemalism. It was a thought-system of many contrasts; it had an ultranationalism reactionaries across the whole world would be jealous of. And yet this ideology’s founders also secularized this nation, instituting a strong and popular democracy with a socialized market economy.

Naturally there were many opponents to this strange new system. In the very construction of the Turkish Republic were the events later labelled genocides of the Armenians, Pontic Greeks, and Assyrians.

The core territories of Turkey at this time came to enjoy newfound freedom and prosperity, but the trend of vast internal variance continued as at the edges of its borders Turkey experienced many problems. Kurds, Arabs, and Islamists made for a powerful alliance of convenience. However without the support they received in the great war, the better armed, trained and supplied Turkish armed forces were able to push these people to the very borders of the country.

Seeing this as a great treachery from these people the Turkish republic instituted a nigh apartheid on these people; although nowhere was it explicitly mentioned to do so, any people of a “rebellious” ethnicity were subject to great discrimination finding difficulty entering educational institutions, receiving loans, and perhaps most importantly applying for loans to buy a car or horse as well as obtaining firearm licenses.

However as is so often the case such draconian policy only served to gain support for the cause of the insurgents even if it hurt their immediate capabilities. Upon the death of Mustafa Kemal they struck once again, riding upon horses and motors aliked into Turkish territory from hideouts within Iraq and Syria.

Turkish calls to root out the terrorists were agreed to but not acted upon, and once recovered from the death of its glorious leader Turkey acted in its own defence.

Large offensives were made into the borders of the Arab states that routed both terrorists and standing army; as Turkish casualties started to mount, great reprisals were taken against the Kurds. Eventually a ceasefire was made with Turkey occupying strategic positions in Syria and Iraq to not only hold a defensible line against remaining insurgents but also hold critical oil fields.

One now comes to modern Turkey, where many ticking time bombs and boiling masses come to a critical condition. Nationalism has peaked to the degree that there are grassroots demands amongst the people to act in the interest of the Turkic people to the East, the Azeris who are in fact one people with the Turks. At the same time, efforts to negotiate friendly governments to the South have failed, and Arabic Turkophobia grows ever hotter. Relations with the rest of Turkey’s neighbours are lukewarm, but alienated as a consequence of decades of Turkish realpolitik.

And once the dust had settled, President Lindbergh and Vice President Gerald Smith managed to secure enough votes to win the 1940 election (rumors surfaced that they also used imitation and voter suppression). Their first action was to layout the foundations of a new government program with the ultimate goal of ensuring that every American had work. However, tragedy struck upon the president two years into his first term. Charles Augustus Lindbergh Jr., at the age of twelve, was assassinated in response to the executions.

By the 1944 election, a depressed Charles Lindbergh announced that he wasn't running for a second term and didn't even offer his endorsement while in office. Gerald Smith took the opportunity to declare his candidacy for president, but several key Republicans already had someone else in mind: Gordon Harrington. Gordon was a veteran of the Great War that became a renowned motivational speaker that traveled across the country. So when he became the Republican nominee, it was clear that the charismatic speaker had already won the presidency.

And in an unexpected move, Gordon appointed his wife, Phyllis Harrington, to the vice presidency. There was pushback within the political scene at the thought of a woman being the second-highest officer in the United States. But, the conservative voters still showed up to elect the Harringtons into office. For eleven years, the Harringtons achieved the longest presidential term in the country's history and remained moderately well-liked.

Yet, things haven't been smooth sailings for America's perfect couple. The newly created Federal Security and Intelligence Agency has essentially become secret police with influence from the Legion and Klan. Some argued that FSI was unconstitutional, while the majority, including Harrington, established that it wasn't only constitutional but necessary to deal with threats to American values. And its director, J. Edgar Hoover, refuses to testify in the Senate with the support of the Harrington administration. With the 1956 election getting closer, rumors are spreading that both Democrat and Republican politicians are starting to worry that the Harringtons will seek out a fourth term.

But, those in power either only care about themselves or have become too scared to speak up. However, there are rumors of resistance fighters hiding throughout the country, waiting for the day to strike and bring back democracy.