While I have never written stories in the alternate-history genre before, I came up with an idea in my head that I would like opinions on. I am always interested in trying new genres, and I love historical fiction, both reading and writing it. If this is to be a book, it would not happen for a good long while. Most realistically, I would begin with a sort of prototype, most likely a short story. That would allow me to develop at least a portion of this alternate world for assessment purposes. So, now we shall begin. Mind you, this is only a setting/concept. I have no ideas what the plot or characters would be.
The story itself would take place in 1984, at the height of the Cold War. It has been two years since the passing of the Civil Rights Act, the end of segregation, and the co-occurring sudden burst in Economic growth and industrial expansion, both due to the valiant efforts of the Nixon Administration. After Richard Nixon (who's VP was Barry Goldwater), now lauded as one of the greatest presidents in American history, decided not to run for a fourth term, various leaders of all five parties - Democratic, Freedom, New Whig, Unionist, and Firm America - are heels deep in their ambitious schemes to gain control of the Executive Branch and fill the void of power left behind. After a head to head race between Democrat Robert F. Kennedy and Unionist Michael Harrington (who's running mate is David McReynolds), Kennedy comes out on top. He and his vice president Ronald Reagan attempt to continue the industrialization of the United States, which, at this time, is far more technologically advanced, but quite a bit more conservative on social issues. A lot of the continental United States is polluted, and, due to crop infertility in parts of the midwest, small towns and communities of independent farmers are a dying breed, with most people now living in urban or suburban areas. Despite that, there is a pseudo-socialistic element to the nation's averaged location on the political compass. While incredibly capitalistic and free-market oriented, almost to a point where corporations run the show, the United States has developed an oddly integrated form of socialism, particularly within an ideologically centristic Democratic Party. While not officially a part of the democratic structure, these monopolistic corporations and consortiums dominate American politics and various wings of the government, creating a neo-mercantilistic economy with quite a few left-wing elements. Despite this heavy emphasis on corporate culture, there are strict, almost draconian social policies that have formed as a result of a far more authoritarian New Deal (but we will get to that later). As a result, small businesses are practically non-existent, with the United States being much more labor oriented as opposed to career-focused. Individuality, while not actively discouraged, is seen as a somewhat extremist idea, as are some other liberal values. Modern progressivism is not so much as a thought, save for civil rights, which was birthed under the slightly more liberal social causes of Nixon and Goldwater, does not exist at all. Homosexuality is not so much as even talked about, feminism has not progressed beyond the point of suffrage, and the counterculture movement did not exist in the way we currently think of it. Instead, it was more-so about promoting Marxist way of thinking, but because Marxism is historically more vilified in this timeline in this timeline than the beliefs of the Nazis, they are seen as radical (although not to the point of how we view Neo-nazis today, as Marxism in this world is more integrated into mainstream political thought, an example being the Democrat's embrace of left-wing authoritarianism with a capitalistic twist)
The main difference between Nixon and Kennedy is their opinion on foreign policy. Nixon was far more diplomatic in the way he went about it. One of the greatest accomplishments he made was opening up trade between the US and the Empire of Japan, after nearly three-decades of hostility. This led to new economic opportunities. However, some people, particularly those in the left-leaning circles saw that he was too diplomatic, preferring the more hard-lined stance of Kennedy. Kennedy, stylizing himself as a staunch neoconservative, forges a loose alliance with the moderately left-leaning libertarian New Whigs and moderate, non-populistic elements of the generally conservative Freedomists. The authoritarian Unionists, which have grown in popularity despite their socialistic beliefs, specifically amongst the young, have a hard-lined agenda against any who oppose the Cold War in any way, going as far accusing moderate Democrats of being such, even though that is not the case, particularly within the Kennedy Administration. On the other end of the spectrum are smaller, yet highly influential and elitist Firm America Party, representing what has since become the hard-right. It has highly nationalistic stances, different than those of the Democrats, but far more authoritarian. The Firmists believe in near total centralization of the US government and the limiting of Congress' power in order to give the Executive Branch far greater control. Their most prominent members are George Lincoln Rockwell, Richard G. Butler, John G. Crommelin, Stephen Donald Black, Tom Metzger, and James Eastland. Their extremist beliefs do not appeal to everyone on the far-right. Those on that end of the spectrum who believe in limited government are mostly extreme Freedomists or a part of other unaffiliated populist factions. The Firmists and other extreme-right groups are primarily comprised of former Nazi sympathizers, idealistic youth opposed to communism, and former Southern Democrats disillusioned by the Civil Rights Act championed by the "Rockafeller Democrats", the slightly more left wing arm of the party popularized by President Norman Rockafeller and Speaker Gerald Ford in the 1960's after leaving the Republican Party along with large portions of voters in the Northern States (there is still a heavy division between North and South left over from the Civil War. Most Southerners, mostly centre-right New Whigs, the Freedomists, and some groups of Firmists, are against the spread of Industry into the South, which is already well-underway).
Now, with this clear ideological divide, tensions rise in various institutions in both the government and private sector, with even various government bureaucracies starting to turn on each other due to different ideological loyalties. Kennedy, therefore, does his best to try and hold his party together. On the horizon, America faces countless challenges, both home and abroad. WIthin, the Firmists seek to take control of the government, even if it means an all-out civil war. On the opposite end, the Unionist Party, spearheaded by Sen. Jim Jones (yes, that Jim Jones) and a very much alive Martin Luther King Junior, secretly begins to build a new movement of "Neo-Bolsheviks" to overthrow the government and create a state similar to the once-great USSR. The only Unionist keeping the peace is the more moderate Fred Phelps (Yup...him), but he has become a target of his own party, which grows radical by the way. The Democratic establishment and the people that it tries so hard to represent is caught in the middle, targeted by both sides. Not satisfied with the ultimate terms of the Civil Rights Act, Malcom X, also still alive, establishes a group of militant partisans just as radical, but not ideologically compatible, as the Neo-Bolsheviks that are bent on destroying the establishment, centered in the Deep South. Finally, there has been an increasing rise of hate crimes in the United States, from individuals and groups all across the board. The KKK has returned, along with esoteric Nazi cults bent on "purifying" America.
On the foreign side of things, the US has been becoming engulfed in several proxy wars, the most prominent of which is taking place in China. The country, now having restored its once-exiled government following the collapse of the Maoist regime, is under attack by the Mongolia, nothing more than a puppet state of the true enemy. The Vietnam War has been going off and on for the past two decades, with the US and the Free Vietnamese Republic of the North against the French and the fascist "Colonial State of Vietnam", which itself is no more than a puppet government of France, now a hyper-nationalistic country also standing against America in the Cold War. A second Korean War is on the rise between the North (which, while communist, is supported by the US for pragmatic reasons) and the South (Democratic rebels secretly funded by nations that stand against America in the Cold War). War is also brewing between America and the borderline fascist Argentina, ruled by President Juan Peron II, once an ally of America during the Second World War. Finally, there is one place in the world where tension heaviest: the crumbling city of St. Petersburg, partitioned in half between two separate states. The Democratic Republic of Northern Russia, ruled by an incredibly powerless provisional government, and the stronger Nationalist States of Moscow (despite Moscow having been completely destroyed by the Germans in WW2), connected to much of a united centralized Europe, where the Second Eagle lies...
Yes, the Cold War of this timeline is not between the US and Russia, but rather the US and Nazi Germany. The catalyst for this event goes all the way back to 1839, when the Dutch refused to agree to the terms of "Treaty of London", just as they had refused to sign its predecessor back earlier that decade. As such, they refused to recognize Belgium as a sovereign entity following its successful Rebellion. Britain, which had already tried to facilitate two concordances between the Netherlands and Belgium, decided to give up and instead focus its efforts on its Indian interests as opposed to meddling in the affairs of its European neighbors. With the support of its neighbors withdrawn, Belgium becomes a failed state and then becomes fully annexed by the Netherlands by 1860. This has a major impact on the geopolitical state of Europe. With Belgium gone, the Netherlands could have more room to go both economically and colonially, allowing the nation to build up its own militaries and become more active in imperialism during the Scramble for Africa. Due to this course of events, Britain sees no reason in allying itself with France and Russia in 1907, which becomes known as the "Double Entente". Great Britain has no contractual obligation to protect Belgium if the growing German Empire were to invade because there is no Belgium to protect.
In 1914, the Great War begins as it does in our timeline. The only difference is that, instead of invading a sovereign Belgium, Emperor Wilhelm invades a Belgium controlled by the Netherlands. This brings a much more powerful Dutch state into the war, instead of it having little involvement in our timeline. The invasion completely fails, and Dutch troops succesfully hold the line. Germany, who's emperor is the late Queen Victoria's grandson, petitions Britain to help. Having better reason to join its long-time ally Germany as opposed to its rival nations of France and Russia joins the Central Powers. This turns the tide slightly, but the combined strength of the Allies is still too much for the British on their own.
Enter the Americans. In 1915, Woodrow Wilson saw the war as an advantage. He was always in favor of joining Britain in our own timeline, and it is the same here. There was apprehension in our timeline though due to the divisive support of the American population between Britain and Germany. With Germany and Britain allies together in this timeline, popular opinion is more favorable as it relates to joining the war. Wilson gets the US involved two years earlier. The United States joins, and until the middle of 1916, it looks like they will emerge the victors. However, following Italy's joining of the Allies, Russia decides to refocus its efforts on a new sight: the Ottoman Empire, which would surely fall if faced with a full-scale Russian invasion. At the last minute, desperate for its survival, the Ottoman Empire switches sides. That, along with Italy's involvement, proves to be yet another turning point, especially after a combined coalition of Turkish and Russian armies annex the Balkans as Italy and France encroach upon Austria-Hungry and Germany.
America's involvement, particularly its continuous militarization throughout the war, gives the Powers a slight edge in France. Paris is captured, and parts of the Netherlands become occupied. Despite this, both alliances are evenly matched, locked in a stalemate. By Spring of 1917, talks of an armistice were in the works, but this falls through by midsummer, all because of Russia. Due to Russia's more successful campaigns in this timeline, Lenin does not begin his Bolshevik Revolution until later that year, meaning that the country had an extended involvement. One event led to their ultimate victory. Like Germany tried to in 1917, the Russians tried to convince Mexico to invade the United States. Unlike with Germany in our timeline, this actually worked, and the Mexican army invaded Texas with a force too large to fend off, as most of the US Army was in Europe, part of the Expeditionary Force. This was Russia's final act before Lenin's revolution began, and what remained of Russia pulled out of the war.
The Americans were forced to remove over half of their forces back to the newly formed homefront, where they engaged the Mexican Army. Trench warfare became common, and a single battle lasted for months on end. Northern Arkansas, Louisiana, and Missouri became heavily contested, No Man's Land stretching on for miles along those borders. Little Rock was razed and St. Louis became the site of the bloodiest battle ever to occur on American soil. The war in the American Theatre was just as bad there as it was in Europe. Soon, all of Southern Europe was in the hands of the Allies, who also occupied several parts of Austria-Hungary. Germany was completely surrounded on all sides: the Netherlands to the North, French to the West, Italians to the South, and Ottomans to the East. The Central Powers were at an extreme disadvantage as a result of what people referred to as "Russia's Revenge". The Italians invaded Florida, opening up a new front in the US, pushing through as far north as central Georgia. By this point, driven out of the Netherlands and cornered in Northern France, all remaining British forces retreated back to Britain, with some being sent to America to repel the Italians. The Italians were pushed back, and, once the Americans brought back the rest of their European forces, they drove the Mexican Army back down to into Texas, although, around this time, the Mexicans backed a coup in New Mexico, where the state was transformed into a free nation, which was more of a puppet state than anything. The Americans and British did what they could to fight the Mexicans in Northern Texas, but there was little they could do, as they wanted to secure the entire border at the same time to avoid any more invasions at potentially broken lines. The US called for an armistice, and Mexico accepted, although Texas remained occupied until the war ended.
The fighting stopped in late 1919, when an armistice was called for in Europe. The Treaty of Versailles was signed, this timeline's equivalent of the Fourteen Points being penned by Prime Minister Linden of the Netherlands. Heavy reparations were placed upon Germany, Britain, and the United States, with Austria-Hungary dissolving altogether like in our timeline. Germany becomes the Weimar Republic; Britain becomes a Rump state, with Ireland declaring its independence while India enters a state of open revolt; finally, the US is forced to cede Texas over to Mexico, and three years later the New Mexican puppet state is integrated into Mexico. The "First Cold War" breaks out between the United States and Mexico.
After that, everything pretty much plays out in the same way, albeit with a few slight alterations. The main one is the fact that fascism becomes much more widespread. It is the result of a reaction to the humiliation of WWI and the weakened state the nations are in. Fascism first sprouts up in Italy, and then it spreads to Germany, with Hitler seizing power as he does in our timeline. Fascism garners even more popularity throughout the West. Due to Britain's devastating circumstances, the notion of fascism becomes quite attractive. As the German Worker's Party transitions into the Nazi Party and Hitler begins his rise, Oswald Mosley of England follows his lead and appeals not only to paleoconservatives, but also many mainstream citizens who are disgruntled due to the post-war situation of their country. Mosley leaves the Labour Party and starts the New Party, a right-wing organization with extremely nationalistic platforms, but no official fascist stances. Following him are many dissatisfied Britons, who also develop somewhat fascist leanings. An official party is formed in 1933, shortly after Hitler establishes his Third Reich in Germany. Mosley, now head of the Fascist Union Party, is elected to the position of Prime Minister, defeating Stanley Baldwin, who is found dead in his home about a week later. He stands completely unopposed and gradually radicalizes the nation over the years. He does not take as firm of an antisemitic stance like Hitler, but Anglo-Saxons are definitely viewed as being far superior to other races and hate crimes become a daily occurrence all across the country. The Fascists depose of the monarchy, causing the royal family to flee to Canada. Neville Chamberlain never bothers running in the first place, and Winston Churchill, out of practicality, joins the party. In 1938, he becomes a popular figure and is chosen as Mosley's deputy.
The United States is in poor shape following the war, having lost two states and continuously forced to pay reparations. The economy is not necessarily in shambles after the war, but there is no Roaring Twenties. Women have achieved the right to vote, but that is the only truly significant milestone both politically and socially in between 1919 and 1933. Due to such, the Stock Market Crash of 1929, and the subsequent Great Depression was far more devastating than in our timeline. It was so severe, in fact, that for a period of about six months, Congress was dissolved and there was talk that the US was on the road to factionalizing, if not entirely separating into multiple smaller states. This all changed when Henry Ford ran for president as a Democrat and defeated Herbert Hoover. For a decade, Ford had been known for his nationalistic rhetoric, mirroring those of politicians and leaders in Germany and Britain. He wrote a manifesto of his own at that time, but, aside from a smaller legion of fans, it was not well-known until after he had risen. While not entirely a fascist, Ford led the United States to take a far more nationalist stance across the board, although the government was still not very powerful towards the beginning of his first term. Establishing the "America First" party, he established various industrial and social big government programs. Believing peace to be mutually beneficial and fearing the growing threat of the USSR, Ford made a pact with Adolf Hitler in the case of war, just as Britain had done one year earlier.
Although he had stabilized it slightly, Ford was known not for getting America out of the depression, but rather bringing it together through his nationalist rhetoric. While none of his policies had racial implications directly, his administration, as well as the America First Party and Southern Democrats, did certain things that would purposefully harder for Blacks to prosper. Although he did not support white nationalism or even supremacy, the antisemitism he subtly promoted resulted in the collective Jewish demographic's socioeconomic status degrading into a state where the population had little financial or economic power. Those who managed to, however, turned to organized crime, often forging alliances with the Sicilian Mafia. Some even backed the America First Party in secret in exchange for toleration of their activities, as well as their semitic status.
Most of the racist sentiment of Ford's administration was geared towards Mexicans, who provided to be excellent scapegoats to explain the USA's poor state. Using his industrial savvy, Ford built countless factories and military bases throughout the midwest, where the Dust Bowl made once arable lands infertile. The military buildup was partially a ruse, and one that scared Mexico. This aggressive attitude impressed Hitler and Mussolini, who built up their own forces, but worried Stalin.
In 1937, Ford was assassinated by a communist sympathizer. The revanchist administration saw this as a perfect chance to go to war against Mexico, therefore they blamed it on Mexico. While no Nazi sympathizer, now President Franklin Roosevelt felt that, due to the sorry state of America, aligning itself with the Third Reich, and the fascist states of Italy and Britain were necessary evils. In 1937, just a few weeks after Ford's death, US troops were sent to invade Texas, which caught Mexico off-guard. This ignited the Second Mexican-American War. During this time, Roosevelt, more diplomatic and centristic than Ford, but far more authoritarian than his real life counterpart started implementing a far more massive and arguably borderline-totalitarian variation of the New Deal (but four years after it happened in our timeline). The New Deal, Social Programs, and Industrial Programs strengthened the American Economy, and the war created even more new jobs.
Just like in our timeline, Hitler invades Poland in 1939, and the European theatre of WW2 opens. Mexico, still at war with the US, the conflict in America merging with WW2 and becoming the "American Theatre", joining the allies: Russia (which never joined the axis for that short period of time), France, and China. Spain joins the Allies too, as the Francoist Revolt fails because of Russian intervention. The Pacific theatre opens up between China and Japan, with the US participating in it a minimal amount. Most US forces though are concentrated on either fighting Mexico or sending expeditionary forces to Europe.
The first phase of the greater war happens in a relatively short period of time. With France surrounded on three sides, with its coast left wide open for US land invasions. France falls within months, its forces retreating to Spain, which, due to early Russian financial support is a powerful player in Europe. The Ottoman Empire was the first to directly engage Russia, but despite its smaller army it proved to be successful in pushing Northward, even if a slow process. Greece and surrounding Balkan states, however, were a nuisance to the Turks, and the Italians had to help keep them at bay.
The War in the Pacific was not as widespread in our timeline but was just as deadly. China and French colonials fought against the Japanese and their American allies in the meantime, although much of the fighting was concentrated in and around the South China Sea and Japanese Islands, with both naval and land engagements. The area would be a wasteland by war's end.
The American Front finally closed in 1941 after the Siege of Mexico City. The theatre had always been a losing battle for the Mexicans, who had little chance to begin with. This was made possible due to Argentina's assistance, which had decided to involve itself in the war due to it having spread to American continental soil. Mexico was reduced to a provisional government, becoming an effective puppet state of the US. The Yukatan region, however, was granted full sovereignty.
American and Argentinan forces went to reinforce Nazi Germany, the Ottoman Empire, Great Britain, and Fascist Italy in securing Europe. Britain, Argentina, and the US focused on conquering Spain, while Germany, Italy, and Turkey combined all of their forces to prepare for the grandest military campaign in human history. In June of 1941, Operation Barbarossa began. Although an incredibly slow process, the coalition pushed the Russians inward. Due to the number of forces and combined minds of military strategists like Rommel (who was not sent to Africa, as the conflict was not heavy there in this WW2), with control of the Eastern Front and the shifting lines fluctuating.
Once Spain was in Axis hands, Francis Franco was freed from prison and given control of the state, so long as it would send forces to help US and Japanese efforts in the Pacific. The War in the Pacific was over by 1942. This was partially due to America's support of a fascist revolution led by nationalist Wang Jingwei in China, which succeeded. Although fighting between the new regime and remnant forces of the old continued to fight one-another, the theatre had effectively closed in most respects. All that was left was Russia, and she stood alone.
Operation Barbarossa had succeeded all thanks to Rommel's leadership. He decided to hold off on actually invading central Russia, laying siege to the region instead, taking the advance slowly. As opposed to advancing further the following winter, it was decided that Axis forces would wait to move any further until spring of 1943.
The atomic bomb was dropped in February of 1943, just weeks before the march into central Russia. It was a joint decision after combined scientific efforts of Germany and the US developed the weapon. It was more of a means to intimidate the Russians as opposed to trying to end the war, and it worked. Stalin ordered every last man in the Red Army to answer the call and gather in St. Petersburg for one final glorious battle. The Siege of St. Petersburg went on for weeks, but in the end the Germans stormed the city and slaughtered nearly a third of its population. A body reported to have belonged to Stalin was found in the Winter Palace. The autopsy read that the death was by cyanide, but several reports suggest that he and a group of hardline loyalists slipped away at least four days before the city was taken.
The Soviet Union was defeated, and just like the Nazis of our timeline, they became known by history as the staple of all evil, and Stalin became to be viewed in the same light as our Hitler.
And so World War 2 ended in an Axis victory. St. Petersburg became like Berlin, divided by a wall, with a democratic government established in the North, and a Fascist in the South. With the war at an end, the Nazis and Americans slowly began to resent each other, and tensions began to rise between them to an extreme. Immediately afterward, Roosevelt, in failing health, resigned from office. His vice-president, the hard-lined fascist William Pelley and founder of the Silver Shirts, succeeded him. Although the Cold War kicked off almost instantly, tensions were kept at a relatively low due to the government's tolerance of the ideology. The next two presidents after Pelley were seen as being "Fascist Light", Charles Lindberg and Joseph McCarthy, the former of whom transformed the America First Party into the "Firm America" Party, which Southern Democrats and some anti-communistic Republicans, although it still became a minority in mainstream politics, it was highly influential. Over time, it would turn into an outright copy of the Nazi Party. President McCarthy of Firm America was impeached in 1955, which led to this shift. He was the last man of that party who held office in the executive branch.
There has not been a decade without war, there having been both conflicts all over the world, such as a brief insurrection in Mexico, a small coup in DC, and wars in both Vietnam and Korea. The fascist regime in China fell too after the Maoists took over, but that was a failed experiment. A Democratic government was created soon following, and it is now a strong power. Along from the dying Ottoman Empire, referred to as the "Sick Man of Europe", China remains the only true ally of the United States. Aside from Spain and Britain, most European nations are Puppet states of either Germany and Italy. Britain, torn between its allegiance to Nazi Germany and loyalty to the US, it declares neutrality and becomes an isolationist state to avoid any complications.
By 1960, the Republican Party was reduced to a minor faction and then, by the end of JFK's second term, it had dissolved completely, as the parties continued to rearrange ideologically. Most former Republicans joined the centrist Democratic Party, which was inspired by the moderate, but somewhat socialistic, albeit ironically business and industrial oriented, ideas of FDR, whom many believed would have rejected what the America First Party had become.
And now, the bipartisan system is dead, with five parties vying for power. With the exception of one Freedomist president, Lyndon B Johnson, the Democrats have controlled the White House for nearly thirty years. The establishment is dying, and extremism is taking shape in many forms. As things unravel at home and an internal conflict seems imminent, the Cold War gets hotter and hotter. History is on the move, and, as it progresses, empires rise and empires fall. Those who refuse to face the future head on are doomed to fall, but those that embrace the future must accept uncertainty - the uncertainty of victory or defeat, war or peace, and life or death. Two Eagles now stand upon the world stage, one on the side of freedom and the other on the side of oppression. In the end, only one can fly.
TL;DR: British and US side with Germans in WWI. They lose. Fascism becomes popular in the West. Britain and US side with Nazi Germany against Russia. Russia is defeated. The Cold War breaks out between US and Germany.
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