AIRSHIP LEGACY
PART I: TIME FOR SOME
R&R
1954
was a busy time of year for Germany. With the Polish War finally over, it was
time to settle down and create a peace with the now fraying Soviet Union.
Delegates from the Ruling Council met with the German Foreign Minister and Chancellor,
along with delegates from Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and several from
the German-occupied territories of the Soviet Union. The Russians new they were
in a tight spot, and were willing to give concessions that many would have
found unthinkable prior to Stalin’s death in 1953.
What
ultimately occurred was the signing of the Treaty of Leningrad on August 19,
1954. The treaty ceeded all Soviet territory occupied by the Germans over to
the locals, to be administered by the Germans no later than 1960. The Russians
had to destory a third of their airplanes and battleships, and had to reduce
their military to 75% of it’s current strength.
After
this treaty was signed, the Confrence of Tallinn was held on October 1, 1954,
with the leaders of all the occupied territories attending to discuss what to
do with the lands formerly held by the Soviet Union. At the suggestion of the
German Empress, one of the German delegates suggested that the three Baltic
States, Belarussia, Northern Ukraine, and the Territory of Leningrad/Petrograd
be unified as the “Imperial Baltic Federation”. Under the Proposal, each of the
territories would have local autonomy, but would support a single “federal”
government headed by a restored Russian Czar that would be limited by a
consitution similar to that of Germany. They would have a common currency,
common military, and common foreign policy, and free trade, but almost all
other local issues would be handled by parliaments/councils of each territory.
After much debate, the delegates signed the Tallin Accord, which set a date for
a constitutional convention to start on January 2, 1955. It also created a
regency council to pick the new Czar.
- Hammon, Dr. Andrew. Modern
History of Germany. New York City, NY: Colombia Univiersity Press, 2001
GERMANS LAUNCH FIRST SATELILLITE
BERLIN, OCT 1- The German Science Ministry announced today
that the Imperial Rocket Force at Peenemünde launched an A-8 Rocket that
carried the first man-made satellite into space. The U.S. Army Air Corp confirmed
that they received a repeating transmission from the satellite, and there have
been sitings of the craft by the Navy.
The American Rocket Agency in Huntsville, which was only
formed five years ago, has stated that they are still years away from being
able to match this feat of engineering. President Rogers has stated that he
believes that America should put more empahsis on it’s rocket program. “Our
country could benifite greatly from the use of space exploration, and it must
be a priority of this government to see that America goes to space!”
The IRF has stated that it plans to send up more A-8 rockets
with satelites soon, and that today the Kaiser extolled on the radio that
“Today’s feat of rocketry and science is just the begninning of great things to
come for the German Empire. It is the goal of Dr. von Braun and others at
Peenemünde that within a decade, man will go to space, and hopefully to the
Moon.” This speech was given to the Reichstag an hour after the launch, and was
met with a thunderous applause from the delegates.
-“Gremans Launch First Satellite,” The New York Times, October 1, 1954.
NEW CZAR CHOSEN
PETROGRAD, FEB 3- The Russian Regency Council announced
today that Grand Duke Vladimir Kirillovich has been selected by the council to
become the new Czar of Russia and the greater Imperial Baltic Federation. A
date for the coronation has not yet been set, but it is expected to occur
sometime in mid summer here in the city of Petrograd. It is the hope of the
Regency Coucnil that the Constitutiotnal Convention going on in Tallin will
conclude before the new Czar is crowned.
-“New Czar Chosen,” The
Times (London), February 3, 1955.
ATOMIC POWER
BERLIN, APR 14- Scientists at Humboldt University have
announced that they have been able to create a sustained atomic reaction at a
research facility outside of the Imperial Capital. These researchers say that
it is their hope to have these types of reactions more stable and better
understood by 1960, and to focus on using these reactions as a source of untold
energey to power the cities of the world. Discussion is also occuring about
applying this new science to powering man-made craft, mainly naval vessels,
although some have suggested using these types of reactions to power airships
as well. The allure behind atomic energy is that it can provide huge amounts of
power and can allow ships to stay at sea (or in the air) indefinitly, at least
in theory.
-“Atomic Power,” Popular
Science, April 21, 1955.
ROGERS WILL NOT RUN IN 1956
WASHINGTON, MAY 19- President Rogers announced today that he
will not seek reelection in 1956, bowing to the two-term tradition that has
been in place since President George Washington. As of yet, the Democrats have
no clear replacement for Rogers, but there are a few possibile candidates that
Washington political analysts have been eyeing for some time.
The
Republicas are looking to rally behind Secretary of State Dwight D. Eisenhower,
who has said he was considering a run, only if Rogers did not run in the
election. Since this is the case, pundits here in the capital expect Eisenhower
to make a formal announcement soon.
-“Rogers Will Not Run in 1956,” Washington Post, May 20, 1955.
EISENHOWER TO RUN IN ‘56
WASHINGTON, JUNE 9- Secretary of State Dwight D. Eisenhower
today announced that he would seek the Republican nomination for the 1956
Presidential race. “Ike for Ameirca” is the slogan that will be used for the
campaign, and Eisenhower is expected to start serious campaigning in September.
President
Rogers stated that he thinks Eisenhower would make “as good a president as any
man who has ever held the office, and probably better than some.” The Democrats
still have yet to have any real clear choice come forward for this election.
-“Eisenhower to Run in ’56,” The New York Times,
June 10, 1955.
IMPERIAL RUSSIAN CONSTITUTION APPROVED
TALLIN, JUNE 1-
The Constitutional Convention for the so-called “Imperial Baltic
Federation,” has today announced that they have approved a constitution for the
new state, which is being forged from Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Belarusia,
North Ukraine, and North West Russia (also refferd to as Free Russia). The
Constitution, which sets the restored Russian monarchy as the official Head of
State, will function as a mix of the US and UK governments. The Central
government will be a Parliamentary Monarchy, with a strong bicameral
legislature called the Duma (which will contain a House of Nobels and a House
of Commons). The Head of Government shall be the Prime Minister, elected from
the members of the House of Commons. Each member state in the Federation will
have a large degree of internal autonomy, and the national government shall
handle defense, foreign policy, international trade, and economic issues. The
new government system will take effect on August 1, 1955, the date that has
recently been set as the Corontation Day for Grand Duke Vladimir Kirillovich,
who is to become the new Czar of Russia.
-“Imperial Russian Constitution Approved,” The Times (London), June 1, 1955
GERMANS TO GIFT KRONPRINZ WILHELM TO FREE RUSSIA
BERLIN, JUNE 17- The German Government today announced that
the LZ-135 Kronprinz Wilhelm to the
Free Russia as a gift to soon-to-be Czar Vladimir Kirillovich, who will be
crowned on August 1. Right now, the ship, which served as the Imperial Air
Yatch from 1942 until the completion of the LZ-168 Kaiser Wilhelm III last year, is now being refitted to serve as the
Imperial Air Yatch of the new Russian Czar. The artwork is being redone, the
furniture being changed and modernized, and the Lutheran and Orthodox chalpels
are being converted into one large Orthodox Chaple for the Russian Imperial
Family. The airship is due to be ready for the Coronation Ceremony in
Petrograd, and Grand Duke Vladimir has stated that he intends to take an
air-tour of the newly formed Imperial Baltic Federation aboad the LZ-135
sometime in September of this year.
-“Germans to Gift Kronprinz Wilhelm to Free Russia,” The Times (London), June 17, 1955.
The
Coronation of Grand Duke Vladimir Kirillovich as the new Czar of “Free Russia
and the Imperial Baltic Federation” was a grand affair, and really helped spur
the rebuilding and redevlopment of Petrograd after suffering from years of
neglect under Soviet rule. It was decided to hold the celebration on the
grounds of the Winter Palace, because none of the local Churches were in good
enough shape to hold the ceremony. And the palace itself was still under repair
as well, so the ceremony was held outdoors. Nearly 2,000 people crowded onto
the lawn of the Palace as the Grand Duke was crowned Czar Vladimir I, Emperor
of Russia and the Baltic Federation. The service was conducted by the newly
installed Patriarch of Petrograd, formerly the Patriarch of Berlin and the head
of the newly instituted Imperial Baltich Orthodox Church. In attendance were
the German Imperial Family, the British Royal Family, the President of France,
the President of Poland, the heads of all the Federation territories, and the
U.S. Vice President and Secretary of State.
On
August 2, 1955, Czar Vladimir
called for the election of the 1st Imperial Duma, and set the
election date for October 10, 1955.
The two main parties were the Imperialist Party and the Trans-Baltic
Liberal Party, both competeing agaisnt each other throughout the Federation.
When the rerturns came in, the TBLP had a slight majority in both houses of the
Duma, and a TBLP member became the first Prime Minister.
- Plaks, Dr. Jeffry, History
of the Baltic Empire, Cambrigde, MA: Harvard University Press, 1991.
KENNEDY TO RUN AGAINST EISENHOWER
BOSTON, NOV 19- Joseph P. Kennedy has announced today that
he will run in the 1956 election against Eisenhower. Kennedy promises to increase
funding to the American Rocket Agency, so that American can catch up with the
German Empire in space exploration. He is also wanting to establish a new
national transportation network of interstate highways and railroads.
Eisenhower wants to turn America’s focus away from railways and towards the automobile,
and promsises that if elected, the government will gradually stop using trains
to ship cargo where it would be more efficient to do so.
-“Kennedy to Run Against Eisenhower,” The Washington Post,
November 19, 1955.
WAVE OF REFUGES FROM USSR
PETROGRAD, MARCH 5- The Imperial Baltic Federation is
reporting high numbers of refugees crossing the boarder into the Federation,
seeking to escape the Soviet Union. Under an Imperial law passed last November,
any Soviet citizen that arrives in the Federation is automatically granted
Imperial citizenship and support from the Empire is given until they are on
their own two feet. Some in the new Russia fear that the support of these
refugees might be a drain on the Imperial eceonomy, but Czar Vladimir and the
Prime Minister both have stated that helping these people escape communism is a
high priority of this country. In Berlin, Kaiser Louis Ferdinand stated that he
would send support to the Baltic for this endeavour, and the British have also
offered support.
The
refugees coming in from the USSR say that the Soviet empire is teetering on the
edge of collapse. The Communist Party has a new General Secretary, but he does
not control the country the way Josef Stalin did. Instead, the 4 senior
generals of the Red Army’s Ruling Council are calling the shots, and they
aren’t getting along very well, which has paralyzed the country’s ability to
recover from the Polish War. In Moscow, factories still lie in ruin, and there
are reported to still be holes in the Kremlin itself.
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