(Quick and dirty)
1st week of January 1915
Grand Duke Alexander "I can't believe it has come to this. The Catholics and Jews must be mad!"
Grand Duke Nikolai "Sightings of Ottoman warships have been spotted as well adding fuel to the fire."
Alexander "What is the Ottoman Army up to?"
Nikolai "No changes in status that we have heard of yet. No real changes in any of our neighbors yet detected."
Alexander "What do you suggest at this point?"
Nikolai "The main concern is that our Troop Rotation schedule has already begun replacing our Regulars with many Reservist Units. The new weaponry has begun to increase in volume but it will still be a few years until our Army is modernized.
The Regulars have shown the new tactics and firepower will increase our abilities 20-25%. Familiarizing the Reservists was deemed of utmost importance, no real concern was placed on this as the future was looking bright indeed.
Changing the schedule or diverting funds would cause major delays and high costs at this point. As our neighbors have not reacted yet to this conflict, I believe it would be best to stay on task. The Summer schedule could still be altered in time without much complication if we so desire"
Alexander "Very Well, I shall inform their Majesties"
Watching a game of bandy, Stefan and Andriey casually discussed international affairs. They began with the heated situation in Africa, but quickly moved closer to home, to Red Scum apprently having almost free reign in Ukraina.
Courtesy of Borys- He seems to have misplaced his original
January 1915
In a bania (bathhouse/sauna) at an estate outside of Kiev, several middle aged men were sweating profusely. After pouring more water on the coals, they sipped the cold kvass they had pulled out from the snow drift outside the door.
- So Andrey Grigoryevich, I'm slowly adopting your view that we backed the wrong whelp. Vladymyr and now the Valdymirovich are useless.
- I've been telling you that since 1910! Michail Aleksanrovich, surely you must have noted that when the syekomoye khazaistvo (whippable people = lower orders) got uppity, the weakling did not turn the cossaks at them ...
- ... maybe because we hadn't had cossaks here since Katherine ...
- ... nor had them shot!
- But wasn't that part of us supporting him in the first place? That he'd not be like Ivan Grozny? That he'd be more European? That he'd rule without nakhay (whip) flaying cossaks?
- Meh! He's not fit to rule, that's all. He neither can rule the Russian way, with the knut (another sort of whip), nor can he rule the Western way, with guile. Look at what country we ended up in! The Little Russians and the White Russians are True Believers, even if often with schismatic overlords. But those schismatics make up one third of the country, over half of the nobility and - together with the filthy Jews, they own 2/3rds of industry.
- and yet Vladymyr never really tried to win their support, without which we're left only with those peasants ...
- so this makes us, the Muscovites, exiles. Rulling over indifferent but docile Little Russian peasants, and antagonistic Poles.
- Yes, had anybody but whislted, those curs would had rebelled. Praise God that the neither the ECS nor the Habsburgs encourraged them.
- Speaking of habsburgs, have you heard that they're rummored to have some strange rites? Blood for the Pope or chants like that?
- They'll burn in hell forever, the schismatics! They've idols in their churchs!
- Now you got me curious. About the chants, I mean. You know what, Nikita Nikolyevich, I'll get my wife to write her niece, Sashenka Vassilyevna, who stayed on as handmaiden to Yelena Vladymiryevna and is now in Vienna ...
What do you make out of this Six Weeks War, my dear cousin?
(I have been a bit sidetracked of late but will attempt to get things going again-I will attempt to keep them in chronological order but the stories later tonight will be out of order as I have yet to type them up)
STAVKA
March 1915
Ah... the reorganizing of the far to numerous Cavalry Divisions has finally been approved. It looks as though 4 Corps worth of Mounted Infantry will be downgraded to Light Infantry. Artillery and Support Services will change very little, only the actual combat Infantry Mounts will be removed from the OOB.
Cavalry Divisions will become Light Infantry Brigades. With 3 Cavalry Divisions grouping to form a Light Infantry Division with three Divisions to a Corps. As these units have been held in reserve this should prove a smooth transition.
The excess mounts are to be distributed to other Divisions in need of additional transport or provided at minimal cost to Military Personnel capable for caring for them. Any surplus mounts will then be transferred to the Land Department for use in the reform programs. This should ensure that capable caretakers and good workers shall benefit the most.
Only a Whisper
Early 1915 plus
Whisper Campaigns flood through Belarus, grasping at the
disenfranchised populous.
... The Ukrainian led Coalition has not dealt with Belarus'
economic woes...
...They take the fruits of our labor and leave nothing in return...
... Life was better under Tsar Mikhail, why has God forsaken us...
... The peasants of Russia grow fat under the kind leadership of
Empress Xenia...
... Xenia has brought education to even the lowest serf...
... Cyril has been talking with the King the Crimea is to be given away...
Similar Campaigns surge in the minds of many of Courlands Population.
The Letter Home
May 1915
Father,
I know we parted on bad terms, but I sent this package in the hopes of sharing our bounty with you.It took three months to finalize the landgrant, establish our creditline in Barnaul and reach our final destination. The 160 acres granted us by the government was not the wasteland you supposed.
We were the first family to settle the Kebezen Valley. Vladimir, Marie and I had to work hard to finish our small wooden home before the harsh winter set in. Our first winter was tougher than we expected, but when the snows receded the black earth beckoned for our toil. Within three years our hard work began to show profit, well before the alotted time granted by the Land Department. As a first reward for our labors a new model plow was sent to us from Novosibirsk.
Our valley has prospered under our labors. The entire population are robust, hard workers. The determination for success displayed by everyone is infectious. A small village has grown up on the riversedge. Large horse drawn barges have begun to work the waters to deliver our produce to the bigger towns.
As you know it has been a long five years. I am currently in Barnaul where I just recieved the documents stating that we have fullfilled all the Land Department decrees and the land is now ours! For the first time our family finally owns the land upon which we work!
We will begin the construction of our own masonry dacha to shelter the growing family. It will be very spacious with three separate rooms and an upstairs loft! Just today I ordered the new glass windows and a real iron bed for Marie!
We have reserved a tract of land for you at the head of the valley. Please take the enclosed documents and money and bring the rest of the family to begin a new life in Eden.
Surely you have noticed the enclosed two photographs, yet another first for our family, they will attest to our happiness and the beauty of our land.
We await your arrival with great expectations!
Yuri
(Yuri Chekhov and his family were one of the first land grant recipients of the Khutor Act of 1910 created by Pyotr Stolypin. Drawing heavily upon the experiences-both good and bad- of the North and South American governments in expanding into the continental interiors. The many policies instituted since the first Land Reform Act of 1907 was created have shown to be extremely beneficial to the swelling populations of Central and Eastern Russia. The rich soil and resources are now beginning to bear fruit, introducing new life and wealth into Russia's once primitive economy.)
Kiev
summer 1915
Tsar Cyril and advisors
Interior Minister the Russian minority in Eastern Ukraine is growing more troublesome my leige. Many have heard of the great strides in the quality of life and the pursuit of happiness, taking place across the border. Some have begun to shed the deep roots and family ties to try their hand on the Siberian Frontier.
Tsar Cyril
Bah its just propanganda! The Russians are having no better luck than we in taming the peasants!
Interior Minister
Your highness... the russians no longer recognize the peasant class, the freedom they have granted is real I assure you. Their agricultural sector has improved drastically. I am afraid they will no longer rely on Ukrainian harvests to feed their populace.
They have shown that hard work holds little value if the reward is nonexistant. Our people are one with the earth but our medieval farming methods show little reward for hard labors. If this continues much longer the fire in their hearts may burn out leave us with nothing.
Defense Minister
Or worse... another revolution...
Black Sea, just south of the Crimea
July 1915
Tsar Andrei on board the Air Cruiser Zmey
Yes... I remember, it has been so long. As a young boy it held so many fond memories. Then came the Vladi, the arrest and confinement of so many of my family whose summer homes dotted the area.
Yes... Yalta holds deep roots in my memory.
Kiev
Summer 1915
Heard in the backrooms of the Kiev Palace
Problems... Problems... will it never cease!
...Those in the Belarus have been demonstrating against the new taxes the Tsar has levied on the populace. Grand Duke Pavlovich wants a larger say in the Ministry, he feels Belarus has no political power.
...Poland wants more autonomy and local investments along with a right of way to the sea!
...Courland protests aginst the large drops in real wages due to the new inflationary policies of Grand Duke Paul.
...How can we hold together the coalition!
The Industrial Revolution comes to the Countryside
August 1915
Yuri.. Vlad! It's great to see you! I suppose you came into town just to visit old Jacob! Ha! Just kidding, I know what you have come for, Your new tractor! Two of them have just arrived at the dock. The new mechanic is supervising the unloading process and will test them out shortly. Just sign these documents and Pavel will deliver it tomorrow morning and show you how it works.
He will be staying for two weeks until you and the Grigorys are familiar with their daily operation. Then he is off to Nadym to supervise thier new machinery. Be sure to get all your questions answered now, as he wont be around again until next year.
Late January 1915
The slumbering Bear that was Kronstadt Naval base awoke to a buzz of activity. The normal hibernation that winter would bring was shattered by the sounds of Heavy Industry .The focus of this seemingly unnatural activity centered on Imperial Russia's Most Modern Armored Cruisers. Recently returned from a fast trip to the Orient. The Yearlong Shakedown cruise had proven the capability of Russia's high powered propulsion systems.
Before the thick ice entombed the Base the cruisers had been placed in DryDock 2 and 5.
Early February 1915
Like ants scurrying over a fresh carcass, dock workers and naval personnel pursued their goals with coordinated chaos. One by one the anti torpedo boat artillery was unbolted from the deck.
Early March 1915
The chatter of large numbers of foreign languages filled the air, some groups spoke in French, German or even English to overcome difficulties in translation or a shortage of translators.
Cyrillic plaquards and posted warnings are replaced by the score with their foreign contemporaries.
Portions of cleared warehouses are host to improvised classrooms teaching the differences in Naval design and techniques.
Late March 1915
The small locomotive screeched to a halt and burst of steam. The light rail tracks has just recently been completed across the heavy ice of the bay to Oranienbaum. This first train was loaded down with foriegn 4" Guns that had finally completed their long journey.
On the outskirts of Moscow
May 1915
The platform sat 100 feet away from the 20' wall of dirt. Upon it shook the unwinged fuselage of a Sikorsky S-16. Joseph nodded his head in aknowledgement of the thumbs up he recieved from the chief mechanic, crouched down in the makeshift sandbagged bunker.
Joseph pulled back the charging handle of the Maxim machine gun. It functioned smoothly feeding the first cartridge into the breach from the fabric belt. Above the roar of the rotary engine, the slow RAT-TAT-TAT-TAT of the Maxim could be heard.
SUCCESS! The synchronizing gear was working! All the previous failures had led to this great moment! The only success to date of arming front engined aircraft to date had been the improvised heavy triangular plate bolted onto the propellor. Firing a few short additional short bursts had the engineers jumping about clasping each other.
The steady churning of the engine altered slightly, as if a hiccup. A slight jerk to the airframe and the next burst from the Maxim blew the propellor into great slivers of oak, scattering the groudcrew and technicians. Joseph immediately closed off the fuel line but not before the engine had nearly shook itself from the airframe, twisting the mounts.
DAMN! What had happened? he thought as he emerged from the roomy cockpit.
(http://home.comcast.net/~bellerik/Navalism/s-16-iconnet-3-prev.jpg)
Vladivostock
Late 1915
As the small hand of the Wall clock reached 12, a piercing shriek emanated from the small speaker set before the huddled crowd. The operator moved a dial slightly and a soft tin sounding voice could be heard.
"...n VK, come in VK , this is SP"
A ripple of cheers ran through the men, the first Transcontinental Russian Radio Broadcast was a success! the Columbian radio operator stood up from his seat and offered it to his best trainee. Pavel sat down and pressed the microphone.
" SP this is VK, we hear you...."
'Amazing' thought Pavel 'I am speaking to men in St. Petersburg, well I suppose thats not quite true'. The signal had been recieved, amplified and rebroadcast three times on its long journey, but it was still a great moment.
Russian Military Journal
1915 Edition
(http://home.comcast.net/~bellerik/Navalism/CWRArticleImage.jpg)
Captions:
Russian armored landships prove thier value(actually the delivery of another Japanese Thank)
Kazahk Bandits captured and sentenced(more on this later)
Proud reservists marching to a tune
Trainees learning a vital lesson
Redistribution of Mounted Infantry horses
Warsaw, Grzybowski Square
6th February 1915
It was a sunny winter morning in Warsaw. Mass had just ended and the crowd was spilling down the steps onto the Square. Several tense men conferred.
- It is time, comrades, unfurl the two flags.
- I still think the two coloured one is a disgrace to the movement! Remember the centuries of expolitation and oppression of the masses under that banner!
- But comrade Joseph - look at the mounted Police - what if they charge us? There are women and children in the square ... they could get trampled!
- They'll be martyrs - good for recrutiment. Raise the flags and throw up the leaflets!
The white-red and red flags on the top of the steps generated an instant reaction from the police. The troopers started pushing their horses through the crowd towards the church. Then a shot from the crowd brought down a beareded policemen. There was general screaming when the the pocilen dropped the flials and took out their swords. No longer carrying about the people getting underhoof, they charged at the small band flying the two banners ...
(based on actual events-from Borys)
Wow, you're back with a vengence...
Sikorsky Air Service
May 10th, 1915
The weather was perfect! A few clouds meandering at high altitude. The steady thrumming of the Samson engines. The newly installed yet sparse guages showed the engines had warmed up to operating temperature. The final walkabout had shown all was fine with the aircraft.
The pilot stood before his passenger audience of 8 and loudly announced, above the roar of the four engines. "Welcome aboard the first passenger flight of SAS to Berlin. We will have many stops along the way. Nikita will be your steward" motioning to the well attired man seated to the rear of the long cabin . " He can provide you with anything you may need. I hope you find flying as enjoyable as I do."
With taht said the pilot excused himself and made his way to the cockpit, shaking hands with his mechanic and backup pilot.
Captain Yakovich increased the throttles and the huge "Ilya" began to roll forward. " Here we go! Another first for Russia!"
(http://home.comcast.net/~bellerik/Navalism/im_vnutr.jpg)(http://home.comcast.net/~bellerik/Navalism/im-inside-prev.jpg)
Some features of the 'Ilya Muromets' providing luxury no other aircraft could.
Spacious cabin for as much as 16 passengers, Six large windows on every side of the cabin and 4 smaller round windows on each side in rear cabin(bedroom!). Glazed cabin floor section to amuse passengers, Heating of enclosed compartments provided by inboard engines exhaust gases channeled through radiator pipes, Electric lighting powered by wind driven generator. Toilet - necessity for record long flights and passenger convenience, Wicker chairs in cabin for comfortable rest of crew and passengers.
I think Russians are alot like Texans... everything has to be bigger than the other guys. :o
Hello,
I would much rather have spaced them out as I should, but I am sick of not finishing my ideas and stories. This time I forced myself through the writers block and made the stories far shorter and far less detailed so I actually finished.
I still have more I would like to put out, but I need to post the 2H -1915 Report and correct any problems with the Janes Ships. I am not even sure if the Ukraine stuff is suitable, but I imagine that most countries are having issues with Nationalism, self determination or a return to the 'good ol days' (even if they weren't that good- I am sure the fast pace of technology and world events would cause a desire to slow thing down-rather like today in some ways) as they did in our timeline. This could include ESC, the Hapsburgs, Netherlands, Japan or any of the conglomerations, including Russia.
Lets call it a New Years Resolution to kick myself in gear.
Quote from: Blooded on January 20, 2009, 09:48:11 AM
I think Russians are alot like Texans... everything has to be bigger than the other guys. :o
The two ARE identical in this respect.
Big = Good
Borys
It might be that big = good, borys, but bigger = better. :D
*runs away*
Quote from: Blooded on January 20, 2009, 10:18:06 AM
I am not even sure if the Ukraine stuff is suitable, but I imagine that most countries are having issues with Nationalism, self determination or a return to the 'good ol days' (even if they weren't that good- I am sure the fast pace of technology and world events would cause a desire to slow thing down-rather like today in some ways) as they did in our timeline. This could include ESC, the Hapsburgs, Netherlands, Japan or any of the conglomerations, including Russia.
Bavaria is also under the understanding that there is some unrest in the Ukraine among the Polish elements. The Bavarians have a Polish minority, which they are in the process of (in 1915) of creating a mostly Polish Duchy under a Polish noble, a course urged by the rulers of Saxony, the House of Wettin- which has long had ties to Poland.
Bavaria has the [Upper] Silesians, who speak a dialect of Polish, and some of which consider themselves to be Polish. As the last time those lands made part of the a Polish state was in the mid-XIVth century, I don't think that a "Polish" Duchy is viable. At most a ressurection of the Duchy of Oppeln (Opole) or Ratibor (Racibórz), catering to the "local Slavic minority". However, had the Bavarians held Posen, it would be a different story.
Borys
My historical background of that region is limited of course. I have tried to read up on it some via Wikipedia and some google hits.
One thing that stood out was that under the Prussians and then German Emprie in the Mid/late 1800s there had been a program of Prussification which was strongly resented by the polish minority but did change the ethnic identifications of the area.
From what I can garner, prior to the 'Prussification' the northern portion had been majority germanic while only the southern portion was majority (2/3rds) 'Polish'.
In Navalism, the Prussian domination was cut short. As such I expect the majority ethnic identity of the southern portion of Bavarian Silesia to continue to be Polish.
I could be in error, but I thought I had it worked out ...or at least I tried.