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Description
Here's another map based on the Hearts of Iron III After Action Report, Monarchy over the Danube (forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/s… , which is a direct sequel to this one (mdc01957.deviantart.com/art/Mo… . This one, however, takes place 50 years after the "rebirth" of Austria-Hungary.

As with the previous, I did take some liberties (tweaking the borders and bits of the backstory) to make it at least slightly more realistic and convincing. This is especially considering what happens in the source material, which could be summed up as strange if not "out of character." Although as much as possible, I tried keeping the more sensible elements.

If anything, this is done to serve as more of a spoiler and teaser for things to come in the Monarchy Over the Danube fic (as this also follows the story's course of events rather than the source material). I'm very much tempted to called this "Austria and Hungary vs the World."

And as a nod and wink to Hetalia, there are a few little touches added to the description as well as the map itself (for those who can read German or Hungarian). Enjoy.

-----

Much can happen over the course of a century. The world saw changes in everything from technology to politics and society. Many for the better, though some had also come at a terrible price. But almost no one at the end of the First Great War, let alone at the very beginning of it could have foreseen what their children and grandchildren would witness. For the first time since the late 19th Century, Europe (at the very least) is finally at peace through a concert of major powers. And the irony of this new order is how much of it came from restoring the old one.

At the heart of the Continent lies the Danubian Federation, still known commonly as the Reformed Austro-Hungarian Empire. Under the reign of an aging Emperor-King Otto von Habsburg, this self-proclaimed “community of equals” has come a long way from its humble (and relatively dubious) origins in the mid-1930s. Over the years, its boundaries and Constituent Nations have grown in a mix of diplomacy, subterfuge and outright war. But unlike the Empire of 1914, it had learned from its mistakes. Almost from the very beginning, reforms and incentives have gradually but surely improved its standing on the world stage. By the Centennial Reforms (commemorating the Original Augsliech) in 1967, it had in addition to its current name, solidified itself as a genuinely democratic union: a bastion of order and liberty. It has also, alongside Italy and a revitalized Poland formed a Mitteleuropa Bloc, serving as a formidable buffer between East and West. On the other hand, it’s long become an unspoken truth that the real power behind the Federation remains in Vienna and Budapest.

The former ideological threats have long since been welcomed back into the European family. Despite some lingering resentment towards the Federation, the success of present-day Italy owes much to the downfall of Mussolini and his Fascist servants in the 1930s, with the current King affirming years of support from the Habsburgs. The Germans meanwhile have long recovered from Hitler and Nazi rule. Although responsible for creating a more widespread Axis Powers and one of the main causes behind the Second Great War in 1939, aid from the Allied Entente (especially Austria-Hungary) not only allowed the Hohenzollerns to return to Berlin by 1941 but also helped in crushing the last remnants of Nazi influence in the country, although Prussians remained under Polish occupation until the official end of the War in 1950. The date itself coincides with the collapse of the USSR, which joined against both the Allies and Axis in the 1940s. Years of tense standoffs and stalemates took its toll on Stalin’s regime as the Soviets found themselves increasingly surrounded, culminating in a series of propaganda campaigns, battles and eventually “warning shots” near Moscow and Leningrad using experimental atomic bombs. Amidst the chaos, a coup led by remaining Romanovs brought down what remained of the Communist Party’s power (although some still suspect that others were involved). Today, the Russian Imperial Federation is a democratic constitutional monarchy, retaining some of the functional elements of the previous Soviet regime although its reputation as a peaceful giant still remains shaken by the persistent “Neo-Bolsheviks” in Siberia.

The members of the Allied Entente meanwhile have since gone on to bring about this current time of peace and stability, in which the Danube would play a crucial role. Alongside the United States (which never joined the Allies but sided with them), they made plans for creating with what is now called the Union of Nations (UoN). First announced in Vienna as early as 1940, it quickly replaced the inept League of Nations (LoN) and turned out to be much more effective in both spreading democracy and providing a peaceful forum for the international community. While various efforts on the part of the Allies meanwhile not only ensured the lasting influence among at least some of them (such as the British Empire/Commonwealth and even Germany) but also secured their place in the Quorum of Twelve, which later on included China, Russia and Japan.

But as the peoples of the Danube celebrate the 50th anniversary of their “rebirth,” tensions and problems remain. The French, despite their support during and after the War, have once more revived their opposition to the “Habsburg monarchists” and what they see as the systematic perversion of the Treaty of Versailles. They claim how the Federation used its influence and almost fervent battles against the Axis to discreetly remake a large part of Europe and even Turkey in their image, the revolution against Franco in favor of a Spanish King being just one of its alleged efforts. If not for the British and Americans, those tensions would have broken the balance of power. In the Balkans, unrest has emerged as the Greeks call on Bulgaria (which took advantage of Austria-Hungary’s war against Yugoslavia in the 1930s) to “return the northern lands,” though so far nothing more lethal than shouting has been reported. Switzerland meanwhile stubbornly stubbornly refuses to join the UoN (despite letting it use the former LoN centers in Geneva), considering it to be a glorified “Austrian Congress.”

More peculiar however are the rumors circulating from that part of the Continent. It’s been suggested that the old monarch might consider stepping down from the Throne in favor of Crown Prince Karl at some point in the future. Other, more lurid hearsays, meanwhile speak of a hidden clause to the Centennial Reforms, claiming that should the need arise, the Nations themselves, especially the “Founding Couple” would have the right to assume control. Of course, such notions of personified beings are absurd. Perhaps even more so than the alleged stories of the Couple having a child representing everyone in the Federation…

-----

Just to play it safe, I don't own Hearts of Iron III or other Paradox Entertainment games for that matter, let along the original AAR.

----

Monarchy Over the Danube: 1938-39 - mdc01957.deviantart.com/art/Mo…
Monarchy Over the Danube: 2016 - mdc01957.deviantart.com/art/Mo…

Monarchy Over the Danube: 2616 Western World - mdc01957.deviantart.com/art/Mo…

Monarchy Over the Danube: 2616 Far East - mdc01957.deviantart.com/art/Mo…

Description
Here's another map based on the Hearts of Iron III After Action Report, Monarchy over the Danube (forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/s… , which is a direct sequel to this one (mdc01957.deviantart.com/art/Mo… . This one, however, takes place 50 years after the "rebirth" of Austria-Hungary.

As with the previous, I did take some liberties (tweaking the borders and bits of the backstory) to make it at least slightly more realistic and convincing. This is especially considering what happens in the source material, which could be summed up as strange if not "out of character." Although as much as possible, I tried keeping the more sensible elements.

If anything, this is done to serve as more of a spoiler and teaser for things to come in the Monarchy Over the Danube fic (as this also follows the story's course of events rather than the source material). I'm very much tempted to called this "Austria and Hungary vs the World."

And as a nod and wink to Hetalia, there are a few little touches added to the description as well as the map itself (for those who can read German or Hungarian). Enjoy.

-----

Much can happen over the course of a century. The world saw changes in everything from technology to politics and society. Many for the better, though some had also come at a terrible price. But almost no one at the end of the First Great War, let alone at the very beginning of it could have foreseen what their children and grandchildren would witness. For the first time since the late 19th Century, Europe (at the very least) is finally at peace through a concert of major powers. And the irony of this new order is how much of it came from restoring the old one.

At the heart of the Continent lies the Danubian Federation, still known commonly as the Reformed Austro-Hungarian Empire. Under the reign of an aging Emperor-King Otto von Habsburg, this self-proclaimed “community of equals” has come a long way from its humble (and relatively dubious) origins in the mid-1930s. Over the years, its boundaries and Constituent Nations have grown in a mix of diplomacy, subterfuge and outright war. But unlike the Empire of 1914, it had learned from its mistakes. Almost from the very beginning, reforms and incentives have gradually but surely improved its standing on the world stage. By the Centennial Reforms (commemorating the Original Augsliech) in 1967, it had in addition to its current name, solidified itself as a genuinely democratic union: a bastion of order and liberty. It has also, alongside Italy and a revitalized Poland formed a Mitteleuropa Bloc, serving as a formidable buffer between East and West. On the other hand, it’s long become an unspoken truth that the real power behind the Federation remains in Vienna and Budapest.

The former ideological threats have long since been welcomed back into the European family. Despite some lingering resentment towards the Federation, the success of present-day Italy owes much to the downfall of Mussolini and his Fascist servants in the 1930s, with the current King affirming years of support from the Habsburgs. The Germans meanwhile have long recovered from Hitler and Nazi rule. Although responsible for creating a more widespread Axis Powers and one of the main causes behind the Second Great War in 1939, aid from the Allied Entente (especially Austria-Hungary) not only allowed the Hohenzollerns to return to Berlin by 1941 but also helped in crushing the last remnants of Nazi influence in the country, although Prussians remained under Polish occupation until the official end of the War in 1950. The date itself coincides with the collapse of the USSR, which joined against both the Allies and Axis in the 1940s. Years of tense standoffs and stalemates took its toll on Stalin’s regime as the Soviets found themselves increasingly surrounded, culminating in a series of propaganda campaigns, battles and eventually “warning shots” near Moscow and Leningrad using experimental atomic bombs. Amidst the chaos, a coup led by remaining Romanovs brought down what remained of the Communist Party’s power (although some still suspect that others were involved). Today, the Russian Imperial Federation is a democratic constitutional monarchy, retaining some of the functional elements of the previous Soviet regime although its reputation as a peaceful giant still remains shaken by the persistent “Neo-Bolsheviks” in Siberia.

The members of the Allied Entente meanwhile have since gone on to bring about this current time of peace and stability, in which the Danube would play a crucial role. Alongside the United States (which never joined the Allies but sided with them), they made plans for creating with what is now called the Union of Nations (UoN). First announced in Vienna as early as 1940, it quickly replaced the inept League of Nations (LoN) and turned out to be much more effective in both spreading democracy and providing a peaceful forum for the international community. While various efforts on the part of the Allies meanwhile not only ensured the lasting influence among at least some of them (such as the British Empire/Commonwealth and even Germany) but also secured their place in the Quorum of Twelve, which later on included China, Russia and Japan.

But as the peoples of the Danube celebrate the 50th anniversary of their “rebirth,” tensions and problems remain. The French, despite their support during and after the War, have once more revived their opposition to the “Habsburg monarchists” and what they see as the systematic perversion of the Treaty of Versailles. They claim how the Federation used its influence and almost fervent battles against the Axis to discreetly remake a large part of Europe and even Turkey in their image, the revolution against Franco in favor of a Spanish King being just one of its alleged efforts. If not for the British and Americans, those tensions would have broken the balance of power. In the Balkans, unrest has emerged as the Greeks call on Bulgaria (which took advantage of Austria-Hungary’s war against Yugoslavia in the 1930s) to “return the northern lands,” though so far nothing more lethal than shouting has been reported. Switzerland meanwhile stubbornly stubbornly refuses to join the UoN (despite letting it use the former LoN centers in Geneva), considering it to be a glorified “Austrian Congress.”

More peculiar however are the rumors circulating from that part of the Continent. It’s been suggested that the old monarch might consider stepping down from the Throne in favor of Crown Prince Karl at some point in the future. Other, more lurid hearsays, meanwhile speak of a hidden clause to the Centennial Reforms, claiming that should the need arise, the Nations themselves, especially the “Founding Couple” would have the right to assume control. Of course, such notions of personified beings are absurd. Perhaps even more so than the alleged stories of the Couple having a child representing everyone in the Federation…

-----

Just to play it safe, I don't own Hearts of Iron III or other Paradox Entertainment games for that matter, let along the original AAR.

----

Monarchy Over the Danube: 1938-39 - mdc01957.deviantart.com/art/Mo…
Monarchy Over the Danube: 2016 - mdc01957.deviantart.com/art/Mo…

Monarchy Over the Danube: 2616 Western World - mdc01957.deviantart.com/art/Mo…

Monarchy Over the Danube: 2616 Far East - mdc01957.deviantart.com/art/Mo…