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Many national territories included into the Russian Empire had been trying to become independent. But such attempts always were suppressed by military means from Russia's side.The February revolution and the Tzar abdication was a signal for many nations to try once again. Many started to negotiate with the Provisional Government. But the Provisional Government had been posponing any serious decisions until the Constituent Assembly that was scheduled to the end of 1917. For example, when Finland became wery decisive in the demands for the independence the Provisional Governmen even used army to dissolve the Finnish Parliament, this time without blood.After the Bolsheviks armed coup in October 1917 the strives for independence were accelerated. Ulike the Provisional Government the Bolsheviks acted more meanly. They recognized independence in words, but immediately sent the Red army to forcefully suppress attempts to disconnect.Let's consider briefly all the attempts for independence.1. PolandEven before the February Revolution, a significant part of Poland was occupied by German troops. Already in December 1916, a new government body, controlled by Germany, the Provisional State Council, was formed on this territory. So in the eastern Polish territories a state dependent on the Germans was created.On March 16 (29), 1917, the Provisional Government of Russia recognized Poland’s right to independence subject to a “free military alliance” with Russia.2. FinlandThe abdication of Nicholas II from the throne on March 2, 1917 automatically terminated the personal union with the Grand Duchy of Finland. On March 7 (20), 1917, the Provisional Government issued an Act approving the Constitution of the Grand Duchy of Finland, returning to Finland all the rights of the times of autonomy and repealing all restrictions of the period of Russification. Until the fall of 1917, Finland declared independence and tried to limit Russia's interference in its affairs.However, this law on the restoration of autonomous rights of Finland was rejected by the Provisional Government of Russia, the Finnish parliament was dissolved, and Russian troops occupied its building. However, after the Bolshevik coup, November 15 (28), 1917, the Finnish parliament again assumed the supreme power in the country, formed a new composition of the government - the Senate of Finland under the leadership of Pehr Evind Svinhufvud. On December 18 (31), 1917, the state independence of the Republic of Finland was first recognized by the Council of People's Commissars (government) of the Russian Soviet Republic, headed by Vladimir Lenin. In January 1918, Sweden and Germany recognized independence of Finland. However, the Bolsheviks soon showed their true essence. At the beginning of 1918 they created a fake government in Finland and sent the Red Army to "help" this government. Finland had to fight for its independence. With the help of Germany, Finland defeated the Reds.3. UkraineOn March 4 (17), 1917 in Kiev at a meeting of representatives of political, social, cultural and professional organizations, the creation of the Ukrainian Central Rada (Central Council) was announced. At first, the Central Council positioned itself as a territorial body conducting the revolutionary policy of the Provisional Government in Ukraine. However, the Provisional Government does not want to grant Ukraine autonomy. Then, on June 3 (16), a statement was issued by the Provisional Government on "a negative decision on the issue of issuing an act on the autonomy of Ukraine." Despite this, on June 10 (23), at a meeting of the Committee of the Central Council, the national-territorial autonomy of Ukraine as part of Russia was proclaimed. The National Ukrainian Assembly (Sejm), elected by universal, equal, direct, secret ballot was declared as the Legislature. It was made clear that the Sejm decisions would take precedence over the decisions of the All-Russian Constituent Assembly. The Central Council took responsibility for the current state of affairs in Ukraine, to ensure its activities, additional fees were introduced from the population of Ukraine. On June 16 (29), the Central Council established the General Secretariat - its executive body. V. Vinnichenko was elected the first general secretary. S. Petliura took the post of Secretary General for Military Affairs. In the Declaration of the General Secretariat, proclaimed on June 16 (29), the secretariat for military affairs was set up the task of "Ukrainianizing the army, both in the rear and, if possible, at the front." Parliament in the Declaration of the General Secretariat was called "the highest not only executive, but also the legislative body of the entire organized Ukrainian people."4. BelarusSince July 1917, Belarusian national forces have intensified in Belarus, which, at the initiative of the Belarusian Socialist community, held the II Congress of Belarusian national organizations and decided to seek autonomy for Belarus as part of a democratic republican Russia. At the congress, the Central Council was formed. The Belarusian People’s Republic was proclaimed on March 9, 1918 in the territories of the former Russian Empire occupied by German troops. After the denunciation of the Brest Peace, Germany began the withdrawal of its troops from the occupied territories. Already in December 1918, units of the Red Army occupied Minsk. The government of the BNR continued to work in emigration. In October 1925, the All-Belarusian Political Conference in Berlin announced the liquidation of the BNR.5. EstoniaOn March 3 (16), 1917, the Revel Council of Workers 'and Soldiers' Deputies was elected. On March 9 (22), the Estonian Tallinn Union was organized in Revel, which demanded that the Provisional Government should join the northern counties of Livonia to the Estland province and introduced autonomy.6. LithuaniaOn September 18-22, with the permission of the German occupation authorities, the Vilnius Conference was held, which elected the Lithuanian Tariba (Council of Lithuania).The Lithuanian Tariba adopted a decree declaring Lithuania a constitutional monarchy. It was decided to invite the German prince and military William Wilhelm von Urach to the royal throne, who was to be crowned under the throne name Mindaug II (lit. Mindaugas II, Mindaugas II).The Kingdom of Lithuania (lit. Lietuvos Karalystė) is a form of government that officially existed in the period from July 11 to November 2, 1918, which arose in Lithuania.However, after long disputes in the Lithuanian government on the eve of the defeat of the German Empire in the war, on November 2, 1918, the invitation to William was withdrawn, and the monarchy was abolished.7. LatviaIn September 1917, Latvian political parties formed a coalition in the Riga occupied by German troops - the Democratic Bloc (Demokrātiskais bloks).8, 9, 10. Azerbaijan, Armenia, GeorgiaThe territory of the former former Caucasian governorate was governed by the Special Transcaucasian Committee (OZAKOM), the organ of the Provisional Government of Russia on the management of Transcaucasia.OZAKOM was formed in Tiflis on March 9 (22), 1917 from members of the 4th State Duma. OZAKOM included five people, the chairman was Vasily Kharlamov. OZAKOM lost power due to the refusal to cooperate with the Social Democratic parties that dominated Transcaucasia. From OZAKOM, power passed to the Transcaucasian Commissariat.On April 22, 1918, the Transcaucasian Commissariat proclaimed the Trans-Caucasian Democratic Federal Republic (ZDFR) - a state entity, within the territory of Baku, Elizavetpol, Erivan, Tiflis, Kutaisi provinces, Batumi and Kars oblasts, and Zakatalsky and Imperial Russian Sukhumi regions. The government and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the ZDFR were headed by A.I. Chkhenkeli. Despite the name, ZDFR was not in fact a federation.A month later, at the request of Turkey, the Transcaucasian Sejm was dissolved, and Transcaucasia split into three states: on May 26 the Georgian Democratic Republic was proclaimed, on May 28 the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic and the Republic of Armenia (the declaration of the Armenian National Council on assuming supreme authority in the Armenian counties was adopted May 30). However, the exact borders between Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan were never defined (only the Soviet authorities established in 1920-21 did this), which led to an acute conflict between all three republics.11. BashkiriaFrom July 20 to July 27, 1917, the First All-Bashkir Congress, the Kurultai, was held in the Caravanserai in Orenburg. The heads of the regional bureau Sagid Mryasov, Allabirda Yagafarov, Akhmet-Zaki Validi, Gabdulkhai Kurbangaliev, Khurmatulla Idelbaev were elected to his presidium. The congress discussed and adopted resolutions on the work of the interim bureau, the administration of Bashkortostan, the attitude to the war and the national army, land affairs, education and the status of women. At the congress, the Bashkir Central Shuro consisting of 6 people was elected. Shuro directly engaged in the preparation of negotiations and the implementation of autonomy of Bashkurdistan in the federal structure of Russia.12. KazakhstanThe Alash Republic was proclaimed by the Alash party and was established at the Second General Kazakh Congress in Orenburg on December 5-13, 1917. The movement enjoyed considerable support among the Kazakhs (especially in North and North-West Kazakhstan), but did not represent a significant military-political force. The local settled non-Kazakh population practically did not support the movement due to the complete opposite of interests with the Kazakhs.This Kazakh national-territorial entity was liquidated by the Bolsheviks on March 5, 1920.13. CrimeaOn March 25, 1917, the All-Crimean Muslim Congress was convened in Simferopol, in which 1,500 representatives of the Crimean population took part. At the congress, the Provisional Crimean-Muslim Executive Committee (Musyspolcom) was elected, headed by Noman Chelebidzhikhan. The Muslim Executive Committee was recognized by the Provisional Government as the only plenipotentiary and legal administrative body representing all Crimean Tatars. The Muslim Executive Committee began to actively manage the internal life of the Crimean Tatars: changes were being prepared in the field of education, newspapers were published, steps were taken to create Crimean Tatar military units, and relations were established with other national movements on the territory of the Russian Empire.14. TatarstanThe 1st All-Russian Muslim Congress in early May 1917 in Moscow adopted a resolution on territorial autonomy and federal structure. The 2nd All-Russian Muslim Congress in July 1917 in Kazan gathered even more supporters of national-cultural autonomy. At a joint meeting of this congress with the 1st All-Russian Muslim Military Congress and the All-Russian Congress of Muslim Clergy on July 22, 1917, the National Cultural Autonomy of Muslims of the Turkic Tatars of Inner Russia and Siberia was proclaimed. In addition, on July 27 at the 3rd meeting of the 2nd All-Russian Muslim Congress, according to the report of Sadri Maksudi, the coordinating body of the National Council was established - Milli Majlis, with a seat in the city of Ufa.15. KubanIn April 1917, the Kuban Cossack Army created a political organization - the Kuban Council. On September 24, 1917, the Kuban Rada decided to create the Legislative Rada (parliament) and the creation of the Kuban People’s Republic.The Kuban People’s Republic or PRC is a state entity in the territory of the former Kuban region and the Kuban Cossack army, created after the collapse of the Russian Empire and existing in 1918-1920.The legislative bodies of the republic were “Kuban Regional Council” and “Kuban Legislative Council”. Executive power was led by the chief ataman, who was also commander in chief. The chief ataman of the Regional Council was elected for a period of 4 years. The government was appointed by the chief ataman and was responsible to the Legislative Council. The most influential political forces were the "Black Sea" and the "Lineists". The "Black Sea", stronger economically and politically, represented the Ukrainian-speaking Black Sea Cossacks and stood on federalist or separatist pro-Ukrainian positions. The "Lineists" represented the Russian-speaking linear Cossacks and were more oriented toward a "united and indivisible Russia."16. The North CaucasusOn May 1, 1917, in Vladikavkaz, at the initiative of the Provisional Central Committee of the United Highlanders, the First Mountain Congress was held at which the Union of the United Highlanders of the North Caucasus and Dagestan was formed. The Central Committee of the Union of Highlanders of the Union was directly subordinate to the Dagestan region, the mountain districts of the Terek region (Nazran, Nalchik, Vladikavkaz, Grozny, Veden, Khasav-Yurt), the Nogai district of the Tersk region, the Kuban Gorsky regional committee and the Kuban Gorsky regional council, the executive committees of the Nogai and Karanogans Stavropol province.17. SiberiaOn October 8, 1917, Siberian regional workers declared Siberia autonomy and created the first Siberian government led by Potanin, which was subsequently dispersed by the Bolsheviks.18. MoldovaAfter the October Revolution, the assistant to the Commander-in-Chief of the Romanian Front, General Shcherbachev (actually acting as Commander-in-Chief) managed to restrain for some time the decomposition of the troops of the front under the influence of revolutionary events and Bolshevik agitation. Shcherbachev ensured that the Front Committee on October 30 (November 12) 1917 decided not to recognize the Soviet government. The French military representatives on the Romanian front (the headquarters of the Romanian front and General Berthelot was located in the city of Iasi) supported General Shcherbachev. He was allowed to begin peace negotiations with the Austro-Germans. On November 26 (December 9), a truce was concluded in Focsani between the combined Russian-Romanian and German-Austrian forces. This allowed Shcherbachev to begin to suppress Bolshevik influence in the army. On the night of December 5 (18), he ordered the troops loyal to the Central Council to occupy all the headquarters. This was followed by the disarmament by the Romanians of those units in which the Bolsheviks had a strong influence. Left without weapons and food, the Russian army was forced to leave for Russia in severe frost on foot. The Romanian front virtually ceased to exist in mid-December 1917.On November 21 (December 4), 1917, the Sfatul Tsarii was formed at the Military Moldavian Congress, which on December 2 (15), 1917 adopted a declaration proclaiming the formation of the Moldavian Democratic Republic. On January 24 (February 6), 1918 Sfatul Tsarii declared the independence of the Moldavian Democratic Republic. The republic was recognized by the Bolshevik government.We see the mass desire of territorial entities for independence from Russia. However, not everyone was able to support their aspirations with their armed forces. The Bolsheviks verbally recognized the independence of the newly created state structures, but literally right away, they began military intervention and conquest. As a result of the conquests of the Red Army, the USSR was created. It was not a union of republics, as indicated in the name of that country. These were territories occupied as a result of military aggression by Bolshevik Russia.

Twelve years ago, a friend of mine was driving his truck to work. While passing through an intersection, he was t-boned by a van at 60 mph. His truck rolled off an embankment, burst into flames, and he died from the impact to his brain and breathing superheated fumes.His widow was out of country at the time of his death. I picked her up from the airport and helped her through the next few days, until her sons could come from several states away and help. And then I drove two hours to the crash site, because I was drawn to it. I felt like there was something I was supposed to see, or find.I arrived and crawled through the brush on the embankment, and down to the crash site. The wreck had been hauled away, but I found burned pieces of his laptop computer, damaged pamphlets related to his job with the USDA, bits of the truck’s radiator. I felt like something was there, waiting, so I sat down and was silent.And then I sensed the most startling and profound spiritual event that happened in that place upon my friend’s death. I saw it as a sort of internal vision which I would liken to the experience of when one senses how someone else feels. I was given a glimpse of what John Donne was referencing in the work “Death Be Not Proud”.I sensed that, at the moment Mike died, Jesus the Lion Hearted pushed back Sheol and proclaimed, “this one is mine.” I sensed victory in that place: A race well run, and the echo of “well done, good and faithful servant.” For the first time, I recognized why followers of Jesus put crosses on their places of rest; as testimony to victory over death, and the promise of resurrection. It is looking forward with hope, not backward in memorandum.I brought some remnants from the site back with me and gave them to her sons in a shoe box. They were happy to have them. One of the sons had been on the phone with his dad when the accident occurred, so the physical evidence what happened next seemed to bring him a strange closure.Mike was buried - around 3,000 people from all over the US, the U.K., Brazil, France, Africa, and former Soviet countries attended the funeral. It was one of the more powerful testimonies to the life of an honorable man that I have seen.I miss my friend, but I look to the time that we will see each other again, and laugh, and share a meal.From 2005:Michael D. Summer, 53, SublignaMichael D. Summer of Subligna died unexpectedly in an automobile accident Wednesday, Sept. 21, near Atlanta. He was 53.He was a faithful husband and father and was married for 32 years to Linda Layton Summer, whom he loved second only to Jesus. He was a founding elder of Highlands Presbyterian Church, where his love, wisdom and passion for the Lord will be deeply missed. He was an organizing board member of the North Georgia Crisis Pregnancy Center along with his best friend John Agnew, laboring to save unborn children by ministering to women in need with the gospel love of Christ. He and his wife began the Agape Puppets, a puppet ministry that now has teams bringing the good news of Jesus to children on five continents. He worked hard all his life and did many things well. He worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture for 30 years with many men and women whom he loved and respected, especially James Brantley and Dr. Ed Arza.Survivors include his wife, Linda; sons, Joshua and Matthew, and their wives, Teresa and Jill, whom he considered daughters; grandson, George Hutchinson; his father and mother, Donald and Julia Summer; brothers, Tommy and Jeff.Services: Monday, Sept. 26, at 2 p.m. at Oakwood Baptist Church in Chickamauga. After the graveside service at McWilliams Cemetery, there will be a reception at the Summers’ home. Visitation: Sunday, Sept. 25, from 4-6 p.m. at Wilson Funeral Home in LaFayette. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial gifts be made to either the Highlands Presbyterian Church building fund or the Agape ministry. Both may be sent to 1211 W.N. Main St., LaFayette, Ga., 30728. Online guestbook at W. L. Wilson & Sons Funeral Home

July 1939 - EuropeThe German Reich is at the peak of its power. Having annexed both Austria and the Sudetenland in 1938 as well as the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia in 1939, Germany is now looking to its claims in the east.A long dispute over the Free City of Danzig has raised tensions between the German Reich and the Second Polish Republic like never before, as the threat of a second war is high.Historically, the Germans failed to convince Poland to join the Agreement against the Communist International (Anti-Comintern Pact) or annex the Free City of Danzig. Instead, Germany was forced to achieve its goals for the first time by military intervention, incomparable to intervention in Austria and Bohemia. Subsequently leading to the signing of the Treaty of Non-Aggression between Germany and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. The Danzig crisis occurred between October 24, 1938 - August 31, 1939. Whilst Germany managed to expand its borders due to political and diplomatic triumphs from 1933 - 1939, there is disputation that this political and diplomatic failure over Danzig by the Germans, forced the Germans to war. Adolf Hitler’s goal was to unite all German-speaking peoples of Europe under a great German nation and had been successful up to that point.Just three days before the start of the history-altering genocidal tragedy that was World War II, Adolf Hitler pleaded for peace with Britain and France. His sincere overtures were ignored by the Allies, under the phony pretext of “protecting” their aggressive and militaristic Polish ally, declared war first.Leading to the subsequent half a decade long world war.Supported from “behind the scenes” by elements in the United Kingdom, France, and the United States, Marshal of Poland Smigly-Rydz Commander-in-Chief of Poland’s armed forces at the time was encouraged to ignore the Führer’s sincere and generous proposals the bizarre and hated partition of Prussia that had caused tension ever since the end of the Great War.At one point, the Führer had even agreed to give up claims to Western Prussia in exchange for the return of Danzig and a 1-mile wide highway-railway passage linking Germany to East Prussia.Underestimating Germany’s resolve, overestimating Poland’s power, and foolishly trusting the Western intriguers who were manipulating his bloated imperialistic ego, Smigly ignored the Führer’s offers and ratcheted up the abuse of Germans trapped in Western Prussia and Danzig.Believing that the western powers were truly behind him, the cowardly Smigly “stood down” and allowed predominantly Jewish-Bolshevik terror gangs to attack innocent Germans; both within “Prussian Poland” and inside of German border towns as well. These gangs of red “partisans”, as well as other Polish ultra-nationalists, had been salivating at the prospect of triggering a western “holy war” against Germany ever since 1933.The brutality of the mass killing gives an indication of the type of abuse that innocent Germans, trapped in Poland, had been suffering while Smigly “looked the other way”. Proposals for renewed negotiations continued up until the last moment.However…Had the Polish Government been willing to reach a compromise, ignoring British and French pressures to remain hostile towards Germany, by late June 1939, Germany and Poland reach an agreement over the Danzig crisis both nations looking to avoid hostilities between themselves and viewing the Soviet Union as the greatest threat, the Treaty of Danzig is signed:Germany will annex the Free City of Danzig on July 8, 1939.Poland is allowed to have a maximum of 10,000 troops in Danzig to protect the polish community in the region and has been granted tax-free trade in the region, as well as allowed usage of all ports in Danzig.The German Reich and Second Polish Republic will renew the 1934 German-Polish Non-Aggression Pact and the signing of the Anti-Comintern Pact.The treaty comes as a shock to the British and French, as they did not expect the Polish to concede to German demands. Britain and France consider the possibility of nullifying the 1938 Munich Agreement, which allowed the German Reich to annex Austria and the Sudetenland, due to the Germans breaking the agreement by invading Czechoslovakia in early 1939.For a brief moment, the French consider the possibility of military intervention in the summer of 1939, as there is still anti-German sentiment within the population and believe the Germans simply can’t make claim after claim. France also realizes that the French region of Alsace-Lorraine, which was part of the former German Empire, could be the next territorial demand the Germans make. They know that ceding Alsace-Lorraine would break French defenses almost completely, as was the case with Czechoslovakia with Czechoslovak defenses disappearing with the annexation of the Sudetenland.Eventually, the French decide against going to war with Germany, mainly due to the fact that the British refuse to back an unprovoked war. With British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain stating in a radio broadcast:“This time, the Polish themselves have negotiated and agreed on the terms, unlike the case with the Munich Agreement.”Meanwhile, in Germany, there are calls for celebration. Germany is united, throughout the countryside, church bells ring and millions of German citizens cheer, as through the Danzig Solution, the Führer has achieved yet another major victory without a battle.With the threat of war with the west averted, the Führer can continue his goal of united the Germanic peoples of Europe into a Greater Germany. Sending numerous calls to the Germanic states of Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Holland, Belgium, Switzerland, and Iceland. Calling for peace and unity between the nations. At first, the leaders of these nations are reluctant to give up their nation’s sovereignty in exchange for becoming part of the German Reich. Although, fearful of the threat of Bolshevik Communism and not wanting to set off a potential conflict with Germany, the nations send replies to form a Germanic coalition of nations and sign the Anti-Comintern Pact.Although not exactly what he was hoping for, the Führer accepts the idea of forming a Germanic Union of nations and is ecstatic of the fact that there are more signatories to the pact against Bolshevism. Now, he prepares a series of orders to continue rearmament for what he believes will be an eventual war against the Soviet Union.In Moscow, the news of German-Polish peace comes as a blow to the Kremlin. Joseph Stalin is worried as without Germany having an enemy, he feels that the Germans will now concentrate their full military strength against the U.S.S.R. A threat that must be dealt with as soon as possible, referring to the Polish-Soviet War in 1920 and the idea of Polish expansion into the Baltic states, under the project of “Międzymorze” (Intermarium). The Soviet Union continues rapid industrialization and rearmament along with purges on Soviet officers, Stalin now orders a series of defensive positions along their western frontier be built in the event of an attack. He also begins contemplating the idea of a preemptive strike on the west to be conducted no later than 1941.As both sides now prepare for a potential war, the German Government now prepares for the 11th Party Congress in Nuremberg scheduled for early September. German citizens everywhere prepare anxiously for the party rally, having read through radios and newspapers that the event will be of historic proportions.September 2, 1939 - Nuremberg11th Party Congress, which is christened as the “Rally of Peace” (Reichsparteitag des Friedens). In a speech delivered by Adolf Hitler, Joseph Goebbels, and other N.S.D.A.P. officials, reiterating the German desire for peace, both to the German population and to other countries.Millions of German citizens including citizens from abroad arrive at Nuremberg to witness the historic party rally. The rally is captured on film by film director Leni Riefenstahl, filming the many speeches by members of the National Socialist German Workers’ Party and the many marches through German cities and villages. Eventually made into a propaganda film titled: Frieden (Peace).With the conclusion of the Rally of Peace on September 11th, the German government now contacts the British and French governments in order to draw them into their Grand European Alliance against Bolshevism. At first, they are hesitant, believing they are now being invited to become part of the German Reich. However, Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain and French President Édouard Daladier have seen Germany’s desire for peace and the establishment of a defensive bloc of nations against the U.S.S.R.The two leaders accept Germany’s request and obtain observer status in the Anti-Comintern Pact. With the abundant resources of the British and French colonial empires, the nations of Europe are able to prosper economically and together work to build up their nations providing work for the mass millions and giving a new sense of honor and pride for their citizens.Behind the scenes, Adolf Hitler along with European military leaders discuss the likelihood of war with the Soviet Union and the current state of their armed forces. Poland and the Balkan states declare that they require more time to further modernize their armies and prepare for a potentially long war, Germany however, believes that with their combined strength, they could overwhelm the Red Army if they strike with speed and ferocity. And so, plans are created for an eventual war between east and west.July 10, 1941Joseph Stalin sends an army of 600,000 and 700,000 reserves are underway to crush the Second Polish Republic, thus initiating the Second Polish-Soviet War. Poland on the other hand can only muster 500,000 men in the first few days, but at the arrival of the Soviet 2nd Army, the Polish have risen to over 1,000,000 personnel (including German forces). Still, the Polish are outnumbered and estimate that it will take a few months before the Red Army sends more troops until Poland is crushed.Two days later, Adolf Hitler issues a Declaration of War against the Soviet Union and orders his generals to deploy all available forces to the east. his advisors warn against this, as they are unsure which side the British and French will ultimately be, but the German response is clear:“If we do not stop the Bolsheviks at the Polish-Soviet border, then we will not have the enemy next to our door but the entire European continent will be vulnerable to the Communist threat. Which is something I want to prevent.”German advisors are right to be cautious, as Stalin instructs his diplomats to attempt to achieve French participation in the case of German intervention. Some members of the French government desire to back the Soviets against the Germans, although remember their promise to defend Poland from any aggressor. This dilemma also means that neither Britain nor France are willing to join the war, having acted as peacekeepers for years, now with the outbreak of war they simply look the other way. By August 4th, the Soviets seem poised for victory. Poland has suffered serious casualties but due to German reinforcements, it has stopped the Soviets along the entire front. Stalin orders the Red Army to invade East Prussia by passing through neutral Lithuania. However, the Lithuanians are displeased when the Soviet diplomats add:“If not granted, you will be seen as part of the threat. A force which is trying to destroy Communism and the Soviet Union.”The next day, Lithuanian diplomats receive word that German and Poland will send several divisions to Lithuania if they resist against the Red Army. The Lithuanian Government declares war on the Soviet Union the same day. A furious Stalin now orders the invasion of the country due to their betrayal. It is believed that with Lithuania, the Soviets can concentrate their forces on northern and central Poland. By August 7th, the Germans launch a counterattack utilizing a new fighting style known as Blitzkrieg in the Polish region of Stanislawow. The unprepared and inexperienced Soviet commanders soon find themselves in a battle with an unequal enemy but more important, outmaneuvered and heavily outnumbered.Within a week, the first German Luftwaffe and infantry divisions cross the Soviet border into Ukraine. After a week of fighting, Soviet forces are ground to a halt. The combined strength of Lithuania, Poland, and Germany have managed to create a strong defensive position around the Lithuanian capital of Kaunas. However, two days later on August 22nd, a Soviet breakthrough occurs close to Kaunas, encircling the city. That same day, Italian dictator Il Duce of Fascism Benito Mussolini declares war on the Soviet Union, promising to aid his Germany ally.On August 25th, the Soviets invade Kaunas at 6 a.m. and by 1 p.m. the next day, the Lithuanian Government is forced to surrender. That same day, Estonian and Latvian leaders receive orders from Stalin to become Soviet protectorates and join the war against Poland or suffer the same fate as Lithuania. Both Estonia and Latvia know they can do nothing but accept Stalin’s demands. Two days later as the conflict becomes even bigger, Conducător of Romania Marshal Ion Antonescu receives reports from both German and Romanian spies that the Soviets are interested in Romanian regions such as Bessarabia. The Germans add that if they are interested in protecting their nation, now is the time. If Poland is defeated, Romania will be next and no one or nothing would be able to protect them. The Germans are also interested in Romanian participation due to its oil refineries in Ploiești which will be imperative in order to win the war. The Romanians agree and also declare war on the Soviet Union.From August 17th - 28th, the Southern Front in Ukraine has come to a halt. The Germans fear they are too far in enemy territory which could make the German Army vulnerable to enemy counterattacks and compromised supply lines. They want to wait until the central frontline moves eastward, plans are made to divert several divisions of Army Group South to the north in the Polish region of Volhynia and drive the Soviets from the city.With Romanian entry into the war, this crisis is averted. On August 29th, a combined German-Romanian force begins an invasion onto Ukraine. During the stalemate earlier, the Germans notice something extraordinary, in many villages, Axis forces are viewed as liberators. The citizens could be used to ignite a civil war in Ukraine which would heavily damage Soviet stability and distract the Red Army from the frontlines. September 8th, 1941, the port city of Odessa is surrounded by the Romanian Army but only after human carnage, having faced such heavy resistance, the Romanians are unable to achieve any other goal in the Southern Front.From September 9th - 14th, the German Army surrounds a large Soviet army force southeastern Volhynia. The Soviet commander fears being executed for retreating after receiving a “no” from Stalin after asking to be allowed to retreat from Volhynia. After six days of fighting, the Soviet army group is captured and defeated by September 20th. By late September, Italian generals have been working out plans for an invasion of the Crimea, under the orders of Il Duce Benito Mussolini. Believing that destroying the Black Sea Fleet and taking the Crimea is vital for winning the war. By early October, the Regia Marina enters the Black Sea to clear the area for an invasion.October 8th, the Soviets begin a counterattack in northwest Ukraine. The commanders in Kiev receive several extra divisions to protect Ukraine, Kiev must be held at all costs. Despite initial successes, the counterattack is soon stopped by the Germans.On October 10th, the conflict expands again, this time not in Europe but in Asia. The Empire of Japan, a close ally of Germany and Italy agrees to join the war. Despite their defeat at Khalkhin Gol and their Neutrality Pact with the Soviet Union, the Japanese are in favor of joining the war now that the Soviets are against Germany and many other countries. As part of the Northern Expansion Doctrine, one major operation by the Imperial Japanese Army is the destruction of the Trans-Siberian Railway by air raids. This will cut off supply lines to both east and west of the Soviet Union. The next day, the Italians land in the Tarkhan Highlands in the Crimea, the operation is successful after the Regia Marina and Regia Aeronautica destroy the Black Sea Fleet and Romanian bombers destroy Soviet defenses in the highlands.October 13th, another expansion occurs when Finland declares war on the Soviet Union. Promised the oblast of Murmansk and Karelia if they join the war and disrupt Soviet reinforcements in the north. It is on this day that Soviet morale drops significantly, but Stalin is determined to win. Whilst his advisors point for him to send divisions to Ukraine and the Crimea, he demands that:“Warsaw is the goal and Warsaw only! The new reserves will be sent to Poland, the Ukrainians should be armed to fight against the Germans and Romanians, for the motherland and the fate of Communism. When Warsaw is taken, Poland will surrender. Then, we will strike Berlin whilst our troops attempt to achieve something in Ukraine.”Stalin is utterly convinced that when Warsaw is taken, winter will begin for which neither the Germans nor their allies will be prepared for. Granting the Soviet Union time to regroup and create a large force to destroy them in Ukraine. On the same day, Stalin orders the “Stalin Offensive” which includes focusing on capturing Warsaw.The “Stalin Offensive” is quite successful at first. The Germans are driven back to East Prussia, thus clearing the northern flank and the Poles are driven back to Warsaw, making the road for the invasion of the city possible. The Poles are at their breaking point at the central frontline, at this point only a miracle could save Warsaw and Poland. Odessa finally falls on October 16th, two days later, the Kingdom of Hungary joins the war against the U.S.S.R.On October 21st, German, Romanian and Italian forces prepare their next moves. Romania will advance east and cut off the Crimea from the mainland Ukraine, Italy will continue its advance through the Crimean peninsula and Germany will march towards Kiev. With the rasputitsa season near, the Germans know that it's only a matter of weeks before the arrival of the deadly Russian winter. Such an important city deep within Soviet territory must be captured before the winter.The Axis now begin hearing rumors that the Ukrainians have begun rising up against the Communists, sabotaging communications and supply lines. German forces have already noticed that the Ukrainians have been pointing out shortcuts and good roads to reach their destinations. Some citizens voluntarily join the German Army. However, the Red Army in Ukraine has dug in and will defend every house and road with their very lives. Anyone who disobeys this order attempts to retreat or surrenders will be subject to immediate execution. The Stalin Offensive ends on October 27th, just in time as Hungarian forces arrive in Warsaw to aid the Polish troops valiantly defending the city. With the arrival of the Hungarians, morale along with resistance increases, because of these reinforcements, the Soviets fail to clear the southern flank. Meaning that surrounding Warsaw will not be possible and the invasion will have to be postponed.Being deep in Poland, STAVKA fears their troops may be cut off by the enemy soon. In response, Stalin orders that another offensive must be launched. This time, the Red Army will push the Polish to the south from the region of Polesie to the region of Volhynia. This will reduce the threat in the area and allow the Soviets to regroup and resupply their forces around Warsaw. The “Final Offensive”, begins on November 2, 1941.By November 4th, Kiev is captured by the Germans with almost no resistance. The Ukrainian capital is found abandoned by the Red Army due to a civil war that has broken out within the region because the war seems lost. Anyone who knew about the civil war believed it was best not to inform Stalin than risk being shot by telling him. More and more Soviet leaders start to believe that Stalin’s leadership will not survive the war once defeated and thus, the Soviet leaders become more passive, doing nothing that may anger the victors or Stalin himself. Doing whatever it takes to survive during these last weeks of war.However, there is a possibility that the Red Army in western Ukraine may be diverted back to Kiev and surround the city. With inadequate supply lines, the Axis are too far to come to each other's aid which frightens Axis leaders. Ukrainian resistance leaders promise the Germans to do whatever they can to give them time to reconnect with the army in western Ukraine. Also attempting to break Soviet lines to connect with Kiev.On November 7th 1941, the Turkish Republic joins the war. Stalin’s advisors and diplomats had been warning him of improving relations and secret negotiations between the Axis and Turkey, while Stalin believed Turkey would not join the war. Italy had been trying to pull Turkey into the war since mid-September, as Mussolini wants to use Turkish ports to resupply his army and navy for his conquest of the Crimea. The Germans also considered the idea of Turkish involvement to distract enemy forces from eastern Europe to the Caucasus. Turkey has agreed to join the war in exchange for influence over Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. Turkey also wants a combined Italo-Turkish invasion of the Caucasus, lacking the forces to do it on their own. Turkish military advisors inform the government that the war could be over by late-December 1941. Reporting the Ukrainian uprising, the failure of the “Stalin Offensive” and a united European Front against the USSR. It would be in Turkey’s interest to join the war, because of expansion of influence, improved relations, and a military victory to boost Turkish morale.November 9, 1941Radio stations throughout the Soviet Union announce the arrest of Comrade Stalin. Several Soviet leaders had been plotting a coup for weeks having found many volunteers in Ukraine willing to risk their lives by arresting the man who has killed millions of innocent civilians and brought the Soviet Union into a catastrophic war. Joseph Stalin is sentenced to death in a fake process, as some participants of the coup would call:“His way of dealing justice”.On November 10th, the Soviet Union and all other participants of the Second Polish-Soviet War sign an armistice, with the exception of the Empire of Japan.The war officially ends on November 17th, with the signing of the Treaty of Tblisi. Such a disaster sparks resentment from the Russian people towards the Soviet Government calling for an end to the regime and the creation of a new government. With the fall of the Soviet Union along with the ideology of Communism and the liberation of the Eastern European peoples, the Greater Germanic Reich now seeks to unite the ethnic Germans living in Eastern Europe and further settle the vast steppes of European Russia. The Germanic Reich becomes a vastly influential world power and leads the world politically, economically, and militarily, under the triumphant banner of National Socialism.