Realistic or Modern 1937: The Second American Civil War - Lore

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This is the Lore page for the 1937 RP, meant to track all necessary details, major battles, political situations, equipment, and so forth relating to the Second American Civil War and the Ramifications there of.

 

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The Setting:

Based on the world of Kaiserreich​

In 1919 the Great War came to close with a victory for the Central Powers, and an embarrassing defeat for the American Expeditionary Forces in Europe. This would prove to be a premonition of the disasters that would mar the United states throughout the 1920s, as a failing economy, civil unrest, and ecological disaster would shatter any remaining faith in the once Proud Republic. This would finally come to a head in 1936, when Bill Haywood, running on a ticket of collectivism and communist inspired rhetoric would narrowly win the ticket against Louisiana Governor and outspoken Authoritarian Huey Long. Extreme violence would break out in the US Capitol and General Douglas MacArthur would take it upon himself to intervene, illegally deposing the sitting government and declaring martial law. Neither Long, nor Haywood would take this sitting down, and within ours would declare their own rival governments legitimate. Armed revolts would soon follow, and within weeks the Second American Civil War had begun.

The war will Begin with clashes in Virginia between the 3 main factions, and depending on the inputs of you and your characters, will spill out across the nation and possibly the world as new forces become involved. Will Democracy survive? Will a dictator take the reigns of the largest economy in the world? Or will America as an idea collapse, never again to stand united?

 

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The Factions:​

The Federal Army of the United States: To put it succinctly, the Federal Army as it currently stands is doomed. With MacArthur's own Eastern Command currently occupying only a small section of the east coast around Maryland and Washington D.C. and a Western Command based out of Denver that was meant to reinforce them having currently stalled out on the Great Plains, the military situation would look grim for a start. Where it gets worse is that MacArthur's coup was also wildly unpopular with virtually everyone, with even those opposed to Long and Haywood calling it a disgrace to everything held sacred in American democracy. Low moral and supplies mean desertions have become a daily occurrence and it's become a quiet truth that everyone still in the Eastern Command is just weighing the situation and deciding which of the new governments to side with.

However far across the Rockies, there is still a faint glimmer of hope. When MacArthur's Coup was first declared, the Pacific Coast, led by California, refused to recognize any of the claimants. Though there has been little news since then with so much going on out east, there have been murmurs of proclaiming an A new republic in California to ensure democracy survives, and that forces of the Western Command have been secretly in talks to provide them the men and arms they would need to protect it. But for now that exists only in whispers.

The American Union State: Based out of the American South and centered in New Orleans, the Union State is the brain child of the "Kingfish" Governor and former Presidential Candidate Huey Long. Long himself was a longtime critic of the democratic system, and it shows in how he runs his new empire. The Union State answers to its supreme leader first and foremost and despite its American and Dixieland trappings, is effectively an Absolute Monarchy. Despite this, Long remains supremely popular, partially through a cult of personality and partially due to popular reforms such as extensive benefits for his soldiers and their families, and well as major works sponsored throughout Louisiana. Long may be a dictator, but he does seem to care for his people, which was more than could be said for the former American government.

On the Military and political side, two main forces clash for true control of the State and its future. The Minutemen are Long's personal Army and the closest in function to the old US army due to much of their upper staff coming from now former US officers. Though not all are directly loyal to the Kingfish, many have joined him out of the belief that he is the only man who can rally the people and halt the Socialist Tide that has overtaken the American North. Opposite to them sit the American League of Fascists, more popularly known to the Public as The Silver Shirts. Not officially part of the army, the League is more of a hardcore political organization and extremely well organized militia. The silver shirts are motivated by questions of, in their own words, "Race and Morals." They support Long's condemning of democracy and socialism, but believe he does not go far enough in "correcting" America. Long personally detests the League, but believes he can't afford to deal with them until after the war is done, so for now an Uneasy alliance keeps the two working together.

The Combined Syndicates of America: The Combine Syndicates are based out of America's Industrial north with a capitol that is constantly moving, having first been established in Philadelphia, then New York City, before taking it's current seat in Chicago. The Syndicates are not officially ruled by any one person, but by a council of major names and union bosses elected to represent them, Haywood may act as the voice of the chamber, but he holds no more power than any other representative. This lack of a clear figurehead can make the political sphere a mess, but for the sake of the war they have all agreed to allow the military the necessary autonomy to act without their oversight. However much of a mess the Syndicates may appear however, the one thing they have in surplus is people. Founded on egalitarian ideas and extensive wealth and land redistribution, the Syndicates have become a beacon to both the urban impoverished, and women and minorities of all stripes who see their message of equality as a way to break free of the entrenched societal ills of the old republic and finally achieve a true freedom for themselves.

The Continental Red Army, as it has been called, is a vast and unwieldy thing, with the fewest army regulars it mainly consists of a vast number of union militias hastily organized into massive rifle brigades whose main tactic for overcoming the enemy is based in sheer numbers and overwhelming firepower. In order to coordinate this great machine, at the behest of Totalist factions within the Syndicates the army authorized the creation of the People's Revolutionary Committee, better known as the Red Guard. Made up of the most senior and veteran troops and officers loyal to the cause, the Guard acts both as an elite shock force to capitalize on breakthroughs found by the militias, as well as a provisional commissariat authorized to do what is necessary to ensure the main bulk of the army stays in line.

 

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Major Event: The Washington Campaign

March 3rd, 1937 - Current
​

Faction Status:
Federal Army -
Manpower: Undetermined, Limited
Infantry Equipment: M1903 Springfield (Standard), M1919 Browning machine gun (Emplacements), Thompson SMG (Officers and NCOS), BAR (Infantry Support), No Anti-Armor available.
Armor: M1 Combat Car, M2 Light Tank (both extremely limited, relegated to defensive positions.)
Support Weapons: 75mm Field Gun, M1 Stokes Mortar, Land Mines
Aircraft: P-6 Hawk Fighter

AUS Minutemen -
Manpower: Undetermined, Full Strength
Infantry Equipment: M1903 Springfield (Standard), Assorted hunting rifles (irregular), Thompson SMG (Officers and NCOS), BAR (Infantry Support), No Anti-Armor available.
Armor: Undetermined
Support Weapons: M1 Stokes Mortar (limited)
Aircraft: Undetermined

Continental Red Army -
Manpower: Undetermined, Over Strength
Infantry Equipment: M1903 Springfield (Standard), Assorted hunting rifles (irregular), Thompson SMG (Officers and NCOS), BAR (Infantry Support), No Anti-Armor available.
Armor: Undetermined
Support Weapons: Undetermined
Aircraft: Undetermined

Mounted Calvary remains in play by all sides.

Summary: In defiance of General MacArthur's Orders, both factions of the Civil War marched on Washington, with hope of securing a swift an easy victory. However federal defenses quickly proved far greater than anticipated and progress on either side drew to a slow grind. Both sides soon came to blows with each other as federal forces began withdrawing over the Potomac. leaving the claimants to the most brutal fighting as they tried to find a safe way to secure a route into D.C. Proper.

Result: To Be Decided