Well, I created this timeline assuming a stronger Europe emerges after an early ending of WWII. What would it be the effects over the decolonization process and more important, the political role of European countries in the international arena? I intend to bring the story up to 2000 (map on the 3907 post) and forward, and also elaborate a more detailed timeline as some events here are only mentioned. Feel free to make suggestions and ask for further details.
1943
- Military coup d’état in Germany. As the whole Europe is in their hands, the Nazi régime overruled, the Germans manage to get a relatively good peace terms;
- Britain, Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand open conversations to settle the future of the Empire on the post-war world. Out of it emerges a compromise aiming to create a federation encompassing the UK and the 4 Dominions.
1944
- The British Federation is installed. UK and the 4 Dominions retain wide powers over internal affairs. The Imperial Parliament, built nearby Westminster, has 300 members, distributed according to the population;
- Japan is defeated and the European empires on eastern Asia are restored;
- In China, the fight between nationalists and communists is resumed. The Russians massively supply the Red Chinese armies. British observers notice the balance is now tilting to the communist side and the first contacts are established (in secrecy) aiming to protect the huge British interests in China;
- By the end of the year, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Albania, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia are all communist states, tied very close to the USSR. Yugoslavia remains politically independent, while Finland, Czechoslovakia and Hungary as result of the post-war agreements, remain strictly neutral, although German economic influence is big and growing;
- Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Iceland create the Nordic Community, a economic, political and military organization;
- UN is founded.
1945
- Nationalists flee to Taiwan. In an unexpectedly move, the British, who had been the most strident anti-communism voice in the world, recognize the new communist government in China. In return, China recognise perpetual British rights over Hong Kong’s New Territories and the integrity of Shanghai International Settlement. France follows British steps in order to protect their own interests, namely its Shanghai concession and the Catholic missions in the hinterland. The Chinese, with a pragmatic approach, assume they can deal with these matters later. As result of the recognition, the United States-British Federation relations reaches a new low;
- Discussions over India’s future inside the British Empire starts;
- In Dutch East Indies, the fight escalates. The British military involvement keep growing, as result of an intense pressure of Australian Imperial MPs;
- US start to consider shifting their policies over eastern Asia, abandoning the strong anti-imperialism in favour of an active anti-communism, although the pressure over European powers to abandon their empires keeps strong;
- First atomic bomb explodes on the New Mexico desert.
1946
- France faces growing problems in Indochina. The situation is deteriorating quickly while Russian and Chinese armament flows to the rebels hands. In Saigon, those troubles are hardly noticed, and the colonial elite continues with its life as usual;
- No satisfactory arrangement comes to accommodate India in the new British Federation. The path to the Indian independence is settled and the focus of the dicussions is to keep the country united.
1947
- European (and world) economy is fully recovered from the war and starts to grow fast. It’s the beginning of the post-war economic Golden Age.
1948
- Independence of India. The new independent country will be part of the British Commonwealth, with a status to the former White Dominions. King George VI retains the title of Emperor of India and is represented in the country by the Viceroy. British Federation and India are linked by strong economic, political and military bonds, albeit in the future, India will increasingly look forward to a more independent international policy. After the settlement, the country keeps undivided. However, tensions between Hindu and Muslim are high and clashes are not uncommon, thereat about 50,000 British troops are permanently based in the country. Despite the relatively instability, the majority of the Europeans decides to stay in India and actually will grow in number for the next decades.
- North Korea invades South Korea triggering the Korean War. United States quickly deploy troops and plea European countries for aid. British Federation, France and Netherlands send troops, although not in big numbers as they are involved in their own problems in other parts of Asia and resent the lack of American support to their operations. Belgium, Greece, Turkey, India, Thailand, Philippines and Nationalist China also send troops to the theatre. On the communist side, China and USSR (in smaller scale) increasingly start to involve directly in the conflict.
1949
- Fight continues fiercely on the Korean Peninsula and despite the contention efforts, spreads over other areas. Communist China organizes a full scale navy operation to invade Taiwan, but is completely destroyed by an US fleet. In the Indochina, the communists and the French are involved in a full scale war which starts to disturbe the colonial economy. Small communist guerrilla units start to operate in Thailand, Malaya, Philippines, Burma and even in the already troubled Dutch East Indies;
- Unable to reach an agreement similar to the Indian for Palestine, the British decide to pull out. Israel defeats a coalition of Arab forces and consolidate its position.
- Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg sign a treaty creating the European Community.
1943
- Military coup d’état in Germany. As the whole Europe is in their hands, the Nazi régime overruled, the Germans manage to get a relatively good peace terms;
- Britain, Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand open conversations to settle the future of the Empire on the post-war world. Out of it emerges a compromise aiming to create a federation encompassing the UK and the 4 Dominions.
1944
- The British Federation is installed. UK and the 4 Dominions retain wide powers over internal affairs. The Imperial Parliament, built nearby Westminster, has 300 members, distributed according to the population;
- Japan is defeated and the European empires on eastern Asia are restored;
- In China, the fight between nationalists and communists is resumed. The Russians massively supply the Red Chinese armies. British observers notice the balance is now tilting to the communist side and the first contacts are established (in secrecy) aiming to protect the huge British interests in China;
- By the end of the year, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Albania, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia are all communist states, tied very close to the USSR. Yugoslavia remains politically independent, while Finland, Czechoslovakia and Hungary as result of the post-war agreements, remain strictly neutral, although German economic influence is big and growing;
- Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Iceland create the Nordic Community, a economic, political and military organization;
- UN is founded.
1945
- Nationalists flee to Taiwan. In an unexpectedly move, the British, who had been the most strident anti-communism voice in the world, recognize the new communist government in China. In return, China recognise perpetual British rights over Hong Kong’s New Territories and the integrity of Shanghai International Settlement. France follows British steps in order to protect their own interests, namely its Shanghai concession and the Catholic missions in the hinterland. The Chinese, with a pragmatic approach, assume they can deal with these matters later. As result of the recognition, the United States-British Federation relations reaches a new low;
- Discussions over India’s future inside the British Empire starts;
- In Dutch East Indies, the fight escalates. The British military involvement keep growing, as result of an intense pressure of Australian Imperial MPs;
- US start to consider shifting their policies over eastern Asia, abandoning the strong anti-imperialism in favour of an active anti-communism, although the pressure over European powers to abandon their empires keeps strong;
- First atomic bomb explodes on the New Mexico desert.
1946
- France faces growing problems in Indochina. The situation is deteriorating quickly while Russian and Chinese armament flows to the rebels hands. In Saigon, those troubles are hardly noticed, and the colonial elite continues with its life as usual;
- No satisfactory arrangement comes to accommodate India in the new British Federation. The path to the Indian independence is settled and the focus of the dicussions is to keep the country united.
1947
- European (and world) economy is fully recovered from the war and starts to grow fast. It’s the beginning of the post-war economic Golden Age.
1948
- Independence of India. The new independent country will be part of the British Commonwealth, with a status to the former White Dominions. King George VI retains the title of Emperor of India and is represented in the country by the Viceroy. British Federation and India are linked by strong economic, political and military bonds, albeit in the future, India will increasingly look forward to a more independent international policy. After the settlement, the country keeps undivided. However, tensions between Hindu and Muslim are high and clashes are not uncommon, thereat about 50,000 British troops are permanently based in the country. Despite the relatively instability, the majority of the Europeans decides to stay in India and actually will grow in number for the next decades.
- North Korea invades South Korea triggering the Korean War. United States quickly deploy troops and plea European countries for aid. British Federation, France and Netherlands send troops, although not in big numbers as they are involved in their own problems in other parts of Asia and resent the lack of American support to their operations. Belgium, Greece, Turkey, India, Thailand, Philippines and Nationalist China also send troops to the theatre. On the communist side, China and USSR (in smaller scale) increasingly start to involve directly in the conflict.
1949
- Fight continues fiercely on the Korean Peninsula and despite the contention efforts, spreads over other areas. Communist China organizes a full scale navy operation to invade Taiwan, but is completely destroyed by an US fleet. In the Indochina, the communists and the French are involved in a full scale war which starts to disturbe the colonial economy. Small communist guerrilla units start to operate in Thailand, Malaya, Philippines, Burma and even in the already troubled Dutch East Indies;
- Unable to reach an agreement similar to the Indian for Palestine, the British decide to pull out. Israel defeats a coalition of Arab forces and consolidate its position.
- Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg sign a treaty creating the European Community.
