World War One

Before the Archdukes death, ethnic tensions in the balkans and hostility between Austria and Russia had already created the sparks needed to set off a major conflict. When the Arch Duke died, Austria began making demands of Russia who had allied against Serbia. Enraged by the crazy demands, Russia declared war. Austria (who was quite weak militarily) quickly got its ally Germany involved. But Otto von Bismarck, at 76, was reluctant to help, so waited to attack. France and Britain declared their secret alliance with Russia and declared war on the Triple Alliance (Germany, Austria, Italy). Though Bismarck's plans had succeeded in the past his reluctance, and later his death at 77, was Germany's mortal wound. France, still bitter about previous wars, quickly rushed to wipe out most of Germany. Survivors fled to the north and east hoping to avoid the war around them.

A basic Walker Tank V.II

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But the war was not in anyone's favor. Through the early gains by France their ally Russia was not fairing as well. The newly crowned Tsar Nicholas I, who was followed by so many omens, insisted on taking command of the military. With a war with Japan, Russia's forces were split. Nicholas' tactics were weak and he only focused on Austria. Soon his forces came to a stale mate. France's forces also were slowed and eventually dug in half way across Germany. The German troops made a last ditch effort to defend their country, while refugees cut out a small area in the north east. But the trenches wouldn't hold for ever. France and now Britain began using better technology on the field. Inspired by the Austrian units use of the Steam Horse to carry supplies and munitions to the front, Britain began to design its own armored transportation. Two especially important creations came out of this. The All-terrain Troop Walker (ATW) and the Walker Tank. Both were only early and still simple designs. But the use of them was revolutionary. The German lines were pushed back until the German resistance could only keep the French out of the northern part of Germany. In September of 1917 Germany signed a cease fire and relinquished all rights to the occupied lands. After an armistice was created, New Prussia was formed. By then, the surviving Germans who had remained would have no problem filling the small area they still had.

The last surviving Walker Tank on
display

Russia was faring far worse. New communist ideas were spreading with the influx of German immigrants who had fled their country before the war started, and several politicians were vying for a change. Many areas and factories began to go on strike. When Nicholas dissolved the Duma (a section of Russian government) he helped unite the protesters and their political parties. The socialists, in particular the radical Bolsheviks, now had huge support. When, on February 25, 1917, during the Petrograd General Strike, stries saw soldier and police sympathies for the socialist cause, and crowds attacked prisons, courts, armories, and other symbols of the Tsar's power. Frightened Tsar Nicholas I abdicated as the last Tsar of Russia. The Bolsheviks, under Vladmir Lenin, saw an opportunity and took control. But they hadn't planned on what would happen next. The French and British as well as small American forces saw the Bolshevik take over as a threat to their own governments. Germany, already defeated, and its other allies soon to follow, Britain, France, and America were free to send it's forces against Russia.

The All-terrain Troop Walker
 accompanied by two officers

Now the ambling tanks were far bigger and more powerful. And by this time the steam engine's had been streamlined and redesigned so they could be used in aircraft. Huge walking air platforms behind the troops were able to cause crushing blows to the Russian forces. The allied troops attacked quickly and surely in a lightning attack. But supplies couldn't always keep up. Combined with the never ending Russian forces the allies soon began questioning their decision to continue an already futile war. The Allies withdrew in the winter of 1922 though never officially acknowledging the end of the war. Troops remained in certain areas but Russia, who still had no central government, began to build around these areas.


The war had left the world itself defeated. Most of central Europe was in ruins and soon the allies redrew the national boundaries in the treaty of Versailles. Germany was split into three areas, one being New Prussia. Austria-Hungary was divided close to its ethnic boundaries. The occupied territories of eastern Russia were carved out into a new country. A puppet government was formed by the allies to control it but when Russian and German revolutionaries threatened to fight back, the allies withdrew control and soon a new government took over.