(lowkey just went "yes and" with myself to make a random scenario that came to mind after rewatching paperwill's North Korea video, not meant to be fully realistic)

One of the first maps for a new scenario of a German WW2 victory, but with some added originality while still trying to maintain some realism.

Point of divergence is around the 1800s where Egypt's industrial revolution succeeds.

I got no other ideas atm if you guys wanna suggest more movies for me to cover (ones you felt should have been standalones) feel free to suggest them.

1991: the DOT approves the study of 5 HSR corridors

1994: Congress approves a much larger network (the one in the image above) and construction gets underway

2000: service is up & running. It’s operated by Amtrak alongside their normal-speed long distance routes

2011: Amtrak becomes profitable, and remains profitable to this day

Filegarden link

my first attempt at a "double blind what if", I hope you enjoy it.

Not much lore, just wanted to make a map because I haven’t in a while. The premise is the German Revolution succeeds, leading to a Soviet victory in the Polish-Soviet War, and the survival of the Hungarian Soviet Republic.

This Germany maintains a council democracy system, leading to socialism being viewed more positively internationally. Lenin survives, potentially preventing the USSR from becoming a totalitarian state under Stalin. With both Germany and the USSR supporting socialist internationalism, the Republican faction wins the Spanish Civil War.

The Stresa Front forms between the UK, France, Italy, and Austria to counter Germany and the Soviet Union. Hitler seizes power in Austria in this timeline.

Anatolian Turks and Iranian Turks chose to unite, much like Austria-Hungary.

However, it functions more like the Eastern and Western Roman Empires. You could look for a logical rationale, but I haven’t bothered to do so.

With internal affairs of the Philippine Republic were in order, and its citizens now living in prosperity, it was now the time for the government to look outside it’s borders, to the broader world.

Across the Department of Foreign Affairs, University of the Philippines, National Defense College of the Philippines (NDCP), and in Department of National Defense, a profound paradigm shift was being debated. In these meetings, the leaders and the academia of the Philippine Government acknowledged that for the first time, since the days of Carlos P. Romulo: The Philippines were not reacting, it was generating waves. A nation holding a $280 billion dollar reserve, producing a surplus of refined energy, and sitting directly atop the primary economic arteries of global trade- it could no longer pretend to be a passive bystander.

With the document ready, this was presented at a late-night meeting inside the Marilog Mountain Retreat. On the cover page of each binder, embossed in sharp, crimson ink beneath the seal of the Republic, read the definitive thesis that would guide their actions:

"ISOLATIONISM, MAXIMALISM, OR COOPERATION? THE PHILIPPINE FOREIGN POLICY BLUEPRINT FOR THE 21ST CENTURY."

Nothing more was written inside the Mountain Retreat: However, the newly elected President at the time has written his thought regarding the meeting:

It is past midnight in Marilog. Outside, the fog has completely rolled over the mountains, but inside this room, the air is thick with an energy this nation hasn’t possessed since the dawn of the Republic. I watched my cabinet scream themselves hoarse tonight over three words: Isolationism, Maximalism, Cooperation.

The Executive Secretary and I could only exchange looks. It is profoundly amusing. A mere six years ago, we were a nation shackled by our vulnerabilities—begging foreign capitals for defense loans and praying that global energy shocks wouldn't collapse our economy. Tonight? My defense chief wants to squeeze the throat of regional trade, and my foreign secretary wants to turn our neighbors into corporate subsidiaries. We have transitioned from the 'Sick Man' to the Landlord of the Indo-Pacific.

The academics and the secretaries think they are forcing me into a corner. They think I must choose a single path. But they are missing the grand poetry of our new reality. Power isn't about choosing a blueprint; it's about holding the pen that redraws the floor plan entirely.

We will give the hawks their victory, but we will use the diplomats' ink to secure it. We are going to wear the flawless mask of Cooperation—we will remain the 'friend to all' at the upcoming summits—while executing an unyielding, asymmetric push into Sabah. If Putrajaya thinks our prosperity makes us soft, they will find out too late that we have simply traded a clumsy sword for an inescapable cage.

The President’s Archives: 2034 Edition, Page 20.

One thing was certain for: The President understood what neither the panicked Foreign Secretary nor the aggressive Defense Chief could grasp in the heat of that late-night session: wealth without a sovereign geographic anchor is a temporary illusion, but a geographic anchor secured through overt kinetic warfare is a diplomatic suicide pact, a thought echoed by the Executive Secretary in his note:

Reviewing the President's personal notes from that night in October 2028, I am struck by how cleanly the reality of 2034 matches the cynicism of that briefing.

The President's certainty that night was absolute. He knew that by maintaining the public face of 'Friend to Everyone, Enemy to None,' the world would remain paralyzed, unable to intervene while we quietly changed the locks on the Indo-Pacific. It was a masterpiece of bloodless subversion. They still talk about the Marilog debate as a shouting match, but it was actually the funeral of the old world order.

What was debated that night became the bedrock upon all foreign policies were made in the Philippine Government: a total transition from defensive vulnerability to calculated, unyielding initiative. This did not just settle a localized border dispute; it shattered the post-war diplomatic template of the Republic. It codified a new national posture where the state would never again allow its sovereign rights, its geographic inheritance, or its economic security to be traded for the comfort of regional polite consensus. The state adopted an aggressive dual-track strategy—using the pristine, public mask of "Friend to Everyone, Enemy to None" to maintain global economic compliance, while simultaneously holding the dagger, ready to strike if threatened.

Part 1: https://www.reddit.com/r/AlternateHistory/s/pYZatIXrNJ
Part 2: https://www.reddit.com/r/AlternateHistory/s/pYZatIXrNJ
Part 3: https://www.reddit.com/r/AlternateHistory/s/lS08u9oxLX

The Great War (1914-1918)

1914, Archduke is shot, Austria invades Serbia and fails, you get it.

After Germany’s declaration of war against Russia, the Government of Sweden declares “Non-Belligerence” and meets with the king of Denmark to guarantee the 2 nation’s neutrality in Malmö. The country was too divided between Pro-Allies and Pro-neutrality sentiment to actually make a choice, besides the government wasn’t trying to risk anything.

The country becomes overwhelmingly pro-Allies following Germany’s invasion of Belgium and Luxembourg, the people now viewing Germany as a barbaric aggressor due to its portrayal in newspapers and the Anglophiles due to the British getting involved.

1915, in it’s attempts to starve out the British economy, Germany uses submarine warfare against any nation speculated to be carrying materials to the UK whether the country be neutral or not. Sweden felt the brunt of this, with the Germans interrupting their coal trade and a ship carrying Iron ore being sunk my Germany in it’s route from Helsingborg to York.

Following the sinking of the SS Hispania, Sweden was effectively left with no choice and declared war on the German Empire.

Sweden’s involvement doesn’t change how the war goes in the ground in any significant aspect, the allies gain more manpower due to swedes being transported to the western and eastern fronts; that’s about it.

The main difference is the naval aspect of the war, Sweden’s navy builds more and more ships for itself with their vast iron ore reserves and American money. Aiding Britain in their naval crusade against Germany.

Germany is also weaker in that aspect, Swedish iron ore was essential for Germany’s steel production, Germany’s economy falls faster but they still manage to beat back the Russians even without Sweden’s ore.

The Russian Civil War

When the Bolsheviks overthrow the Russian provisional government, Sweden’s government tenses up; the Army of Gen. Carl Gustav Mannerheim is sent to defend the eastern border to suppress communist sentiments, which were prevalent in Finland due to it being the poorer third of the country. Also prevalent were pro-independence Finns trained by Germany, whose sentiments were keen to be suppressed.

Sweden would become one of the key players in the Estonian and Latvian war’s of independence alongside the White Russian’s and British, with a higher number of Swedes being sent to aid in Estonia especially, though the East Karelian uprising and Revolt of the Ingrian Finns would not see the same support due to Sweden’s fears of inspiring their own Finns. The only real aid to these movements are pro-Finnish and pro-German paramilitaries.

The end of World War I

The Zimmerman Telegram is still sent, you know what happens next, Versailles blah blah blah. Sweden doesn’t gain any territory from anyone as they don’t even know what could be gained. All they have is more economic influence in the Baltic due to lack of Finland’s independence.

While Sweden’s territory was relatively untouched by the war apart from spillovers from the Russian war into Finland, the Swedish economy was fucked; having to pay back the United States for their loans, the Krona being overvalued by around 8% and increasing national debt heavily crippled Sweden’s economy.

Interwar Period (1918-1939)

Sweden isolated itself from military action to recover from the Great War, mainly exporting Iron to countries nearby and buying grain, as the war caused a massive food shortage.

There were also reforms around this time following the election of Carl Lindhagen as prime minister, the social democratic government; giving more power to the trade union’s in 1921, Women’s suffrage in 1922, you get the vibe.

Norway

The merchant shipping of Norway was in an abysmal state thanks to Germany’s naval warfare, calls for independence rise and rise as the Norwegian government drifts away from Swedish loyalists. Also inspired by the IRA’s victory in 1922, with paramilitaries being formed and violence increasing; Sweden lacked the money and political will to keep its hold over Norway.

An agreement was reached, Norway would enjoy further and further degrees of separation from Sweden overtime, Until a new king of Danish origin is crowned and full sovereignty is enacted by 1926.

1928 North Swedish general strike

In 1928, a massive strike occurs in Norrland, particularly in Norrbotten and Lapland counties; this was over Iron mine owners poor treatment of their workers and paying them like shit. Enacted by the Swedish mine worker’s congress, the locked out miners had outside support; with many who were not directly effected supporting the miners, this tied the Riksdag’s hands and forced the government to enact the Wager’s act of 1929, forcing a national minimum wage.

The reason the government had given up so easily had been it’s heavy reliance on Iron ore in it’s export focused economy, with it exporting much of it to Denmark, Poland, Estonia and Germany.

The Great Depression

When the global economy went to complete shit in 1929, Sweden’s export focused market and it’s increasing ties with the United States hit it hard; though the government was competent enough to make it out alive. Abandoning the gold standard in 1931 to make exports cheaper, proving targeted support and rationalization for key industries like housing, steel, and shipbuilding and stabilisation of the agricultural prices

Sweden also began to export more and more iron to Germany, the rise of Hitler and his desire for war gave Sweden a money making opportunity, exporting vast amounts of iron in return for German coal, so Sweden made it out of the depression relatively well in comparison to other nations.

World War II (1939-1945)

1939, After the German and Soviet invasions of Poland end and the 2 powers begin to carve up Europe, Sweden is left to deal with a humanitarian crisis as thousands of Poles (Later Norwegians and other groups; many of them Jewish) flee and settle into Sweden, with Sweden would try its hardest to remain it’s neutrality in the conflict.

The main difference is the lack of a Winter War, keep in mind that this Sweden’s border with the Soviet’s is nowhere near Leningrad, Stalin sees less reason to invade; especially since Sweden is a stronger and more developed western nation.

1940, France falls, the battle for Britain is raging and Sweden still remains neutral to watch Denmark and Norway be gobbled up by the Nazi’s; Sweden still exports iron ore to Germany and has increasing outside pressure from both sides to join the war. Germany promised Old Finland and Baltic territories to appeal to Swedish empire larpers; The allies demand Sweden aid them, Sweden eventually increases its economic cooperation with the allies, particularly to the British occupied Iceland.

1941-43, Germany’s invasion of the Soviet Union is less successful, especially the siege of Leningrad, which is shorter due the lack of a Finnish republic to act as a co-belligerent. Causing Sweden to simply watch as it becomes obvious that Germany is going to loose the war as Japan put’s increasing pressure on Sweden’s concession in Tianjin.

1944, Sweden’s fear of German invasion subsides as the fall of the Nazi’s becomes inevitable; after the allies succeed in their invasion of Northern France, everyone knows Germany is a lost cause. Sweden still has fear of communism rising as Soviet’s begin to push into Norway, causing the Swedish government to join the allied powers, executing Operation’s Rädda Danmark and Rädda Norge to prevent Soviet influence from rising in Scandinavia.

Although Swedish forces would be outnumbered by German’s, the unprepared nature of the command (along with assistance from the Norwegian resistance; who were trained in Sweden) allow Sweden to occupy most of Trøndelag by late September of 1944

A similar series of events plays out in Denmark, though the Nazi’s are outnumbered by the Swedes and Danes.

By 1945, Hitler Hilter’s himself, Germany surrenders, Japan feels the sun twice and the war concludes.

In the aftermath, The World is repainted; the 3 global superpowers are replaced by 2 as Britain falls to economic ruin. The US and USSR’s positive relations begin to break down while Sweden becomes one of principal European allies of the United States.

Author's note: This post was inspired by the scenario America for Hire by u/CalligrapherOther510. It explores the same premise as the Pax Belligans Universe, but with the POD occurring centuries earlier.

During the American Revolution, fears began to grow regarding how the new country would be able to sustain itself economically after winning independence from the British Empire. Although the concerns were largely overshadowed by the need to win independence itself, the concerns resurfaced in full force following a shocking development from the frontlines of the war. 

According to various journals written by various Continental Army officers, including General George Washington, interrogations of captured Hessians by the Continental Army led to the revelation that the British were hiring the Hessians as auxiliary forces. 

After much deliberation, the Founding Fathers decided that their economic concerns were possibly solved, with many Founding Fathers debating amongst themselves on whether the economic model was feasible.

The debate escalated during the drafting of the Declaration of Independence by Thomas Jefferson between June 11 and June 28th of 1776. Thomas Jefferson wrote a scathing condemnation of King George III’s use of mercenaries. The 25th grievance of the Declaration of Independence read, “He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to complete the works of death, desolation, and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & Perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.”

This statement was met with immense backlash by the other Founding Fathers, with many claiming that Jefferson was “short sighted” and had momentarily forgotten that winning independence and sustaining it were not the same.

After a series of debates with the other Founding Fathers, Jefferson recanted his position and the 25th grievance of the Declaration of Independence was amended to say the following instead: “That a free and independent People possess the Right to dispose of their own Arms and Services, and to enter into such Engagements with foreign Powers as may advance their Prosperity, secure their Independence, and preserve their Liberties..”

After the American Revolutionary War was won, the US faced itself in economically dire straits: the United States found itself in debt, in an economic depression and without national governance to address the challenges it faced after winning independence.

It was here that the Founding Fathers’ proposal to copy the Hessian model of mercenaryism and export its soldiers to other nations for hire would be formally put into practice.

The Mercenary State was born...

Image credit: Assassin's Creed wiki

Lore- the battle of petrozavodsk would take place after a failed desperate counter attack by tsarist forces but would end in the total defeat and destruction of the 495th tank regiment when tsarist commanders would order chemical weapons to be deployed to halt the loyalists advances but all it would accomplish was retaliatory chemical attack on petrozavodsk.

On the 27 of may loyalists forces would have petrozavodsk in sight and could see the tsarist defending completely dug in. On the 1st of May tsarist high command would order all men to fight to the last man standing in defense of the city. With the loyalists artillery being the next morning with tsarist guns returning fire but to a far less extreme extent.

On the 6th at 8 AM the first loyalists assault would begin met with heavy resistance from the city defenders with the first line being made up of veteran from the kostroma front along with some skoptsy militants. While the first line would hold for 9 days eventually the overwhelming loyalists numbers would force them back to the second line but after a few skoptsy would strap themselves with explosives and rush loyalists vehicles as there new founded had kept some of the original skoptsy preaching but added a few new ones mainly self sacrifice being the only true way to total absolution.

The 15th of May would bring a small break in the fighting as loyalists commanders knew that if the pushed to deep into the city to fast they could end up getting massacred by urban fighting with tsarist forces knowing the city better and the skoptsy who unknown to the loyalists were mostly all dead by that point with only 50 remaining. The fighting would truly resume on the 21st with loyalists forces bringing only flamethrower out of storage to begin burning dug in defenders out with the first use on a old apartment building seeing 27 black hundreds dead and 19 surrendering.

Fighting for the second line of defense would last till the 5th of August seeing the skoptsy for a second time cease to exist with it Leader father Viktor ponomaryov being hanged by a angry mob while loyalists tried to stop them but failed. The last line of defense would be the truly fantastic to tsarist Ideologie black hundreds and imperial guard regiments defending the historical heart of the city including the main government building on prospekt lenina 19 and the new national museum of the republic of karelia which they had finished building just a early that year.

The museum would fall first on the 9th of October after 39 days of heavy fighting and loyalists deploying flamethrower units to burn the remaining defenders out. By the 14th the main government building would be complete surrounded and would holdout till the 12th of November when the last imperial guard would be killed having fought to the last man with major kazimir petrov being executed by loyalists forces as he and a few guard tried to face a surrender. While the death of general Dimitri orlov the last true command of the guard would be lebed as a suicide but many Russian historians believe the general was beaten to death by loyalists forces.

The outcome of the capture of petrozavodsk would officially kill the tsarist faction with a large number of its forces being captured after the fighting though around 6 000 of them would escape with some joining the ultra nationalist force to continue the war with 500 of them later joined the wolfhounds mercenary group after the wars end

Robert F. Kennedy was elected the first President of the Republic of New England shortly after the dissolution of the United States. However, due to a distinct power vacuum, powerless law enforcement, and only a small military, the situation quickly deteriorated. Major cities descended into war zones, and the general public began to feel the Kennedys had outstayed their welcome, viewing them as too focused on preserving the idealized notion of 'Camelot.' Repetitioning his strategy from the dissolution period with Richard Nixon, Kennedy struck a pragmatic deal with his primary opponent, Meldrim Thomson Jr.—an ultra-conservative who sought to impose martial law. They agreed upon a new framework for governance: the Presidency remained in Kennedy hands until 2014, but the role was restricted to foreign policy, veto power, and a ceremonial status as head of state. Consequently, Thomson won the first parliamentary election, initiating The Thomson era: a period in which Kennedy could willingly turn a blind eye while the state regained its monopoly on violence.

Part of my US Dissolution Timeline:

Part 6 Part 5 Part 4 Part 3 Part 2 Part 1

Credit for ridings map of New England

Genuinely have no clue as to what they're referencing here, religious scare tactics?

Makes ya wonder

The Constitution Convention fails 2 times and the articles of Confederation was literally useless

Oglethorpe and Carolina were punished brutally like Carolina got Split up, Oglethorpe lost a lot of land, Florida, Arkansas and Gullah became Independence.

After the Appalachian Rebellion they were given Independence.