Characters / Kaiserreich Eastern Europe

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Eastern Europe

Kingdom of Poland

^{Flag of Commonwealth/Central European Confederation}

Official Name: Kingdom of Poland, Polish People's Republic (Clover Revolution), Poland (Reichspakt intervention), Republic of Poland (Nationalist Coup/Revolt), Polish Socialist Republic (Socialist Revolt), Commonwealth (Totalist, Eastern European Unification), Central European Confederation (Socialist, Eastern European Unification), Generalgouvernment Warschau^note General Government of Warsaw (German occupation)

Ruling Party: Międzypartyjne Koło Polityczne^note Interpartisan Political Circle: Formed in 1915 out of moderate National Democrat and liberal parties, the MKP decided to collaborate with the Central Powers. It is a coalition of the Democratic-National Party, the Party of Real Politics, the Polish Progressive Party, the Party of Polish Statehood and a number of other organisations. The party acts as a representative of the middle ground in Polish politics. It would be considered socially conservative, economically liberal and constitutionalist, and is supported by the middle class and economic sector in particular.

Ideology: Market Liberalism

For more than a century before the end of the Weltkrieg, there had been no Polish nation. What had once been Poland had been carved up and partitioned between Prussia, Austria, and Russia in 1795. Despite persistent uprisings throughout the 19th century, the foreign powers maintained their hold on the Polish lands.Polish fortunes appeared to change with the Act of November 5th, 1916, when the Polish lands occupied by the German Empire were granted autonomy from the collapsing Russian Empire. This success, however, came at a price. The Germans made a concerted effort to colonize a portion of their land known as the Polish Frontier Strip.
Ever since end of the provisional regency council, Poland is ruled by King August IV, a younger son of Kaiser Wilhelm and a well-meaning but vacillating monarch. He is a king who prefers the company of artists and men of culture as opposed to soldiers and politicians and thus lacks the respect of his royal father and the trust of his adopted countrymen. The country is the battleground of an economic cold war between Germany and the Austro-Hungarian Empire, each controlling large swathes of Poland's economy and hungering for more, each maneuvering to place their advisors near to the king's ear. Agitators work to overthrow the monarchy and return Polish republicanism or seize power for themselves. And behind them all, agents and funds of the Third Internationale flow into the country in a vast conspiracy, swaying government ministers and tilting the levers of power to break the chains of the Polish people and bring the German Empire's nearest ally under the umbrella of Syndicalism.

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• Allohistorical Allusion: If Germany occupies Poland, it will recreate the Generalgouvernement Warschau, which existed under the German occupation of Poland during WWI.

August IV

Role: King^note Country Leader

Party: Międzypartyjne Koło Polityczne^note Interpartisan Political Circle: Formed in 1915 out of moderate National Democrat and liberal parties, the MKP decided to collaborate with the Central Powers. It is a coalition of the Democratic-National Party, the Party of Real Politics, the Polish Progressive Party, the Party of Polish Statehood and a number of other organisations. The party acts as a representative of the middle ground in Polish politics. It would be considered socially conservative, economically liberal and constitutionalist, and is supported by the middle class and economic sector in particular., Polska Partia Socjalistyczna^note Polish Socialist Party: The social-democratic PPS is one of the two major opposition parties, forming the Centrolew bloc alongside the People's Party. Norbert Barlicki's party has strong sympathies with both republican and socialist anti-monarchist movements, but currently maintains a carefully pragmatic stance towards the Kingdom. (Elections), Polskie Stronnictwo Ludowe^note Polish People's Party: The second half of Centrolew is the People's Party, the result of the unification of several populist, liberal, and agrarian parties. Having strong ties with its equivalent in Galicia, Maksymilian Malinowski's party serves as the main vehicle for republicanism, even if it currently maintains a pragmatic stance towards the monarchy. (Elections), Chrześcijański Związek Jedności Narodowej^note Christian Union of National Unity: An alliance of Christian Democratic and National Democratic parties which disagree with MKP's economically liberal approach and pro-German foreign policy. Ch ZJN, or Chjena, champions for national democracy and Catholic social doctrine, and while pragmatic towards the monarchy, seeks greater independence for Poland through legal means. (Elections), Międzypartyjne Koło Polityczne - Stronnictwo Państwowe^note Statehood Party: The conservative and openly pro-German wing of the circle. Led by Władysław Studnicki, the party seeks closer relations with Berlin and to uphold the traditional rights of the szlachta. (Elections)

Ideology: Market Liberalism, Social Democracy, Social Liberalism, Social Conservatism, Authoritarian Democracy

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• Ambiguously Gay: As in real life, August is dogged by accusations of homosexuality not helped by mannerisms widely seen as effeminate and a strained marriage.
• Contempt Crossfire: August is popular with neither his people, who see him as a shameful symbol of German domination, nor his family, who regard him as a foppish loser dumped off into a rebellious part of their empire.
• Throw the Dog a Bone: If he supports Alexander's attempts to marry a Polish commoner, or if he takes a sensitive tone about how men in their position have to make sacrifices, it'll mostly work out and the people will actually enthusiastically support he and Aleksander, giving them both a surge in popularity.
• The Unfavorite: August's own profile says his father thinks of him as the least of his children.

Aleksander II

Role: King^note Country Leader (August IV succession)

Party: Międzypartyjne Koło Polityczne^note Interpartisan Political Circle: Formed in 1915 out of moderate National Democrat and liberal parties, the MKP decided to collaborate with the Central Powers. It is a coalition of the Democratic-National Party, the Party of Real Politics, the Polish Progressive Party, the Party of Polish Statehood and a number of other organisations. The party acts as a representative of the middle ground in Polish politics. It would be considered socially conservative, economically liberal and constitutionalist, and is supported by the middle class and economic sector in particular., Polska Partia Socjalistyczna^note Polish Socialist Party: The social-democratic PPS is one of the two major opposition parties, forming the Centrolew bloc alongside the People's Party. Norbert Barlicki's party has strong sympathies with both republican and socialist anti-monarchist movements, but currently maintains a carefully pragmatic stance towards the Kingdom. (Elections), Polskie Stronnictwo Ludowe^note Polish People's Party: The second half of Centrolew is the People's Party, the result of the unification of several populist, liberal, and agrarian parties. Having strong ties with its equivalent in Galicia, Maksymilian Malinowski's party serves as the main vehicle for republicanism, even if it currently maintains a pragmatic stance towards the monarchy. (Elections), Chrześcijański Związek Jedności Narodowej^note Christian Union of National Unity: An alliance of Christian Democratic and National Democratic parties which disagree with MKP's economically liberal approach and pro-German foreign policy. Ch ZJN, or Chjena, champions for national democracy and Catholic social doctrine, and while pragmatic towards the monarchy, seeks greater independence for Poland through legal means. (Elections), Międzypartyjne Koło Polityczne - Stronnictwo Państwowe^note Statehood Party: The conservative and openly pro-German wing of the circle. Led by Władysław Studnicki, the party seeks closer relations with Berlin and to uphold the traditional rights of the szlachta. (Elections)

Ideology: Market Liberalism, Social Democracy, Social Liberalism, Social Conservatism, Authoritarian Democracy

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• Abdicate the Throne: If August supports Aleksander's desire to Marry for Love, Aleksander will step down from the line of succession to be with her.
• Immigrant Patriotism: If he's convinced to remain heir, Aleksander actually gets some support from the Polish people, since he's married to a Polish woman and has demonstrated some valor in wartime.
• Royals Who Actually Do Something: He serves in the Polish Air Force, meaning he has some legitimacy and support with the Polish people.

Karol Olbracht

Role: Monarch^note Country Leader (Player Austria puppet state)

Party: Polskie Stronnictwo Ludowe^note Polish People’s Party: The second half of Centrolew is the People's Party, the result of the unification of several populist, liberal, and agrarian parties. Having strong ties with its equivalent in Galicia, Maksymilian Malinowski's party serves as the main vehicle for republicanism, even if it currently maintains a pragmatic stance towards the monarchy. (Player Austria puppet state), Polska Partia Socjalistyczna^note Polish Socialist Party: The social-democratic PPS is one of the two major opposition parties, forming the Centrolew bloc alongside the People's Party. Norbert Barlicki's party has strong sympathies with both republican and socialist anti-monarchist movements, but currently maintains a carefully pragmatic stance towards the Kingdom. (SocDem Player Austria puppet state)

Ideology: Social Liberalism (Player Austria puppet state), Social Democracy (SocDem Player Austria puppet state)

See his entry in the Galicia and Lodomeria folder on the Europe subpage.

White Ruthenia

^{Flag of the Kryvian State}

Official Name: Belarusian People's Republic, Belarusian Workers' Socialist Republic (Socialist), Kryvian State (Łastoŭski), Generalgouvernment Miensk (German occupation)

Ruling Party: Bielaruskaja Sacyjal-Demakratyčnaja Partyja^note Belarusian Social-Democratic Party - Right

Ideology: Social Democracy

During the outbreak of the Russian Civil War, Byelorussian nationalists seeking autonomy declared a Byelorussian Rada to advance their nationhood and fend off the Bolsheviks, declaring full independence as the Belarusian People's Republic on March 9, 1918, days after the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk. When Germany moved into Russia to apply the terms of Brest-Litovsk, the Byelorussians were recognized as a potential German ally despite not being a part of Brest-Litovsk's plans. Germany quickly put Belarus under their care and molded it into a pro-German nation.

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• Naturalized Name: Due to the influence of German and Russian, as well as its native Belarusian, the country has been called Belorussia, Belarus, Byelorussia, White Ruthenia and Weiß Ruthenien.
• Puppet State: One of the states established by Germany to serve as a buffer state between them and Russia.
• Ruritania: White Ruthenia is a poor and backwards country with mass illiteracy (close to 50-60% by 1936) and an agrarian society. The sole reason for the country to exist is to serve as a buffer state between Germany and Russia.

Branislaŭ Taraškievič

Role: President^note Country Leader, Chairman^note Country Leader (Belarus joins Internationale)

Party: Bielaruskaja Sacyjal-Demakratyčnaja Partyja^note Belarusian Social-Democratic Party - Right, Bielaruskaja Sacyjal-Demakratyčnaja Partyja^note Belarusian Social-Democratic Party - Left (Belarus joins Internationale)

Ideology: Social Democracy, Radical Socialism (Belarus joins Internationale)

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• Les Collaborateurs: Taraškievič belonged to the faction of the BSDP that pragmatically chose to collaborate with the Germans and even now he remains dedicated to the German-White Ruthenian alliance to protect the country from Russia.

Adam Stankievič

Role: President^note Country Leader (Elections or Released by a Market Liberal country)

Party: Bielaruskaja Khryscijanskaja Demakratyja^note Belarusian Christian Democracy, Bielaruskaja Narodnaja Partyja^note Belarusian People's Party

Ideology: Social Conservatism, Market Liberalism

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• Good Shepherd: Stankievič is an ordained priest who became widely respected for his charity work.

Radasłaŭ Astroŭski

Role: President^note Country Leader (Coup)

Party: BVK^note National-Democratic Association, Bielaruskaja Centraĺnaja Rada^note Belarusian Central Council (Astroŭski consolidates power)

Ideology: Paternal Autocracy, Authoritarian Democracy (Astroŭski consolidates power)

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• Military Coup: If the BSDP's land reform fails or their radicals get too strong at the Hramada Congress, Astroŭski will lead the military to overthrow them with the help of Germany.

Werner Kempf

Role: Field Marshal, Country Leader (Astroŭski consolidates power, German intervention)

Party: Generalgouvernement Minsk^note General government of Minsk

Ideology: Paternal Autocracy

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• Regime Change: If Germany decides to intervene against Astroŭski, it will quickly depose him and install a German military government led by Werner Kempf.

Vacłaŭ Łastoŭski

Role: Country Leader (Astroŭski fails to consolidate power)

Party: Bielaruskaja Sialianskaja Partyja - Zialionaha Duba^note Belarusian Peasant Party (Green Oak)

Ideology: National Populism

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• The Coup: If Astroŭski fails to consolidate power he will be couped by Łastoŭski and his "Kryvians".
• Meaningful Rename: Believing that his people must get rid of so-called Russian hypnosis, Łastoŭski renames the Belarusian nation itself to Kryvich, after the medieval Kryvian tribe, which he considers to be the Belarusians' purest ancestors.
• Patriotic Fervor: Łastoŭski is the most nationalistic of White Ruthenia's potential leaders, and will have the school curriculum instil a proud Kryvian identity and a strong character.

Ukrainian State

^{Flag of the Ukrainian Socialist Republic}

Official Name: Ukrainian State, Ukrainian People's Republic (Anti-Hetman revolt victory), Ukrainian National Republic (Stsiborskyi), Ukrainian Socialist Republic (Shumskyi/Totalist)

Ruling Party: Ukrainskyi Soiuz Khliborobiv-Derzhavnykiv/Ukrainska Demokratychna Khliborobska Partiia^note Ukrainian Union of Agrarians-Statists/Ukrainian Democratic Agrarian Party: Semi-formally known as the "Hetman's Coalition", the political alliance between the two main Ukrainian Conservative Parties has a controversial history. Founded in 1918, the Ukrainian Democratic Agrarian Party (originally the Ukrainian Democratic Party) sought to portray itself as the prime Ukrainian (as opposed to "Greater-Russian in Ukraine") conservative political force. Their politics combine notable economic interventionism with law and order policies, all wrapped up in a package with a strong executive and an influential parliament. The party's leadership was also instrumental in helping bring the Hetman to power. The Union of Agrarian Statists would split off on the eve of the 1924 elections, but was forced into a coalition with the Agrarian Democrats to preserve a conservative majority. The USKhD, espousing Lypynskyi's classocratic ideals and anti-parliamentarian sentiment, has acted as the junior partner in the coalition.

Ideology: Authoritarian Democracy

Following centuries of subjugation under the Russian Empire, Ukraine was liberated following the "Peace of Nations" at Brest-Litovsk. Originally Ukraine got its independence when the combined armies of the German Empire and Austria-Hungary marched through Russia; taking opportunity of Russia's civil war and supported by the Central Powers, the Central Council of Ukraine declared independence as the Ukrainian People's Republic, however, a coup in 1918 turned the republic into the Ukrainian State, an authoritarian regime under Hetman Pavlo Skoropadskyi, supported largely by strong conservative elements, business interests, and landowners. The Hetman's government has also been stabilized by intervention of the German Empire, for whom he has become a willing collaborator. With the aid of large German investment and favorable trade deals, Ukraine has built a strong agrarian economic base and has become, at least on paper, the most prosperous of Germany's allies.
Today Ukraine enjoys an envious position as the 'Breadbasket of Europe', with a strong economy and a strategic position on the Black Sea. But beneath the surface, their prosperity is built on a crumbling facade. Profits from national grain sales have remained mired in the landowning upper classes, with only trickles making it to the tenant farmers and workers to their growing resentment. The Hetmanate faces ever increasing pressures from radical socialists and movements for greater government representation and land reform. An unstable Russia to the east threatens to explode into revanchism, with Syndicalist movements, monarchists, republicans and populists alike having only in common their desire to reclaim one of Russia's former crown jewels. And more and more, the same investment that has let Ukraine share Germany's place in the sun is now seen as a leash, or worse a noose. Ukraine has become almost utterly reliant on Germany's good graces, and it will only take one slight nudge to bring the whole house down.

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• Arch-Enemy: To Russia. The existence of a separate Ukrainian identity, to say nothing of a fully independent one, is not a popular concept amongst Russian politicians of the 1930s, who see Ukraine as a “Little Russia”. As such no matter the political paths either nation takes, both will find themselves at the opposite sides of the Second Weltkrieg.
• Identity Breakdown: Sort of in national scale. While Ukrainian national identity is developed, its precise nature is in a limbo under the Hetman. The Hetmanate praises the spirit of the Ukrainians on Independence day, but official propaganda neglects to mention that said independence was won by Progressive and socialist forces, enemies of the current regime. Accordingly, Independence day, and the history of an independent Ukraine as a whole, carries a greater significance for the Hetmanate’s opposition than for its supporters.
• From Nobody to Nightmare: The League of Ukrainian nationalists is, at the start of the game, overshadowed by the Republican opposition and unable to gather popular support. Should the Anti-Hetman revolt fail however, the LUN is left as the only opposition to Pavlo’s regime. If the Hetmanate fails at land reforms, the League will rise on the wave of popular discontent and stage a coup, overthrow the monarch and put in place a military ethnonationalist one party state.
• Regent for Life: In a way. The Hetmanate is a historical Ukrainian title repurposed by Skoropadskyi in his role as an institutional dictator. He has been grooming his son for succession, but the question of whether his rulership is considered an actual heriditary monarchy is one that has been delayed and deferred.

Pavlo Skoropadskyi

^{Skoropadskyi After Successful Post-War Reforms}

Role: Hetman^note Country Leader

Party: Ukrainskyi Soiuz Khliborobiv-Derzhavnykiv/Ukrainska Demokratychna Khliborobska Partiia^note Ukrainian Union of Agrarians-Statists/Ukrainian Democratic Agrarian Party: Semi-formally known as the "Hetman's Coalition", the political alliance between the two main Ukrainian Conservative Parties has a controversial history. Founded in 1918, the Ukrainian Democratic Agrarian Party (originally the Ukrainian Democratic Party) sought to portray itself as the prime Ukrainian (as opposed to "Greater-Russian in Ukraine") conservative political force. Their politics combine notable economic interventionism with law and order policies, all wrapped up in a package with a strong executive and an influential parliament. The party's leadership was also instrumental in helping bring the Hetman to power. The Union of Agrarian Statists would split off on the eve of the 1924 elections, but was forced into a coalition with the Agrarian Democrats to preserve a conservative majority. The USKhD, espousing Lypynskyi's classocratic ideals and anti-parliamentarian sentiment, has acted as the junior partner in the coalition., Ukrainskyi Soiuz Khliborobiv-Derzhavnykiv^note Ukrainian Union of Agrarians-Statists (Anti-Hetman revolt defeat, Mistakes of 1925), Ukrainska Demokratychna Khliborobska Partiia^note Ukrainian Democratic Agrarian Party (Shemet dismissed), Soiuz Hetmantsiv-Derzhavnykiv^note Union of Hetmanites-State Builders: Established sometimes in the mid-1920s through the initiative of two key Executive Office officials, the Union of Hetmanites-State Builders seeks to protect the authority of the Hetman and the State through anti-parliamentarian sentiment, centralisation, expansions of Cossack delegations and anti-socialist dogma. (Failed Relief Bill negotiations or Anti-Hetman revolt defeat, Victories of 1919)

Ideology: Authoritarian Democracy, Social Conservatism (Successful post-war reforms), Paternal Autocracy (Failed Relief Bill negotiations or Anti-Hetman revolt defeat, Victories of 1919)

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• 0% Approval Rating: Decades of authoritarian rule left the Hetman with few friends and many enemies. Republicans and socialists view him as a bloodthirsty tyrant that destroyed Ukrainian democracy. The league of Ukrainian nationalists view him as a puppet of Berlin. Even his own Coalition has little love for him: VSZV only support him because of their own business interests, UDKhP wish to transform the Hetman’s position into a purely ceremonial one and the UDKhP, while less democratic, equally wish to restrain the Monarch’s powers. Arguably the SHD are the only part of the coalition that is truly loyal to the Hetman. Inverted in the SHD path as the Hetman will be seen as the man that united and modernized Ukraine while protecting it from another Russian incursion.
• Allohistorical Allusion: Pavlo Skoropadskyi and his regime are, ironically, similar to Tsar Nicholas II and his Russia. Both are semi-constitutional monarchs that rule over a largely agrarian state in the process of industrialisation. Both pay lip service to the parliament and are supported by a conservative coalition. Both have gotten rid of their parliament then it suited them and want or at least can become military autocrats. Finally both the 1905 revolution and the Anti-Hetman revolts started because of a massacre of protestors.
• Significant Wardrobe Shift: If the post-war reforms are successful, Pavlo Skoropadski's portrait will change to one of him wearing a civilian suit.

Borys Homzyn

Role: Otaman-Minister^note Second in Command (Failed Relief Bill negotiations or Anti-Hetman revolt defeat, Victories of 1919)

Party: Soiuz Hetmantsiv-Derzhavnykiv^note Union of Hetmanites-State Builders: Established sometimes in the mid-1920s through the initiative of two key Executive Office officials, the Union of Hetmanites-State Builders seeks to protect the authority of the Hetman and the State through anti-parliamentarian sentiment, centralisation, expansions of Cossack delegations and anti-socialist dogma.
Authoritarian Democracy: Established sometimes in the mid-1920s through the initiative of two key Executive Office officials, the Union of Hetmanites-State Builders seeks to protect the authority of the Hetman and the State through anti-parliamentarian sentiment, centralisation, expansions of Cossack delegations and anti-socialist dogma. Since coming to power, the Union has consolidated itself as the foremost political force in Ukrainian society - creating a regime repressive enough to get rid of meaningful competition, chocking off the political consciousness of the people. The so-called "democracy' in Ukraine is nothing more than a sham - but as long as the rules play by the SHD's favour, it will never be overthrown...

Ideology: Paternal Autocracy, Authoritarian Democracy (Post-war elections)

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• Undying Loyalty: Homzyn is loyal to the Hetman above all else, and is perhaps the Hetman's only ally in government who is truly looking out for his best interests. If Homzyn remains as Otaman-Minister, the Hetman is empowered to the point of making Ukraine something close to an absolute monarchy.

Ivan Poltavets-Ostrianytsia

Role: Otaman-Minister^note Second in Command (Power struggle victory)

Party: Soiuz Hetmantsiv-Derzhavnykiv^note Union of Hetmanites-State Builders: Established sometimes in the mid-1920s through the initiative of two key Executive Office officials, the Union of Hetmanites-State Builders seeks to protect the authority of the Hetman and the State through anti-parliamentarian sentiment, centralisation, expansions of Cossack delegations and anti-socialist dogma.

Ideology: Paternal Autocracy

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• Dragon-in-Chief: Unlike Homzyn, Poltavets-Ostrianytsia isn't entirely loyal to the Hetman, and if he is encouraged too strongly, he sidelines him.
• The Starscream: Despite being a member of the absolutist SHD, Poltavets-Ostrianytsia isn't loyal to the Hetman personally, and is more loyal to him as a symbol of Ukraine's Cossack past. If he takes charge, the Hetman's power is taken from him, and he's left a puppet of the military clique Poltavets-Ostrianytsia leads.

Mykola Stsiborskyi

Role: Provisional Chief of State^note Country Leader (Hetmanate fails land reform, Nationalist coup), First State Secretary^note Second in Command (Konovalets cabinet)

Party: Legiia Ukrainskykh Natsionalistiv^note Formally united into a proper organisation at the close of the 1920s, the League of Ukrainian Nationalists (LUN) has been slowly but surely growing its influence and support over the years. Advocating for a "National Revolution" through a totalitarian, corporatist and decidedly militaristic lens, the LUN has been found to hold commonalities with, ironically enough, Savinkov's Russian political force, as well as the Romanian Legionary movement and the Italian ANI collective. Nevertheless, the league seeks to utilise their own, very specific, vision to fundamentally transform the nation.

Ideology: National Populism

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• Short-Lived Leadership: Mykola Stsiborskyi becomes head of state following the Nationalist coup but only until a more permanent government is formed, of which he'll become head of government.

Yevhen Konovalets

Role: Military Commander, Providnyk^note Country Leader (Stsiborskyi succession)

Party: Legiia Ukrainskykh Natsionalistiv (Revolutionary wing)^note Formally united into a proper organisation at the close of the 1920s, the League of Ukrainian Nationalists (LUN) has been slowly but surely growing its influence and support over the years. Advocating for a "National Revolution" through a totalitarian, corporatist and decidedly militaristic lens, the LUN has been found to hold commonalities with, ironically enough, Savinkov's Russian political force, as well as the Romanian Legionary movement and the Italian ANI collective. Nevertheless, the league seeks to utilise their own, very specific, vision to fundamentally transform the nation.

Ideology: National Populism

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• Day of the Jackboot: The LUN are a National Populist faction, and this of course means that they institute a dictatorship, and pursue Ukrainian chauvinist policies.
• My Country, Right or Wrong: Konovalets is a Ukrainian nationalist, but a particularly pragmatic one. Konovalets' LUN can take control should things go wrong, but regardless, Konovalets will serve his nation no matter what path it goes down, even if it goes down a path of syndicalism.

Symon Petliura

^{Petliura as a General}

Role: General (Anti-Hetman revolt victory), Chairman^note Country Leader (Anti-Hetman revolt victory or Republican post-war elections or Left coalition collapsed, Ukraine in Reichspakt), Acting Chairman^note Country Leader (Republicans fail reforms, Chairman assassinated)

Party: Ukrainskyi Sotsialistychnyi Blok - Ukrainska Sotsial-Demokratychna Robitnycha Partiia^note Ukrainian Socialist Bloc - Ukrainian Social Democratic Workers' Party: Founded in 1933, the Ukrainian Socialist Bloc united the Ukrainian Socialist forces in exile to form a more effective counter-movement to the Hetman. Now in exile in Galicia, the more reformist tendency of the Ukrainian Socialist Bloc advocates for parliamentary republicanism, democratic socialism in the Marxist tradition, and appeals to the workers and peasants of Ukraine. The party is united around the popular leadership leadership of Isaak Mazepa, Opanas Fedenko and former Minister of Defence Symon Petliura, the latter acting as informal leader of the entire Bloc and supposedly having ties to certain Officers in the Ukrainian Military., Revoluitsiinyi Blok (Ukrainska Partiia Sotsialiv-Revoliutsioneriv/Radiansko-Revoliutsiinyi Blok)^note Revolutionary Bloc (Ukrainian Party of Socialist-Revolutionaries/Council-Revolutionary Bloc): Representing the more radical side of the Republic's political scene, the UPS-R/R-RB coalition advocates for a unique mixture of parliamentary and revolutionary politics. Under the leadership of Volodymyr Vynnychenko, the coalition strives to create a councilist and agrarian socialist republic. (Left coalition collapsed)

Ideology: Social Democracy

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• Cincinnatus: After defeating the Hetman's forces, Symon Petliura becomes chairman of the new republic, but stays so only until the elections.
  • He can also become chairman in times of crisis like the collapse of the left coalition or the assassination of the elected chairman.

Vasyl Vyshyvanyi

^{Vyshyvanyi as Hetman}

Role: Chairman^note Country Leader (Republican elections, URDP Chairman election or Republican post-war elections), Hetman^note Country Leader (Austria puppet state)

Party: Ukrainska Radykalno-Demokratychna Partiia^note Ukrainian Radical Democratic Party: With roots in some of Ukraine's oldest cultural and educational organisations, the Ukrainian Radical Democratic Party is a truly historic entity, with a significant number of its notable members belonging to the Intellectual Class. Its success in the most recent national elections forced the nomination of one of the most centrist prime ministers in the young nation's history, Dmytro Doroshenko. Advocating for parliamentarism, devolution and progressive economic policies, the party has gained traction outside of the intellectual class. The party is united around the leadership of Oleksandr Shulhyn, Oleksandr Lototskyi and Vlacheslav Prokopovych.

Ideology: Social Liberalism

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• Continuity Nod: Before the country's rework, Vasyl was an installed Habsburg monarch of the Kingdom of Ukraine, where a majority of political paths result in his assassination by disgruntled agitators for one faction or other. In the post-rework continuity, he was proposed as a monarch for Ukraine following the Weltkrieg, but those plans fell through, but he developed a genuine love for Ukraine and its culture and can become one of Ukraine's most genuinely loved political leaders.
• Immigrant Patriotism: Vasyl, despite being of Habsburg descent, is loyal to Ukraine, and specifically the Republican cause. Should the Hetman be overthrown, Vasyl can take up office as the head of state of a Ukrainian Republic as a private citizen, rather than a monarch, purely out of love for his country.

Oleksandr Shumskyi

Role: Chairman^note Country Leader (Republicans fail reforms, Borotbyst takeover)

Party: Ukrainska Partiia Sotsialistiv-Revoliutsioneriv-Borotbystiv (Komunistiv-Syndykalistiv)^note Ukrainian Party of Socialist-Revolutionary-Borotbysts (Communists-Syndicalists): Formed as a left-wing splinter group from the larger Ukrainian Party of Socialist-Revolutionaries, the Borotbysts (named after their newspaper "Borotba", which means "Struggle") became the largest far-left grouping in Civil War-era Ukraine, often operating as a guerilla force throughout the country. Over time, the party became a mixture of syndicalist and communist ideals. It seeks to empower agricultural workers, owing to the unique socio-economic and cultutral conditions of Ukraine. Its leadership is divided among exiles and underground figures, but still coalesces around Oleksandr Shumskyi.

Ideology: Syndicalism

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• Suicidal Overconfidence: Unlike the more pragmatic radical socialist Socialist Revolutionaries, the Borotbysts are radical supporters of syndicalism and the Third Internationale. If one was to look at Ukraine, they would notice it is surrounded by Germany and her puppets, Austria, and a (usually) anti-socialist Russia, all of whom would be very hostile to a socialist Ukraine. Despite this, the Borotbysts rise the country up in a rebellion with the Internationale only barely able to help, starting the second Weltkrieg and creating one of the hardest challenges in Kaiserreich.

Lithuania

^{Flag of the Lithuanian-Belarusian Union}

^{Flag of the Republic of Lithuania}

^{Flag of the People's Republic of Lithuania}

Official Name: Kingdom of Lithuania

Kingdom: Kingdom of Lithuania-Belarus (Lithuanian-Belarusian Union)

Socialist Republic: People's Republic of Lithuania, Lithuanian-Belarusian Republic of Councils (Lithuanian-Belarusian Union)

Republic: Republic of Lithuania, Lithuanian-Belarusian Federation (Lithuanian-Belarusian Union)

National Republic (National Populist): National Republic of Lithuania, Lithuanian-Belarusian Federation (Lithuanian-Belarusian Union)

Ruling Party: Lietuvos Krikščionių Demokratų Partija^note The Christian Democratic Party of Lithuania is the largest party of the Lithuanian right wing, originally founded in 1917, although its predecessor movements are claimed to have started operating as early as 1890. A leading proponent of conservatism and monarchism in the Lithuanian political arena, it laid down the foundations for the Kingdom of Lithuania and has remained an extremely influential party since. Because of its vast size, the party has several distinct wings - some of its members are more willing to endorse liberal ideas and reconcile with the left, others are not; some see Lithuania's future as a loyal disciple of Germany, some are wary of being constantly reigned over by godless Lutherans, others are more nationalistic. Some are influenced by Christian corporatism or even Christian socialism, others are staunch conservatives or free market proponents. Regardless of the wing, however, ideas such as Christian ethics, monarchism, and democracy unite them all.

Ideology: Social Conservatism

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Vytautas II

Role: Monarch^note Country Leader

Party: Lietuvos Krikščionių Demokratų Partija^note The Christian Democratic Party of Lithuania is the largest party of the Lithuanian right wing, originally founded in 1917, although its predecessor movements are claimed to have started operating as early as 1890. A leading proponent of conservatism and monarchism in the Lithuanian political arena, it laid down the foundations for the Kingdom of Lithuania and has remained an extremely influential party since. Because of its vast size, the party has several distinct wings - some of its members are more willing to endorse liberal ideas and reconcile with the left, others are not; some see Lithuania's future as a loyal disciple of Germany, some are wary of being constantly reigned over by godless Lutherans, others are more nationalistic. Some are influenced by Christian corporatism or even Christian socialism, others are staunch conservatives or free market proponents. Regardless of the wing, however, ideas such as Christian ethics, monarchism, and democracy unite them all., Lietuvos Socialdemokratų Partija^note The Social Democratic Party of Lithuania is the largest party of the Lithuanian left wing and proudly calls itself the oldest political party in Lithuania. Its history stretches to 1896, although it only became a Lithuanian party foremost in 1902. Although the LSDP commanded great influence over the Lithuanian independence movement, it was forced out of the Council of Lithuania due to its republican stances, an act which many hold grudges for ever since. In the independent Kingdom of Lithuania, they have moderated their anti-monarchist position, but its condition as an anti-German, anti-capitalist party has allowed it to become a big tent movement for the Lithuanian left wing. The core of the party is influenced by the German SPD and Austromarxism, and while it remains a democratic party at heart, it does not disdain socialist or outright Syndicalist influence. This Petri dish of left-wing ideas collected to one organisation makes it rather difficult to achieve a consensus, however., Lietuvių Tautininkų Sąjunga^note The Lithuanian Nationalist Union is the successor to the National Progress Party, founded in 1929, and holds the right-wing nationalist niche which the Christian Democrats have pretty much abandoned. The Nationalist Union unites around the larger than life persona of Antanas Smetona, once the head of the Council of Lithuania and the first Prime Minister of Lithuania, turned the leader of the Lithuanian nationalist cause. The failure of the Memel Uprising of 1928 taught Smetona that militant resistance against the Germans is futile, freedom from their grasp can only be achieved through the ballot, thus the Nationalist Union disdains any talks of armed rebellion and instead seek to implement their ideas (mostly) democratically. It believes in the need of a strong executive, in corporatist and state and state controlled economics, support for Lithuanian nationalism, and the ever present slogan of 'Lithuania for Lithuanians!'. Despite its professed allegiance to the King and Democracy, it comes into direct conflict with the Lithuanian left wing, which see them as a direct road towards authoritarianism.

Ideology: Social Conservatism, Social Democracy (LSDP elected), Authoritarian Democracy (LTS elected)

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• Inadequate Inheritor: Vytautas II lacks his father's stature and skills to lead a country. While Mindaugas II was a great boon to a nation as culturally and politically divided as Lithuania, Vytautas II swiftly became a liability.
• Reluctant Ruler: Being a second son, Karl Gero has always expected his older brother Wilhelm to succeed their father, and pursued his dream of being an architect. However, when Wilhelm chose to renounce the throne to marry Elisabeth Theurer, a woman beneath his station, Karl Gero was practically dragged out of the street, brought to Lithuania and crowned King Vytautas II. Even he doesn't see himself as a legitimate heir.
• Unexpected Successor: A second son, Karl Gero never expected himself to succeed his father until his elder brother suddenly chose to renounce the throne to marry a woman under his station.

Mindaugas III

Role: Monarch^note Country Leader (Vytautas II succession)

Party: Plechavičius' Clique^note After the failure of the civilian government to prevent the death of King Vytautas, General Povilas Plechavičius has stepped up and taken control of the government. Focused only on the survival and stability of Lithuania, he has no qualms about allies or methods.

Ideology: Paternal Autocracy

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• Unexpected Successor: Eberhard von Urach, a younger brother of King Vytautas, will be crowned King by Plechavičius' Junta if it took power in the wake of his brother's assassination.

United Baltic Duchy

^{Flag of the Baltic Federation}

Official Name: United Baltic Duchy, Free City of Riga (UBD collapse), Baltic Federation (Kalniņš), Baltic Union (Socialist), Baltic State (National Populist), German State (National Populist, after conquest of Germany)

Ruling Party: Deutschbalten Demokratische Partei^note Baltic-German Democratic Party

Ideology: Social Liberalism

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• Balkanize Me: If the United Baltic Duchy cannot curtail the Forest Brothers rebellion, it will collapse as Estonia and Latvia declare independence, leaving the Free City of Riga as the last holdout of German rule.
• Elite Army: The Baltische Landeswehr is the most competent army in the eastern member states of the Reichspakt, boasting trained and professional officers, supplied from Germany, and seen as prestigious by Baltic German nobles. The United Baltic Duchy can either double down on this professionalism and develop a small, truly crack military force, or sacrifice this advantage and start integrating native Latvians and Estonians into the military for more numbers.
• The Federation: The United Baltic Duchy can best be described as a federal oligarchic semi-constitutional monarchy. It is devolved into five Cantons, each with their own Landtags and Land Colleges, and the autonomous city of Riga. The federal government is composed of the Landtag of the United Baltic Duchy and the Convent of the Land Administrators. If the Baltic Knighthoods take power, they'll further decentralise the Duchy, turning it into a confederal monarchy of monarchies, composed of the duchies of Kurland, Livland and Estland.
• Land of One City: The United Baltic Duchy becomes reduced to the city of Riga if it fails to deal with the Forest Brothers, resulting in Latvia and Estonia regaining independence.
• Puppet State: The nominally independent United Baltic Duchy is a puppet of Germany in all but name, with all positions of power held by Germans.
• La Résistance: The Forest Brothers are a group of Estonian and Latvian partisans who seek to free their countries from German rule.

Adolf Friedrich of Mecklenburg

Role: Duke^note Country Leader

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• Offered the Crown: At the end of the Weltkrieg, Adolf Friedrich's experience as a colonial governor and great prestige among the German upper class led to Adolf von Pilchau's Regency Council offering the throne of the United Baltic Duchy to him.
• You Have Failed Me: If the Democratic Party fails to restore order in the Landtag in time after Black Mondey, Duke Adolf Friedrich will step in, dismiss them and hand over power to the Baltic Knighthoods.

Paul Schiemann

Role: Country Leader

Party: Deutschbalten Demokratische Partei^note Baltic-German Democratic Party

Ideology: Social Liberalism

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• Almighty Janitor: Schiemann could not assume any position in the Landratskollegium because of his non-noble birth, but nevertheless leads the incumbent government from his lowly position.
• Emperor Scientist: According to Schiemann's meritocratic liberalism, the government should be composed of delegates from all social groups and political professionals. The right to rule should be reserved to those who have the merit and ability to rule, and educated individuals should have inherently more political rights than the uneducated lower masses do.
• Internal Reformist: Paul Schiemann and his party blame the collapsing economy on the unbridled free market and proposes plans for progressive social reforms, including federally instituted minimum wages and pensions and greater federal control over the Duchy's economic affairs.
• The Man Behind the Man: The Baltic-German Democratic Party's nominal leader is Friedrich von Samson-Himmelstjerna, but everyone knows that Schiemann holds the true power.
• Passing the Torch: If the Duchy fails, Schiemann retires as the Democratic Party's leader and leaves Wilhelm Munter to succeed him.

Axel von Freytagh-Loringhoven

Role: Country Leader

Ideology: Paternal Autocracy

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• Rightful King Returns: The Baltic Knighthoods restore Gustav Biron, head of the Curonian House of Biron which once reigned over the duchy of Courland-Semigallia, to his birthright.

Rüdiger von der Goltz

Role: General, Country Leader

Party: Aufbauvereinigung^note Reconstruction Organisation

Ideology: National Populism

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• Allohistorical Allusion: The name adopted by the Baltic Brotherhood after they transtion into a political force is Aufbauvereinigung; it shares its name with a real life German-Russian ultranationalist counterrevolutionary group with ties to German, Russian, and Baltic German far-right groups (including the Baltic Brotherhood via Otto von Kursell). Though the KRTL Aufbauvereinigung is technically a different organization, it shares the ultra-nationalism and ultra-reactionarism beliefs of the real Aufbauvereinigung.
• Aristocrats Are Evil: Count von der Goltz cooperates with the Baltic Brotherhood, a millenarian Christian fundamentalist, Baltic German supremacist, pan-German nationalist secret order composed of younger Baltic German nobles.
• Culture Police: The Baltic Brotherhood censors modern art, viewing it as degenerate, un-Christian, and rooted in villainous syndicalist thought.
• Dry Crusader: Goltz cracks down on alcohol, cigarettes and gambling, as they make men sin and thus cast them out of Heaven.
• The Fundamentalist: The Baltic Brotherhood pronounces a new reading of The Bible, dismissing the Old Testament and viewing Christ as a saviour from the Jewish god.
• Military Coup: If the civilian government fails to curtail the Forest Brothers uprising, the Baltische Landeswehr will grow disappointed at its leadership and begin to plot. Under the guise of protecting the United Baltic Duchy from likely destruction and supported by the Baltic Brotherhood, the Landeswehr will lay siege to the Landtag, arrest the Riga Democratic Bloc and appointing Goltz as emergency Regent.
• Puppet King: Despite becoming Regent of the Baltic Duchy after the Baltic Brotherhood takes power, Goltz is little more than a figurehead for them. Otto von Kursell, leader of the Baltic Brotherhood, describes him as a fine commander but a senile buffoon and excellent figurehead who only needs glorious parades, a patriotic vocabulary and a few assurances.
• Putting on the Reich: If the Baltic Brotherhood defeats Germany (a borderline impossible mission considering the size of the Baltic State), they can try to reform Germany as a National Populist German State, with extremely blatant Nazi references in their focus tree◊ such as Gleichshaltung, Blut und Boden, and even "Das Dritte Reich", or The Third Reich.
• Regent for Life: After the Baltic Brotherhood imprisons Duke Adolf Friedrich during their coup, Goltz proclaims himself Regent of the United Baltic Duchy, with a focus called A Permanent Regency.
• Secret Circle of Secrets: The Baltic Brotherhood operates in secret circles and grows its power by infiltrating Baltic German nobles, especially appealing to younger, disillusioned and ambitious ones.
• Warhawk: The Baltic Brotherhood seek to assume totalitarian control over the Duchy, transform its economy into a supplier for the Baltische Landeswehr, and rapidly industrialise the country in order to prepare it for a war against Russia and the Syndicalists.

Helmuth Stegman

Role: Mayor^note Country Leader (UBD collapse)

Party: DbLP^note Baltic-German State Party

Ideology: Social Conservatism

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• Internal Reformist: Stegman has established a democratic, pluralistic government in Riga with his reforms since the 1930s, rendering the city free of Forest Brothers and allowing it to stand if the Duchy falls and Latvia declares independence.

Wilhelm Munter

Role: Mayor^note Country Leader (UBD collapse, elections)

Party: Deutschbalten Demokratische Partei^note Baltic-German Democratic Party

Ideology: Social Liberalism

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• Les Collaborateurs: Munter advocates for opening the borders of the Free City to Latvians and Estonians who would prefer to live under a German-ruled liberal democracy than under a native-ruled dictatorship.

Max Erwin von Scheubner-Richter

Role: Mayor^note Country Leader (UBD collapse, Coup)

Party: Pan-German League

Ideology: Paternal Autocracy

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• Allohistorical Allusion: In real life, Scheubner-Richter was an early high-ranking member of the Nazi Party who was killed in the Beer Hall Putsch. In Kaiserreich, he advocates for the unification of all Germans into one pan-Germanic state, similar to what the Nazis did in real life.
• Secret Police: Von Scheubner-Richter will establish one after taking power.

Jēkabs Peterss

Role: Chairman^note Country Leader (Released by a Totalist country)

Party: Latvijas un Igaunijas teritoriju revolucionārā alianse/Läti ja Eesti alade revolutsiooniline liit^note Revolutionary Alliance of the Latvian and Estonian Territories

Ideology: Totalism

See his entry in the Latvia folder.

United Baltic Duchy Collapse

Latvia

^{Flag of the Iskolat Republic}

Official Name: Latvian Republic, Iskolat Republic (Socialist), Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (Peterss, Estonia & Russia conquered)

Ruling Party: Latvijas Sociāldemokrātiskā Strādnieku Partija^note Latvian Social Democratic Workers' Party

Ideology: Social Democracy

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• We ARE Struggling Together: In 1918, three authorities sought to represent the interests of the Latvian people: the Riga Democratic Bloc, the Iskolat and the Latvian Provisional National Council. Ultimately, none of them managed to declare an independent Latvian state, so Latvia missed the one chance when it could assert its independence and was left behind.

Jēkabs Peterss

Role: Chairman^note Country Leader (Power struggle victory)

Party: Latvijas Sociāldemokrātija^note Latvian Social Democracy, Vsesoyuznaya Kommunisticheskaya Partiya (Bol'shevikov)^note All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks): The Communist Party of Latvia is led by the same Bolsheviks who were previously vanquished by the German army.
In the face of undeniable French ideological influence, the reorganised Latvian Communist Party is split between those who would embrace a more syndicalist identity and those who would not. (Estonia & Russia conquered)

Ideology: Radical Socialism, Totalism (Syndicalist model)

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• Back from the Brink: A secret path introduced in Version 21.0 allows a player-controlled Bolshevik Peterss to restore the Soviet Union, as envisioned by Lenin, if he manages to annex Estonia and Russia.
• The Remnant: Peterss leads the remnants of the Latvian Red Riflemen and the Iskolat, who fled to France and then Britain after the Bolsheviks were defeated. To this day, he is still loyal to Lenin's interpretation of Marxism.

Estonia

Official Name: Republic of Estonia, Estonian Socialist Republic (Socialist)

Ruling Party: Eesti Vabariigi Rahvuskomitee^note National Committee of the Republic of Estonia

Ideology: Paternal Autocracy

Artur Sirk

Role: President^note Country Leader

Party: Eesti Vabariigi Rahvuskomitee^note National Committee of the Republic of Estonia, Eesti Vabadussõjalaste Liit^note Vaps Movement (Sirk consolidates power)

Ideology: Paternal Autocracy

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• Government in Exile: In 1930, Sirk became leader of the Estonian government-in-exile. Under his leadership, the Estonian exiles have rebounded and began to support the resistance movement back home far more thoroughly.
• State Sec: Sirk has turned the Omakaitse as his own paramilitary forces, loyal only to himself.

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