Chapter Summaries

As the European flu spread through Cabinda City, Rabe and his family tried to stay safe while the city’s businesses continued operating. After learning that a coworker had fallen ill, Rabe considered sending his children to stay with his brother in the countryside and passed the factory’s health screening on his way to work.

• Rabe and his wife discussed Cabinda’s outbreak, the strain on hospitals, and the precautions their family could take.
• Rabe and Vlad worried that factory work put them at risk after Hans was infected, and they agreed that rural areas were safer.
• Conrad suggested that Rabe send his three children to the countryside, and Rabe decided they could stay with his older brother.
• Rabe drove to the furniture factory, where Crus sprayed him with alcohol and recorded his normal temperature.

The influenza epidemic devastated Europe and North America, while East Africa contained its outbreak and supplied medical products to a growing global market. The chapter ended with East Africa’s pharmaceutical industry profiting from worldwide demand and emerging as the world’s leading producer.

• The London government closed public gathering places as deaths and hospital overcrowding soared, and Prime Minister David ordered strict precautions against what Britain called French influenza.
• British officials reported that the epidemic had spread across Europe and North America, while East Africa had largely contained it to coastal regions.
• President Wilson faced public anger over the war, the epidemic, and military conditions, then ordered states to follow federal instructions and promoted hygiene education.
• Governments worldwide adopted measures tested in France, including mask-wearing, disinfection, and isolation, driving a surge in global demand for East African supplies.
• East Africa’s medical and pharmaceutical industries expanded through wartime production, foreign technology, and government investment, establishing a leading global position.

In March 1920, Kitwe Mayor Debern warned that the city's dependence on copper mining and growing competition threatened its long-term economic position. He called for diversification into agriculture, energy, and manufacturing, and urged cooperation with stronger cities to obtain technology and talent.

• Mayor Debern convened city officials and local businesses to discuss Kitwe's economic bottlenecks.
• Debern and attendees identified Kitwe's narrow reliance on copper and competition from overseas producers and coastal East African processors as major problems.
• Debern argued that Kitwe lacked political, transport, resource, and research advantages that could secure its future growth.
• Debern proposed diversifying Kitwe's economy toward agriculture, energy, and manufacturing, including electric power, automobile components, and household appliances.
• Debern called for cooperation with Rhine City, Mbeya City, and New Frankfurt City to bring Kitwe new technology, talent, and ideas.

Mayor Debern traveled from Kitwe to Lubumbashi to propose cooperation among Copperbelt cities in response to growing competition from imported copper. Mayor Boke agreed to support integrating the region’s mining and related industries, with Lubumbashi positioned to lead the effort.

• Mayor Debern and Secretary Baya discussed Lubumbashi’s advantages over Kitwe, including its provincial resources, larger population, and role as the Central Railway hub.
• At the Lubumbashi City government, Debern told Mayor Boke that Kitwe wanted an economic cooperation agreement and broader coordination among Copperbelt cities.
• Debern explained that imported copper and competing production threatened the Copperbelt’s copper-dependent economy, while the Central Government was unlikely to restrict imports.
• Debern proposed coordinating mining quotas and prices, merging similar companies, and assigning cities complementary industries according to their strengths.
• Boke welcomed the plan, and Debern’s proposal put Lubumbashi in a position to lead the Copperbelt’s economic integration.

Kitwe Mayor Debern negotiated a Copperbelt-wide copper industry plan led by Lubumbashi, while preparing Kitwe to diversify beyond mining. After East Africa approved the plan, Lubumbashi began integrating the region’s copper industry and Kitwe shifted investment toward research, manufacturing, services, and environmental restoration.

• Debern and Lubumbashi Mayor Boke bargained over regional cooperation, with Debern securing guarantees for Kitwe’s interests.
• Debern told his secretary Baya that Kitwe should join Lubumbashi’s copper industry effort and seek a stake in its gains rather than compete directly.
• Lubumbashi and Kitwe reached a preliminary agreement and invited other Copperbelt towns to join the cooperative development plan.
• Ernst approved the plan and directed officials to pair regional cooperation with environmental protections, efficiency improvements, and industrial restructuring.
• In April 1920, the East African government approved the Copperbelt Economic Cooperation and Development Zone Plan, and regional enterprises began merging and adopting shared standards.
• Debern announced that Kitwe would focus on scientific research, manufacturing, services, and ecological restoration while Lubumbashi concentrated on integrating the copper industry.

Debern laid out a plan to reduce Kitwe City's dependence on copper mining by restoring its environment, diversifying industry, and improving city life and services. Less than three months later, Kitwe City began a comprehensive environmental campaign.

• Debern called for protecting the Kafue River's source, treating wastewater, restoring riverside vegetation, and preventing soil erosion.
• Debern argued that pollution and reliance on copper threatened Kitwe City's agriculture, services, and ability to attract residents and businesses.
• Debern proposed regulating mines and factories, restoring polluted land and waterways, improving urban amenities, and attracting consumer and research-oriented enterprises.
• Debern called for better transportation, education, and healthcare to make Kitwe City more livable and less dependent on mining.
• The Kitwe City government launched a comprehensive environmental campaign less than three months after Debern decided to change the city's development direction.

As the European flu and postwar depression crippled East Africa’s economy, Ernst and his ministers assessed the damage and the worsening outlook in America, Europe, and Russia. Ernst ordered stronger epidemic controls and economic restructuring, while warning that instability in Eastern Europe could soon emerge.

• East Africa’s Minister of Industry told Ernst that the flu and weak demand could halve steel output, reducing it to just over thirty million tons or less.
• Ernst and Met discussed how the epidemic and economic crisis had damaged East Africa and were likely harming the United States, Europe, and Russia even more.
• Ernst warned that the crisis had disrupted plans for intervention against Russia and could give the Russian Labor Party time to strengthen its position.
• Ernst ordered the government to contain the flu, restore economic growth, and advance the stalled Fifth Five-Year Plan.
• Ernst instructed officials to monitor Europe and America closely, especially Eastern Europe, where he expected problems to arise.

Crown Prince Rudolf discussed Vienna’s devastating flu outbreak and the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s ethnic and population problems with Chancellor Conrad. He proposed using Dalmatia’s high-birth-rate mixed-blood Germans to strengthen German influence in Venice, Croatia, and Bosnia, leaving the plan for Conrad to consider.

• Rudolf asked Conrad about Vienna’s epidemic, and Conrad reported that more than 170,000 people had died there.
• Rudolf and Conrad discussed the epidemic’s toll and the empire’s growing ethnic tensions, including Austria’s low German birth rate and the increased Slavic population.
• Rudolf ordered the empire to accelerate de-Slavization in newly acquired territories and encourage the growth of mixed-blood Germans.
• Rudolf argued that the empire should accept Dalmatia’s mixed-blood Germans as Germans, and Conrad raised concerns about their origins.
• After Conrad noted that Dalmatia had limited room for population growth, Rudolf proposed supporting Dalmatian Germans’ settlement in Venice, Croatia, and Bosnia.
• Rudolf described turning Dalmatia into a German population base to increase German-speaking numbers in Venice and secure the empire’s access to the Adriatic, and Conrad considered the plan.

Rudolf and Chancellor Conrad considered recruiting German descendants from the United States and East Africa to strengthen the Austro-Hungarian Empire. In Turin, Benito rallied supporters to his Italian Combat League as it expanded across the Italian Peninsula.

• Conrad proposed recruiting German descendants from the United States, and Rudolf warned that American political ideas could create instability.
• Conrad argued that the United States was the best available source of German immigrants, while Rudolf accepted that the Empire could attract discriminated German descendants.
• Conrad also suggested seeking immigrants from East Africa and reflected on the Empire’s missed opportunity to expand in Africa.
• In a Turin beer hall, Benito denounced Italy’s leaders and called for unification and national power.
• Benito recruited new followers, and his Italian Combat League grew across the Italian Peninsula as the Italian Labor Party faced attacks.

East African officials assessed the European flu and decided to begin the Fifth Five-Year Plan with agriculture while postponing industrial and service projects. The agricultural departments proposed land consolidation and water-saving agriculture to address uneven water supplies, leaving the government focused on improving agricultural resilience.

• Lorrant and Shefchi discussed Benito’s Italian Combat League and concluded that it was separate from the Italian Labor Party and not an immediate concern for East African intelligence.
• Health officials reported that the European flu had infected tens of millions in East Africa but that its lethality had declined, while countries with poor sanitation and medical care suffered heavily.
• Ernst directed the government to begin the Fifth Five-Year Plan with agricultural projects and decide later whether epidemic conditions permitted work in other sectors.
• Agricultural officials reported East Africa’s vast cultivated area, high mechanization, and leading grain output, then identified uneven water distribution as a key limit on production.
• The agricultural departments proposed promoting water-saving agriculture in drought-prone and climatically unstable regions to keep production reliable.

Ernst and Yalstede outlined East Africa’s plan to address southern water shortages by diverting water from the Drakensberg Mountains westward through the Orange River system. The project was set to become the Ministry of Water Conservancy’s flagship undertaking, though its construction would take up to twenty years.

• Ernst said water-saving agriculture should improve the efficient use of water and sustain agricultural, industrial, social, and residential needs.
• Yalstede identified Orange, Baden, and Hechingen Provinces as pilot regions and explained that the south’s main water problem came from uneven rainfall distribution.
• Yalstede proposed diverting rivers from the Lesotho and Swaziland mountains into the Orange River’s Vaal tributary, then using dams and canals to supply the surrounding plains.
• Yalstede said the project would help the southern provinces expand agriculture and livestock raising and become a major economic bloc.
• Yalstede named the East-to-West Water Diversion the Ministry of Water Conservancy’s signature project for the Fifth Five-Year Plan and estimated completion within twenty years.
• The chapter noted that abolishing slavery had raised labor costs, while mechanization, subsidies, contracting, and colonial production helped East Africa adapt.

As East Africa began its Fifth Five-Year Plan, the government outlined agricultural reforms focused on soil improvement, water management, and sustainable land use. Plains Province official Setlhu defended the province’s role as a mechanized grain-producing region and described plans to balance agriculture with urban industry and environmental protection.

• Yalstede proposed regional water transfers and water-saving measures to support agriculture and a southern city cluster.
• Minister Berkeley called for restoring unsuitable farmland, improving soil fertility, and managing land according to local conditions, while Ernst urged a shift toward refined economic development.
• East Africa began its Fifth Five-Year Plan in rural areas, retaining state control of land while relying on a mix of state farms and contracted private production.
• Setlhu told reporters that Plains Province’s state farms, black soil, coastal access, and mechanization made it a major commercial grain base despite its agricultural focus.
• Setlhu said Plains Province would promote industry in Xinxing and Inhambane while expanding water infrastructure and restoring the Limpopo River basin’s ecology.

In March 1921, European leaders met in Berlin to plan a response to the Russian Labor Party, whose government had consolidated power and alarmed neighboring states. They agreed against a direct invasion and instead chose to arm Poland and Ukraine and blockade Russia economically.

• German Prime Minister Hermann and Austro-Hungarian Prime Minister Conrad urged the assembled powers to destroy the Russian Labor Party, citing its reforms, European influence, and support for revolutionary groups.
• French President Clemenceau and British Prime Minister David backed action against Russia, while David accused East Africa of allowing the Labor Party to rise.
• Freer rejected David's accusation, defended East Africa's support for Russian resistance forces, and pointed to Britain's Suez Canal blockade as an obstacle to intervention.
• Clemenceau proposed arming Poland and Ukraine rather than sending troops directly into Russia, and David supported the plan.
• Germany and the Austro-Hungarian Empire agreed to support Poland and Ukraine, and the participants settled on weakening Russia through military aid to its neighbors and a harsh economic blockade.

Vladimir directed Russia to expand its influence in Eastern Europe and support revolutionary movements abroad as the country prepared to confront the Imperialist powers. In March 1921, East African envoy Major General Kabriel arrived in Tehran to secure Persia’s cooperation against Russia and establish East African influence there.

• Vladimir told senior Russian Labor Party officials to expand support in Ukraine and Poland and prepare to reclaim lost territory.
• Vladimir ordered the Party to encourage armed movements in other European countries and regions, including Persia, India, and the Ottoman Empire.
• Britain and East Africa coordinated support for countries opposing Russia and assigned East Africa responsibility for the Persian direction.
• Major General Kabriel warned King Ahmad and Persian officials to end internal conflicts and focus on resisting Russia.
• Kabriel offered Persia military, economic, and public-opinion assistance, while explaining that East Africa and Britain had divided their spheres of influence in Persia.

East Africa used Persia’s fear of Russia and the Qajar royal house’s insecurity to negotiate broad economic and military cooperation. Two months later, the countries signed the East Persia Friendly Mutual Assistance Treaty, formalizing East African influence in Persia as Britain’s regional power waned.

• General Kabriel urged King Ahmad to end cooperation with Russia and replace Russian-standard railways with routes built toward the Persian Gulf, financed by Persia with East African support and loans.
• Kabriel promised to develop Persia’s mineral resources and support the Qajar royal house, persuading Ahmad that cooperation with East Africa could protect the dynasty from Russia and domestic opposition.
• Ahmad agreed to East African troop deployments, port leases, and the creation of a military force loyal to the royal house.
• Kabriel proposed making the Rheinland Shield Persia’s principal currency, encouraging Persian investment in East Africa, establishing universities, and developing agriculture, mining, and industry.
• East Africa and Persia signed the East Persia Friendly Mutual Assistance Treaty two months later, while Britain did not intervene.

Malinkov met with Tomazhevka in Yekaterinoslav and assessed the Russian Labor Party’s underground organization and support among workers and soldiers. He decided that the movement could seize the city if it neutralized the puppet troops’ leadership and secured cooperation from border forces.

• Malinkov arrived in Yekaterinoslav, where Tomazhevka welcomed him and described years of underground work under the puppet government’s persecution.
• Tomazhevka reported that the organization had 132 members, an underground newspaper office, and sympathizers among the city’s workers and soldiers.
• Tomazhevka explained that more than 10,000 workers might support an uprising, but nearly 30,000 puppet troops and foreign military advisers made the army the main obstacle.
• Tomazhevka said the organization could influence about 3,000 military personnel and had won over three company commanders and one regimental commander.
• Malinkov proposed striking first to control the puppet troops’ leadership and key institutions, then coordinating with border troops to liberate Ukraine.

As Ukraine prepared for a possible war with Russia, Sicheslav Mayor Filatov ordered the Anti-Labor Group to suppress Labor Party activity while avoiding the military and influential businesses. Leonid imposed martial law and his policemen extorted tavern owner Opishnya, who resented both the government and the Labor Party and hoped they would destroy each other.

• Filatov reprimanded Leonid for entering a military camp and ordered him to focus on factories and railways instead of the army.
• Filatov warned that Ukraine might soon fight Russia and gave Leonid more authority and funds to prevent Labor Party activity in Sicheslav.
• Leonid imposed citywide martial law and directed his men to target public gatherings and poor people as suspicious.
• Jayka and another policeman accused the Opishnya Tavern of harboring Labor Party members, but Opishnya bribed Jayka to make them leave.
• Opishnya told Ilya that they had to endure government extortion and hoped the Ukrainian government and the Russian Labor Party would destroy each other.

Jayka and Sirodine profited from extorting merchants while avoiding anyone dangerous, as Malinkov prepared the Labor Party for an uprising in Sicheslav City. The plan depended on fighting breaking out at the border, so the conspirators tightened security and waited for the right moment.

• Jayka persuaded Sirodine to keep extorting merchants during martial law, and the cousins collected money until the streets emptied.
• Malinkov told the Labor Party members that the 47th Division was moving toward Donbas while their influence in the 37th Division had grown to nearly four thousand troops.
• Malinkov proposed seizing the armories and Police Department, disrupting the 37th Division, and raiding its headquarters to take control of Yekaterinoslav.
• Malinkov said the uprising should begin when Russia and the Ukrainian puppet army clashed at the border, and warned the group to keep the plan secret.
• The Sicheslav City Labor Party organization tightened its precautions and waited for the fighting to begin.

Marshal Doroshenko prepared Ukraine to defend the Donbas line while Vladimir decided Russia should reclaim Ukraine, Poland, and the Baltic region before they grew stronger. In mid-September 1921, Russia launched its offensive, leaving European powers scrambling over whether to intervene.

• Marshal Doroshenko urged Ukraine's generals to hold the Donbas defense line and rely on foreign military aid, while warning them not to trust the great powers completely.
• Vladimir argued that Russia needed to recover Ukraine for its food supplies, industry, and access to Crimea and the sea.
• At a Moscow military conference on August 21, 1921, Vladimir dismissed concerns about the strength of Ukrainian and Polish forces and claimed Russia's workers and supporters in occupied territories would ensure victory.
• Russia mobilized its people and war industries, then formally invaded Ukraine, Poland, and the three Baltic states in mid-September 1921.
• The Russian advance and ensuing border battles threw the international community into turmoil, particularly Germany and Austria-Hungary, which struggled to decide whether to send troops.

Russian and Ukrainian forces fought to a costly stalemate along the Donbas defense line, while Vladimir and Yosef debated Russia’s military needs and domestic policy. Behind Ukrainian lines, Malinkov prepared the Yekaterinoslav Uprising, expecting coordinated revolts to disrupt the government as the chapter ended on the eve of the operation.

• Ukrainian defenders used trenches, artillery, and Maxim machine guns to repel Red Army assaults, and both sides exchanged attacks through the first day of fighting.
• Russian commanders concluded that breaking the Donbas defense line would require more heavy artillery, but Russia’s defense industry was already stretched.
• Yosef warned Vladimir that the front was going poorly and urged greater focus on defense industry, while Vladimir defended the New Economic Policy and ordered the offensive to continue.
• Malinkov told his comrades that they would launch the Yekaterinoslav Uprising the next day and disrupt Ukrainian supply lines and rear operations.
• Malinkov expected Labor Party groups across Ukraine, possibly including Kyiv’s, to rise at the same time, but insisted his own group first had to secure Yekaterinoslav.