Chapter Summaries

East African soldiers stationed at Suárez discussed Bolivia’s underdevelopment as they cleared land to build their base. The chapter explained why East Africa planned to develop Suárez Port as a major city and economic center in Bolivia, leaving the soldiers to continue constructing the camp themselves.

• Li Jie and Nasir compared Santa Cruz Province’s untapped potential with East Africa’s development while working at Suárez Military Base.
• Li Jie and Nasir discussed how Bolivia’s small, divided population and weak education system hindered its growth.
• Momada ordered Li Jie and Nasir to clear a patch of grassland before dinner, then joined them in digging.
• The chapter explained that Suárez’s remote location forced East African soldiers to build their own camp without machinery or local labor.
• East Africa planned to develop Suárez Port because Bolivia depended on East Africa, while Brazil’s Corumbá Port remained outside East Africa’s control.

East African water conservancy experts Moka and Xilaide assessed the Paraná River’s potential and debated how to improve the channel between Suárez Port and Corumbá Port. They agreed to submit a report proposing that Bolivia fund manual dredging, leaving the project’s approval to the governments.

• Moka praised the Paraná River’s natural shipping and agricultural advantages while lamenting that the South American countries had not developed them.
• Moka proposed using large dredgers to deepen the channel between Suárez Port and Corumbá Port, which could allow ships of around five thousand tons to reach Suárez Port.
• Xilaide argued that dredgers were scarce and expensive, and proposed that Bolivia hire Brazilian and Paraguayan workers to dredge the channel manually.
• Xilaide explained that nearby populations and unemployed workers could make manual dredging affordable, while Bolivia might still be able to cover the cost despite its economic troubles.
• Moka accepted Xilaide’s proposal and said they would write a detailed report for the East African government to consider.

In 1932, Crown Prince Friedrich met with the Ministry of Railways to address losses across East Africa’s vast railway network. Will explained the causes and proposed cutting unprofitable routes, expanding electrification, and developing high-speed trains, leaving railway reforms under consideration.

• Friedrich called on the Ministry of Railways to devise a practical reform plan as the government faced heavy fiscal pressure.
• Will attributed railway losses to East Africa’s sparse population and competition from automobiles, while comparing the problems of American railways.
• Will explained that East Africa’s railway electrification rate had reached 33 percent, but some passenger routes still had to remain for public welfare, defense, and regional development.
• Friedrich asked the railway officials to reduce operating costs, and Will proposed withdrawing routes in resource-exhausted industrial areas.
• Will said the Ministry of Railways would accelerate electrification and research into high-speed trains.

Crown Prince Friedrich and Railways Minister Will discussed how East Africa could modernize its railway system amid competition from roads and waterways. Friedrich left the ministry with plans to optimize routes, coordinate transport networks, and accelerate electrification.

• Will argued that East Africa should preserve affordable passenger rail service while reviewing the costs of its dense railway network.
• Friedrich directed the Ministry of Railways to investigate and optimize routes and stations, and to coordinate with other departments on water transport.
• Friedrich linked railway electrification to East Africa’s expanding hydropower supply and set a target of 40 percent electrification during the Seventh Five-Year Plan.
• Friedrich called for electrified railways to exceed 50 percent by 1940 and for comprehensive electrification in the Central Economic Belt.
• Friedrich urged railway, road, and water transport departments to avoid duplicated investment, specialize by route, and build an integrated transportation network.

Ernst inspected Port of Pemba, where Commander Rembrandt described the base’s strategic role, defenses, and readiness as a key center of East Africa’s Indian Ocean fleet. The chapter ended with East Africa confident in its military strength despite foreign doubts about the army’s combat record.

• Ernst visited Port of Pemba and heard Commander Rembrandt explain how its bay and nearby bases controlled key Indian Ocean routes.
• Rembrandt outlined the roles of East Africa’s northern ports and explained why Pemba and Nacala had become the navy’s central bases.
• Ernst praised Pemba Bay’s integrated military facilities and urged the navy to protect the costly strategic system.
• Rembrandt described the base’s concealed defenses, operational airfield, and submarine patrols, and assured Ernst that the forces were prepared for war.
• The chapter contrasted foreign assessments of East Africa’s army with the army’s own belief that it ranked among the world’s top three.

Ernst conducted a strict inspection of the Port of Pemba naval base, checking its barracks, soldiers, facilities, equipment, and meals, and found the base met his standards. He then prepared to continue a surprise inspection of East Africa’s military, with Port of Nacala as his next destination.

• Ernst inspected the Port of Pemba barracks and praised Rembrandt for maintaining clean and orderly living quarters.
• Ernst watched the soldiers train and judged their fitness, appearance, and morale to be satisfactory.
• Ernst checked the toilets, warehouses, ammunition depots, and garages, finding the facilities and equipment properly maintained.
• Ernst ate lunch with Rembrandt and the soldiers, then concluded that the Port of Pemba base had performed well.
• Ernst planned to travel to Port of Nacala and continue his surprise inspection of military bases across East Africa.

Scheer led the Red Front Alliance in an attack on the Stormtroopers’ Neukölln headquarters, triggering a bloody battle that spread across Berlin. Adolf used the resulting chaos to declare war on the Labor Party, beginning the nationwide conflict later known as the Two-Party War.

• Scheer rallied the Red Front Alliance and ordered an attack on the Stormtroopers’ Neukölln stronghold.
• More than a thousand Red Front Alliance members attacked the headquarters, and the clash escalated into a gunfight after the Stormtroopers’ leader opened fire.
• Herbert kept the Neukölln police from intervening, and the fighting spread through the streets as thousands joined in.
• Berlin’s 24th Infantry Regiment arrived at four in the morning, ending the battle after hundreds were arrested and dozens killed.
• Adolf declared the Labor Party a terrorist group and ordered a manhunt, while the National Party and Stormtroopers launched a broader campaign against their opponents.
• Clashes and staged crimes spread across Germany, beginning the Two-Party War as the German government, police, and military stood aside.

Goebbels persuaded Adolf to halt the National Party’s campaign against the Labor Party so its continued threat would help the National Party win support from Germany’s ruling class and secure power in the coming election. Adolf agreed to preserve the Labor Party for now, leaving Germany temporarily calm as the election approached.

• Goebbels urged Adolf to stop the National Party from trying to eliminate the Labor Party before the election.
• Goebbels argued that Germany’s aristocracy and bourgeoisie controlled the state and would use the National Party against the Labor Party, then discard it once the threat was gone.
• Goebbels proposed letting the Labor Party remain powerful enough to frighten the ruling class while the National Party won over the public and sought to become Parliament’s largest party.
• Adolf accepted Goebbels’s strategy and agreed to spare the Labor Party until after the election.
• The National Party ordered the Stormtroopers to halt their offensive, though small clashes continued as the party maintained its appearance of usefulness to the ruling class.

East African Consul Crus criticized the Nanjing government for leaving Shen City and the Nineteenth Army poorly defended, then offered the army artillery and other weapons. He warned Commander Cai that Japan was likely to attack Shen City soon, leaving the Nineteenth Army to decide how to use the aid.

• Crus inspected the under-equipped Nineteenth Army in Shen City and told Commander Cai that the city’s defenses were inadequate.
• Crus condemned the Nanjing government for neglecting the army and surrendering the Northeast to Japan, and Commander Cai admitted that some government leaders were shortsighted.
• Crus offered the Nineteenth Army more than thirty obsolete seventy-five-millimeter infantry guns, ammunition, Maxim machine guns, and other supplies.
• Commander Cai worried that accepting the weapons might cause trouble with Nanjing, but Crus said East Africa would address the issue.
• Crus warned Commander Cai that East African intelligence indicated Japan would likely attack Shen City soon.

Commander Cai accepted East African military aid after Consul Crus shared intelligence about Japan's ambitions toward Shen City. At a military exercise, Ernst ordered the army to prepare for high-latitude warfare and proposed seeking a training ground in southern South America, leaving plans to approach Argentina and Chile.

• Consul Crus shared intelligence about Japan's ambitions toward Shen City, and Commander Cai accepted East African military aid.
• Ernst watched the Seventh Army Corps and Sixth Armored Division conduct an exercise and asked officers about the army's readiness for high-latitude warfare.
• Monte explained that East Africa lacked experience and convenient training grounds for frigid regions, while Ernst argued that a global power needed to prepare for combat across climates.
• Blaney suggested Alaska as a training ground, but Monte noted that Argentina and Chile controlled the southern tip of South America.
• Ernst proposed approaching Argentina and Chile to seek permission to train in southern South America and said East Africa could address their security concerns.

East African Ambassador Hugg negotiated with Chilean President Montero to lease land in Tierra del Fuego for high-latitude military training, offering safeguards and economic benefits to ease Chile’s security concerns. Montero remained cautious and had not yet agreed.

• Argentina rejected East Africa’s proposal, so the East African government turned to Chile for negotiations.
• Ambassador Hugg met President Montero in Santiago and reassured him that Chile’s economic crisis was not his personal fault.
• Hugg proposed leasing land in southern Chile for East African troops to train in high-latitude conditions, and Montero questioned the security risks.
• Hugg suggested unarmed troops, Chilean supervision, and inspections near the Strait of Magellan as safeguards.
• Hugg offered regional spending and favorable copper-export terms as economic incentives, but Montero had not accepted the proposal.

East African diplomat Luowen persuaded Zhang Yuanji to move some of Commercial Press and the Eastern Library’s cultural treasures into the Shanghai consulate before an expected Japanese attack. The Japanese invasion devastated both institutions, while the chapter ended with the Nanjing government’s limited resistance and the Nineteenth Army’s postwar purge.

• Ambassador Hugg warned President Montero that East Africa could pursue Alaska instead if Chile delayed its decision on the copper mines.
• Luowen told Zhang Yuanji that Japan might attack Shanghai and urged him to shelter the most important books and relics at the East African consulate.
• Zhang Yuanji agreed to move part of Commercial Press and the Eastern Library’s collections to the consulate, while placing other assets in foreign concessions.
• The Japanese fleet and marines began the Shanghai-Wusong Battle on January 28, 1932, and Japanese aircraft bombed Commercial Press’s main plant the next day.
• Japanese forces prevented firefighting and later set the Eastern Library alight, destroying much of its collection as East African consulate staff documented the fires.
• The Nanjing government delayed aid and favored limited resistance before a ceasefire in March, and it later purged the Nineteenth Army.

Ernst outlined a strategy to steer Japan toward the Nanyang region while East African researchers assessed soybean cultivation in Swabia Province. The chapter left Swabia pursuing a more diversified economy, with soybeans supporting agricultural growth alongside industry and hydropower.

• Ernst and Friedrich criticized the Nanjing government's response to Japan and discussed using limited aid and intelligence to encourage Japan to expand southward.
• Chai De and Abel measured Chai 29's yield at about 1.294 tons per hectare, and Chai De judged the result a promising improvement for East African soybeans.
• Chai De explained that East Africa's climate, soil, and pest conditions limited soybean yields, but said breeding and improved cultivation could eventually help the Empire surpass the Far East Empire.
• Chai De linked soybean cultivation to Swabia Province's efforts to raise its agricultural output and reduce dependence on copper mining.
• East Africa coordinated provincial crop production to prevent blind expansion, while Swabia focused on soybeans, processing, hydropower, and other locally suited industries.

In May 1932, Central Province’s cities met in Rhine City to divide aircraft-industry work and discuss the site of Imperial Central Airport. The cities agreed on a regional manufacturing base, while Kabwe proposed placing the airport between Kabwe, Rhine City, and New Frankfurt City.

• Meisai argued that Central Province should develop aviation through cooperation among its cities, with Rhine City leading research and aircraft design.
• Henry said New Frankfurt City could contribute engines, airframes, avionics, landing gear, and skilled workers.
• Kitwe City offered its expertise in metal processing, materials, precision instruments, and avionics, and Lusaka and Kabwe also sought production roles.
• The conference divided the aviation industry’s work among Central Province’s cities, with Rhine City and New Frankfurt City leading and Kitwe, Lusaka, and Kabwe receiving smaller shares.
• Kabwe’s mayor proposed building Imperial Central Airport and an aviation industrial zone roughly thirty kilometers from Kabwe, Rhine City, and New Frankfurt City.

Adolf became Germany’s chancellor and began planning to consolidate the National Party’s power and promote German-Austrian unification. The Austro-Hungarian Empire faced mounting pressure from five rival political forces, leaving Emperor Rudolf with little ability to prevent a crisis.

• East Africa’s government encouraged civil aviation while restraining unchecked growth to preserve balanced development across transport systems.
• After the German National Party won the largest share of parliamentary seats, Adolf ordered it to infiltrate the military, expand the Stormtroopers, and suppress rival parties.
• Adolf directed Goebbels to strengthen cooperation and propaganda with the Austrian National Party in support of German-Austrian unification.
• On August 4, Wilhelm II appointed Adolf chancellor, while Germany’s ruling bloc believed it could control him as a political puppet.
• Emperor Rudolf recognized that the Austro-Hungarian Empire had become a powder keg as the Habsburgs, Labor Party, nationalists, Austrian National Party, and radical bourgeois forces competed for power.

Artuzov planned to weaken and dismember the Austro-Hungarian Empire by fomenting worker and ethnic unrest in Bohemia while stirring up conflicts with neighboring countries. He resolved to coordinate with Soviet comrades abroad and focus on Italy and Poland, unaware that Germany's National Party intended to exploit a crisis to build a Greater German Empire.

• Artuzov judged Bohemia's industrial workers and Czech population better suited than Austria's middle class to spark unrest across the empire.
• Artuzov and Sergei agreed that the Soviet Union's goal was to weaken the Austro-Hungarian Empire rather than establish a unified workers' regime there.
• Sergei proposed exploiting the empire's disputes with Poland, Serbia, Italy, Romania, Bulgaria, and West Ukraine to intensify pressure from outside.
• Artuzov decided to contact comrades in neighboring countries and target Italy, using propaganda and Benito's ambitions to provoke conflict over East Lombardy and Venice.
• Artuzov also considered Poland's extremist nationalists useful against Germany and the empire, and called for simultaneous internal and external upheaval to overwhelm the House of Habsburg.
• The narration revealed that Germany's National Party secretly hoped to absorb Austria, Czech lands, and Hungary into a Greater German Empire by exploiting a Labour Party uprising.

Ernst and Friedrich reviewed the Soviet Union’s claims that it had completed the First Five-Year Plan ahead of schedule and discussed the scale and strategic significance of its industrial growth. The chapter left them viewing the Soviet Union as a likely future world power, with its stronger-than-historical results partly driven by expanded trade with the United States.

• Ernst examined Soviet reports and judged that their claims exaggerated achievements while reflecting genuine rapid industrial development.
• Ernst told Friedrich that centralized planning could mobilize resources effectively but would become less powerful as industrialization advanced and domestic markets saturated.
• Friedrich cited the Soviet Union’s growth in steel, energy, transport, machinery, aviation, and other industries, including the expansion of industrial regions far from its western borders.
• Ernst and Friedrich discussed how Soviet geography and dispersed industries would make the country difficult to defeat in war, though they considered conflict with East Africa unlikely unless the Soviet Union pursued world revolution.
• Ernst attributed the Soviet Union’s stronger First Five-Year Plan results in this timeline partly to greater American trade and imports of machinery.

Friedrich and Ernst discussed East Africa’s industrial dominance and the Soviet Union’s rapid industrial growth, driven largely by Western technology and its inherited industrial base. They concluded that the Soviet Union was becoming a major industrial and military power that other countries would have to reckon with.

• Ernst compared East Africa’s strength in automobiles and petroleum with America’s and described the competition over oil and industrial markets.
• Friedrich and Ernst discussed how Britain and France supported Soviet development to counter Germany, while American companies supplied the greatest share of technology and equipment.
• Ernst explained that Soviet industry had gained the foundations to continue developing independently and could rank among the world’s top industrial powers after its Second Five-Year Plan.
• Friedrich warned that the Soviet Union’s ability to mobilize its people and resources for industrial growth could also make its military potential formidable.
• Friedrich concluded that countries would need to prepare for the Soviet Union’s long-term rise, since only internal problems might stop it.

At the end of 1932, East Africa revised its policy in Persia after years of intrusive rule had stirred local opposition and obstructed its projects. Ambassador Wirtz announced a shift toward economic colonization and reduced military involvement while keeping the Soviet Union and the Labor Party in check.

• East African officials assessed the Soviet Union’s strength and noted that steel output, urbanization, and per-capita industry offered different measures of national power.
• East Africa’s government sent Ambassador Wirtz new instructions to protect its Persian interests through economic cooperation rather than deep involvement in local politics.
• Wirtz described how East Africa’s railway plans and control of resources had alienated Persian ethnic and local forces and hampered development.
• Wirtz said East Africa would loosen its hold on mining, buy resources from Persian developers, and rely on trade, technology, and equipment sales.
• Wirtz stated that East Africa would reduce its northern garrison and expect the Persian Kingdom Government to strengthen its own military and public welfare against Soviet influence.

East African designer Moyor attended the completion ceremony for Dizful’s railway bridge and warned Persian mayor Ferdowsi that sabotage along the Persian Gulf-Caspian Sea Railway threatened its progress. The chapter left Persia responsible for securing the route as East Africa focused on protecting its economic interests rather than becoming Persia’s military protector.

• Moyor presented the Dizful Railway Bridge, a double-deck structure beside the ancient bridge, as a new link for the city’s transport network and economy.
• Ferdowsi praised the bridge as a sign of Persian-East African friendship and said it would help modernize Persia and connect Dizful to roads, railways, and water transport.
• Moyor told Ferdowsi that saboteurs had attacked a railway construction site north of Dizful and warned that continued insecurity could delay construction and hinder future operations.
• Ferdowsi blamed likely Bakhtiari saboteurs and suspected that the Soviet Union or Britain had encouraged them to obstruct the railway.
• Moyor said identifying the instigator mattered less than preventing further attacks, and stressed that Persia would be responsible for railway security and maintenance once construction ended.
• East Africa continued shifting toward a less interventionist relationship with Persia, prioritizing economic gains and avoiding the costs of acting as its military protector.