Chapter Summaries

Afghan leaders weighed the dangers of East Africa and the Soviet Union while deciding to use the Central Asia Highway to test East Africa’s intentions. At Gwadar Port, East African officers discussed the highway’s prospects as a trade route and strategic lifeline to the Far East Empire.

• King Shah, Mahmoud, and Prime Minister Hashim discussed Afghanistan’s need to balance the Soviet Union against East Africa and agreed to judge East Africa through the Central Asia Highway.
• On September 13, 1937, Colonel Montre and Lieutenant Colonel Tanal discussed how the highway could connect Gwadar Port with Afghanistan and Soviet Central Asia, bringing trade and prosperity to the port.
• Montre argued that Soviet investment and the highway’s links to several countries would give the project long-term potential, despite Soviet restrictions and tensions in Central Asia.
• East African engineering companies brought workers and equipment ashore at Gwadar to build a basic road capable of carrying large vehicles toward the Far East Empire.
• Montre and Tanal considered the highway safer and easier to maintain than routes through mountainous Burma, and the chapter described it as a potential military supply lifeline beyond Japan’s reach.

Crown Prince Friedrich and Ernst assessed Japan’s industrial strength and rapid gains in the Far East Empire, then considered how the war and Germany’s growing power could shape Japan’s next moves. They left the discussion focused on building the Central Asia Highway and on the coming struggle to reshape the international order.

• Crown Prince Friedrich reported that Japan produced about six million tons of steel, far more than the Far East Empire, whose industry had been crippled by lost territories, weak policy, and limited resources.
• Crown Prince Friedrich warned that Japan’s capture of Shen City and northern regions threatened the Far East Empire’s remaining steel production and could soon leave everything north of the Yellow River under Japanese control.
• Ernst said the Far East Empire’s people would develop stronger national consciousness as they experienced Japan’s invasion and urged East Africa to accelerate construction of the Central Asia Highway to deliver supplies.
• Ernst and Crown Prince Friedrich discussed how Japan’s possible move south depended on Germany’s actions in Europe and on whether Japan would gamble against East Africa and the United States.
• Crown Prince Friedrich estimated that Germany’s steel output could approach or exceed thirty million tons, while Ernst’s East Africa was expected to produce more than eighty million tons, and they concluded that a new international order would require countries to be pushed out of power.

Ernst and Crown Prince Friedrich discussed East Africa’s domestic steel market and the growing military strength of Germany and the Soviet Union. Germany’s rapid expansion and its looming conflict with the Soviet Union left the outcome of a future clash uncertain, especially in the air.

• Crown Prince Friedrich explained that East Africa’s huge domestic market, rather than steel exports, sustained its steel industry.
• Ernst and Crown Prince Friedrich discussed how global overproduction and Germany’s military buildup were driving Europe toward war.
• Crown Prince Friedrich reported that Germany had expanded its armed forces to more than four million troops, surpassing the Soviet Union’s numbers.
• Ernst and Crown Prince Friedrich compared Germany’s mechanized army and resource constraints with East Africa’s industrial and energy advantages.
• Crown Prince Friedrich described the Soviet Union’s larger air force, while Ernst judged that an air war between Germany and the Soviet Union would be uncertain and their armies’ abilities difficult to assess.

Ernst and Crown Prince Friedrich assessed the military strengths of Germany and the Soviet Union, while officials in Tete Province discussed the scale, delays, and future benefits of the Cahora Bassa Hydroelectric Power Station. The station remained under construction and was not expected to be completed until 1939, with the Zambezi River’s full development still far off.

• Ernst argued that Germany and the Soviet Union both had formidable armies, and that the Soviet generals could challenge Germany if they avoided serious mistakes.
• Crown Prince Friedrich warned that the military strength of the world’s industrial powers made it difficult for the Empire to seize its desired gains.
• Senior Official Cristiano and Director Wasser surveyed the Cahora Bassa construction site and discussed its expected completion in 1939 and the safety demands imposed by nearby Tete City.
• Wasser explained that filling the reservoir and coordinating further Zambezi River projects would delay the station’s full economic and shipping benefits for years.
• Cristiano and Wasser criticized the Far East Empire’s wartime instability and questioned its ability to undertake projects on the scale of Cahora Bassa.

Director Wasser and Cristiano discussed how the Cahora Bassa project could ease East Africa’s water and transport constraints and support Tete City and Xindai city. In 1938, as Madrid endured a worsening siege, Soviet officer Taslov announced Moscow’s order to withdraw personnel from Spain, and the dissenting officers accepted it.

• Director Wasser explained that the Cahora Bassa project would improve East Africa’s water use and could help the lower Zambezi region grow into a major urban center.
• Cristiano agreed that Tete City and Xindai city would likely form a dual-core urban cluster despite their distance from Eurasia’s main trade routes.
• Antonio despaired over the siege of Madrid and the deaths of his companions, but Martin urged him to keep fighting, and Antonio refused to retreat.
• Taslov told a secret meeting in Madrid that Moscow had ordered Soviet personnel to withdraw from Spain because the Republican cause was failing and Germany threatened the Soviet Union.
• Trotsky and Taslov argued that withdrawal would preserve their forces for a future struggle against Germany, and the protesting officers reluctantly accepted the order.

Franco and Luis Carrero Blanco discussed how to govern Spain after the Nationalists won the civil war, including rebuilding the economy, controlling rival military factions, and limiting foreign influence. They agreed Spain should avoid another European war and strengthen ties with the United States and East Africa, especially East Africa.

• Blanco told Franco that Soviet withdrawal from Spain made Nationalist victory and the recovery of Madrid only a matter of time.
• Blanco warned Franco that Spain faced economic ruin, wartime debts, and deep divisions among the Nationalist forces after the war.
• Franco outlined plans to control the military through a General Staff, personal approval of senior appointments, loyal Army of Africa officers, and an independent intelligence agency.
• Blanco urged Franco to balance the Falange, Carlists, and other factions while using the Falange against the Labor Party and winning over senior officers.
• Franco and Blanco agreed to reduce German and Italian influence over time while maintaining relations useful for Spain's reconstruction.
• Blanco argued that Spain should stay out of a future European war and build ties with Britain, France, the United States, and East Africa; Franco agreed to deepen cooperation with East Africa.

Franco planned to secure East African loans and investment while preserving ties with other powers. Yugoslav President Koshutich resolved to resist German and Italian pressure, pursue support from France and the Soviet Union, and settle territorial and transport issues with the Kingdom of Dalmatia.

• Franco and Blanco argued that Spain should deepen economic ties with East Africa to obtain postwar aid and avoid excessive dependence on Germany and Italy.
• Foreign Minister Macek warned President Koshutich that expelling the Ustaše had angered Germany and Italy, while Koshutich insisted the organization threatened Yugoslav unity.
• Koshutich rejected submission to German and Italian threats and decided Yugoslavia should prepare for war by seeking French and Soviet support.
• Koshutich proposed a military alliance with France and a secret agreement with the Soviet Union to secure military and economic assistance.
• Koshutich called for Yugoslavia to settle its border with the Kingdom of Dalmatia and secure restored railways through former Dalmatia and Bosnia.
• Koshutich identified Bosnia and Serbia as strategic defensive regions because Zagreb lay close to the German border.

Yugoslav Ambassador Taherovich and Minister Modrov discussed the government’s order to improve relations with the Kingdom of Dalmatia, despite Taherovich’s desire to reclaim its territory. They traveled to meet King Karl I, leaving Yugoslavia focused on gaining time to rearm and develop amid German power.

• Taherovich lamented that improving relations with Dalmatia meant abandoning Yugoslavia’s hopes of recovering the disputed homeland, while Modrov argued that national security had to come first.
• Modrov warned that Germany and its allies would block any Yugoslav attempt to seize Dalmatia, and Taherovich agreed that Yugoslavia needed time to arm itself and avoid being absorbed by Germany.
• Taherovich and Modrov decided to carry out their government’s instructions and arrange a meeting with King Karl I.
• Taherovich and Modrov drove through Split in an East African car and observed Dalmatia’s economic growth, supported by East Africa and Germany.
• Taherovich and Modrov discussed how French and Soviet aid might help Yugoslavia develop, while Taherovich complained that Dalmatia’s population had grown at Yugoslavia’s expense.

Yugoslav officials discussed Split’s rapid development and Dalmatia’s advantages through its ties to German-speaking powers, while worrying about German influence and the threat it posed. At the Split Royal Palace, Yugoslavia offered to restore border and railway links, and the two countries formalized an agreement in the Treaty of Friendship and Mutual Assistance.

• Minister Modrov and Ambassador Taherovich observed Split’s growth and discussed how Dalmatia’s German-language ties helped its economic and technological development.
• Modrov and Taherovich warned that Germany’s assimilation policies and growing influence made Yugoslavia wary of a possible German threat.
• King Karl I and Prime Minister Yulitean awaited Taherovich at the Split Royal Palace, expecting another hostile exchange.
• Taherovich presented President Koshutich’s letter and proposed reopening the border and railway connections while Yugoslavia reduced troops along the frontier.
• Karl I, Yulitean, and Taherovich agreed to formalize their rapprochement in the Treaty of Friendship and Mutual Assistance Between the Kingdom of Dalmatia and the Republic of Yugoslavia.

France debated whether to support Yugoslavia, with Blum approving indirect economic aid despite fears of provoking Germany. The Soviet Union offered direct military and industrial assistance, and the two countries began supporting Yugoslavia through different channels, leaving it better equipped to develop both civilian and military industry.

• Blum discussed France’s declining position and Yugoslavia’s request for support with his ministers in Paris.
• Boncour argued that France should fully support Yugoslavia as a way to resist Germany, while other officials warned that doing so could provoke Germany.
• Blum approved support for Yugoslavia through industry and commerce, avoiding military aid and weapons exports.
• Yosef received Yugoslavia’s envoy in Moscow and promised weapons, military-industry assistance, and support for civilian industries.
• France and the Soviet Union began providing Yugoslavia with complementary economic and military aid, using East Africa to disguise their involvement.

Mostar City sought to revive its economy after Dalmatia restored trade with Yugoslavia, using reopened rail links to rebuild its role as a Balkan transport and industrial center. Mayor Hanweis called for support for wool textiles and meat processing, leaving the city ready to resume exports to East Africa, Germany, and other markets.

• Trade resumed between Dalmatia and Yugoslavia, sending wool, timber, and grain through Mostar Railway and Port of Ploče.
• Mayor Hanweis convened Mostar officials and businesses and urged them to restore the city’s inland trade and economic importance.
• When an official questioned whether Yugoslavia might close the border again, Hanweis argued that Mostar needed access to inland markets to grow.
• Hanweis warned that Dubrovnik City could compete with Mostar if the Dubrovnik Railway was completed, and called for immediate action.
• Hanweis announced that the city would seek support for its wool textile mills and meat processing plants.
• Hanweis said renewed trade with Yugoslavia would let Mostar restore wool and pork exports to East Africa, Germany, and other markets.

Mostar City planned to revive meat exports to East Africa by restoring trade routes and taking advantage of the North African Railway, while trade with Yugoslavia surged after both countries reconciled. In Yugoslavia’s Dinaric Alps, Soviet engineers helped build the Southern Fortress Complex as preparation for a possible German invasion.

• Mayor Hanweis explained that the North African Railway shortened trade with East Africa and urged Mostar City to restore its traditional shipping route and develop new railway-centered routes.
• The Kingdom of Dalmatia and Yugoslavia reopened their economies, and trade between them rose rapidly as Yugoslavia relied more on Dalmatian ports and commerce.
• Soviet engineer Korchev explained to Yugoslav officer Rovca how a concealed bunker fit into the Southern Fortress Complex’s mountain defenses.
• Rovca described Yugoslavia’s shortages of materials, machinery, and transport infrastructure, which slowed construction of the fortress complex.
• Korchev said the complex would support a prolonged war and retain secret routes for outside aid, then warned that Yugoslavia could not ignore Germany’s expansionist ambitions.

In April 1938, Franco took control of Spain and received diplomats at the Madrid Royal Palace. He agreed to deepen cooperation with Germany and Italy, leaving the European Axis poised to consolidate its alliance.

• Rovca told Korchev that Yugoslavia would rely on its own strength to defend its independence, and Korchev praised his resolve.
• Franco reviewed Nationalist troops in Madrid and declared that peace had arrived as Spain welcomed its new ruler.
• Franco moved into the Madrid Royal Palace and learned that representatives from Germany, Italy, East Africa, and several other countries had arrived.
• Franco received German Ambassador Stohrer and other diplomats, then met privately with Stohrer and Count Ciano.
• Stohrer and Ciano urged trilateral cooperation, and Franco pledged that Spain would do everything in its power to cooperate with Germany and Italy.

Franco privately resolved to use Spain’s war damage to delay deeper commitments to Germany and Italy. During a massive East African joint exercise in the Mozambique Channel, Admiral Kabriel told Lieutenant General Bartel that the Indian Ocean Fleet needed to prepare for responsibilities extending into the Pacific, especially a possible conflict with Japan.

• After the German and Italian guests departed, Franco and Sunyer agreed Spain would rely on its ruined economy to avoid becoming deeply involved in another war while still seeking their support.
• Admiral Kabriel and Lieutenant General Bartel observed an East African exercise involving more than 300,000 personnel and drills for island seizures and amphibious landings.
• Kabriel warned that the Indian Ocean Fleet must prepare for large-scale warfare and coordinate with the army and air force, despite Bartel’s confidence in the fleet’s regional security.
• When Bartel asked whether the Empire had chosen a target, Kabriel said the fleet should study Japan and the North Pacific and take on responsibilities previously assigned to the underfunded Pacific Fleet.
• Bartel inferred that Japan was the likely threat to East African interests in the Pacific, and Kabriel told him to keep the matter confidential.

In Jinyang, Umezu Yoshijiro learned that Far East Empire resistance forces had improved despite Japan occupying or destroying much of the country’s industry. After ruling out Soviet support, he and the Head of Jinyang Special Agency suspected East Africa, but the chapter ended before they confirmed how it was helping.

• The Head of Jinyang Special Agency presented Umezu Yoshijiro with a report on unexpected improvements in the Far East Empire’s resistance forces.
• The Head of Jinyang Special Agency explained that Japan had seized or destroyed most of the Far East Empire’s industrial base, yet the resistance forces’ supplies and equipment had not declined.
• The Head of Jinyang Special Agency reported that investigations found little evidence of Soviet support, and Umezu Yoshijiro agreed that the Soviet Union was unlikely to risk conflict with Japan while facing Germany.
• Umezu Yoshijiro and the Head of Jinyang Special Agency concluded that East Africa was the likeliest hidden source of large-scale support for the Far East Empire.

Umezu Yoshijiro learned that East Africa had invested in small industries across the Far East Empire’s northwest and ordered the Jinyang Special Agency to investigate the support and its supply routes. The agency’s head faced an expanded workload as Japanese intelligence struggled to penetrate the region.

• Umezu Yoshijiro argued that Britain was avoiding conflict with Japan because it was focused on Europe and wanted to preserve its remaining interests in Asia.
• The Head of Jinyang Special Agency reported that East African enterprises operated in places including Xi'an, Baoji, Tianshui, Yulin, and Shenmu, supporting the Far East Empire’s anti-Japanese forces.
• The Head of Jinyang Special Agency explained that wartime conditions, difficult terrain, and limited access made it hard to identify East African factories and mines precisely.
• Umezu Yoshijiro demanded concrete information on East Africa’s investments, their output, and how supplies reached the Far East Empire.
• Umezu Yoshijiro ordered the Jinyang Special Agency to investigate northwest cities, county towns, and transport infrastructure, including railways, highways, and airfields.

On July 11, 1938, the East African Ministry of Defense opened a recruitment office in Anchorage, where Treide tried to persuade Wang Ze to join the Imperial Defense Force. Wang Ze took a flyer to discuss with his family, leaving his decision unresolved.

• Treide handed Wang Ze a recruitment flyer advertising a monthly salary of two hundred Rheinland Shields and additional benefits.
• Wang Ze questioned the low pay and compared East African uniforms with German uniforms as Treide argued that East African uniforms were more practical.
• Treide clarified that the office was recruiting for the Imperial Defense Force, not the Alaska Defense Force, and described its stricter standards and stronger benefits.
• Wang Ze expressed some interest in joining but took the flyer home to discuss the decision with his family.

Tucker and Treide discussed the difficulty of recruiting in Alaska and debated why East Africa wanted colonial recruits despite its large mainland population. Ernst explained to Crown Prince Friedrich that he planned to organize Pacific colonial recruits into a regional Foreign Legion, partly to prepare for a future counterattack against Japan after sacrificing those colonies to draw Japan south.

• Tucker complained that Alaska had produced only a little over two hundred recruitment applications, and Treide said the local Defense Force made recruiting harder.
• Tucker and Treide discussed the Alaska Defense Force’s limited combat effectiveness, East Africa’s military strength, and the possible need for colonial soldiers with greater resilience.
• Ernst told Crown Prince Friedrich that East Africa would form its own Foreign Legion from colonial recruits, organized by region where possible.
• Ernst explained that Japan might occupy East Africa’s Pacific colonies under his plan to lure it south, and Friedrich condemned the Japanese Army’s atrocities in the Far East Empire.
• Ernst said the recruits would preserve the colonies’ desire for vengeance and become a weapon in East Africa’s counterattack, while the Empire tried to reduce losses by withdrawing its forces from the Pacific.

Ernst and Crown Prince Friedrich discussed Japan’s dwindling resources and concluded that Japan would eventually attack Nanyang to sustain its war. They planned to hasten that outcome while keeping Japan and Germany from dominating the Far East and Europe, respectively.

• Crown Prince Friedrich explained that Japan’s war spending, depleted foreign exchange reserves, and dependence on American imports had left its economy trapped in a vicious cycle.
• Ernst argued that Japan would eventually invade Nanyang for energy and strategic materials, and proposed increasing East Africa’s support for the Far East Empire to drain Japan further.
• Crown Prince Friedrich and Ernst discussed how Germany backed Japan’s army and its northward strategy, while Germany and Britain tried to influence Japanese policy for their own interests.
• Ernst noted that Germany and Japan could remain allies against their common rivals even after defeating the Soviet Union, since East Africa and the United States would still oppose them.
• Ernst said East Africa should bring Nanyang and Oceania into its sphere of influence and prevent any single power from uniting Europe or monopolizing the Black Sea.

In September 1938, Tefu Textile Factory in Nairobi produced large orders of basic winter clothing for the Far East Empire, whose war with Japan had cut off most of its cotton-growing regions. East Africa rushed the garments through the Northwest Air Route to help anti-Japanese forces survive the coming winter, though air transport limited how much aid could reach them.

• Kahel and York discussed how Nairobi’s textile industry had received unusually large orders for simple cotton-padded garments, which they suspected were intended for overseas markets.
• Kahel and York traced the orders to the Mombasa Foreign Trade Company and correctly guessed that the Far East Empire was the destination.
• The chapter explained that Japan’s occupation and disruption of the Far East Empire’s main cotton regions had left it with only a small fraction of its cotton supply.
• East Africa produced finished winter clothing and airlifted it to the Far East Empire, prioritizing basic warmth and fast production over comfort and appearance.
• East Africa’s aid remained far below the Far East Empire’s needs because aircraft had limited capacity and the Central Asia Highway was not yet ready.