Timeline Part 1 Timeline Part 3
Pius XII becomes the new Pope after the death of Pius XI. He later favours the fascist government of Italy.
Italy occupies Albania.
A Christian group calling themselves Revelationists gain followers in the USA, and to a lesser extent in Europe. They claim that these are the Last Days and soon God will be coming to end this wicked world. "Abandon worldly things and pray to God to cleanse your souls for the coming Judgement." Similar religions occur in the USSR (underground) and the Far East.
Religious and political unrest occurs across the USSR and the Red Army is thinly stretched to contain it. Many areas, especially in the east, are placed under martial law.
Nylon stockings go on sale for the first time.
Large numbers of German Jews attempt to emigrate. Many of them find they cannot.
1st January
Germany and Italy ally themselves in the 'Pact of Steel'.
Two Chinese superhumans escape from a Manchukuo prison and claim that the Japanese Units 731 and 100 are conducting biological warfare and medical experiments on prisoners at several locations.
24th January
An earthquake near Chillan in Chile kills 30000 and devastates 50000 square miles.
1st February
FDR is shot and killed by an unknown sniper while leaving the US Senate building. His vice-president, John N. Garner, takes over power, but says he will not run at the next election.
15th March
Germany occupies Bohemia and Moravia, unopposed.
A native uprising in Nigeria, led by a superhuman, causes the deaths of tens of Britons and thousands of natives, generally from tribal enemies of the rebels. The superhuman leader is captured and executed.
March
The Fascists in Spain join the Anti-Comintern Pact and the Axis.
23th March
Lithuania surrenders the Memel territory to Germany.
26th March
Poland refuses to cede the Danzig corridor to Germany.
4th April
The King of Iraq dies in a car crash. The British consul is killed by rioters who think the British arranged the accident. The superhumans who led the 1937 uprising reappears, and attempts to take control of the country again. Again, British forces drive him back, but at a high cost in lives on both sides.
31st May
Britain and France guarantee the integrity of Poland.
30th June
The Spanish civil war ends as Madrid falls to Franco's troops. 550000 people have died in the fighting; 250000 have died of starvation. Many of the lessons learned here are later used by the Germans.
An American superhuman with healing powers, who has made himself rich by their use, and developed an almost religious following, is accidentally killed by a New York mob demanding he helps the poor and not just the rich.
20th August
The German-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact is signed.
27th August
The first flight of a jet-propelled aircraft, the Heinkel He-178, occurs in Germany.
1st September
German troops invade Poland.
The US Congress passes a Bill requiring superhumans to register with the government. Although opposed on constitutional grounds under the right to bear arms it is narrowly passed when it is pointed out that superpowers have much more in common with concealed weapons. The Bill causes some superhumans to register, but many more do not.
3rd September
Britain and France declare war on Germany.
A British expeditionary force of over 100000 men is sent to France; more men would have been sent if not for the problems being suffered in the colonies.
5th September
The USA declares its neutrality. Despite this, in the following months a number of US pilots travel to the UK to fight for the RAF in what are known as the Eagle Squadrons.
7th September
Spain declares its neutrality, despite being a member of the Axis.
8th September
Portugal declares its neutrality.
17th September
The USSR invades Poland. Lindbergh speaks on US radio, claiming Stalin to be as much of a threat as Hitler.
21st September
The Romanian Premier is killed by the pro-Fascist Iron Guard.
Several superhumans appear in Poland, on both the Polish and invading sides. Verhangnislanz appears on the German side, and kills one of the Polish superhumans. Another is captured by the German Army. The fate of the remainder is unknown.
27th September
Warsaw falls to the Germans.
28th September
Poland ceases to exist as it is partitioned between the USSR and Germany. In the German area schools and universities are closed, intellectuals murdered and forced labour introduced.
7th October
Hitler's peace offer (recognising the status quo) is rejected by Britain and France.
8th November
Hitler is assassinated at a rally in Nuremberg, apparently by fanatical Zionists with links to the British intelligence services and most major European Jewish groups. When this is made public, anti-Jewish riots occur all over Germany, making kristalnacht look tame by comparison. Thousands of Jews die, and over 100000 are deported to concentration camps. Hermann Goering becomes the new Fuhrer. He vows that he will not rest until Britain has been brought to book for its crime against the Fatherland.
30th November
The USSR attacks Finland after Finland rejects the USSR's demands to be granted military bases in the country. The Finns resist, and because of the Soviets internal troubles, are able to force them back.
13th December
At the River Plate in South America British Navy ships drive the German pocket battleship Graf Spee into Montevideo harbour after she sinks the British cruiser Exeter.
15th December
Verhangnislanz arrives in Montevideo and consults with the officers of the Graf Spee. He then proceeds to sink the two remaining British ships, though allowing the crews time to escape. The Graf Spee steams for Germany.
27th December
Earthquakes in northern Turkey kill 100000 people.
Women and children are evacuated from London and other major cities for the first time. They gradually drift back as it becomes apparent that cities are not being bombed.
The captured Polish superhuman appears, working with the Nazis in the control of the country.
In the USA, the America First party merges with the Republicans.
The IRA terrorist group declare war on the UK.
A military transport plane leaves San Diego for Hawaii. Three hours later distress calls are received, and the plane limps back to San Diego. Its fuselage is damaged and holed from exterior blasts and 12 of the 13 men on board are dead from terrible wounds. The co-pilot who lands the plane dies minutes later. All the crew members had fired a large number of rounds at something. Technicians who touch the plane suffer skin infections. The cause of this incident remains a mystery.
Uprisings and violence occur in most colonies around the world and continue to the present day. Millions die, mainly natives, but also large numbers of colonials. South Africa is especially affected; at times the white government holds onto power only by the narrowest margin. Warlords and religious leaders, some of them superhumans, cause problems too.
Race riots occur all over the southern USA, in New Orleans, Mobile, Atlanta, Memphis, Savannah, Jackson, Knoxville, Birmingham, St Louis, Houston, Richmond, Washington DC, Montgomory and others. The US army is called out in many cases, and many, both white and black, die. The Black Flame also appears at many of these riots.
This winter is the coldest in Europe for 45 years.
Norway and Denmark invaded.
February
The new incarnation of the Dali Lama of Tibet is enthroned.
Goebbels proclaims 'total war'; Speer is put in charge of the war economy, which is to included the industrial potential of the occupied countries. Foreign workers are 'recruited' in the millions to run German industry, replacing German workers recruited into the armed forces. Initially volunteers, these soon become slave labour shipped in by force and concentration camp inmates. Reports of the terrible conditions these workers endure are suppressed by the Nazis.
March
Red Army troops massacre more than 4000 Polish officers in the Katyn Forest, near Smolensk.
9th April
Denmark is occupied by the Nazis without resistance, to secure the transport of iron ore from Sweden and Broaden Germanys base of naval operations.
11st April
Norway is invaded by Germany. A military ruler is installed, supported by Norwegian fascists.
5th May
The Norwegian Royal Family and government flee to London, forming a government in exile.
10th May
Belgium and Holland invaded. Holland surrenders on 15/5, its Royal Family and government fleeing to London. Holland's only known superhuman, a young man who can fly, goes to the front to fight the Nazis, but flees without engaging them. When Belgium surrenders (27/5), its forces in the Belgian Congo lose support. As they run out of supplies they are overrun and slaughtered by the native rebels. The Belgian king is interned.
11st May
Neville Chamberlain resigns as British Prime Minister. He is replaced by Edward Halifax. Halifax vows that the UK will not surrender.
14th May
Rotterdam destroyed by air raids. This is the first time the German He-274 strategic bomber sees action.
1st June
As it becomes obvious they are losing, allied troops flee Norway by sea, the last of them leaving on 5/6. Thousands of refugees try to follow.
4th June
An armoured woman on a flying winged horse appears at a battle near Stavanger. She attacks German military aircraft attacking the area, destroying more than ten and forcing the rest to flee. In the land battle she attacks the Nazis, killing two of their most able troops and reportedly carrying off their bodies.
7th June
Norway surrenders to the Nazis.
German troops invade France. Most of them pass through Holland and Belgium, but some invade through the Maginot line, portions of which are neutralised by German superhumans, Verhangnislanz in particular. A French superhuman is captured by the Nazis during this time.
9th June
Italy enters the war.
France falls. The same armoured woman seen in Norway appears in France during the fighting. She destroys many aircraft and kills a number of troops on both sides, apparently very selectively, and a number who try to stop her doing this. When questioned she claims to be a valkyrie named Hrist and to be rewarding those she selects by sending them to Valhalla. The superhuman who becomes known as Ubermensch manifests his powers during the fighting. Two British superhumans, Britannia and British Lion, are present at the Dunkirk evacuation, to guard it. Another superhuman appears on the British side during the evacuation. Despite the presence of the British superhumans, Verhangnislanz and Ubermensch use hit and run tactics to hinder the evacuation while the shapeshifter known as Loki sows confusion among the departing troops. Many aircraft from both sides are downed by the superhumans, and large numbers of civilian vessels are sunk, along with several warships. The evacuation is delayed sufficiently that only about 45000 troops escape. Nearly 280000 troops are captured.
From now on Hrist, the valkyrie, is seen in various battles around the world, though she is not at all consistent about the sides she chooses.
The French government is forced to sign the surrender documents in the same railway carriage, in the same place, as that used when Germany surrendered in 1918.
Goering is driven through Paris in triumph.
Two French superhumans are captured by the Nazis.
10th June
Italy declares war on France.
15th June
The US refuses French appeals for aid.
18th June
A Free French government set up in London, led by Charles de Gaulle. It helps to co-ordinate information and resistance against the Nazis.
22nd June
France is partitioned into occupied and unoccupied (Vichy France) zones. All French military forces surrender. Many French naval units flee to the UK or its colonies. Two French superhumans, captured earlier, begin to collaborate with the Germans and the Vichy government.
The USSR invades Romania, taking the territory of Bessarabia. The two superhumans involved in the invasion of Poland assist.
1st July
Nazi forces, including Verhangnislanz, take control of a number of French warships at Oran, preventing the British from sinking them.
As more people are deported to concentration camps, occasional superhumans appear, usually breaking out of the camp or prisoner convoy and escaping, usually with other prisoners. Only rarely are they stopped. Convoys and camps soon become well defended, to neutralise any superhumans who manifest their powers in them.
The Battle of Britain begins.
An uprising in India occurs, led by a superhuman. Because of the home situation it takes a long time for the revolt to be out down, and thousands of Indians die.
RAF destroyed. Fights between superhumans over UK radar stations. UK industrial sites, ports, transport nexi (roads, railways etc.), airfields and naval bases destroyed.
UK blockaded. Sufficient forces remain in position to prevent the UK rebuilding its defence capabilities, but the other Axis forces are re-deployed.
British forces from all over the world are called back to the UK, leaving foreign holdings dangerously weakened. Many of the returning troops die when their troopships are destroyed by the Nazi blockade.
The SS announces the creation of Spezial Gruppe Omega (SG-Omega), a group of superhumans under the auspices of the SS, to counter terrorism in the Reich, especially that performed by 'criminal superhumans'. Parallel to this, the SS announces a program to investigate the factors which lead to the creation of superhumans, based at the Auschwitz concentration camp.
The SS announces the formation of the Black Angel brigades, elite units formed of seasoned veterans, under the leadership of Otto Skorzeny. As time passes it becomes obvious that these units are formed of the cruellest and maddest of the SS.
Shortly after this the German army announce the creation of a similar group, Einzig Macht (E-Macht, Force Unique), for undercover and commando duties.
The Japanese begin to develop a proper strategic bomber for use against Soviet and Pacific targets.
The Jewish Haganah organisation forms a full-time military force, the Palmach.
Lindbergh, standing for the Republicans, is elected President of the USA on an isolationist platform. "While we have such problems at home we cannot, in all conscience, involve ourselves in the affairs of other nations." He promises to bring order back to the USA. His being a Germanophile helps out in future relations with Germany. He tries to recruit a superteam similar to SG-Omega, and succeeds in recruiting several, some driven by loyalty to the US, some by money, some by the promise of pardons. For a while the team exists. However, disagreements between the members, and a disastrous battle against the Black Flame, prove the end of the team in 1943.
Joseph Kennedy is appointed US Ambassador to Germany after being removed as ambassador to the UK after a number of un-diplomatic comments.
After Japanese attacks on their capital city, Yenan, the Chinese government is forced further west into China. Chiang Kai-shek dies in the fighting.
2nd November
U-boats sink a British ship carrying refugee children to Canada.
7th November
The Night and Fog decree (Nacht und Nebel Erlass) is introduced to suppress anti-Nazi activity in Europe. Suspects are rounded up by the Gestapo in the middle of the night and taken to secret locations. Most are never seen again.
Famine occurs in the Bombay area of India.
20th November
Hungary allies with Germany.
23th November
Romania allies with Germany.
November
The group of German superhumans known as E-Macht sneaks onto Malta and by guerrilla action cause havoc among the British defenders.
Several areas in Manchukuo claimed to be experimental labs for the Japanese Units 731 and 100 are attacked by Chinese guerrillas and superhumans. One is destroyed, but at others the attacks fail. One superhuman is killed and another captured. The Japanese carry out massive reprisals.
Several areas of western China and Mongolia come under the control of superhuman warlords.
As the un-reinforced British forces there weaken, the Italian Army is able to push them back into Egypt by March 1941.
The Axis created.
Germany starts to recruit troops from supporters in the nations it has occupied.
The 'Family Hostage Law' introduced in France. If an accused terrorist doesn't surrender within ten days of his act, all adult male relatives will be executed, all adult female relatives sent to labour camps, and all children sent to Nazi reform schools. If the perpetrators are unknown, reprisals are to be carried out at random. This law is eventually extended to all the Nazi-conquered territories.
The UK begins to starve. Severe rationing is introduced. Ships carrying refugees start to flee across the Atlantic. Many of them are sunk by German U-boats after 'being mistaken for military vessels', but the ships keep coming as the UK situation deteriorates. As the situation deteriorates, many British elite military units begin to 'disappear', along with arms and resources.
Revolution in Yugoslavia. The Yugoslavian King flees to London.
The prototype Me-163 rocket propelled fighter flies in Germany. Although short ranged, its speed exceeds that of any other aircraft.
Many Balkan (especially Yugoslavian) civil and military leaders who oppose Axis rule die in 'accidents' or 'commit suicide'.
Germany and Japan, combined, attack the USSR from east and west. Verhangnislanz attempts to assassinate Stalin and his government, but is thwarted by several superhuman bodyguards, especially the man know as Red Shield. The German forces head for the oil fields of the Caucasus while the Japanese forces take Vladivostok, cut the Trans-Siberian railway near Lake Baikal and effectively cut Siberia off from Moscow. He-277 and He-274 strategic bombers participate, attacking targets as far east as the Urals and although they are harassed by the superhuman Red Shield, do major damage. Both sides are hindered by intense resistance from the local populace and military, but the USSR is sufficiently weakened that they are overcome.
April
Italian forces invade Greece. By the end of the month British troops retreat and the country surrenders. The Greek Royal Family flees to London and forms a government in exile.
The worlds second jet aircraft, the prototype He-280 fighter, flies in Germany.
Border conflicts between Peru and Ecuador.
11st April
Hungary enters war.
E-Macht conduct a series of commando raids against British positions in Crete.
19th April
Bulgaria enters war on Axis side.
An uprising occurs in India. The British forces there cannot stop it, and the rebels take control of a large part of the Kashmir area.
Two of the French collaborator superhumans are killed in an ambush by resistance forces which include at least one superhuman. Reprisals follow.
1st May
Bulgaria allies with Germany.
May
Malta falls to the Axis despite a valiant resistance.
May
Pro-Axis uprising in Iraq, led by the same superhuman from the 1937 and 1939 uprisings, take control of Iraq as British forces cannot effectively respond to them. The uprising spreads across the middle east.
While consolidating their hold on Greece the superhuman who becomes known as Nemesis appears near Mount Olympus. As time passes she kills more and more people, criminals and those invaders responsible for reprisals and murders. An increasing spiral of violence ensues and continues as reprisals are taken for her actions, she kills those responsible, and further reprisals are taken.
May
The first British jet fighter prototype flies. Due to lack of resources and fuel, and attacks on the factories where it is built, it never enters service.
June
Italian troops take control of the Suez Canal, despite the best efforts of the British to destroy it, and move on into Palestine.
22nd June
Romania enters the war.
Once control is established over the conquered areas the Nazis begin to round up Jews, Gypsies and other 'unfit and dangerous' types. They are to be shipped for resettlement 'in the east'.
August
The He-280 jet fighter goes into production.
29th September
The Nazis massacre 96000 Ukrainians at Babi Yar, outside Kiev.
The superhuman who becomes known as Major America prevents the assassination of President Lindbergh.
Japan occupies the coastal regions of China before moving into the Dutch East Indies and Indo-China. The city of Wuhan is destroyed in a firestorm accidentally created by the bombing of the city. Following this the Japanese begin to use firestorms as a standard tactic, for example on Hong Kong, Rangoon and Nanking.
An uprising occurs in the Philippines, toppling the American colonial government there.
Italy invades and conquers the Balkans with relatively resistance.
Germany exhibits evidence of Soviet atrocities; labour camps and the evidence of mass starvation is exhibited to the press.
Nearly a thousand Britons starve to death during the winter.