NationStates Jolt Archive

AFTER WW1 1919-1923

Eslagnia was a small nation wedged between 3 nations. Netherlans to the north, Germany to the east and Belgium to the south. it was roughly the size of Belgium and was under a parliamentary, democratic, monarchy.

WW1 did derious damage to Eslagnia and at one point has 70% of Eslagnian territory under Germany Control. Back then it was under the rule of King Alfred II who stood his ground and remained in Eslagnia in the western coastal city of Koreen.

He died in 1919 a year after WW1 ended.
The Heir to the thorn was a young 14 yearold boy who was far to young to be a head to state and so his mother Mary Pream ruled as regent while the young heir, Winston continued his education finally at the age of 18 he was coronated as King Winston Pream in 1923

CRISIS IN THE MONARCHY 1923-1928................................................................................................ ...

Winston was not interested in the monarchy and on a number of occasions told his mother that he did not want to be king.
He never smiled in public photo's and always looked glum and the people had no feelings or sympathy for him. he was an uncharasmatic king.
In 1928 out of the blue he abdicated and stormed out of Parliament and retreated to a lodge in the countryside. he refused to come out until the government recognized his abdication which is did 3 days later.

A new King had to be found quickly. Linthar Pream was 38 years old and was the uncle of Winston. he was offered the crown and after one week he accepted and was corinated and ascended to the throne in 1928.

....................................................................................................

Years of Instability 1928-1938...............................................................................................

Within a year of Linthar coming to the throne the great depression struck the world. Unemployment rose. poverty grew and food riots took over the cities.

Many governments that were brought to power failed to fix Eslagnia's problems and riots, demonstrations and arson took over the county.
In 1933 Germany elected the Nazi party and Hitler became Dictators of Germany.

King Linthar feared that the people believed liberty and democracy was failing the people and that they would turn to other alternatives like fascism or communism. He appealed to the people to fight for thier freedoms and not be lured into a dark world of tyranny and totalitarianism.

By 1937 the economy was slowly healing though life was still hard and unemployment was still high the people had calmed down. In 1938 Germany moved into Austria and into the Sudatenland of Czechoslovakia.

The Eslagnian government did not believed Germany would ever invade Eslagnia again or that it was a threat to Eslagnia though air raid drills were practiced for the first time in November 1938

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Now the Beginning of the Civilians story that will start from November 1938 and end in January 1946

(OOC: ok I cant really start this until that stupid moderator thing stops blocking my posts so I guess I just have to wait)

(OOC) is this open or what?

(OOC:Well actually it was just going to be a story about some Civilians living through World War 2 in Eslagnia.
They would have to deal with first the thought that thier nation will be spared and remain nuetral through 1939. then the suprise invasion of Eslagnia by German forces which overan the country in 9 days
then the 5 year occupation in which 250,000 Eslagnian civilians lost thier lives before they regained thier freedom when they were liberated by the allies and possably helping to smuggle some people on the run from the Nazi Occupier like some resistance fighters, some Jewish friends etc
Just think Ann Frank and stuff.
I was thinking at my posts I'm going to have a Date at the top like
December 1942 or during the 9 day invasion have May 11th 1940, May 12th 1940 etc. so it could work as long as the dates are consistent. and I dont want to hear about the governments I just want the civilians story so i guess if you were another nation affected by World War 2 then you can post. We will see. but I have no problem with other people posting thier civilians story of Nazi Occupation)

1938 November .............................................................................................
Eslenda
Petra Gregar was a young 24 yearold woman who had just finished at University. She was studying architecture at the Pream University in Eslenda


Sirens sounded all over the city. it was another practice air raid.
The General though of all Eslagnians was that should any war take place Eslagnia would stay nuetral and be spared. currently the Eslagnian government did not care about the Nazi Regime or did not condemn it or see it as any sort of major threat and did have nuetral and sometimes even cordial relations with Nazi Germany.

Petra was a slim, tall and attractive woman with shoulder legnth black hair.
She was walking calmly across the street

Georg Olfenman was a 24 yearold also studying architecture at university.
He rad up to Petra

"You know you woudlnt be walking if it were a real air raid" he said

"There isnt going to be any war, Eslagnia is a nuetral in all conflicts and I dont see how something happening in Czechoslovakia will effect us all the way over in the Low Countries. Besides Hitler said he just wants the German minorities from those countries back in Greater Germany"

George was a tall man. he wore glases and had short combed black hair.

"Hitler is a dangerious man but I sort of see where your coming from, I mean what would he want with Eslagnia right? I mean Kilnburg has ethnic Germans living there but...." he was interupted by Petra

"5000 Georg, 5000 ethnic Germans live in Kilnburg, I hardly think that much cause to go to war over, I mean the other 250,000 citizens are Eslagnians"

The two made thier way to a nearby subway station.
They were handed a cork to bite on so they did not bite thier tounge, they were also given cotton to tick in their ears and a wistle incase they were trapped under rubble.

Within 20 minutes the air raid drill was over

"Well that was an annoying inconvenience" said Petra quietly to herself

"You see thats why the UK said Eslagnians are niave, they dont believe we will be spared" siad Georg

"Look I dont care, its just politics, C'mon lets get back to the University"
......................................................................................

Koreen

Koreen was a beutiful city with lots of canals. it was a major trading coastal, port city of strategic importance.
It was also called the Amsterdam of Eslagnia.
Edgar Mithius was a 28 yearold man living in a small, old flat backed up on one of the Canals.
He was tram way conductor.

He was sitting in his lounge with some friends
They were debating
"See Hitler just wants the entire world for himself, he will steam roll through Eslagnia"

"You see Edgar your a minority, a minority of people that seem to think Eslagnia will be pulled into a war, but your forgetting one major factor, out government stated that it will remain nuetral in any war!"

"Ok dont believe me, Germany is just so beligerant that I dont believe we will be spared, why do you think were doing the air raids!?" argued Edgar

.................................................................................................... ....

February 1939................................................................................................ ..................................

The Eslagnian government had ceased the air raid drills. The threat seemed to have passed for now.

It calmed the people even more to hear the news that the young heir to the throne Princess Margaret was going to school in the city closest to Germany Kilnburg.

Edgar was conducting a tram on a bridge over a canal. some people in the tram were reading some papers. when he heard some people on the tram discussing

"See how dangerous can Germany be when Princess Margaret is at school in Kilnburg, obviously were safe" said the man

Edgar just alughed to himself, he was so sure the Germans would invade. he privatly guessed that it would be early next year. He had already cleared out the basement of his house and set up some blankets, emergency first aide kit and a torche for light and his own air raid kit with cotton, cork and a whistle.

...........................................................................................

Petra was having lunch with her Mother, Father, her two little sisters and her Grandmother.

Her sisters were Carolin who was 19 and Elsa who was 8.

The occasion of the lunch was Carolin's 19th birthday.

"Dad can we not talk about politics, it seems thats all people can talk about in Eslagnia, cant we talk about looking foward to the 1940 Olympics due to be held in Tokyo" said Petra

They were in thier small, old styled apartment building with a view down one of the cities main streets. They were quite a prosperoous family despite the economic situtaion. They owned a car, wore the latest clothes and had a Radio and nice furnature. Her father was some administrator working for the governemnt and her mother was a artist and everyone in Eslenda knew her name and work

15th March 1939................................................................................................ ................................

The News had shocked Eslagnia. The German forces had moved into Czechslovakia and the German Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia are claimed

It was quite a big peice of news though once again the Eslagnian people felt secure that thier country would be spared.

then on April 7th another big peice of news shocked the people once again and that was the Italian invasion of Albania though Mussolini was not important to Eslagnian people. everybody knew who he was but he wasnt as influential or as terrifying at Hitler

....................................................................................................

May 22nd 1939................................................................................................ .........................

Georg and Petra had finished their University studies and got thier degree's. they were also celebrating today Petra's 25th Birthday.
It also happened to be the day Germany and Italy signed the pact of steel.

Petra and Georg spent the day walking around the lovely parks of Eslenda and ate at a café. Georg was also 25 at this point.

"Petra I've been thinking that maybe we should get out of Europe for a while, you know like a holiday, maybe to America for a couple of years?" asked Georg

"What? Why? whats going on?" asked Petra

"My family are leaving Eslagnia.... They say Europe will never be safe while Hitler's in power, there going to America next week"

"Well I'm not leaving... I mean this is my home, I dont live abroad" said Petra defensively

"Ok thats fine, but I have another proposition... Do you want to move in with me?" he asked

".....yes... I mean ofcourse I'll move in with you"

Petra's all of a sudden became more cheerful and gave Georg a big hug

.................................................................................................... ......

Meanwhile in Koreen Edgar was eating at the Café with his wife
He was now 29 years old. His wife was pregnant, she was 1 month into the pregnancy, still not showing.

"I dont see why you dont want us to Live in New Zealand, its perfect, its just like Eslagnia..... sort of" said Edgar

"Look we agreed, if Eslagnia gets invaded, THEN we will live in New Zealand, until then I'm not leaving my home"

.................................................................................................... ..

only 4 months away and the entire world would be at war.....

August 26th 1939................................................................................................ ...................................

Petra was flaunting her engagement ring. Over the last month Georg proposed to Petra. Her family were extremely happy. they all liked Georg.

Petra's sisters were now 19 and 9 years old. Carolin was fussing over the ring going on about how she couldnt wait till it was her turn while Elsa just thought it was beutiful and wanted to try it on though Petra wasnt going to take it off.

Gerog was standing with Petra. Her Grandmother who was 77 also commented on how great the ring looked and how beutiful she would look as a bride.

The mood was even more happy with the announcement that Hitler would respect the Nuetrality of the Low Countries, Switzerland and Denmark.

.................................................................................................... ...................

September 1st

'Germany is at war with Poland, Warsaw is being bombarded as well as other cities in Poland. At this moment, poland is standing alone though the UK and France are expected to respect thier pact with Poland' blared the radio announcer

Everyone in the house was surrounding the radio. Petra was tightly holding Georgs hand, Elsa was not aware of the importance of what was happening. Carolin looked worried and Petra's parents Arthur and Mary looked worried too

"Dont worry everyone this is happening in the east, no where near the low countries" said Mary tyring to raise the mood

Petra's grandmother who was also called Elsa spoke up
"We got through the Great war by moving to Koreen, the Germans didnt reach Koreen back then, they got Eslenda but not Koreen" said Elsa Snr

.................................................................................................... ......................................

Edgar and his wife, Christina were sitting in the movie theatre. before the movie started it showed a short news up date. Hitlers face apeared on the screen some young boys were shouting insults at the screan.
It announced that Germany had invaded Poland though the news was well known around the country by this stage

.................................................................................................... .....
SEPTEMBER 3rd 1939

The family were once again sitting around the radio

'Poland will not stand alone! the UK, France and a number of other countries will come to Poland's aide!'

Everyone in the lounge let out a sigh of relief...............

December 1939
...................................................................................
'The Royal family has brought Princess Margaret back to the Royal Palace in Elsenda. as a safty precaution they have taken her out of Kilnburg which is too close to the German border' announced the radio

Petra and Georg were sitting in thier apartment. Both of them had got work at some architectural and construction company in Eslenda.

Once again as events began to rage in europe most Eslagnians did thier best to dismiss it.

In the Port City of Koreen, Christina was due to have her baby in January. it was going to be a baby girl and the due date was January 8th

Air Raid drills were also being carried about again.

Edgar and Christina had just purchased a crib and other baby things. the crib would be placed in their bedroom so the baby was always close by

.................................................................................................... ...
JANUARY 1940
..................................................................................................

Christina was at the hospital and Edgar was by his wife's side. she was about to give birth.

At this moment Georg was preparing to visit his family in America.

It was extremely expensive only Georg would be going. He would travel by boat to America in March and return in June.

"So what else do I have to prepare for, before leaving Eslagnia" said Georg

"What am I going to do without you here. I'll just continue planning the wedding" she laughed

"Ok well you do that. My parents are happy about it. In all the letters they say how much they like you and give our regards to Petra, stuff like that" said Georg

"Oh your family are so sweet, when can we expect them back in Eslagnia?"

"I think Dad is planning on bringing the family back in 1941, next year sometime"

...............................................................................................

March 20rd 1940................................................................................................ ........

Georg had arranged to take a plane to America instead of a boat for fear that it could be sunk by German submarines.
Petra was still worried. As the months went by a German invasion was possbale. just 2 days earlier Italy joined the war on the side of Germany.

The government then began issuing people with Gas Masks as well on thier Air Raid kits for fear of gas attacks as well in the raids. everone had to carry them around and they were a large nuisance

May 9th 1940 .................................................................................................... .........

Petra was ready to go to sleep. It was 9pm.
Georg was in America visiting family and was due to return in June 12th.

Edgar and Christina were in thier room comforting their 5 month old baby girl which they named Anne

10th May 1940................................................................................................ ......................

It was 5am. The air raid sirens sounded all over Eslenda and other amjor cities all over Elsagnia.

Petra jumped out of bed. she quickly threw on a coat and looked out the window.

The sun was just rising and she could see dozens of planes all over the sky.

She quickly backed away from the windows. she heard crashing and explosions into the distance.

She ran down stairs. grabbing her air raid kit. She quickly put on the radio

'This is an emergency broadcast. Nazi Germany has begun an invasion of Holland, Belgium and Eslagnia, the Low Countries are under attack. Remain calm. get to the nearest air raid shelter. try and keep off the roads and remain in your city or community. it is important the roads remain free for the military use.....' The radio then crackled and then went dead.

There was a massive crash and explosion and the sound of glass shattering sounded all around Petra. Everybody was issued with some tape to put over the glass to help limit the spray of shattered glass so glass did not spray as much as it would off.

Petra ran out of her flat. another family got out of thier flat too

"Quickly too the basement!" yelled the father. herding his 3 young children

Petra followed the family running down the steps and finally into the basement

Petra put the cork in her mouth and bit on it
she also put cotton in her ears.

she remained hudled under a table in the basement next to the other family.

Meanwhile in the port city of Koreen.........................................................................

Edgar, Christina and thier baby girl Anne also woke to the sound of Airraid sirens and bombing.

Christina had spent all of yesterday putting tape over the windows and glass. she had done it just in time.

Baby Anne was screaming with fear
Edgar had prepared for years of a Nazi Invasion. his makeshift bomb shelter in his basement would pay off.

They ran down, inviting thier neighbors as they passed them on thier way downstairs to the basement.

Eventually 8 people were hudeled together in the basement of thier apartment. the sound of explosions, shattering glass and explosions were heard everywhere


Back in Petra's basement in Eslenda the husband of the family was panicked

"We have to get to the subway! its the only place! The Germans are going to bomb all the civilians. the city will the flattened! but they wont reach us underground we have to get to the Subway!" he said panicked

"Calm down, there is no way anybody will be able to step out onto those streets just yet. wait till it calms down...." CRASH! another massive explosion but this one was much closer possably bringing down a close by apartment. everything shook. dust from the basement roof feel to the floor. Even Petra felt uneasy and at risk here

..............................

Back in Koreen, Edgar pulled an emergency radio out of the cupboard
and switched it on for any news

'The Royal family and King Linthar are calling for the people to be strong but also to protect themselves as best they can. The Royal family for the time being are remaining in Eslenda with the people. We ahve also recieved news that the Border city of Kilnburg is under siege by German forces and could possably fall to the Nazi's. The UK and France have pledged support and will come to our aide'

The Basement full of people let out a small sound of relief at the sound the French and British forces would come to the rescue.

.................................................................................

At 8am everything had gone quiet in Eslenda
Petra quickly ran upstairs and out of the basement as did the other family.
She was still wearing the big grey coat and her night gown. SHe slipped on some high heels (the only available shoes cloe by, outside her door)

she then ran outside. 3 buildings in the immediate area had collapsed. across the road was just a giant mess of ruble.

She walked cautiously out further onto the street still in complete shock and fear. She heard a whistle coming from under a pile of ruble. it was a survivor using thier survival whistle. She was in too much shock to respond. she also saw some body bits near by

She heard some sirens coming from a fire engine on the way. She began running, running past flattened neighborhoods. burnt out shells of buildings, overturned vehicles and cracked and destroyed roads. Then she finally reached her family home. The Apartment was on fire.

she stood in fear and panic when she heard her mother crying behind her.

She turned quickly. The entire family was hudled together cyring. Except Grandmother Elsa was not with the family

"Oh Petra thank god! your ok! Mum died in the first explosions!" yelled out Petra's mother. the entire family hugged and fell to a heap on the road in tears.

....................Koreen.......................................................................... .....

Christina, baby Anne and Edgar were about ready to emerge from the basement but the smell of smoke was very strong and made everyones eyes burn and sting. The upper floors of the aparment was on fire.

"Were trapped down here! what are we going to do!" yelled a panicked man

"We can all det out of the small ventilation window" said Edgar pointing to a small window that went up onto the street. its glass that been blown out in the explosion

One by one people were slowly lifted through the small opening when CRASH. the roof was slowly collapsing and floorboards from the top floor were falling through to the basement.

Anne and Christina were the first one out.

Finally when Edgar pulled himself thorugh the window. There was a small woman left to pull out. She walked up to the window.

She grabbed Edgars hands and tried to make her way up the walls through the hole but she wast strong enough to pull herself up better

"I cant! I cant get up!" she panicked

Edgar turned around

"I'm going back in to get her, I'll lift her out and then you can help pull me out" he then turned back to the small woman
"Ok I'm coming back in to get you out" he began to get back into the hole then CRASH!!

The House began to collapsed. Edgar jumped back and everyone screamed and panicked. The house collapsed killing the girl instantly into a burning heap of ruble.

Other survivors were already scrumaging arounde the wreakage for survivors and thier possesions.

The Family of the woman screamed with grief

Edgar was quite in shock from what he saw. he hugged his family. he felt guilty for what had happened to the lady

..............................................................................................

Petra was walking down the road with her family. they did not want to be around the ruble of the old family home. They passed many people with carts filled with surviving possessions and furnature. people had horse and carriage and some people with surviving car's had them packed up as much as they could with surviving furnature. they were evacuating the city most probably making thier way to France beiveing it to be safer there where the Germans wont reach them.

Petra still had her air raid kit with her. it was in her coat pocket. the rest of thier family lost thiers in the raid

A surviving neighbor walked up to Petra's family

"You all survived..." said the nieghbor

"Elsa was lost" said Petra's mother her eyes still tearful

"The Germans wont have this country under occupation. The French and English are behind us, hey I even heard the Dutch had released their flood gates to slow down the German advance" said the nieghbor. he seemed quite optimistic in such a socking time

"What about Eslagnia we dont have flood gates to slow down any German Advance" said Arthur, Petra's father.

"Well we could be in the same situation as the Eslagnians in Lepesan. The Germans bombed the city so bad that it caused a fire storm. aparently there still having troubles controling the blaze that they had to abandon the city completely" said the neighbor

'I should of gone to America with my Georg' thought Petra

..................................................................................................

in a flattened area of Koreen a firestorm had created and wreaked havoc thorugh the ruble killing trapped survivors.

Edgar and his family along with other survivors moved to a safter area of the city that was spared the bombardment.

"We shouldnt be here, the Germans will come back to finish the city off" panicked Christina

"You want to leave?" said Edgar

"Look I just dont feel safe in any city, My family live a couple of blocks away. we should get them out of here before the German bombers come back" said Christina holding baby Anne in her arms.

They continued to walk through the streets. some Home guard and soldiers and some very dated tanks began to drive down the street.

They were already preparing for a defense of the city of Koreen as the government predicted that Eslagnia could hold off for 5 days in a full German Invasion though this prediction was not released to the public.

The People were still optimistic they would not be occupied. certain the UK and France would come to the rescue.

Just then more Air Raid Sirens sounded over the city

......................Back in Elsenda................................................................................

Air Raid sirens sound once more over the city of Eslenda. it was only 11 am.

Petra and her family ran with the rest of the public in fear to the underground subway stations.

They made thier way down the steps quickly and hudled up with over one hundred other civilians.

They were suprised that there were no explosions and bombing sounds. the Air raid siren then went quiet.
The people then filed out of the subway system.

Small peices of paper were dropping from the sky.

Petra grabbed a leaflet off the ground it read

'Dear Eslagnian people. Your government wants to lead your country to hell. Surrender immediatly or our planes will return at Midday to finsih off your cities. We hope your government does not make this hard on you people'

Petra screwed up the paper and threw it hatefully to the ground

"We have to get out of this city!" panicked Carolin who also read a leaflet dropped from the planes.

The Leaflet drop caused mass panic with thousands more evacuating the cities. it did exactly what the Germans wanted it to do.
Jamming the streets with refugees making it hard for the military to use.

Petra did not want to leave Eslenda. The rest of the family did

"Were going to france, there is no way I'm staying in a bombed out nazi occupied Eslagnia!" said Petra's mother

"Well I'm not leaving" said Petra

"What are you mad! you want to stay here and die!?" panicked her mother, Mary

"Petra you better come with us. this is no place to live, you want to live under Hitler?" said her father, Arthur calmly

"I dont care but I'm not leaving the city, do you think the Belgium's will just let a column of Eslagnian refugees march through thier land disrupting thier own infrustructure!" said Petra

"I heard the french are transporting refugees on trucks, we will take one of those trucks now come on" said Arthur

"Good luck to you all, I'm not leaving" said Petra

Her family then began to walk off
"Wait were just going to leave her!" said Carolin

"We cant force her to come with us. its her own descision" said her father

Mary was just sobing

"Well I dont really want to leave either, I'm going to stay with Petra"

"No you stupid girl your coming with us!" demanded Mary

"I'll look after Carolin if she wants to stay" said Petra

"You'll both be killed! Petra if you want to stay thats your own business but your not dragging Carolin to her death too!" yelled Arthur

"Look you have one hour to get out of Eslenda before the bombers come back, just go"

"I can not believe this! When I get your mother and little sister out of the country I'm coming back for both of you!" said Arthur

"We will be at my house" said Petra

"Thats if its still standing when I get back" said Arthur turning his back on them and making thier way with the rest of the column of civilians.

"C'mon my house is still standing" said Petra they began to make thier way back to Petra's house.

...................................................................................................

Back in Koreen Christina ran into her parents flat with the German Ultimatum.

When she entered the apartment her parents had suitcases with them. They were also ready to flee Eslagnia.

They didnt need telling twice to get out of the city.

They had a car and were packing thier car ready to drive off to France where they believed they would be safe.

Within 15 minutes the car was packed and ready to go.
"So you believe France will be safe?" asked Egbert to Christina

"Weather it is or sisnt its got to be better then this... I mean do you want Anne to grow up in a Nazi Eslagnia!?"

"We will go to New Zealand, its an out of the way country and its nice, its a nice place" said Egbert

"But first we have to stop off and see my family, get your family moving we will catch up to them, We will meet them in Lille and from there head to Paris or further south" Continued Egbert

They waved off Christina's family, they had taken Anne with them
.......................................................................................

It was 11:50am. the ultimatum would be carried out within 10 minutes.

Egbert and Christina finally reached Egberts, parents house.
The glass had all smashed in the building.

They quickly ran inside.
It had been deserted

"Mum! Dad!?" yelled Egbert

"They must of evacuated the city?" said Christina

"They would of tried to contact me" said Egbert

"Do you think that they immediatly went to our house to get us and found it flattened?"

"Its a possability, damn it!" said Egbert

The air sirens then sounded again.

"Quickly into the basement!" yelled Egbert.

the two ran down the steps and into the basement of the small apartment.
.................................................................................................... .