EU4 - The Sun Never Sets... a UK Cold War AAR

The world in 1955

It is the dawn of a new era. The destruction of the Nazi menace was meant to bring peace to the world. Instead, the communists have filled their place, slowly cementing their grip on Asia and eastern Europe. It is our responsibility to protect the free world from the red menace.

The British Empire has certainly seen better days. India recently gained independence, and our remaining African and Asian holdings are held only tenuously. It will take strong leadership and wit to keep Britain strong.

(I didn't find this view until 2 years later, so the timeline is kind of messed up. Ignore the date in the top right)

The Warsaw pact, led by the Soviet Union, and filled with its communist puppet states, lies in the east, ready to march westward with endless Russian hordes.

To protect the world from the reds, NATO has been established, a coalition of western, democratic powers, ready to face the threat of communism if needs be.

(Unfortunately I pressed f10 instead of f11 for all the screenshots showing the reconquest of Ireland. Oops).

After a war lasting only a few months, a British force, prompted by border skirmishes, invaded Ireland, took Dublin, and pushed across the rest of the country. Currently, Ireland is just occupied by the British army, but reannexation is inevitable. The United Kingdom is united again.

Meanwhile, the communist state of China has invaded Portuguese Macau. This is a very scary development. Our colony of Hong Kong is seriously exposed to a possible Chinese retaking, and an attack on a Portuguese outpost right next to ours is worrying. Hopefully, the Chinese will think twice before attacking us.

Guatemala wants an alliance. We have no reason not to accept for now.

Our former colony of India has also declared war on Portugal. Maybe this is a deliberately simultaneous attack, planned with China? Portugal doesn't seem to have any hope of holding back at all now.

Things are not looking good for the Portuguese...

Our friend the US has for some reason decided to invade Mexico. Their official explanation was Mexico is in danger of falling to communism, and this is just an intervention to protect the Mexican people. Suspicious indeed...

Apart from other Latin american states, the Soviet Union is particularly loud in voicing its concern. We suspect they are going to start supporting local communists with weapons and funding.

Interesting...

While Ireland is still under occupation, a year on, we are making good progress in fulfilling the paperwork to add the country back into the United Kingdom.

Breaking news! Italy has declared war on Austria. The world is shocked. While relations had been worsening for a while after Austria had made aggressive calls for the return of South Tyrol, nobody expected it to turn into war. The Italians claim the Austrians were about to invade, and this was a preemptive strike. We can only suspect the communists are involved, stirring up trouble in the west to prepare for a Red takeover!

Leading scientists are calling for Britain to use some of its rocket technology to pursue a space program. The truth is, we just don't have the money to do it. Perhaps our American friends could do better...

And so, on 14 June 1956, the Vietnam war began. South Vietnamese forces have begun a massive offensive in the North to push out the communists. Good luck to them!

Our ally France has invaded Ethiopia. Only time will tell if this will be a repeat of the disastrous Italian invasion...

It seems Indian forces have made a landing in Portuguese Mozambique. They are worryingly close to British east Africa. Maybe we should have ignored Gandhi after all...

After just over a year of military occupation, Ireland is officially returned to the Union! We are now the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland!

A nuclear plant in London? What could possibly go wrong with this newfound, miraculous technology. The future is here!

*grumble* economy *grumble*

Our overseas territories demand autonomy. For now, we cannot afford this. The British Empire may be wounded, but it will never die! We will crush any rebellion in the colonies!

In other news, the US has won its war in Mexico. Some border territories have been occupied. Reports say communist guerrillas continue to cause trouble for American occupation forces.

Italy and Austria have agreed upon a ceasefire, with much of Austria coming under Italian occupation. Who knows if this is temporary, or permanent annexation. We were forced to deal with Italy only 30 years ago, hopefully we can avoid a repeat of this.

Negotiations are over, the United Arab Emirated are founded in some of our former Arabian colonies. We cannot let any more of our empire fall.

Fortunately, the release of this country has lead to more stability across the empire, as fewer troops need to be used to quell rebellions. Hopefully this doesn't become the first domino in the fall of the empire. I mean, we've always got nuclear weapons if we really have to...

The communists are slightly annoyed with our heavy-handed colonial policy. Hopefully the release the UAE will shut them up for a bit.

Two years later, small wars have broken out all over the world, and the communists seem to be an ever greater threat. Meanwhile, in Rome, Brussels, Paris and Kiel, there are talks going on of some kind of European Economic Cooperation system. Interesting...