Antarctic Wars

The **Antarctic Wars** refers to a low-intensity conflict within the continent of Antarctica over overlapping claims of the Volkskolonie of Neuschwabenland, a member state of the Aryan People's Federation, and the Nihon no Nankyoku Chiiki, claimed by Japan. The war is largely fought by groups of mercenaries hired by prospectors and scientists on the continent, leading to raids on government facilities. Despite both countries possessing chthonium weaponry, neither side has taken official action on the region beyond condemnation of opposing claims.

## History

### Post-WWII

While several countries had formed minor, unrecognized claims to Antarctica prior to World War II, interest in the region was low until the end of the war. With the collapse of all other European colonial empires, the Aryan People's Federation claimed the colony of Neuschwabenland as a federally-administered colony encompassing all of Antarctica, inheriting prior claims from the constituents of Norway and the United Kingdom. This was opposed by numerous parties; mainly from Chile and Japan. While the Argentinian Antarctic Territory had been transferred to Neuschwabenland successfully in exchange for control over the Islas Malvinas, the same could not be said of the Chilean Antarctic Territory, which Chile refused to sell.

Naval tensions in the Antarctic Ocean became a large source of Germanic-Chilean rivalry. When the Chilean Navy attempted to establish the Captain Arturo Prat Base in the South Shetlands Islands, it led to an incident in which Kriegsmarine admiral Oskar Kummetz ordered the immediate takeover of the base, leading to the deaths of 17. While Chile has not since taken action to directly occupy its claim, leaving the Volksbund with de facto control, it diplomatically asserts its legitimacy to the claim to this day.

Japan was outraged by the Germanic claim to the whole continent, claiming it violated the agreement by claiming land past the line 70th meridian east, while the Volksbund asserted that the agreement only applied to the continent of Asia. While Japan had established the Japanese Antarctic Territory prior, it began building bases in the region in disregard to the Germanic claim and further asserting its authority. In one incident, due to the collapse of the former French nation, the territorial status of the Kerguelen Islands was in limbo; leading to Japan to claim it as a part of the Empire and seizing it swiftly, causing major controversy as the German-backed French regime voiced disapproval not only at Japan for encroaching on its claimed territory, but against the Aryan People's Federation as well for not taking action against the takeover.

### Escalation

Despite minor skirmishes, for the most part, Antarctic tensions were paid relatively little attention until the oil shortage of the 1950's, caused by a bloated leftover war economy within both Germany and Japan which lingered after WWII. Due to the collapse of German authority over the Caucasus and an Arab embargo against the country in response to the Schutzstaffel's control over Palestine, widespread speculation within Nazi Party leadership in search of new oil reserves caused massive funding going to prospecting in the ice underneath the Antarctic. Wintershall, the largest petroleum monopoly within the Volksbund, had been given control within Antarctica to attempt drilling and mining operations. In addition to a development plan to establish these operations as well as small settlements and whaling station, much of this funding was given towards establishing a small garrison to enforce their claim over the entire continent as a part of the new Cold War between Germany and Japan.

Japan had also slowly been establishing numerous bases on the expectation of neutrality in the region, unaware of the development projects being promoted by Wintershall. The Akiyama South Pole Station, first established in 1953, was the site of the beginning of military escalation within the continent. Due to relatively close proximity with the existing Filchner Station, tensions had resulted in outright battle in 1960, as Akiyama Station was burnt down; a major point in the early Cold War. Both leaders of the opposing superpowers, Fuhrer Heinrich Himmler and Prime Minister Fumimaro Konoe both, however, had held firm agreeing to not take direct military action outside of Antarctica.

### Conflict

Through the 1960's, the influence of the actual colonial administration behind New Swabia rapidly declined, as Wintershall became the main artery behind all attempts to establish permanent garrisons and populations; due to the monopoly on Antarctic power, it became the most powerful organization as government efforts to diminish winter migration relied on usage of electricity.

The Antarctic territories became a battleground for the growing cracks in the German military. Wintershall began often hiring foreign mercenary workers, due to them being more efficient than the dwindling Wehrmacht, which suffered from over-management from a colonial government which itself was receiving less and less direct communication from Germania. Ironically, many of these hired mercenaries originated from the Razmat wasteland in former Russia, working as defense contractors under the North Perm Company; coming from a frozen wasteland, they were far more familiar with the terrain and far more well-trained than the Wehrmacht who were often deployed into the continent. Many others were skilled gunmen hired from Patagonia and Finland. Compared to other regions of the Volksbund, the Schutzstaffel held minimal presence within Antarctica. The Luftwaffe flourished in Antarctic operations, controversially working with Wintershall mercenaries and providing crucial transportation between scattered bases.

On the other side, involvement from Japan was far more direct due to the defensive nature of Japanese involvement. While the Volksbund's focus in the Antarctic Wars seemed to steer more towards offensive raids on land using mercenaries, Japan directly used the Imperial Japanese Navy to cut supplies in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, forcing New Swabians to rely on the long, expensive, and vulnerable shipping routes of the Atlantic to gain supplies from Europe. This further broke the influence of direct German military control over Antarctica, as Himmler had strongly opposed purchasing or manufacturing of arms created outside of Germany in fear of other regions holding sophisticated technology.