The British Empire

**The British Empire** ,commonly known as Britain, is a country in Europe with vast colonial holdings across the world. Britain is a major player on the world stage and is somewhat allied with the Greater German Reich , a major trade partner, and the Axis Powers.

King Edward VIII reigns over The Empire as an absolute monarch. He split the United Kingdom in 1936 when he decided to marry Wallis Simpson and the Government resigned in defiance. He then dissolved parliament and took 'executive leadership of the nation'. Many British Politicians fled to Canada who declared independence. A year later, Edward proclaimed the formation of The British Empire.

## History

### Formation

King George V of The United Kingdom passed away on the 20th of January 1936 and the crown passed to his son ,The Prince of Wales, who ascended to the throne as King Edward VIII. Edward was unmarried but had fallen in love with Wallis Simpson, an American Divorcee. Members within the Royal Family and the British Parliament actively opposed this but little could be done. Edward was a popular figurehead in the eyes of the people as he actually served on the frontline in The First World War.

In November 1936, Edward expressed his wish to marry Wallis Simpson to Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin. Baldwin informed him that his subjects would deem the marriage morally unacceptable, largely because remarriage after divorce was opposed by the Church of England, and the people would not tolerate Simpson as queen.

Baldwin then presented Edward with three options: give up the idea of marriage; marry against his ministers' wishes; or abdicate. King Edward then told the Government his intentions to marry and Baldwin resigned. The country was thrown into chaos as the entire Government resigned and no form of governing was being done. Edward took his first move to despotism and assumed executive authority.

In December, Edward announced the closing of Parliament and that he would take 'executive leadership of the nation'. Many British Politicians fled to Canada in the Battle of London which saw pro-democratic forces clash with the Edward Royalists to rescue Prince Albert and extract British Politicians. Canada who declared Independence on the 17th of December, participated in the Battle on the side of the Pro-Democratic Forces under Churchill. Neville Chamberlain became the First Minister of the Crown as an advisor to Edward. Chamberlain became the right hand man of Edward and carried out a lot of duties for the King.

On the 12th of May 1937 ,Edward is coronated as King. Wallis Simpson and Edward marry in June and she becomes Queen Consort, which upset the more hard-line monarchists in the country. He announces that the United Kingdom would become officially known as The British Empire.

### Early Reign

In 1938, The German Reich annexes Austria and Edward expressed support for this move and even congratulated Hitler personally. In response to this, Edward announced that Britain will do a similar thing and declared war on Ireland in June. Within months, Ireland falls and is annexed.

Edward and Hitler meet in Berlin to discuss trade agreements during 1938 and an treaty of non aggression between the two countries. Hitler declares him ambitions to control the Sudetenland of Czechoslovakia, an area with ethnic Germans. The Czechs were protected by the British but Edward stated that they would turn a blind eye over the issue. France denounces Edward and stops trade with the British, they also declare that if the Germans attempt an invasion of Czechoslovakia then the French will come to the aid of the Czechs.

The Second World War begins on the 5th of August as Germany invades Czechoslovakia. Edward declares that Britain shall remain neutral in the war despite the French Trade Embargo. The British Empire instead spent time 'cleaning up' as in 1939, they directly annexed the colonial dominions still loyal. The Indian Revolt breaks out but this is brutally put down.

### War with France

As the German Army pushes through the Benelux and Northern France in 1939 and 1940, Paul Reynaud ,the President of France, announced a withdrawal of all French Troops to Africa as German Tanks began approaching Paris. He stated that he would allow Paris to fall in order to spare suffering. But he declared that the war would not be over and that they shall continue the war from their overseas colonies.

This prompted a motion within Edward's advisory circle. They saw an opportunity to acquire some colonies from France in their weakened state. Chamberlain disagreed with this move and stated it was too aggressive where Oswald Mosely ,the Minister of War, called it necessary. As the French prepared their new war in Africa, Edward finally announces that Britain would enter the war on the side of the Axis Powers against France. He deployed the Royal Navy and defeated the retreating French Navy at the Battle of the English Channel. The British also invaded French Africa and eventually Reynaud announced the French Surrender.

The British gained a lot of French Africa, notably most of Western Africa up to Spanish Africa and a new German colony in the Congo. As Germany invades the Soviet Union in 1941, Hitler requests that Britain joins the war against the communists to which Edward refuses and decides it's a war that the British didn't need to fight.

### Reign of the Emperor

After victory in World War Two, British Foreign Policy became more involved in deciding how to approach the new power in the Mediterranean, The Mediterranean Entente of Italy, Turkey and Spain which formed in late 1941. Although the Entente opposed the Germans, they were indifferent to the British and Britain wasn't directly in an alliance with Germany despite the close relations. Edward decided that it was best to keep trading with the nations and not to jump to either extremes.

As the Germans ended the War against the USSR in 1943, the British and Germans re-entered into diplomacy so that it would be a guarantee that the two nations would be at peace. Britain agreed. For the next two years, Edward continued his focus on destroying opposition as across the ocean, the British Parliament in Exile begin preparing to return to the country , hoping to put Edward's younger brother Albert on the throne and restore democracy...