SeriousHetalians

A Yuletide Waltz: A Christmas Tale of Nations Told Through an Austrian and Hungarian's Eyes. Outskirts of Vienna, Republic of Austria. 2014. Roderich Edelstein groaned as he finished his cup of coffee, frowning ever so slightly as he looked at his reflection in an old mirror. With his cravat, dress shirt, walking trousers and dark shoes, his appearance was one that few of his own people would even consider wearing in this day and age. Outside of formalities, at least, the embodiment of Austria nodded quietly to himself while fixing his brown hair and the protruding Mariazell. Though if he were more frank, his thoughts were on a half-rememb

Monarchy Over the Danube: an Alternate History Tale of Austria-Hungary Retold through the Nations Themselves. -EPILOGUE- Somewhere in London, United Kingdom. 8 June 2007. The British Pub had been described in years past as an institution, a gathering place for Englishmen regardless of their social class or gender.  One could learn as much from a pub as in a briefing with Her Majesty’s finest. These days, many of their patrons – particularly where Arthur Kirkland was in at the moment – tended to come from all corners of the Commonwealth of Nations. Some were from British Newfoundland and the Canadian provinces. Others stil

Monarchy Over the Danube: an Alternate History Tale of Austria-Hungary Retold through the Nations Themselves. -CHAPTER 12- Royal Palace, Budapest. 8 June 1967. Fireworks and electric lights seemed to fill the Magyar capital outside as Elizaveta continued to entertain the many delegates and guests who had arrived for the evening gala. The sounds of chatting people seemed to blend in nicely with an orchestra playing music from her people. Here and there were nobles, politicians, the influential and foreign dignitaries, including some from the restored Romanov Tsar in St. Petersburg; Prussia as usual was late as always. While not far from he

Monarchy Over the Danube: an Alternate History Tale of Austria-Hungary Retold through the Nations Themselves. -CHAPTER 11- Schonbrunn Palace, Vienna. 23 October 1941. “…And let me repeat this, gentlemen,” Otto von Habsburg, rightful sovereign of the Austro-Hungarian realms addressed his guests in crisp English that hardly betrayed the stress and tension of the past few years. “It is a pleasure to welcome you all here in these fascinating times. To victory, order and a better world!” Here assembled in the half-refurnished dining hall, Roderich Edelstein noticed, were a few delegates and leaders, some even fro

Monarchy Over the Danube: an Alternate History Tale of Austria-Hungary Retold through the Nations Themselves. -CHAPTER 10- Berlin, Greater German Reich. 13 August 1941. Alright. Stay Focused! Hungary reminded herself, her pistol raised as she and Austria carefully walked down the winding corridors of the New Reich Chancellery. Aside from some SS bodyguards and a hapless Wehrmacht patrol they encountered up until that point, the imposing complex built around Bismarck’s old office seemed almost empty. Yet as she carefully adjusted the coat on her field uniform, her free hand lingering on where her belly was for a brief moment, she knew

Monarchy Over the Danube: an Alternate History Tale of Austria-Hungary Retold through the Nations Themselves. -CHAPTER 9- Breslau, Greater German Reich. 8 March 1940. Gilbert wanted to believe that there was some kind of sick joke being pulled on him and his men as they fought their way past another group of Polish and Austro-Hungarian soldiers. He just wasn’t sure whether to blame his enemies or Der Führer and his ilk. Not openly anyway! he groaned as the Prussian side of the so-called Third Reich glanced at the SS officers “assigned” to him. “But why fucking here?!” he snapped aloud just as an explosio

WCRB Extras: A 1983 Doomsday Record through the Nation's Eyes. File 04 -- Alpine Confederation-Republik Österreich/Republic of Austria - Roderich Edelstein "‘Bella gerant alii, tu felix Austria nube.’ Those were the words House Habsburg associated with the realm they ruled for over 640 years. Through hardships and glories, their Empire triumphed as a bastion of order and enlightenment along the River Danube. That was until the War to End All Wars brought their reign to an ignoble end, the last Emperor forced to leave a crumbling throne. Within a few years, we and our Hungarian equals lost much of their old power. And while Repub

WCRB Extras: A 1983 Doomsday Record through the Nation's Eyes. File 03 -- Alpine Confederation-Fürstentum Liechtenstein/Principality of Liechtenstein - Lili Vogel "House Liechtenstein trace their descent from the courts of the Holy Roman Empire, the first of their name emerging in the 12th Century. Though the family’s heritage makes it among the oldest noble houses left, it was only in the year 1719, after generations of supporting the Austrian Habsburgs that the Principality they and their successors rule was formally recognized by the Emperor, making their realm the youngest of the Alpine Confederation’s founders. From their c

WCRB Extras: A 1983 Doomsday Record through the Nation's Eyes. File 02 -- Alpine Confederation-Suisse/Schweiz/Svizzera /Switzerland - Vash Zwingli "The Alps have been home to the  Schweizer Cantons for many generations. It’s protected their ancestors as much as it challenged them. In time these mountains helped give meaning to their way of life and the lengths taken to protect it. Thus of the three core members of the Alpine Confederation, the original Confoederatio Helvetica has the best claim for that name. I should know, as it’s my obligation and right as one born to embody them. Back in the Cold War, our neutrality meant th