Aaland - Where west meets east

[malevlolka 0]

After my first - and failed - attempt of creating a cool cj, I decided to build a new one. So, 3... 2... 1...

Welcome to the Federal Republic of Aaland Islands.

Hitler’s Germany has conquered pretty large areas in Northern Europe during the Second World War. Though the country’s lost the war, some of its territories remained parts of the state, until the birth of the GDR, the former East Germany. The Soviet Union required some of the newly invaded territories of the enlarged Germany, at the same time when the division of Germany took place. Most of those regions that Germany invaded during the war have reunited with the state they formerly were a part of. The only exception was the current area of Aaland, a group of islands mainly populated by Finns, and - due to the post-WWII history – Germans. Although nowadays Aaland is one of Europe’s most dynamically developing countries, the state has still too much heritage left from the years of socialism.

>>

The birth and the first three decades of the Nord-Deutsche Demokratische Republik

As a result of the new bipolar political system, Aaland has become a part of the East. Since during the war thousands of Germans have fled to these peaceful islands, it seemed to be a logical step for the Soviet Union to unite the islands with the GDR. Negotiations have been started with the West, and as a result of these talks – obviously following the Western countries’ military and political interest – the NGDR haven’t become a part of the GDR. In the 1950s important ties have developed between the two socialist “Germanys”, in terms of economical, political and military questions. The NGDR became the Eastern Block’s second “display window”; in practice it meant, that serious effort has been put into making the country a socialist “paradise”. Just as anywhere in Eastern Europe, at the beginning of the 1970s economic growth slowed down in the NGDR too, and after the first oil-shock, the standard of living could only be kept at the former grade by taking up trust from the West. The NGDR has become so heavily indebted until the mid-eighties that the country’s economy collapsed.

>Halfway between socialism and capitalism

After the economic crisis of 1985 the socialist economic system wasn’t operable anymore, serious changes had to take place. In 1986 the first laws have taken effect about privately owned firms. In practice it meant, that anyone could set up an own firm, unless it employed more then 20 employees. Until 1987 socialism, as an economic-system, has vanished in the country, but the political-system has remained unchanged. Although careful steps have been made, to follow Mikhail Gorbachev’s “glasnost” program and to try to modernize socialism to make it more attractive as a political system, only little development has been achieved until the fall of communism in Eastern Europe at the turn of 1980s and 1990s.>

>>Integration into the “New Europe”

In October 1989, the country’s official name was changed to Federal Republic of Aaland Islands, and the new flag and coat of arms was introduced. In 1990, the country joined the European Union as an affiliate member (due to the country’s strong relations with the former GDR, and the new united Germany). Some of the states economic problems are still unsolved, but the crisis, which began in 1985, was over by 1994. In 2000 the country officially joined the European Union, and this act led to fantastic economic growth, which resulted a great jump in the standard of living.

 

Facts:

Territory:

[Schulmanator 5,810]

This has an interesting concept behind it. I am curious to see what you do with this CJ

[yoder7652 21]

looks good so far and I like your story

[emilin 2]

Actually, this looks much more interesting than the real history of

[J.A.M 0]

WOW! This looks, well, fantastic! I can't wait for the ingame pics!

-Aaron M.

[jacqulina 162]

great start and intro looking forward to more

[malevlolka 0]

First of all, i'm really sorry for the simleys in the thread starter, i just can't figure out, how I could paste a text without such problems.

Replies:

Schulmanator: Well, believe me, no one else can be more curious about how this cj will look like in the end than me

yoder7652: Thank you

emilin: Though I've never been to Aaland, I've been right at its neigbourhood, in Stockholm. Great city, btw, but somehow Scandinavia is not something for me

J.A.M: Thank you very much, i'm afraid i'll have to do my best, to meet your expectations.

jacqulina: Thx, I'll try to post my first update in a few days, but you know... life

First update: Stolzbai.

[J.A.M 0]

I must be neive. I thought it was realistic fiction like some other Cjs. I just looked Aland on Wikipedia ( a secondary source, but highly unreliable) and i'm seeing pictures of it. The country looks well lovely and my expectations just went from a 8.4 (on the Aaron's Likable Scale (-10.0 to 10.0)) from a 124.8!

-AaronM.

[malevlolka 0]

Well, i hope i can meet all your expectations. Actually i'm getting worried

And of course: thx.

[RushHourFreak 1]

I like the idea so far. This starting shows a person with the enthusiasm. This Cj has the potential, an excellent theme.

Wishing you all the luck

RHF

[pipishere 3]

Looks good! Looking forward to seeing more soon.

[JaneJacobs 1]

Cool graphics, looking forward to seeing the city.

[malevlolka 0]

Well, the first pic of the city Stolzbai. If everything goes right, the first update will be online by weekend. Let's keep fingers crossed

Replies:

RushHourFreak: Thank you, actually i'm really satisfied with the start of my cj, especially the background story - i'm really proud of it, i've spent a whole night with writing it.

pipishere: Thank you.

JaneJacobs: Thx, the truth is that i'm still learning how to use Photoshop, so it will take time for me to perfect my technology.

[jacqulina 162]

i am looking forward to your update when you can and i sure do know RL

[PavSek 1]

Nice picture, really like it. The story is great too Looking forward to seeing more pics!

[malevlolka 0]

Stolzbai

green areas: residental

red areas: commercial

brown areas: industrial

Degerby was among the first villages where Germans fled, after the German army invaded Aaland during the second World War. As Degerby's population has jumped to several thousands from the former few hundreds, the town has become one of the most important populated areas in Aaland. In 1949, when the NGDR was founded, the city was renamed Stalinstadt, and wore this name until 1960, when changes took place in the country's government, and the former Stalin-friend leaders left the PSV (Partei der Sozialistischen Vereinigung - the only party in the country during the years of socialism). The city got the new name "Stolzbai".

During the 1960's the government invested huge amount of money into developing industry, and Stolzbai became one centre of these developements.

Nowadays about 60000 people live in the city, which means a slight decline in the number of inhabitants. The current mayor is called Jürgen Scwarz and is a member of the LPA (Liberale Partei Aaland).

 

And a bit of Stolzbai's nightlife...

Sorry, for the short update, I only had time to post these two pictures yet, but I'll try to add a few more until weekend.

[petriknl 15]

mm a harbourcity with a liberal mayor? Very unusual, mostly due to the large numbers of common people the left parties are the largest, parties in that kind of towns. Nice update btw!

[malevlolka 0]

Replies:

jacqulina: Thank you, for your comment, yeah, RL sucks

PavSek: Thank you PavSek, i'm still working on this city, so I need a bit more time to present you more images, but if evrything goes well, tomorrow i'll post another update consisting two pics.

petriknl: I suppose, in general, you're right ,but actually I'm from Hungary, and politics, you know... here are a little bit "capsized" I mean, that we have a party that is officially on the right, but has an absolute leftist program, and the same is true for the leftist parties (they have a rightist program). Funny isn't it? And about liberal parties: in Hungary we only have a leftist liberal party, though it sound nonsense.

In Stolzbai the liberal mayor has been elected right after the liberal party LPA has won the elections, and it's quite a common affect, that after the elections the popularity of those parties that have won the elections rises. Otherwise, Stolzbai is also an important business centre of Aaland, therefore Aaland has many of those white collar workers too.

And thank you for reply.

[Schulmanator 5,810]

Interesting. A well done update. You are fleshing this area out well with great detail - in pix and words both.

[thundercrack83 0]

Very good work. I love the history and backstory with the Cold War politics and everything. Stolzbai looks great, too! Keep up the good work!

[RHMgerards 7]

looks really cool!! looking forward for another european cj. will be here for the next update!!

[malevlolka 0]

This time we make a little trip to downtown Stolzbai, where - among many other important buildings, that i'll show you later - the state hospital, and a Aaland Verlag's headquarters are located. The letter is owned by one of Aaland's biggest companies, which was founded in 1951. It's main profile is publishing books and magazines, but since 1997 they also publish cds and some dvds.

[malevlolka 0]

Replies:

Schulmanator: Thx. As soon as i have a bit more free time, i'll look trough your cj.

thundercrack83: I'll try , promise.

natuurzoon: Well, here it is. Hope you enjoy.

And to all you, who have already replied: thank you, i hope you'll follow the story of Aaland.

[jacqulina 162]

excellent work you are doing and i love the pics

[malevlolka 0]

Thank you jacqulina, i'm trying to "work" faster, but i always spend a lot of time trying to find the right angle for the photos and stuff. Anyway, next update on saturday.

[RushHourFreak 1]

Excellent pictures and descriptions. The buildings are nice, and you have done a great work with seawalls. Very interesting map, Very well done, it actually reflects the native geography of the place you are tellikng, fiords, bays.

Well done.

RHF

[RHMgerards 7]

you keep showing more of the city. looks very good already!! will be here for some more!!

[TheSixCents 0]

WOW.. You are very talented! Keep up the great work!

[malevlolka 0]

Replies:

RushHourFreak: I really like to use seawalls, sometimes even too much of them. Btw, your cj is just awesome

natuurzoon: Well, as i've already written, next update should be online by saturday evening (CET), so come back and as always: all your comments are welcome And, well, I've fallen in love with your cj

TheSixCents: Your cj is just fabolous  I like it very much.

[J.A.M 0]

I'm backkkkkkkk! Hey malevlolka! I really liked the buses and trams from the previous update! Also nice use of walls (there jeronji aren't they?) and building placement. This looks very profssional made and I really like your use of photoshop! (It may seem simple, but I to me its the work of an artist). Sorry for not posting (harrasing) earlier.

Au revoir Aaron!

P.S I'll see you in court!