History YMMV / KaiserreichLegacyOfTheWeltkrieg

** Assuming they win, do the Combined Syndicates seek to preserve American culture and reinterpret its national identity in a socialist lens, or do they seek to tear down the American national identity altogether and create a new one in its stead?[[note]]An in-depth look at leftist history in the real world posits that the former interpretation is more likely, with most socialists of the game's era describing a socialist America as fulfilling the aims of both the American Revolution and the Union's goals in the American Civil War. Even among the Totalists, Earl Browder was notorious OTL for American nationalism and William Foster, who would be the most open to forging a completely new national identity, had a far more nuanced view of American history OTL than most modern leftists; and in general the Comintern itself sought to [[https://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/dimitrov/works/1935/08_02.htm reconcile]] Communist ideals with PatrioticFervor among the working Class during the popular Front period. The extremely negative view of American history and culture on the modern American left is a [[NewerThanTheyThink recent phenomenon]] tied to the growth of critical re-evaluations of American history on anti-racist and anti-colonialist (particular anti-settler colonialist) lines that slowly emerged since the 1960s.[[/note]]

** Assuming they win, do the Combined Syndicates seek to preserve American culture and reinterpret its national identity in a socialist lens, or do they seek to tear down the American national identity altogether and create a new one in its stead?[[note]]An in-depth look at leftist history in the real world posits that the former interpretation is more likely, with most socialists of the game's era describing a socialist America as fulfilling the aims of both the American Revolution and the Union's goals in the American Civil War. Even among the Totalists, Earl Browder was notorious OTL for American nationalism and William Foster, who would be the most open to forging a completely new national identity, had a far more nuanced view of American history OTL than most modern leftists. The extremely negative view of American history and culture on the modern American left is a [[NewerThanTheyThink recent phenomenon]] tied to the growth of critical re-evaluations of American history on anti-racist and anti-colonialist (particular anti-settler colonialist) lines that slowly emerged since the 1960s.[[/note]]

* MisaimedFandom: While National France is framed by the developers as the TokenEvilTeammate of the Entente even in their best path due to the fact that said paths continue the colonial subjugation of Northern Africa, many of their leaders serving in the Vichy regime OTL, and their path offering the most autonomy for the colonies ultimately creating a far-right antisemitic absolutist monarchy. A vocal chunk of fans, particularly those with a negative opinion of socialism, see National France as preferable to the Commune or at worst as ALighterShadeOfBlack to the Commune. This often takes the form of projecting conditions and behavior from individuals and groups existing OTL onto Kaiserreich (ie: the perception that not even the French far-left had OTL was supportive of decolonization and that France partook in the Cold War as a on-and-off member of NATO and didn't veer far to the right), or claiming (albeit not without reason) that some of the worst paths for the Commune also involves OTL Nazi collaborators and French Fascists coming to prominance there.

* MisaimedFandom: While National France is framed by the developers as the TokenEvilTeammate of the Entente even in their best path due to the fact that said paths continue the colonial subjugation of Northern Africa, many of their leaders serving in the Vichy regime OTL, and the their path offering the most autonomy for the colonies ultimately creating a far-right antisemitic absolutist monarchy. A vocal chunk of fans, particularly those with a negative opinion of socialism, see National France as preferable to the Commune or at worst as ALighterShadeOfBlack to the Commune. This often takes the form of projecting conditions and behavior from individuals and groups existing OTL onto Kaiserreich (ie: the idea that not even the French far-left had savoury views regarding colonialism, that France partook in the Cold War as a on-and-off member of NATO and didn't veer far to the right), or claiming (albeit not without reason) that some of the worst paths for the Commune also involves OTL Nazi collaborators and French Fascists coming to prominance there.

* MisaimedFandom: While National France is framed by the developers as the TokenEvilTeammate of the Entente even in their best path due to the fact that said paths continue the colonial subjagation of Northern Africa, the fact that many of their leaders served in the Vichy regime OTL, and that a vocal chunk of fans, particuarly those with a negative opinion of socialism, see National France as preferable to the Commune or at worst as ALighterShadeOfBlack to the Commune. This often takes the form of projecting conditions and behavior from individuals and groups existing OTL onto Kaiserreich (ie: the idea that not even the French far-left had savory views regarding colonialism, that France partook in the Cold War as a on-and-off member of NATO and didn't veer far to the right), or claiming (albeit not without reason) that some of the worst paths for the Commune also involves OTL Nazi collaborators and French Fascists coming to prominance there.

* AmericansHateTingle: Not the mod itself, but some of the Latin American paths are not well regarded by Latin American players, in part due to the mod buffing up and outright misinterpreting movements that were long defunct by the time of the mod's starting date (in particular the Liga Patriotica in Argentina) and seeing choices for leaders and paths as particular odd (like Rafael Franco as leader of Totalist Paraguay). This has escalated with claims that some of these more questionable choices for leaders may have influenced Paradox itself to misinterpret them with their upcoming Latin American country pack, that some see as taking inspiration from Kaiserreich to its detriment in this regard.

** The Internationale: Are they (if not totalist) a genuinely benevolent socialist alternative to capitalism or are they revenge-seeking totalitarian warmongering dictatorships from the get go, with Totalism being only an extension of an already brutal system. How one feels about the Internationale may be based on how one feels about socialism in the real world and if it can be divorced from Stalinism/Marxism-Leninism.
** The Entente: Are they defenders of democracy banished from their homes by their enemies, or imperialistic sore losers one step away from outright National Populism? Again, as with the Internationale, it may depend on how one feels about actual history, in particular the legacy of British Imperialism. That said, the devs themselves somewhat lean to the latter interpretation, noting that the exiles have little popular support in both Canada and the home islands, and would likely have to resort to repression postwar to regain power, and that they'd eagerly align with a reactionary or [[PuttingOnTheReich Savinkovite Russia]] to stop the Internationale in the wake of a Internationale victory in Europe.

** Assuming they win, do the Combined Syndicates seek to preserve American culture and reinterpret its national identity in a socialist lens, or do they seek to tear down the American national identity altogether and create a new one in its stead?[[note]]An in-depth look at leftist history in the real world posits that the former interpretation is more likely, with most socialists of the game's era describing a socialist America as fulfilling the aims of both the American Revolution and the Union's goals in the American Civil War. Even among the Totalists, Earl Browder was notorious OTL for American nationalism and William Foster, who would be the most open to forging a completely new national identity, had a far more nuanced view of American history OTL than most modern leftists. The extremely negative view of American history and culture on the modern American left is a [[NewerThanTheyThink recent phenomenon]] tied to the growth of critical reevaluations of American history on anti-racist and anti-colonialist (particular anti-settler colonialist) lines that slowly emerged since the [=1960s=][[/note]]

** Oswald Mosley's Totalist faction in the Union of Britain may as well be considered the canon choice in who gets to end up ruling, largely due the MemeticMutation shown below, his boosts to military power and the sheer absurdity of an OTL fascist leading an authoritarian socialist state with Creator/GeorgeOrwell, (called Eric Blair in game) of all people, as an underling.

* MisaimedFandom: While National France is framed by the developers as the TokenEvilTeammate of the Entente even in their best path due to the fact that said paths continue the colonial subjagation of Northern Africa, the fact that many of their leaders served in the Vichy regime OTL, and that a vocal chunk of fans, particuarly those with a negative opinion of socialism, see National France as preferable to the Commune or at worst as ALighterShadeOfBlack to the Commune. This often takes the form of projecting conditions and behavior from individuals and groups existing OTL onto Kaiserreich(ie: the idea that not even the French far-left had savory views regarding colonialism, that France partook in the Cold War as a on-and-off member of NATO and didn't veer far to the right), or claiming(albeit not without reason) that some of the worst paths for the Commune also involves OTL Nazi collaborators and French Fascists coming to prominance there.

** Despite being the closest thing in the game to Fascism and Nazism in our timeline, National Populist routes are usually the most requested for the various countries with each update.

* AluminiumChristmasTrees: Lore reveals pertaining to the Union of Britain rework about the role of the police in the Union of Britain handling crime with a light touch and being relatively un-militarized might, on the surface, sound like leftist wish fulfillment about radically reforming, or outright abolishing the concept of policing in light of modern criticisms of American policing. Except that policing was always much more light handed in Britain historically due to the Peelian Principles that were laid down in the 1820s and the post revolutionary British government simply continued that tradition.

** The Entente: Are they defenders of democracy banished from their homes by their enemies, or imperialistic sore losers one step away from outright National Populism? Again, as with the Internationale, it may depend on how one feels about actual history, in particular the legacy of British Imperialism. That said, the devs themselves somewhat lean to the latter interpretation, noting that the exiles have little popular support in both Canada and the home islands, and would likely have to resort to repression postwar to regain power.

** The Entente: Are they defenders of democracy banished from their homes by their enemies, or imperialistic sore losers one step away from outright National Populism? Again, as with the Internationale, it may depend on how one feels about actual history, in particular the legacy of British Imperialism.

** Assuming they win, do the Combined Syndicates seek to preserve American culture and reinterpret its national identity in a socialist lens, or do they seek to tear down the American national identity altogether and create a new one in its stead?[[note]]An in-depth look at leftist history in the real world posits that the former interpretation is more likely, with most socialists of the game's era describing a socialist America as fulfilling the aims of both the American Revolution and the Union's goals in the American Civil War. Even among the Totalists, Earl Browder was notorious OTL for American nationalism and William Foster, who would be the most open to forging a completely new national identity, had a far more nuanced view of American history OTL than most modern leftists. An extremely negative view of American history and culture on the left is a [[NewerThanTheyThink recent phenomenon]] tied to the growth of critical reevaluations of American history on anti-racist and anti-colonialist (particular anti-settler colonialist) lines that slowly emerged since the [=1960s=][[/note]]

* AmericansHateTingle: Not the mod itself, but some of the Latin American paths are not well regarded by Latin American players, in part due to the mod buffing up and outright misinterpreting movements that were long defunct by the time of the mod starting date (in particular the Liga Patriotica in Argentina) and having choices for leaders and paths seen to be particular odd (like Rafael Franco as leader of Totalist Paraguay). There has been some claims that some of these more questionable choices for leaders may have influenced Paradox itself to misinterpret with their upcoming Latin American country pack.

** Assuming they win, do the Combined Syndicates seek to preserve American culture and reinterpret it's national identity in a socialist lens, or do they seek to tear down the American national identity altogether and create a new one in its' stead?[[note]]An in-depth look at leftist history in the real world posits that the former interpretation is more likely, with socialists back then positing a socialist America to be fulfilling the aims of both the American Revolution and the Union's goals in the American Civil War. Even among the Totalists, Earl Browder was notorious OTL for American nationalism and William Foster, who would be the most open to forging a completely new national identity, had a far more nuanced view of American history OTL than most modern leftists. The extremely negative view of American history and culture on the left is a [[NewerThanTheyThink recent phenomenon]] tied to the growth of critical reevaluations of American history on anti-racist and anti-colonialist(particular anti-settler colonialist) lines that slowly emerged since the [=1960s=][[/note]]

** Assuming they win, do the Combined Syndicates seek to preserve American culture and reinterpret it's national identity in a socialist lens, or do they seek to tear down the American national identity altogether and create a new one in its' stead?[[note]]A in-depth look at leftist history in the real world posits that the former interpretation is more likely, with socialists back then positing a socialist America to be fulfilling the aims of both the American Revolution and the Union's goals in the American Civil War. Even among the Totalists, Earl Browder was notorious OTL for American nationalism and William Foster, who would be the most open to forging a completely new national identity, had a far more nuanced view of American history OTL than most modern leftists. The extremely negative view of American history and culture on the left is a [[NewerThanTheyThink recent phenomenon]] tied to the growth of critical reevaluations of American history on anti-racist and anti-colonialist(particular anti-settler colonialist) lines that slowly emerged since the [=1960s=][[/note]]

** Assuming they win, do the Combined Syndicates seek to preserve American culture and reinterpret it's national identity in a socialist lens, or do they seek to tear down the American national identity altogether and create a new one in its' stead?[[note]]A in-depth look at leftist history in the real world posits that the former interpretation is more likely, with socialists back then positing a socialist America to be fulfilling the aims of both the American Revolution and the Union's goals in the American Civil War. Even among the Totalists, Earl Browder was notorious for American nationalism and William Foster, who would be the most open to forging a completely new national identity, had a far more nuanced view of American history than most modern leftists. The extremely negative view of American history and culture on the left is a [[NewerThanTheyThink recent phenomenon]] tied to the growth of critical reevaluations of American history on anti-racist and anti-colonialist(particular anti-settler colonialist) lines that slowly emerged since the [=1960s=][[/note]]

** Assuming they win, do the Combined Syndicates seek to preserve American culture and reinterpret it's national identity in a socialist lens, or do they seek to tear down the American national identity altogether and create a new one in its' stead?[[note]]A in-depth look at leftist history in the real world posits that the former interpretation is more likely. Even among the Totalists, Earl Browder was notorious for American nationalism and William Foster, who would be the most open to forging a completely new identity, had a far more nuanced view of American history than you'd expect. The extremely negative view of American history and culture on the left is a [[NewerThanTheyThink recent phenomenon]] tied to the growth of critical reevaluations of American history on anti-racist and anti-colonialist(particular anti-settler colonialist) reinterpretations of the past that slowly emerged since the [=1960s=][[/note]]

** Assuming they win, do the Combined Syndicates seek to preserve American culture and reinterpret it's national identity in a socialist lens, or do they seek to tear down the American national identity altogether and create a new one in its' stead?[[note]]A in-depth look at leftist history in the real world posits that the former interpretation is more likely. Even among the Totalists, Earl Browder was notorious for American nationalism and William Foster, who would be the most open to forging a completely new identity, had a far more nuanced view of American history than you'd expect. The extremely negative view of American history and culture on the left is a [[NewerThanYouThink recent phenomenon]] tied to the growth of critical reevaluations of American history on anti-racist and anti-colonialist(particular anti-settler colonialist) reinterpretations of the past that slowly emerged since the [=1960s=][[/note]]

* CommonKnowledge: A very common interpretation of Totalism is that it is a [[CommieNazis purely-Red Brown]] ideology due to many of their leaders being OTL Fascists or authoritarian dictators and nationalists with almost nonexistent ties to authoritarian Communism, or do have ties with authoritarian Communism but are notoriously nationalistic OTL. This interpretation of Totalism usually comes with claims that the Kaiserreich developers are planning to move all authoritarian Communist and Marxist-Leninist Totalists to the radical socialist category. In reality however, what parties get the "totalist" slot is dependant on the geopolitical situation present in each country, with some countries having the totalist slot be represented by authoritarian Communists and others by either Red Fascists or more ideologically eclectic authoritarians.

* AmericansHateTingle: Not the mod itself, but some of the Latin American paths are not well regarded by Latin American players, in part due to the mod buffing up and outright misinterpreting movements that were long defunct by the time of the mod starting date (in particular the Liga Patriotica in Argentina) and having choices for leaders and paths seen to be particular odd (like Rafael Franco as leader of Totalist Paraguay).

* AmericansHateTingle: Not the mod itself, but some of the Latin American paths are not well regarded by Latin American players, in part due to the mod buffing up and outright misinterpreting movements that were long defunct by the time of the mod starting date(in particular the Liga Patriotica in Argentina) and having choices for leaders and paths seen to be particular odd(ie: Rafael Franco as leader of Totalist Paraguay).

** Mittelafrika Explosion for the collapse of Deutsch-Mittelafrika, due to its suddenness and the extreme amount of states created in its aftermath.

* CommonKnowledge: A very common interpretation of Totalism is that it is a [[CommieNazis purely-Red Brown]] ideology due to many of their leaders being OTL Fascists or authoritarian dictators and nationalists with almost nonexistent ties to authoritarian Communism, or do have ties with authoritarian Communism but are notoriously nationalistic OTL. This interpretation of Totalism is usually comes with claims that the Kaiserreich developers are planning to move all authoritarian Communist and Marxist-Leninist Totalists to the radical socialist category. In reality however, what parties get the "totalist" slot is dependant on the geopolitical situation present in each country, with some countries having the totalist slot be represented by authoritarian Communists and others by either Red Fascists or more ideologically eclectic authoritarians.

* AlternativeCharacterInterpretation: Happens very often to many characters and factions given the GreyAndGreyMorality setting of the mod. In fact, the player has the ability to ecounter these interpretations and validate them or not via event or focus tree.

* AlternateCharacterInterpretation: Happens very often to many characters and factions given the GreyAndGreyMorality setting of the mod. In fact, the player has the ability to ecounter these interpretations and validate them or not via event or focus tree.

** [[UsefulNotes/HueyLong Huey Long]] is one of the most popular characters in the Second American Civil War, mostly due his MemeticMutation phrases of E V E R Y M A N A K I N G and S H A R E T H E W E A L T H and despite begin the president of a resurgent DeepSouth Confederacy Expy, he has surprisingly progressive politics and a wealth redistribution program (The "Share the Wealth" program) that would be easily found by a social democratic government (although one infamous path has segregation in the South enforced even further.)

* SeinfeldIsUnfunny: During the [=HOI2=] era and the early years of [=HOI4=] as a game, Kaiserreich was the main big alternate history mod for the game because of its continuous development schedule keeping it in the fans' line of sight where other mods fizzled out over time. It was praised for its deep commitment to its lore and event chains where early alternatives presented only a token scenario to justify their gameplay without ever exploring the consequences of that scenario. It continued its momentum into the [=HOI4=] release, but other mods began development that others saw as being more willing to push the envelope such as VideoGame/TheNewOrderLastDaysofEurope and VideoGame/RedWorld that introduced a far different user interface, a more narrative focus and in general a far different experience. This in comparison to Kaiserreich, that has always used a near-vanilla [=UI=] and has for several years had many of its more fantastical yet popular elements (the Mad Baron and the T.E. Lawrence coup, just to name a couple) be retconned in favor of a more grounded, realistic approach to its lore. The mod continues to be perhaps the most popular full conversion [=HOI4=] mod, but detractors see it as stale in comparison to newer alternatives.