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Trilogy The Revision is an alternative history novel, written by Croatian author Karlo Kimer, wherein Central Powers won World War I. Trilogy consists of three novels: The Last Pastimes (German: Die letzten Zeitvertreibe; Croatian: Posljednje razbibrige), The Valley of Mosaics (German: Im Mosaiktal; Croatian: U dolini mozaika), United and Divided (German: Vereinigte und entzweite; Croatian: Ujedinjeni i razjedinjeni. The story of trilogy is narrated by main character himself Ludwig Löwenberg from Osijek (German: Essegg; Hungarian: Eszék), fourth class gymnasium student, in his desire to become one day a journalist. Novels are set during 1936 and 1937 across the Hapsburg Monarchy, mainly in Kingdom of Illyria and Austrian Empire, but also in Italian Federation, French Commune, German Empire and Kingdom of Spain as the part of Ludwig’s military service.

The trilogy’s main focus is on main character’s pursuit to evade something which is already planned for his life by his father and father’s war comrades-in-arms (to be a military officer) and he pursues his own life revision, in order to achieve his dreams. His struggle against already established family compromise is a metaphor of the same Monarchy (divided in five states), which he lives in, a Monarchy which was firstly created by the 1867 Compromise, commonly named Austria-Hungary, but after winning the war and after ever increasing dissent among other nations, revised but unfinished Monarchy was created in 1927, a Monarchy which still suffers from internal dissent among all other nations, who didn’t gain their own autonomy. Entirety of his family is a depiction of postwar Hapsburg Monarchy which can be seen in many instances throughout the novels. Children in family Löwenberg, just like Hapsburg nations, struggle against society’s and parents’ predetermined fates and seek their own place in the world, through compromise or separation.

The novels also introduce two constructed languages as language is considered as the main obstacle in reunification and further federalization of Hapsburg Monarchy, in order to evade accusation of using a language of dominant nation within Monarchy. With the desire to construct language which doesn’t belong to any nation, but yet belongs to everyone within Monarchy, Novalatina and Danubian language were constructed. Novalatina is a revised language of original Latin, striping him from all verb conjugations, using only two genders, using consistent and phonemic phonology, but retaining noun declensions etc. Regarded as a form of Italian language, but with far more Latin and Ancient Roman influence, Novalatina is primarily used by Austrian military in order to evade language barriers within its ranks and solve problems which crippled Austrian army during Great War. On the other hand, Danubian language was created by intellectual and academical elite from various parts of Monarchy. Danubian language is a blend of various languages of Monarchy, primarily German, Italian, Hungarian and Slavs’ languages. A language without verb conjugations and noun declensions, with vocabulary which is known to most of peoples of Monarchy, simple grammar and short period of learning, it was designed to be everyone’s second language and primary official language of, what is to become, Danubian Federation.

Background
The title Revision primarily derives from established Austro-Hungarian Compromise (German: Ausgleich, Croatian: Nagodba) from 1867, when it was stated that every ten years two sides should revise the Compromise, if needed. Because of internal political, economic strives and also external threats, and semi-successful-failed revision from 1927, a new revision is needed, which will finally decide the fate of Hapsburg Empire, a reorganized Federation, where every nation has its own federal entity or complete collapse. But also, a word “revision” also is used when it comes to lives of novels’ characters where lives of young men and women are already predetermined by their parents and society. In other to fight against it, a revision of their predetermined lives is needed or a complete separation from their family will occur.

The title of first novel The Last Pastimes regards to final school semester of the main character and his friends and transition from childhood to adulthood. Because after school mainly followed military service, characters in first novel have their last carefree and responsibility free period of their lives before stepping into military shoes.

The title of second novel The Valley of Mosaics regards to the military service which is primarily set in Po valley around lake Garda in Veneto, part of Austrian Empire. It also regards to various types of nations, people, way of thinking and living inside reconquered valley where there are native Italians in Veneto, Italian emigrants from Italian Federation and Socialist Republic of Italy, German and Austrian war veterans who are settled in valley, but mainly the word “mosaics” regards to multinational and multilingual imperial army of the Monarchy where soldiers of dozens nations are put together in military service where a small town of Malcesine reflects entire Monarchy.

The title of third novel United and Divided regards to the nature of this alternate timeline, where there are more civil war and internal struggles than wars between countries and nations. Some nations have united themselves, while the others have divided themselves. That also can be implied in lives of novels’ characters where there are several instances of unification, reunion and re-encounter among them, but also division, separation and alienation.

The main objective of this trilogy is to offer a new way of looking at World War I, which is mostly shadowed by the World War II and its consequences. Trilogy offers a world without extreme regimes of Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy and Soviet Union and known challenges to the world, but also includes and brings ideas such as rise of syndicalism in the West instead of communism in the East, emphasis on struggle between Reds, who claimed homeland, and Whites, who mostly lost their homeland, in majority of world, rise of Africa as a pan-continental unit, USA’s downfall to civil war and its loss of influence in Latin America, survival of Hapsburg and Ottoman Empire, Ottoman presence in Middle East and Germany’s way of handling world’s problems.

The year 1936 was chosen for several reasons, most of them are connected even by our timeline. Firstly, it was one year before the main event in Hapsburg Monarchy, that of Revision, and it was necessary for that period of time to explain current situation withing Monarchy and what is necessary in order to successfully federate and transform Monarchy into a more stable and compact state. Secondly, 1936 was a year when main character finishes his school education and begins his military service. Thirdly and more related to our timeline, there are several key historical events that also happened in our timeline. King of Canada George V died in January 1936 and he was succeeded by his son Edward VIII at king’s position. But unlike in our timeline, Edward VIII stayed at his throne and plays vital role as the revengeful leader of Entente, firmly resolute to return to British Isles and destroy British Republic, and together with Winston Churchill they transformed Canada in some form of authoritarian regime, vowed to destroy syndicalism and return home island.

Also, 1936 was the electoral year in USA for presidential position and driving point of civil struggle and strives, which ultimately will culminate in all out civil war. During 1936 another civil war started in Kingdom of Spain, just like in our timeline, but in this timeline the war was fought between three sides, Carlists led by prince Xavier de Bourbon-Parma, Nationalist led by Francisco Franco and Syndicalist led by the FAI, The Iberian Anarchist Federation.

The year 1936 was also remembered as the Olympic year, when Olympic games were organized in Berlin, Germany, just like in our timeline. But instead of showing racial and ideological superiority, alternate Olympic games were remembered for competition between athletes from Internationale’s and Entente’s countries, which is a prelude to the future conflicts leaving Germany and Austrian Monarchy as mere and ordinary bystanders.

Alternate timeline setting
In trilogy The Revision Central Powers had won World War I and German Empire became dominant power in Europe, Africa and in South East Asia. In our timeline Germany’s defeat was secured mostly by the USA’s entering in war, but in novel’s alternative timeline USA had remained neutral giving Central Powers a chance for a win. The World War I was fought mainly in the same manner just as it was in our timeline all the way to Russian defeat and Treaty of Brest-Litovsk in the beginning of 1918, but the main difference is Germany’s abandoning of unrestricted submarine warfare and tendency to avoid USA’s entering in the war. Because of that, after Russia’s defeat and her entering in civil war, Germany didn’t have to rush in ending the war and decided to extract and capitalize newly acquired territories on the East (Baltic states, White Ruthenia, Ukraine), where all newly created states were satellites of Germany. The “Great potato and grain wonder” from Ukraine and White Ruthenia influenced heavily on Germany’s and Austria-Hungary’s lack of food, which saved their civilians from starvation and gave Central Powers breathing space for preparing their final offensive. German Kaiserschlacht in spring and summer 1918 didn’t happen like in our timeline. Alternative 1918 was marked as the final series of Entente’s offensive in West, Italian and Macedonian fronts. British and French used new mechanized units, tanks and armored vehicles, and new combined arms tactics, involving infantry, vehicles and plains. Although initial attacks were successful, Germany managed to stand against united offensive during summer and autumn, crippling Entente’s offensive capabilities, but also with her own heavy losses. Austria-Hungary also managed to hold against Italians troops, primarily thanks to heavily fortified mountain forts in Alps, which stopped Italians from further offensives, but also thanks to highly motivated Slovenian and Croatian troops, determined to defend their territories against Italian pretensions and to secure and ensure that emperor Karl’ s promise, that of reorganizing the Empire, is fulfilled.

After the successful defensive strategy of Central Powers in 1918, Germany and Austria-Hungary had decided to plan and organize their offensive against France and Italy in spring 1919, respectively. Mimicking and upgrading British and French offensive tactics of combined arms in 1918, Central Powers managed to produce enough quantity of tanks, vehicles, attack planes, bombers and small arms, mostly sub-machine guns in form of MP-18, which was regarded as a sub-machine gun that defeated France. The offensive wasn’t fast as expected and it was prolonged to autumn 1919, especially in France, but in Italy, Austro-Hungarian offensive, aided by the Germans, was far more effective and after breaking the Po Line in late spring of June, Italian troops began to flee and desert, which enabled Austrians to pierce all the way to Rome, which fell on 1 August 1919 and Kingdom of Italy was forced to capitulate unconditionally, but leaving Southern Italy mostly intact and ripe for peasant revolution.

Offensive against France went in slow pace but in July Paris was already under siege. In that moment, influenced by the October Revolution in Russia, French syndicalist movement CGT (General Confederation of Labor), organized strikes and riots across all of France and great majority of front-line soldiers sided with revolutionaries. While the British forces held their positions, French soldiers were leaving theirs, which enabled German troops to march to southern France and Rhone Valley. Fearing from total German occupation, French government capitulated on 4 October and was forced to sign armistice, ensuring Germany all French colonies except those in Northern Africa, which were regarded as part of French homeland. French provisional government couldn’t stop the ever-growing dissent among French population, who sided with CGT. Soon, more reactionary forces of Jacobines, far left extremists, appeared and began to use Bolshevik tactics of terror to force provisional government to surrender. Fearing from total civil war, CGT took all state institutions and proclaimed itself as sole executive power in France, which resulted in proclamation of French Commune on 1 December 1919. A brief civil war erupted between syndicalist forces and white forces of Philippe Pétain, who ultimately was forced to withdraw with his loyal generals and officers, mostly anti-revolutionaries, in remaining African colonies, which became as last remnants of Third Republic, now Fourth Republic, which became a military dictatorship.

Copying Russian and French model, Italians also started their own socialist revolution across all of Italy, especially in the South where Austrians didn’t have their presence, unlike in North. The Reds proclaimed Socialist Republic of Italy on 1 May 1920 and started to spread their revolution to the North. Newly organized Italian Federation, an alliance of Italian principalities, with the help of Austrian troops, managed to defend Rome and crush internal revolutionary brigades in the North. Italian civil war ended on 31 January 1922 with the armistice.

When it comes to the continuation of Great War, only Central Powers and United Kingdom, and its dominions and allies, remained. Much of 1920 was marked by the German and Austrian aid to the Bulgarians in the Balkans and Ottomans in the Middle East. Greece fell and capitulated quickly because French troops retreated from Macedonian front. After conquering Iraq and Syria, British were in 1919 on verge of Ottoman capitulation, but arrival of German troops, thanks to Berlin-Baghdad railway now fully operated, pushed the British back to Egypt and Ottomans managed to retrieve all of its lost territories. The German advance, now heavily mechanized and refreshed with Ottoman oil, pushed British across Suez Canal, managing to capture it and even to incite Egyptian government to proclaim its independence from the British. Fearing from further German advance in Africa, British Prime Minister Lloyd George proposed a peace treaty, which was signed on 1 January 1921 in Amsterdam. With the Treaty of Amsterdam, Entente was forced to recognize all German territorial gains during the war, mostly in Middle East, and to return fallen German colonies in Africa and Asia.

In parallel with the offensives in 1920, Germany and Austria-Hungary, now with freshly organized and trained Ruthenian and Ukrainian troops, entered in Russia in order to stop Bolshevism, which was regarded as far more dangerous and extreme ideology than syndicalist. Soon, Petrograd and Moscow were in the hands of White forces, and provisional government of Alexander Kerensky, who was in earlier years against the peace, agreed to acknowledge the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk and therefore a Russian Republic was proclaimed but reduced in territories because Cossacks, with the aid of Germans, proclaimed their own republic, and also Kazakhs and Turkic nations of Central Asia proclaimed their own independent states. Japan also created its own satellite state of Primorsk around Vladivostok and Mongolians under Roman von Ungern-Sternberg conquered territories around lake Baikal. Most of White factions acknowledged Kerensky’s government, while some defected to Cossack Republic or even Primorsk.

Germany was victorious and needed to secure its newly acquired African and Asian territories from the French. German navy, after years of blockade and collecting dust in harbors, began to secure German position in world, leading to intervention in Chinese civil war and restoration of Qing Empire in northern China and creation of puppet state Republic of China in southern China.

United Kingdom was heavily influenced by the loss of French ally in Paris, where syndicalist government was hostile to capitalist and imperialist Britain. With the loss of Suez Canal and much of previously dominant markets, now taken by the Germans, United Kingdom fell in great depression, dissent and animosity to conservative government, which began to use repressive tools against population. British economy crumbled and prices of consumer and industrial goods rose up, just like unemployment. Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin ordered military to suppress strikes and riots during 1925 and 1926 and the strike of Welsh miners in April 1926 was prevented with gunshots, which led to all out revolution against government and royal family. On 14 July 1926 Trade Union Congress proclaimed British Republic and expelled White forces out from country. Government, royal family, military, navy and hefty number of industrialists escaped from Britain to Canada, which was then elevated to Kingdom of Canada. The British Revolution was commonly thought that it was orchestrated by the French Commune, but also by the German Empire.

Most of the British Empire collapsed. Germany took all African and South East Asia. India fell apart from syndicalist revolution in the East and prince’s separatism in the South. Entente managed only to hold western part of India.

The British Revolution influenced heavily the USA who endured economically for three years, but in 1929 fell in Great Depression, far more destructive than in our timeline, because of loss of European, African, but also Asian markets in favor of Germany. This resulted in all out abandoning of Monroe doctrine, which resulted in syndicalist revolution across Latin America. Mexico was already a syndicalist country, led by Emilio Zapata and Pancho Villa and decided, with French aid, to spread revolution to entirety of Latin America. Like dominoes, government fell from North to South. Countries in Central America (Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Panama) united themselves in United States of Centroamerica. The Great Latin Revolution continued and countries of Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay and even Brazil, fell into disarray. Governments of those countries fell and civil war erupted between revolutionaries and military. Brazil was first greater country that successfully embraced syndicalism and together with Bolivia, began to influence Paraguay and Uruguay. In 1932 Great Southern American War erupted between right-wing Argentina and left-wing Brazil and Bolivia. Argentina managed to expel Brazilians and Bolivians and incorporate Paraguay and Uruguay in La Plata Federation, led by military junta. La Plata’s military, with some German aid, influenced civil strives of other Latin American countries and helped Chilean, Peruvian, Ecuadorian and Colombian militaries to regain power and suppress revolution by the end of 1935.

When it comes to Austria-Hungary, after the Great War Croatia joined into Austrian part of Monarchy because Hungarians rejected the idea of giving southern Slavs more autonomy. Austrians ultimately managed to reorganized their part of Monarchy in 1927, by giving Bohemia, Galicia-Lodomeria and newly named Illyria autonomy and same status as Hungary. Although successful at first, this revision didn’t solve internal struggles. In Galicia-Lodomeria Poles and Ukrainians fought over supremacy, just like Czechs and Germans in Bohemia, and Croats, Serbs and Bosnians, a nation created by the Austrians with divide et impera policy, in Illyria. Also, in Hungary, Slovaks and Romanians were still suppressed by the Hungarian government, and Italians and Slovenes still didn’t have their own federal unit within Monarchy. Because of that, Revision of 1927 was just a temporally solution and further reorganization of Monarchy was needed, in order to secure her survival in Germany’s dominated Europe.

The year is 1936 and world is in turmoil. Once strong and dominant German Empire is paying its price for over-extension and rapid expansion during 1920s, heading directly towards economic crisis. Monarchy is also in turmoil because a new revision is going to happen next year, which will decide whether nations of Monarchy will unite in one strong Federation or will they crumble and finish of the Hapsburg Empire. Russian Republic, after fifteen years of Kerensky’s rule, has no ambition and heading, which enables other political, reactionary forces to take place instead of him and re-institute Russian Empire or, on the other hand, Neo-soviet Russia.

Syndicalist states are on their rise and are organized in Internationale, a military, political and economic alliance between French Commune, Socialist Republic of Italy and British Republic. Thinking that German Empire and its own military alliance Mitteleuropa is Internationale’s nemesis is false, because true Internationale’s nemesis is Entente, which is now led by revengeful Kingdom of Canada and Fourth French Republic, vowing to destroy Red’s forces and regain native territories.

USA is obliterated by the Great Depression and reelection of Herbert Hoover in 1932, thanks to German influence, instead of Franklin D. Roosevelt. Many USA’s states are having separatist tendency, believing that federal government has no capabilities to bring back old prosperity. In USA new political platforms and fronts are forming. Diverse in economical and urban development, way of life and thinking, geographical distances, they are bringing USA on verge of collapse. Syndicalist movements are gaining upper hand and momentum in northern part of USA, mainly in industrial cities like New York, Pittsburgh, Chicago and Philadelphia. States in New England have tendency towards Canadian sphere of influence, fearing that their wealth and prosperity could be taken by syndicalist or federalist. In the South, most of states didn’t forget the Civil War from 1861 and there are more and more politicians who are willing to risk federal integrity and authority by resolving economic crisis on state’s level, which then leads to reconsideration that the old alliance of southern state should be brought once again. On the other hand, on the Pacific, California leads the movement to separate itself from Federation, just like Texas, who fears above all from Mexican syndicalist revolution. Therefore, USA is on verge of collapse and another civil war, but not between two sides, but rather between multiple sides as USA is now no more a melting pot of various cultures and ideas into one, but rather in many variations. Everything now relies on presidential elections where there will be more than two candidates and if none of candidates overrule the others, civil war and separation will surely follow.

In Europe, just like in USA, Kingdom of Spain is on verge of civil war, just like in our timeline, but this time new political options have risen. Spanish government now has to fight internally against two foes, syndicalist and separatist movement, helped by French Commune, in Catalonia and Aragon and also Carlist movement in northern Spain, aided by Entente, in order to replace “false” king, who is backed by the German regime.

In Africa, Germany’s largest colony Mittelafrica grows stronger and also bigger where Mittelafrica’s elites want to unite whole Africa, south of Sahara, under their rule, using absence of national awareness of many African people’s and promoting Panafrican ideas. Latin America is one verge of war between left-wing syndicalist states and right-wing military junta states. In Asia, China is once again on verge of civil strife and renewed republican ideas of united China are emerging. But Japan, after establishing White Peace with Germany in 1921, wants its own place under the Sun and continues its imperial ambitions in China, Manchuria, Pacific and Russia.

The world now wants to exploit the fall of old empires, that of Great Britain, France and USA, and ever-growing weakness of German Empire, which can’t gain influence and authority over the entirety of globe. League of Nations doesn’t exist and conflicts cannot be prevented easily.

Characters
Ludwig Löwenberg – 18-year-old protagonist of Austrian and German origin, who after gymnasium becomes military officer as Unterjäger in Austrian army, mainly thanks to his father efforts and connections, and later in third book he becomes a gendarme in Vienna, thanks to major Karl Zinnerman and inspector Gustav Sicherfinder. Ludwig narrates and writes entire story, believing that it will help him one day to become journalist. The grammar, syntax, vocabulary and entire perception of his writing depends on his mood and motivation, but thanks to newspapers and events, readers are still introduced with less subjective news from the world. He is the most complex character as he rarely shows his true attentions and objectives, trying to relativize most of daily events, which may be interesting, but for him they are not. During the second and third book his main rival is his brother Matthias, believing with delusion that he is responsible for most of sufferings in their family. At the end, he reconciles with Matthias and together they strike at the main antagonist of the trilogy.

Patricia Löwenberg – 16-year-old Ludwig’s step-sister who goes to female gymnasium. She is daughter of Alexandra Löwenberg and, which is later revealed in third book, Karl Zinnerman, who sexually assaulted Alexandra during the war. Patricia is rather opposite from Ludwig. Straight forward in thinking, highly optimistic, enthusiastic and passionate about everything. She dreams to marry Ludwig one day and makes sure that he never abandons her dream.

Maximilian Löwenberg - father of Ludwig, Matthias and Eugen, also step-father of Patricia as she was adopted by him. He is a war veteran who lost two brothers in war and is highly dependent on alcohol. His main wish is to ensure the best future for his sons, primarily in military, which leads to several conflicts in the story.

Matthias Löwenberg – Ludwig’s 20-year-old brother who firstly served in Croatian Domobran army branch, believing that he is a Croat and not an Austrian German. He is characterized at the start as rebellious and trouble making, who despised everything about his family, believing that his mother Ingrid could never be replaced by the Alexandra. Later it is revealed that he is in love relationship with Alexandra, which caused him to run from his family. Later it is revealed that he was actually an infiltrator in Anti-Hapsburg factions, mainly in Illyria, working for Austrian Army as devoted patriot. Primarily, his main rival is major Karl Zinnerman, who wanted Matthias to become his main tool in Karl’s plans, but Matthias escaped from Karl’s influence when he found out about Karl’s crimes during the war. At the end, Matthias confronted Karl Zinnerman, together with Ludwig.

Eugen Löwenberg – Ludwig’s younger 15-year-old half-brother from father’s side. He is characterized as syndicalist and anarchist supporter, causing great disputed within family and making trouble. Despite his affections and ideology, he is extremely loyal to his family, mainly to Ludwig. Nevertheless, because of his rebellious attitude he succumbs to anti-social behavior.

Alexandra Löwenberg – Maximilian’s wife. She is born in Serbian village nearby Osijek and she is Patricia’s and Eugen’s mother. She is regarded as kind and caring person, despite her history and suffering, especially during the war, when her entire family was killed and her desecration. It is later revealed that she was in love relationship with Matthias.

Karl Zinnerman – a high ranking major in Austrian Imperial Army. During the war he served in every possible front, most notable in Italy, where he lost his wife and child to Italian artillery bombardment. He is Maximilian’s best friend and godfather of every Maximilian’s son. At first, he is described as benevolent, amiable and caring, wanting only good for Maximilian family, but during Ludwig’s military service it is revealed that he was using Ludwig for his own political ambitions, where Ludwig later became aware of Karl’s false kindness, manipulation, deceivement and lies. During the events of third book, Karl becomes main antagonist, although he was from the start of plot, just without everyone’s notice.

Gustav Sicherfinder – a high ranking military inspector in Austrian Imperial Gendarmerie. Just like Maximilian and Karl, he served with them in the same unit in the Great War. He also lost his wife and child, but much later during the accident on the river. Unlike Karl, who fueled himself with anger and hate, Gustav became extremely depressive and melancholic, losing appetite for ambition or eventual promotion, despite being more competent than Karl. He is loyal to Maximilian’s family and does everything in his power to help Maximilian and his sons.

Sandor Miklos – a Hungarian, who is one of the Ludwig’s best friends and companions. He takes hedonistic way of life and enjoys in food, drink and women. Despite being in rich family and in same gymnasium as Ludwig, Sandor is not an intellectual and she speaks and behaves like most of street youth. His entire education was bought by his father Attila, who was murdered under suspicious circumstances. Because of father’s death and desire for revenge, and also because he is obligated, Sandor joins Ludwig’s Jäger Company. Despite his rough appearance and behavior, he is one of the most loyal Ludwig’s companions.

Ljuban Grunwald – a German Jew, also a member of Ludwig’s company. In many ways he is similar to Ludwig, but lacks courage, decisiveness and resolution. That changes when he enters in military service, especially when he, before the service, married Fatima, a Palestinian girl. He joins military primarily to escape wrath of his and Fatima’s parents and to seek new life far away from Osijek. He is also a Zionist, believing in creation of Jewish state in Israel, but he is conflicted because of his love to Fatima and his realization of his ideals’ futility, mainly because Jews are well received and integrated part of Danubian society.

Fatima Grunwald – a Palestinian, whose parents forcibly escaped from Palestine during the war, after successful combined Ottoman and German offensive. She grew up in conservative family and her parents wanted to marry her for some Bosnian Muslim, named Aslan, who was also one of Ludwig’s classmates. Thanks to Ludwig’s and Gustav’s intervention and their revelation that Aslan and his “family” took false identities, Fatima was saved from the marriage and Ljuban took her along in military service as nurse. Because of her progressive and liberal ideas, and gained freedom, she enjoys in modern way of life. But her marriage with Ljuban causes several problems throughout the Trilogy, mostly because both of them were denounced by their parents and Ljuban’s naïve and sometimes childish, irresponsible behavior and attitudes.

Bogoljub Mandić – a Croat, who is also a last member of Ludwig’s closer companions. He is regarded as overly zealous, conservative and nationalistic, which makes him annoying, boring and highly irritating in his friends’ presence. Despite of his flows and problems, he remains loyal to his friends, although he receives occasionally punches from his companions for his behavior and words.

Hrvoje Robić – also known as Aslan, is a Croat from Herzegovina. Criminal and slave trader, he wanted to kidnap Fatima and sell her in Bosnia. He also is responsible for the death of Sandor’s father, as Attila Miklos was influential person in Osijek’s political and economic background. Hrvoje was successfully apprehended, but later escaped thanks to Matthias, with whom he joined to Croatian nationalistic revolutionary forces in Italy. In the events of third book, Sandor and Hrvoje had a clash in Spain, simultaneously with Ludwig’s and Matthias’ fight.

Beatrice Baldino – a Northern Italian waitress from Malcesine, with same age as Ludwig. She shows affections to Ludwig, but they always have extremely formal and gentlemen-lady like conversation, which was actually a form of courtship. She is regarded as an introvert, withdrawn and shy, never showing her true face or emotions, something which awakens Ludwig’s unwanted emotions.

Angelica – a Southern Italian nun, with same age as Ludwig. During their first encounter in Milan, she escaped with Ludwig and with his companions to Veneto, leaving her nun dress, showing her actual self. She is a complete opposite from Beatrice. Angelica is fierce, fiery, intrusive and full of emotions. She is deeply in love with Ludwig and tries everything to gain his affection. It is later revealed that her mistress Monica had escaped, prior to Angelica’s exodus, in France and used Ludwig’s military mission in French Commune in Marseille in order to return to Paris.

Ernesto Oliveras – a Catalan from Ludwig’s classroom who becomes part of his company in short time. His parents had left Spain after the war, seeking better life in Monarchy. When he hears about civil war in Spain, he immediately goes to serve as Syndicalist volunteer. Just like Eugen, he is a revolutionary and trouble maker, but unlike Eugen, Ernesto always goes further and further. During the events of third book, Ernesto helps Ludwig and his companions to track Matthias in Spain. But he also uses Ludwig’s anger and desire for revenge to plan a preemptive terrorist attack behind Carlist forces, ultimately causing Ludwig and Matthias to reconcile and escape Spain.