History

The nation of Nordheim has had many events and people of note in its history. This is the documented general history of the nation of Nordheim, spanning from antiquity to today. Words from Proto-Germanic to Middle-Germanic and other older languages are marked with italics and can be viewed (along with translations of both them and other words from Nordheim) here.

Ancient History (1000 BCE - 0 CE)
The island of Nordheim around this time was originally settled by tribes of Germanic peoples, who had migrated around 1000 BCE to the area. The people who settled on the island were closely related to the nearby Saxons and Frisian tribes. The tribes that came to inhabit the lands were to be known as the Norinsii by Roman scholars. Archaeological digs throughout Nordheim have discovered many ancient Germanic tribal artifacts, many of which now reside in museums across the country. The people of these early tribes based much of their culture and lives around the sea, with evidence of a thriving fishing economy as well as ship building.

The first areas of colonization were the modern region of Alterland, likely followed by Hauptland, then Oberland, and Ostdan being settled some time later. As the islands were too north for the Romans to ever control them, there is little recorded knowledge about the Norinsii in Roman records of this time. Beyond the maritime artifacts recently found, there is still speculation as to what the early Norinsii tribes were like. It is unknown if these tribes were a cohesive unit under a single chief, or were multiple tribes of the same people. Traditionally, it has been thought that the tribes were largely peaceful due to no battleground sites ever being discovered in the area. However, the recent discovery of a bog body from the northeastern part of the main island, near Ludwighaven, has called that previous thinking into question. The person is believed to have died from an arrow wound, which left behind a pattern that is similar to arrowheads found on the opposite side of the main island. However, the exact circumstances of the person's death will never be known.

Early History (0 CE - 500 CE)
Roman historians such as Tacitus and Pliny the Elder mention the Norinsii tribes in the period of around 20 - 120 CE, the details of which seem to match with other Germanic tribes in the region. Like the Frisii, the Norinsii were believed to have an elected tribal chief, and their settlements were spread out along the coast of the islands. Due to the Norinsii's place off the coast of the mainland, they were largely unaffected by subsequent Roman incursions into lands of the Rhine river valley. Because of the limited Roman contact, there is not much known about the tribes of the Norinsii in this period. As Germanic invasions of Rome continued after 100 CE, the Norinsii, unlike other neighboring tribes of the region, did not participate in a meaningful way.

However, the lands inhabited by the Norinsii were frequently visited by other Germanic tribes, like the Saxons, Angles, and Jutes during this time period as they migrated to the island of Britannia. Archaeological evidence suggests that there was at least some amount of trading going on between these tribes. It is unknown if the Norinsii also migrated to Britannia, but currently there is no evidence to suggest that in the record, although it may be possible small amounts migrated, and got usurped by the other tribes. As Rome declined, around 400 CE the Norinsii were united in a kingdom under King Adalgard. He continued to rule in what came to be known as the Kingdom of Nurþrąlandą for some time, establishing the House of Smalazlok (Schmalloch). The oldest town currently inhabited on the island was chartered in this time as well, Aldwalþu (Now known as Altenkirch).

Early Middle Ages (500 CE - 1000 CE)
During this period, many tribal settlements had developed into towns and villages. The most populated area of this new Kingdom was what became Alterland, whose capital was Kronastadi, which became the modern city of Einheitsstadt. The kings of the Smalazlok dynasty established themselves in Kronastadi, which although it was not the largest or oldest city on the island at the time, was the home of King Adalgard. By the time of the death of King Fulbert, the city of Kronastadi had already attracted significant migration from surrounding areas. Due to the city being located further inland on the island, this was the first time a large amount of the population of the islands began to move further inland to what were once smaller hamlets. Nurþrąlandą continued to exist in relative peace for a couple hundred years, under direct control of the Smalazloks, until the Frankish Invasion of Nurþrąlandą, which saw the country fall under the control of the emerging Frankish Empire sometime during the reign of Charlemagne in the mid-to-late 700s. Subjugation by the Franks led to the introduction of Christianity, as well as further development of coastal areas in the south. The prosperity from being part of Francia was shortlived in the northern parts of the area, as the beginning of the Viking Age led to raids along the northern coasts of Nordheim. These areas alsoreceived some limited settlement by the Norse. The Ostdan islands were a completely different story, where the native German populations had been nearly completely replaced by Danes by the start of the 9th century. Eventually, the Norse populations in northern Nordheim integrated into the population, like they had done in many other areas across Europe, however the ones on the Ostdan islands did not. While the northern parts of Nordheim received little development in this period due to viking raids and its isolation, the south received much development and became centers of trade. The position of Nordheim allowed it to control trade flowing through the English Channel and Nordheimer Channel, to and from the North Sea and Baltic.

When Francia was divided, Nordheim initially became part of the short-lived Middle Francia, and then Lotharingia. At the collapse of the Kingdom of Lotharingia into the Duchy of Lotharingia, the Duchy of Nordheim was created and passed from the realm, becoming independent upon the death of King Zwentibold in the year 900 CE. The first Duke of Nordheim was Duke Ewald I von Nordheim. By this point, feudalism had entrenched itself in Nordheim for centuries to come, and the Counties of Ubiriland (Oberland), Ostteni (Ostdan), Sutheimoti (Alterland), and Ruowacost (Hauptland) were created. Various smaller baronies and other sub-divisions came from this as well. Upon the creation of the Holy Roman Empire, the Duchy of Nordheim swore fealty to the Kaiser.

Late Middle Ages (1000 CE - 1500 CE)
Throughout this period, the Duchy of Nordheim continued to grow in population and wealth. The capital of Kronastadi, now known as Kronestat, had developed into a large and rich castle town, similar to Prague in both population and power in the region at the time. This area becoming a trading hub led to many merchants settling in the area, including many people of Jewish ancestry. A large cathedral was also built here during this time, increasing the city's religious importance to the Roman Catholic Church. However, other cities in the area also began to be developed, particularly along the coasts. The Dukes of the Nordheim dynasty developed the trading networks in the country heavily, leading to the establishment of a dominant burgher class. The end of the Viking Age allowed the Duchy to establish full and permanent control over the northern areas of the island once again. However, the Ostdan islands became a point of contention between the Dukes von Nordheim and the Kingdom of Denmark. The Duchy had a large trade fleet, as well as a large mercenary force due to the region's wealth. The War for Ostdan in the 1300s led to the defeat of Nordheimer forces.

The Duchy's foreign politics at this time were largely dominated by efforts to maintain trading power in the region, as well as taking back Ostdan, and seeking allies to do so. Not only this, but interest from powers in the region into the island of Nordheim itself, such as from Denmark, led to the Duchy joining the Hanseatic League. This allowed the Duchy to enter into a defensive pact with other members, as well as expand its dominance in North Sea and Baltic trade. As the Renaissance began, the ideas present began to spread into Nordheim quicker due to its heavy integration into European trade. With the reforms of the Holy Roman Empire in the 1300s, most notably the Golden Bull of 1356, Nordheim began to have much more independence as the Holy Roman Emperor began to lose his grasp on the princes of the Empire. The Duchy saw a massive population loss and the loss of much trade in the mid 1300s due to the Black Death, which was another decision in joining the Hansa.

Heresies forming in the Catholic Church eventually made their way to Nordheim, specifically Lollardism. This led to the destabilization of the region, with conflict arising between these heretics and the central Church authority. Things came to a head when the Archbishop of Kronestat, was murdered in the Kronestat Cathedral before mass on Easter Sunday, in 1487. A member of a heretical sect was immediately suspected, which led to mass unrest in Kronestat, resulting in the murder of at least three dozen people, if not more, in mock trials in the streets. Well-known and suspected heretics were dragged out of their homes and burned, beaten, or beheaded, sometimes all three. The next week was full of lawlessness in the city, which culminated in a fire being started in the city's western quarter, which ended up devastating 40% of the city by the end of the inferno. The cathedral at the center of the city was barely spared, and the original keep of the Nordheim dukes was destroyed. The event came to be known as Bloody Sunday, or Blutiger Sonntag. This led to the beginning of the fall of dominance of Kronestat, and led to migration to other places around the island. Also, the Catholic Church and the Dukes began to enact harsher policies of rule during this time against dissenters to prevent another disaster such as this. This also was a major factor in the final downfall of feudalism in the area, as the Dukes began reestablishing direct control over much of the Duchy.

Early Modern Period (1500 CE - 1800 CE)
Beginning in the early 1500s, the Protestant Reformation signaled the end of Catholic dominance in Europe. With the rise of Martin Luther, a German, Protestantism spread quickly throughout Nordheim due to the trade of new vernacular bibles into the country. The memory of Blutiger Sonntag lived on in the minds of Protestants, setting the stage for religious strife within the country throughout this period. The Dukes von Nordheim maintained their loyalty to the Church, and the County of Südheimat with the Counts von Obstgarten enacted strict policies in order to keep the Church in power. However, besides the area of County Südheimat itself, the Reformation spread like wildfire. Also, with the discovery of the Americas, the Duchy attempted to establish some small colonies and trading outposts, although none were successful and all of them ended up being taken by other powers by the end of the 1500s.

Eventually, Duke Reinhard II ascended to the throne, and he was a Lutheran. This led to great tension between Nordheim and Rome, although the Papacy could not do much. Duke Reinhard II broke the Duchy away from the Church officially. The resulting lack of tithe to Rome, further stimulated Nordheim's already strong economy. The Thirty Years War signalled another major engagement that the Nordheim military participated in, specifically on the side of the Protestants. The troops of Nordheim played a key role in the Battle of Breitenfeld, under general Ludwig Engel. The Peace of Westphalia recognized the Duchy of Nordheim as a power independent of the Holy Roman Empire. The smaller Torstenson War also involved Nordheim. Ludwig Engel led amphibious invasions of the Ostdan islands, as well as a separate land invasion of Jutland. The war ended, and saw the return of the Ostdan islands officially to Nordheim after many years of disputed Danish rule. With the Duchy now independent, the Kingdom of Nordheim was declared by Duke Reinhard III, who also crowned himself King Reinhard I von Nordheim. It was around this time that Nordheim left the Hanseatic League due to many reasons, one of which being that Nordheim continued to prosper, while the rest of the league fell behind.

However, the wars were not easy for Nordheim. Much of the northern coasts and islands had, once again, been destroyed by the Danish, and the war was costly on both the population and coffers of the nation. The huge Catholic population in Südheimat became extremely unruly due to the fact that the Kingdom had left the Empire, and also cut ties with Rome. Due to the civil unrest and the threat of Catholic attacks from within the city itself, the von Nordheim family relocated the capital from the shrinking (and Catholic) city of Kronestadt, to the city of Niederreuth, which was renamed Königsstadt. The river that flowed through Niederreuth was also renamed from the Stille river to the König river. Niederreuth had already become a large city due to its immense trade power, and the relocation of the capital further fueled growth there. The Kings of Nordheim also built themselves a palace on the city edge, which retained the former name of the city in becoming Niederreuth Palace. Kronestadt eventually lost its position as the largest city in the country to Königsstadt. The city had not recovered very much from Bloody Sunday, and had become an unattractive place to live. The city continued to deteriorate for the next two hundred years, until industry revived it.

The wealth of the von Nordheims and the country as a whole, along with their new Kingdom title, raised the prestige of the family, along with the country in the eyes of many European powers. By the late 1600s, the country was able to afford a decently large standing army and navy. This allowed Nordheim to retain a largely isolationist stance, with many powers in Europe allowing the Kingdom to exist in prosperity. The northern regions had been repaired by the start of the 1700s, although until this point they always had lagged behind the rest of the country in prosperity. The country also became a center of learning, with universities located in numerous cities in the country, nameably Niederreuth University, Kronestadt University, Amsee University, and Westspitze University. This period into the 1700s are considered by some to be the golden age of Nordheim, when the island was home to many poets and philosophers, scientists and musicians. An influx of Protestant migrants from throughout Europe also fueled a population boom in the country. The Kingdom largely did not see much external strife, with it going through a relatively peaceful period of isolation, staying out of world affairs in this period. However, some internal strife was present between ethnic and religious groups. Norse and Germanic populations often were at odds with one another for various reasons, although the Norse population continued to shrink in this period. Catholics and Protestants were also at each others throats, although the Catholic population continued to dwindle. Most religious quarrels came in the County of Südheimat, while most ethnic tensions came from Ostdan, as Germans began mixing with Danes on the islands again. However, Danish influence waned in these areas in the coming decades, with many Danes incorporating themselves as Nordheimers.

None of these local tensions ever erupted into anything resembling a civil war or mass civil unrest, as the majority of the country was still homogeneous in both religion and ethnicity. The monarchy, however, seemed to change its mind between an enlightened humanist regime to an absolutist despotism between each ruler. The Industrial Revolution also hit Nordheim during this time. The wealth present in the country allowed for mass and rapid industrialization. Products from Nordheim could now be created faster than ever before, and shipped around Europe, and the world. The development of the railroad allowed much of Nordheim to also be connected easily for the first time, which was a massive boon to the northern County of Oberland. The already present mining economy allowed for steel mills, forges and other huge factories to take hold there. Cities connected along the rail networks also saw massive growth, especially if they were already trading hubs before. The twin cities of Nordwerde and Niederfurt saw massive growth as they also turned into shipyards. Oberbach and Amsee began to become massive factory towns. The Kings of Nordheim watched the events of the French Revolution unfold with massive apprehension. However, with the burghers happy due to the rush of new wealth due to industry, there was not much to worry about at the moment. Furthermore, the rise of the United States also was worrying for the Kings of Nordheim. The Kingdom did not have any colonies itself, but the thought of such an institution existing, and even defeating Great Britain was something that was completely foreign to the monarchs at the time. They hoped that the population would not follow in the footsteps of such revolutionary activity, and due to many factors like the stability seen in the country at the time, they did not. However, that is not to say that seeds were not planted. The liberalization being seen throughout France and the Thirteen Colonies led many in Nordheim to believe that things would be better under a democratic liberal system, as opposed to the aristocracy. However, the lack of mass action put off any from acting on these thoughts until the new century.

Modern Period (1800 CE - 2000 CE)
As Nordheim rapidly industrialized, it saw a massive influx of immigrants from throughout what remained of the HRE due to the many jobs present here, along with the relative stability compared to the rest of the continent. While the monarchy and the upper classes in general were profiting massively off of the industrial revolution, there were massive economic and social shifts during this time. People flocked to cities throughout Nordheim from the countryside, and often cities were not prepared for this influx. Many people lived in slums and worked for little money in poor conditions during the early to mid 1800s. These problems, along with the liberal ideas planted due to events of the late 18th century would provide significant problems for the monarchy in the years to come.

Externally, with the rise of Napoleon, the Kingdom of Nordheim joined the coalitions against him and France. Due to the fact that Nordheim was an island nation, the French were not able to invade the country. Despite this, Nordheim sent its troops to fight against them in the Third Coalition War and each subsequent coalition war. Nordheimer troops were present at the Battle of Waterloo, led by Marshal Bertram Hellesfeld. At the conclusion of the Napoleonic Wars, Nordheim joined the Concert of Europe. In addition to joining that, Nordheim also joined the German Confederation. With its admission into the German Confederation, Nordheim paricipated in the Federal Convention, which was the first time that Nordheim had participated in any institution with a semblance of democracy. With seeing how destructive liberal forces could be, the King of Nordheim at the time, King Kristof IV, became set on retaining and expanding the divine right and really pushed absolutism to its limits in the country. Under Kristof IV, Nordheim joined the Holy Alliance, and sought to quell liberalism and secularism throughout Europe. However, strong plutocrats, and later the common people, began to push back against these more conservative reforms. This led to massive unrest, as every class besides the aristocracy were furious at Kristof IV's tightening grip on power. This would culminate in the Spring of Nations in 1848, which led to rebellion against the monarchy. This also marked the first time that the modern colors of the flag of Nordheim were used in any context by those revolting for democracy. However, these rebellions did not change much politically in Nordheim, and ended in tens of thousands dead throughout the country due to the brutal suppression of King Kristof IV. Many cities turned into battlegrounds for short periods of time, although the disciplined and professional armies of the King managed to quell dissent. Shortly after the revolution, Kristof IV's son, Kristof V, recognized that in order to prevent another revolt, there must be some concessions on the part of the monarchy. The Nordheimer Landtag was established, based on the model of the Prussian Landtag, as Kristof V was an admirer of Prussia. This was a bicameral system that included a House of Lords and a House of Representatives. The House of Lords being made up of exclusively nobles, which was a small deviation from the Prussian system. The House of Representatives were made up of elected officials, although the election laws favored those with land and those with wealth over those who did not. By 1855, this system was in place.

During the continued souring of relations between Austria and Prussia throughout the 19th century, King Kristof V aligned the Kingdom of Nordheim with Prussia, assisting them in multiple wars during this period, and joined the North German Confederation in the 1860s. It was at this time that the political independence of Nordheim essentially ceased to exist, becoming subject to Prussia's will. Nordheim assisted Prussia in the Austro-Prussian War, which was one of the nation's last actions before joining the North German Confederation. Concurrently during the 1860s, the rise of socialism occurred, becoming very popular in Nordheim. Unlike the relative stability of the 'golden age' of the last century, things continued to deteriorate faster and faster for the average worker due to continued industrialization and the social and economic upheaval that it brought. Due to these factors the writings of Marx entrenched themselves in the working class population of the major cities of Nordheim. Not only this, but many of the rural farmers began to follow this ideology as well. One of the last acts of the independent Kingdom of Nordheim was to join Prussia and the rest of the German states against France in the Franco-Prussian War. After this, Nordheim became incorporated into the German Empire, under Kaiser Wilhelm I von Hohenzollern. The von Nordheim family continued to rule the area with the title of King of Nordheim, although they had much less power in the Empire, being subservient to the Prussians. After integration into the German Empire, socialist tendencies began to foster talks of revolution in Nordheim. Chancellor Bismarck's plan to get rid of the leftists, called State Socialism, attempted to appease much of the working class throughout the 1880s. Despite these reforms, the majority of Nordheim consistently voted for the Social Democratic Party in the 1890s and into the beginning of the 20th century.

Throughout the 1800s, Nordheim had seen massive social and economic changes, with rapid industrialization happening throughout the country and deterioration of both living and working conditions for many. Entering into the 1900s, things looked marginally better for workers, due to the policies that Bismarck had newly implemented in order to prevent the rise of the SPD in the Reichstag. Also entering into the 20th century, the German Empire was at odds with many other great powers in Europe, and the intricate web of alliances along with the arms races between these different countries looked certain to start a war between the powers of Europe. The discovery of oil and natural gas off the coast of Nordheim led to an economic boom in the region. Coal was also common in the Eisenberge mountains, allowing Nordheim to become even more industrialized, urbanized, and economically important. As a part of the Anglo-German naval arms race, Nordheim became a key area producing ships for the Empire, largely in cities located on the eastern coast. The islands also saw the construction of a number of naval fortifications along the coasts. The Kaiser considered the region an important possession due to its population and natural resources. At the outbreak of the Great War, Nordheim served as the basing grounds for a number of naval vessels, and was key to providing resources to the mainland. Nordheim, due to its large population, contributed large numbers of troops to the war effort, Nordheimers seeing action on all fronts of the war.

On the homefront, the war was having a terrible impact on Nordheim. The British blockade led to foot shortages, as the fields of Nordheim were not able to keep up with the demand for food from the large population of the region. After the Battle of Jutland, the islands of Nordheim were essentially completely cut off from the mainland of Germany, meaning that whatever help from the continent was now cut off. People began starving to death, as factories shut down and people were out of work due to the blockade and the futility of trying to send supplies to the mainland. The Gulf of Nordheim, and the Nordheimer Channel were both mined completely, and so any attempts at coming to or from the island were destroyed. The Hindenburg Programme worsened working conditions with longer hours and less wages, as the government focused solely on winning the war. British and French strategic bombing initiatives also led to many of the same factories being attacked, not to mention multiple city centers. The First World War caused a seismic shift in the politics of the ruling SPD. Whereas the SPD supported the war, there was a large contingent who disagreed. Some individuals of this movement included Rosa Luxemburg, Karl Liebknecht, and a Nordheimer named Dietrich Kammer. These individuals broke away from the SPD, forming the USPD, or the Independent Social Democratic Party of Germany in 1917. Dietrich Kammer also followed Rosa and Karl to the Spartacus League. After the February Revolution in Russia in 1917, large amounts of Nordheimer workers across the Kingdom went on strike, organized by the left. The Kaiser's speech about democracy after the war on April 7th, Easter, did nothing to quell the resentment in Nordheim. The subsequent October Revolution in Russia served as motivation and example for Nordheimer leftists, and fueled a belief that a world revolution was nigh.

As the war drew to a close, with Germany being pushed back on the western front, the situation in Nordheim was dire. Rationing had been pushed to its limits, with more and more people dying in the streets due to starvation every day. Frequent bombing raids also left numerous civilians dead, and portions of cities destroyed. The spirit of revolution was in the air, with Dietrich Kammer becoming the leader of the USPD in Nordheim, headquartered in Königsstadt. Another wave of revolutions swept over Nordheim in late 1918, and Dietrich Kammer established himself as a leading figure in them. However, due to Nordheim being cut off from the SPD on the continent, when Fredrich Ebert's ending of the strikes did not apply to Nordheim. In November of 1918, Nordheim was able to be connected somewhat with the mainland again, as the High Seas Fleet planned a last naval action, some ships anchored near Nordheim in the Nordheimer Channel. Sailors aboard these ships refused to partake in the planned naval action, and some ships had to be docked in Königsstadt. Some members of their ships were imprisoned for trying to mutiny, and the other sailors petitioned for their release with the help of leftists in Königsstadt, organizing at a union hall on November 3rd, 1918. Simultaneously in Kiel, a similar mutiny was taking place, which led to revolution in Germany as a whole. Soon, an Arbeiter und Soldatenrat (Workers & Soldiers Council) existed in Nordheim, spearheaded by Kammer, who was elected chairman of the council of the city. With these councils popping up throughout Germany, and the declaration of other socialist states on the mainland, Dietrich Kammer declared the creation of the Volksstaat (People's State) to thousands of people in the main square of Königsstadt on November 8th, 1918. Famously, he declared that instead of the town being named the King's City, it should be known as the People's City.

Within days, the revolution had spread throughout Nordheim. King Otto III was forced to abdicate the throne, and attempted to leave Nordheim under the cover of night in early November. However, he was discovered by sailors at the docks in the capital, who arrested him, gave him a mock trial, shot him, then threw his body into the pier. The rest of his family were also arrested, but instead of being shot, were held in captivity. Prince Hermann IV was forced to renounce all claims to being ruler of Nordheim, thus ending the von Nordheim family reign over the islands that had lasted almost a thousand years. Councils were formed in cities throughout Nordheim, with Revolutionary Stewards helping create many of them. At this point in time, the former Landtag building in Königsstadt was occupied, and the Landtag was declared officially dissolved on November 9th. With the declaration of a socialist republic by Karl Liebknecht, and the formation of the Council of the People's Deputies in Berlin, Nordheim had every intention to stay in Germany. The following day, the armistice was signed and the war ended.

However, as time went on, the more moderate wings of the SPD and USPD began prevailing across Germany, including Nordheim. Dietrich Kammer was subplanted as the leader of the revolution in the Volksstaat, but remained as the chairman of what had been officially named the Königsstadt People's Council. Kammer continued to stoke the flames of a more left revolution, even though he no longer had control over the entire country. As leader of the city's council, he founded the Königsstadt Red Guard, who were responsible for protecting the revolution. These individuals were also responsible for seeking out and arresting civil servants still loyal to the Kaiser. As events continued to move forward, internal tensions between the more moderate SPD and the more left USPD, Spartacist League, and Revolutionary Stewards. The Workers' and Soldier's Councils were to convene in Berlin on December 16th, however the SPD sent troops to prevent this meeting, which led to the deaths of many representatives to the convention, however it turned out that most of this convention were made up of SPD supporters, and the break up of the convention did not happen, as many of the troops returning home did not wish to fight any longer. A leftist representative from the KPC was present at the convention. On December 24th, the Skirmish of the Berlin Schloss occurred, which caused the more left elements in Nordheim to recognize the need to break from the more moderate elements. The bloodshed led to the creation of the Communist Party of Germany by the Spartacist League at the end of the year. Kammer was in attendance at the founding congress, after he had been unceremoniously removed from being the head of the KPC after the Christmas fighting by the SPD leaders of the Volksstaat. He returned to Nordheim after the congress, seeking to establish communist party control over Nordheim. Unlike the rest of the nation, the Revolutionary Stewards in Nordheim decided to side with the Communist Party, which gave them added power immediately. Kammer disagreed with Luxemburg on the decision of whether to participate in elections or not, siding with the majority of the KPD in advocating for continued agitation in factories and from the streets. With the dismissal of Emil Eichhorn, a demonstration was called for by the leftist movements in Germany. The largest of these demonstrations occurred in Berlin, which caused the Spartacist Uprising. Kammer also organized a demonstration, and similar to Berlin, had a much larger than expected turn out, especially after a strike was declared on January 7th. Unlike in Berlin, however, Kammer was able to convince members of the military stationed in Königsstadt to participate in the revolt. The Red Guards, who had been loyal to Kammer, served as the vanguard for the revolutionary activity. With the support of the military units stationed in the city, as well as the control of the masses, Kammer was able to seize the capital building of the Nordheim People's State. As this was much more successful than the uprisings elsewhere in Germany, Ebert had ordered Freikorps to move into the city to retake it from the revolutionaries. However, their tanks and equipment that had served as an advantage in the rest of the nation was on equal footing here, as much of the city's garrisons sided with the revolution.

Bloody fighting occurred throughout many of the city districts, where the revolutionaries began digging themselves in in preparation for retaliation from the SPD national government. Dietrich Kammer declared the creation of the Nordheim Soviet Republic, and had once again found himself leader of the revolution in Nordheim. As the revolutions across the rest of Germany fizzled out and were crushed, the one in Nordheim continued. Other uprisings in the major cities of the region further weakened the government's position. However, some of these were less successful than in Königsstadt, and led to the suppression of the uprising. However, the government was unable to retake many of the key cities captured by Kammer and his communists. As a result, the government was often referred to as the Königsstadt Soviet Republic. An exiled government of the federal state of Nordheim continued in the city of Kronestadt, and outside of the revolutionary cities, life continued as normal. However, at the beginning of March 1919, another round of uprisings in Berlin and across Germany further spilled over into Nordheim. Once again, other cities began to rise up against the SPD government. The left in Nordheim was able to form a united front, with Kammer as the movement's de facto leader. Kammer took advantage of the situation, using the troops under his control to begin to expand out of the enclave of Königsstadt. The government was unprepared for the aggressive offensive by the communist revolutionaries. As Kammer and his men rapidly advanced, they arrested and often executed many of the Freikorps members they found. By the end of April, the rest of the islands of Nordheim had been taken by the revolution. As it soon became clear to Kammer that the KPD would not succeed in the rest of Germany, on May 1st 1919, he declared Nordheim's independence from Germany as the Nordheim Sowjetrepublik (Nordheim Soviet Republic). The ships seized in the earlier revolution in November of 1918 were used to guard the coast against any action by the government of Germany. However, there ended up being no immediate military response from the Ebert government, due to many factors. Kammer established the Communist Party of Nordheim alongside the People's Republic, and formally changed the names of some cities, such as Königsstadt to Volksstadt, and Kronestadt to Einheitsstadt. Those still showing support for the Ebert government and recognizing Nordheim as part of Germany were arrested, along with any counter-revolutionaries. Those who were affiliated with the Freikorps movement were executed.

After the revolution, Kammer had the challenge of keeping the movement united, to prevent moderate and right wing counter revolutions. Kammer established the Volksversammlung (People's Assembly) as the legislative body of the nation, and became the first Premier of Nordheim. Almost all heavy industry in the country was nationalized, and the process of turning Nordheim into a proper communist state began. Kammer looked to Lenin's New Economic Policy as inspiration. The country maintained friendly relations with the Soviet Union, although it was fundamentally different from what had emerged in Lenin's revolution. As the 1920s rolled on, Nordheim continually was on standby for invasion from Germany, as well as intervention by the former Entente. However, as time went on, it became evident that neither the Weimar Republic nor the former Entente had the power or support to start another war. Nordheim's largest trade partner during this period was the Soviet Union, as it encountered opposition across much of the globe.

As the Great Depression hit the rest of the world, Nordheim was insulated from the effects, similar to the Soviet Union. Kammer's rule over the country saw further industrialization in many areas, and the expansion of the rail system in the nation, among other things. Kammer ended up dying in 1933, and was succeeded by Armin Koller as Premier. As Germany saw the rise of the Nazis, Nordheim braced themselves for what they expected to be an eventual invasion of the islands. Former coastal defenses created during World War I were revived and expanded upon. Nazi influence was felt in Nordheim, with reunification movements expanding in many areas of the country, funded by and led by the Nazi Party in Germany. The Koller government brutally suppressed this movement, and some street fighting occurred in a brief attempted putsch started in the city of Ludwighaven, leading to the deployment of the Red Guard for the first time, which crushed the putsch. The leaders of the attempted coup were captured and executed, or they committed suicide. The entire debacle led to what became known as the 'Blackshirt Scare', where there was an increasing fear of National Socialists and fascists in the country, leading to overreach by the Koller government, accusing some more moderate Nordheimers of being Nazis or fascists, and suppressing them. This ended in 1937 when Koller was voted out of office, replaced by Werner Steinbühl. Steinbühl ended the Blackshirt Scare and began a series of reforms to the system. However, these reform efforts were shortlived when in 1940, Nordheim was attacked by Nazi Germany. Bombing raids resulted in widespread destruction of cities in Nordheim, and deaths of thousands. Nazi Fallschirmjäger troops were deployed over Nordheim, bypassing coastal defenses. However, poor deployment of these troops and their isolation from German support led to their defeat after a few weeks of fighting. After the failed paratrooper invasion of the islands, the country braced itself for something much worse. In 1941, after a series of prolonged bombing raids, Axis troops landed on the southern shores of Nordheim. The Battle of Nordheim had begun in earnest, and the Axis troops rapidly advanced through the southern half of the main island, but were unable to seize the region of Oberland. Volksstadt remained unoccupied as well, under a brutal siege that would last for many years. Premier Steinbühl at this point had been re-elected in 1941, but he enacted emergency wartime powers, and had suspended elections until after the war. However, he ended up dying in a bombing raid on Volksstadt in 1943. The nation, now without a Premier, saw a military junta be established, led primarily by General Ernst Gröning. The breakdown of the government also saw Volksstadt be finally captured in early 1944, one of the few German military successes of that year. However, beginning after D-Day, Allied troops from the UK and the US began landing in Nordheim, which saw the quick retreat of the German military from the country.

Gröning had negotiated the landings with the Allies. In exchange for their help militarily, Nordheim would liberalize and become a democratic country. Following the defeat of Germany in May of 1945, Gröning kept his promise. Having essentially ultimate power, he announced the formal dismantlement of the previous systems of government, and the creation of the Republic of Nordheim. He retired from the military to continue a life in politics, becoming a leader of the Social Democrats of Nordheim. The Soviet Union was not pleased with this arrangement, which caused another divide leading up to the Cold War. Following the war, Gröning was officially elected President in 1948. He began privatizing many industries, but kept around many popular welfare and social policies. He was re-elected in 1955, and caused Nordheim to join the European Coal and Steel Community as a founding member. Throughout his tenure as leader of Nordheim, it was clear that the population was still very much left leaning in its politics. The charisma and unifying presence of Gröning was one of the only things keeping Nordheim from returning to the old order. In this second term, Nordheim joined the European Economic Community, and the European Atomic Energy Community. He was again re-elected in 1962, his third and final term in office. It also became apparent that further left forces continued to grow during this time, as the SPN's majority in the legislature continued to shrink, despite President Gröning's efforts, which led to a coalition SPN-KPN government at this time. During this last term, Gröning saw Nordheim remain in the European Communities. Nordheim also remained neutral in the Vietnam War.

After Gröning's exit in 1969, the Communist Party of Nordheim saw a massive resurgence in electoral politics, funded through different means largely from other communist countries. The CPN built on their gains from the last election, leading to them to become the largest party in the legislative. However, the SPN refused to coalition with the KPN, and so the KPN had to rule with a minority government. They also, however, took the Presidency. President Georg Eisener took over as the first communist elected at a national level since 1941. With the executive under his control, Eisener used the powers of the Presidency that had been established to begin a series of reforms. However, many of these reforms had to be rolled out gradually, and often at the protest of the SPN and further right wing parties. Reforms trying to go through the legislature were repeatedly blocked by other parties. The economy of Nordheim had stagnated throughout this time, but most people lived well. However, with the 1973 oil crisis, Nordheim went into a recession. The KPN blamed the SPN and other parties for blocking necessary economic reforms, harkening back to the Great Depression and how the KPN had dealt with it in a positive way, and wanting to return to the old ways. The legislative election in 1973 led to the KPN becoming the majority party in the country. With essentially full control over the systems of government, the KPN began their series of reforms. Official policy changes led to the end of the oil crisis in Nordheim, and saw many aspects of government changed. For example, the method of electing the President was changed entirely, and the legislative elections were also shortened from 5 to 4 years as they had been before the war. Some key industries began to be nationalized again, which began a political struggle externally between Nordheim and the European Community.

As the 1970s rolled on, divisions within the KPN began to form, specifically regarding the direction of the party. The old guard advocated for a return to the old ways of how Nordheim was like before the war, but many of the newer party members advocated for reform, especially after seeing the reforms of Deng Xiaoping in China. The majority of the party, however, sided with the reform movement. Following the example of China, Nordheim developed the ideology of 'Socialism with Nordheimer characteristics', similar to the Chinese ideology. Eisener, now the Chairman of the People's Council, ended up siding with the reformers. The resulting economic policies of this 'reform' group ended up insulating Nordheim from the economic downturn experienced by the Soviet Union and other communist countries in the 1980s. Nordheim's overhauled new governmental system essentially cemented the KPN's position as the sole party with power. However, elections continued to happen, but other parties continued to shrink for various different reasons, mostly due to systemic suppression, but also because the KPN's evolution into a big tent party for leftist ideas. Following the death of former President Gröning in 1988, the SPN merged with the KPN. Following the fall of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War, Nordheim was not as effected as other countries, as Nordheim was never dependent on the USSR for its existence. Nordheim became a member of the European Union at its formation in 1993. Heading into the rest of the 90s and into the new millennium, Nordheim's economy began to be more and more reliant on China. Nordheim continued to support other communist nations in the world, such as Cuba, Vietnam, Laos, and North Korea. Nordheim also continues to receive support from these countries as well.

Post Modern Period (2000 CE - Present)
Chairman Georg Eisener continued as the Head of State until his death in the year 2000. Following his death, there was a power struggle in the KPN, within the old reformers and the younger, more radical generation. The struggle was largely an internal one within the party, which played out in the People's Council, and saw the election of Albert Lehmann, signalling a victory for the reform faction. Lehmann and the reformists continued to hold an edge over the radical caucus until the Great Recession. In the 2009 elections, the radical caucus gained a majority within the party, leading to the election of Chairman Heinrich Kohl. Kohl signalled a major shift in KPN policy, seeking to reform the reforms that had been enacted in the 70s. The radical caucus looked to enact sweeping economic and social changes. These changes grew even more radical as time went on, with some of the most lenient social policy in all of Europe. Additionally, nationalization began again of a few key industries. Deindustrialization became a central problem in this time, as much of the country used to be extremely industrialized. The government has turned toward technological development as where they should focus their new efforts at stimulating the economy. The massive investment in this, as well as ample safety nets has led to a minimal impact of deindustrialization in the country.

The radical caucus continues to win internal party elections, extending their reign into the 21st century. The country continues to seek ties toward China specifically, and also continuing to modernize the economy and also make it sustainable in the modern day. A key point of contention recently has been climate policy, as water levels have been rising. This has lead to anxiety due to the country being made up of islands of relatively low elevation. Time will tell what is to further become of the nation of Nordheim and its people.