Axis of Andes: World War Two in South America

World War Two in South America #1

by D.G. Valdron

Berlin 1937, Adolph Hitler and his cabinet meet with representatives of the tiny Latin American nation of Ecuador. Three years later, the unfolding consequences of that fateful meeting plunge a continent into flames. What, in our history, was an almost bloodless brushfire conflict between Ecuador and Peru, escalates into a life and death struggle which spreads relentlessly to almost every country in South America, bringing death and destruction.Axis of Andes is a stunning alternate history, exploring the baroque and tragic journey of Latin America from independence to the depression, and chronicling a dark history that might have been. A tiny change ends up altering the outcome of an election. Rippling outwards, Fascist movements gain more momentum, local politics unravel in new directions. Dominos cascade as the war spreads steadily, involving country after country in a death struggle.Deep examinations of the history, societies and economies of each combatant reveal the underlying tensions and stresses, the fault lines and tectonic divides that drive the internal politics and international agendas of each combatant. We see scenes of the war and the combatants from their own perspective as the world falls apart around them. Written as both a history and as a series of compelling narratives,The Axis of Andes is the first part of a two part Alternate History series which ultimately rewrites the map of South America. Volume One begins the war with the Invasion of Ecuador, the March on Lima, expanding to trench warfare between Peru and Chile, sea battles between Chile and Peru, and a jungle war slowly spreading through the interior.Followed in July 2021, by The New World's War, chronicles the resulting Bolivian Civil war, Brazil's rain forest war and the inevitable engagement of Argentina, Paraguay, Columbia in the conflict. Over everything, the spectre of the United States, distracted by European and Asian theatres, looms darkly.

406 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 30, 2021

Reviews

[Evan Þ. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the first draft of this when it was posted online, and I was glad to read it again now that it's published. Unfortunately, it isn't as polished as most books, and it keeps the zoomed-out view of events without showing us individual personalities. It's an alternate history in the literal sense (with occasional interludes to contrast the real history), not a narrative story. I'm glad I read it.

Historically, Peru and Ecuador fought a short border war in July 1941. With a subtle point of divergeance leading to a different Ecuadorian government in the 1930's, Valdron makes the war much larger and longer. Chile and Bolivia enter as well, Ecuador's army marches into the Peruvian heartlands, and South America turns into a near-full front of World War II. Chile and Ecuador's Nazi ties, even in this book, are never quite as real as American fears make them out; local issues realistically remain paramount. But, the background of World War II keeps things on a knife's edge.

[Rich · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heavy

My knowledge is south America skips everything between Bolivar and o higgens and pinochet.therefore I had to plough though slot of unknown material. I had a hard time determining what was history and what was science fiction. That being said, I enjoyed the read and gained a little knowledge. Bravo!

[Ryan Parr · Rating 1 out of 5]

An alternate is not a good replacement for reality, especially one that could even begin to fantasize about Hitler surviving WW2 and repopulating the globe with a new master race while staring off listlessly into the abyss of a social quagmire.

If only Dr. Mengele hadn't died so young, he might possibly have had a friend to give him some pointers on new story material.

[Memkaveq · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a surprisingly fun look at a part of history that most people never think about: South America. It's in desperate need of a competent editor, but the author's skill still manages to come through, even if he can't tell the difference between the past tense and the present tense.