Norden Verein

The Norden Verein (NoV) is a Maroon Team alliance which was founded on May 5, 2007, from the Kaiser Martens loyalist faction which emerged from the fracturing of its predecessor alliance, Nordreich. As of March 25, 2008, it is a Tier 4 alliance and the fourth-strongest alliance on the Maroon team.

Preamble
On this glorious day, we set forth this charter to create a more perfect union to ensure a safe and secure society of members, bound by brotherhood and trust, strength and prosperity, throughout conflict and peace. It is by this document we so establish the state of Norden Verein.

Part A: Purpose, Symbology, Ideology
Article I. Name

Article II. Banner

Article III. Ideology

Article IV. Techraids and war

Article V. Nuclear policy

Article I - Name
Norden Verein (Official Acronym: NoV)

Norden is a word which refers to the general, vague geographical location of Europe and most of the European-descendant communities of the world, while Verein (V pronounced as F) is a word which implies an "union for cooperation" in which all members are understood to have opted to be in it. As such, one of the most approximate meanings is "Northerner Union", a derivate from "European Union" which expands its borders much farther away, and of a Militaristic approach to defend its own integrity, and its people. While Europe is the main approach and culture, all nations are accepted provided they do not decide to stand in direct opposition to us.

Article II - Banner
It was chosen to resemble what could potentially be a national flag, without pointing to any particular nation, in order for our member states to be able to embrace it. As much as it is the official flag, the upper-left quadrant can be edited unofficially to represent different nations member of the NoV. It is Europe-related, and most European countries have at least one of the colors present in the flag, which are in fact our official colors.

Article III - Ideology
NoV is a group based on an evolution of the ideas of the European Union and Nationalism. NoV canonically stands and protects the National Culture and demography of all and each of its member states, respecting their differences as well as encouraging the union of very similar cultures, in brotherhood and unity. Every nation of the world with upstanding citizens and leadership that wish to protect their land, their home, may here find a safe haven of like-minded nations which wish to work together hand to hand to protect their folk, their ideals, and more - Militarily or in any other form. Our official government form is a Monarcho-meritocracy.

Article IV - Techraids and war
NoV nations are free to attack any nations, active or not, under the alliance affiliation "None" EXCLUSIVELY. This may be a techraid, or an attack of any kind. Attacking aligned nations will be met with the need of paying reparations.

Article V - Nuclear Policy
NoV nations may nuke unaligned nations, but attacking any aligned nations with nukes is strictly forbidden and punishable on ZI if reparations are not paid. NoV will authorize nuclear retaliation on nations to do so, but before authorizing nuclear retaliation on alliance, it is to seek consensus and approval from allied entities.

Part B: Administrative Section
Article I. Admission Statement

Article II. Structure and Offices

Article III. Peace and Diplomacy

Article IV. War and Conflict

Article V. Treason and Expulsion

Article VI. Amendments

Article VII. Emergencies

Article I – Admission Statement
All and any nations of or joining the maroon sphere that swear loyalty to the Norden Verein requesting membership will be admitted as a member. Any admission may be blocked by the Reichskaiser as deemed necessary. Should a nation not be in the maroon sphere when applying, it has 30 days to comply upon acceptance. Kaiserlich and Riksdag Council level authority are able to set exceptions.

Article II – Structure and Offices
1. The Reichskaiser - Emperor The Reichskaiser is the head of state for the Norden Verein, and leads as its monarch. He holds a the final say in all affairs regarding the alliance, and cannot be overridden. To assist him in managing the Verein, he may appoint officials and ministers to run various sub-sections of the alliance, or pass on authority to another official that rules at his discretion. The Reichskaiser may also block the election of any Riksdag elect, and remove anyone from the Riksdag to preserve the well-being of the Verein.

2. Kanzler - Chancellor This official serves at the discretion of the Kaiser, and rules in his name. He is a prime minister in terms of diplomacy and alliance management, and chairs the Riksdag. All bills and legislation can only be entered into voting by him, by his own volition or Kaiserlich order.

3. The Reichsgeneral - Imperial General The leader of the Norden Verein Reichswehr (Imperial Defense Forces) serves at the discretion of the Kaiser, and leads in his name. He holds the power to direct and appoint any officers he deems fit into the armed forces of Norden Verein, and regulate its management with an appointed staff. Ultimate authority regardings military rests on him, Kaiser set aside.

4. The Riksdag Council An elected body of four members, the Riksdag serves as the senate body of the alliance. The Riksdag votes on all treaties and alliance matters in general. Only the Kanzler and Kaiser may open a matter up for voting within the Riksdag, but Riksdag members can and are encouraged to introduce matters. The elections happen monthly, from all Citizens of the Verein. The Kaiser-Kanzler-General triad reserves a veto/ban power on Riksdag candidates.

5. The Citizens All members hold a seat in the Res Publica, the collective membership of the Verein. They hold the power to elect Riksdag members and vote on other matters should the Kaiser put out a plebiscite.

Article III – Peace and Diplomacy
The control of diplomatic affairs lies with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, who may appoint officers and diplomats to assist him in this task, who serve at his discretion. He rules at the discretion of the Kaiser and is regulated by the Kanzler, and as such has sole control over his ministry and it’s matters. Treaties may be proposed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs to the Kaiser or Kanzler, but it is only through their approval that it may be extended to another alliance. All treaties are voted on in the Riksdag body and must be approved by the Kaiser.

Article IV – War and Conflict
In the name of defending our membership, and after all diplomacy has been exhausted or otherwise spent, the Kaiser may declare war on another sovereign alliance in the name of national security. During time of conflict, he may extend the power to act accordingly to the Reichsgeneral to neutralize threats and dangers to the Norden Verein. War is considered an extension of diplomacy, and will use if deemed necessary.

Article V – Treason and Expulsion
Treason and sedition are automatically punishable on permanent ZI and nuclear death as well as expulsion. In cases in which a nation may need to be expelled even if it is not guilty of treason, the Riksdag council, Kaiser, Chancellor and General are to decide the fate of the subject at hand.

Desertion Clause:

No nation may leave during wartime unless authorized by the Riksdag Council and Executive Authorities. Also, no nation may leave if they had taken large amounts from the banks without contributing in return.

Article VI - Emergencies
Given that a structural emergency is present in which a very fast resolution and decision is demanded, or an emergency in which the Government fails to function normally, the Kaiser is allowed to use Interim Dictatorial Powers to ensure NoV's stability and integrity, being his obligation to restore the Government to normal as soon as possible.

Should the Kaiser be away or missing in action, the Kanzler is to take his position. Failing this, the General. Again failing, the Riksdag Council would vote among themselves, the General Staff and the Ministers to create a new Executive power. Should this, as well, fail, the Res Publica will decide a new cabinet as well as an emergency Kaiser.

Article VII - Amendments
Any motion to amend or add to this charter or Norden Verein policy may be submitted to the Kaiser or Kanzler for review, and be voted upon within the Riksdag council.

We sign this document for the above stated reason, of preserving prosperity, ensuring the security of our citizens, and bringing a newfound order to the chaos of these times;

Kaiser Martens von Norden Verein

Kanzler Striderwannabe

Image and ideology
The Norden Verein is based upon an ideology consisting of nationalist, imperial and authoritarian principles, with added elements of fascism and socialism, which has been dubbed "Nordland Nationalism" by its current Kaiser Striderwannabe.

The Nordland Doctrine
On September 8, 2007, NoV announced the ratification of the Nordland Doctrine, which codified many aspects of the alliance's image and policy for the first time. It was updated shortly thereafter, and a second version was announced on October 8.



Territorial claims
Early in the alliance's history, it sought to present a pan-European nationalistic image, which it maintained for several months. However, with the ratification of the Nordland Doctrine, the alliance turned towards Germanicism as opposed to pan-Europeanism, stating the latter was "too vast to satisfy." The Norden Verein currently lays claim to all territory "From Elsass (Alsace) to Memelland (Klaipėda), and from Südtirol to Nordjylland, all the historical German Imperial possessions as well as all mainland Germanophone areas." However, the region of Denmark is disputed, with The Order of the Paradox claiming possession as well.

Formation and diplomatic establishment


The Norden Verein was formed on May 5, 2007, as a merge between the transitional proto-alliance Grossdeutsches Reich (GDR), the Martens loyalist faction which had left Nordreich following his capitulation as Kaiser, and the Imperial Defense Front. Notable founding members include ArchonGuardian, Emperor ß, Kaiser Martens, Redneck82, Striderwannabe, Thor, Valek, Wartides14, and Zessa. It was conceived under the protection of the New Pacific Order via a verbal agreement, and achieved approximately half of Nordreich's total membership and numbers five days after its inception.

Over the following weeks, NoV re-established most of the previous treaties Nordreich possessed, and several new ones were also announced: Treaties of Amity with Rather Good Alliance, the Byzantine Empire,, Nueva Vida, , and the North Atlantic Defense Coalition, as well as a Mutual Defense Pact with the Global Democratic Alliance, and a Mutual Aggression and Defense Pact with the Finnish Cooperation Organization. NoV also affirmed its policy that attacks upon those bearing the Socialist Workers Front affiliation would continue, in response to a recent attempt to reform the alliance.

The Norden Verein also announced the creation of the Hanseatic League on June 3, 2007, the first protector-protectorate alliance bloc to be conceived. The founding signatories were the Norden Verein, Nueva Vida, and the Texas Foreign Legion.

Operation Overlord
In the evening of June 5, 2007, the Federation of Armed Nations launched a massive surprise attack against the Norden Verein, which FAN termed "Operation Overlord". This led to widespread speculation on the stance of the rest of the Initiative, as the New Pacific Order protectorate agreement with NoV was never rescinded. Approximately two hours after the declaration of war was issued, NPO confirmed that NoV was still under its protection and that FAN would be ceasing attacks. NoV suffered considerable infrastructure loss and widespread anarchy as a result of the sudden attacks.

More treaties and the ICP Reformation War
The Norden Verein signed several additional treaties during the summer of 2007: A Treaty of Amity with the Maroon Defense Coalition, Treaties of Goodwill with the Confederation of Organized Nations and VG Coalition, a Peace, Intelligence and Aid Treaty with the Random Insanity Alliance, and Mutual Defense Pacts with the Illuminati and the Independent Republic of Orange Nations. When FAN was expelled from and attacked by the Initiative on the evening of June 18, the Hanseatic League (at this time consisting of NoV, NV, and IX) issued a joint statement of support for all alliances at war with FAN, calling it an act of "revenge, retribution, and justice."

Hostilities between the Left and Right would soon resume, with the announcement of the reformation of the International Communist Party on July 1, 2007. NoV and the newly-formed Golden Sabres signed a Treaty of Goodwill a couple of days afterward, and NoV learned that GS was planning an attack on the ICP. Kaiser Martens, seeing an opportunity to fight an old rival alliance, decided to join Golden Sabres per Article III of the Treaty of Goodwill, and so a tongue-in-cheek joint declaration of war against the ICP was issued on July 5. Members of the ICP rebuked, citing a verbal non-aggression agreement with NoV which was seemingly reached several days prior in a private conversation between Comrade Mao and Martens. The International Communist Party surrendered and disbanded on July 7.

Post-ICP changes and Striderwannabe's accession
The following weeks were relatively uneventful. After a run-in with the German Empire alliance, which soured relations, the Norden Verein stated that they were ceasing recognition of them "as an Alliance, as German, and as an Empire". TGE responded with a letter of apology later that day. The Norden Verein later reversed its decision regarding recognition of TGE.

The Norden Verein also relocated their official IRC channel from EsperNet to Coldfront on July 16, with Vinzent Zeppelin taking on the new role of IRC channel administrator.

On July 27, 2007, Kaiser Martens announced his accession as Kaiser of the Norden Verein, naming Striderwannabe as his successor and Archon Guardian as the new Reichskanzler. The alliance also passed 2 million strength on August 2, 2007, considered by many to be a milestone, as it was the peak strength achieved by Nordreich before its downfall. Striderwannabe's new government was also announced.

Renewed LSF tensions
An incident occurred with "The Vader Accords", a non-aggression pact between the Libertarian Socialist Federation and the COBRA alliance. For several weeks prior, Comrade Vader, a long-time enemy of Nordreich and the Norden Verein who was by that time banned, had been impersonating a number of alliance leaders on IRC with the intent of inciting attacks against NoV members. Several ranking NoV officials took issue with the treaty, alleging that it was a sign of LSF support for Vader and that LSF had in fact been aware of Vader's ban circumvention. The charges were denied by LSF members.

Striderwannabe declared on August 1 that the Norden Verein was deeming Q-Collective an enemy of the state, and called for his expulsion from the LSF in light of evidence that he was offering Vader refuge. However, NoV later allowed Q-Collective to avoid destruction in lieu of payment of 250 technology.

Antebellum
On August 12, Striderwannabe announced a mutual defense pact between the Norden Verein and the New Polar Order, one of many such treaties currently being signed by the NpO. In light of the recent Moldavi Rebellion, a response was issued stating that NoV would remain neutral due to its alliances with both the New Pacific Order and New Polar Order, and that it would intervene in case of attempted military intervention against either. After the incident was resolved, a mutual defense pact between NoV and NPO was announced on August 23, in addition to a MDP with the Organized Nations of Superiority the following day. The mutual defense pact with the Golden Sabres was also nullified.

Armed conflict
On the evening of September 10, 2007, the Norden Verein declared war against the Goon Order of Neutral Shoving in support of IRON, which had issued its declaration of war one minute prior, thus signaling its entrance into the Unjust War. The next night, NoV faced counter-declarations from the Global Order of Darkness, R&R, the Order of Feudalistic Security,, the Entente of the Rising Sun, and the Boards Alliance of Protectorate States (which declared war later the next day). ONOS responded immediately, declaring war against GOD within minutes.

The next several days saw NoV fighting its toughest war to date, fighting a combined 523 nations and 4.8 million nation strength (not including GOONS) on six fronts alongside its allies ONOS, FCO, the Protectorate of Curland, as well as the Confederacy of Independent States, Imperial Military Union, OcUK, the Fellowship of Elite Allied Republics, and The Brigade, later in the war.

Closure and aftermath
The first alliance to surrender, R&R, was incidentally the one alliance NoV was fighting without assistance. GOD, BAPS, OFS, and EotRS also surrendered, although EotRS was later attacked and forced to disband as a result of noncompliance with surrender terms. Peace between NoV and its allies and GOONS was reached on November 24, 2007.

Over the course of the conflict, NoV lost approximately 400,000 nation strength from its pre-war total of 2.4 million. During the following several weeks, the Reichsbank organized the distribution of approximately $380 million for reconstruction, including war reparations.

An announcement was made coinciding with the end of the larger war that Striderwannabe would be relinquishing his position as Kaiser, and that Kaiser Martens would again assume leadership of the alliance. Additionally, several treaties came during and immediately following the war: A Treaty of Amity with FEAR, a Mutual Aggression and Defense Pact with IRON, and a PANZER treaty with The Order of the Lord of Coke and Hot Dogs. The Order of the Sword was also added to the Hanseatic League, and Nueva Vida's status was upgraded to that of protector.

The NoV-LSF War
Hostilities between the Norden Verein and the Libertarian Socialist Federation were quickly renewed when a high-level member of the LSF, Califas Sovietica (RedTerror), went nuclear rogue against NoV's top nation, Reich Zealand, as well as Republic of Roma, of Nueva Vida. A thread was posted in the Open World Forum with screenshots of RedTerror stating his intention to go rogue against NoV and Nueva Vida in a private area of the LSF forums, with several LSF members voicing support. Additionally, LSF never warned either of the two alliances of the potential threat. An LSF member posted an official apology on October 1, stating that the members who voiced support were not taking RedTerror seriously; however, the apology received no official response from either alliance. Califas Sovietica was deleted for in-game abuse shortly after launching two nukes, although this did not diffuse the situation. Adding to the tension, Sgt_Molloy of Reich Zealand, a military commander in the Norden Verein, also publicly exposed a spy ring consisting of several LSF members which had been in existence for several months.

Kaiser Martens announced a declaration of war against the LSF on October 2, 2007, citing the RedTerror rogue incident and the CRSR spy ring as the casus belli. Nueva Vida and FEAR followed suit.

As of April 23, 2008, the war is still ongoing at 204 days, making it the second-longest war in Cyber Nations history. Although technically a military victory for NoV and its allies, surrender terms have not been discussed and LSF shows no intentions on disbanding; thus it is likely that the war will continue for the forseeable future.

The Autumn Crisis
The situation within the Norden Verein took a turn for the worst beginning at the end of October 2007, with a series of events that would leave the alliance crippled: The Sons of Muspel separatist movement, and later Fall Gerechtigkeit and associated political fallout, including Kaiser Martens's abdication.

On October 31, 2007, the formation of the Sons of Muspel alliance was announced, which consisted of a large number of former Norden Verein military leaders. Although little public information was available at the time regarding the circumstances of the split, it is considered by most to have been caused as a result of tensions between the military leadership and government of NoV.

An even more serious issue arose when One Vision leaders, and the New Pacific Order in particular, pressured the Norden Verein into expelling Wartides14 (then known as Requital1974), a founding member of NoV, for undisclosed reasons. This consequently led to a small number of other long-standing Norden Verein members going rogue against the New Pacific Order in support of Wartides14, in an operation termed Fall Gerechtigkeit. This was met with strong condemnation from NoV, and Kaiser Martens stated that anyone found collaborating with the operation would be "instantly expelled". The dire state of the alliance was made clear with Martens's response to a comment posted in the thread that "NoV as a whole is, and has already been suffering for a while now."

Adding to the fire was a set of leaked screenshots of a thread with inflammatory content, posted in a private area of the Norden Verein forums (which has since been made public), in which Martens replied, "Lol, those Africans phail at life." This comment was interpreted as racist by many, and Kaiser Martens ultimately resigned from the Kaisership and from NoV altogether, leaving Striderwannabe to again assume leadership of the alliance.

The political fallout resulted in a majority of NoV's treaty partners terminating their treaties. CORE and MDC left The Hegemony after a failed attempt to remove NoV from the bloc, and several Hanseatic League alliances departed. At the end of November, NoV was left with a fraction of its prior strength, a broken military, and few allies.

The NoV-Continuum War
On May 10, 2008, the Continuum with the outside support of The German Empire declared war on Norden Verein. No specific Casus Belli was given in the declaration of war thread, although the thread suggested that the motivation were allegations that NoV knowingly harboured neo-Nazis, who were using CN, and through Norden Verein recruit players to their ideology. No solid self-standing proof has been presented by the coaltion against NoV to support these claims, but the validity of them is still being maintained.

It is speculated that as a result of this war, the LSF can finally emerge out of the NoV-LSF War after 7 months of fighting.

International relations
An up-to-date listing of all Norden Verein treaties is located here: