National News Eiffelland (from 2009 until 31 July 2020)

[Rheinbund]

Carrier fleet prepared for blockade of Boliatur

After the Staatstag and the Staatsrat approved the sending of a carrier fleet to the Snieg Ocean to help Engellex, Danmark and Cantignia with the war against Boliatur, the preparations of such a fleet started immediately. Some of the new ships bought after the budget increase for the Navy will be part of the "Flotteneinheit Boliatur", as it is currently called, but not the newly bought aircraft carrier, which will have its maiden trip during a patrol mission in the Venetian Bay. Spokespersons of the Navy told that the Flotteneinheit Boliatur could set seal to the Snieg Ocean in a week. Only the Navy will contribute to the war efforts against Boliatur; Eiffelland will deploy no land forces.

 

[Danmark]

You must be registered for see images

Udenrigsministeriet
Kongeriket Store Danskerne
Gamle Regeringerkvarteret, Christiansborg
​
​

Rudolph Kögler, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Vice Chancellor,
Trier

Torsdag 9 August 2012​

Your Excellency,

We are greatly encouraged by the Kingdom of Eiffelland in its steadfastness in the face of the surreptitious forces of terror incubated and spawned by the errant regime of Mrysini. Eiffelland, as always, demonstrates its commitment to worldly values and honour and has, in the latest of its acts, become the significant transnational German power.

In its independent and nonconformist spirit, the Kingdom of the Great Danes finds that cooperation with Eiffelland to be of notable and constructive value and in this effort against Mrysinism, we believe that there is much of cooperation that will be of benefit to both nations as we strive forward in a common endeavour and which we seek to build on.

In this spirit of independence and allowed to plough its own furrow, the Kingdom has been afforded greater insight into its relations with the Teutophone world and we are minded that whilst there remain key differences between the Scanians and Germanians, we are of a pragmatic spirit that has afforded us the ability to work more closely with Eiffelland, assisted greatly by the benignity of Eiffellandian foreign policy of late.

In light of this, His Danic Majesty's Government feels confident that your government is capable and endowed with the skill and trust necessary that permit us to channel our official correspondence and relations with our other near neighbour, the Wieserreich, via the Kingdom of Eiffelland until circumstances deem it necessary to alter that course.


Regards,


Hr. Henrik J. Westerveld

Foreign Minister of His Danic Majesty

 

[Rheinbund]

Aussenministerium
Trier, Eiffelland

We thank you for your kind words and will do everything we can to make the relations between Danmark and Wieserreich better.

Rudolph Kögler, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Vice-Chancellor

 

[Rheinbund]

OOC: From now on, it is 1952 in this thread.

 

[Rheinbund]

Distribution in effect in Eiffellandian occupational zone of Solaren

Today the distribution system proclaimed for the Eiffellandian Occupational Zone of Solaren (EOZS) became effective. During the last months, all inhabitants of the EOZS were registered in an enormous pace. Today all registered people received coupons for all kinds of food and drinks, as well as for clothing. This system is supposed to make sure that everybody gets the same amount of essential goods, and to prevent a black market from arising. The rations have been determined in such a way that at least all pregnant and lactating women and all children aged 15 years or less get what they need. The government also announced that it is buying food for Solaren to prevent famine. This food will be made available to the Solaris for free.


Solaris landowners open their storages

Today the Solaris count Stefano di Perugia announced that a group of landowners will make their harvests available to the Solaris for free. In most parts of Solaren, it was impossible to seed and harvest anything due to the war. The situation in Southeastern Solaren, however, was different. The fightings there were already over before the sowing season began. Some landowners there managed to sow and harvest this year with the help of the women living in villages close to their lands. Those women were paid with shares in the harvest, but there is still a part of the harvest left. This part will be made available to the Solaris.

 

[Socialist Commonwealth]

Union of Communist Workers

We applaud all acts of solidarity with the starving layers of Solaren society and, indeed, the noble acts of Solaris landowners show that the liberal dogma of egoism does not correlate with the desires of the individual humans hearts. These acts of high moral standard mean that there is reason all the more to root out the seeds of capitalism in Solaris society and carry over individual landownership into collective and cooperative forms of production, so that these noble spirits such as Stefano di Perugia are not driven to misery by the apersonal and cruel forces of a "free" market, where he'd have to compete with all those cruel and heartless individuals of dubious moral quality, who hoard their harvests and sell them for horrendous prices on the black market.

In fact, we wish to extend an invitation to Stefano di Perugia and all the landowners he is associated with, to a goodwill tour of Carentanian farming collectives. We wish to show him the progressive nature of collective farming and hope we can convince him to deepen the seeds of cooperation he has sowed by gathering farmers of noble intentions, so that they not only distribute their surplus storage as an act of solidarity with their fellow starving citizens, but cast aside the spirit of competition that is threatening to punish them for such acts of pure heart.

 

[Telora]

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

President Strand has directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in co-operation with both the Ministry for Agriculture & Rural Regeneration and a number of Teloran charities, to begin preparing a substantial quantity of aid for shipment to the people of Solaren. Telora will draw down some of her grain reserves; to a tune of up to 25,000 tonnes of grain in a series of shipments by Teloran-registered vessels. Telora will also seek to provide, through both donation and government purchase, clothes, blankets and tents to the population.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs requests a meeting with the occupation authorities to co-ordinate the arrival of these materials, given the destruction in Solaren, and what role Telora may play in the distribution of the goods.

 

[Havenshire]

Aid Co-operative

On behalf of the people of the People's Republic of Havenshire, we are greatly pleased to see that efforts to enrich, stabilise and promote the progression of the people of Solaren has been taken up by so many nations, though we find ourselves wary of the potential for ulterior motives that may run counter to the true welfare of the proletariat, both rural and urban, whose enslavement by a theocratic system was only so recently shattered, and who are still vulnerable and in need of careful guidance.

So as to further cement our steadfast commitment as a people, but not as a political entity*, Aid Co-operative pledges to increase its presence in Solaren, by dispatching a further 800 volunteers, to set up schools, help repair roads, and install basic communications such as telephone wires between towns. Whilst we commend the efforts of Telora and the Eiffelandian-sponsored Landlords, we will direct our efforts towards the most isolated communities within the Carentanian Occupation Zone, and try to further spread the reconstruction effort, both materially and pyschologically.

-Adam Purcell,
Chairman of Aid Co-op

*=ooc: Just a reminder that Co-ops are nominally an employee-owned private enterprise, but in reality Aid Co-op has a sizeable number of party members and their families as share-holders, so it is in spirit an extension of Government foreign policy.

 

[Rheinbund]

Aussenministerium
Trier, Eiffelland

We thank the Teloran government for its generosity towards the Solaris people. Although Solaren is a relatively warm country, the winter season can be quite cold here as well. Food is most directly needed, but tents and clothing are needed as well. The seaport of Bargia is at the west coast of Solaren; please contact the Carentanian government for delivering the goods there. There is also another seaport at the west coast of Solaren, but that is mainly used by fishers, and it is quite small. The seaport in question is San Remo, and is situated in the Eiffellandian occupational zone. Another option would be Mazara, a large seaport at the south coast of Solaren; please contact the Carentanian government. There are three large seaports at the East coast of Solaren: Testono and Tegeata (both in the Eiffellandian occupational zone) and Galara (Carentanian occupational zone). The seaport of Torrence is currently under construction and not usable.

Rudolph Kögler, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Vice-Chancellor.


Castello di Perugia
Perugia, Solaren

We thank the Union of Communist Workers for its invitation to a tour of farming collectives in Carentania. Unfortunately, our agendas are overfilled at the moment, and that will be the case for a very long period of time. Therefore, we have to decline the invitation.

We are convinced that the Carentanian farming collectives are doing a good job, however, Solaris agriculture needs a Solaris solution. We are working on that.

Conte Stefano di Perugia, on behalf of Conte Danielo di Grignano, Conte Lucca di Sarezzo, Conte Marcello di Treviglio and Conte Giovanni di Trescore.

 

[Rheinbund]

5 October 1952

New material for tooth fillings developed

Eiffellandians generally pay very much attention to their teeth. They brush their teeth 2 to 3 times a day, they floss, they use toothpicks and they go to the dentist for a checkup once every six months. Eiffellandians are the perfect figurants in advertisements for tooth paste, tooth brushes, dental floss, toothpicks and whatever other items for dental care. Teeth protecting devices are widely used in all activities where there is a risk for tooth damage. Eiffellandians doing martial arts even wear teeth protectors at international matches.
However, despite the enormous attention paid to dental care, caries cannot be completely prevented. Once every couple of years, a tooth filling is needed. Which materials do we have for that? The best-known materials are amalgam fillings and golden inlays covering the teeth. Those materials are reliable, but also visible from a distance. There are also white fillings, but those are quite britle and need to be replaced after two years. Because of that, white fillings are only placed into front teeth.
But now there is a breakthrough. Scientists of the Humboldt Universität Trier announced during a press conference that they managed to develop a new material for tooth fillings. It has the same strength as amalgam fillings but can be mixed in the same colours as teeth so that you don't even know where you had that filling after it has been placed. And that for a price which is equal to the traditional white filling. It is expected that on the short term the traditional white filling will be replaced with the new wite filling and on the long term the amalgam filling will be replaced with the new white filling.

OOC: Actually, during the 1950s, people got artificial teeth for a wedding present from their parents. This nasty habit continued even until the early 1970s. The idea behind it was, that the newly wed youngsters wouldn't have high costs for dental care any more. I asked my brother about white tooth fillings in the 1950s. He told that the materials for white fillings were either too britle or so exothermic during the hardening process that the tooth pulpa wouldn't survive that. Because of this, amalgam was often even used for fillings in front teeth. Not that it mattered very much, because of the artificial teeth upon marriage thing.
But .... There is one thing I categorically refuse to RP, and that is the state of dental care in the 1950s. I refuse to RP my youngsters with amalgam fillings all over their mouths and all the adults with artificial teeth. So dental care in Eiffelland is extremely important and the Eiffellandian dentistry is top-notch. And that's why I have to buy all my weapons from Franken and Wieserreich.

Another OOC: The white tooth filling I am referring to is not the exothermic one described above, but the composite filling we know from the 1980s, so one that is reliable and not too painful while hardening. If not then now.

 

[Rheinbund]

The Christmas Season

December is always a very good month for shop-owners. Partly because of the Christmas gifts, partly because of the Christmas dinners, but also because of the Christmas decorations. Like in all Germanian countries, there are the Advent calendars. At the first day of the Advent, the first little dour is opened. Then each day a new door is opened until the last one is opened on the 24th. There are many versions of Advent calendars, some even with a small piece of chocolate or a small candy after each little door. A typical Catholic tradition is the Scenery. When the tradition is really followed, at first the stable is built up with Joseph and Mary around a crib and the ox and the donkey in the stable, then at Christmas Eve the Infant Jesus is put into the crib and the shepherds with the sheeps are added, and at Epiphany (6 January) the Three Kings with a camel are added. Then the Scenery remains like that until Candlemas (2 February). There are many other Christmas decorations, like the wreath at the front door, the mistletoe and the Advent Wreath at the table. And not only that. At Christmas, the dinner table needs to be extra beautiful, so everything for that is sold as well. Table cloths, crockery, candles and so on. Furthermore, the best wines are drunk and the most delicious food is eaten at Christmas. Especially game. Christmas is the time of year to eat game.
But of course the most important Christmas tradition is the Christmas Tree, a tradition originally coming from Franken but that has conquered the whole Christian world. What is a Christmas Tree without balls, trumpets, clocks, garlands and candles? So of course also those are sold massively during the Christmas Season. The latest novelty is a garland with electric Christmas Tree candles. AEG introduced these garlands for the first time this year. The traditional Christmas Tree candles are quite risky because of fire-hazard. Furthermore, you need to replace the candles from time to time. The garlands with electric Christmas Tree candles take both problems away. No fire hazard any more, and you don't need to replace the candles any more. Because of that, the electric Christmas lights garlands are an enormous success. The fire departments will have a much calmer Christmas than last year.

OOC: Despite my depression, a bit of a happy post.

 

[Rheinbund]

28 December 1952
Underground system of Trier extended

Today the city council of Trier approved the plans for the extension of the underground line U5 from the Alexanderplatz via Unter den Kastanien to the Hersfelder Tor, the Staatstag and the train and S-Bahn station Lehrter Stadtbahnhof. The works in question will take approximately 10 years. A further extension to Tegel, which is sometimes talked about, is not part of the current plans. Further extensions of the underground lines are discussed, among others a new line in the western part of the city and the extension of the U1 under the Kaiser-Friedrich-Damm to the Messegelände in the west of the city.


28 December 1952
No constitution for Solaren

The Solaris National Congress (SNC) had promised to present a new constitution for Solaren by the end of 1952. Now that the end of the year is approaching, it becomes more and more evident that the writing of the new constitution is delayed due to disagreements between the factions in the SNC: The Socialists, the Liberals and the Post-Delegationists. Each faction has an agenda which differs considerably from the ones of the other two factions. Apparently the three factions did not succeed in finding a compromise. Officials from the Eiffellandian government proposed to make a basic constitution outlining the governmental construction of the country, then hold elections, and then let the constitution be filled in further by the parliament, or to vote for a parliament that will decide upon a constitution. One reason is that apparently the disagreements within the SNC are too big to decide upon a constitution, and that the SNC is currently not a correct representation of the will of the people of Solaren, so that it becomes questionable whether the constitution to be presented by the SNC will really reflect the will of the people.
Chancellor Graf von Seydewitz already indicated that the Eiffellandian government would not agree with a too Socialist constitution for Solaren. "A society needs personal initiative to thrive. Blind collectivisation of agricultural grounds and industrial production means will disrupt the already fragile economy of Solaren on the short term, and on the longer term will curb personal initiative and strangle the economy. Of course it is needed to prevent workers from being exploited, and to help the unlucky ones, but that is also possible with far less drastic means. The Germanic countries have been showing that for several decades," he said during his weekly press conference.
He also criticised the recent political and military actions by the Carentanians: "Potenza, Carentania and Eiffelland do not own parts of Solaren. We are only the stewards of Solaren. But Carentania, as one of the stewards, is using Solaris soil for its own geopolitical goals. This was clearly visible during the Carentanian-Jurzani crisis, when Carentania was building up forces for a possible attack against Danmark. That is not good stewardship."
When asked about the future of Solaren, Von Seydewitz said: "Regarding the collectivisation of agricultural grounds and industrial production means, these are such drastic steps that the complete population of Solaren must have a vote in that. This cannot be decided upon by the SNC alone. Should the new constitution call for such collectivisations, we will first organise a referendum in our Occupational Zone before we impose such a constitution upon it. We will also do everything we can to prevent Solaren from becoming a Carentanian puppet."
One journalist asked whether the SNC should be considered a puppet of Carentania, given the fact that that organisation was grounded in and largely supported by Carentania before the war. "In fact the SNC was also pushed forward by Carentania as the provisional government of Solaren. The Carentanian influence in the SNC might be larger than officially admitted, but we don't have any proof for that."


28 December 1952
New Year's Eve in Eiffelland

It is forbidden for Eiffellandian private persons to buy fireworks. Because of that, you won't hear many firecrackers in the Eiffellandian cities. But of course, what is New Year without fireworks? So each city, town and village has its own firework show. Of course adjusted to the circumstances. The firework shows in the mountains consist of skiers with torches in various colours because loud cracks could cause avalanches. But there is one New Year's Eve tradition that will never stop, although it's also forbidden: The carbide shooting in the Eiffellandian province of Emsland. The procedure is simple: First put some carbide into a milk churn, then some water, rapidly put the lid on the milk churn and run away. The lid is shot several tens of meters into the air and the crack is enormous. The carbide explosions can be heard throughout the Emsland countryside already before Christmas and continue until the end of the Christmas holidays. Of course the local firework shows are accompanied by loud carbide cracks and milk churn lids shot into the air. For reasons officially not fully understood, far more milk churn lids than milk churns are sold in Emsland, especially at the end of the year and the beginning of the new year. Also this year the carbide cracks can't be missed in Emsland. Some habits never die....

 

[Danmark]

You must be registered for see images

You must be registered for see images

You must be registered for see images

You must be registered for see images

​

It is our considered perspective that the role undertook by the Kingdom of Eiffelland and the Grand Duchy of Potenza are indeed the correct manners with which to undertake responsibilities in a war-ravaged nation and country and we can only declare that the efforts indicated by the Trier government are ones we share and are in full support of.

It is important to this Realm that the zone occupied by Carentanian forces does not become a mere extension of Carentania itself. Indeed, Carentania has a due and clear responsibility to ensure that this does become the case otherwise they fail ~ and fail comprehensively ~ in anything that they proclaim or pretend, and should follow the example demonstrated by Eiffelland and Potenza.

We are not prepared, at this stage, to give Carentania a blank-cheque and turn a blind eye to their whimsical foolishness. Their surreptitious abuse of Solaren for their own national gain over the Long Sea Crisis indeed computes into a dire abuse of the Solaren peoples and an advantageous lack of regard for Solaren in order to serve the national aggrandisement of Carentanian Proper, which must be stood up to and done so in no uncertain manner. Never before have we seen such arrogant and egregious acts within our own immediate backyard, at the entrances to the Kattegat[SUP]1[/SUP], a commensurate international scandal and a clear abuse of the war-stricken peoples of Solaren, scarred by an immense bloodshed, grovelling and humiliated existence. If this is blessed communism as directed from Rijeka, the world is sooner off without it.

As such, the Realm envisages circumstances in which we shall support the Eiffellandian and Potenzan zones, due to their respect for the Solaren people and the wholesale in-built national approaches of both nations that instills stewardship as opposed to land-grabbing and domination. This is the way to proceed especially after a war-torn people struggle to recover from their national calamity and is a moral for all to share wherever they are and only those two nations exemplify that and show any understanding. They are delicate and responsible, Carentania is like a proverbial bull in the china shop with little comprehension of the results and has surfeited its role as a supposed 'steward'.

However, in a side-aspect, this Realm shall also be considering the potence of aspects of Carentanian-held territory, simply due to reality that Carentania has sought fit in order to both abuse its occupied zone within Solaren, and also against our national sovereignty. The lack of trust that Carentania itself instills within the civilised world is one well worth bringing forward. As such, we cannot hold out our hopes over a Carentanian change in heart at this stage towards Solaren, nor do we expect it.

As such, any continued and any further attempts at national-aggrandisement by Carentania towards Solaren shall land Carentanian-occupied Solaren and Carentania itself in hot waters and this Realm shall not hesitate in striking the enclaves down, in military efforts, of key and strategic areas of the Carentanian-zone of Solaren.


UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE KING

You must be registered for see images

HR. HENRIK JOACHIM WESTERVELD

FOREIGN MINISTER OF THE GREAT DANISH IMPERIUM



N.B. 1 Kattegat is a Danish term for the strait that leads out from Danmark into the Long Sea.

 

[Rheinbund]

Kanzleramt
Trier, Eiffelland

We understand the Danish concerns about Carentanian attempts to use Solaris soil as a basis for attacking Danmark. We ourselves share those concerns. However, at this moment, we don't consider those concerns enough justification for an attack on Iscla. Before the Danish government decides in favour of such an attack, it is needed that they consult the government of Potenza and us first. A first strike against Iscla is only justified in extraordinary circumstances. Such circumstances do not occur at this moment. Furthermore, we repeat that we must keep the Solaris out of a war that is not theirs.

Matthias Graf von Seydewitz, Chancellor

 

[Rheinbund]

Nicole Gronert and Lars Kreuzer through to next round in Cantignian Open

In the Cantignian Open 1953, the Eiffellandian tennis players Nicole Gronert and Lars Kreuzer managed to win their matches in the final qualification round, after which they gained an entry ticket for the matches leading to the tennis championship of Cantignia. In the King Alfred Memorial Arena, Nicole Gronert played against the Ivernian Aine Flaherty. In the first set, both players seemed to be on par with each other, but after Gronert managed to break Flaherty’s service at 4‑3 to Gronert, she served the set out. The second set became a sensation during the sixth game. After Gronert had broken Flaherty’s service in the previous game, Flaherty nearly managed to break Gronert’s service at a score of 15‑40. Gronert, however, played herself back to Deuce, and after an endless series of advantage‑deuce in which both players alternately won the advantage, Gronert managed to win the game. After that, she broke Flaherty’s service once again and served the match out.
In the Ormonde Rosenberg Arena, Lars Kreuzer played against the Cantignian tennis player Archie Riddick. Both players gave their best and showed why they play on this level. Both players remained on par during most parts of the match. In the first set, Kreuzer managed to break Riddick’s service at a score of 4‑4, after which Kreuzer served the set out. The second set was exciting. After Riddick broke Kreuzer’s service at a score of 4‑3, Kreuzer prevented Riddick from serving the set out, and won his service‑game afterwards. At a score of 5‑5, both players won their service games, after which Kreuzer broke Riddick’s service once again and served the match out.

But the real sensations of the day were the other two matches. Séraphine Rochette from Sylvania barely managed to win from Jolante Wolotka from Lower Swiecziema (9‑7; 5‑7; 9‑7) during a three hour match in the King Alfred Memorial Arena, during which both players kept each other on par and showed the world why their countries had sent them to this tournament. Jolante Wolotka lost this game, but she deserves a place in the hall of fame of tennis as much as the winner Séraphine Rochette does.
The same sensation happened in the Ormonde Rosenberg Arena during the match between Jonas Lund from Danmark and Perry Ash from Sylvania. Perry Ash won the match after three hours (6‑3; 5‑7; 8‑6). During the first set, Lund wasn’t really in the game. Ash broke his service at a score of 3‑3, won his service‑game, and won the set by breaking Lund’s service once again. During the second set, however, at a score of 4‑0, Lund catapulted himself into the game. After Ash had broken his service, Lund broke Ash’s service and put the 4‑1 on the score board. Then he won his service game, broke Ash’s service game, won his service game again, left one service game to Ash and took all the points to win the set. During the third set, both players remained on par, and both players won their service games. The last game was an endless series of advantage‑deuce, but in the end Ash managed to break Lund’s service and win the match. Also here, both players deserve a place in the hall of fame of tennis. Unfortunately, Ash put a shadow over his victory by insulting his opponent. Instead of shaking hands with Lund, Ash yelled at him: "It's our time now, fade away little serf!" The officials issued a warning to Ash to be respectful to his opponents, but did not take any more action.

 

[Thaumantica]

Cantigian Lawn Tennis Association

In the honorable pursuit of conducting a pleasant open championship despite the arrival of all breeds of athlete, the CTA has voted to deduct twenty percent of Mister Perry Ash's ultimate winnings within the Friendly Confines in this tournament. Jonas Lund may accept this purse or donate it to the charity of his choice, though we truly understand that this affront against his honor cannot be mended by money. We have encouraged Mister Perry Ash to issue a formal apology, and we will continue to remind remaining athletes of their obligation to keep Cantignia friendly.

 

[Rheinbund]

21 January 1953
Cantignian Open: Michael Braasch defeats Danish Prince Sebastian

Whether it is the aristocrat or the peasant, Eiffellandians stick to good manners. Normally an Eiffellandian would bow before a Royal, no matter what. Maybe the Eiffellandian has come to the Royal to dethrone him, but even then first the Eiffellandian would bow. Braasch didn’t bow. He shook hands with the Danish Prince Sebastian before the match, like he always does. Whether that is a confirmation of the rumour that Braasch and the Danish Prince are close friends, or that Braasch acted under the unwritten rule that every player is equal on the court, that is unclear.
The first set of the match more or less went by the book: Each player won his service game, until Braasch broke the Prince’s service and served the set out. During the second set, the Prince seemed to suffer from an injury he obtained a couple of months ago. This set was relatively easy won by Braasch. During the last set, Prince Sebastian came back into the game, but it was not enough. In the end, Braasch broke the Prince’s service and served the match out. The end score was 6‑3, 6‑2, 6‑4 to Braasch.


22 January 1953
Cantignian Open: Jasmin Weidemann and Nicole Gronert to next round; Lars Kreuzer out

Today three Eiffellandian tennis players had to play on the Cantignian Open. In the King Alfred Memorial Arena, Nicole Gronert and Jasmin Weidemann played their matches against the Danish player Anja Maikelekelevesi and the Havenite player Artemis Parks respectively. Lars Kreuzer played against the Parthavan player Raed Zamani in the Ormonde Rosenberg Arena.

Gronert’s match started with a deception: She lost the first set with 6‑1. After her first service set, she lost all the games to Maikelekelevesi. In the second set, however, she managed to turn the tide. She won her service game, broke Maikelekelevesi’s service game, won her own service game again and broke Maikelekelevesi’s service game again.
At that moment, at a score of 4‑0 to Gronert, Maikelekelevesi found herself back again. She broke Gronert’s service game and won her service game. But in the next game, Gronert served the set out.
During the third set, Gronert and Maikelekelevesi kept each other at par, until Gronert broke Maikelekelevesi’s service at a score of 4‑4. Then she served the match out. The end score was 1‑6, 6‑2, 6‑4 to Gronert.

Weidemann managed to win the first set with breaking Parks’s service twice, but the second set went to Parks. Parks already broke Weidemann’s first service game, but later in the set Weidemann managed to counterbreak Park’s service game. She won her own service game after that, and from then on the two ladies kept each other on par until a score of 9‑9. Weidemann lost her service game to Parks, who served the set out.
During the third set, Parks appeared to have asked too much from herself. She managed to win only one game. At a score of 5‑1 to Weidemann and 40‑15 in points, it was “game, set and match to Weidemann” after an ace. The end score was 6‑2, 9‑11, 6‑1 to Weidemann.

Lars Kreuzer lost his match against Raed Zamani after 4 hours playing. The first set went relatively easy to Zamani, but the second set became a struggle. Both players alternately won or lost their service games, until Kreuzer broke Zamani’s service at a score of 9‑9, and served the set out. The third set went relatively easy to Kreuzer: He broke Zamani’s service twice and won the set with 6‑3. The last two sets were exhausting for both players. Games lasted endlessly. Those two sets lasted endlessly. Zamani managed to win them both. But also here, this match was so legendary, that both players deserve a place in the hall of fame of tennis. The end score was 6‑2, 9‑11, 3‑6, 6‑4, 8‑6 to Zamani.


23 January 1953
Cantignian Open: Jasmin Weidemann and Nicole Gronert to semifinals; Michael Braasch out with shoulder injury

In sensational matches, Jasmin Weidemann and Nicole Gronert managed to reach the semifinals of the Cantignian Open. Michael Braasch, however, was defeated by Perry Ash from Sylvania, who previously marked himself out with unsporty behaviour against the Danish player Jonas Lund.

Jasmin Weidemann played against Katrine Nygaard-Juhl from Danmark in a lengthy match that ended in Weidemann’s victory. The first set went to Nygaard‑Juhl. Both ladies kept each other on par, until Nygaard‑Juhl broke Weidemann’s service and won the first set. During the second set, Weidemann managed to break Nygaard‑Juhl’s service twice; she took the set with 6‑3. The last set was a play of exhaustion. Both players broke and counterbroke each other’s services, until Weidemann broke Nygaard‑Juhl’s last service and won the match. The end score was 5‑7, 6‑3, 8‑6 to Weidemann.

Nicole Gronert didn’t start her match well. She played against Ileana Lukashenko from Parthava, who managed to break Gronert’s service twice and win the first set with 6‑3. In the second set, however, Gronert found herself back at a score of 4‑0 to Lukashenko. She won her service, broke Lukashenko’s service, won her own service again and broke Lukashenko’s service once again. Then the score of 4‑4 stood on the board. From then on, an exhaustive cascade of games rolled itself out. Some of those games lasted endlessly. When the score 11‑11 appeared on the board, Gronert broke Lukashenko’s service and won her own service game. With a score of 13‑11, the longest set in the history of tennis ended. The third set was relatively calm compared with that. Both players won their service games, until Gronert broke Lukashenko’s service and served the match out. The end score was 3‑6, 13‑11, 6‑4.

During previous interviews, Michael Braasch had sharply condemned Perry Ash’s unsporty behaviour after his match against Jonas Lund. On the court, he icily politely shook Ash’s hand before the match. The latter won the first set easily. Braasch played better during the second set, but also then Ash was the better player and won the set. During the third set, Braasch finally came into the match. After Ash had broken his service at a score of 2‑2, Braasch counterbroke Ash’s service and won his own service game. At a score of 4‑3, Ash won his service game again. Then Braasch won his service game and broke Ash’s service, winning the set. During the 4th set, at a score of 5‑3, everybody expected Braasch to drag a fith set out of the match. Unfortunately, he sprained a muscle in his shoulder when he served for the set. Not wanting to give up, he played on with his racket in his other arm. He still made it difficult to Ash, showing how good he is that he can even make it difficult to his opponent while playing with his other arm, but didn’t manage to win a game any more. Ash won the match with an ace. The end score was 6‑2, 6‑4, 4‑6, 7‑5 to Ash.


24 January 1953
Cantignian Open: Jasmin Weidemann and Nicole Gronert loose semifinals; Michael Braasch to Universitätsklinikum “Robert Koch” in Weissenfels

The Cantignian Open is over for Nicole Gronert and Jasmin Weidemann. Both players lost their matches against the Cantignian Margaux Vernier and the Sylvanian Seraphine Rochette, respectively. Gronert managed to win her first set. She also gave her best in the other two sets, but it wasn’t enough. Vernier won with 4‑6, 6‑4, 9‑7. Weidemann played a good match, but Rochette was better. The latter won the match in two sets: 7‑5, 6‑3.
Michael Braasch is already traveling back to Eiffelland. He will be transported to the Unversitätsklinikum “Robert Koch” in Weissenfels, where he will be examined and treated by orthopaedic surgeons specialised in shoulder injuries.


25 January 1953
Cantignian Open: 1953 champions are Seraphine Rochette and Perry Ash

The 1953 champions at the Cantignian Open are citizens from Sylvania: Seraphine Rochette and Perry Ash managed to win their matches. The Ivernian Frank Mackenzie, who was the favourite of the Eiffellandians given Ash’s unsporty behaviour against Jonas Lund, managed to win the first two sets, but Ash won the third and fourth set relatively easily. Mackenzie seemed to be out of the match, but then he gave everything once more. It was unclear throughout the fifth set who would win, until finally Ash broke Mackenzie’s service and won the match. The end score was 6‑8, 6‑8, 6‑2, 6‑3, 11‑9 to Ash.
The match between Seraphine Rochette and Margaux Vernier became exciting during the last set. Vernier had won the first set, Rochette had won the second set. The third set was a combination of endless games, breaks and counterbreaks. Rochette broke Vernier’s service in the 22nd game of the set. The end score was 4‑6, 6‑4, 12‑10 to Rochette.

 

[Rheinbund]

Talks about school and university exchanges with Franken

The governments of Franken and Eiffelland have agreed on starting discussion about school and university exchanges between those two countries. When Franconian regional politicians called upon the national government of Franken to start a student exchange program between the Germanic countries, the Eiffellandian government immediately made clear that it was interested in such a program. A conference on this matter will be held in Nürnberg by the end of next week. Representants from the Eiffellandian Ministries for Foreign Affairs and Education will attend, as well as representants from the Verband der eiffelländischen Universitäten (VEU), the Verband der eiffelländischen Hochschulen (VEH) and the Verband der eiffelländischen Gymnasia (VEG). Both the Franconian and the Eiffellandian government indicated that “representants from Wieserreich and Westsachsen would be more than welcome to attend the conference as well”. “The exchange program wil be even more successful if those two countries participate as well,” a spokesperson of the Ministry for Education and Science said.

 

[Rheinbund]

20FEB1953

Bomb attack in Northern Solaren

Four Potenzan soldiers and an unknown number of Solaris were killed in a bomb attack in Northern Solaren earlier today. It was confirmed that the bomb exploded in a cafe near the headquarters of General Battisti. The King, the Government and General Modersohn strongly condemned the bombing attack, and publicly condolenced the families and friends of the deceased. Furthermore, they followed the example of the Carentanian government and sent written letters of condolence to the direct family of the deceased.
This bomb attack is yet another event in the increasing unrest in Solaren. Earlier this month, dancehalls both in the Carentanian Occupational Zone and in the Eiffellandian Occupational Zone were the targets of many protests by orthodox‑religious groups, sometimes even violent protests. Especially Tegeata suffered from many violent protests, because of which Colonel Rahmke of the regiment in Tegeata decided to have several parts of the city patrolled by armed soldiers. This weekend, it was relaitvely calm in Tegeata, but today’s bomb attack could be the start of an aggravation of the protests in Solaren.


22FEB1953

Position of French at school under discussion

Foreign languages are a large part of the curriculum at the Eiffellandian schools. Education of English and French already start at the two highest grades of the Grundschule (primary education), the education of Italian, Danish and Saracian (languages spoken in Eiffelland’s neighbourcountries) start at the second grade of the Realschule and the Gymnasium (the middle and the highest level of secondary education) while one of those three languages are already taught at the first grade of those education levels.
It is evident why English has such a prominent place in the school curriculum. The reason why French has such a prominent place is because it used to be an important language to Eiffellandians because of the prominent position of countries like Montelimar and Lorraine at the world stage and as allies of Eiffelland. Unfortunately, both countries lost that prominent position. Montelimar was cut to pieces by Engellex; currently the pieces are vassal states of Engellex. Lorraine collapsed under the burden of the Solaris War and is currently in isolation.
As a result, French has become less important at the international stage. Therefore, the Government is asking itself whether French should keep its current prominent position at the Eiffellandian schools or not. French will definitely remain part of the school curriculum at the Realschule and the Gymnasium, but the education in it would start at the second grade; furthermore, it would disappear from the Hauptschule (the lowest level of secondary education).
But when French becomes less important at the Eiffellandian schools, a gap in the curriculum will emerge. There are three options to fill that gap. One option would be to let Tiburan take the current place of French. Apart from the increasing importance of this language in our region, it would take less effort to re‑educate the teachers because of the similarities between French and Tiburan. A second option would be to let the language of the neighbouring country fill the gap; that would mean Danish in the North, Saracian in the East and Tiburan in the West. A third option would be to leave the gap unfilled; some people advocate this because of the already quite full curriculum at the Realschule and the Gymnasium.

 

[Rheinbund]

Prince Johann severely injured

Tonight Prince Johann got severely injured during a firefight in Torrenze, Solaren. A protest against the dancehall the Prince was visiting resulted in a riot and then in a firefight with the soldiers that were guarding the dancehall. During that firefight, the Prince sustained several abdominal injuries. He has been taken to the military hospital. His condition is stable but his life is still in danger. Several other people got injured during the fight. Also they have been taken to the military hospital. Up to now, two protesters have been arrested; they got injured while they resisted their arrestments. They will be interrogated as soon as their conditions allow to do so. The King and Queen are currently traveling to Torrenze to visit their son. During the press conference at his private home in Köln that he had organised to comment on the Zamosk crisis, the Chancellor also commented on the health status of the Prince. He indicated that he had already telephoned with the King and Queen to tell them that he feels sorry for them and to wish all the best to the Prince. He called the event “a tragedy for the country”. “It shows even more how much our presence is needed to stabilise the country,” the Chancellor said.
Prince Johann is the second son of King Albrecht and Queen Mafalda. After his Abitur in 1943, he went to the Königliche Akademie der Luftstreitkräfte in Kirchhain, near Marburg, where he graduated in 1947. In 1951, he was promoted to Kapitän der Lufstreitkräfte, allowing him to fly jet fighters. Immediately after his promotion, he went to Lorraine to fight in the war against Solaren. After the capitulation of Solaren last July, Prince Johann continued to serve there.


Eiffelland repeats its calls for diplomatic talks to end Zamosk crisis

From his private home near Köln, Chancellor Graf von Seydewitz repeated his call upon all parties involved in the Zamosk crisis to come to the conference table and diplomaticly end the Zamosk crisis. The Chancellor repeated that representants of the parties involved could always come to Trier to discuss a peaceful settlement of the crisis. “Nobody profits from a war. Maybe on the short term the victor seems to profit from it, but in the end nobody profits. Furthermore, this war will only sow the seed of the next war. We also call upon the Hymiar Partnership for Peace, of which we are an observer, to take up a more active role in this matter,” the Chancellor said.