October 1st, 1940

With the Russians having spent the past few months slowly running over Eastern Ukraine, German predictions for a fast war in the East by either Russian or German forces have been dashed. Russia - while weakened by the collapse of her former empire and the German imposed hegemony in the West has still been able to push the Reichspakt towards the Dnieper, and while the Russians have been unable to cross, the Polish questions still remains a potential thorn in our side. Should the Russians reach Poland, it is most likely the case that Poland will be used as a venue for an invasion of Germany proper - despite Polish declarations to the contrary. Poland will either invite the Russians in to outflank the Germans and seize Greater Poland, or the Russians will run over the Poles to unite the former Russian Empire.

All of this can be avoided by the securing of the Ukraine and one way to avoid a breakdown in Ukrainian resolve has come from an unlikely but familiar source, Archduke Wilhelm of Austria. Remembered fondly for his actions to help the Ukrainian populace during the First Weltkrieg, Wilhelm - otherwise known as Vasyl - is partially a national hero for his standing up to not only German authorities but Austrian as well. While the Ukrainian government has been unexpectedly... receptive to German ventures about the possibility of bringing Vasyl back to the country as King of Ukraine, the decision ultimately remains with Vasyl himself to take the Ukrainian throne or leave it vacant.

Once Vasyl accepts, a small coronation would be held in Kiev with the remainder of the ceremony being held in Berlin, due to the Russian advances to the East of Kiev.