ODRE movement
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| ODRE movement | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 ODRE backed demonstrators occupying the Baardaplak in Yndyk on 30 November | |||
| Date | 10 September — 22 December 1942 (3 months, 1 week and 5 days) | ||
| Location | Alsland (nationwide) | ||
| Caused by |
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| Goals |
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| Methods | |||
| Resulted in | Partial ODRE victory
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| Parties to the civil conflict | |||
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The ODRE movement, also known as the 1942 Alslandic revolution or the Baardaplak uprising as well as the Strik-revolution in Yndyk, was a series of political demonstratons in Alsland between 10 September and 22 December 1942. The movement was named after the ODRE student committee which had spread across Universities in Alsland and instigated the first demonstrations. The peaceful revolution led to the resignation of Villem Mand and democratic reforms in Alsland as well as the beginning of the democratic period in Alsland.
Following the Great War, Alsland had been ruled by Villem Mand and the National Bloc. Whilst initially promising a return to the pre-war democratic system, Mand's government became increasingly authoritarian and isolationist, going so far as to reject membership of the United Nations of Euclea. In 1940, anti-rationing demonstrations were violently suppressed which was condemned by the Community of Nations as well as other east Euclean nations. During campaigning for the 1942 legislative election, members and leaders of the Alslandic Section of the Workers' International which had been the largest and most viable opposition movement were arrested suddenly after falsified reports of a coup attempt were published in the newspapers.
The results of the 1942 legislative election claimed 73.2% of voters had backed the National Bloc and allied parties. The results were disputed by the ODRE movement and opposition who began daily protests against the government. The protests spread nationally despite attempts by the government to curtail the spread of information. On 26 November the Alslandic Trade Union Federation (AFBF) backed a general strike which began on 1 December. On 8 December much of the Definsjemacht and law enforcement authorities had defected to the demonstrators and the government feared a potential popular Councilist revolution. The following day Villem Mand resigned as Premier which effectively ended the demonstrations. The Committee for a peaceful transition was set up to begin transitioning Alsland to a parliamentary democracy shortly afterwards.
The effects of the movement are debated as whilst the ODRE were successful in pressuring the government to step down and for the transition to democracy to begin, many of the movement's leaders as well as other defectors to the opposition were arrested in the following year. ODRE were also unsuccessful in removing the National Bloc's dominance in politics, the party led each consecutive government until 1990. As well as this the public perception of Mand following his deposition changed significantly from that of a dictator to a national hero in the following decades. New elections as well as a constitutional assembly were also not held despite promises from the subsequent governments.
Background
Government of Villem Mand
Economic policy
Growing authoritarianism
Diplomatic isolation
1940 Wottested crackdown
ODRE
- Students for Democracy and Peace in Kirenian
- Spread to other national universities
1943 legislative election
Crackdown on ASAY and other opposition
Reactions
Main protests
Student and Councilist protests
- Initial demonstrations
- Police arrests and injuries at first protest
University walkouts
- Nationwide University walkout of students after injuries
- Spread of information through unofficial media
Red October and minor reforms
- Councilist hijacking of the movement
- Selected local government and education reforms proposed and implemented
- Mand agrees to seek UNE membership
Escalations
- Protests begin spiralling out of control for the government
- First strikes
Public opinion shifts
- Newspapers side with the protesters
- Public perception shifts from pro-government to pro-protester
- Large nationwide demonstrations
General strike
- AFBF issue call for a general strike
- Government suppression of information
- State of emergency declared
- General strike occurs & country comes to a stop
- Overwhelming public support for demonstrators
Defection of the armed forces
- Defection of Federal Police
- Threat of a councilist revolution
- Military leaders and forces effectively defect
- Panic in the government
Mand resigns and transitional authority established
- Mand resigns in a radio broadcast
- Celebrations and creation of a transitional authority
- Keuning coalitions with ASAY
Aftermath
Committee for a peaceful transition
- Membership of the Committee equally spread between all parties and movements
- Peaceful transition achieved
- National Bloc able to remain dominant
New government sworn in
- New NB-ASAY perma-government
- New elections in 1946 and new parties
Suppression of continuing protests
- Arrest of continuing protesters (trade union leaders and original ODRE leaders)
- Closure of all ODRE clubs
Trial of leaders
- Military, police and ORDE leaders trialled and sentenced to jail time
- General amnesty in 1950
- ODRE leaders expelled from universities and barred from higher education
- Exodus of some ODRE leaders abroad
Alsland joins the EC
- Joins in 1955
- Political reforms
Foreign intelligence involvement
- Potential Project Omega involvement to pressure Mand to resign to prevent a councilist revolution
- Preparations for an anti-councilist civil conflict if needed
Legacy
Rehabilitation of Mand
- Mand goes from hated ex-dictator to beloved national hero who did what he had to do to save Alsland in public opinion
- 'Mandism'
Unofficial censorship
- Boycotts of media sources which talked about the movement post-1960s
- National Bloc denies certain events took place and disputes certain facts (claims of less public support or Mand supported the demonstrations all along)
Failure of the movement
- Failings of the 'ODRE generation'
- National Bloc dominance
- Councilism not adopted
- Hijacking of the original goals of the movement