Intermission: 1927 Civilian Report
Moskurg
Life has improved since 1910. Citizens live in electrically-lit homes, and ride the bus to work. The most common civilian car is based on the Struunk, with the armor and weapons removed for speed. There are no more piles of horse manure on street corners, and tire swings (made with large Tiger tires) have started to crop up around homes and schools. Many civilians have antique Horsekiller rifles, brought home from duty or purchased at surplus. Moskurg hunters consider it unsporting to hunt with anything more accurate or easy to use than a Horsekiller, in fact, although most will concede that the M1 Service Rifle is a more effective weapon against squishy Arstotzkans. Some Moskurgs purchase Cascade SMG's, for home defense. Trains travel to and from towns, and Model 1 Biplanes with the radio stripped carry mail. Moskurg has a burgeoning radio enthusiast hobby, with civilians building, maintaining and modifying crystal or vaccuum tube radios. Naturally, Moskurg has one radio station, the official Government Broadcast (in partnership with The Moskurger). Reports of a rebel radio channel are false and citizens searching for such a channel or claiming it to exist will be punished. Any citizens found involved, speaking of, or thinking about rebel activity will be punished as well. A typical alley in Moskurg streets contains two things: a lot of empty alcohol bottles, and rebel posters, often with new propaganda posters plastered over them. The most wealthy Moskurgs adorn themselves in tiger pelts and other hunting trophies, and there is war museum of Arstotzkan armored vehicles with big holes through them. Rumor has it that in the Royal Palace, the Great Leader has a trap door in front of his desk he can open at any time with a hidden lever, dropping unwanted visitors into a pit of hungry tigers.
Arstotzka
Arstotzka has seen a number of new professions since the start of the war, including a huge variety of driving and shipping jobs, and a significant cold water fishing industry. Arstotzkans prefer crab, when they can get it. Most Arstotzkans, rich and poor, own a motor vehicle, by far the most common is the M17 Motorcycle, and businesses have trucks. Racing is a popular Arstotzkan hobby, both in motorcycles and cars, where civilians experiment with super chargers and fuel injection, inspired by the military engineering department. Arstotzka is fond of parades as well, and most days of the week and least one group soldiers is making marches around the capitol streets, with a tank in tow for added awe. AS-T15's have seen a new life converted to barbecues. At night the city glows, every home is burning coal to stay warm. The streets are also populated by snow plows, a service paid for by the Arstotzkan government, and train stations bustle. Even trains used far away from war lines are armored, Arstotzkans appreciate the aesthetic. Sharpshooting is a popular Arstotzkan sport, and they hunt birds and other small, quick things. Arstotzkan shooting enthusiasts -at least, the wealthy ones in the know- line up outside factories for copies of new rifles developed by the department of engineering. Some Arstotzkans modify their AS-1909 pistols with foreign-made springs, magazines and other parts to make them more reliable. Arstotzka also has a small rocket enthusiast club, who largely work with modified mortar shells. In school, every Arstotzkan child is warned about the dangers of land mines (and tigers). Despite recent improvments in the area of camouflage, Arstotzkan propaganda always depicts soldiers fighting in scarlet-and-gold uniforms, much to the disappointment of recruits who are strictly ordered to keep the drab side of their coats showing.