The economic fortunes and political structure of Balvania varied wildly during the Cold War.
History
In 1953 the European democracy of Balvania was invaded by a neighboring nation's air and ground forces. The world-roving Blackhawk Squadron participated in the repulsion of this invasion. Blackhawk himself organized and trained a special group of Balvanian operatives for counter-terrorism, but this team, the "Badgers," were secretly a cell of anti-democracy revolutionaries. Their leader, Dr. Ganso, attempted to shoot Blackhawk, but his scheme actually had been seen thru by Blackhawk, whose team of fist-fighting aviators had already been called in. Ganso and his Badgers were arrested alive.[1]
By 1954, Balvania had become a dictatorship, under the iron-fisted rule of Zorog. This despot was wildly unpopular and knew it, so to win the people's loyalty he set up a dangerous chemical plant fire, and faked his own death, amid a dramatic "rescue attempt".[2] Prompted by some of Zorog's ministers, the populace now mourned him as a martyred hero. His empty tomb became a national shrine to the stern kindness of "Father Zorog," "our Great Leader." Zorog himself meanwhile had decamped to the neighboring dictatorship of Kerently, for a session of plastic surgery. He had planned to retire in luxury and to run his Balvanian Dictatorial Party from behind the scenes. This scheme was foiled by the Blackhawk Squadron, who with great difficulty, and the loss of half a dozen of their aircraft, were able to bring Zorog back to Balvania to stand trial.[3]
Points of Interest
- A wide river forms the national borders of Balvania and Kerently, another dictator-ruled European nation.
- In the 1950s, paddlewheel steamboats plied this river, and the massive highway bridge across it remained only half complete.
- In the 1950s, paddlewheel steamboats plied this river, and the massive highway bridge across it remained only half complete.
Residents
- Dr. Ganso, world-famous surgeon
- Balvanian Badgers
- Dictator Zorog
Notes
- The original Balvanian Badgers were disbanded and imprisoned.
