U.S. State Flag of Normandy

This is the U.S. State Flag of Normandy. It comes from a world where the Dunkirk evacuation failed, and Britain signed an armistice with Nazi Germany. Meanwhile, the United States never got involved in the war in Europe. Following the Fall of France, Germany focused its full military might on the Soviet Union. Despite a valiant effort, the Soviet Union fell to the Nazis, and Germany now stood as the supreme and uncontested ruler of continental Europe. 

Germany divided France into a series of administrative regions. This was done in hopes of keeping France weak, and preventing it from ever rising against Germany again. Furthermore, Germany also destroyed France’s industry. The French were even denied the use of chemical fertilizers, which lead to millions of deaths via starvation in the resulting famine. Germany implemented similarly harsh measure across the rest of its empire.

By the 1950s, Germany had fallen into a state of civil war. At the same time, America and Britain committed to military action against Germany. By 1960, Europe has been liberated, and Nazi Germany defeated for good. Unfortunately, France was left as an impoverished and deindustrialized shell of its former self. The regions began to process of reunification, but the northern most regions had other plans. They applied to join the United States.

After some debate, Congress approved the application, and the Normandy Territory was established. Normandy officially gained statehood in 1972, making it the 51st State. The State of Normandy includes the regions of Brittany, Normandy, and Hauts-de-France from our world. Becoming an American territory meant that reconstruction went quicker for Normandy than it did for the rest of France. Normandy also received more money for rebuilding. Of course, Normandy wasn’t the only place in Europe to follow this path. Sicily became the 52nd State in 1974. Kyushu became the first American state in Asia in 1977, with Ryukyu following in 1978.

Normandy has received significant immigration from the rest of the French-speaking world. In fact, it is the only state where French is the dominant language. Though, this is only a slight majority. Most Normans are bilingual, and signs are in both English and French. Today, the scars of the past had begun to fade, and Normandy enjoys a high standard of living. The many picturesque towns, especially those with surviving medieval buildings, make it a popular tourist destination for the rest of America. Recently, Normandy has become home to Europe’s first Disneyland park. Normandy is notable for its more relaxed and slower pace to life than most other American states. Normandy combines French and American culture into a truly unique state.

About the only bad thing that can be said of Normandy is it’s flag. The flag is a simple blue background with the medieval Norman lion, and the state name. That the phrase “In God We Trust” be included on the flag was one of the stipulations for Normandy being granted statehood. The flag is universally considered ugly, and more than a little embarrassing. However, thus far, plans to change it have moved rather slowly.