Cauldron (novel)

"Cauldron" is a novel by Larry Bond that centers on a European financial crisis that leads to a military confrontation between the United States and France. The instrument of French imperialism in this novel is a transnational organization known as the European Confederation (EurCon). EurCon is dominated by France and Germany and bears a disturbing resemblance to the European Union. The story is set in 1998 and Bond even has a role for post-Soviet Russia.

As an economic downturn grips Europe, France and Germany use their industrial might to grab the former Warsaw Pact nations. They establish company factories, and buy out the government. However, the Eastern Europeans grow restless under French oppression. Led by Poland, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia, they confront EuroCon. The French are outraged and buy out the Russians, ending the fuel shipments to Poland. Disturbed by the bullying, America steps in with fuel shipments to Poland. The French confound this effort by sabotaging a fuel ship.

Unfortunately for the French, the Poles remain defiant and the Hungarians rebel. Hoping to stomp out the Hungarians, the French invade. Unfortunately, they are slowed by fierce Hungarian defenders. The French and Germans decide to invade Poland, hoping to make an example of them. The Poles fight back, and with U.S. and UK reinforcements, the Poles push back the Germans. Facing death between Poles and their hesitant French allies, Germany and Belgium split away, followed by the rest of EuroCon.