This article explores the fate of various countries in the Fallout universe, detailing their pre-war conditions, involvement in conflicts, and post-war outcomes. From China's devastating collapse after resource wars to the uncertain survival of nations like the UK and Norway, the article covers the complex geopolitical and societal impacts leading up to and following the Great War.
The Fallout universe presents a grim and complex alternate history where global tensions, resource shortages, and political conflicts culminate in a devastating nuclear war known as the Great War. This article delves into the fate of several known countries within this universe, exploring their pre-war struggles, wartime experiences, and post-war conditions.
China faced complete destruction during the Great War, but its downfall began years earlier due to severe resource shortages linked to problems in the Middle East. In 2066, driven by desperation, China invaded Alaska, igniting a prolonged conflict with the United States. Initially, China dominated the war, but the tide turned when America deployed T-51 power armor.
Despite the fierce conflict, the nuclear devastation rendered the war moot, annihilating China alongside the rest of the world. The government collapsed, the military vanished, and society ceased to exist. Limited information exists about survivors within China, but some Chinese individuals made it to America. For example, the crew of the Chinese submarine Xiang established a faction in old San Francisco's Chinatown, and some Chinese soldiers at the Mama Dulce spy facility remained active for over 200 years, defending their post as if the war never ended.
Tensions between the United States and Canada escalated in 2059 when the U.S. pressured Canada to allow American troops to guard the Trans Alaska pipeline running through Canadian territory. Canadian citizens opposed foreign military presence, leading to increased friction.
When China invaded Alaska in 2066, the U.S. military presence in Canada intensified. In 2072, after an attempted sabotage of the pipeline, the U.S. used this as a pretext to invade and annex Canada on June 3rd, ending its sovereignty. The occupation was brutal, with American forces executing resistance fighters, an event famously depicted in the original Fallout game.
Violence persisted until the bombs fell, destroying the infrastructure that made controlling Canada valuable. Post-war, some Canadians survived and migrated south into the remnants of the United States, as evidenced by characters like Marge LeBarge and Dave Handy in Fallout 2.
Before the Great War, Mexico was beset by natural disasters, political instability, and pressure from the United States' demand for oil. The U.S. used Mexico's instability and pollution as justification for invasion, possibly exacerbated by sanctions.
A massive earthquake in 2042 devastated Mexico City, which was rebuilt with the help of Mr. Handy robots but later became one of the first cities targeted by nuclear strikes during the Great War. Survivors turned on each other, forming early raider tribes amid the radioactive ruins.
Raul Tejada, a ghoul mechanic from Fallout: New Vegas, witnessed this chaos firsthand. His hometown, Hidalgo, was spared direct nuclear hits but overwhelmed by refugees, leading to desperation and violence. The New California Republic's expansion into Baja California revealed a land rife with conflict over scarce resources.
Mexico survived only in a technical sense; the nation as it was known did not endure.
The Fallout timeline is ambiguous about whether the Soviet Union collapsed before the Great War. Evidence exists for both scenarios, reflecting Cold War paranoia.
Maps from Fallout 3 label Alaskan invaders as Russia in 2077, suggesting the USSR persisted. Fallout 4 references joint Chinese-Soviet attack simulations in 2067, and Fallout 76 introduces Soviet immigrants arriving just before the bombs.
The most plausible explanation is that the USSR survived longer than in real history, maintaining resources like oil and uranium, which allowed it to adopt isolationism. However, the USSR was not spared during the Great War and likely exchanged nuclear strikes with other powers.
The UK suffered heavy damage during the Great War but some of its people survived, many migrating to post-war America. Prior to the war, the UK’s history paralleled real life, including participation in World War II and membership in the European Commonwealth.
The monarchy persisted as late as 2077, confirmed by Mr. Handy robots programmed to serve the queen. Post-war, characters such as Alistair Tenpenny and Desmond Lockheart indicate that some form of British civilization endured, though conditions were likely harsh.
British culture also influenced the wasteland, with figures like Dean Domino and James (the Lone Wanderer’s father) carrying British traits. Overall, the UK survived but was irrevocably changed.
Japan’s fate in the Fallout universe is largely a mystery, with only fragments hinting at its history. Pre-war events like Hiroshima and Nagasaki remain significant, and Japan maintained some global connections, as indicated by a planned trip by the Watoga marching band in Fallout 76.
Japanese cultural elements persist in the wasteland, such as katanas, a Yakuza gang in New Reno, and a robot named Takahashi speaking broken Japanese. Japan may have served as a U.S. base against China, making it an early nuclear target.
Japanese survivors exist in post-war America, but the homeland’s condition remains unknown.
Norway receives minimal mention but offers intriguing clues. In Fallout 4, the FMS Northstar, a Norwegian cargo ship off Boston’s coast, is crewed by ghouls still defending their vessel centuries after it ran aground.
This suggests Norway survived the Great War long enough to maintain operational ships crossing the Atlantic. However, the nation eventually faded into obscurity, much like many others.
Mongolia appears only through cultural references, notably the Great Khans raider group in Fallout: New Vegas, which models itself after the Mongol Empire and Genghis Khan.
Additional nods include mentions in Fallout 76’s Pioneer Scout Exam. There are no confirmed survivors or settlements, and the country’s post-war status is unknown. A cancelled Fallout Extreme game was to feature a raider faction called the Huns, hinting at possible chaos in Mongolia.
Ireland seemingly survived the Great War to some extent. Several characters in Fallout have Irish heritage or accents, indicating ongoing contact with America.
Colin Moriarty, a bar owner in Fallout 3, immigrated to the U.S. as a child, confirming transatlantic travel was possible. Other cultural references include Patrick the Celt and John El Sullivan, who embody Irish traditions and stereotypes.
While Ireland maintained some society, many Irish people migrated to America, suggesting conditions at home were difficult.
Taiwan is mentioned cryptically in Fallout 4, with a terminal entry referencing PAM stabilizing the Pascal situation in the Taiwan Strait. Details are scarce, but this implies tensions between Taiwan and China, consistent with real-world geopolitics.
Given China’s aggressive expansion, Taiwan was likely invaded or caught in the crossfire during the resource wars and Great War. Its post-war fate is unknown but presumed grim due to proximity to mainland China.
Venezuela’s presence in Fallout is minimal, with a single reference to a medical research center managed by Ezra Parker in Vault 118.
No information exists about Venezuela’s involvement in the resource wars or its post-war condition. The existence of a wealthy American-run facility suggests some stability and American influence pre-war.
It likely suffered from global fallout and societal collapse, but survivor status is unknown.
Germany appears mostly through scattered references, such as World War II imagery, iconic weapons of German design, and towns founded by German immigrants.
Locations like Dusseldorf and Cron are mentioned, with the latter being the birthplace of Vault 112’s overseer. However, post-war Germany is largely a blank slate with no known survivors or factions.
It was almost certainly targeted during the Great War, but details remain unknown.
The Fallout universe paints a bleak picture of global destruction and societal collapse. While some countries like China, Canada, and Mexico faced total devastation, others like the UK, USSR, and Ireland show signs of survival, albeit altered drastically.
Many nations fade into obscurity, with only cultural remnants or scattered survivors hinting at their past. This complex tapestry of history and lore enriches the Fallout world, offering players a glimpse into a shattered but enduring humanity.
Which country’s fate surprised you the most? The Fallout universe continues to captivate with its intricate storytelling and dark alternate history.
