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 includes a role for post-Soviet Russia.
As an economic downturn grips Europe, France and Germany use their industrial might to dominate 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, but 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. France later reaches a treaty with Russian military leaders who have put the country's pro-West President under house arrest, agreeing to look the other way as Russia reconstituted the Soviet Union if it first joined forces with them in crushing opposition to EurCon. The CIA figures out the plot, makes contact with Russian officers who are against the coup leaders, and kills the treaty negotiators. When the treaty information comes about, the Russian President tells France Russia will not be helping them, Germany turns against France because of the traitorous plans with Russia, and the rest of EurCon quickly joins them. The supine German Chancellor is forced to resign, while the leader of France's intelligence service commits suicide. Europe begins to rebuild after the conflict ends.