27/03/1939 - 02/08/1939: Fall of France
In the last few months before war, OKO made great progress in completing the last of the divisions in preparation for the liberation of the west. The Heer contains the world's largest and most advanced mechanized force, with armor and motorised infantry organised into 4 Panzerarmees. The Luftwaffe has not been forgotten as well, with the upcoming order of a full 24 Jagdgeschwader of fighters slated for completion after the divisions have been completed.
After the last chapter, German Intelligence had reported on the state of the French and English preparation on the border, but avoided revealing key information that would bring the Heer to success. While the allies had poised strong motorised and leg infantry forces on the border facing Belgium to intimidate them into cooperation, the French had carelessly left the Maginot line undefended by regular infantry, with the critical province of Wissembourg manned by their Type C reserve division, composed entirely of old men and inexperienced kids guarding what they thought was a quiet front.
But they thought wrong!
Just a few days before the diplomatic incident, divisions of the Kommando Spezialkräfte rush from dispersed positions on the Belgium border to pre-planned positions facing Wissembourg
Even the smallest incident can trigger the largest war in history. German diplomats offered a reasonable compromise to the Polish Government regarding the disposition of Danzig, a small step along the path of eventual diplomatic reunification with the Polish people in the growing and prosperous German sphere. However, emboldened by the inteference of the English diplomats who whispered false tales of friendship and alliance, the Poles decided that they would instead snub our offer and fired upon border units at Danzig. With such bold actions, Germany had no choice but to resort to military force to secure our positions, only for the Allies to jump in using the excuse of the border incident at Danzig and declare war on Germany!
We drew DOWs from everyone and his dog, but ignore Madagascar and look at the flags
With such precipitous actions from Poland, OKO decided that the only way to punish them would be a rapid advance into Warsaw to capture their government and hopefully force a peaceful settlement. Within 2 days, German troops had broken through the weakly held front-lines, and were fighting at the very doorsteps of the Royal Castle.
The advance in Belgium was swift and decisive. Upon their refusal to rightfully join the Axis to liberate the west from the influence of the Imperialist governments, OKO ordered troops to advance on Liege and Verviers to secure a river crossing for a flanking maneuver. 1. Panzerkorps was ordered to hold Liege till relieved by reinforcements from the troops operating in Poland, but 4 Panzer divisions would prove to be a tough force to dislodge.
Advancing French and English troops prove too slow for the lighting strike that captured Liege from the Belgiums.
Reeling from the loss of the preplanned positions, the English refused to give battle, and instead retreated to fortify the city of Antwerp, and decided to attempt a new flank, landing divisions in Denmark in a futile attempt to prevent their surrender. The ill-deployed troops would be sorely missed elsewhere, as will be seen in the coming month.
Within hours of the feint into Liege, Kommando Spezialkräfte ordered 12 regiments of Gebirgsjäger to launch a massive attack on Wissembourg. Supported by the latest assault guns, heavy tanks and stormtroopers, they made short work of the world's heaviest defense, led by the indubitable Von Manstein in a masterful breakthrough of their lines
2 unsupported type C divisions were no match for the Germans!
A breakthrough was achieved in a matter of hours as the infantry crumble before the heavy artillery bombardment, with minimal losses to the Germans.
In Netherlands, the advance was no less slow. The English had decided to abandon them, and did not send even a single division into Holland, choosing instead to focus on defending the next defensive line near Antwerp. Seeing the possibility of a large encirclement via Belgium crumble, OKO sent order to slow the operational tempo in Belgium till reinforcements railed in from Poland, and instead diverted 2 armies into the Maginot in hopes of enlarging the breakthrough.
A first attack on Schirmeck was rebuffed by massive reinforcements from the north, but were far too disorganized to inflicted major casualties on the advancing Germans as the sheer number of bodies outnumbered the ammunition the advancing divisions held, and called off the attack to resupply before advancing.
However, once resupplied, OKO ordered the advance to begin with a vengence, and easily broke through the unorganized defenders with the help of the most intensive Luftwaffe bombing ever witnessed in history! 3. Panzerarmee then began a rapid advance to flank the dug- in troops via the breach in the Maginot line. How the tables have turned!
However, the well dug in troops in Belgium proved harder to dislodge. A major attack on the province of Bastogne was called off after it was evident that mounting casualties would deplete the German menpower for no real advantage.
However, the English begun
an orderly withdrawal running away as rapidly as possible once they realised the magnitude of the German breakthrough, and once again abandoning another ally. With such unseemly behavior, the Allies will soon be reduced to a single country as Germany liberates Europe from their oppression! Once the English withdrew, the French High command fled to London leaving the French troops in disarray and the chase is on!
German troops begun a full front advance along the entire line, causing the whole French army to crumble. A pincer movement aimed at trapping the remnants of the French army was launched and German Panzers approach Paris from the south.
Paris is surrounded and under heavy attack. The dug in defenders fustrate the advancing Panzers, but any destruction of the beautiful city will be upon French hands as they failed to surrender before that.
Victory is ours! After throwing everything and the kitchen sink at Paris, the weary defenders surrender after the Eiffel tower was brought low by German guns!
The session ended with total German victory in France, and once the treaty terms are signed, France will surrender!
Of important note in other areas, Italy has made great progress in Africa with the aid of 4. Panzerarmee forming the core of the African Axis forces. Suez has been closed, and the battle for the Med is soon to commence! The chaos meter is ticking up, as all eyes turn to the east and Asia, where the Japanese preparations have not gone unnoted. What comes next? Who will face the wrath of the German Panzers? All will be revealed soon!