My Fight - From the memoires of Franklin Delano Roosevelt

@Nikolai: They killed Kenny! The bastards!...

@MajorMayhem: Oh, they are currently in a shock. But soon enough!

@Hick101: Well, currently it's time for building up some ground forces. Do you remember the chart of armed forces from Chapter III.? I didn't build a single brigade since then... It will take a few months, but then, yes. It's time for some African fun And Pacific fun. And maybe some European flavoure after that.

The next update will be mainly about the re-organisation of my forces (which I didn't do until now, everything was under AI control mostly). And let's hope that the Japanese won't be attacking my fleets any time soon...

Oh, yeah, some gameplay info about the Pearl Harbour event: the 'Nation in Shock!' modifier is only the second half of the effect. The first half was activated by the Japanese decision, which destroyed or at least damaged most of the American naval bases in the Pacific.

Chapter V: Awakening the Giant

1941.12.4.: Alright, no more mr. Nice President! We are at war! If we have to fight, then we will fight!
Okay, okay, calm down... Let's assess the situation!
We are at war now with the Empire of Japan, Manchukuo, Mengjiang and Siam. We are also a member of the Allies.


We have to take some emergency measures. First of all, it is time to instate some restrictions on our Newspapers: I established a Censoring Committee. The Free Press is a wonderful luxury we can't afford right now. Second, we will mobilize our economy for war. Also, we will place an emphasis on heavy industry. We will need to produce new planes, tanks, weapons, etc. I made some changes in the cabinet as well:


Vandenberg will make sure that the people will stand behind us, Ickes will help to keep our economy running, Hoover will keep the enemy spies off our back, Friedman will help us break the encryption our enemies use, MacArthur is by far the best general I have for the job of Chief of Staff and Westover will help us with our problem with fighters. In a nutshell.

Now, we will need some plans. I had a meeting with the new military staff, and we came up with this:


A standard Army will consist of three to five Infantry Corps, which will contain five divisions with different support attachments. An Armoured Army will consist of three to five Armoured Corps, which will contain two armoured/mechanized divisions, one motorized division with additional engineers, one motorized division with added anti-air capability and a light-armoured division with some additional artillery support. Airborne and Marine units will report to the Specialized Armies.
We started to train some divisions right away.


The destroyers are mostly outdated junk. Some of the submarines are as well.

Also, there will be a major reorganisation of our Navy and Air Force. The Navy will be organised like this:

• Three Carrier Task Forces (3+3+2 carriers). Two of these will serve in the Pacific Theatre, the third one in the Atlantic. The carriers will be escorted by light and heavy cruisers. Their task will be force projection.
• Three Surface Action Groups, consisting of five battleships, four heavy cruisers and nine destroyers each (for a total of 18 units). Two of these will serve in the Atlantic, the third in the Pacific. Their task will be to keep our waters clean of enemy activity, plus to provide fire support for our ground forces where applicable.
• Submarine fleets mainly based around ship classes: one fleet with five Tambor-class flotillas, four fleets of four Sargo-class flotillas and one fleet of two R-class flotillas. The most modern fleet will be deployed to the Pacific, along with two of the less recent fleets. The others will go to the Atlantic. Their task will be mainly to hunt enemy convoys.
• The ships left will be assigned to the six transport fleets. Half of these will be assigned to the Pacific, the others to the Atlantic. Their purpose is self-explanatory.

Our Air Force is still in a miserable state, but it will be organised into two-wing air groups. I expect to have four such groups of interceptors, four groups of fighters, four groups of medium bombers, and one or two groups of heavy bombers. We will also need six wings of transport planes, which are already on their way.

We also started talks with our new allies about allowing them to go into a debt when trading with us. We can afford it, they can't. ("Lending war material is like lending bubble gum. You don't want it back...")

1942.1.8.: Italy officially declared War on us.
The reorganisation of the Navy and the Air Force is done, and the Army is going nicely. Of course, the Air Force didn't take too long, neither did the Army...
I had a meeting with Winston Churchill, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. His nation is running out of resources and his colonies are running out of supplies, because his whole merchant marine is scattered on the ocean floor all around the world (or rather, in the Channal...), except for India, where there's ample supplies of war material for the troops to use. I can only hope this will be the case when we will finally be able to send troops there to help! The situation in Africa is far worse. The troops lack food, amunition, proper desert equipment... We won't really be able to help there directly.
So the first objective that we can already start to work towards is the elimination of the German submarine threat. To this end, the Third CTF, First and Second SAG and the Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Submarine Fleet has been rebased to England. They will engage in active submarine hunting to minimize the losses sustained by the Royal Merchant Marine.

1942.1.18.: With the completion of our rocket program, we can start to build two new carriers.

1942.1.22.: We made the first contact with the German Kriegsmarine. To be honest, I'm not impressed... A single battlecruiser? Where's your navy, Herr Hitler? The battle was short, and not really bloody either... There will be some re-painting necessary on the USS Arizona, though, and the 18th Destroyer Division lost a Wickes-class ship, but most of the 100 strong crew survived the encounter.


1942.1.25.: I'm also not impressed at all by the effectiveness of this so-called 'rocket-artillery'... It costs way too much to feed, and it is not on par with our conventional artillery pieces either... I hope the bigger rockets won't be such a disappointment, because we invested a lot into them...

1942.2.2.: We made first contact with the most fearsome Unterseeboots of Germany! They lost a full submarine flotille, while we lost nothing. Good job! Volunteers flood our recruitment offices in respons to the fiendish attack we sustained two months ago. We can train damn fine soldiers from these men!


1942.2.3.: A coup was successfully staged in Indonesia, deposing Queen Wilhelmina, and forming a new, Indonesian government. The new nation was recognized by the Allies right away (we can't be choosey in a situation like ours). Meanwhile, Germany took the opportunity to take direct control over the Netherlands in Europe.

1942.2.5.: With the help of the Royal Navy, we managed to sunk another Unterseebootsflotille today. Another two wing of transport planes were finished. We will soon put them to good use, but we will need air cover for them first! We will soon start to build heavy bombers as well. I ordered a Port Strike on Brest. Military Intelligence suggests that the Germans keep submarines there. It wasn't too effective though, so I called it off a bit later. In the meantime, we engaged another Unterseebootsflotte. We are getting better at this, I tell you! We did serious damage, but didn't manage to sink any flotillas. The proper use of Radar equipment is definitely helping!

1942.3.18.: Stupid Japanese! What's the first thing they want to attack in the entire Pacific? My island-fortress of Guam! Why did they think it would be a good idea?... But that reminds me. We should send some fleets there already! Also, we could start to rebuild the naval bases we lost in the attack last year... Meanwhile Germany repaired the KMS Scharnhorst, so we could take another shot at sinking it! Which failed again, but we won't see this ship for a long time. Or so I thought, but not Herr Hitler! He sent the ship out again immediately, but it slipped away again.


1942.3.24.: The USN First Carrier Task Force lead by Chester Nimitz arrived to Agana Bay this morning and engaged the Japanese invasion fleet.


They had tons of ships in the battle, but most of them were transport ships, only two destroyer flotillas and three battlecruisers were battle-worthy of them. It didn't take too long to defeat them. Our fleet arrived in the harbour. But the Japanese didn't actually leave, so they had to go out again, and force them. The CTF engaged them again on the next day, but again, they only managed to chase them away. Now it's time to send in the USN Third Surface Action Group, and send the CTF back to port for repairs.

1942.3.28.: The Japs, seeing that my CTF went to port, returned to invade Guam. Bad mistake, if you ask me, because now I have a SAG around to send them to the bottom of the Pacific! Which is exactly what happened:



Still, these are mostly small fish. Two capital ships managed to get away, which I can't allow! (In the meantime, the USN Second CTF engaged two light cruisers in the Hainan Strait, on the coast of China. Yet again, they managed to get away.) After a few more engagements, the SAG managed to anihilate the remnants of the Japanese invasion force. Good job again!

1942.4.4.: We engaged another Japanese fleet, but now a smaller one, with only two light cruisers and a bunch of destroyers. The First CTF will take care of it.

1942.4.9.: By now, we could mobilize our entire economy to serve the war effort, but I don't think we really need it yet. (Actually I don't think we ever will! We are invincible!) Combined forces of Bhutan and Nepal started an offensive into Siam. I don't know which is more amazing: the strength of those two, or the weakness of that one...

1942.4.18.: The transport planes are now done, so we started to build some heavy bombers, using all the experience we've got! And that's a lot!

1942.4.25.: Fletcher has met Nordeck again today, destroying another Unterseebootsflotille, and a bit later, another two bites the dust. I mean the seafloor. And another. By the way, the reorganisation and modernisation of our Army is going smoothly. We already have some support brigades in place! On the other hand, we are rather short on escort ships, so I ordered ten new light cruisers. In case we need to replace some.

1942.5.12.: Catched another Japanes transport fleet on the Coast of Saipan. And it was transporting Army HQs, no less! They had to chase them for a while, but they followed their brothers to the bottom of the ocean.

1942.6.2.: I can't believe it! This is the third time we meet the KMS Scharnhorst, and it is in tip-top shape again! Those Germans can repair their ships quite well! But no more! I ordered the USN Third Carrier Task Force to bomb the port of St-Malo to shreds (that's where KMS Scharnhorst is hiding), so they won't repair it any more! That chased the battlecruiser out again, but we beat it, so it retreated back to the trap of the port. This time, it managed to slip through our blockade, and went to Dieppe. The CTF right behind it, and the Carrier Air Groups engaged in port strike missions repeadetly, and on june 10, they finally managed to sink their Arch-Nemesis!


1942.7.7.: The grounding of our Nuclear Reactor is finished. It will be a lot easier from now on.

1942.7.12.: Finally, something interesting! The USN Second CTF engaged two Japanese battleships with some escorts! To help them, I sent out the USN First CTF, but they were held up at the Arakane Reef by a bunch of cruisers and destroyers. Now we have two major naval battles at the same time! After the first battle was over (we routed the two battleships, and sink one of the escorts), the returning USN Second CTF was engaged by yet another Japanese Fleet! Where do they get the fuel for all this?! Shortly after that, the inconclusive battle of Arakane Reef was over, so I ordered the USN First CTF to help out, but they were too late: the USS Toledo and the USS Los Angeles has been sunk... In exchange, we sunk one of their escorts. Not a good result, I must say. But now we are winning, and we will chase them down!

1942.7.17.: I'm starting to think that adding heavy cruisers to my CTFs were not a good idea. They are always trying to engage the enemy battleships. Rather stupidly, I might add. Three of them has been sunk by now. I ordered the rest to port, and the carriers will keep chasing the battleships with the light cruisers. Also, we lost four Carrier Air Groups. What the hell?! Was I wrong all the time about carriers too?

1942.7.24.: I was neglecting the other theatres lately. Egypt is now held securly by the British. By HQs, mostly... Siam only needs some more prodding, and will collapse as well. The Japanese and the Chinese are still holding about the same front as they were for the last few years. The Axis advance was stopped by the Soviet Union, but it is still far from decided. On the other hand, I don't think that the Germans could win a war of attrition against the Soviet Union. Actually, I'm starting to feel rushed to get into Europe before Uncle Joe knocks on Herr Hitler's door... But first, we have some unfinished business in the Pacific...

1942.7.28.: What a twist! Argentina joined the Axis... I'm afraid we won't be able to retain our neutrality for much longer. Robert Hougwout Jackson will help with that again.

1942.8.7.: We have finished training our paratroopers. Almost there!

1942.8.15.: We now have two armies almost full in the European Exp. HQ, and enough marines in the Pacific Theatre to start planning the offensive on the Japanese Islands! Here's what we have come up with:


We will start it in two weeks. We must position our troops first. The submarine fleets made sure that the defenders won't have proper supplies. The USN First Carrier Task Force and the USN Third Surface Action Group will provide cover against possible enemy fleets and counter-invasions.
Meanwhile, the supply situation got so good in Egypt, that we started to consider bringing troops there. The first objective will be to defeat the Italians in Somalia and Ethiopia. In support of a future landing in the Horn of Africa, I rebased the USN First Surface Action Group to Aden, in British held Yemen, and the 2nd Airborne Corps will rebase to Masqat, Oman (which is the nearest secure, Allied airbase...) The 1st and 2nd Marine Divisions will do the invasions themselves, and the 2nd and 4th Infantry Corps will do the follow up. We won't be able to provide air cover, due to the lack of airfields, but hopefully, that won't be necessary, as the Italians shouldn't be able to provide fuel to their planes anyway (if they even have any...).


Alright, so that's the plan. Hopefully, there won't be any major hickups...

Surt said:

Good thing SF should help on naval AI as this is pitiful performance from the AI.

Continue this and you have defeated the Axis by next X-mas.

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But I didn't even do anything yet

@TheBromgrev: You are right. I will have to do something about this later...
EDIT: Or rather, now. Before I continue this. I'm really sorry for changing variables during the game, but it needs to be done in order to complete this AAR. The Air Attack of ships have been significantly reduced, while the Air Defence have been increased. The four CAGs I lost will be lost, though. I will blame it on Canada

Chapter VI: First Contact

First Contact

1942.8.25.: Alright, another reorganisation of the Navy is in order. The heavy cruisers were a bit trigger-happy about engaging enemy surface fleets when on carrier escort duty. The people responsible were fired, which means Chief of Staff Duaglas MacArthur, Chief of the Army David McKenzie Key and Chief of the Navy Chestre W. Nimitz. The replacements are Walter Bedell-Smith, Dwight D. Eisenhower and William H. Standley, respectively. The USN Third SAG will patrol the waters around Guam, while the USN First CTF (now without any heavy cruisers in it) will intercept known threats.
The 2nd Marine Corps is on its way to Aden. Operation Blowhorn is going as planned.
Eversince the Buthanese learned the concept of "Chain of command", they taken it very seriously:


1942.9.2.: The Italians are considerable worse at submarine warfare then the Germans. Today, we sunk 4 of their flotillas near Aden.

1942.9.10.: We had two short skirmishes with the IJN, but managed to chase them away with the new, better tactics we now have. We have taken Saipan, Ponape, Eniwetok and Iwo Jima will fall shortly. The 2nd Marine Corps took the ports of Ed and Berbera. They were relieved by paratroopers, and went on to capture the ports of Muqdisho and Mombasa.

1942.9.22.: Today we most likely met the IJN's main CTF.


It was a short, intense battle, which we lost, and the USS Juneau was sunk.

1942.9.26.: The USN Third SAG was engaged by the IJN CTF, and was completely thrashed by it. We lost another destroyer flotilla, and the SAG will be spending a lot of time at port... It's time to recall the USN Third CTF from Europe... But in the meantime, we captured all the Japanese ports in the island chain. The 2nd and 4th Infantry Corps started the offensive in Somalia and Ethiopia, but are slowed down by fuel problems. We are NOT controlling the Mediterranean, and that hurts our convoys badly.

1942.10.9.: The USN Third Carrier Task Force arrived in the Pacific. Now it will be reorganised with the First into a formidable group, with six carriers and light cruiser escorts.

1942.10.19.: With the capture of Muqdisho and Mombasa, we hopefully caused a lot of damage to the supply lines of the Italians here. They can still rely on Ethiopian sources, though. It's time to finish Whatchtower with the invasion on Palau.

1942.11.6.: With Adis Abeba captured, the Ethiopian puppet government fled to Berlin, and their armies surrendered. Now we have a bit less to worry about there. We also captured a big stockpile of supplies in Gedo.

1942.11.10.: We had to pull our troops out from Berbera because the convoys couldn't get to them, and they ran out of supplies a long time ago. They will be redeployed to Al Hudaydah.
With Paulu captured, there are only a few minor islands in Japanese hands. After capturing these, the next objective will be the retaking of Indochine, then on to Taiwan, and finally the main course: the Japanese home islands!

1942.11.14.: We had another two major battles with the IJN. Both of them went in our favor, sinking a bunch of cruisers and some destroyers (mainly by the surface action group). We went onward to chase down and finish off the survivors.

1942.11.29.: After a few weeks of fighting near Bangkok and most of Siam under British occupation, the goverment decided it is best to seek refuge in Berlin. Let the British take care of Indochine, we will take Taiwan. Aerial recconaissance indicates that the defense is pretty weak.

1942.12.8.: Another tragedy! Our Marine Division in Mombasa, being out of supplies for a long time now, surrendered to the Italians...

1942.12.13.: We started to plan the invasion of Japan, codename: Sunset. There are tons of troops defending the islands.


The idea is to quickly take control most of the undefended part of that island, while blocking the reinforcements routes by the Navy. That will hopefully force the defenders of Susaki to split up and try to defend Kochi as well, thereby giving us the opportunity to attak Susaki. The terrain is not favourable, but manageable. By taking the airbase at Naha beforehand, we gained the ability to provide the air support as well.

Chapter VII: Sunset and Torch

1943.1.17.: The first phase of Operation Sunset went smoothly. Most of the beacheads were completely undefended, and the 7th Marine Division and the 13th Airborne Division captured Uwajima with little to no effort, destroying the corps HQ there. The Japanese High Command didn't catch the bait though, and instead of marching off to set up defensive positions in Kochi, they started a counter-attack on Matsuyama instead. This, on the other hand, made their flank open for an attack by the 4th and 7th Marine Divisions and the 13th Airborne. This made them to stop their attack, but they already left their foxholes, and they are under heavy bombardment from our battleships (the USS Colorado, USS West Virginia, USS Maryland, USS California and USS Tennessee). The planned air cover was chased away by Japanese fighters, they are essentially grounded for the time being. If we manage to capture Susaki, we will get ample supplies for years and good enough facilities to gain air supriority.


The invasion caused utter chaos in the Japanese High Command. Divisions and HQs started to move around on Honshu and Kyushu. Minor attempts were made to repel the supporting USN Third SAG, which failed.

1943.1.22.: The USN First CTF engaged the main IJN CTF in Western Ryukyu Sea. We won the battle, and started chasing the enemy. It would be preferable to not let them get away this time! We lost the USS Savannah, but sunk the IJN Ryujo, IJN Akagi, IJN Kaga and IJN Zuiho carriers. Possibly all the Japanese had! Splendid job!


1943.1.31.: After two weeks of heavy fighting, the port city of Susaki has been captured by the 1st Marine Corps and the 1st Airborne Corps. Way to go, boys!


Now we have to bring in some fuel, and we can start to work towards air coverage of our operations! The Pacific Theatre HQ, 1st Army Group HQ and the 1st Specialist Army HQ will also be set up there.
The German (or Italian?) submarines in the Mediterranean are starting to really bother me, but two weeks from now, we will have tons of new convoy ships, making things a bit easier.

1943.2.17.: The Final Showdown with the IJN! Their carriers are at the bottom of the sea, but now their last two battleships, the IJN Ise and the IJN Nagato will meet with their fate!

1943.2.19.: After hearing our victory, Mexico decided it is time to join the Allies. Or was it the six armoured corps we just finished? No matter, now both of our borders are secure.

1943.2.22.: After carefull consideration, I decided to initiate talks with the Vichy government. (Well, technically it is in Bordaoux, so I should call them Bordaoux government, but I can't get used to it for some reason...) If they agree to help us, then we may start to open a new front in Europe, and gain some much needed bases in Northern Africa. If they decline, well, their loss.


I can't be held responsible for their actions. In this case, we will start Operation Torch, the invasion of French Northern Africa. (But first, we will take care of Djibouti.)
The 11th, 82th and 101th Airborne Division quickly took posession of Casablanca, Oran and Alger, giving us the ports we needed. I redeployed the USN Second SAG, the USN First CTF and the now renamed USN Mediterranean Cruiser Fleet. They will take care of the Regia Marina and the submarine threat.
We will need Tunis for this as well.

1943.3.21.: We have much less trouble with the Italian Navy than we had with the Japanese.


Two more cruiser fleets were lunched just now, which will help us greatly in our effort to clear the Mediterranean of enemy subs.

1943.3.23.: Taking Tunis was child's play. The USN First CTF was rebased there, to be in range and intercept at the first sign of enemy activity. This was the last drop for Vichy, they collapsed. Ignoring the protest from de Gaulle, we created a puppet regime to take control. Using the ensuing chaos, the 11th and 101th Airborne quikcly seized control of Sardinia.

1943.4.3.: The next step will be the invasion of Sicily, and then Italy. Codename: Husky. The Italians were busy building some heavy fortifications all over the place. But, for some reason, they completely forgot to man them, or at least in Palermo. That will be our first target.


Most likely the Italian Army is occupied on the Eastern Front, so we are not expecting too much opposition in this one. The 1st Armoured Army and two corps from the 3rd Army will be conducting the invasion, with support from the 2nd Airborne Corps, if necessary. The 1st and 10th Infantry Corps will join the Operation at a later stage. This will leave the 2nd Armoured Army and the 4th Army to be used elsewhere. The main difficulty in the operation will be the transport of the 1st Armoured Army, as we can't station them anywhere near the operation before we can create a beachead on Sicily.

MajorMayhem said:

Personaly, I hope the Italians hold a fairly solid line in the hill.

Also, it it strange that the IJN only has carriers and destroyers? I only mention it as there are two examples that are near identical. Perhaps edit the files to have the AI include some light and heavy crusiers for AA coverage.

Click to expand...

They did have cruisers, and not only a few.

And I can assure you, I have trouble with the Italians in the North, right now... Actually, because of limited supplies, the success of the invasion is far from certain. And the Soviets are coming from the East!

Chapter VIII: The soft underbelly of Europe

1943.4.9.: The first landing in Palermo was a success as Palermo was undefended, but the invasion fleet have been intercepted by the Regia Marina. Most of the transports were thrashed, thuogh only a destroyer flotilla was sunk. They were sent back to Washington. After the beachhead was secured, we started to deploy the rest of the troops. Resistance is still minimal, but it is there, and more divisions are on their way. Italy is not as undefended as I first thought. The 82nd Airborne Division will be sent to Messina to cut off the escape route of the Italians.


Also, in the fighting, the CAGs of the USN First CTF were completely worn down, so now we rely on the USN Second SAG. (The other two are keeping the rest of the IJN at bay in the Pacific.)

1943.4.21.: Most of the Italian defenders are concentrating on the attacking Messina from Reggio Di Calabria, which is a bad idea, actually. Transportation of the rest of the invasion force has started with the HQs. On an unrelated note, Venezuela joined the Allies.

1943.4.30.: Change of plans. Because of the unexpected Italian forces in the North, the 4th Infantry Corps will land in Nice and Monaco instead Savona and La Spezia.

1943.5.3.: The landing in Nice made the defenders of Savona and La Spezia a bit jumpy, and they left their fortifications. That's rather fortunate, as the port in Nice wouldn't be enough to feed our troops, we need those other two desperately!

1943.5.9.: Treachery! Stalin has 'liberated' Poland. That means, he installed a communist puppet government in place of the old one!
We need to cut the Italians in the South, so plans were made for a landing in Napoli. Intelligence indicates that the city is undefended right now.

1943.5.16.: The 11th, 82nd and 101th Airborne Divisions seized the objectives quickly, and will be reinforced by the 1st Armoured Corps soon.


That pissed off Mussolini royally, and he called back the five divisions he had in Reggio di Calabria to take back what he lost. That maks it a lot easier for us to break through and start conquering the peninsula.
Meanwhile, we started to bomb the industry in Japan.

1943.6.2.: The main objective of the Italian campaign is fulfilled: the submarine threat is almost neutralized in the Mediterranean.

1943.6.5.: The 2nd Armoured Corps managed to break through near Pistoia, Northern Italy. We can finally start to get off the beachheads there!


The 4th Infantry Corps near Nice is still struggling with supply problems, they need to link up with the 2nd and 3rd Armoured Corps ASAP, but the fortifications of Savona are in the way.

1943.6.19.: We are starting to cut through the defensive line of Italian troops stuck in Southern Italy.


1943.6.25.: My new French puppet is useless... The Italians surrounded their holdings in Tunis, and now I need to evacuate the 2nd Airborne Corps and 2nd Marine Corps, before they get beaten up.
We are starting to run into major supply problems in Southern Italy, but most of the Italian troops already surrendered, and there's a big stockpile in Taranto to be captured, along with two more ports to bring in more, so this is only temporary.

1943.7.9.: Saipan is lost to partisans. The 18th Airborne took care of that.

1943.7.14.: The Southern third of Italy is secured, the 1st Armoured Corps and the 2nd Infantry Corps have started the advance towards Rome. Capturing the supply stockpiles (and maybe some fuel as well) will secure the advance, and we can relieve the 2nd and 3rd Armoured Corps and the 4th Infantry Corps in the North. Soon, we will lay siege on the Eternal City.


We can start to plan a second front in Europe, from the North, and the invasion of Korea in the Pacific.

1943.7.28.: I really feel the difference between our early attempts at submarine hunting and the current successes. We are cleaerly getting ahead in technology. A siege of Roma won't be necessary, as the defenders pulled out. Bad mistake. (Maybe the Pope ordered them to, I don't know...)

1943.7.29.: After the conclusion of the battle of Campobasso, the 2nd Infantry Corps can be committed to the front.


1943.8.14.: With Firenze captured, the Northern landing zone is linked up with the rest of the invasion force. Now only the 2nd Infantry Corps remains to be saved.


1943.8.29.: The recently formed 2nd Mountaineer Corps arrived in La Spezia. We will soon start to go into French territory. Codename: Dragoon. The last major obstacel in the way is the fortified port of Savona. With that captured, we will be able to start our advance into occupied France.


1943.9.17.: Now I'm officially worried about the Russians:


1943.10.12.: The invasion is slow. We managed to create a big pocekt at the Alps, though. It will take time to exploit it, but a large chunk of the Italian Army is trapped there.


1943.11.7.: We have been preparing for an amphibious invasion of Northern France for a while now. The whole 4th Army, 2nd Armoured Army, and half of the 3rd Army is waiting in Portsmouth. Here's the plan:


In the first stage, the 5th Infantry Corps will capture Bordaoux, the 10th will seize Brittany, the 1st will land in Normandy, and the 7th will attack Den Haag and Amsterdam in the Netherlands, as a diversion. In the second stage, the 2nd Armoured Army will reinforce the beachheads as the circumstances dictate. The 2nd Airborne Corps will support the invasion wherever they are needed. Meanwhile, the 4th Infantry Corps and 2nd Armoured Corps will make their way into France from the South, aiming for the cities of Lyon, Digion and Toulouse. Hopefully that will make the Italian king Vittorio finally come to his senses and get rid of that idiot Mussolini. The rest of the forces present will take up defensive positions to the south of Austria. Their job will be to liberate the Balkans, when the situation makes that possible.

I just realized that I never used Convoy Escort missions... I will from now on.

GameG said:

This is one of the best AARs I have ever seen!

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Thank you for your kind words! And it is far from being over

Chapter IV: A vacation in France

1943.11.10.: The initial landings were successfull. Thanks to our supreme intelligence, we managed to pick such beaches that weren't sufficiently defended. Now it's time to start to advance!


1943.11.12.: We met German troops for the first time. They are much stronger than any of our prevous foes. Well equiped, battle-hardened, well organised and they have excelent generals! Fortunately, we are on the defensive, giving us the edge we need against them.


1943.11.19.: There's still some fight left in the IJN. Today the USN First SAG engaged a fleet of three heavy cruisers with 6 escorts.

1943.11.25.: We are fighting hard to retake Amsterdam, while the Dutch resistence has risen up in open revolt against the German occupiers


The landing in Bordaoux is struggling with supplies. Hopefully we can make the Italians surrender soon. The Northern part of the invasion is going smoothly.

1943.12.5.: The Soviets are getting close to Berlin, but according to intelligence, they will have quite a fight on their hands.


Interestingly in Bordaoux, where we are liberating the temporary French government's territory, we have much more serious trouble with supplies than where we are liberating former French territory.

1943.12.15.: We will need to take Tarabulus. I except this to be one of our hardest battles yet, as it is defended by two divisions with added artillery, behind well built fortifications.
The liberation of most of France is done, our worst enemy is not the Italians nor the Germans, but logistics. We will need to consolidate our situation in order to advance further. Overall, the operation is a success, thanks to the unpreparedness of the defenders mostly. We will soon be fighting in Germany, but the main enemy force is pinned down in the East, so we probably won't have too much trouble.

1943.12.25.: The capture of Tarabulus has finally convinced Vittorio Emanuel to get rid of Mussolini, who was arrested. The new government cut all ties to the Axis and joined the Allies. Now the remnants of their forces are fighting along us to liberate Europe from the threat of tyranny. There's still a lot to do!


With this victory, I decided to let our corps leaders take the initiative and to consolidate our lines before pushing on into the heart of Germany. I have all the faith in my generals. Also, it's time to liberate Ethiopia with a proper government this time, and the new Italian government announced the end of occupation in Greece. That is the best Christmas for many in the last few years! (Not exactly for the Greek, mind you. The Bulgarian Army started to re-occupy the lands now completely undefended, and we have nothing to counter them right now...)

1944.1.1.: The new election didn't bring anything Earth-shackingly new, I have been re-elected. But, I finally found a real administrative genious, Henry J. Kaiser, so we have a new Secretary of the Treasury.

1944.1.8.: The people of Iceland held a plebiscite to dissolve the Union with Demnark, and the majority voted for doing so. This means that they are forming an independent government, but we will leave some advisors to guide them on the road to a proper democracy!


1944.1.11.: Those ungrateful scumbags in Ethiopia can't be satisfied! We give them the opportunity to elect their own, democratic government, and what do they do? They start degrade into a civil war, that's what!


You know when will I give anything to you again, you monkey-clowns! No matter. Our next objective: Berlin.