FALL SONNENBLUME/AIDA
As soon as Greece was taken care of, Guderian is tasked with what he dreaded most: rescuing the Italians from their own incompetence in Africa … at the Tribunal, he mentioned that one of his only regrets was allowing the Italians anywhere near anything of strategic importance…
“The Italians did not fare that well in Africa.”
“They elevated incompetence to levels previously unseen. All they were tasked to do was to drive the British out of North Africa. And they couldn’t do that.”
“So you had to go bail them out.”
“Either that or allow the entire southern flank to be exposed to the British. Which was unacceptable. The first and foremost thing that had to be taken was the Suez – if that could be held, then the British would be forced to march through the desert, something that could be controlled.”
“Why do you think the Italians were unable to make much progress against the British?”
“Genetics. Leadership. That insufferable love of oily food. Who can say?”
February 17th, Guderian makes an amphibious assault on a lightly defended Port Said … and two days later, takes Cairo … on the 23rd, he takes Fayum, trapping the British forces in upper Egypt while von Kleist takes the Suez by the 26th …
“You land on the Monday, and by the end of the week, you have sealed the British fate in Egypt.”
“That is a gross over-simplification, but essentially yes.”
Tactical and Close Air Support squadrons pound Alexandria for a month while Guderian waits outside the gates … finally, on March 14th, he assaults the fortress and in a fierce battle lasting two days, manages to take it off the British … March 19 – the last remnants of the British army in Egypt and North Africa are destroyed in Fuka .. March 20 - von Kleist takes Jerusalem and on the 27th, the last British in Palestine are destroyed.
“It’s a remarkably efficient campaign. Within one month, you had managed to achieve more than the Italians had in six months.”
“Hardly the crowning glory of one’s career, when you put it that way - ‘managed to achieve more than the Italians did.’ "
“Taking the Suez would help the Italians stave off any Allied landings in their territories.”
“Yes, and it would allow me to escape my worst nightmare, that of re-capturing Rome from the Canadians after the Italians surrender it without a shot being fired to a Mountie regiment. Once the British in Palestine were destroyed, it was just a matter of making sure there were no Allied sympathizers, such as Saudi Arabia, who might allow the British or the Americans landing rights, and a chance to reclaim the Suez.”
“At which time you turned your gaze to the north, and Fall Weserburg.”
“Correct.”
“And at this time, you submitted to Berlin your revised plan for Operation Barbarossa, a plan which you put forward a May, 1941 start date.”
“Yes.”
“The problem with the plan, as I see it, was that you envisioned both Norway and Turkey to being staging points for Axis forces, as well as Finland joining in the campaign. Correct me if I’m wrong, but weren’t they all neutral at this point?”
“Yes, they were. A minor complication.”
IN-GAME NOTES AND DATES OF IMPORTANCE TO GERMANY:
1940
February 17 – Port Said falls
February 19 – Guderian takes Cairo
February 23 – Guderian takes Fayum, trapping British forces
February 28 – von Kleist takes Suez
March 11 – von Kleist takes Tel Aviv
March 14 – Guderian assaults Alexandria
March 16 – Alexandria falls
March 18 – El Alamein falls
March 19 – Last remnants of British army in Libya/Egypt are destroyed
March 20 – von Kleist takes Jerusalem
March 27 – British in Palestine are destroyed
April 5 – Palestine created
April 6 – DOW on Saudi Arabia
May 3 – Cyrus created
May 12 – Saudi Arabia annexed
As soon as Greece was taken care of, Guderian is tasked with what he dreaded most: rescuing the Italians from their own incompetence in Africa … at the Tribunal, he mentioned that one of his only regrets was allowing the Italians anywhere near anything of strategic importance…
“The Italians did not fare that well in Africa.”
“They elevated incompetence to levels previously unseen. All they were tasked to do was to drive the British out of North Africa. And they couldn’t do that.”
“So you had to go bail them out.”
“Either that or allow the entire southern flank to be exposed to the British. Which was unacceptable. The first and foremost thing that had to be taken was the Suez – if that could be held, then the British would be forced to march through the desert, something that could be controlled.”
“Why do you think the Italians were unable to make much progress against the British?”
“Genetics. Leadership. That insufferable love of oily food. Who can say?”
February 17th, Guderian makes an amphibious assault on a lightly defended Port Said … and two days later, takes Cairo … on the 23rd, he takes Fayum, trapping the British forces in upper Egypt while von Kleist takes the Suez by the 26th …
“You land on the Monday, and by the end of the week, you have sealed the British fate in Egypt.”
“That is a gross over-simplification, but essentially yes.”
Tactical and Close Air Support squadrons pound Alexandria for a month while Guderian waits outside the gates … finally, on March 14th, he assaults the fortress and in a fierce battle lasting two days, manages to take it off the British … March 19 – the last remnants of the British army in Egypt and North Africa are destroyed in Fuka .. March 20 - von Kleist takes Jerusalem and on the 27th, the last British in Palestine are destroyed.
“It’s a remarkably efficient campaign. Within one month, you had managed to achieve more than the Italians had in six months.”
“Hardly the crowning glory of one’s career, when you put it that way - ‘managed to achieve more than the Italians did.’ "
“Taking the Suez would help the Italians stave off any Allied landings in their territories.”
“Yes, and it would allow me to escape my worst nightmare, that of re-capturing Rome from the Canadians after the Italians surrender it without a shot being fired to a Mountie regiment. Once the British in Palestine were destroyed, it was just a matter of making sure there were no Allied sympathizers, such as Saudi Arabia, who might allow the British or the Americans landing rights, and a chance to reclaim the Suez.”
“At which time you turned your gaze to the north, and Fall Weserburg.”
“Correct.”
“And at this time, you submitted to Berlin your revised plan for Operation Barbarossa, a plan which you put forward a May, 1941 start date.”
“Yes.”
“The problem with the plan, as I see it, was that you envisioned both Norway and Turkey to being staging points for Axis forces, as well as Finland joining in the campaign. Correct me if I’m wrong, but weren’t they all neutral at this point?”
“Yes, they were. A minor complication.”
IN-GAME NOTES AND DATES OF IMPORTANCE TO GERMANY:
1940
February 17 – Port Said falls
February 19 – Guderian takes Cairo
February 23 – Guderian takes Fayum, trapping British forces
February 28 – von Kleist takes Suez
March 11 – von Kleist takes Tel Aviv
March 14 – Guderian assaults Alexandria
March 16 – Alexandria falls
March 18 – El Alamein falls
March 19 – Last remnants of British army in Libya/Egypt are destroyed
March 20 – von Kleist takes Jerusalem
March 27 – British in Palestine are destroyed
April 5 – Palestine created
April 6 – DOW on Saudi Arabia
May 3 – Cyrus created
May 12 – Saudi Arabia annexed
