"Das war ein Befehl!" A German Götterdammerung '44 AAR

DvD-IT

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• Apr 27, 2008

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• #441

Night over the Rising Sun​

"Somebody set up us the bomb"​

1305 April 21st 1945
Diplomatic Offices, Berlin, Germany

As the news were rolling in minute after minute, von Ribbentrop was busy beyond limit trying to give a meaning to the huge stream of information that reached his desk. Ernst Kaltenbrunner, Head of Intelligence, was with him. Minutes after, he picked up a phone linking to the Reichstag.

"Eh?... Yes, it is that important. No... no, I can't disclose anything at all now!"

"What did they say?" Kaltenbrunner asked.

"I couldn't talk to Bormann, looks like he's busy playing golf."

The two were about to go to the Reichstag anyways, but a few minutes later the phone rang.

"Yes? Ah, Martin. Yes... it's a delicate matter. We need an emergency cabinet set up as soon as possible... Understood." Von Ribbentrop ended the phone talk.

"Wants you to play golf with him?"

"No Ernst, we have a cabinet meeting thirty minutes from now."​

1335 April 21st 1945
Reichstag, Berlin, Germany

Everybody had a premonition of what was going to happen. In this hurried meeting were von Ribbentrop, Kaltenbrunner and Guderian. Martin Bormann arrived soon after.

"So here we are, gentlemen. What happened, Joachim?"

"Something terrible. Awaited, but terrible nonetheless.

"We got signal of a possible Japanese surrender days ago already with the demise of Siam. What is it, is it that Japan has surrendered already?"

"It's that indeed."​

"This is how things stand, gentlemen. Over the last hours I have received an unstoppable stream of news coming from our operatives in Asia. Apparently the Japanese forces have signed an unconditional surrender. Manchukuo has been annexed by the Soviet Union, Japan is now an US puppet state, China regained all her territories lost to the Japanese, and so does Korea. All of Japan, which was well on the way to destruction, now belongs to the USA as a puppet nation."

"That's impossible! We knew Japan had no chance to survive for long, but such a quick surrender, with most of their Army in Chinese soil, is unbelievable! Joachim, are you sure your information is reliable?"

"I'm afraid it is, Martin. Apart from our Asian operatives, we've received several desperate messages from people we've never communicated with before."​

"Yamamoto, Ozawa and other skilled Japanese commanders are still alive and are leading what is left of the IJN still afloat and in open seas; they refused to lay down their arms and pledged allegiance to us and are now seeking refuge. They will try to travel thousands of kilometers trying to reach the safer port of Bordeaux. Whether they will make it alive or not, we cannot know at the moment. But there's more."​

"I received word that more than thirty Japanese divisions and several Bomber and Fighter squadrons are trying to march all the way from China to Berlin. It is a foolish but desperate move from more than three-hundred soldiers that do not want to surrender in any way. But I doubt they will ever reach our homeland alive."

"That is stunning! I thought the Japanese were a bit early to sign a surrender treaty now, but the heroism of such people just surprises me!" Guderian was particularly moved from this news.

"Well, it is unlikely they will make more than one hundred kilometers of distance. Anyways, the surrender of Japan is fact and we will not benefit from this. Joachim, keep us informed if news evolve in Asia. For the moment there's little we can do as usual, so let's come back to our usual business: the Soviets".​

2200 April 23rd 1945
Diplomatic Offices, Berlin, Germany

The trail of news did not end at von Ribbentrop's desk, and once again he had some big news to tell. Needless to say, a new emergency meeting was scheduled.​

2220 April 23rd 1945
Reichstag, Berlin, Germany

"More news from Asia, gentlemen."

"Good or bad?"

"Might be good, perhaps."​

"As Guderian predicted, with Japan eliminated Asia has a hollow sphere of influence, which has to be occupied by either the Soviet Union or the United States. This surely stirs up tension between the two superpowers, as such balance of power is undefined. Korea is one of such examples: the North is under the Communist sphere of influence, the South pledges his allegiance to the US. There's more."​

"Just one day after the surrender of Japan, Mao and Chiang are bitter rivals once again. The Chinese Civil War restarted again so fast, and their common enemy has just been defeated one day ago. There is surely much resentment between the two factions. I wouldn't be surprised if one day we see Korea being theatre of a phony war between the Soviet Union and the United States."

"All in all, considering what happened just yesterday, this can be considered good news. We'll follow the Asian situation closely. For now, make sure we get those Japanese ships to our ports. And make sure we have enough tombstones for those heroes trying to travel all the way from China to Berlin."

"Where do we find 300,000 tombstones?"

"Well, Speer might have some Industrial Capacity to spare. Ask him."​

0900 April 24th 1945
Oulu, Finland

Once again, Ringel and many German commanders had much better news. German troops had not been advised about the sudden change in Asia, as it would hurt their morale that was experiencing a new high these days.​

In one day, three Soviet divisions formally ceased to exist, leaving the still fresh Armored divisions more exposed to the fearless Luftwaffe.​

German fighters scored another win against unescorted Soviet bombers, which would be so stubborn to fly again.​

Von Falkenstein intercepted them again, and inflicted further damage, yet not enough to bring them completely down.​

0800 April 28th 1945
Oulu, Finland

While the Soviets had defended so tenaciously for weeks, it took just days to render their situation hopeless as their strenght and morale crumbled to absolute zero. Soviet no-retreat policy was beginning to give its fruits.​

Two Soviet divisions had been destroyed in less than one day of bombing, and many more would await their same fate.​

0700 April 29th 1945
Gaspar Strait, off the coast of Somarang

Thanks to the Japanese, the Germans now knew the Soviets actually had a fleet of sort.​

Japanese submarines would escape this futile blockade for now, but the journey would still be long.​

 

DvD-IT

East vs West developer

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Nov 25, 2007

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• Apr 27, 2008

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• #442

Night over the Rising Sun​

continued​

1600 April 29th 1945
Oulu, Finland

Soviet divisions shrunk fro twelve to nine in another day of doomed combat.​

Soon Ringel would achieve total triumph and lay the way open for Finland.​

In the early hours of April 30th, what was left of a mighty defense were one Infantry division, one Motorized division and three Armored divisions. Everything else perished.​

After one month and fourteen days of combat, the decimated Soviets retreated from Oulu, leaving in the battlefield the corpses of more than 300,000 soldiers and an imprecise number of equipment, tanks and artillery. Ringel, in comparison, lost little more than 20,000 troops. Finland was once again a nasty surprise for the Soviet Union. This time, it costed the lives of so many soldiers who were ordered to fight frantically to the last man, under the bombs dropped from the Luftwaffe.​

 

DvD-IT

East vs West developer

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• Apr 27, 2008

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• #443

DvD-IT said:

Enewald - Tsk, you call that a battlefield. What will it be when Marine divisions will march in London?

Now, there's something important here. This is the last update till at least 5 people vote for a decision I am going to tell you as soon as you finish reading this update. Before spoiling anything, I will post the update first and then explain what you shall vote upon.

Click to expand...

My post before this update. Here's the thing.

With the Japanese surrender, I inherit their fleet, but also part of their Army and their Airforce. It is completely irrational that they get transferred to Berlin, yet some have protested that Japan could have never been invaded so quickly in her own homeland, so someway their troop transfer to Berlin might balance a bit the question.

I would purge them all however, as it is completely unrealistic, but I want to let you have the joy of choice.

A) I let them stay
B) I disband them for manpower
C) I edit the savegame and remove them all manually, so to not get the manpower
D) I edit the savegame limiting the number and manpower of the divisions I will receive from Japan, so to achieve a more realistic result.

and

E) Please specify if you have any alternative.

>>>Deadline will be 1600 GMT April 30th<<<
>>>At least _5_ people must vote before I can decide<<<​

 

Last edited: May 1, 2008

darthkommandant

RPM Imterm Air Guru

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Jan 27, 2008

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• Apr 27, 2008

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• #444

I vote for letting them stay.

 

ColossusCrusher

General

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Dec 14, 2006

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• Apr 27, 2008

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• #445

Let them stay, use the "attache" excuse.

 

PrawnStar

Alien Space Bat

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Feb 21, 2007

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• Apr 27, 2008

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• #446

C is the realistic option. None of the land or air units could get to Germany.

However you could try D. I doubt that any Japanese naval units would make it to France either but you could let them try. After all a couple of Italian subs based in Eritrea made it back in RL!

 

Enewald

Enewald Enewald Enewald

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Oct 17, 2007

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• Apr 27, 2008

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• #447

A

That is the way.
You need a strong Westwall. And why can't those dudes march from China to Berlin? Just steal some horses from mongols, swim over some seas, that's it.
And after they reach Berlin, should they receive the message:
'oh, what are you doing her? Anyways, thanks for coming the long way, but now you have to return. Please leave?'
Would not be fair.
They are brave warrios.

 

Nostra

Colonel

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Jul 29, 2007

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• Apr 27, 2008

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• #448

You could bring up the excuse that they are japanese fanatics which travelled as disguised civilists after the Chaos of the Japanese surrender in Asia to form new Divisons. That wouldn´t be sooooo unrealistic

 

K

Karelian

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• Apr 27, 2008

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• #449

D.

The desperate odyssey of few diehard fanatical Japanese commanders and their ships from Pacific to Western France would be an interesting sideshow. Just edit the save game to remove the ground and air troops.

 

U

unmerged(87674)

Second Lieutenant

Nov 21, 2007

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• Apr 27, 2008

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• #450

A but conquer world

 

Winner

General

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Nov 10, 2007

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• Apr 27, 2008

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• #451

Keep them. If you're afraid of cheating, use them as garrisons and don't let them fight (they'd be too tired for that anyways ).

After you liberate Japan from Allied oppression, you can return these divisions to the new Japanese empire.

 

GrimPagan

A faulty cog

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Oct 7, 2004

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• Apr 27, 2008

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• #452

Either A, since they gave up rather faster then they should, or E: Tie the different land divisions to set naval units.

If the boat reaches you, you get the men aboard. Otherwise you lose them. This way, you have a plausible explanation and some excitement waiting to see who, if any, makes it to you. And add some japanese leaders to the survivors for some flavour.

 

Fernando Torres

Darkest Hour Game Designer

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Dec 2, 2006

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rayan-nezzar.fr

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• Apr 27, 2008

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• #453

B.
The thing about Japan Navy is infortunately hardcodded but A is not realistic.

 

GrimPagan

A faulty cog

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• Apr 27, 2008

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• #454

Somewhat similar premise, although they had less territory to cross then the japanese.

 

Last edited: Apr 27, 2008

DvD-IT

East vs West developer

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Nov 25, 2007

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• Apr 27, 2008

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• #455

Ten votes so far. Deadline three days from now.

darthkommandant, ColossusCrusher, Enewald, Nostra, LIFO, Winner vote A
PrawnStar votes C
Karelian votes D
Fernando Torres votes B
GrimPagan votes E

Vote A (let the Japanese troops stay) is leading with 6 votes out of 10, Keep on voting!

 

Last edited: Apr 27, 2008

General_Hoth

Colonel

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Feb 26, 2004

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• Apr 27, 2008

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• #456

I would say keep a division per japanese ship that make it to Europa

 

Lurtz231

LOLOORTZ

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Apr 8, 2007

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• Apr 27, 2008

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• #457

D is the way to go.

 

unmerged(40779)

Major

Mar 2, 2005

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• #458

Armies/governments in exile have always fascinated me, and if there have ever been soldiers ready to keep on fighting after the fall of their home country, those are the Japanese. I vote for A.

I know it would be practically impossible to get to Europe, but then again... weirder things have happened. Perhaps 30divs is a bit much, but not too drastic anyways, considering the scale of WWII at this point. To think of it, tens and hundreds of thousands of Poles fought the fascists after the fall of Warsaw... it they made it, so will the Japs for sure. A loooooong march, through war torn China now probably in quite utter chaos, through the tribal lands of Afghanistan, to Persia (which is formally under British and Soviet control, but with very little to no garrison)... the Iranese don't like those who occupied their country and could be thought to help the Japanese cross their land undercover, giving them food and shelter. Then just through Turkey, and there you have it!

 

Dilbert-A-

Second Lieutenant

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• Apr 28, 2008

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• #459

I vote for D.
I can imagine that some badly mauled remnants of the former IJA may make it to Europe.

 

U

unmerged(59848)

First Lieutenant

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• #460

I vote for A.

The reason?

When the Americans landed in Japan, the ultra-nationalist faction of the Japanese military decided to break ranks with the Emperor and avoid the humiliation of surrender. A large chunk of the Japanese military were waiting for the invasion of Japan's home islands to happen, and they were told horrible propaganda about what would happen to them if they surrendered.

After the American takeover of Tokyo, many Japanese generals and admirals knew that the Emperor would soon surrender. Motivated by fear, honor, and revenge, these commanders took every soldier, every ship, and every plane they had and they sailed towards Germany. Many of the Japanese soldiers in China were able to make it to neutral Siam, and from neutral Siam they chartered freighters to take them to Europe, with secret support from right-wing elements in the Siamese government.

The pilots of Japan flew to Tibet, where they refueled and flew to Afghanistan, then they flew to Turkey, and into Europe.

And the ships, of course, sailed.

They are the Japanese Government in Exile.