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Not exactly, m8. Those w/o 3000 have received it for exceptional service to the forums, or somesuch. In Jeno's case, I think it was excessive boosterism for the Spurs.Enewald said:You get a custom avatar after 550 days of memberhood or after spamming 3000 posts before that time is over.
Like me.
And more to the point: Good job so far, I've been enjoying it!
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Petrarca Thank you.
danielshannon Who doesn't? Except the Nazis. IIRC Hitler once said that he feared the day where Britain and Germany went to War and Churchill rose to any position of Power.
Enewald It is still a bit off. I might as well say it here: There will be a time when the jump between two updates is several months, as absolutely nothing happened in these months.
danielshannon Who doesn't? Except the Nazis. IIRC Hitler once said that he feared the day where Britain and Germany went to War and Churchill rose to any position of Power.
Enewald It is still a bit off. I might as well say it here: There will be a time when the jump between two updates is several months, as absolutely nothing happened in these months.
Been away over the weekend, hence the delay. Interesting, most interesting. I agree Nev would slink away (and does look like a Fisherman ) and I can also see Winston coming up with such an excitable scheme, in reality the war consumed his attention. Coming in before the war the domestic scene just might hold his attention occasionally, in between foreign and defence matters obviously.
While he's right on Gallipoli, the fort guns were almost out of ammo when the fleet assault was called off, I do think he should listen to 'small minded' officers or things might get messy. On the other hand most of his problems were interfering in small ways, setting up under-resourced sideshows that drained troops from the main event. (Greece and Operation Compass being the most obvious). If he sticks to 'properly executed and pressed home' then things could still go OK.
) and I can also see Winston coming up with such an excitable scheme, in reality the war consumed his attention. Coming in before the war the domestic scene just might hold his attention occasionally, in between foreign and defence matters obviously. While he's right on Gallipoli, the fort guns were almost out of ammo when the fleet assault was called off, I do think he should listen to 'small minded' officers or things might get messy. On the other hand most of his problems were interfering in small ways, setting up under-resourced sideshows that drained troops from the main event. (Greece and Operation Compass being the most obvious). If he sticks to 'properly executed and pressed home' then things could still go OK.
The comment is apprechiated. Frankly, my interpretation of Winston was alway that he concentrated too much on the War, and that was what at least partially cost him the 45 election.
As for Gallipoli: I don't know too much about it TBH, but what I know was that it was hampered by botched procedures back in Alexandria and that the Turks were close to the breaking point. The "not pressed home" is mainly Winstons personal interpretation of the Events.
And yes, this time around he will listen to his officers, like Ironside and the likes who will eventually replace Gort as Chief of Staff, but the War will still be fought in an Winstonesque way, but only for roleplaying purposes of course.
As for Gallipoli: I don't know too much about it TBH, but what I know was that it was hampered by botched procedures back in Alexandria and that the Turks were close to the breaking point. The "not pressed home" is mainly Winstons personal interpretation of the Events.
And yes, this time around he will listen to his officers, like Ironside and the likes who will eventually replace Gort as Chief of Staff, but the War will still be fought in an Winstonesque way, but only for roleplaying purposes of course.
Also with the war not yet there Churchills prime concern for the next few months will be the preservation of the Empire. The mundane tasks of internal policy will be completely up to Morrison who has pretty much a free hand as long as he keeps within Churchill's defined parameters and keeps Winston in the loop.
Chapter 18
October 5
Aerodrome Berlin Tempelhof
The weather in the capital of the Third Reich was unusually hot for early October. Normally one would expect wet and depressing winter weather and the Honour Gard of the SS Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler was dressed accordingly. But when they had left the lorries that had brought them to the Airfield the sun had been scorching hot, and they were now waiting for several hours to receive an as of yet unknown guest. They had been greatly honoured as the Reichsführer SS himself! But that did not change the fact that several of Soldiers were close to breaking down. Luckily they had been allowed to rest in the shadows of the massive unfinished Terminal building, but the heat was still immense. They had no idea whom they were supposed to honour, but the car with the frightened Russians in it that was waiting in one of the halls was an indication that it had to be someone big from Bolshevik Russia. But what happened next threatened even to unhinge these Elite Soldiers. A black Mercedes Sedan pulled up and the driver hurried to open the door for the passenger. Out stepped...'could it be...' the Führer himself. Harald Steiner could barely inhale the air he needed to survive. He was only with the Wachbatallion for a few weeks and had not yet been allowed to actually stand guard inside the Reichskanzlei and had not yet seen the man who would lead Germany to glory, but now he had, and he felt incredibly good about it.
The men of the Honour Guard were interrupted in their musings about the sudden appearance of Hitler when the roar of multiple heavy Aircraft Engines pierced the relative silence of the Airport. All heads searched for the incoming plane, but could not see it until the last moment when it broke through the clouds that had gathered over Berlin during the last hour. Steiner had been with the Luftwaffe Intelligence Unit before joining the SS and promptly identified it as a modified Soviet Tupolev TB-3 Heavy Bomber. The Bombers heavy M-17 Engines reduced power and the plane touched down with ease. Steiner and his fellow soldiers scrambled to roll out the red Carpet and to position themselves besides it. The band proceeded to play the Russian National Anthem the door opened and out stepped...Josef Stalin? The faces of the SS men did not change but Steiner was by no means the only one who was wondering what the Reich's arch-enemy was doing in Berlin despite the recent change of tone in the press. Stalin looked around seemingly without noticing the SS Honour Guard. When he spotted Hitler he started to walk down the steps from the plan onto the red carpet where he was greeted by Hitler like an old friend. Both men started talking animatedly while they waited for the music to cease. When the last notes were played and the Guard waited for further orders the two dictators entered their respective cars. The cars formed a motorcade and rolled off, leaving the SS men to wonder what the whole thing had been all about while they packed their equipment back together and watched the ungainly Soviet Aircraft being serviced by its crew.
On the way to the Soviet Embassy
Stalin's car.
The General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union did not bother with looking at the city that was speeding past the windows. Whatever Berlin might have to offer was none of his concern. What he had come here to do would be the boldest and most riskiest gamble the Soviet Union had ever undertaken, and it had the potential to undo everything that had been accomplished since the revolution. On the other hand this might turn the Soviet Union into a true world power with him at the head, and that was something worth taking risks for, worth breaking with the fellow communists in America who would not like what he was about to do. Stalin did not like the American Socialists anyway. Their capitalist culture was too deeply rooted, and he believed that it would be at least one or two generations before they could be relied upon in any way. Until then they would serve their purpose by distracting the British and draining resources away from Europe. Stalin thought that the Soviet Union and Germany had nothing to fear from the Allies. Stalin considered the west to be decadent and weak, unwilling to fight. The informal meetings between the higher Officers of the Reich and the Soviet Union that had been held had over the previous weeks had determined that the Germans, with Soviet help estimated a French campaign of only 2 months. Stalin looked up from his pipe and faced the nervous Embassy official that had collected him from the Airport. “So tell me, Comrade Korunkov. Why was the Ambassador not at the Airport?” Korunkov swallowed nervously and said: “Comrade Merekalovhas fallen ill, Comrade Chairman. He broke his leg when he fell off a ladder yesterday.” Stalin nodded and communicated his acknowledgement. He suddenly decided that he wanted to see how Berlin looked like. This was the last time he would see or one way or another.
The British Embassy, the Office of the Head of Station G (Germany)
“Bloody hell, Fleming!” the Head of Station all but yelled. “You know bloody well that we just got us a new Prime Minister, and then you go and stomp on operational procedures like they weren't even there!” He was outraged. Fleming was only just transferred from Russia to Berlin after a squabble with two men from SMERSH's second Directorate (Counter-intelligence) right on Red Square. Today his job had been to observe some obscure proceedings on the Tempelhof Airfield, and now he was back to deliver his report. But before he could say anything the Head of Station had proceeded to give him the third degree because Fleming had left his assigned spot on the side of the Airfield where he had been supposed to observe everything from afar and had staked out on the top of the flaming Terminal! “But Sir..” Fleming said, trying to deliver his report to the HoS. He hated the man because he was one to stick right by the book, even if it meant that assets were lost or information could not reach the recipients in time, and that was something Fleming hated with all force he could muster. Luckily M, the new head of MI6 back in London was actually Flemming's mentor and happened to agree with him, so maybe things would change. But they hadn't yet. “I don't care what you claim to have seen!” the HoS seemed ready to explode. “One more of these stupid stunts and you are back to standard intelligence duties, is that clear?” “Yes, Sir.” Flemming conceded. “Now Flemming, what is it you have seen.” Flemming was unusually apprehensive. There was no way a man like the Head of Station would believe what he was about to say. “Hitler and Stalin Sir. Hitler was receiving Stalin like a state guest, SS Honour Guard and all.” Just as predicted the HoS did not believe him. “Do you really think that Century House will believe that rumpus any more than I do? You made this up to escape the consequences for your actions!” Flemming was close to exploding himself. “No Sir. I might not go by the book all the time, but Sir I give you my word of honour that I will never lie when it concerns my work.” The HoS still did not believe him completely, but the information fitted what he already knew. Jerry had organized a major rally in front of the Reichstag and the Wehrmacht, SS and SA were supposed to hold a major military parade on the East-West Axis later in the day. He did not believe the rumblings that were circulating between the diplomats about a Soviet-German Alliance, but now with what Flemming had brought it was most certainly worth investigating.
In front of the steps of the Reichstag, three hours later.
Ian Flemming both hated and loved crowds. On one hand it was easy to disappear in them, on the other hand someone who might know his face could be in them too. What he hated about this particular crowd was that they all screamed Nazi paroles with a fever that was completely beyond the British Agent in their midst. Even worse he had to participate in order to blend in, and that was something that made Flemming want to take lunch backwards. Luckily he had a bottle of good Scotish Whiskey back at the Embassy just reserved for such occasions. Now the crowd fell silent and everyone's eyes were glued to the entrance of the vast building. Flemming took a few seconds to read the inscription. “Dem Deutschen Volke” - “To the German People” rather cynical under the current circumstances. Then he looked at the doors that opened to reveal Hitler and Stalin walking side by side. The screaming started up again, until Hitler started to speak using the microphones that had been erected. What Flemming heard made him stunned with silence. On the next day the headline of The Times was:
“Soviets and Germans sign alliance treaty – Commonwealth Military on high alert!”
[Game effects: The Soviet Union and the German Reich are now officially allied. And completely unrelated to this my new dream car is the Aston Martin V8 Vantage.]
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Spiffing taste in cars sir, most spiffing.
However things look exceptionally bleak for old Blighty, about all that can be hoped is that the alliance combines the worst of all possible worlds. So a string of constantly changing tank designs, made badly, in terrible factories sent to a high command that thinks it know best and shoots any general who disagrees.
The alternative - vast numbers of mass-produced and simplified Tiger tanks being churned out across Russia then sent to a German trained army, but with far more manpower, doesn't bear thinking about.
However things look exceptionally bleak for old Blighty, about all that can be hoped is that the alliance combines the worst of all possible worlds. So a string of constantly changing tank designs, made badly, in terrible factories sent to a high command that thinks it know best and shoots any general who disagrees.
The alternative - vast numbers of mass-produced and simplified Tiger tanks being churned out across Russia then sent to a German trained army, but with far more manpower, doesn't bear thinking about.
Faeelin To quote my favourite WW2 politician but slightly modified to fit TTL:
We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender, and even if, which I do not for a moment believe, this Island or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our Empire beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the British Fleet, would carry on the struggle, until, in God's good time, the Empire, with all its power and might, steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of our home.
Meaning that not all is lost. If they defeat France it may be a few years perhaps, but rest assured I will return to the continent one day.
El Pip
Thanks.
OOC: It will be a mixture of both. In a pre-AAR testgame I played as Cuba with nofog off I saw that the Soviets sent units west to aid the Germans but no EXP forces I could see. They still fought good alongside oneanother. below is the incharacter explanation[/OOC]
The Soviets and the Germans, despite being allied still don't really trust each other, and still train their armies in their own ways. While the German's might indeed trade some techs with the SU the command structure will be simple. Soviet Armies sent to fight in the German Sphere of influence will be under soviet tactical but German strategic command and vice versa. Tigers and Panthers are still a few years of and even if the actually do that by that time I will probably already have the A30 Challenger Tank. (Advanced Medium Armour if you use SKIF)
We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender, and even if, which I do not for a moment believe, this Island or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our Empire beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the British Fleet, would carry on the struggle, until, in God's good time, the Empire, with all its power and might, steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of our home.
Meaning that not all is lost. If they defeat France it may be a few years perhaps, but rest assured I will return to the continent one day.
El Pip
Thanks.
OOC: It will be a mixture of both. In a pre-AAR testgame I played as Cuba with nofog off I saw that the Soviets sent units west to aid the Germans but no EXP forces I could see. They still fought good alongside oneanother. below is the incharacter explanation[/OOC]
The Soviets and the Germans, despite being allied still don't really trust each other, and still train their armies in their own ways. While the German's might indeed trade some techs with the SU the command structure will be simple. Soviet Armies sent to fight in the German Sphere of influence will be under soviet tactical but German strategic command and vice versa. Tigers and Panthers are still a few years of and even if the actually do that by that time I will probably already have the A30 Challenger Tank. (Advanced Medium Armour if you use SKIF)
danielshannon Not quite so soon. But as I said previously I will soon jump several months forward.
Enewald Remember that Britain is Human controlled. All I did was to give myself a challenge.
Enewald Remember that Britain is Human controlled. All I did was to give myself a challenge.
Chapter 19
October 5
Foreign Office Communications centre, London
20:23 PM
The Foreign Secretary was in a bad mood. Not because of the alliance, he had known it was coming, but rather because his people seemed unable to get anything that could confirm the signal sent by Station G had sent earlier during the night. He had talked with Sir Mar... M over at MI6 and had only received the same answer he had gotten from all of his own people. “Insufficient Information.” He had been called out of the first Cabinet meeting after the first signal and had been here ever since, living on Coffee and Cigarettes. This greatly annoyed the staff, but as everyone liked their jobs one way or another they remained silent and endured the Secretaries escapades. Luckily for them one of the wireless operators then exclaimed: “Sir, Radio Berlin is just broadcasting.” Eden nodded and went over to the operator. The man turned up the speakers of his set and Eden could hear the German Broadcast, made in English and meant for British and American consumption. Eden quickly took some notes and then rushed back to his office, where he immediately dailed No 10. After the connection to the PM's office was made he just said: “Sir, we have confirmation. I will head over to Downing Street right now. I recommend M and General Gort should be called over too. We will need what they have on the Soviet Union and Germany.” When he had replaced the receiver he gathered his notes and the already prepared files.
When the illustrious round had gathered in Churchill's office the Prime Minister wh seemed equally tired as the rest of them was the first to talk. “Secretary Eden, would you please detail the situation to us?” “Yes, Prime Minister.” Eden stood up and stood in front of the room. “Gentlemen, as of three PM today the Soviet Union and the German Reich are officially allied.” It was amusing to look at the reactions throughout the room. Gort was amazed and a bit terrified, something Eden expected from the old Soldier, M was not showing any emotion at all and Churchill showed a face of grim determination and Eden somehow suspected that the PM had already made up his mind that he and Britain would fight this alliance to the bitter end. “We could only confirm it about half an hour ago, and we this is why we called you in this late. It has been confirmed by both broadcasts over the wireless and intelligence sources that will be detailed by M later.” Eden paused to take a quick sip of water, despite the Brandy that was standing on the desk. He would get blasted later. “The Worlds reaction are interesting to say the least. The French want to coordinate with us, and I have taken the liberty of telling Paris that you Sir,” he adressed the PM, “ would call Lebrun tomorrow to agree on a joint course of action. The Rednecks are of course fourious. They are talking about severing all diplomatic and trade relations with the Soviet Union, and my America desk thinks that they will follow through with it, as they are also saying that they will withdraw their Comintern candidacy. The Italians have said and I quote: 'this is a great achievement for European Peace' end quote. According to my Italian desk and my own opinion the Italians simply do not know what to think about it yet. Pretty much the same from the rest of Eastern Europe. However the poles have started to ask us about joining the Allied Powers over backchannels, but there is nothing official yet. The Japanese and the Chinese are too preoccupied with killing each other and we have not heard from them yet. We think that Hitler will make a countervisit to Moscow in some time, to finalize the whole deal.”
Eden sat back down and M took over. “As Secretary Eden said we have also confirmation. I must however stress that there were considerable delays in this. Our once-Head of Station G (Germany) though this to be the brainchild of one of the more imaginative Field Officers in Berlin. His successor will be appointed within a few days. When the report finally reached us it confirmed what was filtering out anyway. We had a man right in front of the Reichstag, in spitting distance of Hitler and Stalin. This is most certainly no hoax or bluff by one of the involved parties. Our assets in Germany and the Soviet Union are limited tanks to the underfunding in recent years, but as far as we can tell the Germans and the Soviets are already preparing joint military operations and have carved up Eurasia into spheres of influence.” Eden had to admire M. He had made the most of the limited information available and also managed to remind Churchill that more money was needed by SIS. The Head of the SIS, Sir Hugh Sinclair was not present, but Churchill always preferred to talk directly to the 'operators' and would probably reduce Sinclair's role to administrative duties and counterbalancing the two branches with each other.
Gort was the next to speak. Eden did not know what to think of the General. On one hand he was a more than capable administrator and organizer, but also a very cautious military commander in the field. This however might actually be to Britain's advantage, as it would help to curb Churchill's enthousiasm for military adventures like Gallipoli. The General straightened his Uniform and started to speak: “Sirs, the German Order of Battle is as follows as per September 1: We estimate a total of around sixty Divisions of various types, with about twenty-five to thirty Infantry. They also have a few motorized and Mountaineer Divisions, but most importantly between six and ten Armoured Divisions. Now while this might seem small bear in mind that they are training new Divisions every month, and by the end of the year that number might have already reached something around eighty. Their Air Force is small, only ten or so Wings worth of medium to short-range fighters along with a few Squadrons of Tactical Bombers. Their Navy is frankly a joke when compared to the Royal Navy. Two Pre-Dreadnought Battleships that should really be called Battlecruisers as they are more comparable to one of our older Battlecruisers in capabilities and size. They also have the usual assortment of escorting cruisers and Destroyers. No Battleships and Aircraft Carriers although we know that they are working on both.” He paused like Eden to take a drink only that he preferred a Brandy and continued. “Bear in mind Gentlemen that these figures I am about to present are simply estimates. MI6 has not been able to give us exact ones.” he took a deep breath and said: “The Soviet Red Army is very large. We estimate something of around onehundred and thirty Divisons, with about eighty to a hundred Infantry Divisons, the rest Tanks, Motorized Infantry and Mountaineers, which are to a part really Siberian Ski Troops. The Red Air Force is large too. Estimates place them at around 30 to forty Interceptor and Bomber Wings. Their Navy is even smaller than the German one, with a couple of outdated Dreadnoughts and Destroyers. Bear also in mind that most of the Soviet Equipment dates back to the Great War, and is therefore woefully outdated. Still due to their size and if the really cooperate with the Germans this would make them more than dangerous adversaries. For comparison at the moment we can field maybe ten Divisions without completely exposing the Empire, along with maybe sixty French Divisions. Prime Minister, this needs to be changed as soon as possible if we want to be able to hold France. We would need about forty Divisions alone to hold against the Wehrmacht, but if we add the Soviets to the equation this figure at least doubles, and we can't reach that before late 1940 at the earliest.”
[Game Effects: none. Note that form here on I will refer to the single Air Squadrons in the game as Wings, as they are equivalent to a WW2 era RAF Wing. The single “Staffeln” in the Luftwaffe would then be Squadrons.]
ReadAAR participation day #1
I know this isn't thr first, but I want to count them from now on.
Today's options are:
a) an update that deals with the Navy again and sees the return of our brave Captain and his subbie
b) an update that sees the return of our brave RAC Lieutenant
c) an update that sees the return of SQL Dashwood and another surprise character
I know this isn't thr first, but I want to count them from now on.
Today's options are:
a) an update that deals with the Navy again and sees the return of our brave Captain and his subbie
b) an update that sees the return of our brave RAC Lieutenant
c) an update that sees the return of SQL Dashwood and another surprise character