Rank and File: A clerk's war Germany 1936 (Semper Fi)

[Uriah]

I hope so too! Crossing the Seine would be very difficult in autumn or winter.
Fortunately Paris is not that far away from Pas de Calais, and most of the French units are engaged far in the east.




Mmmh Spain, very good defensive country, horrible infrastructure.
It won't be easy.

I have nearly broken through now, and my 8 fresh divisions haven't even reached the front. So it should crack right open in a few days.



You forget my good allies: Portugal. We will squeeze them in a vice of steel!!!

Would you believe a vice of wrought iron? A Vulcan death grip?

The tentative plan is to move along both coasts (placing the odd port), then drive for Madrid. But I won't really think about it unitl I get a better idea of Vichy/surrender.

The prize of access to the Mediterranean is worth risking a fair bit, and I am nearly a year ahead of schedule. All I want to do in '40 is mop up the Balkans and maybe Norway. The opportunity to take Egypt and close the Suez is hard to resist, as is linking up withthe Italian Fleet to crush the British Med Fleet. And sub range into the Indian Ocean!

[Modo]

What I meant by "gamey" was that the Westwall Army had as its defensive objectives all the border provinces from the Swiss border to Bitburg (I think). These have not changed, and I just felt it was a little too omniprescient to suddenly set objectives one province back: I just can't see OKH ordering its generals not to retake the Rhineland.

Me neither, but you don't really have to be that specific. The AI is only reluctant about attacking those level 10 forts.

It's not improbable that the generals woul be told to defend, but to try going ahead into France if they find the Maginot line defended only lightly. This is done in-game by only setting a defensive objective in France. What's omniprescient about using the game interface to give more elaborate orders than "hold provinces A, B, and C"?

I see how roleplaying will slow your response times, but simply leaving major objectives unchanged after major changes on the front would never happen in real life. In my opinion, modifying objectives makes perfect sense from a roleplaying perspective. But it will make your armies do more damage.

[Karaiskandar]

You forget my good allies: Portugal. We will squeeze them in a vice of steel!!!

Ooops
I forgot about them.

The prize of access to the Mediterranean is worth risking a fair bit, and I am nearly a year ahead of schedule. All I want to do in '40 is mop up the Balkans and maybe Norway. The opportunity to take Egypt and close the Suez is hard to resist, as is linking up withthe Italian Fleet to crush the British Med Fleet. And sub range into the Indian Ocean!

A sound strategy.

[Uriah]

Me neither, but you don't really have to be that specific. The AI is only reluctant about attacking those level 10 forts.

It's not improbable that the generals woul be told to defend, but to try going ahead into France if they find the Maginot line defended only lightly. This is done in-game by only setting a defensive objective in France. What's omniprescient about using the game interface to give more elaborate orders than "hold provinces A, B, and C"?

I see how roleplaying will slow your response times, but simply leaving major objectives unchanged after major changes on the front would never happen in real life. In my opinion, modifying objectives makes perfect sense from a roleplaying perspective. But it will make your armies do more damage.

Don't get me wrong - I have no problem with changing objectives.

Where this started was a mention of the French being trapped in their salient and whether or not they could get out. I said that unfortunately the Westwall Army was driving them out of the salient, before the "neck" could be shut. And that the only way to stop this would be to alter the Westwall defensive objectives from the German border provinces, presumablyt to one province back from the border.

Perhaps I didn't make myself clear in the earlier post. I just felt it would be gamey to order the Westwall to not retake Bitburg, Saarbrucken, Saarlouis etc. To my mind, recovering these provinces would be a first priority.

Attacking the Maginot is always possible and I have thought that if the French rrop to one division per province I may set Westwall's objectives as you suggest. But they show no sign of doing it as yet.

I have no problem with using in-game information (such as noticing a reduction in forces or a vacant province) to change orders. I suppose my "omniprescient" comment was more "I know how the AI works - if I leave those divisions in Bitburg alone I'll be able to cut them off in a few weeks". I just could not see a Westwall commander making that decsion, or being allowed by Berlin to keep it.

Sorry to go on, but I like people to be aware that I let the AI control nearly everything to do with combat: I run the country, the AI runs the Wehrmacht. I only intervene to give strategic orders, not tactical.

Thanks for putting up with a long-winded explanation that could probably have been avoided if I had been clearer in the first place.

[Uriah]

Ooops
I forgot about them.




A sound strategy.

Expect a few angry posts with "Lisboa" as an address.


All strategies are sound until put into operation. (I think I am paraphrasing someone but it is true nevertheless).

[Modo]

Thanks for the explanation. I see your points, and I agree that the French would not be allowed to go any deeper in real life. Maybe I have different experiences using the AI to control my armies—I don't see the need to keep those objectives. They are high-value targets, so important enough to draw the AI to retake them even if not specifically selected.

[Karaiskandar]

All strategies are sound until put into operation. (I think I am paraphrasing someone but it is true nevertheless).

Indeed, something like No campaign plan survives first contact with the enemy

[Adaptation]

Interesting so far, france should fall fairly soon.

By the way, how's that navy doing? Planning any major sea battles? Sea lion perhaps?

[Uriah]

Rank and File
A Clerk’s War

9th September to 12th September 1939

The heavy tank project nears completion, as our technical experts work out how to manufacture and install the ultra-thick plating necessary to protect the vehicles from everything except a direct hit from a very large calibre gun. The Heer was successful in retaining the research funding, though the new project is very different from the metallurgical studies just completed. A serious problem facing our generals is how to feed in reinforcements to an ongoing battle. One cannot simply leave a gap in the line for the new unit. Our military theorists and strategists are to come up with a way of increasing the speed with which we can allow fresh troops to join combat.

Desperate attempts had been made to help Volkmann’s Gebirgsjagers in Arlon, and a motorised division was actually within hours of the front line when the mountain troops could take no more. With 1,642 dead, they started to pull back, leaving the province vacant. Only 362 French casualties had been confirmed. The French don’t seem to have noticed the withdrawal, and General Herzog’s 36.Infanterie (mot) barely made it into position in time to receive the next onslaught at 8AM on the 9th.

Battle of Arlon

As is becoming usual when good news is required, a radio message from General von Ruoff arrived. He and his men are on the road again, heading towards the French city of Lille. He has left General Eicke’s 24.Infanterie to hold Dunkerque until the rest of the Army of the Ardennes catch up, but the “Vorwarts” division will not simply sit in a captured town. They will press on, hoping to keep the French off balance. Lille could be a tougher fight than Ruoff is used to, with the British General Lawson having three divisions available to defend the city. and presumably has orders to hold the important regional centre at all costs.

Battle of Lille

Despite the defeat of General Volkmann, the Osterreich Army is still concentrating on its objectives, Reims and Paris. General Friedrich-Willich and his 2nd Gebrigsjager Division are moving into Montmedy, taking on General Giller’s 42nd Infantry Division. It seems as though Fall Zentrum is building up steam, as unit after unit goes on the offensive.

Battle of Montmedy

The French are not conceding their airspace to us. Up until now, the Armee de l’Air has usually tackled our bombers over foreign soil, but now they are forced to protect their own territory. Over Longuyon, Muller-Michiels leading a mixed group of Stukas and Heinkels reported several fighter groups picking at his formation, though he had no difficulty in carrying out his mission. An attempt by Basset to follow the Heinkels ran into trouble when he was met head on over Luxembourg by Felmy with the “Schlageter” and “Richthofen” geschwader.

Air Battle of Longuyon



Air Battle of Luxembourg

During the night, de Angelis ordered his 60.Infanterie (mot) and 3rd Gebirgsjager forward. His objective: to free Saarlouis from the French occupying force comprising the 3rd Armour Brigade and 8th and 26th Infantry Division. It will not be easy, as the French have had plenty of time to dig in, and have managed to get their supply back to respectable levels. De Angelis does have a secondary objective: if he cannot drive out the French he is to pin down the troops and not allow them to move to the west.

Battle of Saarlouis

The Luftwaffe has decided that the French threat to its bombers requires a change of tactics. Missions over certain provinces are now accompanied by units from our Fliegerkorps. I found this change quite startling, as I am sure my brother Ernst told me that the Fliegerkorps see their role as protecting the Reich, not the Luftwaffe. Perhaps a few people have had their job requirements explained to them by the Reichsmarchall and Minister for Air. The results could be seen on the morning of the 10th September, when Basset’s Groupes de Chasse intercepted KG “Hindenburg” and “Krahe” over Luxembourg. Suddenly the sky was full of Messerschmitt 109E fighters, as Christiansen flung his waiting interceptors into the dogfight. (I got this from a rare and very hurried (and unofficial) telephone call from Ernst). Basset’s pilots did not know what had hit them: some were shot down, but the bulk of the enemy was so confused that individual planes broke off and headed home. We shouldn’t see them for a while. Ernst was quite excited during his call, from what he said I believe he is one of the leading pilots in his Staffel with quite a few “kills” to his name – though he won’t actually go into detail of his own performance, always deflecting the conversation when I try to get him to talk of his own exploits.

Second Air Battle of Luxembourg



A Dewoitine 520 of Groupe de Chasse 21. Outclassed by the “Emils” the French had no chance as they were taken completely by surprise. I wonder if this pilot made it back?

The Army of the Ardennes is now finding the standard of opposition increasing. Instead of half strength and disorganised Dutch or Belgian divisions, led by generals with no experience, the defenders are well-equipped and have their full complement of officers and men. And the commanders are professionals, many having served in their youth as junior officers during the First War. General Hopner came up against one of these commanders when 4th Leichte Panzer crossed the border into St Quentin. The area was held by the 56th Infantry Brigade of the British Expeditionary Force, led by General Slim. Slim gained a solid reputation in the First War, and his bravery is above question, as he was wounded several times and won the Military Cross. Hopner has outclassed all the generals he has met to date, but he could probably learn a few things from Slim.

Battle of St Quentin

The 11th saw General Guderian in position to attack one of the secondary objectives of Fall Zentrum: Reims. The capture of this city will anchor the right flank of the drive on Paris: it is essential that it be hold to prevent the French threatening our spearhead. This could be the toughest battle for “Fast Heinz” since the Polish campaign. General Francois has only one division, but it is fresh and at high morale, and he has several thousand additional men from the headquarters of the 3eme Armee to help hold the city. While normally of questionable value, in the crowded streets of the city, surrounded by heavy forests, every infantry man is a valuable asset. Guderian has an infantry division (30th) in addition to his own 1st Leichte, and will mount a pincer attack from Phillippeville and Hirson, but he is not overconfident. Never one to overestimate his chances, his report warns that unless he has massive assistance from the air, he may have to call off the attack to avoid serious losses.

Battle of Reims



General Guderian likes to lead from the front, particularly against a difficult opponent. That way he can continually check progress and be ready to exploit any opportunities or solve any problems that arise.

Finally IV and IX Armeekorps have reached Dutch territory, and can be formally attached to Osterreich Army. General Dennerlein now has 4 Armeekorps, though the 1st Marinekorps is stuck defending the Westwall. Regardless, there are now seven Armeekorps in Belgium, all heading for Paris. Against them is a thin line of French and British divisions, already buckling under the preliminary attacks. Fall Zentrum is moving to its climax.

After a peaceful few days travelling across the Reich, the troop trains enter potentially hostile areas and again anti-partisan procedures are in place.

An indication that it will not be plain sailing came on the afternoon of the 13th, when we were again defeated in Arlon. Herzog’s 36.Infanterie (mot), having rushed to take the place of the battered Gebirgsjagers, took a hammering from the 50,000 attackers. Even though Geyr von Schweppenberg raced his panzers and motorised regiment in to assist, and Turanec’s 1st Slovak Militia once again put their bodies on the line, it was not enough. Coincidentally, Herzog had the same casualties as did Volkmann before him: 1642. He managed, however, to inflict a few more on the French than did the Gebirgsjagers: 518.

Although the defeat in Arlon was disappointing, it was completely forgotten when General Nehring’s amazing victory was announced. He has retaken Bitburg, and together with Bless’s Bitburgers, he is making sure that the city will not be lost again. The French left 1,041dead in the ruins. Nehring and Bless lost 1,209, but nobody is going to worry about the casualty loss when such a critical battle has been won. I am sure both Generals Kesselring and von Blomberg heaved a sigh of relief to know that they can tell the Fuhrer that Bitburg is once more part of the Reich.

One of Nehring’s men on top of a disabled Char B: no longer a threat.

A perfect end to the day, and a real boon to every vendor of alcoholic beverages within walking distance of the Kanzlei.


Bombing Summary

9th September

Longuyon: Udet with 2 x Ju 87G: 44, 103
Metz: Muller-Michiels with 4 x He 111, 2 x Ju 87G: 57
Luxembourg: Schwartzkopf with 2 x Bf 109G, 4 x He 111: 89, 122
Bitburg: Lohr with Bf 109G, 2 x Ju 87G, 2 x He 111: 55, 130
Luxembourg: Grauert with 2 x He 111: 102
Longuyon: Muller-Michiels with 2 x He 111, 2 x Ju 87G: 155
Metz: Kitzinger with 2 x Bf 109E, 2 x He 111: 73, 108
Luxembourg: Muller-Michiels with 1 x Bf 109G, 6 x He 111: 69
Bitburg: Kesselring with 1 x Bf 109G, 2 x He 111, 2 x Ju 87G: 95
Longuyon: Muller-Michiels with 2 x Bf 109E, 2 x He 111: 87
Bitburg: Kesselring with 1 x Bf 109G, 2 x He 111, 4 x Ju 87G: 58
Luxembourg: Muller-Michiels with 2 x He 111: 52

10th September

Longuyon: Kitzinger with 2 x He 111: 86, 95
Montmedy: Dorstling with 1 x Bf 109G, 2 x He 111: 60, 143, 129
Lille: Sperrle with 1 x Bf 109G, 2 x He 111: 52, 156, 119
Saarlouis: Kesselring with 2 x He 111, 2 x Ju 87G: 78, 98
Metz: Schwartzkopf with 1 x Bf 109G, 2 x He 111: 60, 92
Bitburg: Lohr with 2 x Ju 87G: 35, 119, 51
Luxembourg: Muller-Michiels with 2 x He 111, 4 x Bf 109E, 23
Luxembourg: Kesselring with 4 x He 111, 2 x Ju 87G: 151
Longuyon: Schwartzkopf with 1 x Bf 109G, 4 x He 111: 183
Saarlouis: Grauert with 2 x He 111: 141, 58
Longuyon: Schwartzkopf with 1 x Bf 109G, 2 x He 111: 104
Luxembourg: Kesselring with 2 x He 111, 2 x Ju 87G: 116
Saarlouis: Kesselring with 2 x Ju 87G: 34

11th September

Montmedy: Kitzinger with 2 x He 111: 67, 109, 119
St Quentin: Dorstling with 1 x Bf 109G, 2 x He 111: 53, 148, 146
Lille: Sperrle with 1 x Bf 109G, 2 x He 111: 57, 157, 138
Bitburg: Lohr with 2 x He 111, 2 x Ju 87G: 62
Saarlouis: Kesselring with 2 x Ju 87G: 47, 63, 84
Bitburg: Schwartzkopf with 1 x Bf 109G, 2 x He 111: 106
Metz: Grauert with 2 x Bf 109E, 2 x He 111: 78
Longuyon: Udet with 2 x Ju 87G: 81
Bitburg: Lohr with 1 x Bf 109G, 2 x He 111, 2 x Ju 87G: 145
Longuyon: Grauert with 4 x He 111: 174

12th September

Metz: Grauert with 2 x He 111: 78, 104
Montmedy: Kitzinger with 2 x He 111: 55, 129, 138
Lille: Udet with 2 x Ju 87G: 39, 71, 84
Reims: Dorstling with 1 x Bf 109G, 2 x He 111: 72, 135, 123
St Quentin: Sperrle with 1 x Bf 109G, 2 x He 111: 76, 161, 126
Saarlouis: Kesselring with 1 x Bf 109G, 2 x He 111, 2 x Ju 87G: 80, 90
Bitburg: Lohr with 2 x Ju 87G: 47, 104, 86
Longuyon: Grauert with 2 x He 111: 105, 80
Luxembourg: Schwartzkopf with 1 x Bf 109G, 2 x He 111: 119, 86
Saarlouis: Kesselring with 2 x Ju 87G: 94
Saarlouis: Schwartzkopf with 1 x Bf 109G, 2 x He 111: 44

Fall Zentrum at end of 12th September



Westwall at end of 12th September



Libya at end of 12th September



Egypt at end of 12th September

[Uriah]

Interesting so far, france should fall fairly soon.

By the way, how's that navy doing? Planning any major sea battles? Sea lion perhaps?

I hope France falls: it has been a tough fioght so far but geting easier.

As for sea battles, we just wiped out the Dutch Navy!!! Give us time to get our breath back.

No Sea Lion unitl Russia is dealt with, but I anticipate a series of battles over the next few years: I want to move my main fleet to the Atlantic and then the Med.

[Modo]

Good news about Bitburg. That should start a small collapse in the region.

[BoemsiBoemsie]

Ah, slowly the French are beginning to crack. Good work. But it might take quite some time before France finally falls. And then you have to conquer a lot of land before Vichy fires. But I hope they go down flaming!

[Uriah]

Good news about Bitburg. That should start a small collapse in the region.

I'm just glad I got my population and leadership back!

Ah, slowly the French are beginning to crack. Good work. But it might take quite some time before France finally falls. And then you have to conquer a lot of land before Vichy fires. But I hope they go down flaming!

You have confused me - unless you meant "before PARIS finally falls".

I think I mentioned before, but the reinforcements still haven't made it to the front. When I assigned the Armeekorps to the Osterreich Army, I think it took some of them off strategic movement and put them back on road movement. Which has slowed things a bit.

In future I'll leave them out of the organisational structure until they arrive, not do it when they are in range.

Things will get moving when these additional 8 divisions hit the front. It looks as though I would have been OK without the reinforcements, just a bit slower.

BTW, I detach units from the structure when I want to move them from one theatre to another, and then manually move them. Strictly speaking this an exception to my "hands off" approach, but I have found that the AI has problems moving units from one theatre to another.

[Forster]

Yup, much neater when the Fuerher gives orders directly concerning assets between theaters.

[Uriah]

Yup, much neater when the Fuerher gives orders directly concerning assets between theaters.

I have had a few unfortunate problems with cross-theatre moves, it is just safer to do everything manually. I once had an entire Army Group move but left the HQ behind. Other times nothing moves at all.

Better get back to writing next update: as you can see from left I have pre-ordered AOD which may be a distraction from the 23rd.

[Karaiskandar]

Better get back to writing next update: as you can see from left I have pre-ordered AOD which may be a distraction from the 23rd.

Mmmh will you ever get back to HOI3 before 1.4 after that?

[Uriah]

Mmmh will you ever get back to HOI3 before 1.4 after that?

I'm sure I will: when waiting for 1.3 I tried to play a few modded HOI2 games and soon found I missed a lot of the functions of HOI3 - the chain of command, the map, the weather, the ability to construct units, the research tree etc etc.

I suspect there may be a flurry of AOD for a few days, then I'll probably play both (not simultaneously).

[BoemsiBoemsie]

Dont let this AAR die, Uriah. That would be such a waste of effort. And there is still so much more to come for our little clerk to experience. Hold on!

[Uriah]

Dont let this AAR die, Uriah. That would be such a waste of effort. And there is still so much more to come for our little clerk to experience. Hold on!

No - this will definitely continue.

But it will be good to actually race ahead and play a game with no notes, no write ups (and no thinking everyone will see all the mistakes I am making!). And AOD introduces some interesting concepts.

AOD won't be a problem: I think it far likely that I may have problems after the final release o 1.4: I really can't see myself playing this in 1.3 to completion, so conversion of some sort will be required. How I'll do that I suppose will depend on 1.4. (Having read the latest update, I would imagine that any replay would see Japan do a lot better!).

[BoemsiBoemsie]

That is reassuring to hear. Yes, 1.4 promises a lot of improvements over 1.3. It would be cool if you could continue the AAR in 1.4. I guess the war has a long way to go before all is decided.