The Japanese by this point were fixated on bringing the war to Britain. The only way to do that was to get their planes into range. As such they continued attacking across the European Mediterranean coast.
26th October -> 2nd November 1939 : Japan attacks Vichy
Japanese transports could just reach Marseilles from their newly constructed airfield next to the Italian border. The port was guarded but quickly fell. From their Japan could launch airborne assaults against every other critical target held by Vichy including the ports on the north coast of Africa.
3rd November : Japan declares war against Spain
Spain was the last major obstacle to getting planes over the British mainland. The Nationalist government of Spain clearly did not trust the Germans and had almost their entire army positioned in the mountains by the narrow Germany border. The Japanese took advantage of this and created a massive encirclement. Attacks against all the strategic points in eastern Spain were also launched. Madrid, and targets by Portugal remained out of range.
Compared to the almost instant conquests Japan had become used to the fighting in Spain was hard. The Spanish troops were fully mobilized and some quite experienced after the Spanish civil war. The large pocket of troops in the Pyrenees repeatedly tried to break out, and several times additional paratrooper divisions had reinforce the encirclement. Sometimes dropping directly onto the attacking troops. Japanese casualties were high.
However, gradually the encirclements on the eastern ports and airfields tightened and closed. Once they were captured pressure could be put on the remained of the Spanish targets.
Spain eventually surrendered on the 24th of November.
26th November -> 3rd December : Japan's "recruitment" in the east.
Japan was critically short of manpower after the casualties suffered in Spain. There was simply not enough manpower to reinforce divisions, despite the massive areas and cities claimed by the Empire. As such Japan launched attacks against Sinkiang, Tibet and Afghanistan in an effort to recruit additional troops from those areas.
Once they were defeated Japan once again sent its divisions to France and Spain.
26th October -> 2nd November 1939 : Japan attacks Vichy
Japanese transports could just reach Marseilles from their newly constructed airfield next to the Italian border. The port was guarded but quickly fell. From their Japan could launch airborne assaults against every other critical target held by Vichy including the ports on the north coast of Africa.
3rd November : Japan declares war against Spain
Spain was the last major obstacle to getting planes over the British mainland. The Nationalist government of Spain clearly did not trust the Germans and had almost their entire army positioned in the mountains by the narrow Germany border. The Japanese took advantage of this and created a massive encirclement. Attacks against all the strategic points in eastern Spain were also launched. Madrid, and targets by Portugal remained out of range.
Compared to the almost instant conquests Japan had become used to the fighting in Spain was hard. The Spanish troops were fully mobilized and some quite experienced after the Spanish civil war. The large pocket of troops in the Pyrenees repeatedly tried to break out, and several times additional paratrooper divisions had reinforce the encirclement. Sometimes dropping directly onto the attacking troops. Japanese casualties were high.
However, gradually the encirclements on the eastern ports and airfields tightened and closed. Once they were captured pressure could be put on the remained of the Spanish targets.
Spain eventually surrendered on the 24th of November.
26th November -> 3rd December : Japan's "recruitment" in the east.
Japan was critically short of manpower after the casualties suffered in Spain. There was simply not enough manpower to reinforce divisions, despite the massive areas and cities claimed by the Empire. As such Japan launched attacks against Sinkiang, Tibet and Afghanistan in an effort to recruit additional troops from those areas.
Once they were defeated Japan once again sent its divisions to France and Spain.
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