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Dassault would have been really surprised if Steiner had appeared with his loyal Peti by his side.
Franco-Turkish war
December Offensive
Autumn/Winter 2004
Things went better for French when new armoured brigades under leadership of General Steiner arrived on Middle East. New units were temporary gathered under name Expeditionary Tank Corps. Steiner's units advanced into Hims and continued to move against desert region of Sab'Abar with intention to surround heavily defended areas around Damascus. This move threw Turkish defense out of balance. Commander of units in mountains of Qatana was ordered to leave positions in Qatana and flank Steiner. French tanks fought off the attack with ease and Turkish attack became catastrophe. French forces in Lebanon attacked battered enemy troops in Qatana and mountainous fortress was finally taken. But Qatana demanded it's bloody tax again: Weakest marine brigade completely fell apart during assault on enemy positions.
Turkish troops from Qatana retreated to Daraa, but they founded themselves between hammer and anvil there. French troops that were advancing from Qatana and Steiner's tanks from the East forced the enemy to flee to Damascus. With fall of Daraa, connection between Damascus and Golan was cut and massive concentrations of enemy troops in Syria were trapped in two pockets.
General Steiner launched direct assault on Damascus, but this proved to be a bad idea. City was well defended by elite veteran troops and Steiner had to call off the attack. Heavy cavalry was not the best at urban fighting. But intelligence reported that second most important man of Turkish regime is trapped in the city and French knew that Damascus must fall in shortest time as possible. Steiner encircled the city and waited for the reinforcements.
Meanwhile, Assault Marine Corps forced enemy troops in Golan to surrender. Good view from Golan showed large concentrations of Egyptian troops that were massed at borders. It seemed that Egyptians were preparing for possible action against old Turkish foes, but chance of Arab neighbours joining the war against Turkey was very low since it was commonly know that Turks had still some cruise missiles in their arsenal in case of Arab attack. Egyptians and Iraqis were prepared for war with Turks, but they were also affraid of Turkish missile attacks against Iraqi oil fields and Egyptian oil refineries in Haifa or even in Alexandria.
When Assault Marine Corps returned from Golan, it joined powers with Steiner's tanks and French forces performed massive assault on Damascus. City was captured after heavy fighting in the streets. Sikhs and marines fought against Turkish specials for every house and French advance was slow, but successful. French forces also managed to capture Turkish general Hursit Tolon, head of Turkish goverment and second most important man in regime. General had personally lead defense of Damascus. He was probably present in city to boost the morale of Turkish troops in Syria. Supreme command was glad for that achievement as detention of high enemy official was important factor in peace negotiations.
Supreme command decided to move the airforce to more safe area and closer to French troops in the battlefield. Cyprus was becoming dangerous place for stationing such a huge ammount of planes and island lacked presence of proper defense. Potential enemy invasion, air or missile attack and uprising of insurgent groups could put the squadrons stationed in Cyprus in grave danger. Few gendarmers that were guarding the airbase were not enough to protect planes against such dangers. There were suggestions to deploy Casques Bleus in Cyprus for defense of vital French interests on island, but statute of this peacekeeping force forbid their deployment in areas where French republic is fighting wars and the final decision was that Blue Helmets must stay in Algiers. Using peacekeepers to defend such an obvious French interest could destroy reputation of newly created peacekeeping force. Airbase in Cyprus was then used only for emergency needs while French planes were moved to airbase in Beirut. Lebanon was much more appropriate and safer place for those planes. Lebanon was best choice also because it become very safe area since provisional Lebanese state was established by French. Many Lebanese moved to National France in the past and some of those people now returned to place of their birth and assisted French with establishment of new friendly state that would make things at least a bit easier for French. Lebanon became important supply base for French troops. Creation of new state in their legal territory angered Turks even more, but this step was neccessary for French war effort.
French troops then advanced toward Northeast to finally push the Turkish forces out of Syria. Retreating enemy forces were also suffering a lot of damage from air attacks. It seemed that Turks were now really running out of powers and hopes for victory in this war.
Just a few days before Christmas, when French troops in Middle East were crossing Euphrates and grabbing last parts of Syria from Turks, massive earthquake happened in Indian Ocean, causing terrible tsunamis. Indonesia suffered most from this natural catastrophe. Many nations offered aid, including French republic. However, most of aid was given by Japan.
December Offensive
Autumn/Winter 2004
Things went better for French when new armoured brigades under leadership of General Steiner arrived on Middle East. New units were temporary gathered under name Expeditionary Tank Corps. Steiner's units advanced into Hims and continued to move against desert region of Sab'Abar with intention to surround heavily defended areas around Damascus. This move threw Turkish defense out of balance. Commander of units in mountains of Qatana was ordered to leave positions in Qatana and flank Steiner. French tanks fought off the attack with ease and Turkish attack became catastrophe. French forces in Lebanon attacked battered enemy troops in Qatana and mountainous fortress was finally taken. But Qatana demanded it's bloody tax again: Weakest marine brigade completely fell apart during assault on enemy positions.
Turkish troops from Qatana retreated to Daraa, but they founded themselves between hammer and anvil there. French troops that were advancing from Qatana and Steiner's tanks from the East forced the enemy to flee to Damascus. With fall of Daraa, connection between Damascus and Golan was cut and massive concentrations of enemy troops in Syria were trapped in two pockets.
General Steiner launched direct assault on Damascus, but this proved to be a bad idea. City was well defended by elite veteran troops and Steiner had to call off the attack. Heavy cavalry was not the best at urban fighting. But intelligence reported that second most important man of Turkish regime is trapped in the city and French knew that Damascus must fall in shortest time as possible. Steiner encircled the city and waited for the reinforcements.
Meanwhile, Assault Marine Corps forced enemy troops in Golan to surrender. Good view from Golan showed large concentrations of Egyptian troops that were massed at borders. It seemed that Egyptians were preparing for possible action against old Turkish foes, but chance of Arab neighbours joining the war against Turkey was very low since it was commonly know that Turks had still some cruise missiles in their arsenal in case of Arab attack. Egyptians and Iraqis were prepared for war with Turks, but they were also affraid of Turkish missile attacks against Iraqi oil fields and Egyptian oil refineries in Haifa or even in Alexandria.
When Assault Marine Corps returned from Golan, it joined powers with Steiner's tanks and French forces performed massive assault on Damascus. City was captured after heavy fighting in the streets. Sikhs and marines fought against Turkish specials for every house and French advance was slow, but successful. French forces also managed to capture Turkish general Hursit Tolon, head of Turkish goverment and second most important man in regime. General had personally lead defense of Damascus. He was probably present in city to boost the morale of Turkish troops in Syria. Supreme command was glad for that achievement as detention of high enemy official was important factor in peace negotiations.
Supreme command decided to move the airforce to more safe area and closer to French troops in the battlefield. Cyprus was becoming dangerous place for stationing such a huge ammount of planes and island lacked presence of proper defense. Potential enemy invasion, air or missile attack and uprising of insurgent groups could put the squadrons stationed in Cyprus in grave danger. Few gendarmers that were guarding the airbase were not enough to protect planes against such dangers. There were suggestions to deploy Casques Bleus in Cyprus for defense of vital French interests on island, but statute of this peacekeeping force forbid their deployment in areas where French republic is fighting wars and the final decision was that Blue Helmets must stay in Algiers. Using peacekeepers to defend such an obvious French interest could destroy reputation of newly created peacekeeping force. Airbase in Cyprus was then used only for emergency needs while French planes were moved to airbase in Beirut. Lebanon was much more appropriate and safer place for those planes. Lebanon was best choice also because it become very safe area since provisional Lebanese state was established by French. Many Lebanese moved to National France in the past and some of those people now returned to place of their birth and assisted French with establishment of new friendly state that would make things at least a bit easier for French. Lebanon became important supply base for French troops. Creation of new state in their legal territory angered Turks even more, but this step was neccessary for French war effort.
French troops then advanced toward Northeast to finally push the Turkish forces out of Syria. Retreating enemy forces were also suffering a lot of damage from air attacks. It seemed that Turks were now really running out of powers and hopes for victory in this war.
Just a few days before Christmas, when French troops in Middle East were crossing Euphrates and grabbing last parts of Syria from Turks, massive earthquake happened in Indian Ocean, causing terrible tsunamis. Indonesia suffered most from this natural catastrophe. Many nations offered aid, including French republic. However, most of aid was given by Japan.
Well, there is always a-pro National French state in Syria.
Nonetheless, I guess it's time to set up the invasion of Anatolia.
Nonetheless, I guess it's time to set up the invasion of Anatolia.
Thats some damn fine work in Syria. Those turks destroyed your 2 paratrooper brigades and thrashed your marines, now they have payed for that by losing their entire navy, a big part of their airforces, and now a huge number of their ground forces in Syria. The Turkish army can't have much more left to throw at you now.
From a realist point of view, i think you should stop the war here, give them back Cyprus in exchange for the recongnition of Liban and Syrie french protectorate...It's not the Weltkrieg, keep it a regional war, not a full annexation of Turkey. Maybe you can imagine the German getting involved to force a cease fire before french republic destroy Turkey and force Turkey back as a puppet nation?
If there is going to be peace, Turkey should get nothing back. Cyprus should become a French base in the western med, while Lebanon and Syria should become French protectorates.
This war has been bloody for all sides, I think that a peace treaty wouldn't be unrealistic... At this point you can't already claim Cyprus (Turks would likely give away all of Siria and Lebanon for it), but if you manage to advance a little bit more the situation could change.
that's what I'm saying, invade Anatolia, Force the Turks to their OTL Current Day borders, whilst recognizing an independent Syria and Lebanon (as French Protectorates) and a French Cyprus.
I'm going with the general opinion here. Keep Lebanon a Client State as well as Syria, push the Turks around some more in Anatolia, make them pay some reparations and keep Cyprus.
Franco-Turkish war
Final operations
Winter 2004/2005
How well I remember that terrible day
How the blood stained the sand and the water
And how in that hell that they called Suvla Bay
We were butchered like lambs at the slaughter
Johnny Turk he was ready, he primed himself well
He chased us with bullets, he rained us with shells
And in five minutes flat he'd blown us all to hell
Nearly blew us right back to Australia
But the band played Waltzing Matilda
As we stopped to bury our slain
We buried ours and the Turks buried theirs
Then we started all over again
Eric Bogle - And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda
For the New Year, Turks prepared another unpleasant surprise for French. Crossing of Euphrates that seemed to be an easy task in the start became nightmare when French encountered fresh enemy units that were brought from Anatolia to stop French advance. French airforce striked incoming Turkish reinforcements with full force, but this couldn't stop the waves of new enemy units. French also discovered that Turkish airforce still exists when enemy planes started to attack French units on both sides of Euphrates. French advance to the other side of Euphrates was halted.
Things became even worse when Turks launched counter-offensive and forced French units to retreat from Aleppo. Way to Syria was free for Turks now and their armies were advancing towards the South. Strong armoured units of General Steiner were still in Damascus and quantity of Turkish reserve armoured units outmatched the quality of French tank brigade in Aleppo. Advancing enemy forces were commanded by Turkish general that lost his army in Lebanese pocket. Now it was time for his revenge.
But solution came for French before Turks could retake the Syria. People now call this operation with diffrent names: ''Miracle at the gates of Syria'', ''Revision of Galipoli, ''Divine Intervention'', ''Revenge of ANZAC'' and with similar symbolic names. When the time was toughest for French, unbelievable thing happened and ended with success. Without prior coordination with French and other Entente nations, Australasian navy, well prepared for long-range expeditionary missions, launched amphibious assault on the shores of Anatolian regions of Adana and Gaziantep and strong forces of Australasian Army Corps successfuly took the beaches and also managed to hold their bridgeheads. Effect of this surprise was so strong that Turkish advance into Syria collapsed. Turkish troops that were advancing into Syria from Gaziantep were pushed from region by Australasian Army Corps and other enemy units had to cancel the advance to protect Southern Anatolia.
Returning Turkish troops then attacked Australians and New Zealanders and pushed them from Gaziantep. Australasian forces were trapped in Adana and constant Turkish attacks prevented possibility of retreat with help of the ships. Fortunately, French returned the favour and attacked shattered Turkish troops. Northeast Syria finally fell to French armies and French Middle East Corps advanced to Anatolia. Australasian units managed to resist all enemy attacks Adana stayed in hands of Entente.
During their advance into Anatolia, French troops captured Diyarbakir, where largest Turkish airbase in Eastern Anatolia was located.
Situation in Turkey now awakened Europe. But situation really reached the boiling point when Russian forces that arrived at Cyprus performed invasion of Izmir. Several Spetsnaz units captured the coastal city in swift action.
German Kaiser went trough the roof and Mitteleuropa was enraged. Germany threatened with serious demand: Peace talks must be held or Mitteleuropa joins the war. Entente didn't want the war with Mitteleuropa yet and Canada as leader of the alliance agreed to enter peace negotiations. Nations of Entente, including French republic, also agreed that continuing war until total defeat of Turkey would mean too much casulties and forced peace talks were not so bad thing for Entente. Results of peace negotiations were: Syria, Lebanon and Cyprus were given to French(special agreement about transfer of territory was signed between Turks and French), and both sides exchanged prisoners(captured Turkish head of goverment was included in this term). Entente had good negotiating position due to successes on battlefield and Turks had to accept those terms despite German backing. Seeing that Russians are also able to strike swiftly no matter on time and location, Mitteleuropa also didn't dare to place it's absolute demands on peace talks. Main objective of Germans was to prevent Entente taking over Turkey and preserving German-friendly Turkey despite Turkish territorial loses on Middle East was sufficient success for Berlin. It probably wasn't great surprise that Turkey joined Mitteleuropa shortly after peace treaty was signed.
Final operations
Winter 2004/2005
How well I remember that terrible day
How the blood stained the sand and the water
And how in that hell that they called Suvla Bay
We were butchered like lambs at the slaughter
Johnny Turk he was ready, he primed himself well
He chased us with bullets, he rained us with shells
And in five minutes flat he'd blown us all to hell
Nearly blew us right back to Australia
But the band played Waltzing Matilda
As we stopped to bury our slain
We buried ours and the Turks buried theirs
Then we started all over again
Eric Bogle - And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda
For the New Year, Turks prepared another unpleasant surprise for French. Crossing of Euphrates that seemed to be an easy task in the start became nightmare when French encountered fresh enemy units that were brought from Anatolia to stop French advance. French airforce striked incoming Turkish reinforcements with full force, but this couldn't stop the waves of new enemy units. French also discovered that Turkish airforce still exists when enemy planes started to attack French units on both sides of Euphrates. French advance to the other side of Euphrates was halted.
Things became even worse when Turks launched counter-offensive and forced French units to retreat from Aleppo. Way to Syria was free for Turks now and their armies were advancing towards the South. Strong armoured units of General Steiner were still in Damascus and quantity of Turkish reserve armoured units outmatched the quality of French tank brigade in Aleppo. Advancing enemy forces were commanded by Turkish general that lost his army in Lebanese pocket. Now it was time for his revenge.
But solution came for French before Turks could retake the Syria. People now call this operation with diffrent names: ''Miracle at the gates of Syria'', ''Revision of Galipoli, ''Divine Intervention'', ''Revenge of ANZAC'' and with similar symbolic names. When the time was toughest for French, unbelievable thing happened and ended with success. Without prior coordination with French and other Entente nations, Australasian navy, well prepared for long-range expeditionary missions, launched amphibious assault on the shores of Anatolian regions of Adana and Gaziantep and strong forces of Australasian Army Corps successfuly took the beaches and also managed to hold their bridgeheads. Effect of this surprise was so strong that Turkish advance into Syria collapsed. Turkish troops that were advancing into Syria from Gaziantep were pushed from region by Australasian Army Corps and other enemy units had to cancel the advance to protect Southern Anatolia.
Returning Turkish troops then attacked Australians and New Zealanders and pushed them from Gaziantep. Australasian forces were trapped in Adana and constant Turkish attacks prevented possibility of retreat with help of the ships. Fortunately, French returned the favour and attacked shattered Turkish troops. Northeast Syria finally fell to French armies and French Middle East Corps advanced to Anatolia. Australasian units managed to resist all enemy attacks Adana stayed in hands of Entente.
During their advance into Anatolia, French troops captured Diyarbakir, where largest Turkish airbase in Eastern Anatolia was located.
Situation in Turkey now awakened Europe. But situation really reached the boiling point when Russian forces that arrived at Cyprus performed invasion of Izmir. Several Spetsnaz units captured the coastal city in swift action.
German Kaiser went trough the roof and Mitteleuropa was enraged. Germany threatened with serious demand: Peace talks must be held or Mitteleuropa joins the war. Entente didn't want the war with Mitteleuropa yet and Canada as leader of the alliance agreed to enter peace negotiations. Nations of Entente, including French republic, also agreed that continuing war until total defeat of Turkey would mean too much casulties and forced peace talks were not so bad thing for Entente. Results of peace negotiations were: Syria, Lebanon and Cyprus were given to French(special agreement about transfer of territory was signed between Turks and French), and both sides exchanged prisoners(captured Turkish head of goverment was included in this term). Entente had good negotiating position due to successes on battlefield and Turks had to accept those terms despite German backing. Seeing that Russians are also able to strike swiftly no matter on time and location, Mitteleuropa also didn't dare to place it's absolute demands on peace talks. Main objective of Germans was to prevent Entente taking over Turkey and preserving German-friendly Turkey despite Turkish territorial loses on Middle East was sufficient success for Berlin. It probably wasn't great surprise that Turkey joined Mitteleuropa shortly after peace treaty was signed.
If I was the Kaiser, I would never accept to have ennemies taking Cyprus. The German are going to do something about it. And don't forget that in that timeline, Cyprus is probably 90% turk and the population will not accept it!
No, i say keep cyprus as a "monnaie d'échange", a bargaining tool to get the Mitteleuropa and the Turk to accept the new situation in lebannon and Syria
No, i say keep cyprus as a "monnaie d'échange", a bargaining tool to get the Mitteleuropa and the Turk to accept the new situation in lebannon and Syria
LOL, i posted my reply in the same time...Forget it then :rofl:
Great success. Now, good Partisan hunting! Will you make an independant Syria or a Greater Liban?
Great success. Now, good Partisan hunting! Will you make an independant Syria or a Greater Liban?
That was pretty tense at the beginning there, but your allies came to your defense and finally won the day. Nice to see the ANZAC's get vengeance for Gallipoli, and to see the Russian's show their strength by taking Izmir.
I will bet that the war in Turkey has deeply embarrassed the Kaiser, having to see his whole plan unravel before his eyes as French and Entente troops broke the Turkish armed forces. I would also bet that having liberated many Arab's from Turkish rule, relations between France and the arab states of Egypt, Arabia, and Iraq are probably going to rise very positively.
Great update, cant wait for more.
I will bet that the war in Turkey has deeply embarrassed the Kaiser, having to see his whole plan unravel before his eyes as French and Entente troops broke the Turkish armed forces. I would also bet that having liberated many Arab's from Turkish rule, relations between France and the arab states of Egypt, Arabia, and Iraq are probably going to rise very positively.
Great update, cant wait for more.
Nice! Got lucky with your allies there, great to see the rest of the Entente isn't just going to sit and watch you duke it out with your enemies on your own. Great seeing ANZAC and Russian troops doing a show of force in Turkey.
As Kaiser Mobius said you could probably make some new friends amongst the Arabs now.
As Kaiser Mobius said you could probably make some new friends amongst the Arabs now.