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“In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, I give the Carlists the blessing of the Almighty. To launch the second Reconquista against the Liberals in Madrid and the Socialists in Barcelona. To unite Spain under His most pious, humble and obedient servant, Javier I.”
-Pope Julius IV
“So they were serious on that Catholic Alliance. I thought it is a joke.”
-Nikolai Bukharin
“We finally cracked them, comrade!”
-Maksim Litvinov
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Facing the Mad Baron
The whole foundation of the country fell down after CNT-FAI's uprising. The Carlists, not to be left behind, have also risen up in the Northern parts of Spain. In June 15, skirmishes have occurred between the two radicals nearby Saragossa. The chaos in Spain became similar to the United States as both conflicts were three-way conflicts.
The new participant wasn't friendless though. Ireland and North Italy, members of the Catholic Alliance, have supplied their ally with arms and volunteers but Portugal didn't. The Pope personally announced his support to the Carlists. The Nationalist France have supported the Carlists as well.
On the other side of the river, the CNT-FAI received more support from the Internationale. Mexico, Brazil and South Italy all cheered for the new Socialist nation. Soviet supplies have now reached the port of Barcelona after a long travel from Leningrad.
As the new Carlist Spain have been formally established, the GRU have quickly received a juicy information from it. The GRU have coordinated with the British MI6 and the French Deuxieme Bureau officers in Spain and both intelligence service have confirmed the information obtained. The Carlists were planning an assassination on the Spanish king. The information was forwarded to the CNT-FAI with a plan on using it against Madrid. The plan was to offer Madrid, to surrender completely to the CNT-FAI in exchange of the safety and clemency to both the government and the royal family. Sadly, the offer was refused.
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In the 15th of June 1937, 9 Red Army divisions under the command of Lieutenant General Kulik have met Sternburg himself with his 4 Mongolian divisions. 2 cavalry and 2 infantry. At first, it was the usual hit-and-run cavalry tactics but the next one was unexpected. Artillery. For the first time, the Red Army received an artillery barrage from the Mongolians but the effects weren't that devastating as the Soviets returned with a bigger barrage of hell to the Mongolian positions. The next day, Sternburg retreated towards the town of Asino across the river Ob, the Soviets followed through the narrow river-crossing but were counter-attacked by the cavalry, infantry and artillery as they cross the river. The battle rages on for the river-crossing. After an hour, Kulik decided not to lose more men and call for the retreat.
A month later, the Red Army met Sternburg's army again but now only half of its force with the other half still in Asino. With overwhelming numbers and tanks, the Mongolian army was easily dislodged out of the city.
And in the 10th of July 1937, Achinsk is captured, trapping the remaining two division in Asino. At this point, the Mongolian defence is pretty much broken. The Soviets are now focus on marching straight to Yakutsk and Kyzyl. The situation looks hopeless for the Mad Baron.
Frontline. 10th of July 1937. Yakutsk not shown.
Even though the Mongolian cavalry is still a force to be reckon with, by the Spring and Summer of 1937 and after Tukhachevsky's reforms, they are no longer feared as they once were during the beginning of the war.
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On June 21, the Ministry of Armaments have reported that they have released a new tank design. Unfortunately, the budget was still focused on upgrading the existing army. And the following month, another breakthrough was achieved. A better equipment for the cavalry.
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In the Balkans, Austria-Hungary have annexed Serbia into Austria's control in July 28. Then the Romanians have finally engage Mitteleuropa troops the next day. The Ottoman Empire have declared war on Germany afterwards.
(Note: I don't know why the Belgrade Pact weren't allied in the first place.)
Now looking at our struggling comrades in Spain and in America:
Both the Firsters and the Syndicalists have improved a little as the Southerns have recaptured their capital and reach all the way to Mississippi. The CSA have New York recaptured and also pushed back the Federal troops. However, situation of the Syndicalists is still dire.
In Spain, the Carlists have captured Tarragona cutting Barcelona to the rest of CNT-FAI and the Southern front collapsed against the Royal army.
After all the aid that were sent, the Internationale could only watch with worry.
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22nd of July 1937. Severo-Yenisejsk
A couple of Russian sentries are in a trench facing the river Enisey and after that was the endless steppes with some occasional trees here and there dotting the land and on their backs is the town of Severo-Yenisejsk. They were just lazily enjoying their afternoon. There's nothing to do which is great after the march. All they want is rest. One of them yawned, scratched his right cheek then looked at the horizon again. Suddenly, he saw something. At first, he thought it was just a cloud then it grew until he finally make it out what it was. It was a group of Mongolian riders numbering probably just six... maybe seven. Attacking us with those numbers? They must be mad! He removed his rifle sling resting on his shoulder and opened the chamber to load the Mosin-Nagant then a officer shouted “Do not shoot! I repeat, do not shoot!”. He looked back at the riders again. They were carrying a flag, it was white. “Oh goodness, I certainly don't want to fight right now.” he thought of himself. He closed the chamber with the bolt and slung it back to his shoulders as the riders went closer and closer to them.
23rd of July 1937. Moscow
Litvinov knocked on the door. “Come in!” he quickly walked into Bukharin's office. The orchestral music was playing loudly in the room and upon seeing the foreign minister, the chairman stopped it.
“A message forwarded by the army.” the chairman took the paper from Litvinov.
He read the whole piece and then looked at him “An offer to make peace?”
“Of course, we're not accept this shit. We finally cracked them, comrade!” the foreign minister brilliantly said with a happy face
the chairman finally showed a smile on his face, nodding repeatedly with approval “Well done. Well done. About time we finally defeat them. We cannot waste time when the restoration of Russia is still not complete. We cannot stop working until Russia is no longer weak.”
And so the last week of the month passed by. The month of July ended with the Asino pocket has finally been filled. Two Mongolian divisions captured just like in Kargasok. It maybe small to Russian eyes but to the small Mongolian army, 4 divisions destroyed is a big hit for them. The Ivan II North is now moving forward again. Crossing the river and into the long trek to Yakutsk. Ivan II South is now going closer to its objective, Kyzyl.
Frontline. 1st of August 1937
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