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Hopefully the situation continues to turn favorable for the Italians. Awaiting the next update with eagerness.
 
The nazis will have quite a time turning the tide now. That is, if the Americas actually get up and act, haha
 
Two great updates, the pictures are very original. That one with the vulture is crazy.

Both fronts appear to be going well. There is some poor infrastructure on the Italian side of the western Alps, that might have slowed you down a bit in the race to Albertsville. The Regio Esercito looks very solid both in numbers and division design.

I cant wait to see Messe steam across southern France to Paris. The Champs-Élysées may soon be hosting an Italian victory parade.
 
Chapter Twenty Eight: Carcassone (3/29/42 - 4/13/42)

Chapter Twenty Eight: Carcassone (3/29/42 - 4/13/42)

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At the foot of the Pyrenees Mountains amidst gently rolling hills and carefully plowed fields, vineyards and orchards lies the storybook medieval walled city of Carcassone. The city was first fortified by the Romans in 100 B.C. In fact, the main part of the lower courses of the northern ramparts dated from Gallo-Roman times. The town later served as the northern frontier of Theodoric II’s Visigothic Spanish kingdom. In 1659, the border was shifted further to the south and the town’s military significance was greatly reduced. The castle fell into disrepair, and in 1849 was to be demolished. Following a public outcry, it was resolved instead to restore the works as an historical monument. Architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc was retained. His restoration efforts may have been ahistorical in places, but all agreed that he turned the city into a work of art.

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The city was basically a medieval fort of concentric design with two outer walls with ramparts and 53 towers. The castle itself possessed its own draw bridge and ditch leading to a central keep.
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Back in March, while waiting for the hostilities to begin, Mancinelli’s mountaineers enjoyed their element high in the Pyrenees.

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However, Mussolini’s battle plan involved them descending quickly into the lowlands of the French plains and advancing north then east in an effort to link up with the forces attacking from northern Italy. Meanwhile, the corps of Gens. Pintor and Aymoninno were to advance north with the primary objective of the airbase at Toulouse.

On March 24, 1942, once Mussolini gave the order for hostilities to commence, Mancinelli’s men moved forward. Gen. Beraudo di Pralormo advanced from Andorra la Vella through Lavelanet and attacked a French division in Pamiers forcing it to retreat. Gen. Lisi, starting in Berga, advanced through Axles Thermes and Mirepoix and on to Carcassone. Gen. Tellera advanced from Manlleu to Prades to Limoux to Carcassone. Gen. Frusci’s division, initiating its advance from Girona went through Perpignan on its way to Sigean.

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The Battle started on March 29, 1942. Gen. Lisi’s 3a CCNN Divisione in Mirepoix and Gen. Tellera’s 2a CCNN Divisione in Limoux collided with two German infantry divisions in Carcassone led by Gen. Geyr von Schweppenburg.

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The Germans were moving fast into the area and immediately launched an offensive against Frusci's division in Sigean in an effort to drive them back to Perpignan. Gens. Lisi and Tellera quickly came to Frusci's assistance and attacked the German column's flank in Carcassone. The three way battle between equal forces settled down into a slugging match. Gen. Mancinelli, who had become a folk hero due to the exploits of his divisions in the mountains of Yugoslavia, committed to winning and diverted three of his divisions to the battle at Carcassone.

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To the northwest, Pintor and Aymonnino were advancing on Toulouse. All four of Pintor’s divisions lumbered through Andorra la Vella to Fiox then began their assault of Toulouse. The Germans had only been able to get one division into that important town before the assault started. So, the Italians had the preponderance of force.

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On April 4, 1942, the Germans in Toulouse retreated after taking heavy casualties. More than 1 in 4 of every German sent into Toulouse died there.

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On the same day, April 4, 1942, Mancinelli’s three divisions drove an equal sized force of Germans from Carcassone. During the fighting Mancinelli gave his soldiers strict rules of engagement in the area surrounding the historic castle. He did not want an errant mortar round destroying one of those fabulous towers. The town escaped the battle relatively unscathed, but it soon became clear that the Germans were going to fight and fight hard for this patch of ground. As soon as the battle weary Italians seized the city and the surrounding countryside, fresh German divisions started arriving by train and launched a counter attack.

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On April 6, 1942, Gens. Lisi, Tellera and Frusci were able to repel the German assault, but it became clear that that attack was merely a probe for a greater assault to come. The three Italian divisions, after prevailing in the first two battles of Carcassone, were in no condition to resist a third. So, Mancinelli ordered them to take up defensive positions in and around the city and to hold the city at all costs -- irrespective of the possible architectural consequences.

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However, fresh German divisions kept arriving.

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By April 9, 1942, Italian military intelligence had identified 13 fresh German infantry divisions on the Spanish front, and that was not counting the French divisions nor the German divisions which had just been defeated in Toulouse and at the first battle of Carcassone and which had withdrawn from the front lines to refit. The Italians only had 12 divisions total, and they were clearly going to be outnumbered. A German infantry division infiltrated Sigean, and the three weary divisions in Carcassone were enveloped on three sides.

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On April 10, the German assault began. Five fresh German divisions attacked Carcassone from four different directions. From Castlenaudary, Lacaune, Camares and Sigean, the Wehrmacht surged forward with near reckless abandon.

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Simultaneously, four German divisions assaulted Gen. Beraudo di Pralormo's division to the northwest in Pamiers. He would have been quickly overrun if he had not been reinforced by two of Gen. Pintor’s divisions from Toulouse. However, that move would merely buy time. The entire southeast portion of the Spanish front was in the process of crumbling.

On April 13, 1942, Mancinelli’s proud veteran mountaineers, who had been victorious in seven campaigns since 1937 and who were national heroes extolled in song, were thoroughly defeated in the castle keep of Carcassone. They fell back in disarray to Mirapoix while the Wehrmacht reoccupied the newly ruined ruins of Carcassone.

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The Germans had not come to southern France to sip wine.

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So now we know where the Wehrmacht has been. Let's hope that the Nazi's run out of steam soon
 
Fantastic AAR. I've been playing a similar game, but I didn't have the stones to confront ze Germans on such a wide front. Hopefully after the Nazis are defeated and central Europe is partitioned you can see about evicting John Bull from the Med.
 
Its not your Generals fault that things seem to be turing sour for your forces in southeast France, no one could have anticipated the swiftness with which the Germans have transported their troops. Hopefuly now that more troops are bing diverted to face you, their war with the Soviets may turn against them and they will be pushed back, wekaing them on your front as well. Its a shame about Carcassone, it would have been a fitting spot for Il Duce to visit the front and over look how things are bing done.
 
Nooooo. Dang Germans. Hoping things turn better for you there.
 
Just out of interest, how experienced are your best generals in terms of experience and/or level of skill?

Also, are you finding the Germans have the upper hand in battles due to more skilled generals and/or more experienced divisions?
 
Just out of interest, how experienced are your best generals in terms of experience and/or level of skill?

Also, are you finding the Germans have the upper hand in battles due to more skilled generals and/or more experienced divisions?

At Carcassone I had pretty good troops. They were Alpini. So, they were elite special forces with higher base organization. The special forces doctrine was up to date. So, the actual 1942 organization was 75. Not too shabby, and as mentioned, they had fought all of the prior wars of Italy. So, their experience was between 36% and 38%. All of the leaders (Mancinelli, Frusci, Tellera and Lisi) were 2's, but I noticed that they were all on the verge of going to 3.

At the start of the game, I put my best generals in command of corps and they have not leveled up. Messe is still only 4. But his divisional commanders (de Stefanis, Barbasetti di Prun, Zingales and Bitossi) are all 3's and close to going to 4. Those divisions are at 41-42% experience.

Still it seems the Germans have a Messe commanding every division.

If I had to do it over again, Messe would be riding a tank. I am playing a game in ICE and by '40, my generals are all 4, 5 or 6. Messe is 7. I think ICE changed things.
 
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At Carcassone I had pretty good troops. They were Alpini. So, they were elite special forces with higher base organization. The special forces doctrine was up to date. So, the actual 1942 organization was 75. Not too shabby, and as mentioned, they had fought all of the prior wars of Italy. So, their experience was between 36% and 38%. All of the leaders (Mancinelli, Frusci, Tellera and Lisi) were 2's, but I noticed that they were all on the verge of going to 3.

At the start of the game, I put my best generals in command of corps and they have not leveled up. Messe is still only 4. But his divisional commanders (de Stefanis, Barbasetti di Prun, Zingales and Bitossi) are all 3's and close to going to 4. Those divisions are at 41-42% experience.

Still it seems the Germans have a Messe commanding every division.

If I had to do it over again, Messe would be riding a tank. I am playing a game in ICE and by '40, my generals are all 4, 5 or 6. Messe is 7. I think ICE changed things.

I hate that when playing as Italy, it just seems the Germans have an infinite reserve of very skilled leaders. Even ones I've never heard of are at Level 3, and better than many Italian generals who have been fighting for ages! I think ICE changes the rate of experience gain - I find that grinding low-level generals in terrain which ensures slow battles always works for fast experience gain, but nothing matches the German general pool.

Forza Italia! Good luck.
 
Me would not have pushed forward in southern France with 12 divisions.
Me would have kept them cozy in the Pyreneans.
 
Chapter Twenty Nine: Operation Knee To Groin (4/11/42 - 4/23/42)

By April 11, 1942, the situation on the Spanish front was critical. All four of Mancinelli’s Alpini divisions and two of Pintor’s infantry divisions were thoroughly defeated at Carcassone and Pamiers. All six divisions were forced to retreat back towards the Pyrenees mountains.

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These units were in total disarray, and it would be some time before they were fit for combat again. However, there were no reserve units upon which to fall back. The only unit between the Wehrmacht and its entrance to the Iberian peninsula was Mancinelli’s headquarters staff.

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As the disorganized combat divisions came streaming back, rifles were issued to the startled clerks and cooks. The Pyrenees needed to be held at all costs. Orders were also issued to two mini-divisions guarding Spanish ports to consolidate into a single front line division and travel as fast as possible to Mancinelli’s position in the Pyrenees. However, it was doubtful that that division could stem the tide even if it could arrive in time, which was also doubtful. Something else needed to be done to salvage the Spanish front.

It was the first time Mussolini had tasted the bitter flavor of defeat, and he did not enjoy it one bit. There needed to be a way to relieve the pressure on the Spanish front other than just feeding more troops into the theater and starting over. He turned to the marines of the Regia Marina.

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He had at his disposal a rapid deployment force of eight elite divisions that could be inserted anywhere along France’s southern coastline. Now was obviously the time, but where? They could be transported to Barcelona and sent by train to Mancinelli’s line like regular soldiers, but that was deemed too cautious and failed to take advantage of the marines special abilities at amphibious assault. They could be landed just behind the German lines in the Montpellier area. That plan would provide the most immediate relief to Mancinelli, but it was deemed too risky. There was no port in the area in which supplies could be shipped. Since Italy had no idea how many German divisions were arriving, landing too far west ran the risk of being cut off and destroyed. So, it was decided the landing would be further to the east, just to the west of Marseilles. The marines should not have too much trouble taking the port of Marseilles for supply convoys, and the landing will still aid Mancinelli, as the Germans would most likely divert forces from the Spanish front to the beachhead in an effort to contain the landing.

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On April 14, both transport flotillas were combined and the eight marine divisions were loaded into the landing craft. Two battleship squadrons, a carrier task force, and the marines in their transports were sent to the coastline off of southern France just west of Marseilles. Unexpectedly, the Royal Navy sent a squadron to observe and escort the Italian armada to the invasion site.


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By April 15, 1942, all eight divisions were put on shore without opposition, three divisions were put ashore in Marignane and five divisions in Senas. The three divisions in Marignane under Gens. Marras, Romero and Vecchiarelli immediately attacked a French division in Marseilles. The port needed to be secured to support the invasion.

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The French division was quickly defeated, and the three marine divisions started moving into Marseilles to secure the port. Meanwhile, the five divisions landing in Senas started to fan out to expand the beachhead before the anticipated Germans divisions started arriving to arrest the advance. Gen. Dapino advanced northeast into Cavaillon and immediately attacked a German army headquarters behind the lines in Luc-en-Diois. Gen. Battisti advanced north into Avignon, but stopped his advance when already he encountered two German divisions in Anonnay and Uzes. Gens. Sala, Gioda and Reverberi were to advance westward with their three divisions towards Manceinelli’s embattled troops, but they could not even get off the beachhead in Senas before encountering three German divisions in Nimes. The advance was necessary to relieve the pressure on the Spanish front. So, the marines had no choice but to press the even odds attack.

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Gen. Battisti eventually was able to assist with a supporting attack from Avignon, and by April 20, 1942, the four Italian marine divisions defeated the three German infantry divisions, Nimes was occupied, and the Germans forced to retreat. Gens. Sala, Gioda and Reverberi’s three divisions in Nimes had been given orders to advance into Montpellier and Quissac, but due to the recent battle and the rapid arrival of more German divisions, the advance was halted.

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However, the other marine divisions continued to advance north and east. Gen. Dapino pressed his attack on the headquarters in Luc-en-Diois while the three remaining division fanned out from Marseilles. Gen. Vecchiarelli attacked eastward toward Toulon and managed to link up the beachhead with the divisions of Gen. Crea and Emilio that had been steadily advancing from the east and were presently in Cogolin. Gens. Marras and Romero attacked north from Marseilles following the French division towards Brignoles.

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Also from the east but further north, five Italian divisions had concentrated in Gap under Gens. Frichione, Dalmazzo, Castellano, Brunetti and Amico and were assaulting two German divisions, including a mountain division, in Corps.

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On April 23, 1942, Gen Dapino occupied Luc-en-Diois and three divisions under Gens. Frichione, Dalmazzo and Castellano occupied Corps. This resulted in the complete encirclement of five German divisions and one French division. After a few feeble counter attacks were beaten back, it became clear that the units in this pocket were doomed. In an apparent face saving move, the German high command declared the cutoff troops to be an expeditionary force under French command. Apparently, they did not want these divisions under German command when they were destroyed.

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In Spain, the Germans advanced to Limoux and even into the Pyrenees in Perpignan. Mancinelli’s headquarters unit was attacked and was forced to put up a desperate defense in Prades. They were in the process of being overwhelmed, but were reinforced, just in the nick of time, by two mini divisions from Spanish ports. That battle was stabilized, then developed into a stalemate. Apparently, and just as planned, the Germans were pulling divisions away from the Spanish front to confront the marine landing. Facing fewer divisions, Mancinelli’s forces started to recover from their defeat at Carcassone. The Spanish front had been stabilized.
 
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That was a pit too close for comfort. Maybe Mussolini should consider not over-stepping his armies abilities next time?
 
Lol at the Operation's name. I don't think Petain's groin even works any more.