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Aguerra

Second Lieutenant
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May 7, 2011
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Spanish Civil War in HPP version 1.9.2​

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Welcome to follow Spain through few very demanding years! Personally I find playing with minors rather satisfying, since I feel game tends to be too easy and impersonal with majors. Anyway, playing with underdogs is always fun! Spain is historically interesting pick and since HPP team (thank you nice people!) has made some truly outstanding changes about how Spanish Civil War (SCW)unfolds, it is a shame to miss it! I have never done AAR before and actually I learned only yesterday how to upload images here, so go easy on me. Anyway I hope I'm familiar with basic rules around LibrAARy. But HPP 1.9.2 was such a nice experience I felt heroic and try my luck, so here goes.

Modification Notes:
I'm playing with normal difficulty Hpp 1.9.2 with hotfix. I modified events slightly to give SCW more random staring dates, but otherwise game is perfectly normal. If I'm trying to enter WW2 with Republican Spain I think I have to cheat my neutrality down, but we'll see about it.

Goals:
To survive! Meaning both as writer and as a nation. I've never done AAR before so I'll see how it feels. I'm going to tell the story of SCW and if I feel heroic enough after than I might go further. We'll see. My Reb-Spain has no territorial ambitions so I'm not going to invade Brazil or anything.

Style
I'll try to write easygoing fiction mixed with game events. Occasionally I'll write off-narrative chapters/game observations/guru meditations in italics just to keep it off the main narrative. I'll post-n-play so feel free to shout strategic advice etc. I think I'll need to split the story in multiple chapters to keep things organized. By the way I'm using Steam to take screen shot and I'm generally too lazy to crop them, at least yet.

Enough talking so vamos! It is 1st of January 1936....


Chapter 1; Opening tunes​

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January 1 1936 - Setup! Here we see the magnificent fighting machines at our disposal in 1.9.2 version. Also, Spain does not have strategic bombers. Terrible! We have leadership at 4.66 and we set officers and diplomacy at zero, and focus our spies into internal work. Diplomatically we begin to ally ourselves toward Allies (ally to Allies? sounds so clever...) but of course it's just a joke, there is not going to be any war....
Our army is around 70000 men in peace-time strength, most with obsolete equipment. Also we have so brave cavalry and few...'tanks'. We can update our educational policy but first we need more money!

Historical background: Even by standards of 30s Europe Spain was backward, poor and deeply divided country with history of violence. Unsolved social questions, poverty and lack of reforms were tearing the country apart, not much helped by violence from both extreme left and right. Spain had particularly powerful conservative cliques that were hostile to any reforms, such as Catholics, Royalists, rich landowners and the army. Spanish society found it difficult to adapt to democracy, and coups, rebellions and political violence were all too common. Second Republic (that's me in the game) was formed in 1931 after the latest military coup faded, and ended in Spanish Civil War. Against this background I'm fortunate that country is as powerful as it is! Anyway, back to business and let's see if I can do better...

Let's see about our technology first. Tissue paper ready, there might be tears...

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Hmm, we really are in stone age! Prime minister puts some effort into improving our situation as he weeps at this sight, but let's turn another page and check the naval tech...

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Caramba! What a difference from vanilla SF! Now we almost have a real navy. Unfortunately it's almost all the tech we have. Anyway, let's improve industry first. In doctrines we go for Firepower and Human Wave, since we are so brave. Yarr! Our national unity is amazing 50% so let's put our famous intelligence services to improve that. That's pretty much everything we can do in day one. Let's trade away our Rare Materials and wait for money...

January 10 - Finally enough money to improve our education policy! Now we have amazing 6.66 (science from hell?) LS. Look out world! Since we have so much LS to waste let's research something really useful...

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There we go. Spain is traditional stronghold of rocket science, declares Prime Minister!

January 18 - Enough money to switch to Consumer Products. Now our industry churns out toothpaste, soap and other such expensive luxury goods. A popular policy!

January 20 - Dogs! Opposition accuses us about rigged elections and we lose unity: Caramba! Luckily our spies bribe people into line soon.

February 2 - Germany re-occupies Rhineland. We have enough problems of our own, besides we did not even take part in WW1!

February 28 - General Elections in Spain. Through wonders of Democracy even the poorest (male) can take part in politics of our great nation. Lets see...

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Partido Socialista Obrero de España (the SD party)wins not-so surprising landslide victory. Viva la Libertad! The poorer part of Spanish population celebrate time of new hope and equality. However, army and conservatives are not happy...
Anyway, let's change some new faces into the Cabinet.

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So here are our heroes! Manuel Azaña Diaz can be our official hero since we cannot replace him anyway. By the way he is both Head of Government (HOG) and Head of State at same time. Is this even legal? Anyway, we'll just call him PM or HOG from now. At least he gives us +5% IC, which amounts to very little.

Some other important changes are also made. Toribio Martinez Cabrera is appointed Chief of Staff because of his impressive mustache. José Yanguas Messía is appointed Armament Minister "because he looks so funny….HAR HAR HAR!” commented newly appointed Chief of Staff in press conference. PM suspects his new CoS might be trouble...

March 26 - Second London Conference. They are signing some bloody naval documents in London and nobody even asked us! Government is outraged! Well, we did not have time for your silly treaties anyway! Though we note that Italy did not sign...

April 1 Death of King George V shakes the Commonwealth! Well, that's what you get from having kings and such decadence! Here in Spain we have real democracy that...functions. Almost.

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April 13 - Our shiniest new warship Canarias is ready for high seas! Government takes 24h bender to celebrate! There are some rumors that army is planning coup but we naturally ignore such.

April 26 - Italy conquers Ethiopia. Spanish government hopes that they choke on that worthless piece of land! This is what we did on 16th century and it did not end so well... Anyway, Italian aggression is something to keep eye upon.

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Note; I somehow misplaced the saved game about May, and had to take that last mont again! Dates of my narrative are thus little wrong now. Sorry guys, this is what happens when you write AAR first time....

May 8 - What is this! Government is take by surprise by spiraling situation is Spain! Masses are finally fed up with poverty, oppression and cheap toothpaste! The wings of liberty flutter above Spain! Or maybe it's just rabble looting shops. We send cavalry for rescue (literally) and hope for the best... PM has a curious feeling that this is not going to turn out well. Nonetheless our forces disperse the rebels without difficulty.

May 14 - Spanish Civil War breaks out! A most fateful day for our country! Luckily a reporter was present as Minister of Security, Manuel Portela Valaderes rushed the urgent new for PM, and we can fully report the meeting;

“Sire, the soldiers are revolting!” Cried the Minister of Security as he rushed in the office.
“I know.” Replied Prime Minister calmly. “And their feet stink.”
“No sir, they are supporting conservatives and are rebelling against the legal government!”
“Poor guys! Who is that, by the way?”
“Us!”
“Oh dear, where is the police?”
“I am the police.” Cried Minister of Security. “That is not much help now!”
Que Diablo! Those dogs! Well, we must muster our forces against this threat!’ Cried Prime Minister. 'How bad is it?'
Bad sir, they are already selling T-shirts!’
‘No!’
‘Yes, street vendors here in Madrid are already selling shirts that read ‘KISS ME, I LOST THE SPANISH CIVIL WAR!’ with your portrait on it!’
‘We must counter this threat immediately! Print T-shirts with slogan ‘REPUBLICANS ARE BETTER LOVERS’ with my portrait on it! That should send them packing all the way to Seville!’
'Excellent plan sir, but we need soldiers! Only two divisions stayed loyal!'
'What? This is not the way it should go! Many important garrisons were supposed to stay loyal...' PM muttered as he packed his suitcase and searched for his six passports and stash of foreign currency. Suddenly door opened and tall, lanky man walked in. He was wearing a T-shirt that read "I'M NOT ONLY PERFECT. I'M BRITISH."
'Caramba! What do you want?' cried both men at same time.
'I came here to fight against fascism.' Englishman said calmly.
'Miracle! Then you are an angel!' Both ministers cried simultaneously.
'Almost.' Englishman answered laconically. 'I'm writer Eric Arthur Blair, known as George Orwell. I came here to fight against fascism and write a celebrated account of my experiences "Homage to Catalonia." My experiences in Spain will leave be bitter and disillusioned, but also determined to fight for social justice and equality. After the war I'll proceed to become a ruthless critique of authoritarian regimes everywhere. But now I suggest we fight this war first.'
'But señor, we have no troops except two unfortunate divisions in wrong places!' explained surprised PM.
'That was true five minutes ago.' continued placid Englishman. 'However, it seems that I accidentally arrived with four full divisions of armed volunteers, totaling 36000 men at your command. Most remarkable, I must say, since I met no queues in airport. Now could I suggest that we take a look at the situation map to see where those victory locations are...'

So PM takes a look at the situation map. His eyes bulge with terror....

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T-shirt was immediately printed (but with pin-up of PM's mistress instead of his portrait. This bold move attracted wide international support for our cause, but very little support from his wife) and "When José comes marching home again" becomes new national anthem for Republican Spain. The war is on!

So this is the situation! We have 4 divisions of militia in Madrid, one random infantry division and one HQ who is in deep trouble, against all the combined forces of Spanish army turned Nationalist. Can Republican Spain win? Can Orwell ever write a happy ending in any of his books?

Anyway, next post; Action! Finally!
 
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Good luck, you'll need it! The most difficult part of the SCW is winning while not encircling and destroying too many units, as you'll get those troops back when you win.
 
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Pretty nice start, I like your style a lot! Will be following! Good luck!
 
The trick to winning the civil war is by placing your units on the VP's before the war starts. Or at least thats how I won it in three months because the majority joined my side :D.
 
The trick to winning the civil war is by placing your units on the VP's before the war starts. Or at least thats how I won it in three months because the majority joined my side :D.

Actually, in HPP that strategy would make you lose the SCW in no time, since 90% of the army goes to the Nationalists ;)
 
Actually, in HPP that strategy would make you lose the SCW in no time, since 90% of the army goes to the Nationalists ;)

I guess I'm just lucky
 
Its a fight uphill, lets hope no evil fascists will support the other side with tanks and strategic bombers :)

And that your socialist comrades don't demand all your gold in exchange for their help!
 
Stop the press!
I guess this happens when you write AAR first time; I somehow misplaced that last saved game! :eek: Anyway I took same game few weeks earlier but this time SCW happened two weeks before that last picture. I'll replace the picture and let's pretend those two weeks never happened! Anyway, I got almost the same units so no big deal except that I feel amazingly clever.
 
Story continues...

Okay, back to business. I'll start this one with an apology since I had to rewrite some history. I had been so busy taking screen shots that I actually forgot to save that latest game, so I had to take few steps back and have another SCW. So in the end, this new SCW started 1st of May!

By the way, since SCW is such a mess to write about (it's same feeling as trying to eat yummy chocolate pudding with chopsticks) I'll post this a month at a time. So this is May, when troubles started.

Anyway, Spanish High Command (the good guys) gets back to work after well-slept night and some rewritten history. Funny but everybody has strange feeling that they have lost two weeks of their lives mysteriously! Let's have a look at general situation in sunny Spain. Spanish Propaganda News Agency marked key locations to those who are not familiar with local geopolitical situation.

2011-05-14_00001TYT.jpg

So here we are! Madrid is obviously our HQ where our PM is packing his suitcase busily. El Coruña is the Nationalist capital, uncomfortably in furthest corner of Spain. It look like we have no option but to walk there, dodging bullets and beer bottles every step. Seville is their second city, and much easier to assault. Unfortunately we must occupy all victory locations to win, but luckily they are all in continental Spain. I guess nobody cares much about colonies. This is very lucky since we have no navy at all! There are some smaller locations here and there but if we ever get to El Coruña those will be cleaned out.

We have only few feeble militias (George Orwell among them, cursing our poor weapons. Don't be mad George! Those same weapons defeated the Incas in 1533!) and one infantry unit in northern Spain. (which is Basque Country, which stayed in Republican side. I love you Basques!). Luckily Soviets handily loaned me one full-strength infantry in Valencia, and some bombers. Clearly we have no hope of victory with these troops. Only miracle can save us...

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Anyway, let's fight. These soviet guys can be our elite (everything is relative after all) division. We place our best commander to lead them. By the way he is only Spanish commander who starts with skill above 2. That's what you get when you miss WW1! Let's have a look at the government.

2011-05-14_00003.jpg

Okay, SCW had busted our dream team, and now let's put that funny-looking guy with mustache as Chief of Staff since he gives some bonuses to organization regain. But what is going on! Some smiling oilman just became our HOG, which is kinda useless since Spain does not produce a drop of oil, except of the olive variety, which is not very useful in this game. Now my two big guys are both totally useless! I hate you Spanish Government!

Also...Mierda! Where is all my money! My golden doubloons, my pieces-of-eight! That pirate Guybrush must have stolen them! Anyway, my resources just hit zero. So let's make some more money.

2011-05-14_00010.jpg

Okay, this later image shows how we kill all our imports to max our income, since we are going to need some nice dinero to hammer down those juicy new laws! Anyway, 3/5 Spanish industry is still in my hands, so at least I can churn out toothpaste for my troops. It seems that I sell supplies to USA, Finland and other international Superpowers. Probably Nationalist Navy will try to raid my convoys but we are not afraid of those pirates! Yarr!

Anyway, back to action.

May 3 - Cursed Italians and Germans intervene in our Civil war! That could be tolerated, but they intervene against us! We'll never forget this! You'll pay for this one day, perhaps in next century or so...

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May 4 - Finally! Our valiant citizens are outraged by this assault against freedom and democracy and rise against oppression! Unleash the Mob! It seems we have some luck with this somewhat random event, and we get decent amount of troops.

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Unfortunately their location is rather random! Now we have 4 full divisions in Africa! What are you guys doing there? I have no way to transport them back, so these guys are technically casualties in all but manpower. Madre Dios!

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Anyway, these are my fighting troops. We have impressive 215000 men (historically women too) at our disposal, even as our divisions are at 50% strength. They are poorly armed and disciplined rabble but they fight for freedom! Anyway, they are all I got! I assign my leaders to these divisions, and all my commanders are demoted into one-star rank! Even my Chief of Staff and Chief of the Army suddenly find themselves from the trenches with random shoemakers and anarchist rabble!

This causes some controversy among my leaders. Some made some incredible accusations of rewarding their loyalty poorly!
'Not at all!' PM claimed at propaganda-press conference. 'In our new, Republican system Brigadier-General is equal to old Field-Marshall! Thus you are actually all promoted into Brigadier-Generals!'
It became soon evident that in 'new' system Brigadier-Generals were paid 50% less than in old system...
Amazingly all my leaders stay loyal and we get down into fighting!

Okay, strategically I guess supply is my strongest weapon. My militias need very little of it and I have most of the industry and most of land. If I can push Nationalist troops into small, isolated pockets I might win fast, bloodless victory. Situation in north is pretty bad since I have only 2 divisions and in HPP 1.9.2 there is no dock, and thus no supply. I must liberate the north immediately! Unfortunately most Nationalist troops are pulling toward El Coruña, abandoning Seville and other less-defensible areas. This will mean some hard fighting in near future...

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May 10 - Battles rage on! Most of my divisions have arrived into what appears to be main battle line. Yet in SCW it is always hard to say. Most battles are relatively bloodless skirmishes. It becomes quickly evident that my militias cannot fight one-to-one in fair fight. So let's not fight fairly! Some of my brave militias try to cut Nationalist lands in two around Salamanca.

2011-05-14_00015.jpg

May 13 - Curses! Who put this bloody river here? Unfortunately any dreams of fast breakthrough vanishes as Nationalist troops put up a spirited defense. Also they have superiority in mobile troops and armors, while I seems to enjoy air superiority. The situation in Basque Country grows gloomier as fast cavalry and armors close in for the kill. By the way, what armors are they? We did not have any units like that!

Of course, it's the German Condor Division, the Death Star equivalent of SCW. This monster chews my militias like Weetabix! My bombers drop stones on it uselessly thorough the next few weeks. Amazingly enemy air forces make no appearance. I'll double your salary for this!

2011-05-14_00019.jpg

May 17 - After days of hard fighting my 'elite' division secures a fishing spot at banks of Douro river. But now Bilbao is nearly completely surrounded, and troops start to run out of supplies! Which is, by the way, rather curious, since there are two factories in Bilbao that produce the very same supplies! Let them eat cake! Around this time we finally manage to push more effective industrial laws through! Now Spanish industry is...well, government censored that last bit, but Spanish industry is doing fine!

2011-05-14_00021.jpg

May 19 - While is south my troops have finally gathered enough supplies to capture the completely undefended Seville! Now if I could just reach that port.... Anyway, south seems to be pretty well wrapped up by now as all enemy troops fled to north during the first week of the war. It seems that the traitors had this all rather well planned!

Let's count my screen shots so far...one...two...11 by now. I hope moderators will not kill me.

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May 21 - My so-called elite division finally throws traitors across the river! Heave-ho! This is the bloodiest battle so far. SCW typically consists of rather feeble skirmishes with very few casualties. Unfortunately, I receive most of them! Well, I still have 622000 men in reserves so... By now our garrison in Bilbao is really shaking. They repulsed few assaults so far, but have no supply left at all!

May 24 - A great day for our nation! We finally improved our agriculture and thus left the Dark Middle Ages behind. More fodder for cannons- I mean- more heroes! Hasta la Victoria Siempre!

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May 26 - We have finally managed to pocket in few enemy divisions, who nearly pocketed in us! It's rather challenging to fight a war when 5MPH is the max speed of any unit, and they all need 50h to regroup after an attack! Luckily my opponents are little better. Enemy cavalry causes constant irritation by galloping around Spain wildly, no matter that they have no supply at all!

The situation in Eastern front shows signs of improving. We have liberated Zaragoza and pocketed few enemy units in. Those armored units are rather lethal since my militias have no anti-tank weapons whatsoever! Two of my militias rush toward Bilbao to rescue their comrades, but are they too late?

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May 27 - Just for amusement here are stats of militias compared to infantry. Soft attack 0.33? Hard attack 0? You are causing me a heart attack! Well, at least they consume very little supplies...

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May 28 - Last, dramatic moments of the month. Spanish science leaps forward as defenders of Bilbao consider change of profession. But rescue is almost here...

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June 1 - Exactly a month after the Civil war begun, situation looks like this. Bilbao is lost but defenders escape mostly in one piece, while both Southern and Eastern sectors have been wrapped up rather nicely.
However Nationalists have now focused most of their troops into northern sector, where they can be supplied easily. And fully supplied panzer division is a nasty opponent for our militias! But now weary Spanish High Command crawls under the table to meditate new, bold strategic maneuvers so that peace, democracy and British literature could triumph!

Next post; Long hot summer.
 
You are doing quite nicely I would say. Maybe too nicely... :p
 
Got any TP's? Perhaps a sneak rear attack might make things easier at the front.
 
Wow. I hope your militias upgrade fast, otherwise you will be facing a German-supplied firing squad. Also, pocket the whole bloody lot of them!

Upgrade? What upgrade? We don't need upgrades in socialist paradise! We are going to win this war with dinner knives! I don't think my brave militias are getting any better soon. Oh well, at least there is a whole horde of them.

Got any TP's? Perhaps a sneak rear attack might make things easier at the front.

Not one. All my navy takes salary from fascists now, including those two big battleships! At least convoys stayed loyal though. In vanilla version amphibious attack was nice way to end SCW in few weeks but HPP made things little trickier.
 
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High Operational Command of Second Republic of Spain
June 1936


Operation Morningwood, part 1​

In early hours of 1st of June 1936 the atmosphere in Madrid was electric. News had recently reached the capital that Bilbao was finally lost, and garrison was on the run. Republican advance had stopped near Zaragoza and Zamora as Nationalist traitors fought bitterly against our righteous arms!

fascist_navarros_enter_-barcelona.jpg


A black day for Second Republic. Italian fascists enter Bilbao despite our heroic (but hungry) resistance! But it's not ever yet...

'Well, we still have 584000 men in reserves.' Commented Chief of Staff happily. 'It's good to have some more room in barracks anyway! HAR HAR HAR...!'

'We must recapture Bilbao!' Boomed President Manuel Azaña. It's not important now since it does not even have a dock in 1.9.2 version but we cannot win without it!'

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Our Uncle Azaña gives practical advice how to deal with fascist; use the trigger finger...

'Easy to say! Our reports say that they have that bloody Legion Condor up there, and our militias have no hard attack at all! They can't even scratch it.' Protested Chief of Staff.

'Nonsense, regroup our forces in north and deal with this! I'll go and buy a dog, I think I'll call him Lenin'

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Major Morningwood, a British volunteer who died heroically after holding Bilbao for 51 minutes. Here seen with soldiers of 12a Division in Bilbao. Operation Morningwood was named to honor his outstanding example. For reasons that never became clear the name of this operation amused our British allies.

Unfortunately, the Legion Condor was still near Bilbao and against all the orders Republican infantry retreated into mountainous region near Guipúzcoa. Traitors! To everybody's surprise Teutons followed only shortly, then turned their panzers south wards and headed toward the Zaragoza pocket! They were going to rescue their comrades who were pressed hard in Soria! Or so we thought...

June 4- Chief of Staff himself (Martinez Cabrera aka 'the Walrus') lead elements of Columna Rico into stubborn attack against fascist lines in Fermoselle plains! Here a furious battle emerged between Columna Rico and 8/4 Division and 12/6 Divisions! Luckily both divisions were in poor condition, and low in morale.

Commander reported the battle; "Since we had no ammunition whatsoever we made a bayonet charge. Even Napoleon would have been proud! HAR HAR HAR...!"

Nonetheless enemy run away without observing if our troops had ammunition or not. Our experts suspected that this meant that enemy morale was rather low.

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Brave Republican troops of Columna Rico attack fascists in Fermoselle!

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Victory could pocket fascist against Portuguese border. Unfortunately, not many divisions were left inside the pocket. We suspect that Portuguese borders guards threw sandwiches to Nationalist traitors!

June 5 - Elite Republican Division Brigados Soviéticos had made bold push over the Ebro river and mounted a fierce attack toward Tardajos, encountering Nationalist 1/1a Division. This was confused battle and many prisoners were captured. In fact many enemy soldiers were so surprised that they were facing the wrong direction without weapons! Or maybe they were just fed up and wanted to surrender.

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Battle of Tardajos. "José are you sure this is the right direction? I think somebody is creeping behind us!"
José: "STFU, I know what I'm doing!"

June 6 - In northern front feared Legion Condor attacked against elements of 10/5a Division, the only unit of Spanish army that stayed loyal. This bloody skirmish broke out in literally breathtakingly beautiful area of San Sebastián and lasted 14.5 minutes before 10/5a Division broke and headed for the nearby mountain. It seemed that Operation Morningwood would be postponed indefinetely...

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Legion Condor is already most feared and hated Nationalist Division in Spanish Civil War. We have very few pictures of them since they usually shoot all cameras and never pose! In fact, they usually shoot everything they see.

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However, Republican Intelligence Platoon (RIP) managed to secure this extraordinary photo where Führer saluted infamous Legion Condor before their departure to wreak havoc in Spain. Offensive Nazi symbolism has been replaced by other religious symbolism.

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Unstoppable Legion Condor in action. Note that this is Division Without Name, the ground forces of Legion Condor. Intelligence services are busy arguing why they do not have a proper name, but incompetence of Hitler is usually blamed.

June 9 - Elements of 3a Division di Militia and 10a Division are finally over Ebro river and now proceed to launch an extraordinary assault against Nationalist troops in Briviesca, encountering only a confused cavalry Division and Legion Condor HQ that was clearly in very wrong place. This assault was bravely carried out despite reports that Legion Condor was heading into this direction, probably because reports never reached the local commander.

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Captured German HQ material during battle of Briviesca. Unfortunately these were little use for war effort since nobody could read German.

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Brave push toward Bilbao might end in complete ruin. Noose is tightening but Nationalist forces stand their ground.

June 11 - A stray cavalry division escaped Republican encirclement and now threatens Barcelona! It is unthinkable to lose Barcelona now that Bilbao has fallen. Columna Mangdata turns toward Barcelona under the command of Castelló Pantoja. Fortunately feared Legion Condor was seen in defensive positions around San Sebastián, and had not taken offensive. Thinking about it, it seems a rather ineffective way to use a motorized division. Hitler is blamed once again.Viva la Libertad!

09000100.jpg

The desperate defense of Barcelona. June 12 1936.

June 12 - Intelligence officer brings tremendous new to Madrid; 3rd, 10th and 2nd militia divisions have managed to accomplish breakthrough near Tardajos!

'What about Morningwood?' Asks the President.

'Still postponed, Sir. But these are great news, four enemy divisions have been pocketed...'

'I want my Morningwood! Get out of here, you fool!' And so President threw the poor officer out of his office, before he could hear that 3rd Militia Division was in Mirande de Ebro, now only few provinces away from Bilbao. But their position was still precarious, and feared Legion Condor was not far away.

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Soldiers of 3rd Militia Division brace themselves in Belorado, south of Bilbao. Unfortunately weapons were so scarce that some men had to be armed with saxophones.

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Strategic situation in the area had allowed Republican troops to pocket in significant (and rather stupid) Nationalist forces. Note that Nationalist Spain is offering truce. After careful consideration of 4.3 seconds the offer was turned down. No truce with fascists!

June 14 - Good news in middle of all the mindless fighting! President Azaña has finally bough a lovely puppy and named him Lenin. Our soviet allies were rather upset for reasons that never became clear. Our intelligence agencies suspect that they are just jealous.
Also minor news; 800 casualties in today's fighting. We finally invented Education that will give us +5% LS.

0001070.jpg

The secret weapon of democracy; a cute puppy named Lenin. Now we cannot lose!

June 16 - Today eight full Militia divisions engaged enemy pockets in fiercest fighting in known history! Offensives and counter-offensives raged from morning till evening around Soria pocket. Five enemy division were pocketed in, including armored division. It was not known why dreaded Legion Condor did not try to assist its comrades, but it was suspected that Germans simply could not be bothered about their Spanish "comrades". Our bombers worked overtime, dropping large stones mercilessly yet ineffectively on enemy combatants.

"It would really help if somebody could invent bombs! It's so damn difficult to hit somebody with a rock from such distance!" Commented Republican pilot.

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Our brave but obsolete bombers were overworked through June. Since Spain has not invented explosives yet bombs seen on foreground are actually full of pebbles and insulting writings.

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Soviet T-26 that never arrived to assist us. Well, we did not need your bloody tanks anyway, Stalin!

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The blood curling Battle of Soria Pocket that would live in legends for centuries. Germans are not impressed...

Even though Nationalist side has crushing superiority in mobility, firepower and armored units against my numerical superiority they have been thus far incapable of exploiting their strengths properly. Usually my militias can keep Nationalist lines out of balance by attacking from multiple direction at same time, usually ending in enemy retreat. Also Strategic Redeployment proved invaluable with militia army. I still cannot understand why AI does not use air power at all. My bombers attack them 24/7 without slightest interruption even though they must have at least 4 wings of fighters somewhere.

That's all for today!
 
This is just awesome -- can't believe I hadn't commented yet :eek: Keep it up!