High Operational Command of Second Republic of Spain
July 1936
After moving a flat, traveling for 40h and a good night's sleep brave Spanish commander shambles back to his command post, has a cup of coffee, grabs the rudder and skillfully steers the great Second Republic through stormy waters of Spanish Civil War. I wish I could do the same. While waiting the screen shots to load we could have a look on political situation in Europe of 1936.
A bit of background:
Crude example of USA propaganda that proved spectacularly ineffective.
At beginning of July our government has noticed something that we should have noticed before - that most of the Europe is against us! The sticky situation run something like this; while we are the legal government of Spain, major democracies such as USA, UK and France are neutral, prohibiting sell of arms into our country, and to this end they have organized a Non-Intervention Committee.
However, We are not blind to the fact that both UK and USA are hostile to 'socialism and anarchist rabble', with which they mean us. Our cries for 'democracy' and 'legal government' are in vain. Governments of both countries are theoretically neutral, but silently supporting Nationalists. Their governments are not only conservative, but also afraid that support to Republican side would escalate into pan-European conflict. Cowards! We'll show them how wrong they are.
That perfidious Salazar, dictator of Portugal and enemy of democracy
Also, Fascist states such as Italy, Germany and Portuguese Estado Novo (run by that perfidious Salazar) are openly supplying the Nationalist side with everything except the kitchen sink! Not only are they pouring fighters, bombers and experimental weapons into Spain, they are also supplying Nationalists with money, ammunition, trucks, volunteers and every other such luxury we have to do without. The help of Portugal was especially significant.
Foreign support - Ilya Ehrernburg, Ernest Hemingway and Gustav Regler in Spain
On positive side, Spanish Civil War is by now the cause célèbre of lest-wing around the world. Thousands of frustrated, desperate, righteous or sometimes misguided people arrive from around the world to battle Fascism in Spain. To many this is not only an ideological crusade, but also a way to escape the 30's depression and unemployment. Many artists promote our cause, as well as such authors as George Orwell and Ernest Hemingway. Through their work we enjoy considerable sympathy and goodwill around the world - but very little direct help.
With no little irony Mexico was among the very few nations that was a considerable help for Republican side.
What a luck very little of this is simulated in the game.
And now back to action.
July 1936
July 3 - Dire news arrive to our government and ends up into overwhelming pile of paper, chewing gum and cigarette butts that is our President's desk. Our brave opens the envelope and gasps! The message reads:
"We are at Civil War. We have legitimate Casus Belli for this war!"
"Buena." Says the president.
Fighting is especially confused during this week. The diabolical Legion Condor has finally taken the offensive and has smashed through the encirclement of Soria pocket despite heroic but helpless attempts to stop it. However, our dauntless troops of 11a Division receive orders to march to Pamplona and cut their supply lines. This is completely pointless since Bilbao is taken and Legion Condor did not have supply lines to begin with, but it's a nice gesture. Note how French border troops enjoy the show.
Soldiers of Legion Condor relax with their Moroccan allies in this stolen photo. It was difficult to say which were more hated among Spanish people. Note immaculate row of boots.
July 6 - Legion Condor has gone wild! After bitter fight they break through the southern wall of Soria pocket, routing Columna International in process. We lose 252 brave soldiers who managed to take 19 Fascists with them.
July 8 - Our three still untouched Divisions mount an assault against Fascists in Soria. The attack was carried over major rivers, but our gallant civilians drove the enemy back.
Now Nationalist troops inside the pocket were clearly running out of ammunition and morale. This photograph shows clearly their typical equipment that was far superior to that of our troops. July 8 1936
July 12 - The overview of our situation. Our militias are trying to squeeze Fascists into multiple small pockets but some refuse to give up. Vigorous counter-action forced Legion Condor to give up it's offensive, and it seems they are finally running out of fuel.
In North-West Spain some sort of battle-line can be seen. Major offensives by our troops against now demoralized Nationalists has led to some major breakthroughs. General Rojo Lluch, that awkward-looking little man with spectacles, was quickly becoming one of the outstanding heroes of Spanish Civil War.
Enemy cavalries continue to harass our helpless civilians most nefarious manner, and they never seem to run out of will to do so. The cavalry clearly possesses one tremendous strength over tanks - the capability to go on with few supplies.
However, enemy is not beaten yet. They still possess some combat-ready divisions and our progress is becoming slower with every step.
July 14 - Battle of Ponferrada. On left flank the Nationalist mount expected counter-attack we have no meant so repulse. Our strategy is to push toward El Coruña and pocket the remaining enemies, but we have only too few divisions holding the south. After bitter struggle 5a Division was forced to retreat with 323 casualties.
This extraordinary map shows the carefully planned military maneuvers during July. We have honestly no idea why it is written in French.
July 16 - New pride of our fleet, heavy cruiser "Baleares" is finally ready, featuring latest model 8" double turrets! Unfortunately nobody really gives a damn, since our struggle is completely landlocked. Stubborn enemy cavalries skirmish around Barcelona.
Celebration in Barcelona, 16th July 1936
July 18 - How are they going to explain this to Führer? Legion Condor was pushed back into tightly guarded pocket. They refused stubbornly our generous calls for surrender, but many Spanish troops did not.
By now we had finally managed to update both of our industrial techs, boosting our IC with 5%! Where is the champagne? Our cabinet takes a 24h bender to celebrate.
July 23 - We receive reports of furious fighting from the main front, but also reports of retreating Nationalist units! Could this finally be the beginning of the end? Or the end of beginning?
In forests of Gudiña three surprisingly fresh infantry divisions attacked our loosely defended position, but were beaten back with some reinforcements. We lest 209 men in this this struggle for freedom, as usually with negligible enemy casualties. Lack of proper weapons is still a major disadvantage for our troops, but nothing can hide the exhilaration of victory despite the losses.
These Finnish-Canadian volunteers were first among those who performed with courage and determination during the battle of Gudiña.
July 28 - Holy Cow! I know we have been fighting a lot but I did not know that it was this much. It seems that the Civil War has hardened Spanish society into engine of effectiveness and determination. Well, at least relatively so. We gain the Veteran Army modifier! Hasta la Victoria Siempre!
July 30 - Our best general Miaja Menant leads our best division into assault against once-proud Nationalist troops, now mostly broken remains. Only two enemy divisions are in any fighting condition under our artillery barrage. General Miaja performs so well...
...that he gets his own poster! (But no raise in salary, thought)
That's all for today. Let's try to get those Nationalists next month.
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Keep it up!
Originally Posted by Axe27
