• We have updated our Community Code of Conduct. Please read through the new rules for the forum that are an integral part of Paradox Interactive’s User Agreement.

Mad Professor

Colonel
42 Badges
Nov 12, 2006
859
0
forum.paradoxplaza.com
  • Hearts of Iron IV: Cadet
  • Semper Fi
  • Sengoku
  • Victoria 2
  • Victoria 2: A House Divided
  • War of the Roses
  • 500k Club
  • Europa Universalis IV: Pre-order
  • Europa Universalis IV: Mare Nostrum
  • Stellaris
  • Hearts of Iron IV Sign-up
  • Europa Universalis IV: Res Publica
  • Hearts of Iron IV: Together for Victory
  • Steel Division: Normandy 44
  • Hearts of Iron IV: Death or Dishonor
  • Steel Division: Normand 44 - Second Wave
  • Hearts of Iron IV: Expansion Pass
  • Steel Division: Normandy 44 -  Back to Hell
  • Hearts of Iron IV: Expansion Pass
  • Hearts of Iron IV: La Resistance
  • Crusader Kings III
  • Europa Universalis IV
  • Crusader Kings II: Legacy of Rome
  • Crusader Kings II: The Old Gods
  • Crusader Kings II: Rajas of India
  • Crusader Kings II: The Republic
  • Crusader Kings II: Sons of Abraham
  • Crusader Kings II: Sunset Invasion
  • Crusader Kings II: Sword of Islam
  • Darkest Hour
  • Europa Universalis III Complete
  • Divine Wind
  • Crusader Kings II
  • Europa Universalis IV: Conquest of Paradise
  • Europa Universalis IV: Wealth of Nations
  • For the Motherland
  • Hearts of Iron III
  • Heir to the Throne
  • Europa Universalis III Complete
  • March of the Eagles
  • Europa Universalis III Complete
  • Naval War: Arctic Circle
Rome. March 5. 1936

«Il Duce, I am happy to inform you that we have taken Addis Abeba and Emperor Selassie has agreed to our terms. We have won the war.»

«This is good news, minister Ciano, thank you. Send for the finest Prosecco and Jung, Pariani and Cavgnari, lessons are to be learnt from this.»


scaled.php


Rome. March 11. 1936

hoi384.png


"Gentlemen, we live in dangerous times. I want you all to use the experience from Ethiopia to prepare us all for a war in Europe, because we will have one."
 
Last edited:
Italy in 1936 has a quite formidable army and navy in size, but lacks modern equipment and training. We will use the next few years modernizing, and also expanding and modernizing the air force. One of the problems of the army is the officers hierarchy. Cuts must be made here to make it a more effective organization. Number of armies must probably be cut in half, corps organized in more specialized units.

We will produce artillery cannons and small specialized garrison units to guard our ports from enemy invasions, this to make our army more effectice in both offensive and defensive operations. All ports should be guarded for the homeland to be safe.

I predict there will be a war with the western powers in some years time and we must use the time we have to strenghten our possessions. Eyes will be open for opportunities, but main targets for expansion will mainly be around the mediterranean - Greece, Turkey, Spain, Yugoslavia and when/if we are to war with UK and France- Northern Afrika.
 
Showing production in september '36

hoi32.png


Visiting Berlin

hoi33z.png


Mid '36, there is a coup in Spain, led by General Franco

hoi34n.png


It doesn't go as planned, and Franco is imprisoned in Toledo, awaiting trials

hoi35.png


Showing the newly organized and strenghtened defence along the French border

hoi36.png
 
December '37, showing organization of garrisons in north-central Italy

hoi313.png


In march '38 Germany swallows Austria. As Germany expands, it becomes increasingly important to maintain good relations with them. Maybe some day we will fight side by side against the puny democrats or bolsheviks...

hoi314.png


April '38, the germans have accepted us in to their league of extraordinary states, and promises to defend us if we should be attacked by the western powers.

hoi315.png


This is the guarantee we need to start expanding on our own... We will immediately start planning for an invasion of Greece. Cooperation between navy and army units is of utmost importance in this kind of operation. By now we have an entire corps of mountaneers trained in the alps, ready for this duty. This will be the big test of our armed forces, if we can do this fast and without too heavy losses - we can do anything. It will also test the patience of the western powers, so our defence in the west and along the coast is on red alert. The airforce will be kept on the ground except for patrols along the coast, in case of enemy intervention...
 
April '38. Order for general mobilization is givern to all armed forces

hoi316.png


Our navy moving into position for invasion on the greek coast

hoi317.png


Declaration of war is delivered to the greek embassy in Rome

hoi318.png


A corps of mountaneers landing outside of Athens storming the city immediately catching the greek forces totally by surprise

hoi319.png


hoi320n.png


Another corps made up from regular infantry units and colonial troops from Eritrea lands near Thessaloniki

hoi321.png
 
Never seen the Republicans win the civil war. O_O
 
hoi322.png


Seems our methods are working. No tough losses. No answer or intervention from foreign states. These so called major powers in the west are obviously overrated.

This may be the beginning of a beautiful balkan blitz. By invading Bulgaria we will get access to Black sea ports, which will be immensely valuable in a possible future war with the Soviet Union. Also, it will give us a common border with Yugoslavia (the prize of the balkans) from three sides. We are still prepared to meet an intervention from UK and France, but the farther east we go the bigger the chance of Soviet intervention. As long as they doesn't get a passage through Turkey or Romania we will be safe. Our navy is significantly stronger than theirs, but their air force will probably be a menace....

Only one way to find out

hoi323.png


Out of fear for our great armies, Albania decides to give us passage through their lands

hoi324.png


A declaration of war against Bulgaria is followed by attacks along the border and within two weeks our first troops arrive at the gates of Sofia

hoi325.png
 
Last edited:
Continuing north and east towards the port city of Varna, one of the main objectives of the war. Stiff resistance in the city itself and particularly in the port area, the bulgarians are tough fighters but not well prepared...

hoi326.png


Soon after the fall of Varna, the Bulgarian government surrenders and Italian forces take over the rest of the country

hoi327.png


July 11. '36
The first armored units are now under production, scheduled to arrive at their division in february next year. Two super-modern aircraft carriers are also under construction in the wharf of Taranto.

hoi328s.png
 
After about three weeks of preparation and relaxation in the fun-houses of Sofiya, the expedition continues. This time also joined by forces from the Venezia military district, including a corps of solely motorized units (some of these are motorized by horses, but nevertheless...)

hoi329.png


From the south and east

hoi330.png


From the northwest

hoi331.png


As our divisions penetrate deep into enemy territory in a matter of days, our troops start to feel that nothing is impossible - maybe not even conquering France!

hoi332.png
 
September 6, 1938

So far research has been focused towards land doctrines mostly, with some naval and industry, we have also kept up to date in the development of various small arms and support weapons for the infantry and special forces

hoi35r.png


Showing the european part of the Italian Empire

hoi36.png


When fighting these last wars in the balkans, we have learnt thathigh naval and air force activity consumes fuel far faster than expected, and our reserves are low. We will therefore buy as much oil as fast as possible, starting with the USA - known for their vast reserves

hoi38r.png


Visiting Hitler again, this time in Münich. While we are there we sign an agreement giving the Sudet areas of Czechoslovakia to Germany, sounds like agood idea.

hoi333.png


chamberlain2.jpg

Chamberlain showing his satisfaction with the Münich agreement

Meanwhile, our intelligence services reports the republicans have exploited the fuzz around this meeting in Münich to execute General Franco. This can not be tolerated - the evil spaniards needs to be given a lesson in diplomatic etiquette.

Orders are given for a fleet to assemble at La Spezia together with an entire army of the balkan veterans...

hoi334.png
 
Last edited:
November 1st, 1938
War is declared on Republican Spain

hoi335.png


From the sea, and totally surprising the spanish, we land troops in Mallorca and Tarragona at the same time. Hungary are inviting us for a banquet to celebrate...

hoi336.png


Mid november, our first aircraft carrier is ready for trials in the Adriatic sea.

hoi337.png


Quickly capturing Barcelona, our mountaineers move north and west in the pyrenees

hoi338.png


Another landing in Valencia with troops moving inland south west

scaled.php


After 25 days

hoi340.png


While our forces in the north east are regrouping and reinforcing, a third landing is made in Andalucia moving towards Sevilla and Malaga

scaled.php
 
Navy patrolling along the coast, and bombers based at Mallorca flying missions inland every day. The spanish are the hardest foes yet, but it's still nothing more than a walk in the park for the now mighty italian military. The plan foreward is to link up the three fronts and move on to Madrid, we expect them to surrender when Madrid is on our hands

hoi342.png
 
You're still using the Militias you retrieved from Ethiopia. Any plans what will happen with those? Update into something else or disband once more IC is available for regulars?

What are your spies doing?

With Spain gone, I assume there'll only be Hungary left in Europe, since you seem keen on avoiding a border with the Soviet Union. This could mean a time of preparation until late '39.
 
You need to edit out the naughty armband the Fuehrer is wearing in one of your images there. I might also recommend you do something to reduce the file size of your images, this page took me a while to load and I have a cable modem.

I'm surprised you built a Carrier, there's nothing you should really need it for.