Chapter 27: All In - December 23 - 31, 1939
On the initial attack on Gibraltar, the bombers found no fleet in port and switched over to an interdiction role.
Franco was informed that our holdings in Bata were under attack. Franco was willing to give up the colony in West Africa.
To make up for some of the loss of US trades for resources, Franco swung deals with Finland and the USSR to get coal and rare materials.
By 6pm on the 23rd, British bombers could be seen flying south. Franco hoped that the fighters would be able to bloody the bombers before heading back.
By Christmas, December 25, some of the British attackers were beginning to be beaten back by the interceptors.
At midnight on the 26th, Franco was informed that Bata was lost and the militia division stationed there would be captured. He mourned for the men but realized that in such times, good men would be lost.
The first battle of Gibraltar was lost on the 27th, but Franco ordered another attack with another 3 infantry divisions. The fresh divisions went to work against the fortress.
The second attack begins
On December 28th, Italy offered to sell us some metal, which we graciously accepted.
On December 29th, the 6th infantry division took the port of Bayonne. They would push forward to Bordeaux to be the far left of a holding line that would wait until Germany decided to attack France.
Orders for I and II Corps in France
Once again, Franco was informed of another loss on Gibraltar, this time, the attack faltered after only 2 days. Losses were heavy, but Franco had to take Gibraltar at any costs. The British had stopped their bombings, and the Spanish bombers, spent as they were, continued their attacks on the British Garrison.
The third assault on Gibraltar begins
On the 30th, the interceptors found a fleet off the coast of Cadiz, but was engaged by interceptors and heavily damaged.
On the 31st, there was an uprising at Hatvan in Hungary. The Cavalry division in the Balkans was sent to handle it.
Once again, a battle of Gibraltar was lost.
Now, in the first 8 days of the attack, the Spanish troops were not up to the task, and were completely spent. They would have to recover their organization before trying again. With the loss of convoys in the Mediterranean, our fleet was sent to Yugoslavia to hunt submarines. An even worse fate had happened.... the Gibraltar garrison had turned around and attacked our troops. Franco was not sure what to do. He did not have the strength to attack Gibraltar again, but did not have the troops to defend.
On the initial attack on Gibraltar, the bombers found no fleet in port and switched over to an interdiction role.
Franco was informed that our holdings in Bata were under attack. Franco was willing to give up the colony in West Africa.
To make up for some of the loss of US trades for resources, Franco swung deals with Finland and the USSR to get coal and rare materials.
By 6pm on the 23rd, British bombers could be seen flying south. Franco hoped that the fighters would be able to bloody the bombers before heading back.
By Christmas, December 25, some of the British attackers were beginning to be beaten back by the interceptors.
At midnight on the 26th, Franco was informed that Bata was lost and the militia division stationed there would be captured. He mourned for the men but realized that in such times, good men would be lost.
The first battle of Gibraltar was lost on the 27th, but Franco ordered another attack with another 3 infantry divisions. The fresh divisions went to work against the fortress.
The second attack begins
On December 28th, Italy offered to sell us some metal, which we graciously accepted.
On December 29th, the 6th infantry division took the port of Bayonne. They would push forward to Bordeaux to be the far left of a holding line that would wait until Germany decided to attack France.
Once again, Franco was informed of another loss on Gibraltar, this time, the attack faltered after only 2 days. Losses were heavy, but Franco had to take Gibraltar at any costs. The British had stopped their bombings, and the Spanish bombers, spent as they were, continued their attacks on the British Garrison.
The third assault on Gibraltar begins
On the 30th, the interceptors found a fleet off the coast of Cadiz, but was engaged by interceptors and heavily damaged.
On the 31st, there was an uprising at Hatvan in Hungary. The Cavalry division in the Balkans was sent to handle it.
Once again, a battle of Gibraltar was lost.
Now, in the first 8 days of the attack, the Spanish troops were not up to the task, and were completely spent. They would have to recover their organization before trying again. With the loss of convoys in the Mediterranean, our fleet was sent to Yugoslavia to hunt submarines. An even worse fate had happened.... the Gibraltar garrison had turned around and attacked our troops. Franco was not sure what to do. He did not have the strength to attack Gibraltar again, but did not have the troops to defend.
