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Wow, liberals aren't very popular here :D Actually, Emperor Alexis II (who is pacifist but patriot, you know) gave all key military posts to right and centrist parties, so Russia would be able to prepare herself (more or less) for the war. An update will be posted today (and quite soon), so get ready to the first days of WW2-bloodbath :)
 
The Darkest hour of the Russian Empire 2

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Chapter Four: 1939-1941
Part XVII: The first shots

[video=youtube;y5V6sxZ8-eg]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5V6sxZ8-eg&skipcontrinter=1[/video]
Some musical flavor for you​

The guns of German war machine started doing the job - on 6 of March armored columns, supported by the huge amounts of infantry, artillery and aviation, started their invasion into France. French armed forces absolutely weren't ready for that attack - they believed that Hitler would attack Russia first because of Danzig and Koenigsberg. They were completely mistaken...

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German tanks near the French border​

The French had quite obsolete, but still useful Maginot fortification line. They were mistaken once again when they expected a German attack on their forts...

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German map of Maginot line (blue) and offensive fronts (red)​

But new world war (which had already become global, because Great Britain and all her dominions and colonies were involved into it) wasn't only in France. Four days after the German invasion passed when Italy finally occupied Albania. King Zog I had to flee, while Italian monarch Vittorio Emmanuel became a new Albanian ruler. Now Italy had a good Balkan base for further imperialist expansion...


"Italian Illiria"


Italian army in Albania​

In Spain the stalemate of civil war was coming to the logical end - by 10 of March Republican army was controlling Oviedo.


The end of Francist army is near

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Republican volunteers​

On the same day, May 10, the Germans started their general offensive - a little bit improved Schlieffen plan (but now without the Eastern front), which included rapid annexation of Luxembourg, Belgium and Netherlands, then invasion in Northern France, securing the Atlantic beach line and going southwards to Marseilles and Toulouse. It was a simple, but (which is the most important) absolutely unexpected plan. French and British military theorists couldn't believe that the Germans would use the same strategy twice.


Vorwarts Panzer!

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German soldiers near the Western border.​

But the war wasn't going to become a funny easy trip - Germany didn't understand that little Belgian and Dutch armies would fight as brave as they could to save their freedom and independence. The Blitzkrieg stopped after a few weeks in Belgium - courageous Belgian army with French and British support managed to keep the front line (with terrifying casualties of course).

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German army in Belgium. Marching, but without too much enthusiasm.​

German light tanks weren't powerful enough to break the defense lines. PzI, PzII with Czech Pz38(t) badly needed some more powerful substitutions. German tank designers created PzIII just in right moment - during the battles in Belgium.

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New German tank​

The offensive continued without, but without any positive results - by 10 of July (after two month of war) the Wehrmacht controlled Luxembourg and about 40% of Belgian territories. It wasn't a success for the brilliant war machine like the German army...


Blitzkrieg is not so blitz...​

Russian authorities were very optimistic with these results - Pepelyaev said to the Tsar:
- Your Imperial Majesty, this army can't beat Belgium and Netherlands, how can you worry about our borders?
- Only two months has passed, only two months... - answered Alexis.

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Hitler was depressed by the news​

But with any courage and bravery it was impossible to stop the Germans. Passive actions of French and British armies together with total Luftwaffe domination in the air made the Belgian defense impossible.


By 27 of July the Germans own Liege


One of Belgian towns under German attack​

Two days later, the Germans entered Eindhoven, which broke the connection between Belgian and Dutch lines of defense. The aggressive offensive planned in May was back on track!


Successful operation in Holland

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French tank soldiers captured by the German soldiers​

But that successful operation didn't lead to a full-scale collapse of Belgium and Holland - they were still able to fight, and the Wehrmacht didn't do any progress until August.


The Germans are stuck in Lower countries, while Russia gets more tank brigades...

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Such vehicles didn't have much work in August...​

But on 17 of August the German commanders made a right step to crush the resistance of the Allied troops. Namur was captured, while the Belgian capitulation was very distant. German strategy didn't work properly...or it was just a trick to lower the Allied attention?


One more Belgian province in German hands

To be continued
Waiting for your comments
Next update: January, 20
 
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Seems Germany is pulling its usual tactic of leaving several frontline provinces ungarrisoned.
 
1 - i cant view the vid, apparently you are a nazi evil scumbag cuz the vid is blocked in my country for those reasons :D
2 - slovakia has wrong flag
3 - lol fascists are laughable...
 
Or perhaps it's the new "France is once again the ultimate boss of EU series" issue - they might have enough time for military buildup to actually maintain their initial advantage over Germany. Still, with no Soviet Union waiting to backstab the Germans, this war may indeed be an interesting one ^^
 
I doubt it. France would probably be happy to, but the UK would likely throw a fit at the very suggestion of such an action.
 
Even if both France and the British Empire agreed on giving Russia more of the Middle East, why would the Tsardom want it? The region they could receive would be Iraq and why would Russia have any interest in Iraq apart from MOAR LAND? Another region that Russia could gain would be Pakistan. In this they'd probably be interested but the British would never agree on giving up any part of the Pearl of their Empire.

The only thing the allies can give to Russia is something they don't have. Namely, the Balkans.
 
why pakistan? kashmir would be good, but why the rest? anyway, iraq is in the center of middle east, russia oculd influence everyone from there, also there would be more % of the world oil production
 
If we look in future, we will see that in 60-70s there will be an oil boom in the Middle East, together with the same oil boom in Siberia. If Russia owns both Middle East and Siberia, she becomes
1) Rich
2) ucking Rich
3) Really ucking Rich
4) Oil monopolist
5) Geo-politically invincible
6) Controlling all mechanisms and factories of the damn world

YEAH!!111 :D
Seriously, why not?
 
Well, revolt problems and a war with the UK are reasons not to. That being said however, Russia is a mighty bear, of course she can swat these troublesome flies!
 
I seriously doubt the UK would risk giving Russia anything in the Middle East - with Persia under Russian control, it would create a very dangerous configuration. Plus, once the UK leaves Iraq they will virtually lose all influence there - what would be left, Transjordania and Kuwait? It'd be far more likely if, for example, France owned some lands in the Middle East and would transfer them to Russia in exchange for intervention - that would cause a serious diplomatic breakdown between the Allies, but I'd see it as perfectly fitting the French interwar attitude.
 
what would e left of british colonies there would suffice, then the decolonisation would jump in and all would be left at mercy of russia :D
while syria isnt that worth it, but along with iraq, so i say the war last 3 years, france is destroyed, spain(brought in by uk) is about to get anihilated, uk is bleeding out as well, germany knows shes too weak to leave uk alone