Rewriting history: A Czechoslovakian AAR

[feye1]

Welcome to this After Action Report (AAR)

Short history of Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992. From 1939 to 1945, the state did not de facto exist because of its forced division and partial incorporation into Nazi Germany, but the Czechoslovak government-in-exile nevertheless continued to exist during this period. In 1945, the eastern part of Carpathian Ruthenia was taken over by the Soviet Union. On 1 January 1993, Czechoslovakia peacefully split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Czechoslovakia was never a stable state. Nevertheless, there was a Czechoslovakia nationalism all over the country, despite the fact there were several ethnic groups. In 1921 the population sensus gave the following result:

total population: 13,607.385

• Czechs: ~6,800.000 (49,97%)
• Germans: 3,123.305 22.95 %
• Slovaks: ~2,300.000 (16,90%)
• Hungarians: 744.621 (5.47 %)
  
• Ruthenians: 461.449
• Jews: 180.534
• Poles: 75.852
• Others: ~250.000

In September 1938 Germany annexed the Sudetenland after the Treaty of Munich. The First Vienna Award (2 November 1938) entailed the partitioning of Czechoslovakia. Hungary seized a lot territory and also the Poles got a little bit. In March 1938 Germany and Hungary seized the rest of the territory and Slovakia became a puppet of Germany.



I try to rewrite the history with this AAR. Czechoslovakia isn't a useless country, neither it's hopeless. It has a decent army in the beginning and we should use that. Historians believe that if Czechoslovakia fought against the Germans in the real world, they could stand pretty long, because they had some good defensive lines. But we don't want to fight the Germans, we want to fight along with the fascist!



I have set up some pre-World War II goals:

• Align and join the Axis
• Reorganize the entire army
• If possible conquer Hungary (depends on the fact if they are in Axis or not)
• Get a port
• Possibly prevent having a direct border with the Soviet Union

Some of my house rules in this AAR:

• I will play FTM 3.05.
• I don't play with any mods.
• No cheats or edited files.
• Manual control on everything
• Normal difficulty

Some other notes to keep in mind:

• This is my second AAR, so probably it wont be that great!
• Don't hesitate to give some hints and tips for this AAR!
• I will try to update this AAR regularly (few times a week).
• English is not my mother tongue (I'm Dutch!), so there will be some language errors...
• Please let me know if you are in.

Table of contents

• Chapter 1: Broken with the west
• Chapter 2: A third Central European Power
• Chapter 3: Czechoslovakian Balkans
• Chapter 4: Oil, oil, oil.. Surprise!
• Chapter 5: Attack on the West
• Chapter 6: Fighting against the British Expeditionary Force
• Chapter 7: coming up!

Last update: 19 January 2012

[Shamus62]

Sounds interesting! I'm looking forward to seeing how things go for you. Good luck!

[feye1]

Chapter 1: Broken with the West

Our trading possibilities are limited, because we don’t have a port. Bad luck, because we can’t get the cheap American materials. If we want to be a serious international power, we have to expand and at least have one port. We can reach the whole world with our convoys then and we also can use it for our small navy that we have to build in the future.


Aligning ourselves to the Axis.


We got some better laws now!


German spies are active in our country..


Before we can even think about being a strong power, we have to survive the next two/three years. We improve our relationship with Germany by trading and immediately start aligning to the Axis, because we don’t want to fight a hopeless war against the Germans! It is better to be friends or even allies, as we can’t win a war against them. We also start preparing us for the war, in order to get some better laws. On the diplomatic screen we fly pretty hard in the direction of the Axis, but we are almost as far away as possible.



The army is reorganized totally. We disband the cavalry regiments and organized the following army:

• 2x 3 MTN
• 1x 2 MTN
• 16x 3 INF
• 1x 2 INF
• 2x 2 L Arm
• 2x 2 MOT
• 1x 3 MOT + 1 AC

Our reorganized army

We start building artillery brigades and add one brigade to every infantry and mountain division. We have not the manpower to build some additional mobile forces, but maybe we can do that in the future.
We can’t reinforce our entire army, but after we got some better laws, that will be better. It isn’t that bad at all..

Our amount of leadership is around 6 and we decide to put 5 in researching techs and doctrines. We put the last point in officers and diplomacy, nothing for the spies.
We are researching the infantry techs and doctrines. Also some industrial techs are useful, because our economy is decent, but not that great.


Some improvement for our infantry..


Our production looks like this the first two years..

We gave the Germans early the possibilities to use our infrastructure and the accepted. On 4 may 1938 we signed the pact with Germany and became a part of the Axis. Our laws gone down, but we can declare war on every country right now... and we will soon.


Germany annexed Austria


Give Germany acces to our country


Pact with Germany. We are an Axis power now.

Next chapter:
In the next chapter we see how Czechoslovakia is doing the first months as part of the Axis. Do we fight a war, or do we fight more? We need help from the Germans to win that/those war(s) or can we do it ourself..

[Baltasar]

You'll need to be quick to grab most of Hungary, otherwise the Wehrmacht might roll in quite fast. Don't know how such a coalition does threat-wise, you might see a very early WWII.

Next target is Yugoslavia then?

[Tallfellow]

I'd go, Hungary, Romania, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria and then Greece. Albania isn't worth taking, so just leave it alone That should give you a very nice boost when it comes to LS, IC and Manpower.

[feye1]

You'll need to be quick to grab most of Hungary, otherwise the Wehrmacht might roll in quite fast. Don't know how such a coalition does threat-wise, you might see a very early WWII.

Next target is Yugoslavia then?

I try to take Hungary as soon as possible. If they kick my ass I can always call Germany for help, but I should be able to beat them. Then I can take over Yugoslavia, to get some ports.

I'd go, Hungary, Romania, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria and then Greece. Albania isn't worth taking, so just leave it alone That should give you a very nice boost when it comes to LS, IC and Manpower.

I'm thinking to get Hungary, Yugoslavia and Bulgaria. I consider to take Greece out as it is a potential Allied power. Albania would be usefull as it gives me a little bit oil.

Romania... then I will have a direct border with the Soviet Union. For now it looks like Romania doesn't join the Axis, so we will have a possible oil-problem in the future. Maybe I will have to take them down later on.. For now I let them be neutral, they can be beaten fast anyway.

[Tallfellow]

Well Romania is better to take then Bulgaria and Greece, more IC and LS, which is why i almost always take them out fast.

[feye1]

Well Romania is better to take then Bulgaria and Greece, more IC and LS, which is why i almost always take them out fast.

I know. I'm playing Romania in another AAR (can't update that cause I don't have the computer here!), but in my initial plans I didn't want a direct border with the Soviet Union. If I conquer Romania, I have a border with around 10-15 provinces. But on the other hand... IC, LS, MP are very usefull.. Damnit.. need some German Exp. Forces!

[feye1]

Chapter 2: A third Central European Power

Immediately after we joined the Axis, we declared war on Hungary, a country that could be a potential Axis power as well. But, to gain more IC, LS, MP and resources, we have to expand. Unfortunately some potential Axis powers need to be knock down in order to reach our goal.

The Hungarians didn’t expect the war at all. The initial battles are all won easily. We capture the first major city – Debrecen – pretty fast. We also pushing forward in the center and start the attack on Budapest. On the left front we have some troubles, because our weakest troops are stationed there. On 20 May, after two weeks of fighting, we captured Budapest and heading to the Yugoslavian border, so we can eliminate the Hungarian troops. After month of fighting, the mighty Czechoslovakian Army took the last stronghold of the Hungarians, Pecs. The Supreme Command of Hungary decided it was useless to keep fighting and they surrendered. On 10 June at 05.00 hours Hungary became a part of Czechoslovakia.


Czechoslovakia DoW Hungary


First battles..


Fall of Budapest


Closing in the Hungarian troops..


and they surrendered a few days later

After the defeat of Hungary, we choose the next target: Yugoslavia. Our Army, still not fully reinforced, took positions next to the Yugoslavian border. We declared war on them on 28 June at 01.00 hours. Again, they enemy didn’t expect to end up in a war with us. They weren’t prepared at all and we push deep into their country. In Slovania/Croatia (north) we are doing very well and take pretty fast and without any resistance the city of Zagreb. Five days later we also captured Ljubljana. In the meanwhile we are heading towards the Yugoslavian capital, Beograd. We attack the city on 15 July from three sides and the weak troops inside the city gave up after one day of fighting.

We eliminated the troops in the north and are pushing forward to Split and Sarajevo. We got Sarajevo in a week and almost beat the Yugoslavian army in Split. On 26 July in the afternoon Yugoslavia surrendered and became a part of the Czechoslovakian Reich.


Czechoslovakia DoW Yugoslavia


Initial part of the war goes well..


First part of the plan


We got a pocket in the north


We can eliminate several divisions there..


In the meanwhile we capture Beograd..


and after we take Sarajevo they surrender.

We got a port now, so we can trade with other countries and we build some convoys. On the other hand, we have to defend those ports, because the UK could invade in Greece or Yugoslavia if we are at war with them. Our IC is increased pretty well, but we can't build troops, because our manpower is very bad (read: 0).

Next chapter:
In the next chapter we see if Czechoslovakia is expanding further or the World War II breaks out. If the big war is starting, we have to help Germany to beat the Poles and French! And if we do so, we need to prepare also for war with the Soviet Union.



The Czechoslovakian Reich after two wars.

[Tallfellow]

A good start How much manpower do you get pr month?

[feye1]

Without being at war i got 'one year draft'. So my manpower is around 1. If I'm at war it's around 7 I think.

[Baltasar]

You better look out, otherwise the Threat-o-Meter will get too far upwards and the Allies will DOW you soon. You could as well DOW France, get the Allies into the war and have Germany roll through them. It'd take them by surprise and Germany would not have to deal with a second front.

Regarding your ICs, it seem that you could afford to upgrade some of your forces or build some IC intesive stuff via license, ie light cruisers or fighters.

[feye1]

You better look out, otherwise the Threat-o-Meter will get too far upwards and the Allies will DOW you soon. You could as well DOW France, get the Allies into the war and have Germany roll through them. It'd take them by surprise and Germany would not have to deal with a second front.

Regarding your ICs, it seem that you could afford to upgrade some of your forces or build some IC intesive stuff via license, ie light cruisers or fighters.

I'm thinking of conquer France before we attack Poland.. as a surprise.
But because I don't have any manpower, I can't build anything (via licence) at the moment. Now building a lot of anti air, some (coastal) forts, new IC and ofcourse use some IC for upgrades.

[Baltasar]

I am afraid that AA construction is of little to no worth, you should rather spend it on convoys / escorts, infrastructure or ICs. May be stopping reinforcements completely until you can buy some licenses?

[Cybvep]

Subscribed. An interesting start, although not very plausible.

Don't you think that leaving Romania independent would be better for the Axis than conquering them? More troops + full oil production could make them a good ally. At least in theory. You could always conquer Bulgaria and Greece instead.

[Portal]

Seize Bulgaria then Romania. From Bulgaria the only 2 VP's Romania has is like 2 provinces away. Then puppet Romania - a border with SU is a bad idea. If you can take a slice of their territory with acquire territory, all the better.

[feye1]

I am afraid that AA construction is of little to no worth, you should rather spend it on convoys / escorts, infrastructure or ICs. May be stopping reinforcements completely until you can buy some licenses?

Ye, I just build some AA for my main core city, like Bratislava and Praha. Also build some forts to close the gap in the line of forts next to Brno. If we are losing, I may can retreat to Czech Republic and leave Slovakia for the enemy. Just in case of losing.. I don't expect/hope that.

Building a lot of convoys now (around 1000), can't build escorts yet (need to research Sea Lane Defense first!).
Besides the convoys I build some IC, but can't build infrastructure yet (need research it first!).

Maybe I update today or tomorrow. I'll post screen of the production tab.

Subscribed. An interesting start, although not very plausible.

Don't you think that leaving Romania independent would be better for the Axis than conquering them? More troops + full oil production could make them a good ally. At least in theory. You could always conquer Bulgaria and Greece instead.

That was my thought first too, but it seems that Romania doesn't join the Axis.. and without their oil, we are screwed. I think I need to conquer them.

Seize Bulgaria then Romania. From Bulgaria the only 2 VP's Romania has is like 2 provinces away. Then puppet Romania - a border with SU is a bad idea. If you can take a slice of their territory with acquire territory, all the better.

Could be an interesting option yes, but I can use their IC, LS and MP very good, so I'm thinking of annex them and get a border with the Soviet Union. Then I hold the line on the river, wait till Germany is pushing foward, the Soviets retreat some troops on my border and then I'll have to attack. Maybe I try to get the Caucasus, which I can connect to the other territory by conquering Turkey later on.


But first of all, we have to defeat the Allies in the western part of Europe!

[Portal]

Western Allies shouldn't worry you, Germany will deal with France fine and if you chase after Sea Lion the USSR will declare war. Just keep expanding in the Balkans and Middle East, and try to hold off USSR. Btw, why are you building convoys? A few would make sense, but can't you trade with Germany and Italy overland? Not many other people will trade will trade with you. Who are you trading with ATM? I would expand my IC and army at this stage.

[eqqman]

Western Allies shouldn't worry you, Germany will deal with France fine and if you chase after Sea Lion the USSR will declare war.

The automatic DoW from the USSR only comes if *Germany* takes London. Theoretically, if the Czechs wait until the BEF is confirmed as being in France, they could take England all for themselves all too easily. However, if Yugoslavia is Axis territory when the Allies go to war with them, then the BEF usually goes there instead of France, meaning the Czechs have to deal with them all by their lonesome unless they can garrison all the ports there very well.

[feye1]

Chapter 3: Czechoslovakian Balkans

In the previous chapter we saw how Czechoslovakia annexed Hungary and Yugoslavia. It gave us some extra and very useful IC, LS and MP. We focus on our next target, Bulgaria! Before we declare war on Bulgaria, we first disbanded some of our HQ's and stopped the reinforcements of our army. We are building six brigades armour. We got them via licence from Germany. We also got two tactical bombers via licences, so we have some little airforce later on in the game.


We can build on licence via Germany..


tanks and airplanes.

Bulgaria has a good amount of IC, MP and LS. It is a great country to annex and it gives us two ports in the Black Sea, which could be useful if we want to invade for example Crimea. We declare war on Bulgaria on 17 August at 6.00 in the morning. The Bulgarian Army didn't expect an attack at all. We push them back quickly and break through in the north. Soon we are also on the outskirts of Sofia and after a short battle we capture the city. We advance on all fronts and take their Varna, the important city with a Black Sea-port. Bulgaria is nearly defeated and after we take Plovdiv they surrender and we annex their territory.


Czechoslovakia DoW Bulgaria


Situation after one week of fighting


After two weeks..


After three weeks... they almost be beaten


Couple of days later they surrender and we annex them

Twelve days after the end of the war against Bulgaria, we start another conflict. This time is Greece the target. We decided to take Greece out because it is a potential Allied country and - if the Allies land there - our borders are in danger. Again, the enemy didn't expect an attack. That's a bit foolish, because we took out their neighboors in the past few months. Anyway, the initial battles go very well and we don't have problems with their fortifications. We take Salonica after two weeks and march on to Athina. We keep advancing and capture a lot of Greek soldiers. The battle for Athina is pretty though, but we don't lose many soldiers. After one month of fighting, Greece surrenders and we annex them.
After the war with Greece we also took Albania out and annexed them too.


Czechoslovakia DoW Greece


Czechoslovakia wins all first battles..


The first stage of the plan...


We captured Salonica..


Greeks are retreating on all fronts..


The battle for Athina..


won by Czechoslovakia. Greece surrenders.


We annexed Albania after taking Tirane.


Soon after we conquered Greece, Italy joins the Axis. The Axis powers rule the center of Europe now. We control a large piece of the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, but I'm afraid the Regia Marina can't beat the Royal Navy. Important is to garrison the ports, as the British Expeditionary Force could possibly invade Yugoslavia or Greece. We have to pay attention on that too.


Italy in the Axis... Central Europe contains three large countries: Germany, Italy and Czechoslovakia. All are in the Axis.

Next chapter:
In the next chapter their will be some things will attract attention, at least if the war doesn't break out first! If the war breaks out, we take care of our own territory first and if we can free some troops, they can help Germany to attack France. If the war doesn't break out, their will be some surprise for the French and probably for the Germans too!