Preparing Ourselves for the Fight
American Cruiser USS Cleveland returns to port in San Francisco
EUROPEAN THEATRE STRATEGY:
While we wait for the reorganization of US land sea and air forces and for the completion of key production builds, I'll consider a number of strategic options in the European theatre. Germany's grip on mainland Europe is tight. Extensive coastal fortifications and air defenses exist (with more being constructed) along the entire Atlantic coast from the Spanish border all the way to Denmark supported by a string of airbases along its entire length. There's a temptation to attempt a landing now before Germany has time to redeploy the bulk of its land forces from newly conquered Russia back to the west, but the simple truth is I'm not prepared: not enough men and not nearly organized sufficiently. As such, the immediate course of action will be to stage men and material in Britain.
US B-17s will be redeployed to Britain to begin preparation for a strategic bombing campain of Germany's industrial centers. Unfortunately, the majority of Germany's production is located far out of range of our bombers along the Polish border and East Prussia. For the near term, I'll need to focus on what is within range and work towards technologies that improve bomber and fighter escort ranges. I'll deploy BB heavy surface action groups to secure vital supply lines and hold the Kriegsmarine at bay.
The British have gained the upper hand against the Italian Navy in the Mediterranean but the loss of Egypt (and the Suez Canal) have strained their ability to supply their vast empire (compounded by a sizable U-Boat presence in Bordeaux). Gibralter and Malta (still in British hands) are alarmingly poorly defended. I'll make a a point of reinforcing these 2 key positions since I can't rely upon the British AI to recognize their importance. Both will provide valuable support positions in any effort to land in Europe via the Mediterranean.
Thinking ahead, the following future invasion options to begin the liberation of Europe are available:
1.
Vichy held North Africa: poorly defended, this region can provide a relatively secure staging point for further action in the Mediterranean. It lacks, however, a good, large harbor and will require that I declare war on "neutral" Vichy France. Its relative safety, though, makes this area a candidate for a landing sooner than most of the other options.
2.
Southern France: also requiring a DOW on Vichy France, the large port at Marseilles makes for a tempting target.
3.
Italy: a landing in the soft underbelly of the Axis near Rome not only provides access to some large ports but puts me closer to Germany and an opportunity to quickly knock the Italians out of the war.
4.
Yugoslavia: this area is defended relatively lightly, although the lack of a large port makes this a less attractive landing area.
5.
Greece: Athens makes a tempting target because of its large port. It's also relatively close to the oil resources at Ploesti but the terrain and infrastructure there would make operations less than ideal.
6.
Suez Canal: Recapturing Suez would provide great relief to the UK but it's distance from Europe will relegate operations there to a more secondary nature.
7.
Bordeaux: A highly tempting target due to its large harbor and relatively close proximity to the American east coast (shortening supply lines). Brest could also be considered for the same reasons.
8.
North Coast of France: The proximity of the UK and the air cover would be provided make this a reasonable option and would allow for a quick thrust towards the liberation of Paris but the lack of deep water harbors make this option less viable.
9.
Low Countries: possibly the best of the available options, landing(s) here would afford access to to both Antwerp and Amsterdam's large harbors. Air cover from the UK would be available (and plentiful) and its proximity to the Ruhr would allow for quicker entry into Germany itself.
10.
German North Sea Coast: Kiel is a large harbor and offers an immediate means to strike at the heart of Germany. Its location, though, would require a large, heavily armored force to handle the Wehrmacht on its home soil.
WHY WE FIGHT:
In January of 1941, during President Roosevelt's State of the Union address to Congress, he outlined
Four Essential Freedoms for
all people of the world. The idealism and altruism of this declaration, while highly admirable, should also be seen in context with the fierce isolationist mindset of the majority of Americans at this point in time. This is the President appealing to the conscience of America. War is raging around the globe and the flags of tyranny and oppression are planting themselves over more and more lands. With the defeat of the Soviet Union, Britain is alone in Europe to stand up to Hitler. In Asia, the Empire of Japan rampages through China. The message is clear: it's up to us to Save the World from tyranny and ensure a prosperous future for not only ourselves but also for the entire global community. It's in this context that America goes to war by the end of that same year.
Listen to an excerpt from this speech
HERE
The response from the enemy serves only to underscore the need to go to war
FIRST BLOOD:
US forces in the Pacific are especially vulnerable during my regroup, reorganize and re-assign leadership initiative as the Japanese are aggressively prowling the waters around Guam and Wake Island. I lose a signficiant number of convoys and escorts during this process. I respond by deploying a Carrier Task Force based in Honolulu and led by Admiral Nimitz into the area. With only 10 CAGs, this is the most I can muster for now. First contact occurs on January 16, 1942 in the Shanto Sea located between the Phlippines and the coast of China. The results (against Admiral Yamamoto himself) are less than spectacular despite the fact that I outnumber them. I'm going to need to get more CAGs built as quickly as possible and improve my positioning techs if I want to achieve my goal of defeating the IJN.
Sgt. Wesley Slaymaker
(37th Division, 129th Infrantry, M Company) of Atkinson, Nebraska
ONE OF THE MANY:
Sgt. Wesley Slaymaker of Atkinson, Nebraska, having just been drafted, begins his long journey into the unknown. On the train bound for basic training, he scribbles out a postcard to family back home.
Dear Folks, Just a line to let you know we are on our way got here 2:30 will leave 4:30 by train for Fort Leavenworth.
I slept most of the way down some of the boys got pretty drunk. Lots of love, Wes.
OFFICE OF STRATEGIC SERVICES (OSS)
Already I'm beginning to see signs of foreign espionage incursions into my research efforts so I install J. Edgar Hoover as the new Minister of Security. This will improve my efforts to hold off foreign spies domestically. My external espionage efforts, on the other hand, are woefully poor (the situation inherited from the AI has virtually no spies infiltrated into my enemies). To address this, the President establishes the Office for Strategic Services whose responsibilities will include infiltration of foreign powers, intelligence gathering, sabotage and commando activities in enemy occupied regions.