Bismarck's Spirit: A Pragmatic German Campaign

Thank you all for your kind words, I will do my best not to disappoint you.

I have tried to steal plans these early years from UK and USA but I gave it only one "spy bar" so I guess it wasn't that potent. Nonetheless, I think I managed to gain blueprints two or three times in the early years.

Something else! Since my Bismarckian goals do not deal with the USSR before the West is defeated, I do not care about the Balkans too much either. There is always the (historical) possibility silly Mussolini to drag me over a war in Greece (especially if the Greeks beat him) but I will probably won't need to conquer-puppet-align Yugoslavia, Bulgaria or Greece since this flank would better stay mute and neutral. Given the power of the Axis, probably the Balkan nations will allow Germany to pass its troops if the necessity arises. And this is more than enough!

Indeed, I do not worry too much about my own actions, but of those of my allies... even more than that of my enemies which I plan to keep at bay. But this is part of the fun, I guess. If the Axis is to win, much will depend on the successes or failures of my two Pact-of-Steel allies: Italy and Japan. I cannot do much to help Japan at the early stage of the war, but I can certainly do a lot for Italy, including sending them expeditionary forces and helping them directly in Northern Africa if the need arises. Having Spain and Portugal on my side adds a very interesting advantage though: when the time is ripe, I might call them to arms for some unexpected frontier or colonial action. Their extra manpower could really do the difference the Axis did not have in history.

Btw, since 1937 or so, I have been giving two Leadership points to Italy and Japan, by sharing technology with them: armor tech to Italy and submarine tech to Japan. Given they both need the respective weapons in their theaters, they should profit from Gernamy's advancements in this field.

Gibraltar definitely did not have to fall. But starting in 1936 and having Spain bordering with France meant that my "raise threat" policy really worked. Nationalist Spain neutrality was really low after the civil war and was only a matter of making the French looking "terrifying" enough. They joined when I asked them easily. Portugal took another year of persuasion but the hard limit of Spain joining first had been lifted.

I get from both Iberian countries much-needed Tungsten. Necessary for my hardy armor columns!

Regarding the USSR, I hope I can stop them in defense in case they backstab me. But won't reload if they don't. Will AAR even a Bismarckian loss here.

The Axis, as you saw in a previous screenshot, is rather large in this alternate reality. A clever scheme of Bismarckian politics that made sure to portray the democratic nations of this world as if they were to continue a dominance against lesser powers. The strategic effects at the moment show a situation that may not be ideal, but has the basis to become better.

The Japanese Naval Supremacy is not complete, yet, but has grown considerably the last years. The Pact of Steel helps our governments collaborate as we gear up for global war. Germany desires the Polish Corridor to connect its Prussian estates with the rest of the German Reich. The control of the Baltic Sea will be complete then.

dodedo said:

how far are you in the campaign right now?

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I have played the first four years from 1936 to 1940. I am paused to 15th March of 1940, as the day that the German High Command decided to press for Danzig, essentially starting WW2. These initial screens are to describe you how the board is set. The pieces will start moving in a while.

Schweppenburg said:

The fact that Spain and Portugal are both in the Axis is a very interesting sort of alternative history. Because simply these two nations could really have been in the Axis if their respective governments decided to follow a different route. It's certainly not unthinkable. I really wonder how much this will going to hurt the UK with regard to their convoys passing along their coasts. But still, in the end the real question will be: how to cope with the Soviets if they invade, let's say somewhere in 1941. That will be VERY interesting indeed!

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My thoughts exactly. A pragmatist Germany would have convinced these two Iberian nations (especially Spain with the dictatorial nationalistic government) that have more things to gain by aligning to the Axis and reshuffling the colonial domains.

Zzzzz... said:

Not to mention, Portugal can be another base for your sea wolves.

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Yep. Northern France will be needed in case Germany does Operation Sealion, but the Portuguese coast to have reach up to the United States!

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This is the situation of our current Intelligence operations. It was quite different from 1936 to 1939 when the only important subterfuge missions were to increase the threat of France, UK, and Soviet Union. Since 1939 Germany has beefed up its counterintelligence (but only a little), and started infiltration missions in the neighboring countries. We have already many covert "sleeping cells" and we are ready to strike. This includes operatives that decrease the national unity of many rival nations, especially in hateful regimes such as the ones in the UK and Soviet Union. The first nation we are planning to strike, Poland, does not look very threatening. Their uncollaborative government has to depart...

Our spies tell us that we should not fear of Poland. They seem to be quite backwards in their naval and air forces, and only marginally competent in their land armies. It should be a walk!

In the past 4 years many projects have been going on, but the Bismarckian Germany had one single goal in mind... create the most powerful and modern armed forces to rival its Western enemies on an equal footing. After the catastrophic loss of WW1, Germany soon understood that even if it managed to defeat France in a Blitz, there still gonna be need to make Great Britain surrender. This is mandatory if Germany wants to take back its lost colonies and gain some world influence. The United Kingdom managed to starve Germany in the Great War and this, we have promised, is not allowed to happen again.

The German land forces are counting mainly on the speed of their armed columns (Blitzkrieg style of war) and some really advanced projects in air and naval operations. There are two main differences in respect to the historical Germany:

• Air Marshal (in game, Armaments Minister) Göring was convinced to develop Strategic Borders as well (the Ju-89 Project). The war might be long and Great Britain should be convinced to surrender by carpet bombing all around the clock. Moreover the conflict might one day have to reach the USA, so long-haul operations could be needed.
• Grand Admiral Raider was convinced that not only Battleships can win the war. Carriers to support operations are needed as well. Submarines are always important to blockade the United Kingdom.

Unfortunately, these extra considerations have placed constrains on our ability to build a fully motorized army, but nonetheless the delay on the start of the war has given Germany more than 6 months of extra time to complete its most needed projects. The resources (tactical and strategic) are secure at the moment, but we still need to find a better source of iron as even with the current trade agreements, iron is limited. Many trade partners may actually shun Germany if the World War starts or the Allied blockade could make it impossible for resources to arrive.

To not rise any suspicions, we trade with the Soviet Union. The Soviets are a great source of iron and rares that our war engine needs.

The last screens before showing the Oberkomando der Wehrmacht plans against a potential war with the Allies, if Poland does not submit to our Danzig demands.

The Reich is technologically as advanced as it can, taking care to share its knowledge (armor to Italy, submarines to Japan) with its main allies. We are also considering to share tech with the other strong partner of ours, the Spaniards (infantry). Most projects we have invested so far are set up for a strategic conflict with an enemy that is overseas. Capital ships, all types of aircraft, artillery, armor, submarines, rockets... are some of the technologies we have mastered. We now need some experience on the field to put all this to practice. In a few months diplomats will not be needed as much as spies and officers, we are ready to update our leadership quotas.



Our forces on the Eastern Front are up to the task. Without specific targets, we only seem to lack two armor brigades in the main front. Nothing that cannot be patched in the next couple of weeks.



Our forces on the West may have it a little harder, but I am optimistic that I can hold the Western front long enough the few weeks I will need to subdue Poland and reallocate many of the units to the West. The OKW has still not decided how to assault France, if the need arises.

yxgwtf said:

Found a typo error: "Sub to Spain"

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Corrected, thanks for the heads up.

I think you need to build more Inf divisions, 38 of them won't be enough to both following up the Panzer pace and covering the flank front at the same time.

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You mean on the Ost or the West front? Because in both I think I have more than that (brigades to be accurate), let alone the motorized and specialized (mountain, SS) I am recruiting. Indeed, though, if I am to conquer Europe I definitely need more troops. But I am positive it is more than enough to overcome the Polish resistance in a Blitz-fast campaign. Btw, 15 of May 1940 was the day the "dice was cast", the actual Danzig request may be some time in the next months, I still have to mobilize and get my troops to the border.

I plan to do my request (and start the war) by mid August... if France comes next it won't be until February-March 1941, still enough time to prepare.

I've noticed you put a lot more effort in developing your long-range bombardment capablitities. You will surely benefit from it in the long run. However, there are currently only 7 Int units available at the moment (I assume those 2 multi-task are for escorting mission, right?), which I think won't be enough to the Air Interception mission, let alone Air supremacy over the western Europe.

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Now that you say it, I have indeed too few multi-role/interceptors to protect the German cities. I am planning to build more, although bear in mind I have invested a lot in the (in the game not so efficient) heavy antiaircrafts in many cities.

Interesting approach of the Third Reich, by the way. Keep going!

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Thanks. I try to be pragmatic above all. Germans should have never opened two fronts after what happened in WW1.

Barvinok said:

Disappointed to see carriers in the production queue, but, oh well. It's more fun to see Germany just go at the Allies with battlecruisers and a few battleships.

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I understand, but what I am about to say is history. The reason Germany did not complete its two carriers (one, the Graf Zeppelin was indeed almost ready) was that the Chief of the Navy insisted, as you, in a grand fleet. I try to entertain an alternate reality approach where the two main "armaments actors" for their respective domains (Göring and Raeder) were not so adamant about their projects.

So, Göring instead of insisting in the, indeed spectacular but convoluted, Ju-88 project with a gazillion of potential roles (even dive bombing!!), understood the need to develop the "Uralbomber" (Ju-89 and others). Raeder on that other hand was convinced that in order to support operations in the British islands and lost colonies of Africa, Germany had to have at least some aircraft carriers. So these decisions were given in par to the overall long-term strategy of this Bismarckian campaign...