Here is a synopsis of events, in case anyone wants to point out a dumb move (or two) that I have made.
H. Schacht moves the economy one step towards Central Planning.
The Foreign Minister denied aid for Afghanistan, deeming it “A Nation Too Far”. Surprisingly, he then approved closer ties with Nationalist China, starting mutterings of inconsistencies
Researchers sharpen their pencils and divine the secrets of:
(first is completed tech, followed by tech begun)
June: Early Airborne/ Basic Interceptor
July Basic Machine Tools/ Improved Machine Tools
Aug: Rear Area Repair/Basic Escort Fighter
Basic Destroyer/ Close Air Support
There is a brief confrontation in the Heer HQ, as Generals Beck and Guderian quibble over the future of armor in battle. Von Fritsch uses some reverse psychology and selects Beck’s proposal, in order to drive Guderian’s adherents to greater efforts.
The Ninth District Research facility opens in September (9th slot achieved).
Oct.: Basic Computer/Basic Encryption
The Hitler Youth takes form, combining youthful inexperience with a great amount of firepower. German leaders chuckle over their antics and wonder, “What could possibly go wrong?”
A crisis arrives with the heat of summer, with hot blooded Nationalist Spain rebels seeking to overthrow the government there. A cabinet meeting is called and it is decided to support a fellow Fascist, even though Franco is extremely slippery when asked about recompense for Germany.
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A.H.: Done. I approve both the transfer of materials to Franco’s forces, and the clandestine use of our “volunteers” in his service. <rubs hands together> This is a great moment, when the vaunted German spirit and determination can be tested in the fires of combat.
J. von Ribbentrop: Unfortunately, I could not get any commitment regarding alliance, favorable trading terms or basing arrangements for us near Gibraltar, as you had hoped for mein Fuehrer. He seems to be utterly lacking in gratitude for our expenditures at his behest.
A.H.: I am sure that he will come around in time. He and his realm could be a useful ally if the war widens.
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Jan. ’37 Jungle Warfare/ Advance Construction
The Chief of Staff promulgates a move towards Standing Army.
Feb: Basic Light Tank/Early Tank Destroyer
Mar: Strategic Destruction Doctrine/ Basic Field Artillery
Basic Interceptor/ Basic Fighter (Interceptor production begins)
Improved Machine Tools/ Advanced Machine Tools
Long Range Submarine/ Improved Computing (Submarine production begins)
May: Basic Escort Fighter/ Basic Tactical Bomber (Escort prod. begins)
Early Tank Destroyer/ Improved Light Tank
Basic Encryption/ Basic Decryption
A.H. mutters, “So much for instilling them with a sense of awe.”
June: Basic Close Air Support/ Battlefield Interdiction
Basic Field Artillery/
The Tenth Research Department is founded and put to immediate use investigating Improved Destroyer.
Oct: Battlefield Interdiction/ Strafing (Cavalry production begins)
Nov: Advance Construction Engineering/ Production Control
Dec. Advanced machine Tools/ Production Planning
Jan. 1938 The Chief of Staff promulgates another move towards Standing Army.
In February, the new nation of Manchukuo appeared at the door and Ribbentrop recognized it.
Hitler spearheaded a reorganization of the army, bringing in the newly formed OKW to muddle up the formerly clear chain of command. General officers fought secretive administrative battles until a proper pecking order was restored.
Mar: Improved Computing/ Indirect Approach
Basic Motorized Division/ Blitzkrieg Doctrine (MOT prod. Begins)
Basic Decryption/ Basic Mountain Division
Von Ribbentrop increases trading relations with corporate America.
Austria agrees to unite with the Fatherland. Even Hitler’s detractors are impressed with this feat of diplomacy.
Apr: Basic Tactical Bomber/ Plotting Room
Improved Destroyer/ Logistic Strike
May: Improved Light Tank/ Basic Medium Tank
Chief of Staff E. Hoepner spoke against “wasting resources on the Seigfried line” stating that “our troops are our shield”.
July: Basic Mountain Div./ Decisive Interdiction (Mountain Div. prod. begins)
Sept: Basic Anti Tank Artillery/ Improved AT Artillery
Logistic Strike/ Bomber Veteran Initiative
Plotting room/ Early Hospital
Basic Infantry Division/ First Strike Doctrine (INF and GAR production begins)
Oct: Production Control/ Agrichemistry
Nov.: Production Planning/ Assembly Line Experiments
Blitzkrieg Doctrine/ Improved Fighter
Dec: A rocket test site was completed at a top secret location (It is at Kustrin but mum’s the word.)
Dec: Improved AT Artillery/ Improved Encryption (AT production begins)
Jan. 1939: The Chief of Staff promulgates the final move towards Standing Army.
Bomber Veteran Initiative/ Night Strafing
Hjalmar Schacht threatens to resign, but is cajoled back into his post watching over the German economy.
Hitler strides around the Reichstag, casually dropping copies of Time magazine on desks, preening while he waits for the cover layout to be noticed. Secretly he yearns to be named “Man of the Century” but that will take a redoubling of his efforts, he feels, and vows to get started right away.
Grand Admiral Raeder reluctantly agrees that Plan Z must be abandoned in favor of Donitz’ U-Boat fleet. There is not enough time to conjure a fleet from thin air, as the nation careens ever more rapidly to a shooting war.
Feb: Basic Medium Tank/ Rocket Engine (medium tank prod. begins)
The Autobahn opens and Germans enjoy moments of cruising rapidly around on the roads before becoming snarled in ever-increasing military maneuvers.
Mar: indirect Approach/ Commerce Raider
Czechoslovakia falls and Slovakia is puppeted. Later Ribbentrop appeases Hungary in a local conflict and that nation becomes Germany’s first allied nation for whatever is to come.
Additionally, Romanian diplomats sign codicils with Germany for an extremely close trading partnership.
Almost as an afterthought, Hitler demands and receives the province of Memel.
Italy annexes Albania, to the bemusement of Wehrmacht staffers, who offer witty comparisons of hitting ants with hammers.
Production screens:
Apr: Agrichemistry/ Wolfpack
First Strike Doctrine/ Frontal Missions
Hitler celebrated his birthday and all had a mandatory extremely good time.
June; Night Strafing/ Basic Recon Tactics
Rocket Engine/ Improved Interceptor