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Warriors of the North said:
Chapter 5.3: All Quiet on the Western Front

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The Siege of Malmö continued into its third month. The German Army continued to throw masses of men at the fortifications, under fire from the Swedish Army, Air Force, and the Navy (whenever the last was able to avoid KMS Schlesien and her escorts). The latest in the long string of battles saw over 130 thousand troops fighting over one city. The Germans were thrown back once more, but the strain was beginning to show on the Swedish defenders. The Germans may have lost ten thousand troops, according to surviving records of the time, but the Swedes lost over 2 thousand.

On a population that was barely able to support half the troops the Germans could, it was proportionally a much greater loss. Especially as Allied intelligence reported the Italians starting to move troops north, and the fact the Germans could still call on Bulgarians, Hungarians, and (recently added) Romanians.

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The Allies, comparatively, could only call on a shattered Belgian Army, the French, the Norwegians, and the British to support Sweden in Europe. The British Commonwealth may have joined the War, but they needed most of their small armies (even the Indian Army was small compared to the masses of men being thrown around on the Western Front) in the Pacific to watch Japan. They were holding the line in Belgium, as previously stated, in a mirror of the Great War, aside from greater success in keeping the Germans out of France herself.

It was probable, if not likely, that this was all there was keeping the Germans from drowning Malmö in blood.

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The war in Africa was far more fluid than the Western Front however. Italian forces in Ethiopia were being pushed back by joint Franco-British forces from the coast. The Italians were pushing into British territory as they fled however, making a mess of the front lines in the area. However, the Allies had an advantage in controlling Suez...the Italians would only have their existing supply stockpiles to work off of, so it was only a matter of time before the armies ran out of steam and were cornered.

The front in Libya was slightly more static, but a British lead force of natives (Egypt, Palestine, Transjordan) were pushing the Italians back, while the French forces in Morocco pushed from the other flank.

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There was little rest for the German army either. The Swedish Air Force, limited though it may have been, was bombarding Copenhagen whenever the opportunity presented itself. The Germans had little anti-air cover, and it was only the small size of the planes (and indeed the Air Force) that kept the raids from doing more damage. It still served a purpose however, in keeping the Germans preoccupied and unable to rest.

It was also giving the green Air Force some experience, experience that would serve them well if the Luftwaffe ever made itself known.

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The Army, lead by Major General Hagelberg was gaining experience too. The constant attacks may have been running them dry, but the defenders of Malmö were gaining valuable experience. This baptism of fire for the Swedish Army was quickly turning a force that hadn't seen a war in over a century, into a force that could stand against the Nazi German juggernaut...at least from well-defended positions in Malmö.


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However, these repeat battles continued to run both armies dry. The Swedes were losing more men than could be easily replaced, while the Germans were bringing more and more fresh troops from their quiet flanks. Experience or not, numbers could end up going in the Germans favor if something didn't change soon...


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Yeah...nothing new really. I get the feeling unless I invade somewhere (which is difficult when all but two cruisers and a destroyer flotilla are trapped in the Baltic) its probably going to be 'Battle of Malmö...again...and again...and again...'

We'll see.
 
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You will need more troops in Malmö to spread the hits over, that way you take less losses. Also you need to have so much piercing that you can beat the German armour else you are on the quick road to defeat if any panzers ever make an appearance.
 
I am sure that the Swedes enjoy bombing Copenhagen very much :p

As for the piercing attack, he is playing HPP SF so not sure whether piercing makes any difference.

When Finland joins the Axis, will they come knocking? I hope there are a few troops that can send them away. Or capable of occupying some bits before the red tide. Btw, in SF ally objectives exist? use them in provinces which can be accessed by the Allies navy and ask for some help.
 
You will need more troops in Malmö to spread the hits over, that way you take less losses. Also you need to have so much piercing that you can beat the German armour else you are on the quick road to defeat if any panzers ever make an appearance.

At the moment, I've got all my army, aside from the mountaineers, cavalry, and armor around Malmö. I've been rotating them out every time a division (including the garrisons) starts to get low on organization.

I'll get a screenshot of the way the defenders are currently set up later today.

I am sure that the Swedes enjoy bombing Copenhagen very much :p

As for the piercing attack, he is playing HPP SF so not sure whether piercing makes any difference.

When Finland joins the Axis, will they come knocking? I hope there are a few troops that can send them away. Or capable of occupying some bits before the red tide. Btw, in SF ally objectives exist? use them in provinces which can be accessed by the Allies navy and ask for some help.

At the moment, I'm not sure if the Finns will join the Axis. Thanks to the joys of the AI, they are currently in an eternal war with Xinjang (sp?) who are occupied by the Japanese, and are a Government in Exile right now. On top of that, the Finns are at the top of the pyramid, and are still aligning towards the Allies. It's possible they have an event or decision for the Continuation War, but I don't see them joining Hitler otherwise.

That being said, the light armor is twiddling its thumbs right now, and the Northern Corps still has the mountain troops and some cavalry if they do join somehow.
 
I wonder for how long the Swedes will be able to sustain that many losses. And the whole thing might become academic if Finnland joins the Axis or if Germany manages to get a foothold in Norway.
If the German AI should ever be bothered to get some of it's air force in action against Malmö, this might already be enough to make that particular site unsustainable.
 
I bet "Operation Barbarossa" will be fought between two empty Theatre HQ's, because all the Germans are in Denmark and Belgium, and all the Soviets are in Siberia.
Still, subscribed and eagerly awaiting updates.
 
I wonder for how long the Swedes will be able to sustain that many losses. And the whole thing might become academic if Finnland joins the Axis or if Germany manages to get a foothold in Norway.
If the German AI should ever be bothered to get some of it's air force in action against Malmö, this might already be enough to make that particular site unsustainable.

While I'm still doubtful the Finns will join anyone at this point (that neverending war is rather awkward for them), the manpower situation is rather more worrying. Every time I lose 2 thousand men, that's a month's worth of manpower down the drain. Calling up the reserves got me up to 500 or so, but I can't take losses like this forever either.

The Luftwaffe has shown up, but only a couple fighters. I'm not sure if Germany didn't build a lot, the French/Brits wrecked most of it, or if they just don't feel like bombing Malmö though.

I bet "Operation Barbarossa" will be fought between two empty Theatre HQ's, because all the Germans are in Denmark and Belgium, and all the Soviets are in Siberia.
Still, subscribed and eagerly awaiting updates.

More likely we would see the Romanians and Hungarians storming across undefended Russian plains. Though I doubt Barbarossa will fire until Germany takes France...which isn't a given at this point.

On the other hand Barbarossa might not happen at all if Sweden's efforts manage to keep France alive. I'm sure the situation will change sooner or later but for the moment it does look a lot like a stalemate on all fronts.

Other than Africa, it is a stalemate. I didn't take a screenshot, but Libya is quickly falling to a joint Allied offensive. The Japanese and Soviets even stalled, though the border around Manchuria is almost all Japanese controlled now, and a few provinces deep into Soviet territory at that. It's morbidly fascinating to watch hordes of Chinese militia under Japanese control clashing with the Red Army.

Or at least I assume that's the case since I haven't tag-switched to actually see the armies in question.

And since I promised it:

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Currently, we have four infantry divisions holding the city, all of which are at full organization for the moment. There are three other infantry divisions in reserve, in addition to the two Garrison divs, that had to be pulled out to recover after bearing the brunt of numerous attacks. I'll likely stick the garrisons back in an pull out two of the infantry divisions soon, since it is technically the Garrisons job to hold the city.

I also have three new divisions nearing completion as a strategic reserve, should the Germans develop a brain and attack somewhere else (likely Norway since their navy is also stuck on the wrong end of the strait so far as I can tell).
 
If only the AI was smart enough to try a little landing northward
 
On the bright side, Germans would maybe spent more divisions garrisoning both Norway and Sweden compared to this kind of "attacking". Moreover they're racking up some well-needed experience for Barbarossa! :D
 
It's all still going well. But just wait, the AI has to grow a brain someday and invade Norway.
Right?
Right......?

Here's to hoping you will, when the war progresses, be able to liberate Denmark and recreate Swedish Pommerania!
 
The only threat is that Finland joins the Axis and attack Sweden, but then the Soviets will overrun Finland, at least after Barbarossa starts.
 
The only threat is that Finland joins the Axis and attack Sweden, but then the Soviets will overrun Finland, at least after Barbarossa starts.

After which the Germans take Leningrad and come pouring through Finland while the Swedes parade through Berlin.
 
Hi,

does Norway have surplus ground forces? If so mil control of Norway to better use their assets(and save some swedish mp) might be of interest.

Rgds, Oldtimer
 
Hi,

does Norway have surplus ground forces? If so mil control of Norway to better use their assets(and save some swedish mp) might be of interest.

Rgds, Oldtimer

I'd have to check (and can't due to class coming up soon) but I think they only have five or so infantry divisions, all of which are covering Norwegian ports. I could be wrong, so I'll check that later. On the plus side, their Air Force (such as it is) has been helping with my bombing of Copenhagen occasionally, so there is that.

@everyone: Thanks for the comments! I'm aiming to update again tonight if all goes well.
 
Note: Norway has 5 garrisons, 4 militia divs, and 9 infantry. 231 manpower too...I underestimated them. :eek:

Though to be fair, that's nothing like what I could build if I were willing to go that low in manpower. Still though...nice going Norway.



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Warriors of the North said:
Chapter 5.4: New Enemies

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The Luftwaffe finally made an appearance in the skies over Malmö. Only a pair of fighter groups, but they were of much greater danger to Swedish morale than to Swedish troops. The Air Force quickly drove the fighters back to Copenhagen, but the fact the Luftwaffe was still there was a rude awakening for Swedish Command. Up to this point, their Air Force had ruled the skies...the fact the Germans could bring fighters in was not a welcome sight.

Nor was what would happen several days later.

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The defenders in Malmö requested whatever reinforcements were available, to stem the latest German offensive. A division from the Northern Corps was loaded on transports, and sent south to help defend the city. However, the lightly escorted force was ambushed by the KMS Schlesien, Nurnberg, and Emden.

The Manligheten dueled the much larger battleship, while the Gotland and the destroyers tried to fight the lighter enemy cruisers. And they succeeded in doing damage to the enemy ships, but the battleship was wreaking havoc on the Swedish defenders. Only a quick sortie by the Sverige squadron from Stockholm prevented the complete destruction of the Swedish transport force.

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As it stood, a group of the destroyers still fell to the ancient, but powerful, guns of the Schlesien. However, the German navy was unable to prevent the landing of the reinforcements, who relieved the battered garrisons and continued to defeat any German attack thrown their way.

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Meanwhile, new reports continued to arrive from the Belgian front. The Germans, and their allies, had managed to push through to the French border. However, that corridor had large Allied armies on either side of it, and the majority of the French army was staring across the border. The Germans had yet to move forward, so far as the Swedes could tell. The stalemate in both the west and Malmö had to be driving the German high command mad.

Something not helped by the continuing adventures of the Swedish Air Force.

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While the Schlesien was nowhere to be found, her damaged escorts were found docked in Bornholm. The Air Force immediately began to bombard the port, in an attempt to sink the cruisers. With only one dedicated bomber, however, the damage was relatively light. It still served to keep the Germans on their toes, and remind them that the Swedes were not going to go down easily though. And seemed to frighten the Germans enough to bring allies to the front.

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In the latest of the long-line of attacks on Malmö, the attackers wore odd uniforms and were certainly not shouting in German. While the Swedes didn't understand what was being shouted, most of them did recognize the language...Italian. The Germans had convinced Mussolini to send some of his own forces north, to back up the German attacks on Malmö. The Italians were ill-equipped for these attacks however, and broke even faster than the Germans would have.

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As brave as the Swedish Military was proving to be, however, there was one nation that was even more courageous...the Dutch. Having lost their homeland months ago, the only remaining Dutch forces were their navy and whatever militia had been based in the East Indies. One can imagine the shock in the Swedish command when reports came in of one of those militia divisions, presumably shipped all the way from the Indies, landing in the occupied Netherlands.

It was brave, but likely doomed to failure nonetheless.


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Not really satisfied with this, but considering I'm half-asleep it works well enough. :p
 
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You may not be completely satisfied, but it is a good update. The naval battle was a real close call. You never know, that doomed Dutch division make just break the Western Front as the AI hunts it down potentially weakening the frontline. To think, how the historians would call the Dutch the real power behind the defeat of the German military during the war when the title should really go to your Sweden mowing down the enemy left and right!
 
To be fair, the Swedish success so far is mostly due to the AI repeatedly starting pointless attacks on Malmö and not using it's units properly. With a focus on Sweden, it'd be marching through Stockholm by now.