Interlude: The Axis powers and the Second World War
With the realization that the Reich lacked the strength to defeat the Soviet Union by herself and coupled with a growing manpower issue, discussions were opened with the Axis powers of Europe. It was made clear that if the Reich failed, Europe would be engulfed by the Red menace. As the powers of Europe had signed the anti-comintern pact and were already at war with the Soviet Union, the initial discussions was more of a set of demands. The Axis powers were demanded to provide troops for the Eastern Front. They refused.
Due to the pro-Russian population of Bulgaria, their government declined to deploy troops to the east as it would cause undue unrest and could possibly result in civil war. Galeazzo Ciano, the Italian foreign minister and acting on behalf of Mussolini, revealed the Italian military weakness following the disastrous campaigns in Africa. The army consisted of less than one million men - a far cry from the 8 million bayonets Mussolini had once bragged about - and most were tied down still fighting in Greece. Furthermore, due to the prolonged war Italy was suffered from their own manpower problems and Ciano confessed that the 'Comando Supremo' did not believe prolonged resistance could be offered if the Western Allies launched an invasion.
Jumping upon the present weakness of the Reich, the French, Hungarians, and Slovakians all offered to provide troops, but under various conditions. The Slovakians, ecstatic to be free of the bondage of Czech oppression, were more than willing to provide troops to ensure the Soviet Union did not absorb their fledging country, but under the condition that the Reich would guarantee their independence in the post-war world and ensure that they were not attacked by Hungary. With these terms agreed to, the First and Second Slovakian armies (14 divisions totaling 162,000 men) were placed under our control and in early October, they boarded trains for the frontlines.
In late October, the French opened negotiations. Meeting at the Palace of Versailles, our diplomats were determined to create a treaty that would destroy the legacy of the previous Treaty of Versailles and ensure if anyone ever uttered those three words it would be in reference to the lasting peace between a dominate Germany and a submissive France. What post-war France would look like was under discussion. It was made clear to the French, that the Reich had no interest in the French colonial empire, and granted the French could liberate it from the Anglo-American imperialist-capitalist aggression; it would be left as it was. If the Reich would deploy troops to aid in the liberation was left open, and talk of commitments were avoided. The French argued for the restoration of all their territory in return for the deployment of their troops. This was outright rejected. After much back and forth discussion, with the French being politely reminded of their weakness and their need for German protection, the French submitted. It was accepted that the Reich would retain Alsace and Lorraine (territories illegally occupied by France following the conclusion of the First World War), that the steel producing region around Briey would be absorbed into the Reich along with a coastal strip running from Dunkirk to Boulogne-sur-Mer (to be able to prosecute the war against the British and ensure that in the future the British would not be able to blockade the Reich nor have undisputed control over the "English" Channel) and a land connection linking all these areas together. The French hesitantly agreed. However, due to the small size of their military and the need to keep a strong force present to deter further Anglo-American aggression, they could only assemble a force of six divisions (in total, 67,000 men) to be deployed as an expeditionary force. While this force would be under direct German control, they also agreed to dispatch light and medium bombers under the condition they remained under direct French command.
The Hungarians were the last to make an agreement. In November, in the Hungarian capital, the Treaty of Budapest was signed. The Hungarians essentially wanted to reverse the Treaty of Trianon, which they had been forced to sign following the First World War. That treaty had taken Hungarian lands and split them among the Austrians, Czechs and Slovakians, the Yugoslavians, and the Rumanians. In light of our agreement with the Slovakians, the Hungarians were made aware that they would not be allowed to advance north. They acknowledged the independence of the Slovakians, accepted Austria had willingly - and of their own free will - merged with the Reich and the rest of their ethnic kin, and also recognized the Italian domination of much of the Balkans. The Hungarians clarified their position: they wanted German support in retaining their Yugoslavian occupation zone in the post-war world, and wanted German aid in a future invasion of Rumania to forcibly retake their land. The Rumanians, the Hungarians argued, had no right to so much of their territory and they wanted it back. In turn, they suggested a German occupation zone in Bessarabia stretching south to the major oil fields, leaving a rump state closer to the Black Sea. Their proposal was accepted. By the end of the year, the First and Second Hungarian armies (23 divisions, with 235,000 men) and two security-cavalry divisions (18,000 men) had been transferred to the frontlines. The Third and Fourth Hungarian armies were retained by the Hungarian High Command for defense of the country – against possible Rumanian attack – and for action in the Balkans supporting the Italians although these forces were comprised of largely second line and static formations.
Green line = proposed new borders of Hungary
Blue areas within the Green Line indicate Yugoslavian lands currently occupied by Hungarian forces
The Finns, not part of the Axis or an anti-comintern member, had lost a lot of territory to the Soviets during the Winter War. Their democratic National Coalition Party expressed an eagerness to restore their lost land, but refused to open negotiations on the subject of them joining the war as co-belligerents. They did, however, open high-level military discussions and highlighted the possibility of discussing their possible role in the war at a future date. Their military consisted of 128,000 men with the vast majority in eleven combat ready divisions, although three are extremely understrength. While a small force, their high command expressed the opinion that with the Soviet attention firmly on the German military, they would be able to liberate their lost land and tie down Red Army formations from interfering with any of our plans.
Due to the frontline having pushed closer to Russia, Army Group South Ukraine was designated 'Army Group F' (F standing for Foreign). As the French, Hungarian, and Slovakian armies arrived on the front, they were assigned to this army group. Slovakian troops were deployed to the various ports along the southern coast, took up positions in the Crimea and along the southern edge of the front. The small French force was deployed to their north, and the Hungarian armies were deployed along the flanks of the bulge created by Operation Clockwork. As these forces arrived, German forces departed. Three armies and numerous static divisions were released from the south by this move and Army Group North Ukraine was able to concentrate its forces in the Kursk region. However, the disposition of these expeditionary forces was purely defensive. They were spread out to man the frontline, and thus unable to take on offensive actions.
