The German Reich and the Second World War

The facilities are in place. Nuclear research should give me the bomb by the end of the year as well rockets capable of striking the US!

Invasion (16 June – 27 June)

After several days of respite following the defeat of the Royal Air Force, a new directive was issued to the Luftwaffe. The Luftwaffe was ordered to destroy bridges and transportation hubs in the English Midlands. Small waves of bombers flew across England, heavily escorted by fighters. The first raids did little damage but, with the bomber groups being reorganized and new machines being brought into France to make up for the losses, it was hoped that subsequent raids would bring about greater destruction.

On 16 June, the planes flying across the Channel revealed a British flotilla of four battleships and heavy screens and other ships sailing from west to east. The light bombers were ordered to attack this fleet. All day long, wave after wave of bombers targeted the capital ships of the Royal Navy. Other than near misses, the day was a repeat of previous attempts and five bombers were lost with all hands to anti-aircraft fire. The British fleet was able to get to port, and our bombers returned to base. Just after midnight on 16 June the fleet was once again spotted. By 03:00 the bombers were in the air attempting to hit the fleet once more. An hour later, small assault craft were hitting the beaches of the Pas de Calais and thousands of British troops were storming ashore.

The 454th Security Division, a mere 9,000 men, spread out across miles fought ferociously from a few field positions, but could not stop the British from landing. By midday, III Panzer Korps - based in northern France - were ordered to establish a perimeter behind the 454th, to buy enough time for the 1st Panzer Army to assemble in the Pas de Calais alongside Volksgrendier and Luftwaffe Field Divisions. It was estimated that just under 200,000 British soldiers were landing. By the end of the day, Army Group D was ordered to move into France and Belgium to reinforce the 1st Panzer Army and destroy the invasion force. For the time being, the invasion of England was off.


Over the following days the British were able to secure the Calais region. The 454th Division bought enough time for the III Panzer Korps to assemble. The 11th, 16th, and 21st Panzer Divisions launched a combined counterattack on the British beachhead. Dozens of tanks were knocked out as they hit a well prepared dug-in anti-tank gun screen. The following morning the 101st Motorized Infantry Division and the 125th Panzer Grenadier Division joined the battle. Even with additional infantry, the British proved to be in a commanding position and repelled attack after attack although reportedly at a high cost. With our attack having ran its course, the British launched a rapid counterattack and were able to rapidly seize much of the Pas de Calais region. However, by this point the 2nd and 3rd Panzer Armies had already established a series of defensive positions and sealed off the rest of Europe from the British. With the build-up of German forces nearing completion, the British beachhead was looking increasingly vulnerable.

I thought so too. I was sitting thinking about how I was going to launch Sea Lion, moving my troops into position and what not ... then this. I thought it was awesome! Probably not the best move the AI has ever made, but sure one of the most awe inspiring.

Thanks for all the comments guys! Yep, a British invasion was just the least of what I was expecting and really messed with my plans. One can only apologies about the lack of updates, but I plan on getting a bunch out in the next few days and I am more than ever determined to finish this off (I never expected I would still be playing the same save over a year after I started!).

The Battle of Calais (19 July – 4 August)

The plan to defeat the British landing in Northern France consisted of a massive attack on Calais; this would cut the British off from their supplies and also retake the valuable radar bases located in the area that the British were now using.

On 19 July, under the cover of bombers and heavy artillery, four divisions attacked the British line at St. Omer. This attack, a diversion, was hoped to lure in British troops from Calais to ease the way for the main assault. It soon became evident that the British landing was not in fact a British landing, but rather an Allied one. As the panzergrenadiers pushed forward they came under fire from semi-automatic rifles and overran positions containing American soldiers. Camouflaged troops, dressed not too much unlike our own soldiers, were also encountered who it turned out were US Marines.


The following day, after it became clear the diversion was distracting no Allied forces, a minor attack was launched on the southern end of the beachhead to keep British forces distracted. In the afternoon, the main assault was launched. During the evening, the Kriegsmarine announced the sinking of the 100th British merchant ship since the start of the 1946 naval campaign in June.

The following day, following reports of determined British resistance at Calais, the Luftwaffe launched an all-out effort to support the ground attack. Considering the losses from the Battle of Britain, this was not exactly a major sortie of aircraft. The British responded by putting an estimated 700 fighters in the air above Calais. Every available fighter squadron was ordered into action, but with the radar stations in British hands, our fighters were intercepted before they could gain advantage. During the 21st, the RAF shot down 50 of our bombers forcing the Luftwaffe to abandon attempts to aid the army. Over the coming days, the RAF – rapidly recovered from the Battle of Britain and operating out of bases along southern England that had also been rapidly repaired – shot down 450 of our single engine fighters and 100 of our twin engine fighters. Around 400 of their own machines, however, were shot down over Europe along with 80 light and 60 heavy bombers. The actions of both air forces resulted in no air support to the ground battle and a stalemate in who controlled the air.


As the air battle raged on, the panzergrenadiers and landser were steadily pushing the British back at Calais. Due to determined Anglo-American resistance elsewhere, the diversion attacks were called off. Towards the end of July, just as victory seemed in sight at Calais, a sizeable Canadian force was landed. This force conducted a rearguard action allowing their British compatriots to withdraw southwards rather than being overrun. Once the British troops had got away and set up a defensive position, the Canadians in turn retired. On 4 August, our troops entered Calais and retook the slightly damaged radar stations.

Way to many! The update after next includes a bunch of info on my air losses. They are not pleasing!

Victory in France (9 August – 1 September)

Following the fall of Calais, numerous infantry divisions arrived in the Pas de Calais. They were moved forward to take up position for the next assault, the attack on Boulogne, while the panzer divisions were to act as a distraction and contain the remaining Allied beachhead. Boulogne would be seized, cutting off access to the sea for the Allied troops, and then a final attack would be launched on St. Omer to finally destroy the Allied incursion.

As daylight broke across northern France on 9 August, St. Omer was once again subjected to heavy artillery bombardment and once more the panzergrenadiers attacked fighting over foxholes they had captured in the previous attack, but had been forced to relinquish. The diversionary attack was going well, but diverted no attention. At midday, the main assault struck Boulogne after a minor artillery barrage. It soon became apparent that Boulogne was the bastion of the Allied beachhead, and the attack made little impression upon the Anglo-Canadian defenders.


The defenses of St. Omer, already weakened from the previous attack, were more exposed and the diversionary attack was making much progress. Thus, on 13 August, the main assault was scaled back and more troops were fed into the battle with the US infantry and marines. After two days of fighting, and under attack from three sides, the American infantry withdrew to the Anglo-Canadians lines. Documents captured from the American positions revealed that this Allied landing was codenamed Operation Roundup and was part of a much larger operation dubbed Overlord, of which there was little information.

As the fighting for St. Omer was taking place, large scale partisan actions broke out all across France. The activities of the Maquis resulted in little actual combat, but did divert resources at a crucial time. Over the coming weeks over 45,000 Frenchmen were arrested by Volksgrenadier divisions attempting to secure the rear area. The more active than normal activity from the Maquis appeared to be in connection with the Allied landing.

On 22 August, the final attack on the Allied position commenced. As it did, reports flooded OB West and then OKW from the 444.Sicherungs-Division. A major Allied landing was underway at Le Havre. The 444th were given instructions to hold their positions, and all available panzer and mobile infantry divisions were ordered to seal off the area and prepare to counterattack the landing.

By 25 August, five Canadian divisions had landed at Le Havre pushing back the 444th division. They were undertaking what would later be found out to be called Operation Rutter. Again, this was part of the larger Overlord plan. This plan, it had now become clear, was a massive coalition attack on Europe at various points and involved an attempt to get the French to rise up in support of the landings.


Since our forces had already moved into position, as the Canadians were forcing their way ashore, an immediate counterattack was launched by six mobile divisions. Our attack cut into the Canadian line like a knife through butter, due to the Canadians being lax in establishing defenses and lacking cohesion following their landing. Heavy naval gunfire, from destroyers to battleships, impeded the attack and gave the Canadians a lifeline. The naval bombardment was only able to do so much and after five days of fighting, the Canadian force surrendered. Just under 60,000 men walked into captivity. Meanwhile at Boulogne, the American-British-Canadian defense finally came to an end on 1 September after a gallant stand, resulting in 200,000 prisoners being taken.