Turkey AAR (First HOI2 Game)

[NL_Oxcart]

I am playing as Turkey, on Normal/Normal difficulty, in the 1936 campaign. This will not be a plot-based AAR, but will be a fairly basic description of what happens from the players point of view, with screenshots of course.

My goals are, roughly:

1) Surive.
2) Modernize, Industrialize, and eventually Democratize.
3) Get involved in WW2 at a time and place of my choosing.
4) If possible, bring back as much of the former Ottoman Empire as possible under Turkish suzerainty.

While I have played HOI 1 fairly extensively, this is my first game of HOI2, and I don't know much about how to play it. I have only read a small amount of the manual and read a few threads on the message board. I view this as a good thing, and hope that this will lead me to mess things up, which will hopefully add to realism, because in real life things never go according to plan.

[Stroph1]

and hope that this will lead me to mess things up, which will hopefully add to realism, because in real life things never go according to plan.

And allow the rest of us to enjoy and learn from your pain.

Good luck!

[Corruption]

This should turn out good. When will the first chapter be posted?

[Formula51]

Hopefully you won't screw up too badly.

Good Luck.

(PS: In my first game, My Germany was overrun by france.)

[NL_Oxcart]

Chapter 1

On January 1, 1936, Kemal Ataturk suddenly and unexpectedly decided to do many things.

He:

1) Decreed, in a famous speech, "Turkey must be more Hawkish." It was done, and the hawk lobby was much pleased.
2) Decided to sack chief of the Army Mehmet Nuri Yamut, well known for his advocacy of static defence, and replace himwith Alparslan Turkes, on a program of using fewer supplies.
3) As this caused a bit of a stir, Ataturk decided to give the people lots of consumer goods for a few days, in order to quiet them down.
4) Decided to reorganize the army into two main armies, the army of Europe (based in Istanbul) and the army of Asia (based in Kars), to increase logistical efficiency.
5) Ordered that work should begin on basic machine tools for Turkish industry, and that research should be conducted by the Turkish Petroleum Company.
6) Decreed that new factories should be built in Istanbul, Izmir, Antalya, Ankara, and Sivas.

In the next several days, there was a flurry of diplomatic activity, as Armaments Minister Zekai Apaydin informed Ataturk that the economy faced shortages of metal, while slight surpluses of energy and rare materials accrued.



A trade agreement with the United Kingdom, offering 5 widgets of Rare Materials and 10 widgets of Energy in exchange for 5 widgets of metal and 1.2 widgets of Money was sought. Zekai Apaydin's analysts claimed there was a 2/3 chance that Britain would accept the agreement. After negotiations were complete, Foreign Minister Tewfik Rustu Aras announced that Britain had agreed to the deal.

On January 7th, Ataturk abruptly decided that the people had enough Consumer goods and that it was time to focus production on building new factories. Ataturk also decided, to the protestations of Alparslan Turkes, that the army would not be given supplies, because they cost too much in resources. Rumor around Ankara had it that Ataturk was heard muttering something along the lines of, "It worked in HOI 1, maybe it does in HOI 2 also." Ataturk also made it clear that the had no need for reinforcementsand that it would do just fine with obsolete units, such as the Cavalry corps that was, at that very moment, crossing the Bosporus on its way to its new base in Istanbul (not Constantinople).



The meddling Soviet Union, during this period, continually attempted to influence internal Turkish politics. This annoyed Ataturk, needless to say.

On February 9, 1936 GMT, supplies for the Turkish armed forces ran out. Officers from the Army, Navy, and even the fledgeling Airforce asked as delicately as possible whether Ataturk was really serious about this. They appealed to his military experience in the Great War and in its aftermath, and asked what the soldiers should do without bullets and uniforms. All in vain. Ataturk told them to put up posters of the Father of the Turks up on the barracks walls and to lead the men in recitation of statements about the greatness of the father of their country. And so it was done.

[Sir Humphrey]

Nice, though the guy on the right poster in the last picture looks particulary sinister. Nice start.

[Stinker Mief]

Originally Posted by Sir Humphrey

Nice, though the guy on the right poster in the last picture looks particulary sinister. Nice start.

Don't say things like that. Even the slightest insult in the general direction of Ataturk could result in Turkey declaring war on you. (I think that should be hardcoded )

Still a great start to the AAR. Will be interesting to read....a base of 10 IC....

[NL_Oxcart]

Chapter 2

Over the next week or so, Ataturk, through his ministers, noted several strange phenomenon. One was that for some unknown reason dissent went up to .99% (not 99%). This puzzled Ataturk deeply. Why had this happened? Eventually Ataturk found that it went down without going back up if a small dose of consumer goods were applied. Odd. Apparently if mother and father get a new radio, they no longer care that son is starving and without ammunition or uniform in the army. So Ataturk set out to eliminate this dissent in the next month. The men would train themselves with wooden rifles, and like it too. Another strange phenomena was that division organisation seemed to be falling. Ah yes, but that happened in HOI 1, didn't it? Mustapha Kemal smiled dimly.

On March 7, 1936, Ataturk was woken from his slumber to be informed that a great event had happened in world politics. Germany had re-occupied the demilitarized Rhineland zone. Britain and France appeared as though they would do nothing, but lack of action did not translate into lack of concern, or rather concern did not translate into action. This was an interesting development. How to use it to Turkey's benefit?

On May 1, 1936, Ataturk was once again awoken from his slumber to find that dissent had risen to .48. He had no idea why this was happening. Why Ataturk? Why now? Am I not loved by 100% of my people, he thought sadly? The odd thing was, when it got to .48, it seemed to stay there for some reason or another. Ataturk decided that it was probably better not to mess with things he didn't understand in this instance. Also, research into machine tools had slowed, but the Turkish Petroleum Company was unable to explain why this had occured. They had plenty of money, after all. Ataturk guessed it had something to do with the numbers besides the different icons. The scientists told Ataturk that they were on the "Basic Machine Tools Development Process" stage, and that progress was slow because they were nearly done. But Ataturk wasn't sure if he understood their reports correctly. In any event, he didn't bother asking, or looking it up. Instead, he took a nap.

On March 8th, 1936, Italy annexed Ethiopia. This had caught Ataturk completely off guard, or more precisely had caught Turkish intelligence completely off guard. No one had even bothered to tell Ataturk that Ethiopia was at war with Italy in the first place, or else no one knew. Ataturk considered whether he wanted to know which was the case, and decided that he didn't. He also considered sacking Head of Intelligence Sukru Ali Ogel, but decided against it because that would increase dissent.



On June 25, 1936, the Turkish Petroleum announced the completion of research into Basic Machine Tools. All Turkish factories would instantaneously be equipped with these new machine tools, the scientists claimed. Ataturk was skeptical, but instead of dwelling on it, ordered the Turkish Petroleum Company to begin work on Census Tabulating Machines at once. Upon the completion of the research, dissent fell from .48 to .47. Ataturk knew enough not to ask questions.

In the next week or so, Ataturk and his ministers were unable to observe any chance whatsoever in Industrial Capacity from these new machine tools, despite the scientists' claims that it would improve it. Perhaps every factory in Turkey did not instantaneously acquire the machine tools. ? Ataturk didn't say so, but he took this is a confirmation of his innate wisdom.

On July 18, 1936, Civil War broke out in Spain. Ataturk felt a desire to send something or somebody, but he did not know what to send or who to send it to, or why to send it. This led him to stay on a path of inaction. Instead, the Ataturk read the news about the situation. General Mola in the north, General Franco in the south, factional infighting everywhere, Anarcho-Syndicalists in Barcelona, oh my! Ataturk asked Head of Intelligence Sukru Ali Ogel to get better intelligence on the situation, to "remove the fog of war," if he would. But the incompetent Sukru Ali Ogel did not know how. He claimed that it was not in the menu/options like it used to be. One day Ataturk would fire him. But not today. Everyone who was anyone was intervening - Germany, the Soviet Union, Italy, though not France or the UK. Isolationist America even intervened (or some of its corporations did, anyway) by shipping oil and bombs to Franco - But Turkey could not even get decent intelligence on the situation. So Ataturk decided to resume his nap. Perhaps an enterprising young person would send some Kebabs into the fray.



During the middle of August, what little intelligence he got on the situation indicated that the Spanish Republic had taken Castellon and Madrid from the Nationalists. A week later, Valladolid fell, splitting Nationalist Salamanca from the rest of their northern zone. It seemed as though the Republicans were winning. But almost as soon as Valladolid was taken, it was retaken by the nationalists. But in the first week of September, Salamanca and Saragosa fell to renewed Republican assault. The outcome seemed in flux.



Finally, in the beginning of November a decisive point seemed to have been reached as Burgos fell to the Republicans. The only nationalist controlled provinces left in Spain-proper were Seville, Siguenza, and La Coruna. A few days later, by the way, FDR was re-elected in the US.



On November 20, Ataturk noted that dissent was at .94%. Inexplicable. But only two days later, Ataturk was surprised by a military parade held in Ankara, which lowered dissent 5%. The brave Turkish troops marched, wooden rifles in hand and rags on their bodies, to the cheers of the people. And then everyone loved Ataturk once more. Ataturk did wonder why he wasn't told of the parade beforehand, however.

On December 15, Seville finally fell to the Republic. It had been under nationalist control since the beginning of the war, but its long holdout was over. Rumor had it that Franco had died in the last-ditch defence of the city, though rumor also had it that Franco had escaped to Argentina, where he now lives quietly on a small farm. Only La Coruna remained in Nationalist hands.

Upon the beginning of the new year, Ataturk decided, in his wisdom, that Turkey should become more interventionist and less isolationist. He also considered sacking the intelligence chief once again, but could think of no suitable replacement.


The Soviet-aided Republic strikes the Nationalist snake in the head

The main event of the year, it seemed to Ataturk, was the Spanish Civil War. The Republicans were on the verge of victory - indeed, La Coruna would fall in only a week and the war would end in Republican victory - and Ataturk took this as a sign of Soviet power. It was with Soviet aid that the Republic had prevailed. The newfangled German and Italian tanks and airplanes had not brought the nationalists victory, whereas Soviet grit, determination, and numbers had led to Republican victory. On January 11, the factory in Istanbul was complete. Productionon the factory in Ankara sped up, Turkish industrial capacity increased, and Ataturk even decided to alocate a small amount of that expanded capacity to upgrade some of the particularly outdated Turkish army units. Furthermore, the scientists told him that they were nearly done with the Census tabulating machines. It had been a good year, with much slumber. Ataturk wondered how much sleep he would get in the next year.

[NL_Oxcart]

Originally Posted by Stinker Mief

Don't say things like that. Even the slightest insult in the general direction of Ataturk could result in Turkey declaring war on you. (I think that should be hardcoded )

Yes, he will send Turkey's obsolete, unsupplied cavalry after you.

Still a great start to the AAR. Will be interesting to read....a base of 10 IC....

I kinda thought they would have more... They did in HOI 1.

[NL_Oxcart]

Chapter 3

As January 25 came by, the completion of research into Census Tabulating Machines was announced amidst minor fanfare. Work was quickly begun on improved machine tools, with Turkish Petroleum once again winning the contract to conduct research.

By February 5th 1937 , Turkish industrial capacity was up to 13 widgets. But this rapid industrialization came with a dark side. Turkish reserves of Energy and Metal were showing slight declines, because more resources were needed to run the new factories and their machine tools. However, the problem was still relatively minor, and Turkish industry would run just fine for quite some time. Why deal with what can be put off? So Ataturk rolled over in bed and went back to sleep.



On June 26th, 1937, something interesting enough to justify waking Ataturk up from his hibernation finally occurred. In China, by the Marco Polo bridge, there was something of a border skirmish. For a while, it seemed as though full scale war between China and Japan would break out. But the Japanese government, in it's wisdom, decided that it could not afford a war, and the crisis died down. Though Ataturk had seen the horror of war firsthand, he had to admit to himself that he was a bit disappointed. It would have given him something to do, to watch a war. It would have been like the Spanish civil war... Now he would get more sleep, he supposed.

On August 1, work on Improved Machine Tools was finished. Work was promptly begun on a "basic computing machine," and the contract once again fell to Turkish Petroleum. Armaments Minister Zekai Apaydin reminded Ataturk about the resource shortage and the coming crisis as industrialization accelerated. Ataturk wasn't in the mood and went back to sleep, even while a little voice in his head told him that sooner or later, something would have to be done...

On September 6th, the factory was finished in Ankara. Ataturk knew what this meant. More industrial capacity (14). Less resources. The crunch was growing crunchier.

Alas, the problem had to be dealt with. Ataturk reluctantly agreed to a cabinet meeting to be held on the 8th to determine what was to be done. At the meeting, Foreign Minister Tewfik Rustu Aras proposed that new trade agreements be sought... Trade agreements that involved other countries giving resources to Turkey for free. Ataturk was skeptical. He decided to give Rustu until the end of the month to seek such agreements. But after that time, if trade deals could not be secured, then Turkey would have to act more forcefully to defend its (perceived, anyway) national interest.

Offers to take free resources were made to many countries. All were declined. And so on October 1, the cabinet met once again. Ataturk said that resources must be acquired somewhere. And the only way to acquire resources for Turkey's growing industry was through conquest. But what countries could Turkey conquer? Bulgaria had 14 army divisions, as many as Turkey. Greece had 16. Persia had 5, but the country was so big that any invasion risked being bogged down, and Persia had never really been a part of the Ottoman Emprie. There was Iraq, with 6 divisions, but it was a UK puppet. French controlled Syria and the Soviet Union were both, unfortunately, far out of the question. So what options were there? Were there any countries that fulfilled the twin criteria - small and easy to conquer, and a part of the former Ottoman Empire?

There was, and Ataturk knew just the country. Albania. It was small. It had no army whatsoever. It was part of the former Ottoman Empire. And it's population was predominantly Muslim - though Turkey was a modern, secular country, and Ataturk a modern, secular leader, he knew that in the world of realpolitik that didn't hurt. The only difficulty was the fact that there was no land route to Albania. Luckily, however, the Turkish navy had one rusting old transport flotilla left over from the great war. It was enough to carry one division. Good, that was all that would be needed. When the Turkish army put ashore in Tirana, it would undoubtedly be greeted with massive quantities of flowers. Tewfik Rustu pleaded for one last chance for diplomacy - he would ask Albania for its resources for free. Ataturk was skeptical, and expected to be turned down. Turkey was turned down. And so it was decided.



The men of the Reschid Pasha Kucuk Filotilla were very surprised to hear that they would be going to sea. For some time now, they had been under strict orders to use no oil or supplies whatsoever. The men of the 5. Yedek Suvari Dagitim Cavalry Division were similarly surprised to discover that they would be going on a little boat ride.



On the fourth of October, 4 AM GMT, the Turkish transport flotilla and its precious cargo arrived offshore of the Albanian Coast. Shortly thereafter, a Declaration of War was issued against Albania. Ataturk was not pleased to discover that 11.11% of the Turkish population disagreed with this decision, and ordered that they be bought off with consumer goods. On October 6th, at 2 PM GMT, the Turkish Cavalry arrived in Tirana, and Albania was instantly annexed. There was much pillaging, as the Turkish stockpile of resources greatly expanded. The army even found about 1000 widgets of supplies in Tirana. And there were celebrations in the streets of Ankara.



By the beginning of December, Ataturk was universally hailed as a genius in Turkey once more, and the people were so pre-occupied with radios, hairdryers, and nylon stockings that they had forgotten all about that war thing.

[Spricar]

excellent reading indeed!

[NL_Oxcart]

I'm glad you like it

Chapter 4

On December 10, Germany and Japan signed an "Anti-Commintern" pact. Italy was invited to join, but declined to sign on.

On January 1st, 1938, Ataturk decreed that Turkey would become more interventionist. It was promptly done.

On March 26, Ataturk noticed that the strength of the cavalry division in Albania had dropped to 17/100. After a bit of digging around, he noticed that there was a 19% risk of partisan attacks in both Albanian provinces, so he guessed that the two were connected. He ordered that more divisions be ferried from Istanbul to Albania to keep the peace.



On the 29th, Ataturk learned that Germany had annexed Austria... Hmm. And he also noted that the strength of the cavalry division continued to fall, and that it had a red circle around it which said, "this unit is not in supply," whereas for the units stationed in Turkey, it said "this unit is in supply," despite the fact that they had no supplies. So he abruptly called back the transport and decided to take the cavalry division back to Istanbul, rather than bring more to Albania. As for the partisans, well, Ataturk tried not to think about them. Perhaps they would go away.

By April 9th, revolt risk had dropped to 18%. It seemed that the nice Albanian Partisans were indeed going away.

On May 11, 1938, work was completed on Basic COmputing Machines, and work began on Advanced Machine Tools.

On July 13, 1938, word was received that Turkish Intelligence had managed to get its hands on the blueprints for basic interceptors from France. Perhaps Sukru Ali Ogel was not as incompetent as he thought. Ataturk also noticed that on the technology screen, it said "blueprints traded for." Hmmm, Ataturk thought.

On August 6th, the factory in Sivas was finished, prompting Ataturk to order to construction of another factory in both Istanbul and Ankara.

On September 30th, Neville Chamberlain announced to the world the treaty of Munich. As Ataturk looked on, he considered what this meant for Turkey. Hitler seemed to be increasingly aggressive and assertive, while the Allied powers seemed to be much less so. First the Rhineland. Then Austria. Now the Sudetenland. The prospect of renewed World War seemed newly realistic. And World Wars don't happen without affecting most of the world. Ataturk began thinking hard about future Turkish foreign policy.



On October 4th, Germany influenced Turkish Policy on standing armies.

On November 11, 1938, all of Turkey woke up to tremendous tragedy. Mustapha Kemal 'Ataturk' had died. He would think no more about the future of Turkish foreign policy. Lamentations were heard throughout Turkey, and Ismet Inonu took over as head of state.



In his speech at the national funeral service, Ismet Inonu said:

But Ataturk was also my personal friend, as he was the personal friend of all Turks. He will be remembered for his greatness, for secularizing, modernizing, and doubling Turkey's industrial strength in his last three years. He will be remembered for taking back for Turkey what is rightfully hers - that province on the Adriatic. For as as long as this nation shall endure, his posters shall be hung in every school, and generally all over the place, and children will learn of his historical importance every day. Monuments and memorials shall be erected all across Turkey, and we will build him a grand mausoleum. But most of all, we shall mourn his loss, and celebrate his life - forever.


Ataturk's Mausoleum

[NL_Oxcart]

Chapter 5

On November 29, research into Advanced Machine Tools was completed. Inonu ordered that research into Improved Computing Machines begin. Instead of getting the Turkish Petroleum Company to do the work, however, Inonu gave the contract to the Istanbul Valde Shipyard, because of its expertise in Electronics and because he judged it generally more competent than the Petroleum Company.

On December 26, the factory in Izmit was complete. By the beginning of the new year, It was starting to kick into production, which would bring Turkish Industrial capacity up to around 19.

Inonu declared that Turkey would become, against his own personal judgement, more Hawkish, in honor of Ataturk. The Hawk Lobby was pleased, and the Dove Lobby was dismayed. Inonu also promised again to keep up Ataturk's industrialization campaign.



On March 15, 1939, Czechslovakia ceased to exist. Inonu found this as interesting as the next world leader, but couldn't see anything that Turkey could do. On the 24th, Germany continued to expand as it demanded, and got, the city of Memel from Lithuania. In response to this, a week later the UK offered Poland an alliance, and Poland accepted the offer. Events in international affairs followed fast and furiuos as the Soviet Union and Japan fought along the Manchurian border, but then the crisis ended.

On August 8th, another factory was completed in Antalya. More were begun.

On August 24th, Russia and Germany shocked the world by signing a non-agression pact.

On August 30th, 1939...



War had begun. And France and Britain joined on the side of Poland.

On September 4th, just as German troops were reaching the outskirts of Lodz, scientists informed Inonu that the Improved Computing Machines were ready. Inonu promptly opened negotiations with the UK to try to obtain some technological blueprints, but he found that this seemed to be impossible.



With the advent of war, Inonu decided that Turkish infantry should be upgraded to at least a minimal standard, and so he ordered that research into Early Infantry Divisions be conducted. It was to be done by the Istanbul Valde Shipyard which, sad to say, was the best equipped company in Turkey for the job.



From September 4th-9th, it seemed that Poland had halted the German advance around the strongpoint of Lodz. Allied planes were actively bombing Germany, and German AA was actively shooting back. But then on the 10th, German Panzers broke through in Lodz andpushed forward towards Warsaw, cutting a hole in the Polish lines. Cracow soon fell, then Torun, as the front began to collapse. By the 20th, German units had reached Stryi in the south and Suwalki in the north, making Warsaw a tempting salient ready to be cut off, chewed up, and spit out.



The only question seemed to be one of time. But after a ferocious battle, Warsaw fell on the 28th, and Poland surrendered soon afterwards. On the 30th, the Soviet Union advanced into eastern Poland. Poland was thus partitioned once again in its history.



Inonu, along with the rest of the Turkish people, marvelled at the speed of Poland's downfall. It was something so far removed from the trenches of Gallipoli as to be unbelievable. Now France and Britain, along with the commonwealth, stood alone against this German Juggernaut. But there was the might Maginot line. The world held its breath.

[NL_Oxcart]

I only included screenshots of the battle of Norway because it was the only unusually interesting thing that happened in this period. If anyone has a pressing desire to see screenies of something else in this period, let me know what of and I'll see if I took some screenies.

Chapter 6

On November 5th the Soviets, not the Germans, made their move by declaring war against Finland. Meanwhile on the western front the only activity was airplanes flying overhead, while the soldiers of Germany and France eyed each other on the ground.

On November 27th, Foreign Minister Sukru Saracoglu gave news of British treachery to the cabinet. They had cancelled, for no apparent reason, their trade agreement with Turkey. This meant that Turkish Industry was losing 8.5 widgets of metal per day. Inonu immediately ordered that trade deals be sought with other countries, and after consultation with Turkey's top economic gurus, an emissary was sent to the US Government seeking 10 widgets of metal in exchange for 2.3 widgets of money. The gurus estimated that there was a 65% chance the Americans would accept. But the United States declined the offer. A week later, another emissary was sent to the US, offering 2.4 widgets of money instead. This time, the US agreed. What sticklers for that last .1 widget they were.

On December 7th, a particularly sharp scientist came up with blueprints for the research on better Infantry divisions. This would speed progress and was most fortunate. Then on the 16th, yet another factory was completed in Istanbul, which would bring up Turkish industrial capacity to 22 widgets by the time it was fully functioning.

And then on January 1 the idea that Turkey should become yet more hawkish mysteriously entered into Inonu's head. And so it was done. The Hawk lobby did back-handsprings in celebration, while the Dove lobby considered ceasing production of its premium chocolates.



At this time the Red Army in Finland finally managed to make a bit of progress against what had turned out to be a ferocious Finnish defence, taking Kajani and Jyvanskyla. But the fight for Viipuri and Sortvala was going less well, with the Finns holding firm there.

On January 6th, in large part due to that enterprising scientist, research into Early Infantry Divisions was completed. However, it was decided to delay converting the old infantry divisions into these new ones because of the prohibitive cost of doing so. In the spirit of Ataturk, research into Advanced Computing Machines immediately began.

By the beginning of March, the Soviets had advanced futher into Finland, taking Sortavala, but they were still unable to crush Finnish resistance. Then on March 3rd, Germany declared war on Denmark and Norway. On March 7th,Kolding fell to Germanassault, and then on the 11th Denmark was annexed. At the same time, the Soviets suddenly began to make better progress in Finland. Helsinki fell to Russian assault on the 13th, and it seemed that Finland's days were numbered. Yet on the 18th, a war weary Soviet Union made peace with Finland in exchange for Sortvala and Viipuri. On March 24th, the German invasion of Norway began as Kristiansand fell to German paratroopers.



Yet the Germans were driven back into the sea five days later by a fierce Norweigan counterattack. But on April 3rd, Kristiansand fell to a renewed German attack. Yet this time, the Germans held on under counterattack and surrounded Oslo by April 16th. But then the Norweigans retook Kristiansand 4 days later,trapping German forces in Hamar. The embattled Germans, however, managed to break out to Alesund, the sea, and the prospect of resupply.



On May 6th, the war expanded as Germany declared war against Belgium. A day later, and Germany was at war with the Netherlands too.

On the 9th, a factory was completed in Ankara.

On the 10th, Germany even declared war on tiny Luxembourg. The Germans advanced quickly through the low countries, with Luxembourg falling on the 15th, and most of Belgium and the Netherlands soon afterwards, though pockets of resistance remained. on the 18th, lead units advanced into France, taking Lille. The speed of the advance caused Inonu to begin the process of upgrading the obsolete Turkish infantry divisions. Amiens fell on the 23rd, even as Brussels, Namur, and Utrecht held on in the German rear. On the 25th, Paris fell. On the 27th, all resistance in the Bennelux region ceased. One day later, Italy joined with Germany in its war against France and Britain. But France was not yet ready to give up. It held the line against Italy in the south, and while Germany advaned along a broad front from Le Havre to Troyes, on June 12, 1940, a french counterattack led by General DeGaulle managed to retake Paris. But the relentless German adavnce continued, Paris was retaken, and by July 6th, France had surrendered and a Vichy puppet state was created by Germany.

On July 23rd, Germany declared war against Republican Spain. But instead of invading Spain, it seemed that Germany was planning on making a renewed effort at conquering Norway, as it once again took Kristiansand.



Oslo fell on August 7th. But on the 10th Norway struck back, crushing the pocket of German troops that had been in Alesund for nearly half a year. Then Norway retook Kristiansand, leaving only Oslo in German possession.



Then on August 14th, the people of Turkey spontaneously held a great war demonstration against the enormous acts of agression that had been occuring. This public outpouring of support for interventionism caused the government to become more interventionist. Finally on August 22, Oslo was retaken by the Norweigan military, and all of Norway was out of German hands. Brave Norway had been underestimated by Hitler.



While the European theatre took a breather, the North African theatre was just heating up. Britain had made significant gains in Ethiopia, and had taken Tobruk in Libya from Italy by the middle of September.

On September 28th, another factory was built in Izmit, and research into Advanced Computing Machines was also completed. As this happened, Ismet Inonu decided to take over Zekai Apaydin's position of Armaments Minister, because he thought he could do a better job of increasing industrial output (he was an administrative genius, after all). Research began on Basic infantry divisions.

On November 8th, criticism of the government by opposition parties had become increasingly harsh. The government became more liberal in response. However, this increased dissent significantly, so it was necessary to increase production of consumer goods to drive it back down. Then on January 1st, the government also became more Interventionist, in honor of Ataturk's memory. Then on January 20th, it was decided to outlaw the Fascist parties, moving the government further to the political left.

On February 19, work was completed on basic infantry divisions and work began on improved infantry divisions. The Turkish infantry would one day be the best equipped in the world.

On March 2nd, 1941, Romania joined the axis. By this point, the UK had taken all of Italian Libya and Ethiopia, but for some reason or other decided not to bother with Vichy North Africa.

On April 17th and 18th, factories were completed in Ankara and Antalya. Then a magnificent thing happened. For the first time ever, Turkey was suddenly able to research 2 technologies at once! This was an enormous breakthrough for Turkey. And so General Fevzi Cakmak set to work on Large Front Doctrine.

On June 6th, Inonu was bored, and decided to do something very stupid. Mess around with redeploying brigades, to see how it worked. Little did Inonu know that when a brigade was being redeployed, it had to be supplied, or else dissent would go up by about .4% every day. Eventually he figured this out and began supplying the brigade. Inonu now had to deal with 3% dissent. Grr...

On June 12th, Italy, Germany, and Japan signed the tripartite pact.

On July 10th, research on improved infantry divisions was finished, and research on rear area supply dumps began.

On August 1st, the people once again demonstrated in favor of interventionism.

On October 4th, another factory was completed in Izmit.

Fevzi Cakmak finished his work on Large Front Doctrine on November 21, 1941, and set to work on Pocket Defence Doctrine.

On December 18th, two most fortunate events occured in Turkey. Rear Area Supply Dumps were completed, and the 'secret weapon' of electronic computers became available. so MKEK set to work on Basic Electronic Computers.

On January 1st, 1942, Inonu sacked minister of security Sukru Kaya and replaced him with Saffet Arikan, a noted 'crime fighter.' He also declared that Turkey would continue to become more Interventionist.

On February 18th, 1942, the Soviet Union declared war on Germany!

[Quinton]

oh, what a nice cliff hanger! i like this AAR and will continue to read it! so in me you at least have a reader

but how are you going to recreate the ottoman empire if you dont join the axis ? sure, bulgaria and romania could be yours, but what about egypt, greece and the other countries?

keep up the good work

[NL_Oxcart]

Originally Posted by Quinton

oh, what a nice cliff hanger!

Prepare yourself for another one!

i like this AAR and will continue to read it! so in me you at least have a reader

but how are you going to recreate the ottoman empire if you dont join the axis ? sure, bulgaria and romania could be yours, but what about egypt, greece and the other countries?

keep up the good work

How will I do this? Well... Perhaps I have a cunning plan.

Chapter 7

The Turkish cabinet unanimously decided that it could be delayed no longer. The Turkish Infantry must be upgraded not only on paper, but in reality. To have theoretical knowledge of how to modernize the army but not to do it was unacceptable when Turkey shared a border with a power engaged in a massive war (Soviet Union). The time had also come to think about expanding the army, though it the time was not yet right to actually do so, beyond reinforcing depleted divisions to their full strength.

On February 19th, Finland joined the Axis in its war against the Soviet Union.

On March 13th, another factory was completed in Istanbul. There had been relatively little succesful offensive activity at this point. On March 28th, however, the Soviets took Helsinki. Despite Finnish gains against Sweden, this made the Finnish decision to fight a 'continuation' war seem questionable. The Soviets began to make progress against Germany, taking Warsaw on April 6th.

On April 26th, two more factories were completed. By this point, the Soviets had advaned further into Southern Poland, taking Cracow, but had made no gains on any other fronts. In early May, Germany struck back, retaking Cracow and reaching the gates of Warsaw by May 8th. But while Germany was counterattacking, the Soviets took advantage and drove to Elbing, surrounding Konigsberg. Konigsberg fell 11 days later.



On June 11th, General Cakmak finished his work on Pocket Defense Doctrine. He was ordered to think about how the Turkish army could cunduct operations deep within enemy territory. Not that Inonu would ever dream of conducting deep operations in anyone's territory, of course. The eastern front had become more fluid during this period, with attack and counterattack more frequent. The Soviets, along with mighty Sweden, had also made gains in Finland.



On July 28th, 1942, MKEK finished research into Basic Electronic Computers and Istanbul Valde Shipyard began research into Early Field Artillery. Finland was at this point on the brink of collapse, while the front in Poland was still in flux, with Germany recently retaking Konigsberg.



In the cabinet there was talk of Turkey joining the war. But Turkey was not ready, and in any case there was not yet a clear victor. Inonu was not about to make the same mistake as had been made in 1915, joining war prematurely and suffering territorial dismembrement because of it.

Then on August 2nd, 1942, Franklin D. Roosevelt had seen enough. He had had enough of this agression. It was time for America to flex its muscle and do something.

So America went to war...

[berhaven]

Great AAR!
It makes me really hope my order to be shipped soon!

[NL_Oxcart]

Note - I had to edit my saved game file in order to make the USA join the Allies. Otherwise they join the axis several days after DOWing the Soviet Union!

Chapter 8

And so, on August 2nd, 1942, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt went before a startled United States Congress, a startled America, and a startled world to explain why he sought a declaration of war against the Soviet Union.



Yesterday, August 1st, 1942 - a date which will live in infamy - the United States of America awoke to find itself in a world increaasingly dominated by dictatorship and oppression. The Soviet Union has, in the past several years, suddenly and deliberately attacked, or threatened war against, many independent countries.

Finland...
Estonia...
Lithuania...
Latvia...
Poland...
Romania...
Germany...
Finland yet again...

The United States, and all those victims of Soviet belligerance, were at peace with the Soviet Union and, at the solicitation of the Soviet Union, were still in conversation with its Government and its Premier looking toward the maintenance of peace in along their respective Soviet borders. Yet indeed, the Soviet Union has not been the only agressor in recent history. Germany has done the same as the Soviet Union to many independent countries.

Austria...
Czechoslovakia...
Lithuania...
Poland...
Denmark...
Norway...
The Netherlands...
Belgium...
Luxembourg...
France...

Yet we cannot fight the one tyranny and not the other. For these twin tyrannical governments will cooperate against a common enemy, as they did when they cooperated in dismembering Poland, and will then turn on us like dogs - evident from their current war. So we must not fall into the trap of self-deception, that the enemy of our enemy is our friend.

It will be recorded that the Soviet attacks were deliberately planned many days or even weeks before they were carried out. During the intervening time the Soviet Union has deliberately sought to deceive the United States and the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

The Soviet Union has, therefore, undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Eastern European area. The facts of the past few years speak for themselves. The people of the United States have already formed their opinions and well understand the implications to the very life and safety of our nation, and of all nations.

As Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy, I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense.

Always will we remember the character of the onslaught against so many sovereign nations of the earth. No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory.

I believe I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost but will make very certain that this form of treachery shall never endanger us again.

Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory and our interests are in grave danger.

With confidence in our armed forces - with the unbounded determination of our people - we will gain the inevitable triumph - so help us God.

I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly series of attacks by the Soviet Union, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Soviet Union. I also ask that Congress grant me permission to seek an alliance with the Allied powers.

[Roffkaiser]

Will Turkey join the Allies now!? I can't wait any longer!
BTW, great job on the AAR

[NL_Oxcart]

Originally Posted by Roffkaiser

Will Turkey join the Allies now!? I can't wait any longer!
BTW, great job on the AAR

Ismet Inonu is a cautious man. Due caution dictates that Turkey consider the fact that it shares a border with the Soviet Union, which possesses approximately 200 army divisions. Turkey possesses, at present, 17.

Thanks

Chapter 9

On August 3rd, Finland was forced to join the Soviet Union in its wars against the Axis and the Allies. It would remain nominally independent, but would effectively be a Soviet puppet state.

Then on August 5th, Turkey received grim news. Foreign Minister Sukru Saracoglu informed Inonu that the United States had cancelled its trade agreement with Turkey. With so much of the world engaged in war, and with Turkish industry continuing to expand, it was becoming more and more difficult to obtain the resources that Turkey needed. So Inonu and the cabinet asked itself the rhetorical question, "What would Ataturk do?" The answer was, loud and clear, "Invade Bulgaria." With the rest of the world engaged in a massive war, who would care if Turkey took back its rightful possession, Bulgaria? Yet Turkey was not yet ready to invade Bulgaria. It would have to prepare. So quietly, Turkey prepared for war, moving divisions to the Bulgarian border. And as soon as the existing army was brought up to date, the army would be expanded with new divisions... In the meantime, a trade deal was secured with the Soviet Union to obtain energy in exchange for money.

On September 11, 1942, another factory opened in Izmit. The Germans had made gains against the Soviets, while the Soviets had made gains against Norway. On September 21st, all Turkish Army divisions were finished upgrading to the latest technology, so Inonu ordered that the army be expanded by 3 divisions. On November 10th, Turkish intelligence managed to obtain greek blueprints for Mechanized Agriculture.

On December 8th, the three new Turkish infantry divisions were ready for deployment out into the field. Then on the 14th, workwas completed on Early Field Artillery. Inonu directed that all Turkish artillery brigades be upgraded with this new artillery, and that Turkish Petroleum commence research on Mechanized Agriculture, using the Greek blueprints.



On January 1st, Ismet Inonu was feeling Hawkish. So he directed that Turkey become more Hawkish. It did. He also decided to replac Abdul Naci Tinaz as Chief of Staff with Ali Orlungat. Orlungat favored the doctrine of People's War. This was very much to Inonu's liking.

In light of declining resources, Inonu also ordered Foreign Minister Sukru Saracoglu to purchase metal from the Soviet Union. Inonu also considered training more infantry, but General Cakmak advised Inonu to wait until research on Deep Operations Doctrine was complete. Chief of the Army Mehmet Nuri Yamut also pointed out that if Turkey were really to go to war with Bulgaria in the near future, it would need to be supplied. Inonu decided to begin shifting resources to do just that, as they became available. Meanwhile, the front lines on the eastern front had shifted relatively little, though Germany had made gains in Poland.

That very night, at 3 in the morning, Head of Intelligence Sukru Ali Ogel telephoned Inonu. Inonu was angry that he had been woken at three in the morning, but he snapped to alertness when he heard what Ali Ogel had to say. It was news of the highest possible importance for Turkish national security. Inonu immediately called a cabinet meeting. Everyone would have to be woken for this. After all, it was... TOP SECRET!