The Mother of All AARs - A Lion In Winter

[Chaplain]

HOI2 1.3b UK AAR – ’36 GC

From the diary of Winston Churchill –

JANUARY 1, 1936

Despite last night’s extensive celebration of the New Year, I feel that there is a dark shadow looming over Europe and the world. I have attended this morning an urgent meeting of the PM’s Cabinet, and have even been permitted to influence its decisions. I must confess to a bit of a thrill at the liberties granted me. I have not often been welcomed by those I must steer in the direction of wisdom. I suppose that this is because I am rather merciless in calling attention to their follies. But to call a thing what it is must be the duty of every civil servant, and I have taken that duty seriously.
What I learned at the meeting disturbed me greatly. I have accordingly begun this diary in the hopes that it will shed some light, for posterity’s sake, on the actions (or lack thereof) which shall shape our national future. Here is the heart of the matter:
In Berlin, a madman has come to power. In fact he has come to a kind of absolute power, abrogating to himself every significant decision-making capacity in the greater Reich:

It confounds me how a people possessed of such essential dignity and energy, not to mention intellectual capacity, nevertheless seem eager to embrace this buffoon. The cynic in me suggests that it is a matter of breeding, but the Archbishop contends that such thinking is contrary to the counsel of Scripture, and so I must lay the blame elsewhere.

In any event, Mr. Hitler has begun an ambitious re-armament program in flagrant violation of the Treaty of Versailles. There are rumors of a plan to re-occupy the Rhineland. In itself, this latter possibility must be viewed with a certain resignation. History is on their side. But the prospect of a revitalized Wehrmacht in the hands of a character as unscrupulous as this ‘Fuehrer’ is truly horrifying, especially in light of the disturbing evidence of state-sanctioned violence against certain segments of the population.

In Rome, Mr. Mussolini seems bent on creating a New Empire on the model of the Caesars, and has begun a vengeful war against the tiny East African nation of Ethiopia. His Black Shirts have a thug’s grip on power.

In the Far East, a rising tide of aggressive nationalism has emboldened the Japanese Emperor to such a degree that he has, essentially by force, made a puppet state in the north of China, calling it ‘Manchukuo’. Worse, there are clear indications that his designs are far larger.

And in Spain the unrest between Nationalists and Republicans has reached a level that portends civil war. It is as if the world is progressively dispensing of its sanity. Whole populations have lost their way.

Worst of all, those capable of and responsible for remedial action remain inert. Someone has said that the only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing. Well, that is what is happening. The Chinese are unable to unify against Japan due to squabbling between various regional warlords. The French are decrepit in their armed forces and industrial programs and entirely devoid of political will. The Soviets are wallowing in a second Dark Age of barbarism and tyranny. Premier Stalin’s ambitious Five Year Plans will either make or break the nation economically, but it is no exaggerration to say that they have already removed Catherine’s homeland from the ranks of civilized nations. The Americans have turned a blind eye and a deaf ear to everything European, embracing the Monroe Doctrine in what they call a ‘splendid isolation’ but which is really nothing more than self-absorption. Even our own population, usually sturdy and sensible, is suffering a kind of crippling malaise. It is quite clear to me that the firm preventive action against the growing Fascist and Communist plague which is obviously required is also out of the question. It simply will not be supported by a people sunk so low in self-regard.

What to do? Insofar as my capacity to influence events is constrained by my private citizenship, I shall outline the present military, political, and economic circumstances of His Majesty’s kingdom –

HOME ISLANDS : There are 22 provisional and 4 regular Army divisions deployed from Portsmouth to Glasgow (two in Belfast). These are all poorly equipped and under-strength.
There are 2 wings of Blenheim Mk1 medium bombers and 3 of AW-Whitley heavy bombers, all of which are barely adequate for modern operations. There are 3 wings of execrable Gloster Gladiator interceptors, the like of which no sincere young pilot of the RAF should ever be required to enter combat entombed within.
The Home Fleet is, as always, quite strong – but only after the fashion of an athlete in his middle Thirties. In other words, the gray has begun to show and there is less tension in the large sinews. There are 3 aircraft carriers, 6 battleships, 3 battlecruisers, some 25 cruisers of various class, and 18 squadrons of destroyers – plus 5 submarine flotillas – deployed between Portsmouth, Scapa Flow, and Liverpool.
Against the possibility of war with Germany, these forces will need to be disposed to guarantee the security of our shores as well as our Atlantic shipping lanes. Of immediate concern is the dilapidated state of the RAF. If sea superiority is surrendered to the Hun, can Buckingham Palace be far behind?

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER: Gibraltar and Malta are each occupied by a provisional formation, with two regular Army divisions deployed in Palestine. Additionally, there are five divisions of the Iraqi Royal Army available in Baghdad, though the equipment and quality of these units is marginal at best. Various small formations in Yemen and Oman are of negligible significance. One wing of Blenheims is based in Palestine. One wing of Iraqi-piloted Gladiators is based in Baghdad. The Med Fleet based at Alexandria consists of 2 carriers, 6 battleships, 12 cruisers and 6 destroyer squadrons, plus 2 flotillas of submarines. As with the Home Fleet, these are mostly aging models, although the carriers are our newest.

Against the possibility of war with Fascist Italy, these forces are entirely inadequate both qualitatively and quantitatively. Egypt and the Suez Canal are essentially undefended on the ground, and both Malta and Gibraltar are ripe for the plucking.

EAST AFRICA: Eight divisions of colonials (Kenyans, Ugandans, Tanganyikans) are deployed willy-nilly along the western curve of Ethiopia from Mogadishu to southern Egypt. They are certainly in no condition to resist determined aggression from European regulars, and if (when?) Hailie Selassie is defeated, Italian troops will be just across the border.

INDIA: The Governor disposes 12 divisions of Indian troops across the country, plus 2 divisions of the Nepalese Life Guard at Kathmandu. There is 1 wing of Blenheims on the Indian west coast, plus a small Royal Navy presence of 4 cruisers and 2 destroyer squadrons at Colombo. These forces are adequate given the remote geographical position of His Majesty’s Indian possessions.

FAR EAST: Hong Kong and Singapore are each manned by a provisional division. A wing of Blenheims is based at Singapore. A single Indian Regular division is garrisoned at Rangoon. Vis-à-vis the Japanese, we are essentially defence-less.

OTHER: There are 2 light cruisers and 2 destroyer squadrons located at Freetown on the West African coast, and an identical force at Bermuda in the West Indies. These will remain on station to provide convoy security.

SUMMARY: Obviously, there is a great deal of work to be done. I have identified the following priorities:

1) The RAF must be modernized and expanded to a level commensurate with the Luftwaffe. Such modernization should include state-of-the-art interceptors and a network of radar stations in the south of England. Additionally, an increase in the size and sophistication of beach garrisons and anti-aircraft defenses, and the establishment of a mobile reserve of not less than ten regular divisions to contend with a possible invasion. Finally, the Navy must be organized to meet the threat to our shipping lanes, and must be based beyond the reach of (or thoroughly protected from) enemy aircraft.
2) Gibraltar, Malta, and Alexandria should be fortified, with special attention given to the air defense of Malta and the creation of a ground army sufficient to protect Suez – in my estimation, at least ten divisions. At all costs, Gibraltar must remain secure.
3) In the Far East, Singapore and Rangoon must be made impregnable, with the former prepared as an air and sea bastion against southward expansion by the Japanese.
4) Finally, a sweeping modernization of our military is imperative. We have no armoured formations, very little artillery, and the equipment of the average Tommy is better suited to the Great War than today:
[IMG]


ECONOMIC SUMMARY: A bit of good news on this end – we are largely self-sufficient in terms of raw materials, foodstuffs, and especially oil. This is due to our considerable colonial holdings, large commercial trading fleet, and the shared largesse of the Commonwealth. This entire equation may be upended, however, if the enemy is permitted to interdict our shipping lanes or reduce our merchant fleet to the degree that it cannot move enough material.
There was some argument during the meeting yesterday about the advisability of expanding our existing manufacturing base. Several contended for a considerable expansion, while others argued for a greater emphasis on modernization. It was my opinion that there should be a 70-30 balance in favor of the latter, with subsidized manufacturing plant projects to be undertaken in Inverness and Edinburgh, far from potential attack.
The following program was agreed upon for the scientific development of our armed forces:

Note that the Anglo-Iranian Oil company and Royal Small Arms factories are contracted to develop a better line of machine tools and agricultural chemicals – this will expand our existing industrial capacity and generally improve the health of our servicemen. Enfield Arsenal is put to work post-haste with the goal of redressing the grievous decline of our field artillery designs. Supermarine intends to replace the hated Gloster Gladiators with a promising interceptor prototype called the ‘Hurricane’. Finally, a secret think tank at Bletchley Park will be set up to develop code-breaking and encryption machines for military operations. This is especially important in light of the need to locate and engage surface raiders and u-boats.
As a final measure a series of trade agreements have been undertaken with Australia, Switzerland, Spain and the United States* designed to acquire military supplies while bolstering the economies of our staunchest potential allies. Heaven forbid if Mr. Roosevelt should lose his election in November of this year. I do not believe Mr. Landon would be amenable to the good sense which is so necessary in these times. Our two peoples are the best hope of freedom. I foresee only catastrophe for the French, should the matter of Mr. Hitler come down to fisticuffs.
(NOTE: * After a careful analysis of the World Market, I have also recommended [and found approved] trade agreements with Sweden, Norway, Belgium and Turkey along the same lines.)

POLITICAL SUMMARY: Here is where the news is perhaps darkest. Because of the objectionable pacificism of the general population, honor (and, indeed, virtue itself) is suborned. The national will is disinclined to countenance that direct and responsible action which could prevent what I otherwise believe to be inevitable. So I shall immediately begin an effort to convince Parliament that a free hand, even to the degree of meeting the mailed fist of Teuton with a bloody feathered yard of yew, ought to be given the PM. (Not that I think old Baldwin has the mettle for it, but perhaps he will not always occupy the offices at #10 Downing Street.)
This afternoon I proposed a series of measures designed to emphasize the laissez-faire posture of the government economically, and they were accepted. This will increase the demand for consumer goods and increase the cost of R&D in the short term, but it will also decrease the cost and time needed to upgrade our existing forces – especially the RAF.
The Cabinet is as follows:

It is a pedestrian collection of personalities, perhaps the least of which is Chamberlain. But he is popular, and that is the wind these days. Eden is a decent chap. I have privately written the King and the PM regarding each man, urging them to sack Sir Hugh Sinclair over at Intelligence for his unimaginative disposition, and replace him with the industrialist S.P. James, to which they immediately agreed. (In the category of small victories, Sinclair is an abominable partner for Bridge, and I shall not have to be saddled with him any time soon.)
PRODUCTION: An existing order for more submarines was cancelled, and the following schedule of recruitment and heavy manufacturing adopted:

The new destroyers will flesh out our convoy protection forces, while the two new Ark Royal class aircraft carriers will permit a genuine projection of power in the Mediterranean and the Far East. Due to manpower constraints, only three regular infantry divisions are authorized, as well as a large order of anti-aircraft emplacements. All in all, these are a modest start, but I believe they represent our best prospects given the current state of the economy.

CONCLUSIONS: Here, then, is the beginning of the beginning. Much depends on us. I close this diary today in solemn prayer that God Almighty shall grace us with the wisdom and foresight to say and do what must be said and done. It has ever been the lot of the British people to uplift lesser nations, to fight for freedom, and to triumph in any case. May it be our destiny once again.

JANUARY 1936

I was quite busy for most of the month with the Foreign Trade Ministry, bringing a positive balance to the flow of raw materials into the UK. Sadly, on the 21st, the King passed away suddenly.
He is succeeded by Edward VIII, a troublesome man about whom I have severe reservations. I confess I am quite concerned about His (new) Majesty’s apparent fetish for some American actress named Simpson. I should hope he will remember his duty to his country before that engendered by his gender. We do not need the distraction of a royal divorce in the midst of so many more serious concerns!
At my request, Major General Sir Harold Alexander has been posted to Alexandria to take command of the 8th Infantry Division – subtracted from the garrison at Palestine – and this division is given top priority for upgrades. By the end of the month it has been outfitted with our latest and best equipment, giving us at least some deterrent to the Italians in Egypt.

FEBRUARY 1936

The 3rd Infantry was moved from defensive positions near the beaches of Portsmouth and given to Lt. General Wavell (a defensive specialist) at Gibraltar. Already some improvement has been made in our general defensive position.
I was inordinately busy for much of the month entertaining delegates from around the world seeking trade agreements of all kinds. I also oversaw the establishment of a firm stockpiling system for basic military supplies, with the intent of building a large reserve. In particular, we worked a large deal with Belgium to sell ammunition and spare parts for cash. The cash will be used to develop a robust diplomatic offensive intended to keep Turkey and Romania out of the Axis.
Of note in world news – on the 26th the Japanese government violently crushed a coup attempt by right-wing officers of her armed forces in Tokyo. With any luck, this will stem the rising tide of Japanese aggression in Asia.
Unfortunately, the Italians are slicing through Hailie Selassie’s outmatched Ethiopian Army, and are expected reach Addis Ababa any day now, putting an end to Ethiopian independence. I sent a sternly worded note to the PM about the advisability of intervention, but he is right in replying that the public will not tolerate it. Remembering the Great War, no one wants to start serious bloodletting over a small East African kingdom.

MARCH 1936

During the first week of March, Mussolini completed his campaign in Ethiopia and announced that it has become a protectorate. The PM has charitably granted asylum to President Selassie and his exiled government. In response to this announcement, Parliament entered a long and urgent session, approving an expanded budget for various armaments as a statement to the Italian Premier. If you ask me, it is far too little, but no one asked.
A delegation from Paris provided blueprints for various emerging military technologies, and we have reciprocated. Much depends on the Anglo-Franco alliance. On the 19th Enfield Arsenal debuts its new artillery piece, and contracts are issued to the Vauxhall Company to develop a Vickers Mk VIc light tank. We anticipate a need for armored formations in the desert.
In an unwelcome development, the liberal democrats in the Polish government lost power during free elections to Ignacy Moscicki and his rightist coalition. How this will play out in the long run is anyone’s guess, but less inclination to democracy in Europe is not a good thing.
Because of our expanding industrial base, a year-long merchant ship construction project is authorized, and the raising of an additional division of regular infantry.

APRIL 1936

The 6th Infantry Division was formed on the 11th and embarked for Alexandria and duty in the Egyptian desert. Maj. General Alexander was promoted to Lt General in view of his new responsibilities, and his command renamed the ‘Western Desert Force’ (WDF). A flotilla of the new Tribal-class destroyers entered service at Scapa Flow. New anti-aircraft emplacements were sited around the Birmingham industrial districts.
On the 21st Greece experienced a right wing coup with the Social Conservatives ousting the liberal democrats. This isn’t as bad a development as in Warsaw, but it is unwelcome. On the 26th the Communist and Nationalist Chinese signed a ceasefire in their civil war.

MAY 1936

In an increasingly worrisome trend, Nicaragua experienced a military coup establishing the Paternal Autocrat Carlos Jaquin in power, and neighboring Costa Rica’s elections resulted in the Social Conservatives taking charge. This troubling drift to the right worldwide resulted on our decision to begin a diplomatic offensive in Finland, endeavoring to move the conservative Finnish government towards liberal democracy.
New merchant shipping began to come online as a result of our shipbuilding program, and an overall upgrade of communications capabilities within the command HQ structure of the regular Army at London were completed.
With the Royal Small Arms Factrory’s completion of its Agrichemistry project, contracts were issued to a think tank under Robert Watson-Watt to develop an Improved Computing Machine for the Bletchley Park boys.

JUNE 1936

On the 6th the Guangxi clique of warlords in the south of mainland China declared war on the Nationalist government, precipitating a second Chinese civil war. Later in the day, the Xibei San Ma warlord clique aligned itself with the Nationalists against the Guangxi.
On the 10th additional flak defenses were erected in the Midlands, the 1st Infantry Division completed its modernization program, and Mr. Alan Turing’s group completed its research into Encryption techniques. Funding is redirected to General Charles Portal at RAF headquarters with instructions to develop an Operational Destruction doctrine to guide the employment of medium bombers against battlefield targets.
In a bit of good news from the political front, the Czechoslovakian government remained a liberal democracy after elections, and the French democrats gained greater representation. We continue to work on developing a close relationship with Helsinki as a bulwark against Communist designs in Scandinavia. We would like to bring Finland into an alliance and provide technological enhancements to her military.
On the 20th a pro-Nazi government comes to power in Stockholm! This is bad news indeed. The situation will bear watching. On the 25th, the newly formed 9th Highland Division is ordered posted to Singapore, and embarks at Plymouth for the Far East. On the 28th Field Marshal Sir Alanbrooke announces that the modernization program for the 2nd Infantry Division at London is concluded, meaning that our Home Regular Army is ready for action.


JULY 1936

The Anglo-Iranian Oil Company completes its design of Improved Machine Tools, and contracts are immediately re-issued to develop Advanced Machine Tools. On the 18th, open civil war erupts in Spain between the socialist Republicans and the conservative Nationalists. The country devolves into armed camps. The Nationalists almost immediately approache dour government seeking raw materials and military supplies, but we declined to become involved even indirectly in this tragic conflict. On the 23rd, however, the governments of both Germany and Italy announced programs to support the Nationalists, including the sending of materiel and volunteers. Two days later, on the 25th, the Soviets announced a similar program in support of the Republicans. The US President Roosevelt expressed public disapproval of the Soviets for this.

On a positive note, the Guangxi warlords and the central Nationalist government in China came to a ceasefire agreement, ending the civil war that has been soaking up China’s limited resources. Neither side had been able to make significant progress, and the areas of control for the Guangxi remain essentially unchanged. Mr. Eden sees this as a net defeat for the central government.

AUGUST 1936

On 2 August the 4th Infantry Division was activated and embarked at Plymouth for duty in the Egyptian desert. A fresh call-up of five more infantry divisions was authorized.
On 12 August the new Hawker Hurricane Mk 2 interceptor aircraft debuts at the Paris Air Show to excellent reviews. The Supermarine Company is contracted to continue its airframe design on a new multi-role fighter plane tentatively called the ‘Spitfire’.
On the 16th a second flotilla of the new Tribal class destroyers is activated at Scapa Flow. A program to rebase all of the older, shorter-ranged ‘V’ class destroyers at Liverpool for future ASW duty on the Western Approaches is undertaken. The Tribals, because of their range, will be reserved for duty with carriers and battleships.
On 28 August, the 12th ‘Eastern Division’ is activated at London and joins Alanbrooke’s central command, giving him three Regular divisions to act as a reserve in the event of an invasion. One of the three (the 1st) has an attached heavy artillery brigade. The decision is taken to invest funding in an expansion of industrial capacity at Blackpool, beyond the conceivable range of German strategic bombing. Concurrently, modernization of various divisions in India proceeds apace.

SEPTEMBER 1936

In the first week of September, S.P. James (our new Intelligence chief) posts an editorial piece in the Times defending the basic principles of Fascism and revealing himself to be a Paternal Autocrat. The rest of the Cabinet are Market Liberals and there is some debate about whether James should be censured. In the end, the PM elects to announce that this is a democratic country, and so Mr. James is entitled to his opinions, but to announce our firm disapproval of fascism. The consequence is an even firmer shift of public opinion away from the kind of firm opposition to the German/Italian/Japanese aggression which I personally advocate.
In the second week of September construction begins on heavier AA emplacements on the island of Malta, as a deterrent to Italian aggression – especially against the harbor where RN assets may be based. Our intent is to eventually post a regular infantry division to the island, but the unit is not yet available.


On the 19th, the Irish ambassador conveys Mr. Donal Buckley’s formal demand for sovereignty over the Northern Ireland regions of Belfast and Portadown – a demand which the PM summarily dismisses. Plans are made to post one of the five regular Army divisions currently in training to Belfast to supplement the provisional formations already on duty there, and it is decided to keep a close eye on the Irish government’s disposition to prevent an alignment with Italy or Germany.
On the 29th the pro-Nazi ‘Summer Government’ of Sweden falls from power and Sweden and the nation – under King Gustav V again – is firmly democratic. In Spain, the Nationalists capture Madrid, but their position is weakened by Republicans holding most of the interior:


OCTOBER 1936

On the 4th Air General Portal’s new air doctrines are formally adopted by the RAF, and they are considered such good work that he is immediately directed to further develop the Logistical Strike aspects of his program.
A determined Republican counter-attack liberates Madrid and drives all the way to the Portuguese border, but the Nationalists rally and recapture Valladolid and Salamanca. The bloodshed and waste is unconscionable.
Renewed diplomatic efforts in Helsinki secure Finnish agreement on a broad range of issues, and next month we hope to perhaps secure an alliance and begin providing technical advice to the Finnish Army. The newly constituted 15th ‘Scottish’ Division is posted to Belfast.

NOVEMBER 1936

Good news from across the Atlantic as the Americans re-elect Franklin Roosevelt to the Presidency on November 4th. We were concerned that Mr. Landon would be elected instead, further eroding America’s interest in affairs outside the Western Hemisphere.


Later in the week, a fresh flotilla of Tribal class destroyers is commissioned at Scapa Flow. We conclude a minor trade agreement with the Republicans in Spain, deciding that the risk of a Nationalist Spain is too great. The industrial expansion program in Edinburgh is finished a new one undertaken even farther north, on the windy moors of Inverness.
On the 16th the decision is taken to post the old aircraft carrier Hermes, as well as the aging cruisers Calypso and Caledon, to Singapore to expand the Far East Fleet. This is made possible by the planned deployment in mid-1937 of a new Ark Royal class aircraft carrier at Scapa Flow, and yet another at the end of 1938.
On the 21st , the industrial expansion program at Aberdeen is finished. By the end of the month, Vauxhall’s design of a new light tank – the Vickers MkVIc - is completed and the first of three planned armored divisions built around the new design goes into development. Funding is redirected to the Royal Small Arms Company to develop a further improvement of its heavy artillery piece – the 105mm gun. Concurrently, the Australian government provides His Majesty with blueprints for an improved Agricultural Production system. Finally, significant progress is made in upgrading the AA defenses of Malta, more than doubling them overall.

DECEMBER 1936

With the entrenchment of Finland as a Market Liberal democratic nation, our diplomatic emphasis shifts to Greece, and a series of embassies are begun to swing Athens firmly into the circle of democratic nations. We don’t want to see the Italians gain access to the various Greek ports and airbases in the Mediterranean.
On the 11th, His Majesty abdicates the throne to marry the American divorcee Wallis Simpson, just as I feared. George VI takes his place, and the resulting unrest in the government results in the ascension of the worthless Neville Chamberlain to the office of PM:

On a positive note, Irish elections on the 4th result in the government swinging to the left, away from the influence of the Fascists.
A determined Nationalist offensive in Spain seizes Castellon and Guadalajara, splitting the Republicans in half and dividing Spain into four distinct regions, each separated from its allies.
In a Christmas Eve conference at Calais, it is agreed to provide the French with blueprints for the Hurricane Mk 2 interceptor as well as our encryption machine designs, in exchange for French expertise in the area of Rear Area Repair shops. The Anglo-Franco alliance must remain strong and mutually beneficial to contain the growing threat of Germany and Italy. To close out the year, orders are placed for two contingents of aircraft to fly off the new carriers (Sea Gladiators), and a two-year production run of six wings of the new Hurricane Mk 2 interceptors. The plan is to deploy four squadrons in Britain, one at Malta and one at Gibraltar. After this, production will be diverted to the more rugged multi-role Spitfires which are currently in design development.

[Chaplain]

JANUARY 1937

On the 4th, the newly raised 18th Infantry Division embarks for posting at Malta. On the 11th, Cuba experiences a military coup and Frederico Bru comes to power. In Honduras, elections swing the Honduran government to the left.
Our diplomats in Athens report that the Fascists are apparently engaged in trying to swing Greece into their camp even as we are trying to influence them into ours. A stalemate has ensued.
News reports out of Tokyo indicate that a right wing coup was attempted and met with some success, swinging Japan firmly into the Fascist triangle. On the 23rd, Mr. Frank Fahy – the new leader of Ireland – demanded that Northern Ireland be ceded to the Irish Free State, but we refused.

FEBRUARY 1937

The decision is taken to transfer the single wing of Iraqi fighter aircraft to Alexandria, and to disperse the Iraqi Army in such a fashion that three divisions will be ready to move into Palestine at short notice, while two divisions take up positions at the major port of Basra, and the single cavalry division deploys north to Kirkuk.
In a momentous bit of news on the 19th, Germany, Italy and Japan together signed an ‘Anti-Comintern Pact’ designed to contain Communism within the Soviet Union. While we are dismayed to see this level of cooperation among the Fascists, we are not displeased to see the Communists resisted.
The Bolivian government was overthrown by a Socialist military coup on the 21st.

MARCH 1937

On the 10th the 23rd ‘Northumbrian’ Division completes training and is embarked for Alexandria. Simultaneously, the last shipment of AA guns to Malta is completed, giving the island anti-aircraft protection commensurate with London itself.
On the 25th, a proposal to outlaw Communist parties in the UK came to the floor of Parliament and was defeated. Given the upgrade of Malta’s air defenses, our two newest submarine flotillas are rebased to the island to meet the possibility of future operations against Italian supply convoys between Taranto and Tripoli.

APRIL 1937

On the 8th the No.1 RAF Tactical Group upgrades from Blenheims to new Handley-Page Hampton medium bombers as part of our ongoing modernization of the military:
On the 12th Air General Portal’s new doctrine of Logistical Strike becomes curriculum at the RAF pilots school, and funding is redirected to the de Havilland corporation for the design and development of a new ‘Wellington’ medium bomber which can employ these tactics effectively.
The next day, the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company showcases its new lines of Improved Machine Tools, and government funding is diverted to the English Electric Company’s plans to design Advanced Construction techniques – these will be used to build fortifications at various outposts in 1938 and 1939.
On the 14th the 1st Armoured Division ‘Royal Hussars’ is formed at Plymouth and embarked for service in the Egyptian desert. This will bring Alexander’s WDF to four infantry divisions and one armoured, plus a reserve division in Palestine.
On the 15th the Royal Small Arms Factory announced production runs of its new 105mm artillery piece, and funding is assigned to the Leyland Corporation to design and develop Rear Area Repair Shops for military vehicle maintenance.

MAY 1937

On the 20th, the new 38th ‘Welsh’ Division was assigned to Alanbrooke’s London Command, giving him four divisions. A significant decision is taken to create a large new Army Headquarters for assignment to Alexandria. This unit will function as the nerve center of our entire Middle East Command (MEC). Given our production plans for the next two years, one area of weakness is the air support for the new MEC. Aside from a single wing of Iraqi Gladiators, there is no air presence in Egypt at all. We shall have to consider where we may find some fighter cover.
At the end of the month Leyland announces completion of its Rear Area Repair Shop designs – the speed of their work is largely due to blueprints shared by the French government. The Anglo-Iranian Oil Corporation is contracted to develop expanded Agricultural Production.

JUNE 1937

On the 4th Robert Watson-Watt’s group debuts a new Improved Computing Machine which will help immeasurably in future technological research, as well as code-breaking and encryption techniques. The Avro Corporation is retained to design and develop a new Close Air Support (CAS) aircraft to take advantage of Portal’s doctrines.
Less than a week later, Supermarine rolls out its brand-new Spitfire Mk 1 multi-role fighter design. This excellent aircraft will become the backbone of our air superiority effort in future years:

Funding is reassigned to the Vauxhall Corporation to develop a new Improved Light Tank.
In international news, the Republicans appear to be slowly gaining the upper hand in Spain, with the Nationalists increasingly marginalized in the north and south of the country, and the Republicans holding everything in between.
Also, a significant policy decision is undertaken by the Cabinet – henceforth, the UK will adopt a more Interventionist posture in Europe, seeking to form alliances and agreements which will contain the growing Fascist threat. The first step in this program, now that Greece and Finland are firmly in the democratic camp, will be the wooing of Poland into an alliance with France and the UK.
In a momentous development, Japan declares war on Nationalist China on the 21st of June. Eden immediately proposes, and the PM agrees, to begin shipping military supplies to the Chinese is the hopes of stiffening their resistance to aggression. There is even discussion of declaring war on Japan, but the public opinion polls indicate that this will not be tolerated.
A militarist coup on the 26th pushed Tokyo further into war-mindedness, and on the 27th the Japanese PM announced a declaration of war against Communist China as well as the Nationalists. On the 30th Sinkiang and Yunnan and the rest of the Chinese warlords united against the Japanese, plunging all of the Far East into a massive war.

JULY 1937

All of these new developments spark a massive debate in Parliament. The PM is heavily involved, and in the end a new program of defense industry expansion is passed over strenuous objections by the Left. The result is an entrenchment of Hawks and Conservatives in the Commons and a significant (8.5%) level of dissent in the general population. But the UK must go forward with her preparations for war, in my mind, or have peace imposed upon her in an unwelcome fashion through Fascist occupation.
On the 6th the first of the new Hurricane Mk 2 interceptor air wings is deployed to the south of the country. On the 10th of July the industrial expansion program at Blackpool is completed.
On the 12th the Japanese had the temerity to approach us in search of military supplies, and we refused. The USA passed the Pitman Act on the 14th, authorizing assistance to China similar to our own. On the 15th the Nationalist government came to terms with the Shanxi warlord clan and absorbed their territories into its own, giving China a greater degree of unity to resist the Japanese.
The new 42nd ‘Lancashire’ Infantry Division is posted to Dover. On the 25th, the brand-new RN aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal is launched at Scapa Flow and becomes the flagship of the fleet:

A fresh run of 12 more infantry divisions is authorized over the next two years.

AUGUST 1937

On the 1st of August the Royal Navy is reorganized to meet anticipated threats. The battleship HMS Royal Sovereign and the heavy cruiser Berwick, along with the light cruisers Cairo and Dunedin are rebased to Singapore. A Channel Fleet composed of the older battleships Resolution and Ramillies plus four aging light cruisers and four flotillas of older destroyers is posted to Portsmouth. The bulk of the fleet is grouped around the carriers according to maximum range, with Ark Royal escorted by Hood, Galathea, Orion, Neptune, and Achilles ; Furious escorted by Renown, Repulse, Suffolk, Kent and four destroyer flotillas ; and the old Argus escorted by Effingham, Frobisher, Dorsetshire, Hawkins and five destroyer flotillas. Independently, a surface battle group composed of battleships Nelson & Rodney plus two destroyer flotillas is assigned to the North Sea. All of these groups will be based at Scapa Flow for the present.
On the 6th the Soviets enacted Operation Zet to provide logistical aid to the Chinese against the Japanese as well. On the 11th we concluded a large deal with the Nationalists to ship military supplies in exchange for coal.
On the 14th the Anglo-Iranian Corporation concluded tis redesign of our Agricultural Production systems and Mr. Alan Turing’s group is put to work at Bletchley Park for Basic Decryption code-breaking.
On the 16th the 2nd Armoured Division enters service and embarks at Plymouth for the Egyptian desert. The third and final armoured division being formed will remain at London under Alanbrooke.
On the 29th the Japanese formed a puppet state called Mengkukuo in the north of conquered China and began enlisting armed forces in this puppet state for their war against the Nationalists.

SEPTEMBER 1937

On the 10th of September the Chinese begin to relocate their armaments facilities to the interior as the war against Japan is going poorly.
On the 14th of September a Parliamentary scandal creates unprecedented levels of dissent within the UK – nearly 13%. The Cabinet convenes to enact considerable funding reform designed to reduce dissent, but it is clear that we are in no condition for a war at the moment.
On the 15th the English Electric Company completed its design of Advanced Construction Techniques and funding is switched to a group under Alanbrooke who will develop a means of increasing the efficiency of supply overseas – the Deep Logistics Organization. Because of the far-flung possessions of His Majesty, and the anticipated need to fight on several fronts worldwide, this doctrine is critical.
On the 24th the industrial expansion program at Inverness is completed.

OCTOBER 1937

On the 14th, the seventh of eight new flotillas of Tribal class destroyers is deployed to Scapa Flow, and the de Havilland Corporation rolls out its new Wellington medium bomber. Funding is reassigned to Air Marshall Dowding’s department for the formulation of a Strafing Doctrine. On the 27th the new Fairey Battle close-air support aircraft is delivered for production, and contracts are issued to the Naval Department under Admiral Lord Percy Noble for development of a Hunter-Killer doctrine for ASW warfare.

NOVEMBER 1937

The Japanese are bogging down in the north of China, while the Republicans are incrementally gaining the upper hand in Spain.
On the 10th a new wing of Hurricane Mk 2’s deploys to Dover, and the wing of Gladiator Interceptors formerly stationed there is rebased to Alexandria to join the Royal Iraqi Air Force in providing at least some defensive coverage for Alexander’s WDF.
On the 11th the Panay Incident occurred between Japan and the USA, and the Japanese elected to pay reparations to the U.S. Government. Australia’s elections resulted in no change for its government. On the 24th the Rape of Nanking occurred, and United States public opinion swings sharply against the Japanese:


DECEMBER 1937

On the 8th we made the decision to rebase the last remaining wing of Gladiator interceptors to Malta, bringing the total to two wings deployed on the island. This should give us some significant defense against the Regia Aeronautica in the event of war.
On the 13th the encryption section under Alan Turing over at Bletchley Park completes its research into Basic Encryption, and his team is put to work in an Improved Decryption Machine.
On the 15th the 7th Armoured Division is activated under Alanbrooke at London Command, and resources are reassigned to expanding the network of radar stations across the south of England, as well as the formation of a heavier armoured division of Cruiser tanks. On Christmas Day the last flotilla of Tribal class destroyers is activated at Scapa Flow.

[Chaplain]

JANUARY 1938

With the New Year the Cabinet gathers for an assessment of progress over the last two years. It is agreed that the Royal Navy is in an excellent position, the RAF much improved and expected to be much stronger by 1939, and the Army modernized and expanded sufficient to deter Italian aggression.
Diplomatic efforts in 1938 will need to be focused on Poland, the troublesome Irish, and ideally Greece and Turkey. If the Republicans eliminate the Nationalists in Spain, we want to ensure that Spain does not become a Communist nation, so we will expend some effort influencing their government as well.
On the 6th we concluded a major trade agreement with the Nationalist Chinese, who are under severe pressure from the Japanese:


On the 12th Dowding’s research section publishes its Strafing Doctrine for the training of RAF pilots. Contracts are issued to the Enfield Arsenal to develop a complete new TO&E for our infantry divisions, modernizing them once again to the state-of-the-art in field units.
On the 30th the PM and Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden are heard in a shouting match outside No. 10 Downing Street. The PM convenes the Cabinet with the intention of relieving Eden, but I argue him out of it. Eden is a good man and the nation has mad solid progress in the right direction, I feel. Now is not the time to change horses, so to speak.
FEBRUARY 1938

On the 1st of February a large peace demonstration develops on Trafalgar Square, with many thousands of the public marching and chanting for peace. In a move I disapprove, the PM gives a speech guaranteeing that the UK will not be drawn into a shooting war with Germany or Italy. The speech is well-received, and as a result Parliament seems less likely than ever to guarantee the independence of Poland and Greece, which I feel to be a necessary step. I feel that we will not be able to bring the issue to a vote until summer at the earliest. This is troublesome because I had hoped to convince the government to guarantee Czechoslovakia’s independence in the spring, but the national mood being what it is, such a move is out of the questions.

MARCH 1938

On the 2nd, news reports out of the USSR begin to speak of hundreds of Red Army officers suddenly disappearing. There is fear of some serious turmoil, with significant loss of life.
On the 3rd of March there are a number of serious developments. The German government presents the Austrian government with an ultimatum, citing alleged abuse of German minorities within Austria. The Austrian government unceremoniously backs down and aggress to unification with Germany, and in the afternoon Mr. Hitler delivers a triumphant speech announcing the ‘Anschluss’ of the Reich’s southern neighbor:

As a consequence, an emergency session of Parliament approves an expansion of defense spending and munitions procurement, as well as revived investment in defense industries.
On the same day the 43rd ‘Wessex’ Division is formed and deployed to the beaches of Sunderland. Finally, a new airbase becomes operational at Mersa Matruh in the Egyptian desert, and a wing of Gladiators are deployed from Alexandria to this base to patrol the sea and Libyan border.
On the 8th a third wing of the new Hurricane Mk 2’s deploys to Norwich.
At the end of the month the Irish renew their demands for Portadown and Belfast, and we renew our refusal to cede these provinces – they are part of the UK.

APRIL 1938

On the 14th Vauxhall debuts a new, improved ligh tank design – the Stuart (conceived in conjunction with the Americans). Contracts are issued to Robert Watson-Watts’ group to develop Improved Encryption devices. All this effort through Bletchley Park will hopefully enable us to detect any German air or naval units attempting to operate in the North Sea or Channel regions, as well as tracking down u-boats in the Atlantic.
On the 27th we activate a new airfield at Suez, against the possibility that Alexandria is lost to a determined Italian effort.

MAY 1938

On the 13th the new Headquarters Division is deployed to Plymouth and embarked for the Egyptian desert. Resources are reassigned to the building of two more divisions of cruiser tanks. These will be deployed, along with eight of the new infantry divisions currently authorized, to the Continent in support of France in the event of war. The remaining three infantry divisions not yet deployed will be assigned to Alexander in the desert.
The 44th ‘Home Counties’ Division is sent to the desert at Mersa Matruh. A new radar station goes active at Dover.
Throughout the latter two weeks, the Republicans in Spain begin an effort to bomb the last stronghold of the Nationalists at Seville into submission.


JUNE 1938

On the 15th of June I am finally able to convince Parliament to publicly guarantee the independence of Poland. The vote was close, but there is just enough Interventionist sentiment among the MP’s to pass. Unfortunately, on the 18th there is a major worker’s strike as the public disapproves, and dissent climbs back to nearly 10%.
Undeterred, on the 21st we plunge ahead with our policies, publicly guaranteeing the independence of Czechoslovakia as well. Now the stage is set. Germany is contained, short of war. I spend the afternoon reorganizing the Mediterranean Fleet into appropriate task forces:
Transport Squadron: 3 transports covered by CA Exeter and CL Coventry.
Battlegroup A: CV Courageous, BB’s Queen Elizabeth, Barham, Valiant, 4 DD flotillas.
Battlegroup B: CV Glorious, BB’s Malaya, Warspite, Revenge, plus four light cruisers.
Force N: CA’s Devonshire, London, CL Arethusa
Force O: CA’s York, Shropshire, Sussex, plus three light cruisers
Towards the end of the month, a fourth wing of Hurricane Mk 2’s goes active at Plymouth, giving us four total wings for the defense of England, with three more under construction.

JULY 1938

On the 8th the Enfield Arsenal delivered its blueprint for a new TO&E for our infantry divisions, and modernization begins – significant is the addition of 81mm mortars at the platoon level, and 75mm field guns at the company level. Funding is redirected towards a Battlefield Interdiction doctrine under Dowding’s research group; this will maximize our medium bombers and fighter aircraft for ground strike missions.
On the 25th, the first of the infantry divisions in the proposed Continental BEF – the 45th – is activated and deployed to Cardiff to form the nucleus of the growing force.

AUGUST 1938

On the 11th the Soviets and Japanese clashed at Chasan Lake, heightening tensions between those two nations. Our modernization program upgrades Brooke’s London Command to the new TO&E.

SEPTEMBER 1938

On the 5th, Admiral Lord Noble’s group publishes its ASW Hunter-Killer Doctrine for RN training, and the Leyland Corporation is contracted to develop a Basic Medium Tank to replace the aging Cruiser Mk1 A9.
On the 7th, the 6th Armoured Division with its cruiser tanks is activated as part of Brooke’s command, and is combined with the 7th Armoured to create a Fast Response Force as a reserve for all of the south of England. Production funding is reassigned to develop three brigades of Combat Engineers, ten brigades of Field Artillery, and three wings of the new Wellington medium bombers. The UK military is shaping up quite nicely these days.
On the 14th, Robert Watson-Watt’s group developed Improved Encryption Machines and his funding is renewed, this time to develop Advanced Computing Machines. On the 23rd, Dowding’s group finishes developing the Battlefield Interdiction doctrine, and his team is put to work developing a Night Strafing doctrine to further maximize our medium bomber force.
On the 30th Parliament passed a second expanded defense funding bill as tensions across Europe are obvious.

OCTOBER 1938

A new wing of Hurricanes goes active at Dover. Another large trade agreement in support of China is enacted. And South Africa swung to the left in elections. Authorization for a brand-new battleship, the King George V, is issued and the keel is laid at Liverpool. On the 26th, the 8th Armoured Division (Cruiser tanks) is activated, embarking at Plymouth for the desert.

NOVEMBER 1938

A large coastal fort construction project begins at Malta. This base is deemed too important to lose, and it may be that an additional division will be deployed to the island, as well as an artillery brigade.



DECEMBER 1938

On the 9th, an accidental discovery leads to a significant breakthrough in the field of Deep Logistics Organization, and the prospect of our being able to sustain large ground forces overseas is much brighter.
On Christmas Day Dowding’s team completes its research into the Night Strafing Doctrine, and his team is put to work on a First Strike doctrine to coordinate fighter defenses.

[Chaplain]

JANUARY 1939

On the 20th Leyland completes their design of a new Crusader medium tank. Fresh contracts are issued to the English Electric Company to develop an Improved Decimetric Radar:

On the 25th, priority is given to the nascent CBEF (currently three divisions) for modernization purposes. While our armoured forces in the desert could us modernization as well, given the limited budget the CBEF is a priority. In the event of war, if France can somehow remain in the fray then victory is all but assured, we feel.
With a small budget surplus, 5 new brigades of the Humber Mk 1 armoured cars are ordered up – these will be invaluable in stiffening the resistance of the infantry in the desert, it is felt.
As we move into the New Year, much thought is given to the fact that we have guaranteed the independence of both Poland and Czechoslovakia. We must be prepared to honor these commitments, and it is hoped that we can secure formal alliances with both nations to contain the Fascist menace.

FEBRUARY 1939

On the 1st, the brand-new aircraft carrier Illustrious is launched at Scapa Flow, as well as her CAG air wing, a new wing of Hurricane interceptors, and a new (13th Indian) infantry division. Resources are redistributed to build three new wings of the Spitfire Mk 1 multi-role fighter, and a fortification project for the landward approaches to Singapore.
On the 7th the new Deep Logistics doctrine is completed, streamlining the process of supplying our overseas forces. Priority is shifted to the development a new model of the Spitfire (MkIX) through the excellent Supermarine Corporation.
On the 8th, Poland agrees to a formal military alliance with the UK and France. Czechoslovakia is approached but unwilling at this time. We hope it does not result in their undoing.
On the 19th, Alan Turing’s section at Blethcley develops an Improved Decryption Machine, and research is shifted to Admiral Dudley Pound’s development of a Floating Fortress Doctrine for the Navy – it is imperative that the RN maintain unquestioned control of the sea lanes. We feel that, with this last doctrine, that aim will be secured. All other emphasis will be on land and air forces henceforth.
CV Illustrious replaces Furious in her battlegroup, and Furious joins the Argus group as flagship.

MARCH 1939

On the 15th we concluded a technology deal with the French, acquiring three sets of blueprints in exchange for three of our own. Unfortunately, during the flight back to London we received news that Czechoslovakia had yielded to Nazi political pressure and been absorbed into the Reich. Word has it the Germans created the puppet state of Slovakia and began integrating its armed forces into their own, while slicing off Ruthenia and assigning it to Hungary. The new map of Europe is as follows:
The darkness is spreading.
In the Far East, the Japanese drive even further into China, nearly severing the east from the west, and occupying the important industrial sectors of Changsha. Is it possible that the massive Chinese nation could be utterly defeated by the Japanese? There is some discussion of declaring war on Japan and coming to the aid of Chiang Kai-Shek, but the PM refuses. In his view, we have neither the necessary force in the theater to substantially aid the Chinese, nor the political will in the public to sustain a conflict.

Instead, an increase in defence spending makes it possible to begin to form a Headquarters Division for the CBEF, and to continue the effort to reduce public dissent through social spending. Dissent has dropped below 5%, so there is a light at the end of that particular tunnel. The new map of Europe looks like this, with a much larger Germany and the rump state of Slovakia:

The 9th Armoured Division (Cruiser Mk1A9’s) is deployed to Portsmouth and placed in reserve, ready to embark as needed. Resources are redirected to building coastal fortifications at Plymouth, Portsmouth, and Norwich.
On the 24th the new 14th Indian infantry division went to backstop the beaches at Norwich, and during the afternoon word came from the Continent that the German government had demanded the strategic seaport city of Memel from Lithuania, and the cowed Lithuanians (finding no friends in the USSR) agreed to cede this province to Mr. Hitler.
On the 26th the increasingly belligerent and unapologetic Italians declared war on and invaded Albania.

APRIL 1939

On the 6th of April Dowding’s section completes its development of the First Strike doctrine for fighter tactics, and emphasis is continued in this area by refocusing Dowding’s section on Dispersed Fighting techniques. It is the aim of the RAF to put the best fighters and interceptors in Europe into the skies over the UK.
During the month we dispatch a large team of military advisors to Poland to provide blueprints and instruction in various military technologies to the woefully antiquated Polish Army. Seeing the condition of Polish forces, we are dismayed.
On the 24th Italy concludes a merciless annexation of Albania. I argue vociferously for decisive action against Mr. Mussolini, but the PM points out (once again) that there are neither the necessary votes in Parliament nor the public opinion required to support such a move. “Anyway,” he contends, “I intend to visit Mr. Hitler soon for I believe that he is now satisfied and there will be no more aggression.”

MAY 1939

After a long discussion on the Cabinet, the decision is taken to attempt a coup in Fascist Hungary, supporting local democractic insurgents in an effort to depose Miklos Nagybanya. The effort goes forward on the 8th but is quickly crushed and fails completely. The sad result is that Hungary is driven even further into the arms of Germany.

JUNE 1939

On the 3rd, the first wing of new Spitfire Mk 1’s is activated and rebased to Alexandria to provide air cover for the WDF.
The 13th is quite a day in international news as Panama, Ecuador, and Nicaragua all experienced military coups that overthrow existing governments and install more Socialist versions.
On the 14th the Parliament is coerced to approve a new, more Interventionist international policy in the hopes of averting a second Great War. The PM has now been empowered to act more unilaterally in international affairs.
On the 21st Robert Watt-Watson’s section develops an Advanced Computing Machine, and Alan Turing’s section at Bletchley puts it to work on Advanced Decryption Techniques. On the same day, a second military advisory embassy to Warsaw provides the Poles with a fresh collectionof blueprints and training manuals to improve their aging military.
On the 23rd Dowding’s section completes its research into Dispersed Fighting tactics for the RAF, and de Havilland goes to work on an Improved Strategic Bomber – the Halifax.
A pro-Fascist military coup succeeds in Bolivia. On the 27th a fresh wing of Wellington medium bombers deploys to Plymouth.

JULY 1939

On the 4th the English Electric Company secretly announces a finished design for its Improved Decimetric Radar, and is instructed to begin work on an Advanced Decimetric Radar.
On the 10th the 49th ‘West Riding’ Division is deployed to Cardiff, bringing the CBEF to five modern and brigade-augmented divisions, with the potential to include an armoured division at Plymouth.
On the 18th comes the announcement that Turing and Watt-Watson have theorized the building of a Secret Weapon – Electronic Computers. In the future, we may devote resources top exploring this avenue of research, but for the moment our commitments are made.

AUGUST 1939

Tensions across Europe are very high. On the 5th, military advisory missions are dispatched to Australia, Canada, and South Africa to provide them with blueprints for more advanced military research. Admiral Pound’s group completes its Floating Fortress doctrine and disseminates it throughout the Fleet. Emphasis is switched to Air General Portla’s section to explore Infrastructure Destruction doctrine for our medium bomber force.
On the 12th the rudimentary coastal fortifications are completed at Plymouth, so that a continuous line now exists from Plymouth to Norwich. We’d like to expand it, but resources are shifted to a further 10-division expansion of the Army, anticipating the deployment of such forces to the Far East as need be, or for inclusion in a second CBEF. The existing CBEF is redeployed to Plymouth to be ready to embark on transports for duty in France.
On the 24th of August the word leaks of a pact signed between Germany and the USSR – the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, they’re calling it – agreeing to divide Poland between them. I am outraged and the PM agrees to immediately explore diplomatic means of deterring Mr. Hitler. A third military advisory mission leaves for Warsaw, but the feeling is that the time is short. There is some talk of approaching the Polish government about an immediate deployment of the CBEF to Danzig, the I argue against it. Instead, I urge the PM to guarantee the independence of Denmark, and he agrees. Unfortunately, the Danish see this as a provocative act and are unwilling to permit it.
On the 26th Supermarine debuts its new Mk IX Spitfire, and General Lord Percy Hobart’s department is tasked with developing a Pre-planned Defensive doctrine for His Majesty’s Army.

SEPTEMBER 1939

On the morning of the 2nd of September, Germany declares war on Poland. France and the UK immediately declare war on Germany, and a second Great War has truly begun:

Our initial strategy will be to permit our forces to fully mobilize, which will take about 2 weeks. The CBEF will leave for Le Havre, France, and the Cruiser tanks of the 9th Armoured will join them. Commencing on the 15th, ASW patrols out of Liverpool and RN patrols in the Channel, North Sea, and Arctic Sea will begin also:
Force F (Layton) – Eastern Arctic Sea
Force D (Dunbar-Naismith) – North Sea
Force E (Studholme-Brownring) – Western Approaches
Home Fleet (Forbes) – Mouth of the Thames
The No.7 Air Command, consisting of three wings of Wellingtons, will join the CBEF, based at Cherbourg.
Stunningly, late on the 2nd a wing of German He-111’s arrives over Bristol – even before our air defences have been activated! The Germans bombs the city and troops located there. Immediately all six RAF interceptor wings are placed on highest alert, covering all of the UK as far north as Edinburgh, with two wings out of Norwich concentrating on intercepting the enemy over the West North Sea instead of over England. Tedder’s three wings of Whitley strategic bombers based at Sheffield are instructed to begin night runs over Mecklenburg, aiming for German industry and resource sites. The war has truly begun:

MAP NOTES: The first aerial engagement over Bristol occurs as scrambled Hurricanes intercept KG Edelweiss’ He-111 bombers. The CBEF is mid-Channel, enroute to Le Havre, and aggressive fighter patrols have begun off the east coast of the UK. See also the line of radar stations and flak emplacements across the south.
Just after midnight on the 3rd, Tedder’s three wings of strategic bombers arrived over Wilhelmshafen unopposed and introduced the German public to war. On the afternoon of the 3rd an important piece of intelligence was gained as two wings of German Do-217 naval bombers appeared over the Channel, hunting for targets. They were intercepted by Fighter Command, but we now know that the enemy has given serious thought to a cross-Channel invasion. Aircraft such as this Dornier could be used to chase the Fleet from the crossing. The enemy will have to gain air superiority first, however, and the RAF intends to prevent it with a combination of constant patrols and decimetric radar vectoring from the line of stations along the coast.
On the 9th Air General Conyngham’s nearly three hundred Wellington medium bombers relocate to the French airbase at Chaumont and are instructed to undertake daylight attacks on German military targets and units in the Baden-Wurttemberg region. The ineffectiveness of the first raid, however, plus the considerable German flak defenses encountered convinces Conyngham to switch to night logistical strikes.
Unfortunately, the situation on the Polish front is terrible. By the 9th the Wehrmacht has reached Lodz and Czestochowa and the Poles are in full, disorganized retreat, with their air force utterly incapacitated. The differences between the fast-moving, modern German Army and the antiquated Polish formations is heart-breaking:

On the 10th we begin begging Denmark for military access, hoping to seize the Skagerrak and engage in operations in the Baltic against the German seacoast, but the Danes are unwilling. They do allow us to guarantee their independence, but we need military access. If we could fortify the Aarhus and provide air coverage and sea support to our troops ashore we could conceivably throw a monkey wrench in the German plans. But for now, it is impossible. We shall have to content ourselves with the success of our night bombing campaigns – Conyngham in particular is doing significant damage to the German rail network along the French border. On the 11th a new wing of Spitfires goes into action at Dover and commences patrols over the Pas de Calais in support of the French.
By the evening of the 12th, German forces have crossed into Lomza northeast of Warsaw and are streaming into Radom and Kielce. The fall of Poland seems only a couple of weeks away. The Luftwaffe is entirely engaged in the Polish campaign, however, permitting Tedder and Conyngham to operate virtually unmolested. Damage inflicted on Luftwaffe bombers raiding unto the UK has caused the enemy to cease such operations.
After determined attacks beginning on the 19th, the Germans force their way into Warsaw on the morning of the 24th, and with the Polish Army shattered and in full retreat everywhere, it seems only a matter of time before the government surrenders. The fall of Warsaw also heralds the appearance of German fighters – Me110’s and Me109’s - in force over the Saar and the North Sea. Aircraft losses among Tedder’s and Conyngham’s fliers increase significantly, but our records show that significant damage has been done to the rail yards along the Rhine, and to the resource processing facilities in Mecklenburg.
Lublin, Zamosc and Suwalki in Poland fall on the 25th. The Soviet Army lunges across the Polish border on the same day, catching unprepared Polish forces by surprise. The Polish Army was just beginning to mount a determined counter-attack with 7 divisions from Grodno into Suwalki, but the Soviet treachery puts and end to it:

In the Far East the Soviets and Japanese fight a pitched battle at Khalkin Gol, but neither side declares war and both governments seem inclined to back down. On the evening of the 26th, the sad agony of Poland comes to an end with a formal surrender. Germany announces the annexation of Poland, after just three weeks of a new kind of war the newspapers are calling blitzkrieg, or ‘lightning war’.
To the dismay of many more senior officers, the CBEF command is given to newly promoted Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery, whose headquarters is established at Avranches with a deployment of six divisions as shown below:

This deployment reflects our essential lack of confidence in the French ability to maintain a front line in or behind Belgium. Consequently, we hope to contain a German breakthrough by digging in along the Seine, thus giving the French time to regroup once their line is broken.
On the 28th, due to increasingly heavy losses among Tedder’s strategic bombers, the campaign against Mecklenburg is called off. Given the intensity of air combat over northern Germany, the Channel, and France we authorize an additional three wings of Spitfires to be built in the next year.

OCTOBER 1939

The long, bloody Spanish Civil War is in its twilight, it seems, with Nationalist forces contained in the south of the country and Republicans relentlessly driving them back on Gibraltar. Before the end of the year, the war may be over:

On the 10th, due to horrific losses among Conyngham’s medium bomber pilots and crews, the campaign against the German military infrastructure along the Rhine is discontinued, and Conyngham’s squadrons rebase to Auxeree in preparation for coming land campaign. They have gained considerable experience which will be valuable later on.
In an extremely unfortunate development, on the 12th the Romanian government announces that it has entered a formal military alliance with Germany, Hungary and Slovakia. This puts the considerable Romanian ground forces at the disposition of Hitler’s Germany and threatens the entire Balkans region. Renewed diplomatic efforts to keep Turkey and Yugoslavia out of the war are undertaken, as well as trying to bring Greece into alliance.
Throughout the month of October the RN encounters no German ships or u-boats, while the RAF bombers lick their wounds and the fighters engage in inconclusive skirmishes over northern France and the North Sea. Fortunately, the three wings of South African fighters (Hurricane Mk 1’s) have joined us on duty over northern France and the Channel, so air superiority is not a problem at the moment.
On the 26th the new 51st ‘Highland’ division is formed and embarks for garrison duty at Gibraltar. It is absolutely imperative that Gibraltar remain secure.

NOVEMBER 1939

On the 6th the new 52nd ‘Lowland’ Division is activated and assigned to back up the provisionals along the beaches of Plymouth. There is talk of deploying a squadron from the RN along the German coast at Wilhelmshafen and Bremen to interdict u-boats, but the earlier sighting of German naval bombers makes this untenable. There is little we can do at the moment except prepare for the decisive engagement in France.
On the 7th we take the decision to replace Montgomery-Massingberd as Chief of Staff with Field Marshal Sir Edmund Ironside, whose emphasis is on small unit leadership and tactics as a key to modern warfare. Ironside knows how to keep men motivated and fighting, whereas M.M. was a bit of technical specialist in artillery and fortifications. Cyrill Bevell is appointed Chief of the Army because of his expertise with logistics management. The combination of these two changes to the Cabinet creates some dissent, but it had dropped below 1% so it is manageable.
During the second week of November the weather begins to close in over France and the Channel, restricting air operations.
On the 12th the Nationalists surrendered and the Republican government was restored in Spain, ending the Spanish Civil War. The nation is badly battered, and we immediately begin dispatching envoys to improve relations and perhaps develop an alliance against the Fascists.
On the 14th the Soviet Union suddenly declared war on Finland. We immediately begin shipping surplus supplies to the Finns and hope that the technological aid we have earlier in 1938 will be of use. There is some talk of coming to Finland’s aid, but with the war against Germany we do not need more enemies, and indeed the Soviets may prove allies of a sort, in the long run.
On the 18th the Altmark Incident occurs, and we begin preparing for an eventual intervention in Norway to prevent the Kriegsmarine and Luftwaffe from gaining bases among the fjords.
On the 30th the No.6 Air Command RAF (one wing of Hurricane Mk2’s) is taken off of patrol in the north of England and rebased to Auxerre to fly CAP over Alsace-Lorraine.
While the Luftwaffe has kept up a relatively steady pressure on the French Air Force and the RAF since the end of the Polish campaign, that effort intensifies against the French in the last week of November with repeated missions flown over the French frontier by large contingents of German medium bombers. The fighting is quite fierce, and it is evident that the enemy is attempting to gain air superiority.

DECEMBER 1939

On the 5th a large German raid does massive damage to the airfields at Norwich, so RAF Fighter Command redeploys its assets to cover the east coast. In an effort to disrupt the German air offensive, Tedder’s strategic bombers begin making night runs over Mecklenburg again.
The new 53rd ‘Welsh’ division joins the CBEF on France, giving Montgomery six infantry divisions and allowing him to locate the 9th Armoured as a tactical reserve behind the positions along the Seine.
Given the relative effectiveness of the night bombing campaign, three new wings of strategic bombers are ordered. This is a huge investment, but we intend to employ these aircraft for the rest of the war, and a new prototype called the ‘Halifax’ is nearly completed.
Over the Christmas holiday our Parliamentary policies come under relentless attack by socialists, conservatives, and liberals alike. The nation is dissatisfied with the war. We strike a bargain with the conservatives, which increases dissent to nearly 6%.

The Battle of the Helgoland Bight
Late on Christmas Day, Dunbar-Naismith’s Force D finds itself aggressively engaged by the bulk of the Kriegsmarine sortieing out of Kiel. The German commander (Admiral Saalwachter) aboard the Bismarck succeeds in closing the range in bad weather and a gun battle ensues at 26 kilometers:

The German fleet consists of Bismarck, the two old WW1 battleships Schleswig-Holstein and Schleisen, as well as the pocket battleships Scheer, Deutschland, Graf Spee, and Hipper, plus an assortment of light cruisers and destroyers. Force D consists of the carriers Argus and Furious, plus four heavy cruisers and five flotillas of destroyers.
As the battle opens, the range is too great for the British cruisers. The carriers launch air strikes but in the driving rain their effect is negligible. Dunbar-Naismith immediately attempts to disengage, but before he can both carriers have suffered major damage from German shells and the entire force retreats up the Norwegian coast towards Scapa Flow. Two cruisers are damaged and several destroyers as well. The Germans, as far as we can tell, are relatively unscathed. To make matters worse, as we withdraw the two wings of Do-217 naval bombers locate our fleet and attack, nearly sinking Frobisher and Dorsetshire and several destroyers.
The lesson is clear – surface patrols must be kept away from the German coast, even in bad weather. Naval interceptions will have to occur farther to the north, in the open sea. It will be a couple of months before Argus and Furious and the rest of Force D are ready for duty again. Force C under Admiral Boyle (built around the Illustrious) takes up a patrol along the English east coast to replace Dunbar-Naismith. This yields the North Sea, but secures the English coast. Ark Royal’s battlegroup is kept in reserve to react to detected German threats:

During the last week of December the Canadian and Australian air forces begin to operate medium bombers from Norwich against German industry also, and no less than eight wings of German fighters are detected attempting to eliminate this threat.
On the 30th the new Armstrong-Whitley Whitworth strategic bomber prototype is made available for production, and Tedder’s air crews are given priority for upgrade. So far the RAF has borne the brunt of losses and battle. The only positive is that our RAF commanders and pilots are gaining valuable experience. Dowding’s section goes to work on a new Dead Reckoning Bombing Technique for the strategic air forces.

End of 1939 Summary

Poland is crushed, Spain is Republican, and Romania and Hungary and Slovakia are actively supporting the Nazi war effort. Italy remains blessedly neutral, but we’re not sure how long that will last. The French air force is taking a beating. The Japanese have penetrated as far as Shaoyang on the Guangxi border, and split the Nationalist Chinese in half. The situation is grim.

[Chaplain]

JANUARY 1940

A wing of Spitfire Mk1’s joins the Hurricanes already operating from Auxerre over Alsace-Lorraine. Most of our fighter squadrons are at 80% strength, so we are having a hard time replacing losses.
On the 9th we guaranteed the independence of Turkey while improving relations with Bulgaria and Yugoslavia. Both the latter governments are paternal autocrats, so we are fearful of them joining Germany.
During the second week of Germany Tedder’s heavy bombers increasingly encounter Romanian and Hungarian interceptors, which is perhaps a measure of the German’s desperation. We haven’t inflicted major losses, but we do damage almost every night.
On the 12th the Russo-Finnish war concludes with Finland ceding most of the Karelian Isthmus to the Soviets. Tiny Finland has effectively resisted the massive Soviet Union, and we are quite pleased.

FEBRUARY 1940

The aerial war continues with frequent engagements at the Mouth of the Thames and over Alsace-Lorraine and Mecklenburg – the latter at night. Tedder’s bombers are suffering heavy losses, but continue to press on. Conyngham’s medium bombers at Auxerre renew their offensive into the industrial regions of Bavaria, attacking industrial and resource-processing targets.

But by the end of the month the medium bombers are called off due to a poor ratio of losses to damage inflicted. They just don’t carry large enough bomb loads to make the attacks worthwhile. Also, by the end of the month, Tedder’s crews are beginning to replace their Whitleys with newer Handley Page Halifaxes.




MARCH 1940

The 55th ‘West Lancashire’ Division forms up at Plymouth and embarks for Egypt. Conyngham’s medium bomber command redeploys to Dover to refit and prepare for a raid on the Kriegsmarine at Wilhelmshafen and Bremen. Air General Portal’s new Infrastructure Destruction doctrine includes specific techniques for effectively bombing enemy ships in port, and we anticipate that Portal’s plans will be finalized by April.
On the 19th Portal’s research is completed early, but Conyngham’s formations are still far from ready to operate, having suffered over 50% losses during the Bavaria raids. Research resources are redirected to de Havilland to develop an Improved Tactical Bomber, the Bristol Buckingham.
By the end of the month the Luftwaffe appears to be attempting to destroy radar and AA installations along the southeast coast of England. Repeated raids coming in over the Mouth of the Thames have focused on these targets, as well as the airfields at Norwich and Dover.

APRIL 1940

Air Marshal Dowding’s research into Dead Reckoning Bombardment doctrine is completed, and he focuses on the Combat Escort Box doctrine. More than 2/3rd’s of Tedder’s crews are flying Halifaxes now.
On the 12th the new Guards Armoured division (medium Crusader tanks) is activated and embarks at Plymouth for Egypt. This will give us four armoured and seven infantry divisions in the desert, which ought to be a serious deterrent to the Italians.
On the 23rd the 56th Infantry division takes up positions in Dover, and Hobart’s team finishes its research into Pre-planned Defensive Positions, which ought to significantly improve the performance of the Army in the field. Effort is redirected to Deep Vehicle Repair facilities through Vickers-Armstrong Corporation.
On the 24th Tedder’s offensive has to be called off due to shattering losses. One entire wing has been destroyed, and the other two are badly attrited. On the 25th Intelligence discerns a sizable German airborne corps deployed on the Belgian border, and the Luftwaffe’s efforts against the French begin to pick up tempo.

MAY 1940

On the 2nd of May Germany declares war on Belgium, Holland, and Luxembourg. The Wehrmacht lunges across the border and begins the campaign in the West.

The Battle of the Norwegian Sea
Early on the evening of the 4th, Saalwachter’s large Kriegsmarine battleline encounters Vice Admiral Layton’s patrol group – led by the old battleship Royal Oak – in the Central Norwegian Sea. This is something of a surprise since we were unaware that the Germans had sortied. The weather is clear and Saalwachter outmaneuvers Layton, opening fire at a range of about 25 kilometers. At first the enemy concentrates on the older cruiser Caradoc, and when she begins to list heavily fire is shifted to Colombo and Calcutta. Layton wisely attempts to disengage and succeeds with the falling night. Caradoc is sunk, with the other two cruisers suffering heavy damage, and Layton’s group withdraws to Scapa Flow without managing to significantly return fire, while Ark Royal’s group sets sail to hunt for the Germans. Dunbar-Naismith’s Force D (Argus & Hermes) is repaired and ready for action again, so they are deployed to the Faeros Gap to search for Saalwachter.
Less than 48 hours later, Saalwachter surprises Layton by pursuing him north into the Northern Norwegian Sea. We had expected the Germans to attempt to break out into the Atlantic, and deployed accordingly. There in the freezing waters above Narvik Layton is caught and in a short, sharp gun battle the battleship Royal Oak and the heavy cruisers Cornwall and Cumberland are sunk alongside light cruisers Colombo and Calcutta. It is the worst disaster in British naval history.
Burrough’s Ark Royal group is immediately ordered west to the Faeroes Gap to join the others as well, in case the Germans try to break out.

By the 8th the Germans have swept into Arnhem, Eindhoven, and Antwerp, and the Belgian and Dutch armies are in full retreat. The French Army advances into Belgium but does not perform well:

On the 10th the Germans enter Brussels. On the 11th the first German u-boats are detected attempting to move through the Faeroes Gap and attacked by aircraft from carriers Argus & Hermes.
The 13th of May is a marvelous day as the PM, Neville Chamberlain, under terrific public pressure as a result of the failure of the air offensive and the twin defeats of the Royal Navy, resigns and I – Winston Churchill – am elevated to that august office to direct the remainder of the war effort. I am warmed by the profuse expressions of public confidence and trust which issue in the wake of my appointment, and I immediately turn to the task of denying the Germans once again.
On that same day the Germans reach the French border at Mons, and Belgium is all but overrun, with Holland sure to fall as well. The Dutch succeed in evacuating enough soldiers to form an expatriate division – largely made up of Javanese colonials – at Norwich. Dubbed the ‘Java’ division, this unit begins to draw supplies from the UK and entrenches along the beaches. The French Expeditionary Force in Belgium is caught too far forward and immediately begins to retreat, proving the wisdom of Montgomery’s decision to deploy along the Seine:

On the 14th Luxembourg surrenders and a large Luftwaffe raid pounds the 9th Armoured and Montgomery’s headquarters, prompting a pullback of RAF forces from the French frontier in Alsace to cover the deployment of the CBEF.
On the 15th Dowding’s section completes its research into Escort Box doctrine for strategic bombers, and Admiral Pound is put to work redressing Navy deficiencies in tactics through the doctrine of Naval Attrition.

The Battle of the Thames
On the morning of the 17th, Admiral Boyle’s Illustrious battlegroup is surprised to discover that Saalwachter – emboldened by his earlier successes – is trying the Channel. Conyngham’s medium bombers scramble from Dover while Boyle engages.
The Illustrious’ first strike at 0900 hones in on the cruiser Prinz Eugen and scores a hit while destroyers from both sides skirmish. By 1000 both battlelines are engaging and firing furiously at roughly 25 kilometers. An hour later the Prinz Eugen is listing heavily, and a number of destroyers are burning – 3-1 in favor of the Germans, however.
At noon the heavy cruiser Suffolk begins to suffer due to accurate fire from the Bismarck. At 1300 Boyle breaks off and runs for safe harbor at Norwich, leaving only Forbes’ Channel Fleet standing between the Germans and the English coast. In the rain and low clouds, Conyngham’s bombers are unable to locate the Germans.

On the 18th the Wehrmacht breaks through at Reims and occupies that French city and Amsterdam falls, with the Dutch Army surrendering. The speed and ferocity of the German attack is astounding:

On the 20th of May the first German commerce attacks begin north of the Azores on the Gibbs Fracture, sinking ten merchant ships. There is talk of dispatching the Illustrious battlegroup (repairing at Scapa Flow) to hunt u-boats in the Atlantic, but as a result of the Battle of the Thames Boyle’s destroyer screen has been shredded and the risk is deemed too great.
Suddenly, it appears that the Royal Navy is not nearly as secure as we thought. There is talk of recalling part of the Mediterranean Fleet, but instead I authorize an immediate building program for convoy escort ships – no less than sixteen squadrons over the next year.
By the 22nd the French Army is in full retreat across the north, losing Lille and Valenciennes.
On the 23rd of May medium bombers from Dover locate Saalwachter’s fleet and begin to harass it off the Mouth of the Thames. After two attacks, the Germans withdraw towards Wilhelmshafen.
On the 25th another wolfpack attack claims another ten merchant ships in the Atlantic, and things are beginning to look desperate. We can’t tolerate this level of losses over the long haul! We reviewed our trade agreements and cancelled a number of them to minimize the number of convoys plying the oceans. ASW groups from the West Indies and Liberia go into action, hunting for the silent, sub-surface enemy.
By the 27th of May the Wehrmacht blitzkrieg has reached the Seine at Amiens, and the French are in complete disarray. Montgomery’s troops brace themselves for battle under a canopy of fighter cover from Cherbourg, and preparations are made to extract the CBEF from France if need be. The Maginot Line is intact, but the speedy German advance has thoroughly flanked it:


JUNE 1940

On the 4th of June the Soviets declare war on Lithuania even as another 13 merchant ships go down in the Atlantic. The Germans begin to probe across the Seine into Paris.
On the 5th of June the battleship King George V is launched at Plymouth.
On the 6th of June Mussolini, like a jackal, jumps into the fray, declaring war on the UK and France. The war has spread all across Europe. The situation in Egypt is as follows, while naval and air forces begin patrols:

The western Med is yielded to the Italians, while the RN concentrates on securing the coast of Egypt and the Eastern Med. Fighter patrols are established over Sidi Narrani and Alexandria, and the medium bombers at Mersa Matruh begin patrolling the coast for enemy surface units.
On the 6th the Germans try the CBEF defenses at Argentan for the first time and are quickly repulsed, giving up the effort by the end of the day. French and Belgian forces in full retreat take shelter behind the CBEF lines and begin to reorganize. Unfortunately, a German panzer spearhead slashing southwest seizes Paris and its environs, putting the effort on the Continent in doubt:

On the 7th the new King George V comes under damaging air attack in the harbor at Plymouth and is immediately ordered to withdraw north to Scapa Flow for major repairs.
On the 9th there are a pair of small actions in the Med – first, Italian naval bombers (apparently flying from the Dodecanese, although possibly Libya) pull off a surprise raid on Tel Aviv, sinking the heavy cruiser Devonshire. Her partners London and Arethusa are ordered to rebase to Bombay, beyond enemy range. Henceforth, RN ships will never be based without land-based fighter air cover. One of the two fighter wings at Malta is recalled to Alexandria to help cover the fleet’s main Med anchorage.
At midday off the coast of Tobruk, Vice Admiral’s Cunningham’s Courageous battlegroup encounters an Italian surface fleet under Admiral Iachino with three cruisers, three destroyer flotillas and a number of transports. Sighting is made at 130 kilometers around noon, and Courageous launches an air strike at the transports. But between the launch of the aircraft and the strike actually arriving, the Italians successfully elude contact.

The Battle of the Faeroes Gap
Desperate for a morale-building victory, the Royal Navy’s forces patrolling the Faeroes Gap spot Saalwachter’s battleline attempting to transit the gap in the Southeast Faeroes at 1500, 88 kilometers of range. Aircraft are readied for launch from three carriers – Argus, Furious, Ark Royal – while the surface units (led by Hood) close to screen the carriers. The weather is excellent.
Saalwachter (now know in the British Press as ‘the Sea Fox’) executes a brilliant closing maneuver and by 1600 is within 26 kilometers of Dunbar-Naismith’s combined carrier force. Three of the fast pocket battleships open fire on the British screen, engaging Hawkins and destroyers, while the British Swordfish air strikes target Graf Spee and Prinz Eugen.
By 1700 Prinz Eugen is badly damaged and wallowing, while British cruisers Effingham and Hawkins are out of the line and listing heavily. Both sides have burning destroyers as well, Hood’s guns wreaking havoc among the German Z-class.
By 1800 Graf Spee is badly damaged, while Hawkins is in danger of sinking. By 1900 the engagement is still going on, although both fleets are playing conservative and most of Furious’ planes are out of action:

By 2000 Achilles is out of ammunition and Neptune has been struck in the magazine, suffering major damage. Dunbar-Naismith is complaining loudly about the ineffectiveness of the Swordfish CAGs, and the range is beginning to increase at 28 kilometers.
By 2100 most of Argus’ aircraft are out of action as well and the British fleet has taken the worst of it, but Dunbar-Naimsith doggedly refuses to withdraw, launching Ark Royal’s Swordfish again into the twilight.
By 2200 Furious has taken hits amidships from the Bismarck and Argus is dodging fire from the German pocket battleships. Dunbar-Naismith gives the order to withdraw.
Once again the RN has suffered a significant defeat, losing cruisers Hawkins, Effingham, and Neptune, plus a number of destroyers. The German fleet has been battered, and all available land-based bombers in the UK are put on the highest alert to locate and attack the enemy shipping. Studholme-Browning’s battlegroup of Nelson & Rodney is recalled from the west coast of Iceland towards the Faeroes Gap, and the Illustrious battlegroup puts to sea from Scapa Flow without CA Kent (under repair) to search for and engage Saalwachter.

On the 10th a determined German attack at Argentan commences – the Germans attempting to cross the Seine with four panzer and three infantry divisions under Von Kluge. By midday on the 10th Montgomery has committed the 9th Armoured to the battle and the outcome is uncertain.
But around 1800 in the evening Von Kluge’s troops achieve a tactical breakthrough and bridgehead across the river, and it appears the CBEF will not be able to hold. At Caen the CBEF begins to embark pre-positioned transports for a return to the UK, leaving four French and one Belgian division to hold the line, and Monty’s HQ begins to embark at Avranches. The campaign in France may be lost.
By mid-morning on the 11th the German bridgehead is still contained, however, and the German break off the attack under cover from Italian and Hungarian tactical bombers. This is a tremendous moral victory for the Army, but Ironside’s three infantry divisions (43rd, 45th, and 13th Indian) are badly mauled. The 9th Armoured’s Crusader tanks have done yeoman work and suffered minimal losses. The 9th, along with the two French divisions in the line, are ordered to hold while Ironside withdraws towards Avranches for evacuation. All of this takes place under intensive Luftwaffe fighter sweeps in Normandy and the Channel, all of which are being manfully resisted by the RAF.
Sensing the withdrawal, on the 12th the German renew their attacks, but are unable to make headway against Brooke-Popham and the 9th Armoured’s tanks operating in conjunction with French infantry.
At noon on the 13th Manstein renews the attack at Argentan, this time from Paris on the west side of the Seine with four panzer and two infantry divisions. The Belgian division breaks and routs. Ironside’s command is cut off from Avranches and forced to withdraw south and west instead of due west, while the 9th Armoured enagages in a desperate fighting retreat towards the harbor at Avranches.
Late on the 13th, the Nelson and Rodney battlegroup encounters damaged German destroyers escaping the Faeroes and sinks them, providing some measure of salve for the wounded pride of the Navy.
On the 15th the 9th Armoured reaches Rennes and embarks transpots for return to Plymouth, while Ironside’s shattered command is still working across Brittany, trying to reach an Atlantic port for evacuation.
Also on the 15th, the Italians cross the Egyptian border in corps strength and Gort’s 1st & 2nd Armoured divisions are ordered to counter-attack immediately, while the 8th and Guards Armoured are ordered to move to the border from Alexandria.
On the 17th Gort breaks off his attack at Sollum, having given better than he got but making insufficient progress to call a decisive victory. The Soviet Union annexes Lithuania.
On the 18th, after Glorious battlegroup has turned away several small Italian transport groups attempting to reinforce Tobruk. Cruisers Exeter and Coventry set out from Alexandria to interdict any Italian supply convoys trying to land at Tobruk.
Sad news from the Continent as Ironside’s command surrenders at Angers, overtaken by Manstein’s pursuing panzers. Three British divisions (or the remnants thereof) march into captivity.

The First Battle of the Channel
Late on the 19th, Forbes’ Channel Fleet built around battleships Ramillies and Resolution encounters Saalwachter west of Cherbourg attempting to bring his group back to Wilhelmshafen. Evidently the Sea Fox’s disdain for the RN has reached epic proportions. The initial spotting occurs at 29 kilometers and both fleets maneuver for advantage.
By 2000 the battle is engaged with the two RN battleships firing against the Bismarck and all four German pocket battleships. We are encountering the persistent problem of Saalwachter outmaneuvering his opposition so the larger guns of the pocket battleships remain in action against our capital ships while our cruisers are unable to close. The problem is exacerbated by the ineffectiveness of the Swordfiash groups from the carriers.
By 2200 Resolution’s fire control gear is out of action. By 0300, frustrated by our inability to close with the enemy, Forbes orders a withdrawal to Portsmouth. Resolution and Ramillies are significantly damaged, and several destroyers are lost. At every turn, the Royal Navy is being humiliated.

By the 19th the Germans are driving on Tours and the Atlantic Coast. The French Army is broken and routing:


The RAF is fighting desperately for superiority over the south of England and the Channel, and Conyngham’s three wings of Wellingtons are the chief deterrent to the Kriegsmarine in the Channel. If France falls, our patrols in the Faeros will have to be abandoned in favor of a naval reaction force based at Liverpool to deter a cross-Channel invasion by the Germans!
The situation in Egypt on the 20th of June is not bad – the Italian advance has been contained and sea and air supremacy are intact. But the Luftwaffe has made an appearance and there is concern that the Germans are coming in force:

Late in the day, long-range Do-217 naval bombers appear in the Pentland Firth off Scapa Flow and the RAF is called upon to provide some protection over this most important of sea zones.
It has become apparent that there are at least two wings of Luftwaffe Me-110 fighters operating out of Libya. This is a disturbing development. But what happens next is worse by far.
On the afternoon of the 22nd the French surrender, with the Germans forming a puppet government at Vichy. Syria, Lebanon, and Madagascar all devolve to the Vichy government, and French Indochina is ceded to Japan. Suddenly, the UK stands alone against Germany and Italy, and there is a very real fear of a German cross-Channel invasion attempt, perhaps as soon as this summer!
As a result, RAF Command spends the 23rd and 24th dramatically reshuffling the deployment of air defense assets over the UK and Channel, while thinking seriously about pulling air assets away from Egypt. But the difficult decision for the moment is to stand pat. We have five more infantry divisions in the pipeline, and we need to see how the u-boat war will develop, as well as attempt to inflict a serious reverse on Saalwachter’s Kiregsmarine. If we can do that, we can still feel relatively secure. Our one terror is an airborne drop, but we have done all we can to prepare for that.
The following screen details the condition of the RAF at present – it’s not good. (NOTE: I refuse to take advantage of the opportunity to use the Statistics Ledger for free intel, so I have no idea where the Luftwaffe or Regia Aeronautica stand, apart from the personal experience of enemy raids.)

The Interceptors listed above are all Hurricane Mk2 wings, and the Fighters are Spitfire Mk 1’s, or MkIX’s in the case of the No.214 at Alexandria. The Indian Group is ordered transferred to Alexandria.
As indicated below, the KMS Deutschland has become the most hated ship in the free world, having accounted for three heavy and one light cruisers of the RN in various actions. And Canadian destroyer losses are catastrophic:

By the evening of the 25th it becomes apparent that Goering has decided on a strategic bombing campaign against the industrial heart of the UK. The RAF is resisting manfully, but we are outnumbered. This is the darkest hour that the UK has ever known.
On the 26th of June the American President dramatically lifted British morale with a gift of fifty older destroyers for duty as convoy escorts in the Atlantic. I had to agree to give the USN leases on British bases in several parts of the world for 99 years, but it is a small price to pay to as fine an ally as the USA. The destroyers will be quite welcome on the various convoy routes.
On the 27th, the Soviet government presented an ultimatum to the Romanian government in Bucharest, demanding the cession of Bessarabia. Cowed by the huge Soviet military, and finding no support in the court of world opinion due to her belligerence as an ally of Germany, the Romanians back down and Premier Stalin’s troops occupy the borderlands.
On the 28th, the Soviets further their aggressions by absorbing Estonia into their empire. One by one, the lights are going out in Europe. Nevertheless, we shall fight on. In the end, a man is not measured by his victories or defeats, but by the causes for which he took a stand. Now is the time for the UK to defy the darkness. I give a speech in Parliament which is well-received; “We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight in the skies and on the sea …. We shall never surrender!”
Late on the 30th, Field Marshal Graziani’s Italian Army in North Africa launches an offensive against Gort’s 1st and 2nd Armoured divisions at Sidi Barrani, attacking with six divisions but no armour of their own:

[Chaplain]

JULY 1940

Seeing an opportunity to win a much-needed victory, Alexander orders all four of his armoured divisions on the Italian lines (1st, 2nd, 8th, and Guards) to immediately launch a full-scale counter-attack against the Italians as they try to reorganize. The operation will be called ‘Lancer’ and the plan is to seize Tobruk and Benghazi, with Blair’s 55th and 44th Infantry divisions occupying the former port and the four armoured divisions sweeping all the way to Benghazi. If successful, this operation will deal the enemy a severe setback and put RAF tactical bombers within range of Italian sea supply lines across the Tyrrhenian Sea:

There is a huge panic in southeastern England just before midnight on the 1st of July as a large German amphibious invasion fleet is located by Admiral Boyle’s patrol group consisting of Repulse, Kent, and destroyers. This German flotilla is evidently attempting a night crossing of the Channel and is located off the Mouth of the Thames in the dark and rain. Fortunately, the Germans immediately turn back, but the enemy’s intention is now clear:

Admiral Sommerville’s task force at Scapa Flow is immediately mobilized for patrol along the British east coast, even though Ark Royal and King George V are not fully repaired. The former can still launch aircraft, and the group includes a ready Illustrious. (Furious and Argus are too badly damaged.) Rounding out Sommerville’s command are Hood and Renown, plus three heavy cruisers and a number of destroyers. With both Resolution and Ramillies under major repair, Forbes remains at Portsmouth for the moment – though he is told to be ready to sail at a moment’s notice. There is a shouting match at the Admiralty as some are advocating withdrawal of the Mediterranean Fleet to protect the Isles, but I overrule them. As a concession, I authorize all available heavy and medium bombers to patrol the British east coast as well to attack enemy naval assets should they reappear.
By the morning of the 2nd, Dill has broken through the Italians at Rabia and begins his exploitation. Aerial recon reveals an estimated 8-10 Italian divisions behind Graziani’s front-line, so Lancer may prove more difficult than we anticipated. However, these are all infantry divisions and the enemy has shown no significant anti-tank capability as yet.
Late on the 2nd, Gort breaks through as well and our own mini-blitz is underway in the hot desert sun. By the afternoon of the 4th, however, stiffening Italian resistance results in Lancer being prematurely called off. Alexander is content to have pushed the enemy back to the original Egypt-Libya border, and Blair is instructed to hold his position at the Mersa Matruh airbase instead of advancing in the wake of Lancer. The campaign is reduced to an air offensive by two wings of medium bombers against the Italian positions.
During this period, u-boats begin to inflict damage on convoys in the Antilles.

The Faeroes Gap Battle of July 6th
At midday on the 6th, Studholme-Brownrigg’s patrol group (Nelson, Rodney, destroyers) in the Central Faeroes Gap sights Saalwachter’s battle-line attempting to traverse the Gap again. The weather is clear, and initial sighting occurs at 29 kilometers. Despite being outnumbered, Studholme elects to engage, counting on the heavy armor and heavy guns of his two battleships to inflict serious damage on the enemy, making even a tactical German victory so costly as to prove Pyrrhic.
Both fleets close, and German cruiser fire immediately takes a vicious toll of our destroyers, sinking several. A running fight commences, and at about 1500 the Bismarck scores a magazine hit on the Rodney, severely damaging her. Studholme seeks to disengage, not wanting to lose Rodney entirely. He succeeds by 1600, but not before Nelson suffers a debilitating barrage of concentrated fire as well. Both ships will be out of action for several months. The sea is littered with the wreckage of both German and British destroyers caught in the heavy gunfire.
Unfortunately, on the afternoon of the 7th Saalwachter’s group relocates Studholme and finishes off both badly battered capital ships with a huge loss of British life. It is the saddest day in the history of the Royal Navy. Studholme and survivors are plucked from the sea by Sunderlands out of Scapa Flow.

As a consequence of the loss of these two battleships, Royal Sovereign is ordered to return from Singapore with her escort of one heavy and two light cruisers. If we keep chipping away at Saalwachter’s line, we still feel confident we can win the sea war in the long run. There is some talk of deploying Forbes from Portsmouth and/or sortieing the wounded Argus and Furious with their cruiser escorts, but I refuse. The Fleet is needed to guard the coast, not hunt the enemy at sea (for now).
Late on the 7th it becomes apparent that one of the Italian divisions bypassed by Lancer has entrenched in the harbor of Sidi Barrani, now behind our lines. Supplies to the armoured divisions at the front are not interdicted due to the fact that they can detour south through Nibeiwa – though the roads are poor. It becomes the task of the 44th and 55th divisions at Matruh to reduce this enemy position and clear our supply lines.
This proves difficult, however, as the Italians manage to sea transport two more divisions (one of the inferior BlackShirts) into the harbor over the next few days. At 1100 on the 11th, a large Italian cruiser-destroyer force is detected by Cunningham’s Courageous aircraft at 87 kilometers off the Cyrenaican coast. Cunningham attempts to close, and Swordfish from the carrier score one or more hits on the cruiser Bolzano, but the enemy succeeds in withdrawing again. On the 15th Cunningham’s group locates a second Italian cruiser force on the same mission, and this time two air strikes from Courageous are devastating to the enemy. Heavy cruiser Trieste is sunk, and there are reports of severe damage to two other enemy cruisers. The Italians withdraw, and the 44th and 55th divisions finally succeed in taking the harbor at Barrani, eliciting the surrender of all three Italian divisions. On the 12th, perhaps in anger, Graziani tries the Egyptian border again, attacking with five divisions against Dill’s 8th and Guards Armoured. The enemy is bloodily repulsed. But due to his considerable reserves, no counter-attack by our troops is possible.
On the 8th Siam joins Japan in the war against China. On the 9th the Courageous battlegroup off the coast of Egypt turns back yet another Italian cruiser-destroyer force escorting troops to Tobruk. The enemy is spotted at 130 kilometers, suffers a preliminary airstrike at 90 kilometers, and then eludes and withdraws under cover of darkness.
Unfortunately, there is a spot of bad news later in the day as a u-boat attacks and sinks light cruiser HMS Ajax on patrol in the Flemish Cap.
A new wing of Spitfire IX’s deploys to defend the Home Isles, and an order for three more wings is placed, along with three more infantry divisions and three more artillery brigades, and additional radar stations and accelerated merchant shipbuilding programs. We’ve got to keep up with the (so far, relatively light) losses from u-boats.
Late on the 26th, another German transport flotilla attempts to make the run across the Mouth of the Thames and the Germans lose several transports to airstrikes from Illustrious and the guns of the Hood and Renown. We wish that Saalwachter would try the Channel at some point with his heavy units, so we could bring in Forbes from Portsmouth and attrit the Kriegsmarine further. But the Sea Fox seems too wily to present himself.
On the 30th, aircraft from the Glorious task force off the coast of Tobruk turn back an Italian effort to transport additional divisions to Tobruk, damaging several destroyers. We have a firm grip on the eastern Med.
The month ends with an assessment of the condition of the RAF, and it becomes apparent that replacing aircraft lost in the battle with the Luftwaffe is draining a massive amount of industrial output. Goering’s air offensive is battering eastern England severely – less than 25% of the railroads in Sheffield are functional, and there has been heavy damage to bridges and major arterials. Most major AA emplacements are completely destroyed, and persistent raids across Sheffield into the coal mines on the Midlands are impairing production. Due to the intense activity of the RAF and RN, oil reserves are shrinking, with output exceeding inflow. We still have a large reserve – enough for another year of operations at this pace – but it is plain that this struggle for air superiority over the UK is a life-and-death matter. Fortunately, the RN has prevented Germany from taking advantage of our weakness.

AUGUST 1940

On the afternoon of the 1st a major effort by the combined naval bombers of the Luftwaffe and Regia Aeronautica inflicts heavy damage on ASW destroyers patrolling the east coast of England, and the destroyer flotillas are withdrawn to Scapa Flow, leaving only Sommerville’s Ark Royal-Illustrious battlegroup standing between the Axis and the Sheffield coast.
On the 2nd the Cabinet completes a review of the RAF Fighter Command and increased emphasis on replacement fighter construction and new pilot training is undertaken. The RAF is losing the battle with the Luftwaffe, and things are really rather desperate. There are renewed calls to abandon Egypt, but I refuse, citing the very real danger to India and the whole Middle East, as well as the fighting spirit and relative strength of the RN.
By the 3rd it is evident that the Luftwaffe is determined to batter the UK into submission, with constant raids from Bristol to Norwich to Sheffield. But the enemy squadrons are weary, and their tactics do not match their numbers. The Battle of Britain is a slugging match between exhausted warriors at this point.
In the early evening of the 3rd the Courageous battlegroup locates a small Italian cruiser-destroyer force off the tip of Crete and attempts to engage with airstrikes, but in the failing light the enemy eludes.
On the 7th the Italians begin a bombing campaign over Malta. Prior to this date there have been intermittent skirmishes with German and Italian fighter aircraft over the gulfs of Gabes and Sidra, but today the enemy begins a concentrated effort. Bristol debuts its new Buckingham medium bomber – a significant upgrade over the Wellington – and Dowding begins an intense study of Perimeter Defence and night fighter techniques in an effort to improve Fighter Command’s performance.
In the dark of the night on the 7th-8th the Italians launch a new offensive against Dill’s 8th and Guards Armoured divisions along the Libyan frontier in the Rabia district. The Italians commit five divisions, but once again they are technologically inferior and under-motorized:



The attack is a miserable failure and breaks off in the early hours of the 9th. Simply speaking, the Italians lack any significant anti-tank capability, and so Dill’s mobile defence repeatedly breaks up Graziani’s columns and especially disrupts his supply and communications. But once again Alexander judges the enemy’s reserves too significant to permit a counter-attack. He does order the 55th Division south from Mersa Matruh to attempt to clear the Italians from Siwa on Dill’s left flank. An attack from Niebewa on the 13th easily breaks the Italians and the 55th occupies Siwa.
On the 9th the Luftwaffe damages King George V and forces her to detach and return to Scapa Flow, while the rest of Sommerville’s force shifts its patrol further north. 9th Armoured Division moves to Sheffield to backstop the beaches. A small Italian amphibious force attempting to reach Tel Aviv in the dark of the evening of the 9th is chased off by aircraft patrolling from the Glorious.
On the 15th Luftwaffe Do-217’s put two torpedoes into HMS Ark Royal and one into HMS Achilles, forcing Sommerville’s withdrawal to Scapa Flow. The east coast of the UK is now undefended by the RN, although a task force under Dunbar-Naismith is on high alert at Scapa Flow with Argus and Furious and Royal Sovereign as capital ships, and Forbes’ Resolution/Ramillies battlegroup is standing by at Portsmouth. An investigation into the poor performance of the RN leads to the sacking of cabinet minister Admiral Sir Ernie Chatfield and his replacement by Admiral Lord Barry Domville – a man at odds with myself politically, but certainly an expert in the new model of aircraft carrier combat. It is hoped that his leadership will dramatically improve the performance of our CAGs.
Over the night of the 22nd/23rd three Italian infantry divisions launch a counter-attack across the Libyan border into Siwa, forcing the 55th to fall back and once again exposing Dill’s left flank. Alexander discerns that it will require another division (at least) to hold the Siwa flank, and so he detaches the 4th and 6th divisions under O’Connor from his reserve at Alexandria to move forward and assist the 55th. This leaves only two divisions in reserve at Alexandria, but the navy seems to have matters well in hand, so the danger of an amphibious operation is deemed quite small.
As events were soon to prove, this could have been a mistake.
At dawn on the morning of the 26th, aircraft from J. Cunningham’s Courageous battlegroup sight the entire Italian battleline steaming into the gap between Crete and Libya, with Grand Admiral Ciano flying his flag from Andrea Doria. It is a fortuitous moment because A. Cunningham’s Glorious group is just two hours east and immediately changes course to intercept. Range is 87 kilometers and the weather is crystal clear. A major showdown appears to be in the offing:

Ciano successfully increases his range, apparently intimidated by the aircraft. Planes from Glorious attack Andrea Doria at 0700, and Caio Duilio comes under raids by Swordfish from Courageous less than an hour later. Both raids inflict only minor damage, but it is sufficient for Ciano to reverse course at top speed and elude. Domville hurls his desktop paperweight through the fourth floor window of his Admiralty office, scattering glass, because he knows that J. Cunningham – senior on scene – has botched a chance to deal the Italians a serious blow. Both groups are consolidated under A.B. Cunningham, now a Grand Admiral, and ordered to continue aggressive patrols, while J. Cunningham is ordered to proceed to London for an investigative review of his competence. I like Domville. He has a bit of spunk!
During the night Ciano is relocated by aircraft, but attacks in the dark are ineffective. Three days later, Ciano is relocated and again lost in descending darkness. The Admiralty is desperate to bring the Italians to battle, feeling that if the enemy’s primary surface assets can be damaged or sunk, it will relieve the threat to the Egyptian and Palestinian coasts to such a degree that Cunningham can begin to interdict the Italians sea supply routes through Tripoli:


SEPTEMBER 1940

There are a series of major developments on the evening of the 4th. First of all, Germany prevails upon Romania in favor of Hungary in the Vienna Diktat, reducing the size of national Romania by ceding several provinces to Hungary.

Operation Cavalier
As dark falls on the 4th, the Italians launch a new attack in the desert, this time trying Gort’s 1st & 2nd Armoured at Sollum. Graziani employs 8 divisions, but again no large armoured formations. Unconcerned about Gort’s ability to hold, Alexander immediately orders a counter-attack into Siwa with the 4th, 6th, and 55th divisions. The Italians are easily broken and forced to retreat, and the three infantry divisions advance to secure Dill’s flank in the deep desert.
Seeing an opportunity, Alexander orders the 55th to swing to the right and occupy the positions held by Dill, while Dill’s two armoured divisions are ordered to jump off on the 7th and split the Italian frontier at Capuzzo by attacking the exhausted and disorganized enemy who is recovering from the failed attack on Gort:

Graziani still has a hand in matters, however, and his reserve Ravenna and Calabria divisions are discovered to be driving into Siwa from Maddalena just as the 55th pulls out of the fray, leaving 4th & 6th – strung out in the midst of an advance - to confront the enemy in a broad meeting engagement in Siwa. Alexander, however, doggedly sticks to his plan and orders Dill to carry on with Cavalier instead of going over to the defensive.
All day on the 7th there is fierce fighting across the frontier. This is the largest engagement of the North African campaign to date. The enemy is stubborn on the defensive in Capuzzo. Aircraft from both sides range across the battlefield. As dark falls, Gort is ordered to pressure the enemy at Bardia as well, to keep Graziani from reinforcing Capuzzo:

During the night of the 7th Blair’s 4th & 6th divisions are forced to break off their attack into Siwa, and the Italians hold the province, though they are severely battered. Gort calls off his attack at Bardia on the morning of the 8th, having discovered that Graziani has reinforced his position with three divisions from Tobruk. Dill, however, continues with his effort to pierce the enemy positions at Capuzzo and finally succeeds by mid-morning. The problem is that his position is extended – a bulge in the Italian lines – and is probably untenable over the long haul.
On the 9th Vickers-Armstrong corporation completes it’s development of Deep Vehicle Repair shops, and the Royal Small Arms Factory is contracted to develop an Advanced Artillery piece for the Army.
Late on the 9th the Italians commence a four-division counter-attack into Capuzzo, utilizing reserves at Tobruk. Dill is ordered to hold and Gort to support him, while I insist that Alexander move his headquarters forward to Sidi Narrani in order to be closer to and more involved in the intimate operations of the Western Desert Force.

The Rockall Massacre
On the 10th Saalwachter reappears, and Bismarck and co. ravage the older destroyer flotillas engaged in ASW patrols along the Rockall region of the western Irish Coast. This is truly awful, and the loss of life is terrible. But the Royal Navy must concern herself with the defence of eastern England and cannot spare capital ships for the west. As a stopgap, RAF strategic bombers are put on patrol in search of the Germans in Rockall.

In a much-needed spot of good news, Dill’s command shatters the Italian counter-attack in Libya, and 1st and 2nd Armoured commence digging in and refitting and resupplying in Capuzzo. Cavalier has been a success, although limited at this point since Siwa remains in Italians hands.
On the afternoon of the 12th, a large raid by several hundred Italian naval bombers sweeps the Egyptian Coast. Courageous suffers two torpedo hits and Cunningham withdraws to Suez. There is now a real question of who controls the waters of the Eastern Med, and the Egyptian Coast is vulnerable to amphibious assault. It is hoped that the RAF can regain air superiority over these waters, but there is a significant Luftwaffe fighter presence making that difficult.
On the 14th, the 55th Division breaks into Maddalena in Libya, trying to cut supply lines to Siwa. Graziani’s headquarters is nearly overrun and the Italians are forced to withdraw, putting Siwa at the end of a very long line of supply through very difficult deep desert with few roads and no railroads.
But on the 17th the Italians take advantage of Admiral Cunningham’s debouch from the coast to land a division in the Sinai on the east coast of the Suez Canal! Cunningham’s fleet barely escapes the harbor and heads for the fighter cover at Alexandria.

Auchinleck’s 7th Infantry division is immediately ordered to abandon Tel Aviv and advance on the Italians, intending to clear them from the Suez. 6th Division is recalled to Alexandria to help ensure the security of the most vital territory in the region, and both Dill and the 55th are ordered to fall back to the Libyan border. Our position would be too extended otherwise, and Suez MUST be cleared.
Throughout the summer, the Luftwaffe has maintained serious pressure on the UK, bombing as far north as Sunderland on a regular basis, while Saalwachter’s raiders have been faintly chipping away at convoy lines. But the Germans have not been able to achieve any decisive victories in these strategic warfare avenues, and so we are surviving. How long until the Americans will stir themselves and come to the defense of freedom?
On the 21st, Dowding’s group completes its development of Perimeter Defence doctrine, and emphasis shifts to Formation Fighting doctrines to maximize Fighter Command’s capabilities.
Cunningham puts to sea from Alexandria with Glorious and five older battleships, leaving Courageous under repair with two cruisers. The Italians are attempting to cross the Suez and seize Port Said.
On the 21st, New Caledonia and Oceania defect from Vichy to Free France. It’s a small thing, but good for morale. On the 22nd the Italians cross the Suez and seize Port Said, and then immediately begin to push towards Cairo. Auchinleck is taking too long to reach the Suez, so the 23rd Division from Alexandria is ordered to hurry to Cairo while the defense of Alexandria proper is entrusted to Cunningham, patrolling just off the coast in a defensive posture to defeat at sea any amphibious effort by the Italians.
Cairo falls to the Italians on the 25th, but Suez is recaptured by Auchinleck on the same date. The Italians are effectively a rogue raider force – comprised of a single deteriorating division at this point - and we feel that it is only a matter of time before they are tracked down.
On the 27th Cairo is liberated by the 23rd Infantry and the Italians are contained and being forced back on the Canal. Unfortunately, on the same day a massive Luftwaffe raid on Liverpool inflicts damage to nearly 20% of the rail and road net in that region, and British morale is severely tested. On the 29th a second massive raid does similar damage.
In an effort to sustain morale, I approve a program to raise six divisions of specialized Marine infantry over the next two years. The intent is to employ these divisions four counter-offensive operations – probably in the Med first, and then on the Continent.

OCTOBER 1940

On the 3rd of October, Italy declares war on Greece, presenting a whole new range of strategic issues. We would like to support the Greeks strongly, but Cunningham’s fleet cannot be spared from the coast of Egypt, nor can any of Alexander’s WDF. The newly raised 43rd Division at Plymouth could be redeployed to Athens, but this would involve running a gauntlet of Axis naval forces in the form of Saalwachter’s raiders and Ciano’s Italian navy. The risk is too great. Greece will have to stand alone. The situation at Italy’s DOW is as follows:

By the 6th the Italian division caught between Auchinleck and Alexander surrenders, but it is discovered that an Italian Colonial Division has been landed at Suez. Auchinleck, supported by shore bombardment from battleship Queen Elizabeth and cruisers Shropshire and York, begins a re-crossing of the Canal, this time opposed and from west to east, while the 23rd secures the west bank to prevent further landings. After three days of hard fighting, the Italians surrender and the 7th secures the east bank of the Canal, restoring the situation.
On the 8th, Pound’s group completes its comprehensive review of naval tactics, and his findings are implemented as the Naval Attrition doctrine, and focus is shifted to the Leyland Corporation to develop a new medium tank – the Cromwell. German raiders and u-boats continue to chip away at convoy lanes, but the losses are not too heavy and our merchant shipbuilding program is replacing them.
On the 9th the Italians launch a determined attack out of Siwa by Berti with three regular infantry divisions, including the veteran Calabria and Ravenna formations. In two days of fierce fighting, Berti breaks the 55th Division and forces a retreat to Alamein. This is the first real victory for Italian armed forces against His Majesty’s troops. Alexander orders the 6th Infantry forward from Alexandria to stabilize the line at Alamein, and serious discussions ensue about the advisability of falling back from the Egyptian border to consolidate our lines.
Late on the 10th the Italians follow up their success with a new offensive into Sollum, this time throwing seven divisions under FM Caviglia at Gort’s position. The fighting rages for two days before the Italians are beaten off, and it is a near thing with Gort’s 1st & 2nd Armoured severely tried.
In Greece during this period the Italians seem unable or unwilling to launch serious ground offensives, although Athens is under repeated air raids much like London. Diplomatic pressure on Bulgaria and Turkey is kept up, so that the Greeks will not have to deal with treachery in the rear.
Authorization is given to raise two new wings of the state-of-the-art Bristol Buckingham medium bomber, as well as five more brigades of artillery for support of the ground troops.
On the 13th, Cunningham is given permission to begin Operation Porpoise. HMS Coventry – an old light cruiser under Cunningham at Alexandria – will embark on a convoy raiding mission in the vicinity of Malta, and five submarine flotilla based at Gibraltar will begin to interdict the same region as well as the coast of Egypt. It’s a dangerous enterprise, but the hope is that real damage can be inflicted on the thin Italian sea supply lines.
On the 15th the two older light cruisers Leander & Carlisle are lost to Italian surface raiders led by the Andrea Doria off the coast of West Africa, ending significant British naval presence in that region. It is clear now that Ciano escaped through the Suez while it was Italian-held and his battleline is now operating under German supply from bases in France! This is catastrophic!
Aware of the absence of the heaviest units of the Italian navy, four cruisers under Admiral Pound join Operation Porpoise – Shropshire, York, Delhi and Curlew. On the afternoon of the 24th, Pound’s cruiser group encounters an Italian cruiser force (2 CA’s, 4 CL’s, 3 DD flotillas) off Sicily and battle is joined at 21 kilometers. The gun battle rages into the wee hours of the morning with Delhi suffering major damage and the Italian cruiser Bolzano nearly sunk, as well as several Italian destroyers sunk, before Pound disengages and withdraws to Alexandria, claiming a tactical victory.
At 1300 on the 25th, Cunningham’s Glorious group spots an Italian cruiser force escorting transports off the Cyrenaican bulge at 130 kilometers and attempts to close the range, launching air strikes. Contact is lost, however, and over the next two days the enemy is sighted twice more, but aside from some near misses from bombs and torpedoes, Cunningham is unable to bring the Italians to full battle

NOVEMBER 1940

Just after midnight on the morning of the 1st, a fresh Italian effort to break Dill’s lines in Rabia gets underway with seven divisions from Capuzzo, Maddalena, and Siwa. Ritchie’s IXth Corps (4th and 8th Infantry at Niebewa) waits until the Italians are engaged from Siwa and then counter-attacks, hoping to not only break up the effort against Dill but also seize Siwa, after which he will be reinforced by the 6th Division moving up from Alexandria.
Over the 1st-3rd of November, losses from German and Italian raiders in the South Atlantic and West Indies are so heavy as to precipitate an emergency. A combined Force B under Sommerville – including all four carriers and four battleships – rebases to Gibraltar to hunt the Germans and Italians. This is the largest task force yet deployed by the Royal Navy, and if it is defeated it could be decisive. The Channel Fleet remains on alert to deal with any attempted invasion of the Isles, and the Repulse group (1 BC, 2 CA’s, 3 CL’s) is retained at Scapa Flow as a reserve.
On the 7th-9th the most determined Italian attack yet nearly breaks Dill’s position at Sollum. A crisis develops when the enemy raiders operating in the Atlantic sink so many merchant ships that Alexander’s WDF is short of fuel and ammunition. Only by the slimmest of margins does Dill hold. Cunningham is ordered to interdict the Italian sea supply route through Tripoli in a desperate effort to win the North African campaign before supply issues become critical.

The Battle of the Thames
At 1000 on the 10th, the Channel Fleet under Forbes with Resolution, Ramillies, and five light cruisers engages Bismarck and three pocket battleships plus four cruisers off the Mouth of the Thames. Initial range is 20 kilometers on a frigid day with low cloud cover. The two British battleships concentrate their fire on Scheer and Deustchland, while the Bismarck and Scheer engage Cardiff and destroyers. By early afternoon the battle breaks off with Deutschland sunk and Scheer a burning wreck, while Cardiff and Danae are lost from the British line. Though technically a draw, I am delighted at having dealt the enemy a hard blow. The Repulse group is ordered to reinforce Forbes against future engagements.

In this critical hour, there is wonderful news from across the Atlantic on the 11th – the Americans have passed legislation to begin preparing their massive industries for war. President Roosevelt has declared the United States to be a great ‘Arsenal of Democracy’ in the world. I am reminded that it is always darkest just before dawn:
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On the 16th the Italians try Gort at Sollum again, this time with eight divisions under Caviglia. It quickly becomes clear that Gort has not recovered sufficiently to hold, so Dill is ordered to race north to reinforce, and Ritchie is ordered to move up to Rabia to occupy Dill’s positions.
On the 20th the Royal Small Arms Factory develops an Improved Artillery piece and Pound goes to work improving aircraft carrier tactics to achieve optimal positioning for airstrikes.
On the 24th, Admiral Boyd undertakes a dangerous mission in an effort to bring the 49th Infantry and 15th Indian Infantry divisions into Sidi Barrani to reinforce Alexander. The ships sail from Liverpool at night while Sommerville’s Force B goes on aggressive patrol in the central Atlantic. Losses from German raiders and u-boats are affecting the supply situation in North Africa. A victory must be gained.
On the 25th, Cunningham launches Glorious’ air wing on a strike at the naval base at Taranto, but it achieves negligible results, and so many aircraft are lost that Cunningham retires to Alexandria. On that same day, the Italians manage to land four divisions in Palestine and seize the harbor and airfield at Tel Aviv. They immediately transfer medium bombers into the region and by the 27th have begun to strike the port facilities at Alexandria on a regular basis, forcing redeployment of RAF and Iraqi Air Force fighters away from Tobruk and the frontier to cover Alexandria.


DECEMBER 1940

On the 2nd of December Caviglia launches a renewed offensive at Sollum with twelve divisions - but still no armor – and Gort and Dill stand fast. In the afternoon the first shipment of Lend-Lease aid from the U.S. begins to arrive in British ports, and the nation gives a great ‘huzzah’ at this sign that the Americans are moving closer to involvement in the war.

The Battle of 5 December
In the wee hours of the 5th of December, Grand Admiral A. Cunningham’s re-christened Battlegroup A with CV Courageous and four battleships (Glorious is in Alexandria for replacement of strike aircraft) encounters a large, determined Italian cruiser-destroyer force off the Cyrenaican coast and immediately closes to engage, seeking a decisive victory. Italian Vice Admiral Brivonesi is in flagship cruiser Bolzano with five other cruisers and a large number of destroyers, escorting a very large reinforcement convoy bound for Tobruk.
Cunningham outmaneuvers Brivonesi in the pre-dawn gloom with the help of naval aircraft, and at 0400 opens fire at less than 25 km, the big guns of battleships Barham, Malaya, Warspite and Revenge concentrating on transports and destroyers – the latter desperately attempting to screen a withdrawal.
By 0600 contact is lost with several transports sunk and a number of Italian destroyers badly damaged. The battleship line is too slow to maneuver, it seems, and the enemy is able to disengage. Some thought is given to removing the battleships from the carrier group, but Courageous and Glorious are too slow to take advantage of the speed of our cruisers. Simply put, the enemy is too quick to pin down and decisively defeat, forcing the Navy to adopt a ponderous patrol strategy instead.
Late in the day the Italians are reacquired and appear so desperate to bring reinforcements into Libya that they chance a direct exchange of gunfire at 12.5 km, in Jutland-style battleline formation. Serious damage is inflicted to a number of enemy destroyers and cruisers – intel is sketchy - with light damage on our side; CL Despatch is badly hit and detached for Alexandria, along with BB Malaya which suffered a significant torpedo hit amidships.

On the evening of the 7th, Boyd completes his daring mission, bringing the 49th ‘West Riding’ Division and 15th Indian Division into Sidi Barrani. 49th is deployed south to hold the line between Rabia and Gerawla, shielding the airfield at Mersa Matruh, while the 15th Indian is sent hurrying east to reinforce Auchinleck with the 7th Infantry defending the east bank of the Suez:

The situation in North Africa is a delicate one, as the map below demonstrates. The Italians have occupied Palestine and are pressing towards the Suez from the east. Cavaglia in Libya is unable to force the Egyptian border, but his right flank is hooked deep into Egypt along the Quattara Depression. His supply situation in this area is poor. Cunningham commands the coast, but the Luftwaffe is constantly active, attempting to gain command of the sea. The RAF and Iraqi Air Force are trying to protect the harbor at Alexandria. It’s a very dicey state of affairs:

On the 10th, an Italian offensive north out of Siwa breaks the 15th Indian, and the airfield is threatened. The decision is taken to consolidate our position by withdrawing from the Libyan frontier and digging in at Matruh-Nibeiwa. This involves Alexander attacking east from Rabia with 4th and 8th Infantry divisions, while Gort and Dill pull back along the coast. This is an unpopular need, but the 49th cannot be diverted from its march to reinforce Auchinleck across the Suez.
No sooner does this maneuver begin than Caviglia attacks across the frontier with his full command – 12 divisions – attempting to interdict Gort/Dill’s withdrawal. But the veterans of the four armoured divisions easily manage the enemy’s effort, and by the 12th are in their new positions at Matruh.
On the 15th Dowding completes his research into Formation Fighting Tactics for the RAF’s Fighter Command, and continues to focus on this area with development of a Home Defence doctrine coordinating interceptors and flak defenses.
On the 16th the situation on the east bank of the Suez is deemed so critical that 23rd Northumbrian Division entrains at Alexandria immediately for Auchinleck’s 7th Infantry, and 49th is ordered to occupy Alexandria. This will leave the city temporarily undefended, but Cunningham’s Battlegroup A should be able to provide cover for a week or so.
A review of the Home Isles defence on the 18th reveals several troubling signs. First of all, the RAF is too badly battered to prevent regular German bombing of the Midlands and the East Coast. Aircraft production is not keeping pace with losses, despite its priority. That being said, the Luftwaffe is not inflicting decisive damage on our ground troops, infrastructure, or industry. We are therefore optimistic that the threat of the oft-rumoured ‘Sea Lion’ invasion of the Home Isles is fading.
On the 20th, Boyd is sent out again, this time with the newly formed 16th Infantry division, to reinforce Alexander’s command at Matruh. Rear Admiral Vian with BB’s Queen Elizabeth and repaired Malaya sets out from Alexandria to interdict Italian supply convoys moving to North Africa, while Glorious rejoins Cunningham, giving him two full carrier air wings.
On Christmas Day I give authorization for the three wings of the Strategic Air Command to relocate through Gibraltar to Alexandria. The plan is for these wings to assist in the interdiction of supply to Caviglia’s ground troops in North Africa.
On the 27th, Graziani attacks north out of Siwa with five divisions, attempting to squeeze Alexander’s command back to the coast. Alexander orders an immediate counter-attack out of Nibeiwa in an effort to break up Graziani’s offensive, and by the 28th he succeeds.

[Chaplain]

JANUARY 1941

On the 1st, Boyd repeats his stellar success, bringing the much-needed 16th Infantry into Barrani to reinforce Alexander. This division is ordered south to Gerawla to strengthen the defenses there, hopefully eliminating the need for Alexander to be on constant counter-attack alert to contain Graziani. This will allow Alexander to dig-in at Nibeiwa and develop strong permanent defensive positions.
On the 3rd Cunningham’s CAG’s catch and sink a flotilla of Italian destroyers off Cyrenaica. There is a growing feeling that our iron grip on the Eastern Med may eventually turn the tide in North Africa, although the convoy interdiction effort under Vian seems to have been a failure, and he is replaced by Rear Admiral Ruck-Keene.
On the 6th the English Electric Company concludes its research into Advanced Decimetric Radar, and emphasis is shifted to Enfield Arsenal to upgrade the entire TO&E of our infantry divisions to make them state-of-the-art for 1941.

Above is a snapshot of the state of technological development for His Majesty’s Armed Forces, as well as existing research projects and emphases. Notable is the relatively high tactical level of our command staff in their ability to handle ground battles at a sub-division level. This has been key to rebuffing the Italian attacks in the desert. Additionally, we have a significant intelligence advantage in that our own communications are highly secure, and our reconnaissance techniques and electronic codebreaking are excellent. On the negative side of the ledger, improvement needs to be made in the area of sub-division logistics, as our low Ground Defense Efficiency scores indicate. Tommy is smart but not always adequately supplied in the field. A second concern is the poor performance of our anti-aircraft guns.
Over the 6th-8th, a determined Italian attack into Gerawla succeeds, despite furious counter-attacks by Alexander along the enemy’s west flank. Five Italian divisions press forward, threatening to cut off Alexander’s westernmost positions from Alexandria. This would be a catastrophe.
Alexander identifies an opportunity to perhaps launch an ambitious counter-attack along the coast, seizing Tobruk and lengthening enemy supply lines. Concurrent with the commencement of a bombing campaign by the Strategic Air Command and the detachment of three battleships from Cunningham’s naval command to support the attack, this operation is authorized as Operation Chaucer, with the goal of seizing Tobruk. The situation at start is as follows:

The plan is for Gort to command 1st, 2nd, and 8th Armoured divisions in a drive straight for Tobruk. Leaving the Guards Armoured to hold Sidi Barrani alone. This is a risky endeavor, but it holds the possibility of a decisive victory over Caviglia’s Italian Army, relieving pressure on Alexandria and perhaps even forcing a general retreat by the enemy.
The initial attack meets stiff resistance from three entrenched Italian divisions at Sollum. After a battle raging all day on the 8th, Gort breaks through, although his command is battered and a bit disorganized. Caviglia, perhaps sensing the significance of the attack, immediately launches a major effort from Siwa into Nibiewa by midday on the 8th, and Alexander is in retreat by nightfall with three divisions towards the coast, leaving the Guards Armoured as the only link between Gort and our base at Alexandria. This is a precarious situation, to say the least.
By the night of the 9th, Gort’s hard-charging armour has reached Bardia and the Italians are in retreat, but Dill has to advance Guards Armoured to keep supply lines open and Alexander is in full retreat across the southern frontier. Just after midnight, Gort’s tired, extended divisions commence a serious assault on the Italian Alpone ‘Julia’ division garrisoning Tobruk. If this attack succeeds, the enemy will lose his most forward naval and air bases, and his best supply port east of Tripoli, and this will hopefully force him to withdraw – or at least suspend offensive activity towards Alexandria from the southwest. The key to this whole operation is Cunningham’s mastery of the sea, which allows Gort to anticipate supplies after capturing Tobruk, even if he is cut off from Alexandria along the coast road. The main obstacle is going to be the fortifications of Tobruk, which could enable the Julia to hold on.
On the morning of the 10th, the bulk of the Italian navy attempts to bring reinforcements into Tobruk, but Cunningham’s task force intercepts at 0800 and a fierce naval battle commences - just as bombers hammer Tobruk, Gort desperately attacks Tobruk, and Alexander attempts to stabilize the situation in the east:

Cunningham’s CAGs devastate the Italian transport fleets attempting to bring reinforcements into Tobruk, costing the enemy five flotillas of troop transports as well as several submarines and destroyers. The guns of the battleships relentlessly hammer Tobruk and its environs, unimpeded by Italian forces.
Late on the 10th the Julia Division breaks and begins to retreat, opening the way into Tobruk, but before Gort can reach the city’s outskirts, the Pusteria Division – racing from the west to reinforce – arrives and attempts to delay. The enemy’s lack of anti-tank weapons, however, proves decisive and by sundown on the 11th Gort is esconced in Tobruk and the Italian situation is difficult. Chaucer has achieved its stated objective. Now the question is whether it will suffice in the larger picture.
On the 11th Advanced Decryption Devices are perfected by Turing’s group, and research priority is shifted to Vauxhall’s plan to develop a self-propelled artillery piece in the modern vein.
On the 12th Fraser’s battleships (Barham, Warspite, Revenge) locate the Italian transport fleet and savage it for most of the day, sinking a large number of destroyers and transports and nearly sinking at least two Italian cruisers. This is the second major, decisive victory for the Royal Navy over the Regia Nautica, and it leaves Cunningham with absolute control over the Eastern Med.
The only problem is that the Navy is having difficult getting supplies into Tobruk, necessitating the activation of the Guards Armoured division under Major General Leese to reopen the coast road and supply Gort. (NOTE: Gort who yields command to Dill inside Tobruk for the time being, due to Dill’s superior logistics expertise.) The situation on the ground is difficult – Dill is surrounded and if the enemy is able to mount a counter-attack strong enough to seize the city, Dill could conceivably be forced to surrender, having nowhere to go. Everything depends on the Guards Armoured re-opening the coast road through Bardia. We believe they will only face opposition from a couple of scattered, broken Italian divisions left in the wake of Gort’s advance, but we don’t know for sure.
Early on the 13th our fears become reality as three Italian divisions commence an assault on Dill in the city! All day on the 13th the fighting is desperate as Dill is nearly out of supplies and exhausted. Fraser’s battleships put up a terrific defensive fire and heavy bombers out of Alexandria arrive mid-morning at a critical juncture. Just barely, Dill repulses the Italian attack - the enemy breaks off by 1600. It has been a VERY near thing as Dill is down to less than 15% of his ammunition and fuel.
At 0900 on the 14th, the lead scout car columns of Guards Armoured (operating at less than 20% efficiency itself after breaking through at Bardia) reach Dill’s outposts on the coast road and supplies begin to trickle into the city. Alexander’s focus shifts to keeping the long coast road line open by positioning his infantry divisions to cover. At sea, Cunningham’s hands are full with repeated attempts by the Italian navy to break through and reinforce and resupply his forward elements. Chaucer has been as close and desperate a battle as we have seen, but it appears – for the moment – to have been a success.




The First Battle of the Gulf of Taranto
Also on the 14th, Ruck-Keene’s convoy raiding group, which has been having some modest success in the Tyrrhenian Sea – is intercepted by a large cruiser-destroyer force and a fierce gun battle erupts in the Gulf of Taranto. The fight rages for nine hours with Queen Elizabeth and Malaya plus light cruisers Delhi and Despatch and escorting destroyers giving a good account of themselves. However, the sheer number of enemy ships is overwhelming – nearly twenty cruisers and destroyer flotillas! Ruck-Keene is forced to withdraw, losing Despatch, with severe damage to Delhi and Queen Elizabeth. Malaya is also injured, but still in fighting trim. The cost to the Italians is heavy – four destroyer flotllas sunk, several damaged, modern heavy cruiser Bolzano sunk, several more damaged, and a number of smaller escorting ships sunk.

The Second Battle of the Gulf of Taranto
On the 15th and 16th, Cunningham’s carriers take up a blockading position in the Gulf of Taranto in an effort to completely contain the Italian navy. On the 17th, the enemy sorties in an effort to break the blockade and a close battle in a driving rain develops, with the two task forces less than 13 kilometers apart. Cunningham is without his battleship support – Fraser now patrolling the coast of Egypt and Libya – and must depend on his CAGs and cruisers. He radioes for reinforcement and engages.
The battle commences at noon, and because of the range Glorious comes under gunfire right from the start. By 1500 she is listing heavily, unable to launch or recover aircraft, and in danger of sinking along with Sussex and Exeter. The Italians employ aggressive torpedo attacks by large numbers of fast-moving destroyer groups that are hard to counter. (It has become apparent by now that the major pre-war Italian naval builds were chiefly excellent modern destroyers with first-rate torpedo capabilities – a wise move in the closed confines of the Mediterranean Sea.) Cunningham attempts to disengage to preserve Glorious as Fraser races north to reinforce – but Fraser is still 12 hours away.
As night falls on the 17th, as the rain-driven sea is lit by fires on the British ships as well as several Italian cruisers, Cunningham succeeds in escaping into the dark, leaving older light cruisers Durban and Curlew sinking alongside two more flotillas of Italian destroyers. Fraser is still steaming to the scene as fast as possible.
Early on the morning of the 18th, Italian naval bombers flying from Palestine launch a devastating strike on the harbor at Alexandria, sinking Delhi and Queen Elizabeth just as they were being assessed for repairs. Alexander pulls back all fighter cover from Tobruk to defend the harbor.
At 1200 on the 18th Fraser engages the Italians in the Gulf, sinking cruiser Luigi Dorna and two more flotillas of destroyers and forcing the Italians to withdraw, re-establishing the blockade of Taranto:


Also on the morning of the 18th a serious effort to push back the Guards Armoured at Bardia and cut off Tobruk is undertaken by two Italian reserve divisions. This attack is just barely beaten off, and the 8th Armoured pulls out of Tobruk to strengthen defenses along the coast road.
On the 20th, Boyd undertakes to bring the fresh 17th Infantry division from Liverpool to North Africa to reinforce Alexander. On the 23rd, Caviglia launches five Italian divisions in an effort to retake Tobruk from the south, but he is beaten back in intense fighting. For the first time, the enemy deploys anti-tank weapons in significan numbers – an entire brigade of them attached to one division.
At the same time, Graziani begins a series of efforts to break the coast supply road at various points along its length from Alexandria to Bardia. The second phase of the desert war has begun in earnest.
On the 24th a smaller, mixed cruiser-destroyer force attempts to break the blockade of the Gulf of Taranto loses CL Eugenia de Savoia and a destroyer group, but because of severe damage to Fraser’s destroyer screen, prudence dictates that Fraser withdraw to Gibraltar (due to over-crowding in the repair yards at Alexandria).
On the 25th there was bad news and good news – Chad defected to Free France from the Vichy government, which is a positive. Negatively, the U.S. Congress elected not to send a second Lend Lease shipment to the UK, and also voted not to send one to China.
On the 26th Graziani breaks the position of the 4th Infantry at Sidi Barrani, forcing it to withdraw towards Mersa Matruh. The fresh 17th is still more than a week away. The Guards and 8th Armoured at Bardia are too tired and disorganized to respond. Alexander’s counter-attack from Mersa Matruh fails. The situation is grim. Tobruk will have to be sea-supplied.
I take personal control of our merchant convoy deployments, canceling the heavy convoys from Bombay and discontinuing smaller trade deals with several South American and Arab countries in order to muster enough merchants to supply Tobruk. All available convoy escorts not currently detailed are attached to this route. While we are building merchants fast, the u-boats and raiders are still chipping away. This cancelling of the Bombay route is the first real consequence of the German strategic campaign.
On the 28th-29th the Italians launch another attempt to retake Tobruk, this time with seven divisions attacking from the west, but the experienced veterans of the 1st & 2nd Armoured beat them back. The real danger is not that we will lose a given battle, but that the cumulative effect of repeated attritional attacks will wear down our defenders. The 17th Infantry coming in with Boyd is therefore redirected to land at Tobruk and strengthen that position, and the 7th Indian embarks at Bombay for landing at Bardia.

FEBRUARY 1941

Because of the ongoing failure of the Italians to make any headway against the redoubtable Greeks, Hitler’s Germany declares war on Yugoslavia on the 2nd of February with the apparent intention of sweeping down in support of Mussolini. In the long term, this could make our position in North Africa very difficult, and place increased pressure on Alexander’s strung-out army in Egypt and Libya. There is little we can do about it, however, except to continue to deploy reinforcements to the theater as they become available. Sadly, on the 3rd Bulgaria joins the Axis, too.
On the 2nd-3rd the Italian blocking position at Sidi Barrani is dealt a crushing defeat and the coast road reopened. RAF bombers constantly attacking the supply trucks moving through the inland desert to support Graziani have made a big difference. Most bridges and all rail lines are knocked out, and RAF bombers are trying to inflict as much damage on the transportation infrastructure as possible. But no sooner has this battle been won than Graziani puts pressure on the road at Fuka, attempting to block.
On the 4th of February, the Emperor of Japan makes things incredibly worse for us by declaring war on us, as well. The UK now stands alone against the entire Axis! Where are the stinking Americans? What is Stalin doing in his hidey-hole? The entire world is in danger!
I take a series of emergency measures – all convoys to Hong Kong are cancelled, leaving the defenders to surrender after resisting as long as possible. The Far East Fleet is authorized to immediately leave Singapore for Colombo. The Indian Governor and our Bhutanese allies are instructed to form a defence line at Calcutta-Rangpur-Pukhaka and prepare for the possibility of Japanese troops eventually marching overland from China. The situation in China is a stalemate, so we will not be facing Japan without Chinese involvement. The Australian and New Zealand governments are warned to look to their own defence as well.
Situation in North Africa at the commencement of hostilities with Japan – note the heavy regional activity by the RAF in the panel to the left:

Surprisingly, on the 5th of December the Philippines declared war on Japan, providing some aid against the Nipponese tyrant. Later that day, Japanese carrier-based planes strike Hong Kong, where CV HMS Eagle and her consort CL Capetown (plus two destroyer groups) are trying to escape to Colombo under RAdm Mitchell, an accomplished blockade runner. The port is damaged, but the ships escape.
Unfortunately a few hours later IJN CV’s Kaga and Ryujo, plus two battleships and five cruisers, prove to be lying in wait, and Eagle’s group comes under blistering attack. Mitchell does a brilliant job, sustaining a running battle with the IJN down the length of the Hainan Strait for five straight days, losing Eagle (inevitable) but scoring two hits on Kaga and disengaging with Capetown badly battered but functional and one destroyer group intact.
During this same period the Italians break through at Fuka and block the coast road, the 7th Indian arrives at Alexandria, and Alexander stabilizes the rest of the coast road with supplies coming in through Tobruk. Some thought is given to a sortie by Cunningham’s naval group, but Glorious is still deep in repairs and Fraser’s destroyer screen has yet to be reconstituted at Gibraltar, to discretion must remain the better part of valor. The fresh 66th Division embarks at Liverpool for Tobruk.
Sadly, on the 12th Capetown is caught and sunk off Saigon with her remaining destroyers by aircraft from Kaga and Ryujo.
All this is offset, however, as on the 14th the U.S. comes to the aid of its Philippine ally and DOW’s Japan! Finally some involvement from the Yanks! As someone has said, they are always showing up late for every war. But this is very encouraging, and hopefully it is only a matter of time before the Americans see the light and join the European conflict, as well. For the time being, the Far East Fleet will redeploy from Colombo to Alexandria to bolster Alexander’s position. The U.S. should provide plenty of distraction for Japan’s navy.

Operation Gondolier
On the morning of the 21st, Alexander orders Gort (four armoured divisions) to attack south from Bardia and Tobruk to seize the Fort Capuzzo region, which offers the best transport routes for Italian supply to Graziani. With the 66th Division about to land in Tobruk to reinforce the 17th Infantry, it is felt that this armoured attack (Operation Gondolier) will further stress the Italian supply situation to the east. Additionally, Cunningham is preparing to attempt to interdict Italian sea supply routes again.
Gondolier begins with an easy success – in less than two hours the Guards and 8th Armoured break through and cut the Capuzzo transportation lines. 1st Armoured is detached from Tobruk and ordered to sweep down into Capuzzo to permit Gort to capture Maddalena and complete the isolation of the Italians, while Cunningham puts to sea (without Glorious) to prevent any sea supply moving through Fuka.
By the end of the day on the 24th the objective is achieved, and the only Italian supply moving to Graziani is moving through the bad roads of Al Jaghbub, which is under constant aerial harassment.
The Italians begin to try and break back through at Capuzzo on the 26th, sending three divisions into the attack, but 1st Armoured holds long enough for 2nd Armoured to arrive as a reserve from Tobruk (leaving 66th and 17th to defend the city) and the Italian attack begins to bog down – again because of a shortage of anti-tank equipment.
Leyland announces its debut of the Cromwell medium tank, and is refunded to develop the Matilda heavy tank. Cromwells will gradually begin to replace the venerable and trusty Crusaders in the four armoured divisions of Alexander’s WDF from here on out.

MARCH 1941

By the afternoon of the 4th, 8th Armoured Division completes its drive south, occupying Al Jaghbub and cutting the last of Graziani’s thin supply lines. With 2nd Armoured acting as a reserve along the north-south line from Jaghbub to Tobruk, Alexander feels that Gondolier has completely isolated Graziani’s forward elements, splitting the Italian forces in half:

On the morning of the 5th, Caviglia launches nine Italian infantry divisions – all disorganized, but nine divisions is nine divisions – at the blocking positions in the Maddalena area, in concert with a breakout attempt from Rabia. Fierce fighting ensues, with reinforcements rushing in from Jaghbub and Capuzzo. By midday the Italians have broken through the Guards Armoured, but 2nd and 8th are racing to the counter-attack. The desert is aswirl with battle! As darkness falls on the 5th, the 44th Home Counties and 16th Indian divisions attack south from Sollum to Rabia, intending to use up Italian munitions and disorganize Graziani’s cut-off formations.
A little after noon comes word that Cunningham has ambushed a major Italian supply convoy, sinking 7 transports and at least one escort. But the USA decides against another Lend-Lease shipment to His Majesty (although going ahead with another shipment to the Japanese.)

The Battle of Hatton Bank
Just before noon on the 7th comes word of the Royal Navy’s most significant victory to date. Sommerville’s patrolling Home Fleet group with four carriers (Ark Royal, Illustrious, Argus, Furious) catch a German raider group in the Hatton Bank at 124 km, quickly close the range to 30 km with expert maneuvering, and launch all aircraft in a sustained attack which sinks the German pocket battleships Graf Spee and Scheer, as well as the cruiser Leipzig, with no losses to the RN. The London Times carries a special edition to trumpet the victory, and I enjoy quite a party at the Admiralty. This victory significantly weakens Saalwachter’s raider force, and the fact that it was accomplished by the previously undistinguished Swordfish CAGs is more wonderful still. There is a renewed sense of determination from Scotland to Wales to achieve final victory over the Fascist menace.
On the 8th, Studholme-Brownrigg’s East Indies Station fleet sails from Alexandria to blockade Tripoli and the Tyrrhenian Sea – the EIS consist of CV Hermes, CA Norfolk, four light cruisers and two flotillas of destroyers. With Cunningham patrolling the Coast of Egypt and Gort astride the Italian’s east-west lines of communication, it is hoped that the enemy can be broken logistically, enabling the securing of the North African theater as far west as Benghazi.
On the 9th, research into Dowding’s Home Defence Doctrine for fighter aircraft is completed, and his emphasis is shifted to the Recon Skirmisher Doctrine for the same purpose. We must win air superiority over England – the depradations of the Luftwaffe are constant.
On this date as well, the Japanese land on the southwest coast of Malaya with approximately 1-3 divisions, and the defenders of Singapore hunker down for an eventual attack. Rangoon is also threatened by 1-3 Japanese infantry divisions moving overland from Siam and Indochina.
On the 10th Vauxhall debuts its brand-new Self-Propelled Artillery piece, and funding is redirected to the Royal Small Arms Factory to upgrade the TO&E of the new Marine Divisions to Basic Marine Division.
There is a good sign on the 20th, as the Italians attempt yet again to break Gort’s mobile interdiction line in the desert, but the enemy is only able to muster three divisions for the attack, and they are easily beaten off. Is the enemy becoming desperate? We wish we could accurately determine the supply situation of Graziani’s isolated forces, but we can’t. There are probably 10-12 Italian divisions in his army, and Alexander does not feel strong enough with his 8 available infantry divisions to attack and condense the enemy’s positions – not when the risk of failure is a counter-attack that could cost us either the invaluable airfield at Mersa Matruh, or Alamein/Alexandria.
Also on the 20th, after aerial reconnaissance reveals the extent of Italian supply difficulties on Graziani’s pocket, Alexander decides to chance an offensive against the Italians at Nibeiwa, with 4th Infantry Division ordered to attack supported by two divisions on either flank. The Italians fight bravely, but they are in retreat by the end of the day, and there is hope of a decisive defeat of Graziani within the next month.

Disaster at Gibraltar
On the 21st there is a catastrophe in the Gulf of Morocco. Fraser’s battlegroup had put to sea to hunt for German raiders, and discovered a massive concentration of German u-boats instead. The enemy closes the trap magnificiently, and Revenge and Barham go to the bottom, their bellies ripped out by torpedoes, while Warspite is at first badly damaged, and then finished before she can return to Gibraltar. Three battleships lost!
As a consequence, I revise our shipping lanes to concentrate as many ASW escorts as possible (nearly a hundred vessels of the trawler-corvette class) along the vital Plymouth-Tobruk/Alexandria routes. Intelligence from Fraser’s debacle reveals that the enemy is employing at least two flotillas of the new Type-XIX u-boat, and I must consider placing ASW priority over aircraft builds as soon as possible – not now, however, as we desperately need Spitfires to counter the Luftwaffe.
On the 25th, Alexander risks a two-sided attack on Fuka, hoping to cut Graziani’s Italians off from their only small seaport, but after 36 hours of hard fighting, the enemy holds. Al Jaghbub falls to Italian infantry moving determinedly against Gort’s overstretched armour. On the 28th, the fresh 70th Infantry Division embarks at Scapa Flow for Alamein.

APRIL 1941
By the beginning of April, German forces sweeping down through Yugoslavia have linked up with Italians pressing from Albania in the south, and it seems only a matter of time before Yugoslavia will have to surrender – which will open the way for the Wehrmacht to break the stalemate on the Greek border. Matters in the Med could get really bad then, as the Luftwaffe will be free to concentrate more than two wings of Me-110’s against Alexander’s ground troops and Cunningham’s fleet.

Operation Tennyson
Over the night of the 6th-7th, an Italian counter-attack out of Nibeiwa – resupplied along the Al Jaghbub roads – drives 4th Infantry from Sidi Barrani and isolates the airfield at Matruh with Alexander’s command HQ and two divisions. The decision is taken to withdraw the 44th HC and 16th Indian to merge with the 4th and hold at Sollum, while attempting to open a new sea supply line to Matruh. Simulatenously, 2nd and 8th Armoured are ordered to drive hard across the inland portion of Cyrenaica and attempt to seize Benghazi, thus dramatically lengthening the Italian supply lines. Concurrently, 1st & Guards Armoured will effect a diversionary attack at Mechili to prevent the enemy immediately counter-attacking 2nd & 8th. This is a desperate gamble – Operation Tennyson – but if it succeeds, well … we won’t lose North Africa. For now. The initial attack of the 2nd & 8th quickly breaks the Italian ‘Arezzo’ infantry and the race is on.
After three days of vicious, intense fighting 1st & Guards break the Italian position at Mechili while the rest of Gort’s command races for Benghazi where a single Italian regular infantry division is in garrison. All air assets are diverted to strike at the Benghazi position in support of the armour. This may be the decisive campaign of the desert war.
Apparently sensing the significance of current operations, and in an effort to prevent the arrival of the 70th Infantry via transports, the main Italian surface force remaining in the Med – 2 heavy and 4 light cruisers, plus destroyers – sorties to engage Cunningham off Tobruk, and the two fleets encounter one another at just over 12 kilometers, 0700 on a morning bright with summer sun. By 0900 the two battle lines are fully engaged, and by 1200 the Italians withdraw. Both sides have lost destroyers, and the 70th gets through, diverting to Tobruk.
Finally, despite three Italian efforts to prevent his progress, Dill’s two armoured divisions – nearly out of fuel and desperately low of ammunition, enter Benghazi and seize the port facilities and airfield. Supply convoys are immediately enroute, and the question now is whether the Italians can sustain operations at the end of a supply line running all the way to Tripoli.
Over the night of the 15th & 16th the Italian battle fleet boldly engages Studholme-Brownrigg’s group off Alexandria. In a fierce gun battle lasting most of the night, the Italians suffer heavy damage but sink Norfolk and Emerald before Cunningham arrives hastily from the harbor to chase off the Italians and begin pursuit towards Palestine. Early on the morning of the 17th the enemy is caught off Tel Aviv and loses a destroyer flotilla to Cunningham’s airplanes. The enemy flees into Tel Aviv harbor and Cunningham settles into a blockade while Alexander’s strategic bombers are ordered to begin attacking the port immediately. If we can destroy this Italian force, we will lock down the Med once and for all.
On the 18th of April Enfield Arsenal completes its TO&E revision for the standard infantry division, and priority is placed on upgrading the divisions in the desert as soon as possible. Research focus is shifted to the Central Planning Doctrine for staff officers under FM Alanbrooke, in an effort to improve the performance of our infantry in the field.
As air raids against Haifa continue, Alexander escapes the potential trap at Mersa Matruh and withdraws to consolidate his positions at Fuka and Alamein. Steady air raids of the harbor at Hauifa keep the Italians pinned down, while Sommerville – newly based out of Gibraltar – sends carriers Ark Royal and Illustrious to relieve Cunningham in his blockade, so that he can replace aircraft lost in an ill-advised port strike on Haifa.
Situation in the western desert:

Situation in the Middle East:

Throughout the month of April, losses from u-boats reach a crescendo and it is becoming more and more difficult to maintain supply to our various overseas posts, as well as bringing in resources – especially from the Far East and Persian Gulf. Our merchant marine is taking a beating. Production is stepped up, at a cost to the development of our other armed forces.
Over the 27th-29th the Italians achieve a major victory by sustaining a heavy attack on Benghazi which forces 2nd and 8th Armoured to eventually surrender. This is a huge loss to Alexander’s command, as well as the campaign in general as the Italians are able to re-establish supply lines through Benghazi.
Sommerville detaches two raider groups (Hood with a light cruiser in one, Renown with a light cruiser in the other) to work the Tyrrhenian Sea, hoping to sink so many Italian transports that all supply of the North African theater is cut off. At the same time, continuous attacks on Haifa attempt to keep the Italian cruiser force from recovering.
On the 28th the Germans begin a systematic assault on the Greek border, Yugoslavia having surrendered on the 25th. In the Far East, the Japanese have secured the Malaya peninsula with the exception of Singapore itself, but lack the weight of ground forces to capture Singapore. Rangoon is also threatened, but stable. Canadian aircraft are operating from Rangoon against the Japanese in the jungles.
At the end of the month, Pound implements his new Indirect Approach Doctrine for naval warfare, and is immediately put to work on a Commerce Defence Doctrine for the increasingly desperate convoy situation.
MAY 1941
As spring deepens across Europe, the situation is grim. We are as hard-pressed as ever before, and we have lost all significant offensive capability in the desert. Everything depends on the ability of the Royal Navy to interdict Italian supplies moving to North Africa, and the hopefully final destruction of Italian naval capabilities with the sinking of the cruiser group at Haifa. Neither of these are sure things. Standing in the way are three wings of Italian naval bombers flying from Palestine to harass Cunningham’s blockade. And if the Germans conquer Greece, then they will be free to use the Luftwaffe in the Eastern Med as well. This could be catastrophic.
Situation in Greece:

On the 1st of May, Germany announces the formation of a puppet government in Croatia, and Croatia joins the war on the side of the Axis. Sadly, by the 10th of May German panzers have swung down the west coast of Greece and shattered the defenders at Athens, capturing the great old capital and ensuring eventual Greek defeat. The Greeks withdraw east towards Salonika.
By mid-May, the relentless bombing of Haifa coupled with Cunningham’s blockade has reduced the Italians by sinking four of the six cruisers and three of the seven destroyer flotillas remaining in the enemy navy. We anticipate complete destruction of the Italian surface forces by the end of the month, freeing the Navy to concentrate on interdicting all Italian supply of North Africa.
Ashore, operations have fallen off, with no significant attacks launched by the enemy, and Alexander preoccupied with upgrading his infantry divisions with new equipment and replacing the old cruiser tanks in his two armoured divisions with brand-new Cromwells.
In the Pacific, the USA is making headway, having seized parts of the Marshalls while holding Wake Island and pressing towards Japan. The NEI remains independent, as well as the Philippines, and China is weak but locked in a stalemate. The Japanese have been unable to muster sufficient strength to take Singapore or Rangoon. Prospects for the Allies are excellent.
On the 23rd the new Marine TO&E is finalized, and Vickers-Wellington is asked to develop its plans for a new Hawker Typhoon interceptor to replace the older Hurricane Mk II’s in an effort to drive back the Luftwaffe, which relentlessly bombs our ground troops as far north as Liverpool and Blackpool on a weekly basis.
On the 24th, Rear Admiral Boyd is summoned to the Admirality for a vital, secret mission. His fast transport group will attempt to bring 6th, 7th, and 9th Armoured divisions – all refitted with the new Cromwells – directly to Tobruk in preparation for a renewed offensive against Benghazi. Hood and Renown have been succeeding in sinking Italian supply ships, and it is felt that June will be a ripe time for a full-strength armoured counter-attack to break Caviglia’s Italian forces. 6th, 7th, and 9th will be joined by Guards and 1st Armoured, giving Alexander five modern armoured divisions, while Sollum will be surrendered to consolidate the defensive lines at Tobruk. All of this depends, of course, on Boyd getting through.
On the 30th, the last of the six Italian cruisers at Haifa is sunk, leaving the enemy just three battered flotillas of destroyers. The bombing campaign and blockade continue, however, for the sake of Boyd’s mission. Dowding completes his Recon Skimirsher doctrine and goes to work on Frontal Missions.

[Chaplain]

JUNE 1941
On the 3rd, the last of the Italian destroyers at Haifa are confirmed sunk, and Cunningham withdraws to Alexandria for rest and refit. RAF aircraft are also given a few weeks of ‘down time’ to recover the intense pace of the bombing campaign. The rest of the Navy keeps up its pressure on Italian supply lines.
Also on the 3rd, Operation Sweepup is authorized, sending Kenyan and Tanganyikan Colonials sweeping into Ethiopia to liberate it from Italian occupation. Intelligence indicates the enemy’s armed forces have essentially melted away due to lack of supplies, and the country is ripe for liberations.
On the night of the 5th, Boyd steams successfully into Tobruk harbor, and Gort has five armoured divisions to work with. Planning for Operation Rapier begins in earnest, waiting only for the RAF to recover enough to meaningfully participate. Once Benghazi is secure, Gort will drive straight on to Tripoli. Intel indicates the enemy has only two divisions between Benghazi and Tripoli. This could be the decisive campaign of the desert war.
By the 15th the Greeks are holding out only in Crete, and then under heavy aerial bombardment. A few Italian submarines are still operational along the Italian coast, but there is no sign of any surface forces within the Med.
On the 18th of June the Japanese sign a peace treaty with Communist China. On the 19th Leyland completes its research into the new Matilda heavy tank, and is re-funded to develop a Basic Self-Propelled Artillery piece to support the armour.
Operation Rapier
The plan is for Rapier to begin on June 20th with an aerial bombing campaign – two wings of strat bombers flying from Alexandria will begin to hammer Tripoli, while two more wings concentrate on Beghazi, and three wings of tactical bombers hit the Tobruk defenses. On the 23rd, then, Gort will step off from Tobruk with five armoured divisions, driving straight for Benghazi first, then briefly reorganizing and pushing on to Tripoli. Three infantry divisions will follow in his wake to secure Benghazi, while three divisions remain entrenched at Tobruk to hold the rear. The plan is for Gort to go all the way to Tripoli and end the enemy’s ability to supply his North African troops.
The Rapier bombing campaign gets undwerway:

At 1600 on the 20th, the armour steps off and within two hours has broken the Italian front lines and is racing for Benghazi, with infantry following in its trail. Everything has been risked – now it is victory or complete defeat!
By the wee hours of the 22nd, Gort is assaulting the reserve positions of the Italians in Msus, and by 0800 they are pierced as well, leaving only the Italian Alpini division between him and Benghazi’s harbor. By midday on the 26th, his Cromwells are rolling through the city. He immediately detaches Guards, 1st Royal Hussars, and 6th Armoured to push for Tripoli, leaving 7th and 9th to pivot north through the Cyrenaican Bulge. By the 30th of June they have taken five divisions worth of prisoners and cleared the Bulge, and Rapier has been a smashing success in its first phase – leaving only the capture of Tripoli to complete the victory.
Gort detaches Guards Armoured at Agedabia to hold the rear, while 1st Royal Hussars and 6th Armoured race for Tripoli. At 1600 on the 7th the attack into Tripoli commences, and the Italian infantry – still unequipped to combat light tanks, let alone Gort’s Cromwells, quickly breaks and runs. By 1600 on the 8th, the city is secure and the Italians are without access to supply for any of their forces west of the Suez – almost twenty divisions! Rapier has succeeded wildly, dealing the killing blow to Mussolini’s African aspirations:

Graziani’s Italians Army trapped in the Egyptian-Libyan desert after the fall of Tripoli:

While 6th Armoured garrisons Tripoli, 1st Royal Hussars drives all the way to the Tunisian border, breaking the back of the last functional Italian division, and securing the entire coastline.
The Italians remain in large numbers in Palestine – some six divisions by the latest recon. Canadian, New Zealand, and Australian divisions are transporting into Karbala to join the Iraqi Royal Army in a planned offensive into Palestine. Our attention will turn to mopping up Graziani’s isolated forces and planning the next step – perhaps an invasion of Sicily, or an effort to gain a toehold in the Balkans? The only remaining threat of serious proportions in the Med are the Italian naval bombers, and the RAF – after a well-earned rest and refit – should be able to sweep the R.A. from the skies:

These victories are overshadowed at noon on the 8th of July when Hitler’s Germany suddenly and surprisingly declares war on Stalin’s Soviet Russia. Joined by Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Croatia, Italy, and other small allies, the Nazis roar across the border all the way from Konigsberg to Odessa. World War 2 has entered its climactic second phase.
On the 15th of July, Dowding completes his research into the Frontal Missions doctrine, and is re-funded to develop Fighter Veteran Initiative.

AUGUST 1941

On the 7th of August a general offensive against Graziani begins to shrink his perimeter, and the USA delivers a fresh Lend-Lease shipment to the UK. A fresh construction initiative for strategic bombers is authorized, as well as expanded merchant shipping construction and an additional run of three wings of Spitfires.
On the 9th an assessment of the situation in the Far East shows the Japanese engaged in a stiff build-up on the Malaya peninsula, and Singapore is in danger. Rangoon is cut off as well, and there are not enough merchant ships to establish a supply line. The Indians and Nepalis have established a defensive line at Calcutta-Rangpur, and the Japanese are hacking through the interior jungles in our direction.

On the 17th of August Ecuador and Peru go to war over border issues. The USA secures the Marshall Islands and gains a dramatic foothold on Toyohara in the extreme north of the Japanese Home Islands! This is welcome news indeed, and permits His Majesty’s armed forces to remain focused on the Mediterranean campaign.
As the Greek government is still holding out in Crete, transports are ordered to rebase from Liverpool to Alexandria to bring British troops and (ultimately) aircraft into Crete, while our strategic bomber forces regroup in Tripoli in preparation for a bombing campaign against the Italians. Alexander’s final offensive against Graziani’s starving and disorganized army entrenched at Sidi Barrani and Mersa Matruh is planned to commence on the morning of the 18th.
The attack jumps off and is quite successful at Sidi Barrani, putting the enemy to flight by midday. But Graziani himself directs the fighting at Matruh and the five Italian divisions dug-in there give an excellent account of themselves. By the morning of the 19th the attack breaks off and Alexander regroups for another attempt in a week or so.
On the morning of the 21st, four wings of strategic bombers based in Tripoli begin bombing the south of Italy, while another three wings of tactical bombers begin reducing the Italian airfields on Sicily. Two wings of Hurricanes (one based at Malta, one at Tripoli) begin an effort to wrest air superiority from the Italians over Sicily, and a third wing of interceptors rebases from Alxeandria to Crete to assist the Greeks.
On the 25th Alexander launches the final attack on Graziani’s positions. The Italians resist manfully for two days, but then the surrenders begin and all 11 of Graziani’s divisions have surrendered by the end of the day on the 27th. The North African campaign has been concluded, and Ethiopia’s capital has been taken as well. All that remains of the Italian African ‘empire’ is Palestine – which is Alexander’s next objective.
On the 26th the 55th West Lancashire division embarks at Alexandria for Crete, and the Japanese begin an intensive assault on Rangoon proper, where the 3rd Indian Infantry attempts to hold. By the end of the day, however, the enemy breaks through and the fall of the city is assured. On the 28th the Japanese conquest of the Philippines is concluded, and that nation is annexed. Nippon has reached a high tide, though the Emperor has not yet secured the Dutch oil resources of the NEI.
By the end of the month the German offensive in Soviet Russia has reached a line running from Dnepropetrovsk to the outskirts of Kiev, then north to the outskirts of Riga:

It has been a terrible month for our convoys with more than forty ships sunk. The bulk of the Royal Navy, however, is preparing for an intensive counter-offensive in the Atlantic. Operating from Gibraltar, three large carrier-based groups will deploy in mid-September to hunt surface raiders and u-boats. Also on the positive side of the ledger, the Italian airfields on Sicily have been netralized and strategic bombing of southern Italy it taking a toll. Serious thought is being given to an invasion of Sardinia after Palestine is liberated, because of the excellent airbases on that island, giving the RAF ideal fields for operations against Rome and northern Italy. Towards this end, Alexander’s veteran WDF is staging to Suez for operations in Palestine.

SEPTEMBER 1941

On the 2nd Leyland Corporation concludes its development of a new Basic Self-Propelled Artillery piece, and Enfield Arsenal is contracted to develop a further improvement of the TO&E for an Improved Marine Division.
On the 5th the RAF offensive against southern Italy intensifies with strikes on Italian airfields, ports, and AA and radar installations at Naples and Taranto. Luftwaffe fighters begin to appear over the Italian mainland, but we are progressively gaining air superiority over the entire Med region, and the next goal will be to bring the 1st Royal Marines down from Liverpool to seize Sardinia.
On the 10th Operation Isaiah kicks off with 7th & 9th Armoured divisions under Gort striking from Suez along the coast towards Tel Aviv, while the 7th and 23rd Infantry under Auchinleck sweep south to clear the Sinai before turning northeast to drive into Palestine also. The three divisions of the Royal Iraqi Army also launch an attack from Karbala towards Jerusalem. The goal is to completely liberate Palestine from Italian occupation by the end of the month:

Due to the steadily improving situation in the Med, battlecruisers Hood and Renown and light cruisers Achilles and Cairo are ordered to break off convoy raiding and rebase to Colombo, and the Royal Navy begins its plans to counter-attack German raiders in the Atlantic.

Operation Revenge
The plan is as follows, working From Gibraltar and commencing on the morning of September 18th:
Force Z – under Grand Admiral Cunningham with CV’s Furious, Glorious, Courageous and BB Royal Sovereign, plus light cruisers and destroyers (15 units total) will begin to patrol the Azores Islands region.
Force D – under Admiral Tovey with CV’s Ark Royal and Illustrious and battleship King George V, plus escorts (7 units total) will commence patrols in the Western Approaches.
Force B – under Vice Admiral Vian with CV’s Argus and Hermes, BB Malaya, and escorts (7 units total) will aggressively work the Portuguese Coast.
The intent is to bring enemy u-boats and surface raiders to battle, reducing them and eventually freeing the sea lanes for the hard-pressed merchant marine of the UK. If Saalwachter’s raiders are anywhere in these regions (and previous sinkings indicate they may be) then we should contact them fortwith, given such a large concentration of our assets. The only Atlantic units not involved are the two battleships and two heavy cruisers (plus escorts) of the Channel Fleet, which remain positioned at Dover against the potential for a German amphibious invasion attempt. (NOTE: The RAF’s recent success against the Luftwaffe has made such an advanced posting possible, with most of the Home Islands now secure against any serious enemy air raids.)

Operation Isaiah is in fine shape by the morning of the 18th with Tel Aviv secured and the Italians isolated inland. The Royal Iraqi Army received two hard rebuffs during its efforts to press west, and goes over to the defensive, clearly outmatched by the more modern Italian arms.

Apparently sensing the change of the wind, on the 19th French Guyana defects from Vichy to Free France.
At 0500 on the morning of the 19th, Cunningham’s Force Z contacts the Italian battleships in the Madeiran Approach, steaming south from their new bases in France. The range is 57 kilometers and Z’s carriers immediately launch strike aircraft. Over the next two hours Cunningham succeeds in maintaining contact, thoroughly outmaneuvering his counterpart Grand Admiral Bergamini.
At 0900 three wings of Swordfish turn into their attack runs, scoring hits on battleship Caio Duilio and cruisers Zara and San Giorgio. As the aircraft are recovering and refueling, however, the enemy eludes contact and escapes, presumably to the south.
On the 20th, Cunningham’s group sinks several u-boats in the Azores region, signaling to the enemy that His Majesty’s Navy is on the prowl. On the 24th, during intensive operations against u-boats in the Gibbs Fracture East. Tovey loses Illustrious to three torpedoes from a u-boat, with a fourth torpedo seriously damaging King George V, forcing Tovey to withdraw to Plymouth for repairs.
An hour later, Tovey reacquires the Italians in the Gulf of Morocco (apparently attempting to escape to France again) and his Swordfish inflict further damage,although no sinkings are recorded.
There is quite a bit of adventure on the 27th as the 1st Royal Marines in unescorted transports come under relentless attack by Italian motor torpedo boats and naval bombers during the last 24 hours of their run into Tripoli. The division is nearly lost, and only the yeoman work by Rear Admiral Mitchell prevents a disaster. It becomes apparent that some surface naval assets will need to remain on patrol in the Tyrrhenian Sea, and so Repulse and Kent (with escorts) are ordered to rebase to Tripoli for duty in this region, and Dickens’ three older light cruisers (Enterprise, Diomedes, Caledon) with two destroyer flotillas sets sail from Alexandria to assert control over the same region.
By the end of the month 1st Royal Marines is preparing for the invasion of Sardinia, where recon indicates a single Italian Blackshirt division is in garrison. Though fighting savagely, the Italians are down to three divisions squeezed along the Iraqi-Palestinian border. Regular air battles between the RAF and the Italians/Hungarians/Bulgarians (with occasional Luftwaffe support) continue across the Med. Southern Italy is being relentlessly bombed from Tripoli, and 2nd Royal Marines is training in Liverpool for an eventual invasion of Europe either at Sicily or in Greece, depending on developments over the next month.
In the Pacific the Japanese have eliminated the US foothold at Toyohara, but the Yanks have gone ashore at Cagayan in the Philippines. In Soviet Russia, the Germans are pressing into the Crimea and have a large bridgehead across the Dneipr at Kiev, occupying three provinces on the east shore. (NOTE: The Axis still holds a large lead in terms of victory points, scoring 314 to the Allies’ 192 and Communists 147.)




OCTOBER 1941

On the 3rd, the 7th Indian Infantry at Alexandria embarks for duty in the Cyclades Islands of the Aegean Sea, which (along with Crete) remain independent Greek possessions. The purpose of this deployment is to gather recon about the Greek coast against the possibility of an invasion with 2nd Royal Marines, and to secure these islands in the event we want to build airfields closer to the Balkan mainland. A sustained bomber offensive against the fragile Balkan economies could hurt the Axis cause.
On the 7th Cunningham loses heavy cruiser Berwick and suffers damage to Courageous during night operations against wolfpacks off the Azores, and Operation Revenge is officially cancelled. The enemy surface raiders have not been located, and it is felt that the best way to defeat the u-boat menace is to develop convoy escort tactics and keep building merchant ships, rather than hunt the enemy with surface units.

Operation Chandelier
In the wee hours of the 8th, 1st Royal Marines and 6th Armoured embark at Tripoli under freshly minted Field Marshal O’Connor for an invasion of Sardinia. They are escorted by battleships Resolution and Ramillies and their battlegroup, which will provide shore bombardment in the first large-scale amphibious effort of His Majesty’s armed forces. Before dawn on the 9th O’Connor’s two divisions go ashore against a surprisingly stiff resistance from the Blackshirts. After a bitter battle that lasts most of the day, the Tommies secure themselves ashore and inland despite a driving rain, and the Italians surrender, paving the way for occupation of Sardinia and preparation of the airfields. The mix of destroyers and motor torpedo boats comprising the remaining three Italian flotillas in the Med attempt to interfere, but Dickens’ Enterprise group drives them off with severe damage. Because of the mud and rain, it is the 11th before the island is secure, and it will be several weeks before the airfields are ready to support action.
On the 9th Dowding completes his research into the Fighter Veteran Initiative, and Sir Arthur Harris is contracted to develop Combat Bombardment Group training to improve the effectiveness of our strategic bombers.
On the 11th Operation Isaiah concludes with the surrender of the last remaining Italian troops in the Middle East. Also on the 11th, Vickers-Armstrong debuts the new Hawker Typhoon interceptor, and Lord General Percy Hobart is set to work to develop an Operational Stages doctrine for our land forces, based on the many lessons learned in North Africa.
After a serious attack by Italian naval bombers against the Enterprise group under Rear Admiral Dickens, inflicting heavy damage on the Diomede, Dickens’ group is ordered to withdraw into Tripoli until the RAF can establish firm control over the Tyrrhenian Sea. The problem is that there are just three wings of fighters to accomplish this, and the Italians have at least three wings of excellent Re.2000 Falco fighters of their own patrolling the region.
Alexander entrains more than half of his command for Tripoli in preparation for an eventual invasion of Sicily, while the three armoured divisions under Gort’s command entrain at Jerusalem for Alexandria, later to be join the rest of the WDF at Tripoli for the same campaign. But there are 2-3 Italian regular divisions on both Sicilian beaches, so this will be hard work when the time comes. 2nd Royal Marines will have to be brought down, and 1st Royal Marines relocated to Tripoli along with 6th Armoured in preparation.
On the afternoon of the 27th the Bismarck and Tirpitz turn up in the Sea of Labrador under Admiral Densch and wreak havoc among the ASW destroyer groups in the region, sinking one flotilla and badly damaging another, forcing Domville to withdraw to Scapa Flow.
Over the 29th and 30th there is rousing news from the Far East, as Lt. General Godwin’s single division of mostly native troops at Hong Kong beat back an attack by two Japanese infantry and one cavalry division, and the Union Jack continues to fly over Hong Kong. This is hardly to be believed, but very welcome news.
By the end of the month the German Barbarossa offensive has pushed as far as Pskov in the north of Russia, and has occupied most of the east bank of the Dneipr. It appears to have stalled in the Crimea. The Japanese have seized Palembang from the Dutch, but are facing a slow buildup of U.S. forces on the southern islands of the Philippines chain.

[Chaplain]

NOVEMBER 1941

On the 1st the decision is taken to shift two of the four strategic bomber wings operating against southern Italy into the likely better-defended Central Italy region – to include Rome. An additional wing from Sardinia will join the campaign, and a wing of medium bombers will focus on radar, AA, port and airfield facilities via installation strikes.
On the 5th Admiral Dudley Pound completes his research into the Commerce Protection doctrine for better convoy organization, and he is put to work developing an Escort Carrier doctrine.
It appears the decision to broaden the bombing campaign against Italy was a good one, as reports of bomb damage are excellent. Attrition of the Italian fighter defenses and airfields is also apparently taking a toll, as there are fewer enemy planes in the air these days.
On the 8th the raising of ten more divisions of infantry is authorized, in anticipation of hard campaigning on the Continent before this affair is decided. As well, a massive expansion of airfield facilities on Sardinia is undertaken – from 4 to 7 large complexes. This project is given top priority.
With the arrival of the 2nd Royal Marines in Tripoli on the 14th, a comprehensive assessment of the Italian campaign is undertaken. RAF heavy bombers have begun to hit northern Italy as well as central and southern. Rome’s industrial sector is a shambles, as is Naples’ and several other areas. Medium bombers are constantly striking AA, port, and airfield facilities all along the boot. Serious thought is given to invading Naples, but given the poor weather this seems too cheeky. The Greek coast is heavily defended and the terrain of northern Greece forms a natural barrier against follow-on operations. Sicily seems the best target, although admittedly conservative. Depending on weather, we may try the Sicilian coast in December, after the Marines have recovered from the sea transport and prepared for the attack. The terrain is rugged, so we might as well go for Palermo and cut off the divisions in Catania. There is also the advantage of seizing the very large airfield complexes in the Palermo region, both denying them to enemy fighters and naval bombers, and providing them to our own medium bombers and fighter escorts. I am loathe to divert RAF resources from the successful bombing campaign, so this attack will be undertaken by the Marines with shore bombardment and fighter cover, but no aerial bomber preparation.

Operation Husky
On the 26th there is a break in the incessant driving rains, and O’Connor’s newly christened Amphibious Corps (1st & 2nd RM plus 1st Armoured) puts to sea to invade Palermo, supported by the guns of Resolution and Ramillies. In the early hours of the 28th the assault begins against two Italian divisions (Calabria – a veteran of the Greek campaign, and Modena, relatively green). After 48 hours of hard fighting ashore, O’Connor’s Marines just manage to establish a firm bridgehead and rout the stubborn Italians. It will be several days before O’Connor is ready to exploit his position, and there is considerable fear of a coordinated counter-attack, although we estimate no more than 2-3 Italian divisions in Catania, and they are both infantry:

By the end of the month we are firmly ashore, with the Palermo airfields occupied.
The Germans have stalled in the center and south, but are broadening their position in the north towards Leningrad. The Japanese have expanded their position in the NEI, securing all of Sumatra, but they are stopped cold along the Indian border at Dacca, and appear to be embroiled in a stalemate in the Philippines. Italy’s armaments industry is foundering under a steady rain of bombs from heavy and medium bombers. Fewer and fewer Italian aircraft lost are being replaced. U-boat activity has dropped dramatically, probably due to the large number of escorts and merchants, plus the development of more effective defence doctrines.
DECEMBER 1941

On the 4th, Lloyd’s IV Corps comes ashore at Palermo in support of O’Connor, to include the 8th and 70th Infantry divisions, and the 17th Indian. When O’Connor has rested, the next target will probably be Naples, while IV Corps will clear Catania:

In a sad bit of news on the 7th, General Dill (famous for his actions in command of armoured divisions in the desert) died of a sudden stroke. He is given a state funeral with all the trappings.
On the morning of the 14th, Lloyd’s IV Corps plus Gort’s three veteran armoured divisions launch a devastating offensive into Catania, quickly shattering the isolated Italian defenders and securing Sicily.
On the 19th we conclude development of the Combat Bombardment Group doctrine, and Sir Arthur Harris goes to work on a Night Bombing doctrine. On the 29th we develop the Central Planning Doctrine and emphasis is shifted to the development of a Frontline Supply Doctrine, given the operations we are sustaining on foreign fields.

Operation Machiavelli
On the morning of the 29th, with a break in the weather, Alexander puts into motion the next phase of operations against Italy. O’Connor’s Amphibious Corps will go ashore at Naples concurrent with a crossing of the Strait of Messina by Gort’s armour (7th, 9th, and Guards Armoured), plus the seven divisions of IV and XIV Corps (including 6th Armoured).
After a stiff fight, O’Connor succeeds in getting ashore against the demoralized Italians at Naples. The guns of the Resolution and Ramillies once again prove valuable. Early on the morning of the 30th, Alexander’s eleven divisions begin an opposed crossing to the toe of the Italian boot. There are three Italian divisions in defence, but we get quite a surprise to discover the German 14th Motorised division also assisting the enemy and hardening their resolve. With their excellent Sturmgeschutz assault guns, the 14th gives us a foretaste of what combat with the Wehrmacht will be like. But Gort’s experienced veterans in their excellent Cromwell medium tanks carry the day, and Reggio di Calabria is penetrated by the fourth day of fighting.
At the end of the month, the Germans have pressed forward in the center of Soviet Russia, advancing as far as Kursk and reaching the outskirts of Sevastopol in the Crimea. Jap and the USA continue to spar in the Philippines.

JANUARY 1942
On the 2nd the Italians launch a three-division counter-attack at O’Connor’s Amphibious Corps in Naples, but it is easily beaten back.
Despite Alexander’s successful crossing of the Strait of Messina, desperate and repeated counter-attacks by Italian troops from Taranto – supported by the German 58th Infanterie Division and the stubborn 14th Motorised – halt his advance. Fighting rages for two solid weeks, and it is so severe that O’Connor is called on to support the attack from his bridgehead in Naples. In the end, however, the Wehrmacht stiffens the Italians to such a degree that Alexander is driven back across the Strait to refit and reorganize.
Given the precarious position that O’Connor is in, Loyd’s IV Corps is ordered to embark at Palermo and reinforce the Naples bridgehead. There is evidence that the Italians are pulling forces from Greece to defend the homeland:

On the 18th the RAF receives a real rude shock when four wings of FW-190A’s appear over the Ligurian Sea. Evidently the importance of the Italian front is not lost on the Germans. Additional Wehrmacht troops begin to pour into Italy as well. Alexander makes a broad decision to go over to the defensive at Naples and in Sicily for the time being. A new wing of Halifaxes begins bombing Italy from Palermo this month. The Italian industry must be severely impaired, if not non-functional.
The 3rd Royal Marines embarks at Liverpool for Sicily. Thought is being given to an amphibious operation with this division at Florence in the north of Italy in an effort to flank the Axis defences. Once the 3rd has arrived, we will explore the possibility. There are an additional five heavily armed (but green) divisions at Liverpool which could reinforce such an operation.
On the 19th Enfield Arsenal completes its redesign of the Marine divisional TO&E for an Improved Marine Division, and Air Marshall Leigh-Mallory begins developing the Offensive Fighter Box doctrine. Our new Hawker Typhoons are able to fight the German FW-190’s on relatively equal footing, but we want to keep pace with doctrine given our commitment to strategic bombing.
The month of January as a whole sees renewed activity by u-boat wolfpacks along the Portuguese Coast, but production outpaces losses. In the East the Germans reach the Don at Orel, but are driven back a bit in the Crimea. In the Far East the Americans strengthen their position in the south of the Philippines, controlling nearly half of the island chain now, but they are not ashore on Luzon.

FEBRUARY 1942

The first week of February sees an alarming buildup of German troops in central and southern Italy. While the FW-190’s have withdrawn, at least one panzer division is identified, and fear is growing that the enemy intends a determined effort to evict O’Connor from his bridgehead at Naples AND counter-attack across the Messina Strait into Sicily. The five divisions enroute by sea from Liverpool may need to remain in Sicily simply to maintain the status quo:

Aircraft losses from our sustained bombing campaign are heavy. Nearly 40% of our industrial output is being consumed replacing lost aircraft. But it is decided that this is the best use of our forces for the present.

Operation Angular
On the Alexander embarks the 3rd Marines, 4th and 49th Infantry, and 6th Armoured for a landing at Florence on the northwestern coast of Italy. It is hoped that this landing will force the Wehrmacht to reposition and cancel its planning for an attack on O’Connor’s position at Naples. Once again, Resolution and Ramillies will support the attack. The newly arrived divisions from Liverpool (with two brigades of Matilda heavy tanks) will take positions alongside Gort’s veterans to block the Strait of Messina.
On the morning of the 15th, Alexander’s troops commence landing, and Italian resistance is indeed limited to a single green infantry division. By the afternoon of the 16th the enemy is broken and Alexander is unloading his corps and expanding his bridgehead. His full command is ashore by the end of the day on the 18th, and the Italians begin moving troops north to respond.

On the 17th the Germans in Foggia under General Nehring launch a five-division attack on O’Connor at Naples. Involved in the attack are the 18th Panzer and four infantry divisions, one of which is Croatian. The fighting is very heavy, but by the morning of the 18th the Germans have broken off. O’Connor’s lightly armed Marine divisions were badly mauled, but the 1st Armoured ‘Royal Hussars’ give a grand account of themselves, and the bridgehead is intact for now. All priority is given to replacements for O’Connor.
On the 21st, German surface raiders at the Sea of Labrador savage a supply convoy bound for Naples, sinking 14 merchant ships and several smaller escorts. On the 23rd and 24th the Germans try O’Connor again, this time rotating 8 divisions through the attack under General von Kleist – a significant upgrade over Nehring. The fighting is desperate, but O’Connor holds and early on the 25th the Germans break it off again. As his troops recover, we realize that something must be done or the enemy will eventually break O’Connor’s position.
A desperate plan is conceived. What if Gort’s three veteran armoured divisions are transported up the coast to Florence, then used to drive across to Rimini and cut off all of central and southern Italy? The six divisions which would be left in Sicily have three heavy armoured brigades attached, so they should be able to hold the Straits. But the Italians could provide supply through Rome, so this would be a dicey attack.
On the 12th the Germans come again, this time with two panzer (17th and 18th) and four infantry divisions, but O’Connor holds. The German MkIV’s are not quite a match for the Britiash Cromwells at this point, it seems. On the 29th Alexander decides to go ahead with the redeployment of Gort’s three divisions to Florence, and they embark at Palermo. An additional infantry division (the 40th) with another brigade of heavy tanks embarks at Liverpool for Palermo.
At the end of the month the Germans have reached a line Rostov-Orel-Pskiv-Talinn in Soviet Russia, and the Japanese and Americans are still stalemated in the Pacific.

[Chaplain]

MARCH 1942

Operation Left Hook
On the morning of the 3rd, Alexander launches Gort’s three armoured divisions – though they have completely reorganized after debarking, north into La Spezi against a single Italian division, with the objective of seizing Genoa. Gort breaks through within hours and the race for Genoa begins. In the early morning hours of the 5th Gort’s tanks roll into the streets of an undefended Genoa, and he immediately detaches Guards under Lt.Gen Leese to secure Turin.

The Battles of Bloody March
On the 6th von Kleist comes at O’Connor again, this time with nine divisions including 17th and 18th Panzer. The fighting rages heavily for two days, and at first Kleist executes a successful offensive Ambush that nearly breaks O’Connor’s position. The Tommies suffer heavy losses and the position would have collapsed if it weren’t for the redoubtable 1st Armoured, standing like a stonewall at the end. The attack breaks off on the night of the 6th. We have suffered significantly higher losses, but the enemy has been beaten back again. Alanbrooke detaches two divisions from his London Command for Liverpool and eventual reinforcement of the Mediterranean Theater. 40th Infantry with its brigade of heavy Matildas passing south of Sardinia is redirected to reinforce O’Connor immediately.
On the 8th Guards Armoured enters Turin, and swings east to capture the industrial heartland of Milan. On the 9th Sir Arthur Harris completes his research into Night Bombardment Doctrine and Enfield Arsenal sets out to revamp the TO&E of our infantry divisions to Improved (’43) Infantry Divisions.
On the afternoon of the 9th the last two Italian destroyer/MTB flotillas sortie against Resolution and Ramillies in the Ligurian Sea off Rome, and are cut to pieces and sunk by heavy gunfire. The entire Italian west coast is now dominated from the air and sea.
On the 9th the racing Guards Armoured enters Milan. Italian troops from the south in the strength of two infantry divisions attempt a brief counter-attack, but are quickly routed. The Italian industrial heartland is now under UK control, with the exception of Venice. Gort immediately moves towards Venice with 7th & 9th Armoured and Alexander orders the two divisions garrisoning Malta to be transferred to Genoa to garrison against partisans. On the 15th Venice is entered, and the north bank of the Po becomes a defensive position for Fort’s three armoured divisions plus the 18th Infantry, formerly defending Malta.
With the fall of Venice, all medium bombers are transferred from installation strikes to interdiction strikes against German and Italian ground troops in the hope of preventing any significant counter-offensive.
On the 21st, however, two German infantry divisions attack the 4th Infantry holding La Spezia and von Kleist tries O’Connor again with nine divisions including the 18th Panzer. For the first time in the war, our Matilda heavy tanks go into action – and are surprised to encounter a German heavy tank brigade of Tigers for the first time. The attack at La Spezia breaks through, forcing 4th Infantry back to Genoa, but O’Connor stands like a rock again. 2nd Infantry at Liverpool embarks for Genoa.
On the afternoon of the 25th Field Marshal Keitel directs seven German infantry divisions – plus a Tiger brigade - against the bridgehead at Florence. The fighting is severe as Alexander’s HQ is in the city. Resolution and Ramillies provide fire support and Alexander directs the fighting personally from the roof of a hotel in downtown Florence, commanding 49th ‘West Riding’ Division, 6th Armoured, and the 3rd Royal Marines. The fighting rages for four straight days in an epic contest, and finally Keitel is beaten off:

Before Alexander’s troops can recover, however, Lt.Gen Kunze swings south from La Spezia with three fresh German infantry divisions and attacks Florence from the north. Desperate, Alexander orders Gort’s Guards Armoured and 18th Infantry to attack Kuntze from the north, over the Po, from Milan, in hopes of breaking off his attack, and 4th Infantry – disorganized and exhausted – is ordered to reverse course and counter-march on Spezia also. The fighting rages for two more days before the intervention of Guards and 18th proves decisive and Kuntze breaks off.
The desperation of the Axis is obvious, however, when on the 28th General Nehring brings eight infantry divisions against Naples again, before O’Connor is half recovered from the last attack. Both sides are worn down, but the Germans come ahead gamely, determined to eradicate this thorn in their side. No Italians are involved as it appears they are too demoralized to attack. Alone, the Germans lack the strength to break O’Connor’s positions and on the morning of the 30th Nehring retires.
The nightmare isn’t over, however, as on the 30th General Botticher drives north out of the toe of the boot against O’Connor with a rested 17th Panzer and five infantry divisions. O’Connor holds. 23rd ‘Northumbrian’ from Palestine goes ashore at Florence to reinforce Alexander.
It’s just in the nick of time as Keitel comes against Alexander’s exhausted troops with five fresh divisions from the east, towards Rimini, during the afternoon. The fighting rages for two days and is horrific – house to house and block by block. Luftwaffe support roars in from Me-110’s and Stukas, while Spifires and Typhoons tangle with 190’s and 109’s overhead. Resolution and Ramillies lay in close to the shore and exhaust their ammunition in support of Alexander. Keitel commits his reserve of two fresh divisions on the 1st, but tate on the 2nd of April the Germans finally withdraw, just hours from breaking the British positions. The beautiful city of Florence is a heap of rubble, but the Union Jack is still waving over the shell-shot dome of the provincial capital. 66th Infantry at Tobruk embarks to reinforce Alexander as well.
At the end of the month the Germans are pressing towards Moscow and have reached Kaluga in their winter ‘Typhoon’ offensive. In the Pacific, the Philippines campaign seems to have reached a stalemate.

APRIL 1942

On the 4th, 44th Infantry garrisoning Sardinia embarks for Genoa. It is hoped that this third division will permit an offensive to reclaim La Spezia and solidify the north flank of Alexander’s position – creating thereby an additional overland supply route for his hard-pressed forces.
On the 6th of April the Italians provide a surprise when five flotilla of destroyers from Taranto sortie against the Resolution/Ramillies group, sinking HMS Dauntless for the loss of two flotillas of destroyers. We divert a wing of bombers to strike the harbor at Taranto and hopefully keep the last vestiges of the Italian fleet too weak to sortie again. Also, Cunningham’s Force Z at Gibraltar takes up patrols in the Tyrrhenian to prevent a recurrence of this kind of thing.
Situation in Italy on April 6th:

During the first two weeks of April the Germans continue to probe O’Connor’s perimeter, though not in as determined a fashion as before. But on the 9th nine fresh divisions renew the attack on Florence, where Alexander has been feverishly resupplying his men and reorganizing his defences. This time the two battleships are not available, having escorted damaged cruisers to Tripoli. The attack swells to ten divisions on the 10th and 11th and threatens to capture the city again, but Alexander conducts a brilliantly timed counter-attack with the 6th Armoured that discombobulates the German assault and causes it to peter out on the 12th. Once again, Florence has held.
The heretofore undetected 3rd Panzer joins six infantry divisions assaulting Naples again, but O’Connor holds as always. 2nd Infantry Division embarks at Liverpool for Genoa.
On the 13th four Japanese infantry divisions launch an attack against the Nepalese Army holding Pukkha, attempting to turn the flank of the Indian line and knock Nepal out of the war. The three Nepalese divisions fight heroically but are no match for the tenacious Japanese.
On the 17th the Germans launch a coordinated effort with eight divisions going against each of Naples and Florence. Alexander holds over two days, but the fighting at Naples is as close as it’s ever been due to the excellent German manuevering at the regimental level. Finally, on the 20th, the attack on O’Connor dribbles off, leaving the Tommies exhausted, battered, and frightened at how close it really was.
Plans are drawn up for a counter-offensive employing the four divisions of Cunningham’s X Corps at Genoa, supported by Guards Armoured and 18th Infantry in Milan, into La Spezia. The intent is to open an avenue of retreat for Alexander should his position at Florence be broken. The attack is scheduled to go off on the morning of the 22nd. But the Germans pre-empt the operation with a bold 8-division assault on Florence again from the south, east and north. The Germans at first experience some success against Alexander, battering his hollow-eyed troops in their forts of ash and rubble. But when the attack by X Corps gets underway on the morning of the 22nd, the german assault collapses and the enemy commences a retreat from La Spezia.
The very same morning, two German divisions execute a well-planned attack on 7th and 9th Armoured at Venice. But Gort quickly turns the tables with adroit counter-attacks, and the situation is well in hand by nightfall.
On the 23rd the Germans launch their heaviest attack yet – 12 divisions (including 18th Panzer and a Tiger brigade – against O’Connor at Naples. The German attack is so ferocious that it achieves an early critical breakthrough against the 8th Infantry and 17th Indian Infantry, and codebooks are burned. When darkness falls on the 23rd, only 1st Royal Hussars is holding its position. The rest of O’Connor’s command is falling apart and it looks like the enemy may finally retake Naples. The Germans are under the command of experienced veteran Field Marshal Witzleben, and his skill is obvious. On the morning of the 24th, O’Connor radioes that the situation is completely untenable. Tiger tanks have reached the beaches and German infantry are assaulting his CP. He indicates that he has no choice but to surrender his command. Sadly, Alexander agrees, and the largest defeat yet suffered by UK land forces occurs with a surrender at 1000 hours. Flags across the Home Islands fly at half-mast.
Overnight on the 25th-26th at #10 Downing Street there is a major conference on the Italian campaign. It is agreed that Alexander will withdraw from the ruins of Florence as far as Genoa, while X Corps redeploys alongside Gort’s armour to hold the north bank of the Po, thus maintaining control of the Italian industrial heartland and bifurcating the Axis. Intensive strategic and tactical bombing of central and southern Italy will continue.
On the 27th Leigh-Mallory develops the Offensive Fighter Box doctrine and emphasis is shifted to the Royal Small Arms Factory to develop the Advanced Artillery piece.
On the 28th nine German divisions under Keitel attempt to cut off Alexander’s withdrawal from Florence, but in more than twenty-four hours of fighting Alexander succeeds in extricating his battered command.
By the end of the month the Germans have been beaten back from Kaluga, but have reached Gdov in their drive on Leningrad, and are trying to push northeast from Rostov. In the Far East the stalemate in the Philippines continues. Bhutan has been occupied, but Nepal and India are holding the line with the entire Indian Army taking positions from Calcutta north. We desperately need the Yanks to make some serious progress.

MAY 1942

During the first week of May Alexander completes his withdrawal to Genoa, fighting all the way against German infantry snapping at his heels. X Corps divides its four divisions between Milan and Venice to reinforce Gort, and we settle down to an even more intensive strategic bombing campaign. The Italian land military appears to be completely out of action due to our bombing.
On the 10th Percy Hobart develops the Operational Stages Doctrine and research is redirected towards Leyland’s proposal for a Churchill Mk 1 heavy tank to match the German Tigers.
Over the 10th-11th a determined German attack across the Po into Milan by eleven divisions breaks our defenses and it becomes apparent that we will not be able to hold in the north of Italy against the efforts of Kleist and the Wehrmacht, now freed from distraction at Naples. Preparations to evacuate the Army are begun, with the plan being to retrench in Sicily. Alexander will have to hold in Genoa long enough for the four divisions retreating from Milan to arrive and embark. Gort’s command in Venice will be evacuated as soon as possible. The whole Italian campaign has broken down.
On the 13th Pound develops the Escort Carrier role and research is shifted towards Leigh-Mallory’s Defensive Fighter Box Doctrine.
On the 14th, as transports beat up the Adriatic in an effort to evacuate Gort from Venice, Keitel sends seven divisions across the Po against Gort in an effort to force a surrender before an escape. Gort holds and the German attack breaks down on the 15th. On the 16th Gort’s troops sail out of the harbor, abandoning Venice to the triumphantly advancing Germans.
After delivering Gort to Sardinia, the same fleet of transports immediately heads for Genoa. Just after dawn on the 27th, Alexander and four divisions escape for Sardinia just as a German offensive with 26 divisions crashes into the region, where Cunningham is left to fend for himself with just six divisions. It is hoped that the fleet can return before the lines collapse, but I have my doubts.
Cunningham fights heroically for two days, but the issue is never really in doubt. Keitel authorizes massed infantry assaults on the evening of the 28th and the six shredded divisions still ashore are forced to surrender:

The Italian campaign has been an unmitigated disaster, costing His Majesty twelve veteran divisions as POWs and eliminating our offensive capabilities for the rest of the year. Once again, flags fly at half-mast across the UK and angry, impassioned speeches against the dithering USA are printed in a special section of the Times. The Cabinet privately hopes that this campaign has assisted the Soviets in some material fashion by distracting an estimated thirty Wehrmacht divisions, including three panzer divisions.
The month ends with the same situation as last month on the Soviet steppe and in the Far East. The Indian-Nepali Army seems to have halted the Japanese at Calcutta. A review of our overall situation shows that our national oil reserves are down to less than one-third of what they were when the war started, but the RAF is strong and the Med is an Allied lake. U-boats and surface raiders have not outpaced merchant marine construction, so we are essentially at a stalemate with the Axis on the strategic front, although the Germans may be free to relocate ten to fifteen divisions to the eastern front after clearing Italy proper, and this could now hurt the Soviets.
Situation on the Indian border:








Situation in Malaya:

JUNE 1942

June opens with General Dudley-Smith announcing the development of a dramatically revamped Frontline Supply Service for overseas operations, and incentives are developed to research Mass Destruction Doctrine under Air Marshal Sir Arthur Harris’ direction.
One wing of Bristol Buckingham medium bombers based at Palermo is assigned to regularly raid Taranto due to the presence of some kind of Italian naval assets in that base. As it turns out, recon from the first raid indicates two battered flotillas of submarines, so the raids will continue until those submarines are eliminated.
Another wing of Buckinghams based at Sardinia is ordered to raid Genoa for the same reason. We can’t have the Italians rebuilding their Navy. After two raids on Genoa, however, it becomes apparent that there is no naval presence there, so the Buckinghams are switched to other duties.
The general strategy of the air offensive against Italy is to have the medium bombers hit installations like airfields, AA concentrations, radar stations and port facilities, while the heavies go for industry and resources. Fighter sweeps are constant, and the Spitfire IX is proving significantly superior to the Re.2000 Falco. Occasionally German Me-109’s and Me-100’s are encountered, with FW-190’s very rarely. All of our efforts are during daylight to maximize impact and encourage attritional air combat because of our superior fighters. In all nearly 1,600 RAF aircraft are involved. Between the destruction of Naples and Florence by heavy fighting, and the incessant bombing, much of metropolitan Italy is a battered wreck.
On the 12th Alexander embarks his HQ and 6th & 7th Armoured at Sardinia for reinforcement of the defenses at Sicily. Bteween 10-12 Wehrmacht divisions are in Calabria across the Strait and we are wary of an attempted crossing. These two divisions, plus the personal involvement of Alexandria, plus the three brigades of heavy tanks stationed with the six infantry divisions already there, are though to be sufficient defenses. This will leave six divisions behind in Sardinia (3 infantry, two armoured, one Marine). Since the Axis possess no significant amphibious capability, Sardinia’ defense need only concern itself with a possible paradrop.
Late in the month, two additional wings of Halifaxes are activated and transferred to Palermo to join the campaign against the north of Italy in particular, where enemy industries are most concentrated at Genoa, Milan, Turin and Venice. As well, due to reduced Luftwaffe pressure on the Home Islands, a wing of Spitfires is transferred from Fighter Command at Dover to Sardinia to support operations in the north of Italy.
On the 27th the two Italian flotillas of submarines at Taranto attempt to sortie, but a patrol group of three flotillas of destroyers engages them and sinks one flotilla, forcing the other back to port. The Buckinghams continue their raids.
By the end of the month the Germans have crossed the Don at Rostov, reached the outskirts of Moscow, and reached Gdov within a hundred miles of Leningrad. Their attack on the Soviet Union is threatening to be a successful one. We would dearly love to create a new second front, but we need the 16 infantry divisions currently being raised before we commit again. The losses in Italy were devastating. tIn the Far East the USA has made little progress, continuing to dither (in our opinion) in the southern half of he Philippines. We fervently wish they would put more pressure on Japan.

[Chaplain]

JULY 1942

On the 4th of July His Majesty in concert with Parliament takes the magnanimous step of liberating Ethiopia and restoring Selassie to his throne, and creating a homeland for the Jews by liberating Palestine. This will allow the colonial divisions of our African protectorates (Tanganyika, Kenya, etc.) to be redeployed for possible action in Europe. We are shocked by the public response – a precipitous 5% increase in national dissent – and domestic budget policies are adjusted to pacify those who obviously feel that Britain’s Empire is being threatened internally as well as externally.
Evidently our bombing campaign is having a significant effect as four wings of German FW-190’s begin to appear in action over the north of Italy, inflicting serious losses on our Halifaxes in daylight. To meet them, Spitfires are transferred from duty over the south of Italy to meet the enemy in the north, and a general reorganization is undertaken whereby all bomber formations fly from the large airfields on Sicily, and most of the fighter formations fly from Sardinia. This allows the Spitfires to reach the north of Italy and the Typhoons to cover the central sections of Italy.
On the 11th there is a truly epic confrontation over Perugia in central Italy where more than 600 RAF fighters engaged more than 400 Luftwaffe aircraft, all of which were FW-190’s. The Typhoons and Spitfire IX’s do a wonderful job, and the Germans suffer a serious reverse. The experience level of our pilots after operating in this theater for so long is quite high, and this contributes greatly to the outcome. As a consequence of this victory, Axis fighters are hardly glimpsed at all for the next couple of weeks, and the bombing campaign is extraordinarily effective.
On the 18th of July Air General Sir Arthur Harris is promoted to Cabinet level to command the bomber campaign against Italy due to his expertise in the field of strategic bombardment and the reduced risk of Luftwaffe operations against Fighter Command in the Home Islands:

Due to dwindling supplies of aviation and naval fuel oil, we conclude a trade agreement with the USA on the 19th that will bring in large (30,000 barrels) shipments of oil in exchange for export shipments of high-grade British coal.
By the end of the month the Germans are driving south as well as east from Rostov, and have crossed the Dneipr at Voronezh and are spreading along the east bank, south towards Stalingrad. They are still building up forces south and west of Moscow, holidng two adjacent provinces. In the north, they have stalled at Gdov. The winter cannot come soon enough for Stalin’s beleaguered Red Army. In the Far East the situation remains relatively unchanged.




AUGUST 1942

I begin the month with a deliberate effort to bring Mr. Roosevelt and the USA into the European conflict, and after an all-night telephone blitz with a number of prominent Senators and Congressmen, the US Government aggress and a formal declaration of war on Germany and Italy is made. This is wonderful news, and I celebrate with a whole bottle of whiskey and a 24-hour nap. In the streets of London there is delirious joy, and not a little exasperation that it has taken so long. Hopefully this new development will break the stalemate in the Mediterranean. Surprisingly, on the next day Mexico joins the Allies as well. American heavy bombers immediately begin to relocate to the UK, and this can only help Stalin also. By the end of the month more than 600 U.S. medium and heavy bombers are operating from the UK against chiefly u-boat and naval bases, and large shipments of American and Mexican oil and other resources are enroute. I feel that this may be the turning point of the war.
On the 15th Harris completes his research into Mass Destruction Doctrine and the emphasis is maintained with a new program – Escort Relay System – for the carpet bombing campaign against Italy.
On the 21st Leigh-Mallory develops the Defensive Fighter Box and begins researching the Multi-Altitude Group Doctrine to further enhance the performance of our fighter squadrons.
On the 22nd, due to the absence of German surface raider action, the increased presence of the USN in the Atlantic, and the bombing campaign against German ports and harbor facilities by the Yanks, the Admiralty elects to redeploy Cunningham’s command (CV’s Furious, Glorious, Courageous, plus BB Royal Sovereign and destroyers) to Colombo in preparation for action against the Japanese. Ark Royal and King George V plus five heavy cruisers and escorts remains posted to Gibraltar for operations against the Kriegsmarine and/or remnants of the Italian Navy in the Atlantic as needed.
On the 25th the Royal Small Arms Factory develops Advanced Artillery and emphasis is redirected to the development of a Motorised Division TO& E for future operations on the Continent.
On the 26th the Parliament approves passage of a new bill encouraging female participation in the work force, which frees up a number of men to serve in the Armed Forces. Currently, most of them will go to work in the aircraft manufacturing industry.
On the 27th a sortie by Italian destroyers apparently built and/or repaired in Venice is met by the Repulse/Kent battlegroup under Boyle off Malta, and the enemy destroyers are badly mauled. However, there were four flotillas of Italian destroyers and Kent suffered a torpedo hit, so Resolution and Ramillies go to sea with their escorts from Tripoli as well to patrol and deal with the threat, while Boyle withdraws to Tripoli for repairs.
At the end of the month the Germans continue to expand their position on the east bank of the Dneipr, pushing well towards Stalingrad, and in the north they have surrounded and cut off Leningrad. But they were driven back from the south of Moscow, and moved forward to the northwest at Rzhev, so the danger to the capital is still very real. If the Soviets collapse or make peace, all is lost. We must assist them! Towards this end, the Parliament authorizes trade deals for non-military support. In the Far East the ugly stalemate continues in the Philippines.

SEPTEMBER 1942

The month opens with Enfield Arsenal completing its development of a new TO&E for our infantry divisions, and research is redirected to the development of a new concept – the Early Airborne Division. Simultaneously, budgets are shifted to emphasize the upgrading of all existing infantry divisions to the new equipment, which notably includes platoon-level AT equipment for this new mechanized form of warfare.
An honest reassessment of our Italian bombing campaign reveals that the cost-benefit ratio is not as high as we hoped. Bomber losses to flak and fighters are consuming a large portion of our production capacity. As a consequence, all bombing operations are switched to nighttime, while the fighters continue to sweep during the day.
On the 15th Leyland debuts its brand-new Churchill MkIV heavy tank, capable of matching the German Tiger in a slugfest, and emphasis is shifted to the development of a Cromwell Mk VIII A23 medium tank which will match the German Panther. In this way, our highly experienced armour divisions will remain on par with the enemy point-for-point.
On the 25th, in an effort to hit back at the Japanese, Cunningham’s carrier group at Colombo sets sail to raid convoys shipping from Sumatra, and Hood (with Achilles) and Renown (with Cairo) sail on the same mission only in the larger NEI.

The Massacre of the Malacca Strait
Late on the 27th Cunningham’s group encounters a large surface group under Yamamoto which includes four battleships and ten cruisers in the Strait of Malacca at 58 kilometers. Cunningham launches his three CAGS and the IJN attempts to close the range. By 1800 Ise and Haruna are hit, but Yamamoto is succeeding in closing the range in the narrow confines of the Strait, down to 26 kilometers, and commencing a gun battle. By 1900 the range is down to 24 kilometers and Royal Sovereign is firing madly, trying to screen the carriers. Several Japanese cruisers have been hit by Swordfish bombers, and darkness is infringing on the engagement. By 2000 Furious is suffering gunfire hits as Cunningham attempts to withdraw. By 2100 the Japanese surface battle line is wreaking havoc on Cunningham’s fleet. At midnight the withdrawal ‘succeeds’, but the only survivor of Cunningham’s fleet is the smoking wreck of the Glorious – Royal Sovereign, Courageous, Furious, and four flotillas of destroyers are resting on the bottom of the Strait of Malacca. Japanese losses consist of a flotilla of destroyers, and damage to several cruisers and battlecruisers. Public outrage is stupendous.

The month of September sees heavy, swirling battles raging between Moscow and Leningrad as the Soviets attempt to push the Germans back from the capital and re-open a supply line to Leningrad. Sevastopol finally falls to the invaders, and a drive south from Rostov is underway, evidently in an effort to link up with the Crimea across the Kerch Straits and threaten the oil fields of the Caucasus.


OCTOBER 1942

During the month 7th and 9th Armoured divisions are shipped home from Sardinia to be refitted with organic self-propelled artillery brigades. Then they are transferred back to Sicily and Guards & 6th Armoured are brought home for the same purpose.
On the 10th the Royal Small Arms Factory develops the new Motorised Infantry Division TO&E, and emphasis is shifted to the Supermarine Corporation to develop a new ‘Lancaster’ heavy bomber.
During the month of October there is a life-and-death struggle in the Soviet Union as the Reds counter-attack savagely in the south, liberating most of the Crimea and driving the Germans back towards Rostov from the east and south, though not from the north. The German pressure on Moscow reaches a new high with four adjacent provinces now occupied by Wehrmacht troops.
But by the end of the month the Germans are back to three provinces adjacent to Moscow, and they have been driven well back from Leningrad, as well as having suffered reverses on the plains northwest of Stalingrad. A critical month seems to have ended with the Soviets surviving in good order. In the Far East, the Yanks continue to dither.
On the 27th Harris completes the Combat Escort Relay Doctrine For fighter escort of the heavy bombers, and Vickers-Armstrong is contracted to develop a Frontline Repair Shop system to shorten the turnaround time for damaged aircraft in the bombing campaign, as well as prepare for quick refit of damaged tanks in the field.

[Chaplain]

NOVEMBER 1942

A fresh run of three more wings of Buckingham medium bombers is authorized. These aircraft are very versatile, and can perform a number of roles in a second Italian campaign.
On the 15th Leigh-Mallory develops the Multi-Altitude Fighter Group doctrine, and research is redirected towards Field Marshal Sir Alanbrooke’s ambitious plan to develop Branch Interoperability for the Army. This will take some time, as forward-thinking as it is, but we need our smaller Army to operate at a very high level in order to compete with the Germans.
It has been some time since we have initiated any new operations against the enemy, so general Templer authorizes a probe across the Strait of Messina to determine Axis strength. It is discovered that the enemy is heavily dug-into the hills of the region with twelve Italian and five German divisions, one of which is panzer. As a consequence, all plans for offensive operations up the boot are set aside, and we take a look at amphibious invasions. A landing at Florence is deemed feasible – but could we maintain it? As a means of flanking the German position at Calabria it has some merit – forcing the enemy to weaken this position, which we may then be able to crack from Sicily. But to what end? It seems like we must wait for the Yanks to initiate major operations (at this point) and then follow-up with our own.
The night bombing campaign is marginally effective, at best, and we are watching the Italian Army reconstitute itself under a wing of German protection. But daylight raids are still out of the question given the cost in production capacity.
A sudden upsurge in merchant sinkings along the coast of Portugal causes Tovey to sortie from Gibraltar on the 23rd with Ark Royal’s group to search for enemy raiders or u-boats. As it turns out, the region is crawling with u-boats and Ark Royal is lost to several torpedoes before Tovey can get back to Gibraltar. What is needed in the region is aggressive air patrols, but we lack the aircraft to pull it off. However, since a new wing of Halifaxes has just arrived at Palermo, one wing of Buckinghams is redeployed to Gibraltar for just this purpose.
By the end of November the lines have stabilized in the East with the Soviets holding firm. The USA has made no progress in the Philipiines, although the USAAF is very active in Europe. The stalemate on the Indian border continues.

DECEMBER 1942

The 1st of December is marked by the appearance of a new German escort fighter – the Me210 – in air battles over northern Italy. They don’t match up well with the Spit IX, however:

On the 8th of December Enfield Arsenal debuts its new TO&E for an Early Airborne Division, and emphasis is retained for the development of a Basic Airborne Division.
Most of the month is consumed with support of the ongoing bombing campaign against Italy, and efforts to establish something close to air superiority over the northern French coast. US F4F Wildcat fighters are flying with our Typhoons and Spitfires in some numbers, and the Luftwaffe’s numbers appear inadequate. A fresh wing of Halifaxes joins the campaign against Italy, bringing the number of RAF aircraft operating against Mussolini to over 2,000.
Towards the end of the month, authorization is given to develop three airborne divisions for future operations.
At the end of the month in Russia the Wehrmacht has succeeded in isolating the Crimea by capturing the east side of the Kerch Straits, and has renewed their drive on Stalingrad from the northwest, while holding form on the approaches to Moscow. But the Soviets have pushed the Germans back from Leningrad and liberating the Estonian Coast as far as Tallinn.
In the Far East the Japanese launch a counter-offensive that recaptures Leyte, but the Nationalist Chinese push the Japanese back from the borders of Guangxi and re-establish LOC from the coast to the interior.

JANUARY 1943

The New Year begins with an assessment of the situation worldwide during a major conference held at Tehran in Iran. The Soviets are angry that the Western Allies have not opened a second front in Europe as yet, and they belittle our efforts in the Med as ‘the antics of angry old women’. We, in turn, are not happy with U.S. operations – especially in the Pacific – and I have a strong conversation with Roosevelt about this in private. He is patronizing, assuring me that the affair is well in hand and the Axis will be soundly defeated by the Spring of 1945. I wish I shared his confidence.
Joy of joys! – on the 4th the Yanks go ashore at Casablanca and sweep into Italian-controlled Morocco, establishing a major bridgehead on the African Continent from which to expand their campaign.
On the 14th Algeria defects to Free France with her small military intact, and on the 15th Maj. General Lord Mountbatten takes the British 1st Marines from Tripoli to go ashore at Tunis to secure the airfields in the capital of Tunisia, in concert with an offensive from the west by the Free French.
During the month of January u-boat activity in the Cape St. Vincent region becomes so extreme – actually outpacing new ship construction – that a second wing of Buckinghams is diverted from the Italian campaign to work against the u-boats by flying from Gibraltar. Additionally, I am forced to cancel convoys that are bringing in anything besides oil, or carrying out supplies and oil. The u-boat menace has been a real difficulty, and the occasional surface raider doesn’t help. But I don’t dare to deploy the remaining assets of the Royal Navy as losses have been too heavy. We shall have to depend on construction, ASW escorts, and air patrols.
Situation in the Central Med on 19 January:

January also sees a major US commitment to strategic bombing of Italy, and with their daylight raids coupled by our nighttime raids – with air superiority provided by Typhoons and Spitfires – Italy is down to 20% of her original industrial capacity, and her air force is virtually non-existent. The boot is being defended by small numbers of German fighters, and most of our losses are due to flak. By the end ot he month, Free French and US forces operating in tandem have swept most of Algeria-Tunisia and liberated it from Fascist control.
In Russia the Germans reach as far as Frolovo in their drive for Stalingrad. They also surround Moscow on three of four sides, with only the east remaining open, and they counter-attack in the north and recapture Tallinn, pushing the Soviets back towards Leningrad. We fervently hope that our constant pressure on the Luftwaffe can help revive Soviet fortunes.
In the Far East, the USA retreats from Palawan in the Philippines to deal with the Japanese incursion at Leyte, and Japanese counter-attacks in China restore the isolation of the coastal regions from the interior, except via the Guangxi region, where local warlords still rule and still fight against the Japanese:


FEBRUARY 1943

With the success of the Americans and Free French, our attention returns to amphibious operations against Italy. Though it horrifies many, we begin to develop plans to invade at Florence again, hoping that the bombing campaign will have so weakened the Italian Army as to leave the Wehrmacht fighting virtually alone. If we can establish a bridgehead and the Americans can reinforce it, the Germans may have to bring a very large number of reinforcements from the East, permitting the Soviets to regain momentum. Also, a landing at Florence will hopefully weaken Calabria and permit a crossing of the Strait of Messina again.
With the concentration of our four Marine divisions and six transport flotillas at Sardinia on the 11th, 1st, 2nd, and 4th Marines begin intensive preparationd for a landing under Alexander’s command, while Guars and 6th Armoured prepare to reinforce the beachhead as soon as it is established.
On the 15th Leyland debuts its brand-new Advanced Medium tank, and the armoured divisions begin an intensive refit, and de Havilland is contracted to develop an AW.41 air transport to drop paratroops. On the 19th Vickers-Arsmtrong debuts is new Frontline Repair Shops technology, which ought to dramatically improve repair rates for damaged heavy bombers and fighter aircraft, and Harris begins developing Carpet Bombing doctrine. On the 25th the Spitfire Corporation debuts its new Lancaster heavy bomber and replacement of Halifaxes throughout the RAF commence. Supermarine goes to work developing the new Mosquito medium bomber.

Operation Wellington
On the 18th Resolution and Ramillies take up familiar positions off the coast of Florence. On the 21st Alexander’s VII Amphibious Corps (1st, 2nd, 4th Royal Marines plus HQ elements) embarks at Sardinia for Florence, and 6th & Guards Armoured embark to be ready for immediate landing once the Marines have established themselves ashore.
Just after midnight on the morning of the 26th Alexander’s troops begin their assault against three divisions of Italians in a driving rain. By midday the Italian resistance is so stiff that Alexander attempts to land 6th & Guards Armoured to enable the Marines to get off the beaches. The fighting is savage and intense as the Italians 13th Division has new-made AT guns capable of defeating our Cromwell tanks. After two solid days of give-no-quarter combat, the Italians under General Fricchone are forced to withdraw, although Alexander’s command is largely shattered. The question remains at sundown on the 28th – will Alexander’s corps be able to reorganize before Italians reinforcements rushing to the area can counter-attack?
By midnight on the morning of the 29th the Italian counter-attack is underway with two infantry divisions moving up from Rome. The initial Italian attack is beaten off by the evening by the energetic exertions of the 6th & Guards. 1st & 2nd Royal Marines are broken formations, and 4th has only one functional regiment. The Navy immediately races back to Sardinia to bring additional reinforcements:



The III Corps (2nd, 4th, and 23rd Infantry) at Sardinia is embarked for Florence on the 30th to reinforce Alexander, and the 57th with a brigade of heavy tanks a day later.

In Russia the Soviets manage to recapture the Kerch Straits and most of the Crimea, but matters are at a stalemate west of Stalingrad, at Moscow, and in the north towards Leningrad. In the Far East the situation is unchanged.

All during the month, American bombers developed a steadily building campaign against the German homeland, concentrating for several days on Dresden, and also Lepizig, as well as various industrial centers along the French coast.

[Chaplain]

MARCH 1943

Late on the 2nd the partially reorganized 6th & Guards Armoured are ordered to drive north into unoccupied La Spezia to seize the major harbor there with its improved road network for better supply. The roads and railroads and bridges in Florence are battered and poorly repaired, making it difficult to maneuver.
III Corps and VII Amphibious Corps dig in to perimeter positions at Florence in preparation for Italian counter-attacks. It is noted that Wellington does not yet seem to have drawn the attention of the Germans in Calabria.
On the morning of the 4th , 6th & Guards Armoured roll into La Spezia, and R.Adm. Vian takes his transports on a fast run back to Plymouth to collect another four infantry divisions for duty in Italy. We appeal to the Americans to reinforce our bridgehead, while preparing to bring Auchinleck’s 7th Infantry from Tunis as well.
Early on the morning of the 7th German troops are detected moving north along the western Italian coast, ostensibly to attack the bridgehead at Florence. FM O’Connor with his six infantry and two armoured divisions in Sicily are ordered to try the defenses of Calabria later in the morning to see if the Strait can now be forced. It becomes almost immediately apparent that there are four German panzer and sixteen Italian/German infantry divisions still in the region. O’Connor immediately breaks off and settles back into defensive positions.
In the north, 7th Infantry – having moved north to La Spezia – frees 6th and Guards Armoured to return to Florence to defend against a counter-attack. On the 11th 3rd Royal Marines lands at La Spezia from Sardinia and is ordered to swing east and occupy undefended Genoa. Also on the 11th, Cunningham’s X Corps with four fresh infantry divisions embarks at Plymouth for La Spezia.
On the afternoon of the 14th 3rd RM occupies Genoa:


During this time, Italian and German troops work to get in position in Rome, Bologna and Rimini for a three-pronged counter-attack, while Alexander directs the refit of his two corps and two armoured divisions, and defensive positions are dug all across the region. On the 18th Cunningham’s X Corps begins unloading and moving to defensive positions at La Spezia.
On the 21st the 7th Italian Infantry at Milan attempts to recapture Genoa, attacking the 3rd RM across the Po. The enemy is easily beaten off. Guards and 36th Infantry at Plymouth embark at Plymouth for Genoa to reinforce 3rd RM, arriving on the 29th before the enemy is in position to mount a serious attack on Genoa.
Late on the 29th the XIV Corps (30th, 40th, 70th Infantry and 8th Army HQ) embark at Plymouth for La Spezia to further reinforce Operation Wellington. But where are the Americans?
On the afternoon of the 30th the first counter-attack begins, with FM Witzleben commanding nine Wehrmacht divisions (eight infantry, one panzer w/Mk-IV’s) supported by two Tiger brigades against Cunningham at La Spezia with five infantry divisions:

Alexander immediately orders 6th & Guards Armoured to race north in support, equipped as they are with brand-new Comet A34 medium tanks which will be seeing their first action. The fighting is intense and at first the Germans make some solid progress, but the arrival of 6th & Guards during the night levels the playing field. As heavy rains break out on the morning of the 1st of April, the Germans break off and withdraw:

In Russia the Soviets make marginal progress at pushing the Germans back from Moscow, while holding at Leningrad and in the Crimea/Kerch Straits. Some small progress is also made pushing the Nazis back from Stalingrad, but the issue is very much in doubt.
In the Far East an American division (164th Infantry) is debarked at Singapore to reinforce our position there, and the struggle in the Philippines continues unabated.

APRIL 1943

During the first week of April it becomes apparent that Wehrmacht troops are pouring into northern Italy. There is severe consternation at the Army House – where are the bloody Yanks? We need them in force on the Italian mainland or Operation Wellington may be a greater disaster than the original landings.
On the 4th Enfield Arsenal completes its design of a Basic Airborne Division, and Vickers-Wellington begins designing a new Spitfire Mk XIV, which ought to be able to handle anything the Germans can put in the sky.
On the morning of the 6th a determined German attack against Florence kicks off with nineteen Wehrmacht divisions – fourteen infantry, three panzer (all Mk IV’s) and two motorized divisions, plus two brigades of Tigers again. Resolution and Ramillies move in for support and Guards & 6th Armoured race south to assist Alexander’s three Marine and four infantry divisions, plus a single heavy tank brigade.
By 1900 in the evening the German assault has nearly broken the British position, but 6th and Guards Armoured arrive during the evening and attack off the march to temporarily stabilize the position.
All day on the 7th Feldmarschal Witzleben pushes his infantry and panzers in repeated efforts to break through Alexander’s perimeter, but the Tommies hold. The fighting is savage beyond belief, reminding many of what was once called ‘the Great War’. Platoons of German grenadiers attempt again and again – supported by panzers – to punch a hole in the British lines. As darkness falls both sides are exhausted, but the Germans give no indication of giving up.
The next morning (8th) Witzeleben launches his four panzer and one motorized divisions in a final desperate effort to force Alexander to withdraw towards La Spezia, but the attack fails. The A34’s of 6th & Guards with their experienced, veteran crews prove more than a match for the Mk-IV’s, and the attached self-propelled artillery brigades shatter every infantry attack. At noon the Germans break off. There is delirious rejoicing in London and Alexander is knighted by the King. The XIV Corps debarks at La Spezia to bring an additional four infantry divisions into the campaign. At Plymouth the 8th and 52nd Infantry embark for Florence.
After a week of rest and refit, the Germans come again with nineteen divisions against Alexander’s position at Florence. Once again the fighting is very heavy, and British casualties exceed German casualties, but by the afternoon of the 15th the offensive has ground down. During this attack the 6th & Guards suffer more losses than usual due to the inclusion of the German 17th Panzer Division, fresh from the Eastern Front, which has the highest level of veteran experience of any formation we have encountered so far. The attention we have drawn must be helping the Soviets. 7th Infantry is ordered south from La Spezia to reinforce Alexander’s position. The absence of any Italian troops involved in these counter-attacks may be an indication of the level of impact of our bombing campaign.
A black day occurs on the 17th when u-boats savage a large convoy and sink no less than 11 big cargo ships in one hour. There are now three wings of tactical bombers operating from Gibraltar to sweep the Spanish coast and Cape St. Vincent, but the u-boats are having their effect farther out. We are concerned because the heavy RAF activity consumes large amounts of oil, and our reserves are lower than ever (around 20,000). But the Admiralty is firmly against hunter-killer groups of surface ships, preferring to continue building escorts, new merchant ships, and developing convoy doctrines.
On the 19th Arthur Harris concludes his “Carpet Bombing Doctrine’ development, and he continues his relentless focus by beginning to work on the Flying Armada Doctrine. The brand-new 28th Infantry Division embarks at Plymouth for Genoa.
On the morning of the 24th FM Witzleben launches a new and surprising attack with twenty divisions (two panzer) against La Spezia, where relatively inexperienced Field Marshal Templer is dug in with eight divisions. 6th & Guards immediately begin to race north from Florence. The fighting rages all day and into the night. Once again 6th & Guards prevent a collapse on the first day of the attack, arriving in the nick of time. The Germans have committed two brigades of Tigers and another brigade of heavy new Jadgpanzer tank destroyers, which prove a rude shock even to the A34 crews. The battle blazes into the morning of the 25th, with fighting occurring inland, out of range of Resolution & Ramillies. This time the Germans simply will not quit, and Templer is less adroit as Alexander in maneuvering his regiments. By midday on the 26th a withdrawal is ordered, with 6th & Guards falling back on Florence and the other eight infantry divisions retreating towards Genoa. Once again, our position has been divided.
Serious discussions are immediately undertaken at #10 Downing Street.
One school of thought advocates immediately shifting all heavy bombers operating in the theater over to strikes against ground troops in hopes of breaking up concentrated German attacks before they can materialize. But I overrule. In the long run, the bombing campaign is helping the Soviets by subtracting Italian industry from the equation. Sooner or later, the Americans must put troops ashore on the Continent. As always, Britain must stand firm in what seems to be an impossible situation. “Never give up, never give up, never give up,” I remind them.
On the 29th, 3rd and 51st Infantry embark at Gibraltar for Florence. The Rock is not threatened in any way, and a garrison division will remain. After that, RAdm Vian will relocate to Palermo and pick up the two armoured divisions there to reinforce either Genoa or Florence – probably the latter as the Po River provides significant defensive advantages at Genoa. We fervently hope that the American divisions pouring through North Africa will begin to relocate to the Italian boot.
The month ends with the Germans still pressing hard towards Stalingrad, but being inexorably driven back from Moscow – now approaching the city only from due west. In the north, the Leningrad campaign appears to have bogged down. In the Far East, the stalemate continues. I cable Roosevelt rather sternly, admonishing him to act decisively – and soon. British blood is at stake.

MAY 1943

Situational review – in Italy:


In the Far East:


In the Philippines:


In the Home Islands:

Late on the evening of the 2nd, Feldmarschal Himmler arrives from Germany to personally direct the attack of twenty-five divisions (three panzer) against Alexander’s position at Florence, where 6th & Guards are still recovering from the fighting at La Spezia:

Once again, the fighting is intense. The three German panzer divisions possess very high experience ratings, and the Tigers and Jadgpanzers are back in numbers. The attack gradually reduces the integrity of the British defences – despite heavy German losses - until, on the night of the 4th, our position collapses and Alexander authorizes the surrender of no less than thirteen British divisions, including the first-rate 6th & Guards Armoured. This is the worst disaster of the war, and RAdm Vian is immediately diverted to Sardinia to disembark the two divisions he is currently transporting, thence to rush to Genoa and commence evacuation of that city. I cable Stalin with some vitriol, indicating that the Red Army appears to have lost all courage and become nothing more than a drunken mob of bourgeois clerks, given its inability to take major advantage of our efforts in Italy. As a postscript, I insult his mother.
On the 6th the evacuation of Genoa begins with 8th Army HQ and 3rd Royal Marines embarking for Sardinia. We have only two transport flotillas available, so Vian will have to make repeated high speed runs between Sardinia and Genoa to rescue all ten divisions there. Hopefully the Germans will take so long to occupy the rubble of Florence that we will have time to pull everyone out.
By the 13th all but four divisions have been evacuated from Genoa, but this is when the German offensive begins, with Witzleben commanding nineteen divisions attempting to recapture the city. Templer handles his four divisions much more adroitly than at La Spezia, but by the evening of the 15th surrender negotiations are underway, and four more divisions of precious British manpower go into captivity.
The month ends with a major Soviet offensive underway, south from Leningrad. The drive reaches as far as Nevel and Opochka, and threatens to unhinge the German position opposite Moscow. In the Far East, the Yanks continue to dither.

JUNE 1943

Intensive bombing is the order of the day, with air battles raging right across Western Europe. The USA is focused on bombing Germany and France, while we work hard to keep Italy laboring.
On the 21st, de Havilland debuts its Basic Air Transport, the AW.41 Albermarle, and emphasis is shifted to Robert Watson-Watt’s proposal for a Basic Centimetric Radar. Three new armoured divisions are authorized to replace those lost in the two catastrophic Italian misadventures.
By the end of the month the Soviet wedge driving south from Leningrad has reached Vitebsk, while the Red Army also holds a line Sevastopol-Kerch Straits-east of Rostov-north to Moscow. There has been no significant German advance during the month, and this despite good weather on the Russian front. Can it be that the tide has turned?

JULY 1943

On the 1st, Arthur Harris’ think tank perfects the Flying Armada Doctrine for strategic bombing, and Enfield Arsenal is contracted to develop a new Improved Airborne divisional TO&E.
On the 2nd the decision is made to switch all strategic bombing wings back to daylight bombing in an effort to put more damage on the Italian industries. Happily, during the first week of July the Soviets recaptured Rostov and Tula, and the Germans appear to be retreating!
On the 24th, Supermarine debuts the brand-new Mosquito B.XVI tactical bomber, and research is redirected to the Air Reserve Doctrine under Arthur Harris as a means of improving fighter performance in support of the heavy bombers.
By the end of the month the Germans have retaken Rostov and Vitebsk, but the Soviets are pressing forward into Orel and Tula, and it is hoped that the Wehrmacht is wearing down under the weight of increasing Soviet numbers.
In the Far East the Americans finally surge forward, recapturing Leyte Island and hopefully beginning a campaign to sweep the Japanese from the Philippines once and for all.

[Chaplain]

AUGUST 1943

Bombing continues all month. The Germans are pushed back to Vyazma, and the Red Army captures Kharkov. A German offensive in the north pushes as far as Pskov, but the Soviets are pressing all along the line, and the pressure is building.
On the 24th Vickers-Armstrong develops the Spitfire Mk XVI, and contracts are issued to the Royal Small Arms Factory to develop an ambitious TO&E for the Semi-Modern Infantry Division.

SEPTEMBER 1943

During September, as the bombing campaign proceeds apace, the decision is taken to withdraw the three wings of medium bombers operating from Gibraltar (against the now-absent u-boats) and base them at Plymouth with a mission of striking radar and AA installations across France, thereby enhancing the mission of the USA’s strat bombers. The Soviets reach the Dneipr at Gomel, but fierce German resistance is impeding their advance everywhere else.

OCTOBER 1943

The month opens with Watson-Watt’s successful development of Centimetric Radar, and emphasis is continued with Improved Centimetric Radar. On the 5th, FM Sir Alanbrooke debuts his excellent new Branch Interoperability Doctrine for the Army, and emphasis is shifted to Leyland for the development of an Improved Motorised Division. On the 6th Arthur Harris completes the Air Reserve Doctrine and continues his focus with the Filter Room System Doctrine for fighter control.
On the 5th also, Germany announces an annexation of Vichy France! This is probably due to the growing Free French military in North and West Africa, which may have been creating political instability in Metro France.
On the 9th Enfield Arsenal develops the Improved Airborne Division and continues to research the Advanced Airborne Division. A new wing of medium bombers goes to work attacking radar and AA installations in France, making four wings now engaged in this activity.
During October the Soviets capture Smolensk and reach the Dneiper at Melitopol. While the fighting is fierce everywhere, it is plain that the Wehrmacht is on the defensive. If only the lethargic USA would finish the job in the Philippines! And then get on with an invasion of the Continent.

NOVEMBER 1943

The battlelines in Russia stabilize due to the bad weather. Furious air combat rages across Western Europe.

DECEMBER 1943

On the 1st research into the Improved Motorised Division is concluded, and emphasis is shifted to the Basic Mechanized Division under Leyland.
The weather continues to stymie affairs on the Eastern Front. The Soviets are pushing towards the Dneipr, but progress is very slow. The Yanks and Japanese continue a sort of WW1-style buildup in the Philippines.

[Chaplain]

JANUARY 1944

Arthur Harris develops the Filter Room System for fighter control, and Alan Turing goes to work on Advanced Encryption techniques. On the 18th Watson-Watt develops Improved Centimetric Radar and emphasis is shifted to Hawker Corporation to develop the Tempest, and improvement on the Typhoon interceptor.
Enfield Arsenal completes its development of an Advanced Airborne Division, and contracts are issued to develop a new Advanced Heavy Tank.
Bombing has reduced Italy to less than 30 IC, but we lack the numbers of bombers to finish the job. Our current production emphasis is on bulding three transport wings to permit airborne operations with our three airborne divisions in eventual support of the Americans.

FEBRUARY 1944

During the month a long-planned offensive by the Nepalese Royal Army of ten divisions, supported by four British divisions in Rangpur, succeeds in driving the Japanese from the mountains of Panakha. Field Marshal Rana of the Nepalese Army moves into the mountains with his troops to dig in.
Heavy fighting between the Wehrmacht and Red Army in the region Kiev-Kharkov-Rostov rages throughout the month. Due to larger numbers of armored divisions, the Germans are successfully holding their lines using a mobile defense doctrine. Perhaps the summer weather will permit the Soviets to move forward again, or perhaps Germany will begin to run out of manpower. This is our only hope unless/until the Americans take decisive action.

MARCH 1944

The medium bomber wings operating out of Plymouth switch over to strategic bombardment roles, focusing on the Pas de Calais and Paris regions. Towards the end of the month Alan Turing completes his research into Advanced Decryption techniques, and Enfield Arsenal is contracted to develop Semi-Modern Artillery. Leyland completes Basic Mechanized Division and goes to work on Improved Mechanized Division.
The situation in the East is relatively unchanged, as in the Philippines.

APRIL 1944

During April the decision is taken to embark the 8th Army (three infantry divisions) at Sardinia for Tel Aviv. Given that Syria and Lebanon are pro-Fascist puppet states established in the wake of the annexation of Vichy France, we intend to invade and capture Damascus, securing the region as a protectorate and taking possession of the strategically significant provinces.
This is an effort shake up the stalemate that has developed in the East and Far East. The strategic bombing campaign is expanded with the addition of a new wing of Lancasters at Palermo, which will target the industrial regions of occupied Greece as a means of further eroding Italian industrial capabilities.

[Chaplain]

MAY 1944

With our major industrial output no longer confined to air transports (XXIV Airborne Corps with three divisions now has three wings of transport at Dover) emphasis is shifted to the building of ten divisions of mechanized infantry, alongside the three of armour and ten brigades of new artillery. Eventually these forces will constitute the new BEF, which will return to the Continent with the Yanks.

Operation Lawrence

The plan is for Gort and three British divisions to attack from Amman into Damascus, while the five divisions of the westward arm of the Iraqi Army press into the northern stretches of Syria. Once Syria has been brought under control, the Iraqis will occupy against partisans while Gort swings west to secure Lebanon. This will lock down the region and gain a victory for morale and prevent the potential activation of these pro-Fascist regimes against our interests.

Unfortunately, a real row develops in Parliament at the disclosure of our plans, and the public seems united against it, feeling that this would be an unnecessary violation of Syrian and Lebanese neutrality. I commence politicking to move the Parliament to a point where it will permit such actions. But for now, the operation is cancelled.
On the 23rd of May the Royal Small Arms Factory develops the TO&E for a new Semi-Modern Infantry Division, and emphasis is shifted to James Chadwick’s long-ignored nuclear program proposals. Major budget reallocations are made to modernize our existing infantry divisions with the new equipment and organization plans.
May ends with a disturbing development – the Germans are actually regaining some ground in the East, pushing back towards Moscow – as far as Rzhev and Vyazma! - and recapturing Kharkov while driving towards Rostov. The Soviet Army is staggering. Where are the Americans?

JUNE 1944

As June begins the decision is taken to transport Alexander’s four divisions at Sardinia to the Far East, where they will attempt to recapture Rangoon and perhaps break the stalemate on the Indian border. The USN seems to have firm control of the Indian Ocean, so this should be a low-risk endeavor.
Vickers-Armstrong finishes developing the Advanced Heavy Tank and begins exploring a design for a Semi-Modern Tank, the beautiful Centurion Mk 1.
On the 26th FM Alexander’s newly renamed ‘Far East Command’ (1st, 3rd, 44th and 51st Infantry – all experienced veterans) begin to go ashore unopposed at Rangoon after having embarked at Colombo. By the 29th the city and its environs are secure, and plans are being formulated for exploitation of this new development. The transport fleet (escorted by Renown and Hood) heads for Tel Aviv to pick up Gort’s Corps and bring it to the Far East as well. If we recapture the NEI, this should put a stranglehold on the Japanese industry also. Perhaps the way we can defeat this three-headed Axis monster is to lop off the Oriental appendage first.
The Germans recapture Rostov and reach Mozhaisk on the road to Moscow. Stalin is reeling. We curse Roosevelt and his entire lineage. We condemn American unwillingness to suffer casualties in large amphibious operations, whether in the Far East or the Continent.

JULY 1944

On 2 July Leyland completes the Improved Mechanized Division and begins to develop an Advanced Mechanized Division. On the 11th Hawker debuts its Advanced Interceptor (the Tempest) and Harris goes to work on a Fighter Baiting Doctrine.
Due to the strain placed on our oil resources and shipping capacity, all RN units are recalled to Scapa Flow with the exception of those operating in support of the Far East offensive. This will permit our refining industry to sustain the bomber campaign. The USN has taken over patrolling the Med and Atlantic anyway.
A new wing of Lancasters goes into operations at Plymouth, focusing on the Flanders region in our continuing effort to reduce German industrial capacity. By the end of the month two more wings are in action, targeting Westfalen and the Netherlands. Additionally, our first two Mechanized and a new Armoured Division are activated at Plymouth.
Gort arrives to reinforce Rangoon, giving us nine divisions in the region opposing approximately 10-12 Japanese. Savage fighting continues on the Eastern front with the Soviets pushing the Germans back from Moscow again and making small progress in the south.
AUGUST 1944

In August Chadwick reports progress on his nuclear research. Enfield Arsenal completes its research into Semi-Modern Field Artillery, and Vauxhall is contracted to build the most splendid tank yet, the A29 Tortoise – a Super Heavy tank that will dominate the European battlefield (we hope).

Operation Harold Hardrada
Early on the 23rd, Auchinleck’s XXI Corps (four infantry divisions) commences landing at Brest, with the plan being to follow up with Godwin-Austin’s X Corps (two mech, one armoured) as soon as Auchinleck is ashore. The Airborne Corps will stand by to assist as needed. The invasion is opposed by a single German infantry division, and by noon Auchinleck is assured of getting a beachhead. Now the race is on to support him:

On the afternoon of the 23rd, the Airborne Corps begins landing en masse in Renne, finding only one Hungarian division garrisoning the region. The three wings of medium bombers at Dover – all down to 50% strength – are switched over to support of these operations. By midday on the 24th, the Hungarians are routed and Wavell’s three divisions commence digging in. Auchinleck will link up with him in a day or two, after which the X Corps will come ashore to bolster the Airborne’s position.
In a surprise, at 0500 on the 26th the Italian battleship fleet sorties from its French bases to oppose the landings at Brest. RAdm Vian with Argus, Hermes, and Malaya (plus three cruisers) attempts to shield the transport fleet against the Italians with Caio Duilio, Conte di Cavour, and Guilio Cesare under RAdm Campioni. The main Channel Fleet off Caen with King George V, Resolution, Ramillies and eight cruisers (plus destroyers) immediately steams west to join the action, but is at least a day away.
The battle opens at 57 kilometers with air strikes forcing the Italian battleships to maneuver wildly. Over the next two hours Vian succeeds in opening the range to 130 kilometers due to the slow speed of the Italians. By 0900, with his AA ammunition running low, Campioni disengages and withdraws towards (presumably) Bordeaux.
As dark falls on the 26th, XXIV Airborne comes under attack from two German infantry divisions in Normandy and one in Angers. X Corps’ armour is mid-Channel at this point, racing to reinforce. Auchinleck launches an assault south from Brest into Lorient. The single German division there quickly breaks, which relieves the Airborne flank, but the battle for Brittany is definitely underway:

The arrival of the armor during the night of the 26th quickly stabilizes the situation and forces the Germans to break off. The initial phase of Hardrada is completed and we are securely ashore. Now the question is whether we will be able to stay there. Fitzpatrick’s V Corps of four infantry divisions at Portsmouth will be the next to come across.
During the afternoon of the 30th nine flotillas of German destroyers attempt to sortie into the Channel and disrupt our operations, but aircraft Argus & Hermes – and land-based medium bombers from Dover – quickly put an end to the enemy’s hopes, sinking several destroyers.

[Chaplain]

SEPTEMBER 1944
On the afternoon of the 1st, three Wehrmacht infantry divisions attempt to counter-attack the V Corps at Rennes. The attack is beaten off with the help of the newly arrived four divisions of the B.E.F. Reserve under FM Alexander (freshly recalled from Rangoon, where Gort takes over) – including an HQ element to handle the Brittany campaign.
On the morning of the 2nd, Godwin’s X Corps – having moved south to Lorient – launches an attack into Nantes where the Germans have only two reserve divisions. Despite the superiority of our three divisions, the enemy is ably led and equipped with excellent AT guns, and so it takes more than 36 hours of hard fighting to forcea withdrawal, and the X Corps has been well-blooded by then. As a consequence, the new VII Airborne Corps at Portsmouth (under Ismay, two divisions) embarks sea transports for Lorient to reinforce X Corps. Our primary air transport wings move to Brest where XXIV Airborne is reorganizing for further operations.
Situation:

Our economy is strained nearly to the breaking point to sustain these operations. We desperately need the Yanks to get involved, or the Soviets to achieve a breakthrough in the East. Hopefully we are diverting attention from the Red Army to permit it to make progress.
An attack into Angers by the XXI Corps on the 3rd quickly defeats the two German divisions attempting to hold there. 3-5 Wehrmacht divisions are detected moving north from the Bordeaux region, however.
At 0900 on the morning of the 4th the Italians – barely recovered – attempt to interdict the sea transport into Lorient. Contact is made at 21 kiloemters in a rain squall, with Vian’s Argus/Hermes/Malaya task force coming under gunfire. By 1200 Guilio Cesare is listing heavily and burning from massive damage. Swordfish CAGs bleat through the rain, scattering the enemy’s cruisers with determined torpedo attacks. At 1300 Guilio Cesare slips beneath the waves, leaving a huge oil slick on the sea.
But there is a price to pay – several British destroyers are badly hit. The Italians are fanatically determined. Despite hits to both other battleships, they relentlessly press home their attack, hitting a number of transports loaded with troops and inflicting minor damage on Malaya.
By 1900 darkness is beginning to fall. Malaya is now badly hit, and Argus is listing – yet still able to operate her CAG. The darkness favors the enemy at this point, and the transports are in severe danger, so just before midnight Vian orders withdrawal, leaving four destroyer flotillas and one transport flotilla sunk, in exchange for Guilio Cesare, heavy cruiser Gorizia, and light cruiser Bari sunk. The Channel Fleet moves to patrol the Bay of Biscay since the German destroyers are seen in the area as well. The enemy’s remaining naval forces are all concentrated in this region. A wing of Lancasters is placed on permanent anti-shipping in the Bay.
German troops moving up from Cholet fight hard on the 5th and 6th to prevent the occupation of Nantes, but are unable due to support from the X Corps armour and mechanized troops.
On the morning of the 6th, however, the Germans launch a determined attack with six divisions, including 8th Panzer, against the XXI Corps at Nantes. Luftwaffe medium bombers operate in support – evidently having been relocated in haste from the Eastern Front. Alexander orders V Corps to counter-attack towards Avranches in an effort to disrupt the enemy’s operations, while his own B.E.F. Reserve will move to support the position at Nantes and the VII Airborne Corps will occupy Rennes. The fighting is becoming very heavy.
By midday on the 7th Auchinleck rebuffs the Germans and the Wehrmacht Reserve Division at Avranches is in retreat. An additional three divisions of the London Command embark at Portsmouth for the Continent, and all available fighter aircraft are diverted to provide cover for the ground forces in Brittany.
Late on the 8th , under cover of darkness, the Bismarck and Tirpitz with three cruisers enter the Channel in what is essentially a suicidal effort to stop our cross-Channel transport. A terrific short-range battle (11 kilometers) breaks out and Argus is sunk, Hermes badly damaged, light cruiser Dunedin sunk, and Malaya badly damaged, as well as three of four transport flotillas lost. In return, the Germans lose Bismarck and Tirpitz is a shattered wreck.
On the morning of the 9th FM Guderian launches five Wehrmacht divisions in a ferocious all-day counter-attack at Avranches. Alexander barely holds. Clearly, the Germans have made our landing a major point of emphasis. We can only hope the Eastern Front is benefiting.
On the morning of the 9th FM Von Leeb brings nine divisions against the salient at Angers and the position nearly breaks, but X Corps – acting as an armoured reserve – and a precisely timed counter-attack by Alexander’s BEF Reserve into Argentan breaks the German momentum and turns the tide.
There is a beautiful moment on the afternoon of the 16th when more than 600 American fighter aircraft rise into the sky over our troops in Brittany to battle nearly 400 German medium bombers and fighters attempting to hammer our men. Many a Tommy looks skyward with tears in his eyes as the beautiful white star of the USA twists overhead in defense of freedom. It appears that the initial phase of the German effort to drive us back into the sea has failed.

Operation Scythe
Intelligence now indicates that only a single German reserve division is occupying Cherbourg. Thus the XXIV Corps embarks for an airborne drop to capture the city and harbor, in conjunction with a conventional attack north by VII Airborne from Avranches:

On the morning of the 19th, at 0600 hours the skies over Cherbourg fill with parachutes and the VII Airborne Corps jumps off from Avranches. As fate would have it, this is exactly the same H-hour as the Germans have chosen for a fourteen division attack across the Loire into Angers! FM Von Rundstedt himself is directing the attack.
By midday on the 19th, the paratroopers have gained the upper hand and the German reservists are in full retreat. But the situation at Angers is dire and Alexander calls for all available reserves to help hold the line. By early morning on the 20th, Alexander’s adroit maneuvering has won the day, and Rundstedt breaks off. But the situation is by no means secure. Reports from the East indicate a renewed Soviet vigor expressed in the recapture of Smolensk and the turning of the tide on the Don basin.

All day on the 20th and 21st the VII and the XXIV Airborne Corps fight against three Wehrmacht divisions to capture Caen, but by darkness on the 21st the Germans are retreating and Alexander holds Argentan as the paratroopers occupy Caen.
On the evening of the 22nd Von Kluge hurls seven German divisions in a counter-attack across the Seine into Argentan, and the weary airborne move to support. Intel begins to reveal that the enemy is a mix of Wehrmacht and minor allied forces, both here and further south at Angers. This is probably the only reason we are holding. At least two panzer divisions have been identified in action – 15th and 8th Panzer. Kluge breaks off late on the 23rd.
But Von Leeb immediately presses a follow-on attack with a fresh ten divisions, but most of these are Hungarian and Romanian. By the morning of the 24th the situation is stabilized again, although our troops are exhausted.
At midday on the 24th Kluge cleverly sends 15th Panzer and 1st SS Pazner-Grenadier across the river against XXIV Airborne attempting to hold Caen. Since X Corps is utterly exhausted, it cannot move in support of the Airborne, who are bearing the brunt of some difficult fighting. The paratroopers hold at first, but Kluge commits 9th Infanterie at 1600 and the line begins to break. X Corps – badly attrited – nevertheless races north to intervene. As evening draws on Leeb launches a spoiling attack into Argentan with six divisions to prevent X Corps’ movement, and commits an additional Hungarian division against the paratroopers.
At 2200 the spoiling attack is broken as Alanbrooke launches his five fresh divisions against the German rear at Le Mans. At 2300 X Corps arrives in support of the paratroopers and the situation at Caen begins to stabilize. By the wee hours of the 25th the Germans are pulling back to lick their wounds – although our guess is that we have suffered heavier casualties.
On the morning of the 30th, after a week’s rest, the Germans under Leeb come again at Argentan, this time with fourteen divisions. The same plan is put into effect, with X Corps racing as a reserve and Alanbrooke spoiling into Le Mans. Unfortunately, the Germans are seen to have anticipated this and have located fourteen divisions in Le Mans, forcing Alanbrooke to quickly break off for fear of compromising his defensive position. As a result, Auchinleck begins a withdrawal from Caen. We need the two armoured divisions from Sicily to arrive as quickly as possible, but they are still two days away. Three Free French infantry divisions of marginal quality are also enroute from Oman.

OCTOBER 1944

Things begin to get really serious. Early on the morning of the 4th, after both of these reinforcement groups have landed (the French, and the armour), the Germans attack at Angers again, this time with thirteen divisions, mostly Romanian and Hungarian. 7th & 9th Armoured (XXIII Corps) under Messervy – fresh from Sicily – race south to support Alanbrooke’s defense. Rundstedt’s attack collapses by the end of the day due to the excellent performance of XXIII Corps.
But within a matter of hours eight fresh German infantry divisions follow up the attack, and now the issue is in doubt. The fighting is intense, but we hold, and the enemy breaks off late on the 5th.
A week’s delay as both sides catch their breath is interrupted on the 10th when a fresh attack into Angers begins with nineteen Axis divisions. This is the largest enemy effort yet. Due to the swift reaction of XXIII Corps again, the enemy is driven off by noon on the 11th.
On the 13th Leeb sends ten divisions to try Alexander at Avranches, and X Corps races from Caen to reinforce. Three more Free French divisions – including one armoured – embark at Tunis to support the campaign in France. The German attack at Avranches collapses in less than twenty-four hours. Our superior equipment is making the difference; that, plus the fact that one-third to one-half of the Axis divisions opposing us on the Continent are Romanian or Hungarian.
On the morning of the 26th there is a real surprise as Japanese Field Marshal Zhaipeng hurls twenty-nine (!) Japanese divisions at the eight divisions of FM Gort dug-in around Rangoon. The enemy units are ill-equipped and poorly led, but they come en masse. The fighting is very heavy and the enemy prospers especially at night. For two days the Japanese come in waves – attack after attack, until the nerves of Gort’s veterans begin to fray and ammunition begins to run out. The men of these two veteran corps have seen hard fighting against the best of the Wehrmacht, but this enemy is more fanatical, more reckless, and more desperate than the Germans. Late on the morning of the 28th, the Japanese break through and recapture Rangoon, and Gort’s divisions surrender, marching into a jungle captivity from which most will never return:

To compound matters, on the morning of the 27th Rundstedt comes at Angers in his most determined attack so far – no less than forty-one divisions moving against Angers from every angle. Alexander kicks off a major counter-attack from Avranches and Caen, intended to break the right flank of the Axis offensive and relieve Alanbrooke. The last reserves we have – six divisions of Kenyans and Sudanese transported from East Africa – rush from Rennes to support Alanbrooke. This is the climactic battle of the French campaign so far.
The counter-attack succeeds in breaking the German north flank, and Alanbrooke fights grimly to hold on at Angers. The attack at Angers breaks up on the evening of the 28th, while Alexander’s effort at Argentan continues, hoping to rout the Axis defenders and relieve the serious pressure on Angers. A German counter-attack from Le Havre into Argentan is thrown back with the assistance of the guns of the Royal Navy, and the month ends with Alexander and Alanbrooke in firm positions, but knowing that the campaign is far from won.
The Red Army makes very little progress as a result of our efforts. The disaster in Rangoon causes the entire nation to mourn. The UK is deeply war-weary, and filled with red-faced fury towards the Americans. Hopefully, the winter will close in and put an end to Wehrmacht offensives in France soon.

NOVEMBER 1944

As both sides pause to catch their breath, the rains and snows began to come. By the middle of the month, the front line is static as heavy snow descends across France. The arrival of the first corps of Canadians at Caen (Canada and S. Africa having agreed to serve under UK command for the duration) allows the XXIV Airborne Corps to withdraw to Cherbourg and prepare for operations along the coast, hopefully to unhinge the German lines later in the winter.

DECEMBER 1944

Operation Windmill
With the coming of the new month, Alexander hatches a bold new plan. XXIV Airborne Corps will lift off from Cherbourg and leapfrog up the European Coast to land in Calais, where intel indicates that only a German Reserve division is deployed. Having seized a bridgehead, follow-on support will come from four divisions of Canadians currently enroute across the Atlantic (ETA 5 December) and two divisions of Free French coming up from Oran, plus two divisions of South Africans enroute from South Africa, plus a division of Dutch expatriates at Norwich, and the brand-new 1st Mechanized Division forming up at Portsmouth. It is hoped that these operations will unhinge the German defenses in France and pre-empt another massive attack at Argentan. While the enemy is scrambling to respond, Canadian troops will continue to pour into Calais. The operation will kick off on the morning of the 3rd, to allow maximum time for the Canadian follow-on troops to reach their destination.
Once again, the Germans pre-empt us with an all-out offensive into Argentan in the snow commencing at 0100 on the 3rd – en estimated fourty-four divisions are hurled into the assault. Alanbrooke immediately counter-attacks into Le Mans in an effort to draw some of the enemy away from Alexander, but the Germans are prepared – ten divisions form a line against Alanbrooke to shield the German left flank. The question is whether to go ahead with Windmill or not, given the situation.
We decide to go ahead with it, although the four Canadian divisions may be diverted to Caen to assist Alexander. By 0800 on the morning of the 4th it becomes clear that Alexander is going to hold, and Alanbrooke breaks off his spoiling attack. XXIV Corps begins airlanding in Calais at the same hour, encountering resistance from a (surprise!) Bulgarian infantry division. This unit is tougher than a service division, and the effort quickly bogs down. By noon the German attack at Argentan is spent, while the paratroopers struggle to secure the port of Calais for follow-on transports. Bulgarian resistance is far stiffer than anticipated, however, and by the morning of the 5th two Hungarian divisions have arrived to assist the enemy. The Dutch division is enroute to make an amphibious landing in support of the paratroopers, and the Canadians and French are entering the west end of the Channel.
Unfortunately, the inability of XXIV Corps to secure a harbor dooms then paratroopers. They fight on, alone except for the guns of the Royal Navy, until noon on the 7th when they are forced to surrender to five divisions of Axis troops. Windmill is an unmitigated disaster.

For the rest of the month the RAF flies continuous missions over the German ground forces, while preparations are made for a renewed amphibious leapfrog, perhaps at Rotterdam. 3rd Royal Marines is recalled from Sardinia for this purpose and our remaining two airborne divisions relocate to Cherbourg. The three new mechanized divisions at Dover stand by to assist.
On the 28th the brand-new Centurion tank is unveiled, and efforts are shifted to the development of an Armored Cavalry Division. Chadwick makes more nuclear progress.

Operation Tulip

3rd Royal Marines and 8th Infantry will go ashore at Rotterdam. Once the harbor is secure, the three mech divisions at Dover (IV Corps, Wavell) will come ashore and race for Amsterdam. The plan is for a defensive position at Amsterdam, reinforced by another Canadian Corps once it arrives from Halifax.
At first the Germans are surprised as the Marines land virtually unopposed on the morning of the 30th. But quickly a service division races into the maze of marshes and dikes, and the lightly armed Marines begin to bog down. The issue is uncertain by the morning of the 2nd, and by the end of the day on the 2nd, the 8th and Marines are withdrawn to Dover. Tulip has been a failure.

[Chaplain]

JANUARY 1945

The sixth year of war dawns over the world. We are facing a real crisis in that supplies of crude oil for aviation fuel and petrol are declining. This is largely due to the damage done our merchant fleets over the course of the war, and the continued inability of the RN to clear the Atlantic sea lanes, where u-boat wolfpacks continue to roam. What can be done? Nothing, except to build more merchant ships and more convoy escorts. This is a curve we fell behind upon early in the war.
The situation on the Continent is stable – probably for the duration of the winter. Eight divisions of Canadians and two of South Africans hold Caen, Alexander’s core command – including armor - holds Argentan, Auchinleck is deployed along the Loire at Angers, and a combined Free French and African colonial force of 12 divisions covers his right flank along the Loire all the way to the Atlantic Coast. The two airborne divisions are standing by at Cherbourg. Wavell’s IV Corps with three mech and one armoured division are standing by in Dover, and Harding’s Amphibious Corps with one Royal Marine and one infantry division are also at Dover, prepared to spearhead another amphibious invasion if the opportunity presents itself.
In the Med, affairs are at a standstill. O’Connor’s six infantry divisions and three heavy armoured brigades are entrenched at Messina. The bombing campaign continues from Sicily and Sardinia, with Lancasters ranging as far north as Austria, but unable to inflict decisive damage.
In the Far East the Yankes continue to dither, while the stalemate along the Indian border threatens to become permanent. The overall situation is one in which we are dependent on the Americans to seize the initiative, but they are paralyzed by the prospect of heavy losses.
On the Eastern Front the Red Army is game, but apparently unable to get across the Dneipr. If it weren’t for the estimated fifty Wehrmacht divisions tied up in France, Premier Stalin might very well be taking lessons in German.
On the 25th we deploy a new Advanced Self-Propelled Artillery, and Enfield Arsenal is contracted to develop an Advanced Marine TO&E. Pn the 28th of January Vauxhall debuts the new super-heavy A39 ‘Tortoise’ tank as a compliment to the Centurions rolling off our assembly lines. Tank for tank and man for man, our armour and mech units are now (we believe) superior to those of the Wehrmacht. Upgrading our existing formations with this new equipment becomes a focus of defense spending. Trafford Leigh-Mallory is contracted to develop the Dogfighting Experience doctrine to continue to improve the performance of our fighter wings.
The month of January ends with the following situation in France:

Two courses of action present themselves. One plan is to bring Wavell’s IV corps to Argentan and then attack south and east towards Paris and/or Orleans with IV, XXIII, and X Corps comprising four armoured and five mechanized divisions, supported by Alexander’s and Auchinleck’s infantry. If Paris could be taken, this might unhinge the German defenses and permit further breakout operations, perhaps leading to a general German retreat to the line of the Seine.
The alternative plan is to utilize the Amphibious and Airborne Corps to go ashore at Calais, with IV Corps following, in an effort to unhinge the German defenses and breach the Seine at Dieppe. It is felt that if the Seine is breached, it will not only relieve pressure at Argentan and along the Loire, but perhaps again force a general German retreat and necessitate even further Wehrmacht redeployments from the East. Since the Hun has only 2-4 panzer divisions in the theater, and we have five with superior equipment, we may even generate sufficient momentum to push to the Rhine.
Two other plans are possible – a landing at Bordeaux, again reinforced by IV Corps. Or a landing at Rotterdam along the lines of the original Tulip plan, but this time with the added support of the two airborne divisions.
We discuss these plans all night on the 20th. All along the enemy lines, recon indicates that the German divisions form a skeleton around which various Romanian, Hungarian, Bulgarian and Croatian units are shaped. Wouldn’t a general offensive along the lines of the first plan prevail on these poorly equipped divisions, especially given our new Centurion tanks? But that would leave the amphibious and airborne elements at Dover completely unused. Then again, the presence of a Wehrmacht corps at Lille – obviously in reserve against a landing – makes the prospect of getting firmly ashore at Calais or Rotterdam dicey. A landing at Bordeaux would not accomplish much, unless IV Corps arrived quickly enough to breakout across the south of France. But the continued presence of u-boat wolfpacks and a few Italian cruisers, plus the weakness of the Royal Navy, make this plan untenable in our opinion.
And of course there is now way to push up the Italian boot because the Strait of Messina is so heavily defended and there is little appetite for another landing on the mainland, given the debacles at Florence and Naples and the time and effort required to redeploy to the Med.

Operation Orange
In the end, a second operation along the lines of Tulip is approved with the target being Rotterdam – the marshes of which will be frozen this time, thus permitting the Marines to move faster. This time the Amphibious Corps has 3rd RM plus 8th Infantry and 12th Indian infantry (all w/artillery) and the Airborne Corps will be landing simultaneously. The Royal Navy will provide concentrated shore bombardment from four battleships and three heavy cruisers. Wavell’s IV Corps will debark as quickly as possible after the special forces get ashore, and Alexander will stand by to attack across the Seine or towards Paris as opportunity presents itself. This plan has the advantage of avoiding enemy reserve formations inland, and potentially securing a defensive position among the tributaries of the Scheldt.

FEBRUARY 1945
In the early hours of 2 February the attack begins. In the region the enemy has only the 159th Reserve Division, plus a military police brigade, and initially the Amphibious Corps gets ashore. By 0800 the Airborne is landing in the region and we have five divisions to the enemy’s one division – but the Wehrmacht is already attempting to race in reinforcements from the surrounding region, and by 0900 the veteran 21st Infanterie Division is pouring in to join the 159th in defending the estuary. The the afternoon of the 3rd the 181st Infanterie is moving into the area from Antwerp, and the 62nd a few hours later from the same direction. Orange looks to be a failure. I order the Amphibious Corps to evacuate, and the Airborne Corps is shattered and forced to surrender. This is (another) catastrophic defeat.
Frustrated and desperate, Wavell’s IV Corps diverts to land at Calais, which has been stripped of defenses to deal with the Orange landing at Rotterdam. On the 6th the landings begin, and by evening the veteran German 44th Infanterie Division (the only unit available) has raced into the region from positions further west along the coast and is attempting to stop Wavell. For five days the fighting rages through the region. The Germans are equipped with heavy 88mm and 120mm AA guns and these cause stiff losses among the halftracks and A34 Comets of the IV Corps, but by the afternoon of the 11th the 44th is broken and Wavell is ashore at Calais.
The reaction of OKW is almost instantaneous as Axis divisions begin moving from Le Mans, Orleans, and Paris. Alexander begins to prepare an offensive to take advantage of this, while I begin contemplating ways and means of supporting the bridgehead at Calais.
With the considerable enemy movement at Le Havre across the Seine, Alexander orders a general offensive into Le Havre with two armoured, three mechanized, and eight infantry divisions, supported by virtually his entire command at Caen and Argentan, bringing the total to 30 divisions. Simultaneously, Auchinleck launches a spoiling attack into Le Mans and the Amphibious Corps plus a fresh mechanized division join Wavell at Calais by cross-Channel transport – and a good thing, too, as a local German counter-attack from five divisions begins at the same time. This could be the decisive battle of the French campaign.
On the 14th the German attack on Calais breaks off, but Alexander is also forced to give up his attempted crossing of the Seine. Fighting at Le Mans rages, but Auchinleck has no real plans to press the issue. By the 15th, he breaks off as well.
On the 16th-17th the Germans launch a determined effort to evict Wavell’s eight divisions from Calais, attacking with eight of their own including three Panther-equipped panzer divisions and the 1st SS LAH PzG division. Wavell’s defense is brilliant, however, and combined with the bad weather and the support of the four battleships in the Channel, plus RAF bombers streaking over from Dover, the attack is defeated.
On the 20th Leyland completes its research into the Semi-Modern Mechanized division, and efforts are redirected towards Advanced Centimetric Radar in our ongoing efforts to get better recon of enemy forces.
By the morning of the 20th Wavell’s IV Corps has swelled to six divisions (one armour, five mechanized) but three of these are very green, having just been activated in the last month. A sixth mechanized division is preparing to embark to London to join him. The German build-up opposite Calais is equally intense. No doubt the enemy will come again, despite RAF harassment, and Alexander must devise some means of taking advantage of the situation.
On the morning of the 23rd Alexander initiates an offensive south into Le Mans utilizing XXIII and X Corps (three armoured, two mechanized) supported by Auchinleck’s infantry from the west. This attack encounters thinned German defenses in Le Mans consisting of only seven divisions, two of which are Wehrmacht motorized and one of which is Hungarian. No panzers or panzer-grenadiers. In very. Very heavy fighting that lasts for five bitter days and ultimately involves twenty-two divisions dranw from Auchinleck’s and Alexander’s commands, the Germans are eventually broken and forced to withdraw. Auchinleck immediately shifts troops from Nantes to secure his flank and Alexander begins assessing the potential for a breakout. This is the first heavy fighting to involve the new Centurion tanks – chiefly of the 9th and 1st Armoured.
By the end of February the situation worldwide is essentially unchanged, with the hope of free men concentrated on the French campaign.

MARCH 1945

On the morning of the 3rd the snowstorms break and the temperature warms to cold rain. The Wehrmacht immediately launches eighteen divisions in an effort to destroy Wavell’s bridgehead of twelve divisions. Alexander immediately launches an attack into Orleans in an effort to disrupt the German plans and divert attention from Calais.
By the afternoon of the 12th Alexander has the Germans retreating at Orleans and Wavell seems to be hanging on in Calais, although losses are heavy. By the end of the day on the 12th, despite repeated German efforts to reinforce the attack on Calais, it breaks down and the fighting is a victory for the Royal Army! This should create a level of exhaustion across the German front that could possible be exploited, although our own troops are well-worn as well.
On the morning of the 10th the Germans come at Calais again, this time with ten divisions including three panzer and the LAH. The attack is a dismal failure and the performance of the Centurions against the Panthers is especially gratifying, as well as the new mobile ATM rocket launchers on our APCs. Over the next week the Germans try two more times, but both efforts fail as Wavell digs his men deeper and deeper into the French countryside.
On the morning of the 19th the newly reorganized XXIII Corps under Alanbrooke (two armoured, three mechanized divisions) attacks into Orleans with support from Argentan and rolls over the single German infantry division in position there as the Germans try to shift their lines. By middy on the 20th XXIII Corps is approaching Paris and Alexander quickly orders a follow-on attack on the city itself in the hopes of liberating it and unhinging the German lines, as well as relieving pressure on Calais.
With clear weather on the morning of the 21st the attack goes ahead with nineteen divisions endeavoring to drive ten Axis divisions (only two Wehrmacht, and one of those a reserve division) out of the Paris environs. The Axis units prove a weak point and break within hours under attack by Centurions and APC’s. By evening British, Canadian and South African troops are streaming into the city while delirious crowds cheer and wave French flags.
Desperate to turn the tide, on the 22nd the Germans launch a twelve-division counter-attack into Calais. It fails miserably. Wavell is in a first-rate position. On the 25th Enfield Arsenal completes its research into an Advanced Marine Division, and emphasis is shifted to Advanced Oil Refining.
On the 26th Alexander launches ten infantry divisions (six Canadian, four British) across the Seine into Amiens, supported by Wavell’s IV Corps armour and mech at Calais. The five German infantry divisions in defense quickly give ground, pocketing 4-6 Axis divisions in Le Havre and Dieppe. The French campaign is moving forward suddenly!
Late on the 27th Von Leeb counter-attacks fanatically with twenty-three divisions to free the pocketed troops and restore a defensive position on the line of the Seine. Alexander commits both the XXIII and IV Corps in their entirety – one from Paris and the other from Calais – in an effort to break the German offensive capability once and for all. Fierce fighting rages across the countryside for the next two days. Ultimately, IV and XXIII prevail, although IV is so chewed up that it falls back on Calais, and XXIII has to immediately turn around and fend off a German counter-attack from the southest into Paris. Concurrently, the Germans attack north into Le Mans across the Loire, and for the next week furious attacks and counter-attacks rage from Calais to Paris to Le Mans as both sides endeavor to break the other.

APRIL 1945

By the 3rd of April the Germans have succeeded in recapturing Le Mans, but have been rebuffed at Amiens and Paris, and in fact XXIII Corps drives down into Auxerre, routing six divisions of Romanians and Hungarians.
Over the 5th-7th Alexander directs an effective Canadian-South African operation which succeeds in clearing Dieppe and Le Havre and securing the surrender of the six German divisions in the pocket. This is a huge victory and there is a parade across Trafalgar Square. Leeb hurls his best divisions in yet another counter-attack at Amiens, but IV Corps is equal to the task and the Wehrmacht is flung back. XXIII Corps withdraws from Auxerre towards Orleans to deal with the German incursion at Le Mans.
On 8 April there is stunning news from the USA – President Franklin Delano Roosevelt is dead, and succeeded by Harry Truman. Privately, I am overjoyed. Perhaps Truman will have enough chutzpah to get the U.S. war machine moving.
On the morning of the 11th Alexander organizes a massive counter-attack into Le Mans with French, Dutch, South African, Canadian, and British troops from north, west, and east – spearheaded by XXIII Corps at Orleans. The Germans are decisively driven back across the Loire; they are in full retreat by the morning of the 12th.
As heavy rains begin to fall across France, offensive operations are suspended. The eight wings of strategic bombers flying from Sicily are transferred to bombing runs over Austria, Bavaria, and Bohemia. Two more wings in Britain are moved to Paris to attack Westfalen. All the focus is now on bombing mainland Germany. Alexander begins to conceive plans to use our last airborne division to possible swing through Valenciennes, Mons, to Brussels and Antwerp, then north to Rotterdam, pocketing Von Leeb against the French Coast. But first, the rain must stop.

Operation Shoppe-Farm
With the weather clearing on the 24th, Alexander commences his most ambitious plan to date. The new XXV Corps (one armoured, one mech) and Canadian VI Corps (four infantry) at Calais will jump off into Dunkerque at 0600. Simultaneously, the single airborne division at Dover will drop into Brussels, while IV and XXIII Corps will launch a determined attack into Valenciennes, intending to drive through Mons to Brussels. If the operation is successful, Von Leeb’s 8-10 divisions (concentrated at Lille) will be trapped against the coast, and the Rhine will be open to the IV and XXIII Corps.
By the end of the day the Germans are in retreat at Dunkerque and Valenciennes, and the race is on. 1st Airborne comes down in Brussels during the evening and discovers the heretofore undetected 147th Reserve Division occupying the city – a savage house-to house scrum breaks out, with the paratroopers desperately hoping that IV and XXIII can reach them before German reinforcements do. The problem is that the dense woods of the region impede traffic, dramatically slowing the big Centurions and heavy APC’s.
Late on the 26th the Centurions burst from the woods and engage Von Bock’s elite reserve – three panzers divisions and the LAH – in Mons. But as the battle opens, news of the surrender of the paratroopers comes through. Once again, Britain’s finest have been badly used. As it turns out, Bock was racing to relieve Lille and the armour only strikes a glancing blow. But this is good news, as now IV and XXIII can get behind the Germans and seal their best reserve against the coast along with Von Leeb!
As the affair develops, Von Bock’s corps disintegrates without fuel and supplies while under attack from almost every direction, and a surrender begins on the 27th. XXV Corps begins crossing into undefended Antwerp, while XXIII and IV Corps sweep into Brussels and Namur. The Wehrmacht is in full retreat!
On the night of the 28th, with German defenses across Belgium collapsing, Alexander detaches 1st Armoured ‘Royal Hussars’ for a slashing drive through Liege into Cologne in an effort to inflict maximum destruction and damage on German industrial centers and to flank the budding counter-offensive from the south.
By midday on the 30th the 1st RH is rampaging through the streets of Cologne and Canadian troops in concert with XXV Corps at Brussels are clearing the Scheldt estuaries and securing Rotterdam. IV Corps is crossing into Arnhem. The German position is completely flanked.

[Chaplain]

MAY 1945
The new month opens with clear weather and the Germans in disarray. XXIII Corps strings out to held the finger extending into Cologne through Liege. XXV Corps positions to defend Brussels and Antwerp, while IV Corps digs in at Arnhem. Auichinleck and Alanbrooke work to clear the eastern approaches to Paris (Compiegne) and to maintain initiative by making to hard for the Germans to redeploy from south of the Loire and the Bordeaux region. Free French troops shift to occupy Paris.
On the 2nd a German counter-attack into Cologne begins to build. By the 3rd there are three divisions pressing the city, but Alexander rushes two more divisions of XXIII Corps forward to attempt to hold the region. By the end of the day on the third the Germans break off. The situation is as follows:


On the 8th of May our offensives grind to a halt due to serious shortages of petrol. Our convoy system is heavily rearranged to prioritize crude oil inbound, and fuel and supplies outbound.
The ensuing weeks see repeated German efforts to retake the Cologne plain, each of which is foiled by the XXIII Corps – although at times it is a close thing. XXV and IV Corps drive through the Netherlands, liberating Flanders along the way (much to the dismay of the French) and then driving all the way to Kiel by 4 June. At the same time, a combined Dutch-French-British-South African force under Auchinleck sweeps down the coast to secure Bordeaux. Our intent is to deny the thrice-cursed u-boats any operating pots whatsoever, as merchant losses are still ridiculously high – so high that we are converting coal to petrol and aviation fuel due to the difficulty of getting crude into the Home Islands.

JUNE-AUGUST 1945



The end of the war comes in a gradual collapse under the summer sun. The Wehrmacht is tapped out. While the Soviets do not reach Warsaw until the 10th of August, British and Canadian troops enter and secure Berlin on the 11th and surrender negotiations commence. The bulk of the Wehrmacht has been bled to death on the Eastern Front, but we have provided the killing blow.
As I sit down with FM Guderian to receive his abject surrender, a cable arrives from the American president requesting that British forces immediately begin redeploying to the Far East to assist American efforts against Japan. I reply that the Pacific War is an American affair, and we cannot risk heavy British casualties in such an insignificant theater. My reply gives me the greatest pleasure of any I have had during this awful war. And I am determined to make the British Empire the leader of the free world in the post-war years.

[lifeless]

wow...thats alot...a while to finish reading but i finally did it! can we see screenies?