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unmerged(109976)

Sergeant
Aug 5, 2008
51
0
Portugal, a calm little country on the edge of Europe.

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Inhabited by decent, churchgoing people

Ruled by the iron fist of one man
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Antonio "Wormtongue" Salazar

Or so he would have himself believe. Yes, before falling asleep he likes to ensure himself that hes cool, hes a bad guy, the peasents fear him. In actuality his rule is a clay one. Portugal is a backwater and Salazar has done nothing to change that. For all his life everyone around him have been encouraging him to do nothing. The quiet desperation thats been eating away at his soul finally reaches boiling point. The man trashes away in the night, he howls like a wolf, flushes his medication and loses consciousness. In his dreams he sees eerie visions: camels galloping through his bedroom, a one eyed prostitute telling him to go to the river, blood on his hands, Irish monks chanting the name "Polybus" over and over again. A Trampoline. Eggs stolen from a crows nest. The omlett, the taste, taste!

When he finally wakes up three days have past and no one has even noticed his absence. But the man is reborn. When beforehand he had thought: "Ola, amigo" when seeing someone, now his first reaction is:"I will break you. How can I break you?" He no longer fears any man, woman or child. He has lost hearing in one ear. Salazar lusts for power and glory and most of all change, indeed he'd rather die a painful death than go on living the same.

He even grows his hair long and buys a guitar.
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FEAR ME!

The first place to capture his notice is Africa. Long had Portugal ruled these vast stretches of land, but only now did Salazar notice that they were rather worthless. No resources, no strategic value, only some godforsaken land and men. Large black men... who had nothing to do - these guys could be used more efficently! And so the colonies are reorganized.

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VIVA LA AFRICA!

Angola and Mozambique both get their own goverments, their own armies, though they will still be serving Salazar of course.


In Portugal a shitstorm ensues.

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People walking about, being pissed off.

His reforms are attack on all sides. "Why were the colonies freed? We had them for so long. Britain has colonies, Belgium has colonies, why dont we have colonies anymore?"

Salazar tries to explain that he freed nothing. These are apartheid goverments after all, the same portuguese colonists are running the new states, which are allied and firmly tied to Portugal, puppets really, just more efficent - but to no avail.

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No!!!!!!

An idiotic smirk engulfs this mans face when he hears the long explanation. It is obvious he does not understand. Before Salazar can finish the cretin interrupts him with a torrent of gibberish: liberals this, socialists that, traditions and culture, his grandpa and Vasco da Gama... - none of it makes any sense.

Thats when Salazar realizes theyre all like that, either complete idiots or utterly indefferent in their selfishness, and in the end it makes no difference. They know that whenever something is reformed they can start whining, protesting, showing up late to work, demanding free coffe.

For now nothing can be done about it. A large shipment of coffe is ordered from Brazil, fairs are held, kitchen appliances handed out to those who write the best poems on how Angola and Zimbabque arent that bad.

This is going to take some time...
 
That was quite a dream. Maybe you should go down to Africa and do some scrapping and enslave some forgotten British or French colonies to raise morale back at home. Or if you don't want to fight the allies, maybe do some scrapping in South America. Portugal is in the best position to make the leap over the pond.
 
As the caffeine leaves the blood, the good people of Portugal are lulled to sleep, and more reforms can be carried out. Salazar targets the urban masses, the unruly young men, without work, with nothing to do but be punks.

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Men whos greatest outlook in life is to jump off a bridge.

Suddenly they are noticed, appreciated

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given guns

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and bikes

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awww yea. Emerico is so happy he could die - soon enough he will.

As these men are being armed fighting breaks out in Spain.
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The Portuguese ruling elite see no problem. They think the insurgence are nice guys, who share their world views. But Salazar does not agree: "Today they rebel against Spain, tomorrow Portugal." And so the decision is made to intervene in the Spanish civil war.

Our diplomats give the rebels moral support, we wait for them to send all their troops to the front, then our boys hit em in the back. A devious blow - just as Salazar likes them.

The first clash with Spanish forces is a farce.
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Alonso Vega, a crafty young basterd, has his tiny brigade of Moors storm the forests of La Coruna. They scream with all their might, demoralizing young Portuguese enlistees. Already rumors begin to spread how muslims desecrate the bodies of the fallen and circumcise POWs. Thankfully the Portuguese commander is a no-nonsene type oldtimer and will none of such foolishness.

Burgos, the temporary capitol falls without a single shot fired.
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Note: the Portuguese armed forces officialy have no cavalry forces.

While in most armies soldiers are respected according to rank, in Portugal the line is as follows:
Men in armored cars > men on bikes > men on (stolen) horses > men on foot
- the last ones have to wash everyone elses socks.


Huge stockpiles of supplies are seized, most of what Hitler and Mussolini had sent. This a huge blow to Franco, the posterboy of the nationalists cause, whos reputation and ego alike have been shattered.
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Franco has dropped the soap, he knows it, Salazar knows it, the guy behind him knows...

With all his fury he lashes out
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Eventually we are forced to pull out, since Portugal herself is in danger

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The retaking of the Southern provinces is going well-

That is until Legion Condor shows up...
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"Was ist dann los hier? Lumpen?! Weg!"

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With Francos armies approaching from the North, German tanks holding the South, the Republican cause apparently collapsed and Alf Motherfucking Landon as president... the situation is not looking good at all.


_________________________________________________________________

That was quite a dream. Maybe you should go down to Africa and do some scrapping and enslave some forgotten British or French colonies to raise morale back at home. Or if you don't want to fight the allies, maybe do some scrapping in South America. Portugal is in the best position to make the leap over the pond.
Indeed, Africa is calling us. I didnt think South America was possible with the naval range and US guarantees hmm... but Portugal is definitely the most overlooked minor in HOI. Stuff to do since day 1, interesting strategic position. But I guess the small IC, the tiny MP, the horrible generals and terrible techteams scare most players away.
 
Keep fighting. If you can subjugate Spain, then the world is your oyster. That tiny additional IC and more terrible techteams will transform you from a small ant into a grasshopper.
 

Times were tough. Half of our our beloved country was occupied by the enemy. No foreign power would send us their help. Further proof that Portugal was seen as a third rate power.

In these dark hours our only solace arrived from africa.
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For a Bren machine-gun and a pack of cigarettes these men will gladly give their life for Portugal.

While Franco was assaulting Oporto, his creative goons were working behind the lines. Example of Spanish propaganda:

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Portuguese soldiers depicted as green ghosts, overrunning the blueshirt militia from behind.

Example of Portuguese propaganda:
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uhhh...

Once again Salazar is forced to take things into his own hands. He addresses the croud:

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"My good people, we are at a crossroads. We will either be thrown into the waste bin of history or rise from our ashes! For too long have the Spaniards portraid Portugal as their retarded cousin! Let us show them who we we really are! RAAGH!!!"

The crowd goes wild. And so do the soldiers
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taking Valladolid

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and Madrid

Later the Republicans claim that we only snatched the capitol becaus of their massive assault before. That Madrid was defended by soldiers too tired to get up from their beds. Salazar dismisses it as "typical left-wing nonsense."

For it was the Portuguese intervention that allowed the Republican cause to gain momentum.

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Anyway... they dont dare start war over Madrid, so for the moment we cooperate with the filthfy anarchists.

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With Central Spain secured, the Spaniard trapped in Southern Portugal Salazar decideces to up the ante
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by assaulting Burgos itself!

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Franco, finally understanding that he cant fight two opponents at once, offers a separate peace. Salazar accepts at once.

Oil paining of the new borders
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Portuguese soldiers leave Burgos after pilliging it once again. In return we get La Coruna and Souther Portugal back, also our occupation of Central Spain is recognized.

Salazar is heavily critizes by these moves, called a coward even, but he knows what his doing. With Franco out of the game the anarchist hordes would demand Madrid back.. Portugal would loose everything. Instead the Spaniards will be fight eachother with Salazar watching happily by.

So... now what? Shall we rebuild the war torn provinces? Lick our wounds from the heavy fighting?

Maybe.

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or maybe not