I had the Hungarians grab land and getting it, after they helped with Poland. It hindered my attack on Russia because my units in Hungarian lands were supplied from Budapest and not Berlin. Which meant that they were soon out of supply. So that irritated me a bit.
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Rank and File
A Clerk’s War
A Clerk’s War
17th June to 19th June 1939
One thing I learned in the past day or so is that diplomacy cannot be hurried. So I didn’t expect to hear that overnight Italy had joined Hungary to fight the Allies. Quite a few senior Wehrmacht officers are missing from their normal haunts and I believe the trains to Italy run frequently. I wouldn’t be surprised to hear that the final discussions are taking place in one of Mussolini’s country estates in Northern Italy.
We could certainly do with something to occupy the French. Once again St Wendel is under attack, but this time Zaiser is not the target. (He and his men are recovering in the rear). This time it is General Bock and his 36.Infanterie who will take the brunt of the French assault. His men are fresh and at full strength, and the French are only committing three divisions, all from Pirmasens. There are other troops available to assist Bock – can we hold the province this time?
Battle of St Wendell
It didn’t take long to find out. Virtually the next report in from the west was that the French were retreating. Von Berendt and 25.Infanterie had arrived to support Bock and the French called off their attack before it had really got started. They left 28 dead, and although we lost nearly twice as many (47 men), we will still claim this as a victory. Could this signify a turning point in the west?
I wonder if some of our commanders have got a bit carried away with the good news. Only hours later we heard that General von Brockdorff-Ahlefeldt has ordered 69.Infanterie to attack the French in Pirmasens! There are at least 4 French divisions in the province so I hope he knows what he is doing. It looks like a disaster in the making to me.
Battle of Pirmasens
Almost simultaneously we received a message from Polen Army Nord. In a sign of the co-operation that the Heer is striving to achieve, General Eike is leading an attack on Wabrzezno using his own 28.Infanterie from VIII Armeekorps, Polen Army Nord, together with Erfuth’s 1.Infanterie Division from 1 Armeekorps, Army of East Prussia. Although Wabrzezno is held by three divisions, led by Praglowski, this looks like a much more promising attack and we expect a quick and positive result.
Battle of Wabrzezno
Our marines have recovered from their earlier battles and have been ordered to invade the mainland (and hopefully encourage the Benelux Army to join them). Both Sturm Marine divisions have moved to invade Sonderborg from Faaborg and revenge our defeat. It will not be easy (the Danes have 3 divisions defending) but General Bottcher has stated his men can do it. He does have assistance from the guns of the Nordseeflotte, so we can only hope his knowledge of his troops’ skill and courage will be justified.
Second Battle of Sonderborg
Finally General Pfeffer has claimed victory in Brodnica! He is a very lucky officer – he definitely bit off more than he could chew when he flung his single infantry division against four Polish divisions 6 days ago. But fortune favours the brave, and he has managed to pull it off, with the help of four other commanders. As I mentioned earlier, he was helped by Guderian’s 1st Leichte from Torun and Curtze’s 20.Infanterie (motorised) from Rosenburg, but was still finding it tough going as the Poles managed to move up another division, giving them nearly 40,000 men.
A photograph taken from a prisoner, presumably showing his unit marching into Brodnica
Today, however, von Manstein joined the battle, crossing the Vistula from Bydgoszcz, and 3.Infanterie (motorised) at last negotiated the ramshackle roads from Grudziadz to reach the enemy positions. Attacked from 5 different directions, the Poles have had enough and have abandoned the province, having lost 2,482 men. Our casualties were fairly high (1,400 dead, mainly from 21.Infanterie) but if we can keep the Poles on the run, it will be worth it. One drawback from the heavy fighting is that unfortunately the roads and bridges are in a shocking condition (less than 50% remain passable), according to the reports filed by the divisional headquarters.
A bridge over the Vistula destroyed by the heavy fighting in Brodnica: keeping our troops supplied as they advance is made harder by these tactics.
Our researchers continue their work, and the Luftwaffe has developed some new tactics for ground attacks that will increase the efficiency of our bombing attacks. I am not sure that the Poles and French think that we need to improve our bombing efficiency, but they will soon see if it makes a difference! The technical staff have been assigned to a new project: improved training for special forces such as paratroopers, engineers, marines and mountain troops.
The 18th started on a good note as we had a decisive win in Tyrawa Woloska, losing only 185 men while inflicting 609 on the Polish cavalry, who have used their mobility to withdraw to Ozenna (which appears to be occupied by several Hungarian divisions). General Volkmann’s record of victories remains unblemished.
A horse abandoned by Nowogrodzko Brigada Kavelerii in the retreat from Tyrawa Woloska: perhaps its rider was one of the men killed in the fighting.
Fresh news from the West is that 25.Infanterie (von Berendt) has joined 69.Infanterie in the attack on Pirmasens, moving from St Wendel to flank the French. Maybe this battle won’t be as disastrous as I had first thought.
I had begun to think that Italy had decided to stay neutral when, just before noon, I heard an official announcement: Italy has honoured its military alliance with the Reich and considers itself at war with the Allies. The reason for the delay was also apparent, not as I had supposed because we were sending negotiators to Italy, but because Il Duce himself has travelled to Berlin to stand next to the Fuhrer to make the announcement.
Il Duce and the Fuhrer make a public appearance after the announcement of Italy’s entry into the war
With the Hungarians on the move, the Osterreich Army has been ordered to advance. 2nd Gebrigsjager under General Friedrich-Willich has clashed with 10 Dywizjon Piechoty in Pruchnik. The order from Army headquarters was simple and direct: take the province and move on as quickly as possible. I was a little confused about the emphasis on advancing quickly, but a short discussion with a Wehrmacht liaison officer clarified things. It would appear that while appreciating the Hungarian intervention, there is a suspicion they will avoid the heavy fighting and concentrate on seizing as much territory as possible. Our troops are to make sure that we occupy as much of Poland as we can when the capitulation occurs.
Battle of Pruchnik
It only took von Both three days to defeat the 27 Dywizjon Piechoty in Sensburg. Instead of a hard fought action the Poles collapsed. Casualties were low compared to previous battles in the heavily forested region: we lost 269 to their 765. Is this an indication the Polish Army is reaching breaking point?
Late that night the question was answered in the negative. The Poles are not done yet. General Prich with 18,000 men attacked Blaskowitz’s 29.Infanterie (motorised) which had been the first unit to enter deep into Sensburg, moving along the forest roads. Prich’s mixture of cavalry and infantry seem determined to take back the province.
Battle of Sensburg
The last message that night was not from a military unit at the front, but a copy of coded radio signal to 1 Unterseebootsflotte, which was at the time in Lisbon harbour, attempting to repair damage to 6 Unterseebootsflottille, which has sustained 28% damage to its submarines. They have been there some time and no repairs are taking place, so the Kriegsmarine has ordered them home. By the time they get back and are repaired, 2 Unterseebootsflotte should have finished its own repairs (from the Britsih carrier plane attack) and we hope another 2 flottille will be ready to join the fleet. To date results from our U-boat fleet are disappointing. Let us hope that with more ships they will improve their strike rate.
As is now becoming a customary event, in the morning I found that more battles had commenced overnight. Someone in the Heer must have decided night attacks are the way to go. I don’t know why: they don’t seem particularly effective, and they make our air support much less effective.
Regardless of my doubts, General List and 18.Infanterie are now engaged with 6 Dywizjon Piechoty in Rypin. Numbers are reported to be fairly equal, so given the natural superiority of our troops and our ample air power, we should be assured of victory. The other battle in Grajewo is on a larger scale, but here we have a slight edge in numbers, as well as one of our best units, 5th Panzer Division. Unfortunately the area is covered in forests and is not the best for armoured vehicles. What is the greatest concern to General von Salmuth, who is leading the attack, is that the enemy have had some time to prepare and are expected to be dug in and be fully provisioned for a battle. He warns that while he still believes he can take the province, casualties will be high.
Battle of Rypin
Battle of Grajewo
General Neuling has taken the messages from OKH to heart. In only a couple of days he has smashed through the 10th Infantry Division, 28 Dywizjon Piechoty and HQ Armia Krakow and taken the province of Wloclawek. He lost a lot of men (766) but if we could keep up this speed the Poles would be in Russia in a few weeks! They are moving east towards Warsaw at full speed, leaving 408 men behind.
Destroyed and abandoned artillery litter the roads after our bombers devastate Wloclawek: General Neuling’s job was made much easier by air support provided by the Luftwaffe.
From Luftwaffe reports, it seems the Royal Air Force has heard of the Italian decision to support our cause. In the morning we were told of an air battle over Pfunds between four of our interceptor geschwader and two British tactical bomber squadrons, protected by long range fighters. This prompted a lot of questions, not only in the Kanzlei building, but also in the Air Ministry. We could understand strategic bombers flying so deep in our territory, but why tactical bombers? We have no troops or military installations so far to the south east of the Westwall. Could they be heading for Innsbruck? Our fighters lost them, and we thought we would hear of them from a Home Defence Anti-air position in an hour or so. But there was no news at all: they just vanished.
Air battle over Pfunds
I have to admit I speculated a fair bit of the afternoon over the strange British “raid” and what it might mean. I had just reached the point where I was telling myself it was a waste of time, I would never know, when another Luftwaffe report came in, this time from the Gulf of Venice! Our interceptors were involved in another melee with the same group of bombers and their escort. Apparently the target had been an Italian light cruiser off the coast of Italy. Somehow the British had got word that it was at sea, unescorted, and had flown from a base (in France?) to try and sink it. Due to the presence of our fighters it escaped, but there were some worried faces among the Kriegsmarine officers stationed at the Kanzlei. Even a clerk knowing virtually nothing of matters naval (such as myself) could see the implications of this news. The British have sufficient capability to detect a single ship (a local submarine? a spy? a long range reconnaissance aircraft?) and mount a bombing attack across half Europe. Our ships had better make sure they have air protection at all times!
Air Battle over the Gulf of Venice
Bombing Summary
17th June
Wieruszow: Grauert wiuth 2 x He 111: 114, 106, 88, 54
Brodnica: Kesselring with 4 x Ju 87B: 89, 116, 73
Wlocaclawek: Muller-Michiels with 2 x He 111: 104, 128, 57
Sensburg: Kitzinger with 2 x He 111: 109, 96, 70
18th June
Pirmasens: Lohr with 2 x Ju 87B: 47
Wabrezezno: Kitzinger with 2 x He 111: 112, 96, 99
Sensburg: Kesselring with 2 x Ju 87B: 58, 63
Pirmasens: Sperrle with 1 x Bf 109G, 2x Ju 87B, 2 xHe 111: 148, 120
Wloclawek: Muller-Michiels with 2 x He 111: 145, 99, 137
Wloclawek: Muller-Michiels with 4 x He 111, 2 x Ju 87B: 121
19th June
Ostraleka: Kesselring with 2 x Ju 87B: 58, 72, 73, 37
Pirmasens: Lohr with 2 x Ju 87B: 44
Wloclawek: Graueret with 2 x He 111: 100, 95
Grajewo: Muller-Michiels with 2 x He 111: 88, 103, 79
Johannisburg: Kitzinger with 2 x He 111, 2 x Ju 87B: 171
Pirmasens: Sperrle with 1 Bf 109G, 2 x He 111, 2x Ju 87B: 131, 124, 146
Johannisburg: Udet with 2 x Ju 87B: 104, 106, 18
The last news for the day, as usual while I was trying to make sense of what the Luftwaffe delivers to me as a bombing summary, came from General Eike in Wabrzezno: he has won! The Heer wanted a quick and positive result, and that is what he has delivered. He has even kept casualties low, losing 590 men to Polish losses of 955. We are only a few days from Warsaw! A few days from what must be the finishing blow!
Fall Weiss at the end of 19th June.
As expected, General List is having a tough time in Grajewo, but 60.Infanterie in Lyck is moving to assist. In Sensburg, General Blaskowitz had ambushed some of Prich’s men and he is now confident he can beat back the attempt to retake the province. Th eFalkenburg Division in Lublineic is under pressure as anther Polish division is moving up: General Kuchler believes he can hold on, but it will be touch and go. (I have faith – the Falkenburg knows how to take punishment but hold its ground!) The Battle of Pruchnik, according to the evening report, is all but over. The defenders are shocked and our troops are encountering much less resistance. It should be over tomorrow.
General Bottcher reports the Danes are making a tactical withdrawal in Sonderborg. Reading between the lines of his official history of the day’s events, he is frustrated by the Danish General Kryssing’s ability to slow down our advance. We are not suffering many casualties, but the fighting is just going on with no breakthrough.
Westwall at the end of 19th June.
General Brockdorff-Ahleveldt now has three divisions attacking the Conde’s four divisions in the forests of Pirmasens: 69th from Neunkirchen, 25th from St Wendel and 46th from Saarbrucken. Two more divisions are moving up to join the battle: 45th from Achern and 61st from St Wendel. The French are also moving to reinforce, and our intelligence is that three more divisions are heading to Pirmasens. This could turn into a major battle, sucking in men from both the Maginot and the Westwall. It is a pity the area has so many trees: our Luftwaffe pilots would relish the concentration of French units that must be hiding beneath the foliage.
But maybe we can all relax: I see from the unit position map that the Slovaks have sent General Turanec with a militia division to assist in the west!
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Your advice is good, but I have stated that I will let the AI do as much as I can let it. So I am reluctant to give manual commands to any bombers.
If I have problems with my attack on Russia, then I will try to work around them. (Sacrifice Hungary?
)
In hindsight, I wish I hadn't invited the Hungarians: As soon as I did I started to move forward again. I am just trying to race as far east as possible. You will see in a few days I have changed the objective for the Army of East Prussia to try and get them moving east. I may also transfer some planes that way to help them,as the Poles have their most organised units blocking my path along the Lithuanina border.
But, as I have said beofre, I will play the cards I have dealt myself.
Looks like Hungary will save the day. At least getting clobbered by Poland means you don't look so threatening.
I don't know at what level you are using the AI. In my experience army group and theatre AI tends to move troops to much between frontlines, which is a big handicap for blitzkrieg. I understand that a clerk doesn't move armies but maybe the Wehrmacht needs better directions? An army level AI will—for the most part—properly follow attack vectors, and use tactical bombers for battle support (if attached directly to the army HQ). It won't split up units of 2 TAC or 2 TAC + 1 FTR.
I don't know at what level you are using the AI. In my experience army group and theatre AI tends to move troops to much between frontlines, which is a big handicap for blitzkrieg. I understand that a clerk doesn't move armies
but maybe the Wehrmacht needs better directions? An army level AI will—for the most part—properly follow attack vectors, and use tactical bombers for battle support (if attached directly to the army HQ). It won't split up units of 2 TAC or 2 TAC + 1 FTR.
Looks like Hungary will save the day. At least getting clobbered by Poland means you don't look so threatening.
I don't know at what level you are using the AI. In my experience army group and theatre AI tends to move troops to much between frontlines, which is a big handicap for blitzkrieg. I understand that a clerk doesn't move armies
I think I would have beaten Poland, just may have taken a little longer. I actually regret bringing Hungary in, as the Poles seem to have run out of good order units in the west. I don't think the introduction of an ally did anything to speed the conquest.
I'm using army level AI but it still split my 2 airwing Multi-purpose unit in East Prussia. When I moved them to the west and reunified them, it split them again and assigned one to each of my TAC units.
I have moved army groups between armies and inone case moved a division from one armgroup to another (not yet in narrative - about 3 days ahead).
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I wouldnt be suprised if these Hungarians capture large swaths of Polish territory and when the Poles surrender, they get to keep those. It will greatly hinder Barbarossa later on. But we will see.
And the French are probably gonna be a though nut to crack, simply by all the expeditionary units it gets. Perhaps the Italians can help out a bit.
And the French are probably gonna be a though nut to crack, simply by all the expeditionary units it gets. Perhaps the Italians can help out a bit.
The Hungarians have slowed a little, perphaps because a few Poles have drigfted East into their path.
I still anticipate taking Warsaw in early July, and that should prompt a surrender. I am pretty sure the Hungarinas with then have about 6 or seven border provinces.
My main uncertainty is the unoccupied provinces of Poland: the ones that have neither German nor Hungarian units in them at the time of surrender. Do they become German if Germany holds the most victory points? Capital city? Or is it worked out some other way?
Anybody know?
The French are tough enough now - they don't need help! I should be able to handle them once my armour and the rest of the air is freed up. But it may take me all of 1940 to do it. I hoped to take out Spain as well in 19490: that may have to wait. I have a feeleing that the USSR will only honour our non-aggression pact for the year it exists.
The USSR Dowed me in may 1942. I had to postpone Barbarossa to 1942 because of the trouble I had with the French.
I dont know what will happen with surrender of Poland and the Hungarians. I guess you will get those provinces but I am not sure.
I dont know what will happen with surrender of Poland and the Hungarians. I guess you will get those provinces but I am not sure.
Thanks for the quick reply: I'll just keep my fingers crossed!
I'd like to speed things up in Poland but just can't send any more troops there- won't give anything away other than to say things get worse in the west in about a week!
Just trying to finish next update before I go to bed. Hopefully an hour or so.
Rank and File
A Clerk’s War
A Clerk’s War
20th June to 21st June 1939
Refreshed from another event-free, peaceful night’s sleep, I set out for work feeling very positive and content. I don’t think it was just the way the war was going, though that helped. It was just that everything about the Berlin morning seemed perfect. The sun shining, a cloudless sky, the people rushing to work, it all seemed to put me in a good frame of mind.
The population of Halberstadt apparently didn’t get the same good night’s sleep that I did. The British are determined to get their bombers through and again tried at night. They were met over Halberstadt once again, and the Home Defence report makes it clear that although the air battle between our five fighter wings and the three bomber command wings took place high above the town, the sirens, searchlights and general commotion would have woken anyone. Not to mention the fact that every now and then a British bomber would jettison its bombs after taking damage.
Searchlights pierce the night sky, helping our fighters in the difficult task of locating the British bombers at night.
I will give this to the Royal Air Force: they don’t give up easily. Newall took his planes to Liepzig, but by the time they got there, Christiansen had assembled seven fighter geschwader and, once again, no damage was reported.
Two battles began overnight. In Wieruszow, von Eimannsberger took some pressure off the Falkenburg Division (in Lubliniec) by attacking Anders 6th Infantry Division from the rear. Already committed to fighting on one front, General Ander’s men are at a distinct disadvantage. Anders has previously shown himself to be the better General, but this time he has been out-witted, and he is also outnumbered.
Battle of Wieruszow
With Anders in trouble, it seems that General Christiansen, commander of the Army of Polen Sud, is preparing a trap. General Kostring has taken 13.Infanterie (motorised) into Wielun at full speed. The province is held by Haller de Hallenburg with two infantry divisions, but both are suffering from disruption from recent fighting. If all goes well, the 6th Division will be trapped and cut off from retreat.
Battle of Wielun
Later that morning the first part of the trap fell into place. The Falkenburg Division captured Lubliniec, losing only 51 men compared to Polish casualties of 623. Von Kuchler has done it again!
News from Suwalki that Heller and his tactical bombers had re-appeared was a slight disappointment, but doesn’t really seem important. Bogatsch should find him soon enough and drive him and his bombers back their bases.
At noon we were surprised to receive a Luftwaffe report from the Nordsee Coast. The British strategic bomber wings had been located yet again, this time on their way home after a fruitless mission. Nobody is clear about the course of events, but as far as I can gather a patrolling Dornier 217 naval bomber saw them and radioed for assistance. Next thing five fighter geschwader jumped the bombers! According to our pilots’ debriefing notes, almost one in six British bombers did not make it back to the United Kingdom. I don’t think Newall (or his bombers) will be back for a while!
Battle of Frisian Coast
We are getting closer to Warzawa all the time. Von Both is now attacking Ostroleka, a province just to the north of the Polish capital. His 68.Infantry is opposed by 38 Dywizjon Piechoty (Rezerwa) which has not recovered from a recent mauling. While there are two Army headquarters also present (Kruszewski and Armia Reserwa) they are not expected to put up much resistance. We are also helped by the fact that the Polish General Boltuc has no combat skill or experience, being an engineer by profession.
Battle of Ostroleka
I feel for the poor peasant farmers of Allenstein! Once again a battle for possession of the border province has begun. This time, however, I think it will be the deciding battle. For a start, they have given overall command to General Himmler. I admit I had my doubts when he assumed a military uniform, but he has proved to be quite successful. He has plenty of troops (three divisions totalling nearly 26,000 men) and can attack on two fronts. The Poles have two divisions who have dug in and are fully rested and provisioned, so it will not be easy. Let us just hope that when the fighting stops that Allenstein is ours for good.
Battle of Allenstein
We were closing our files for the day, when a last report came in. General Eimannsberger must have been moving fast, or the Poles must have been weaker than we estimated. Whatever the reason, he has defeated Anders in Wieruszow and the 6th Infantry Division is retreating. It seems we have set off our trap before it was properly set!
A disappointing end to the day, but overall not too bad. (Well, no disasters – to anyone who has been in the Army that is all that is required to make a good day!) And we can be pretty confident of one thing – thanks to my brother and his fellow pilots, the whole of Germany can get a decent sleep for the next few nights at least.
The 21st started very slowly. Nothing but dull bombing estimates and general run of the mill paperwork. I know the Heer would collapse without the tens of thousands of clerks preparing and filing requisitions, orders, transfers, reports, minutes etc but recently I have become addicted to the more interesting and intriguing documents.
There was one unusual report, among all the bombing estimates was one translated into Hungarian: it was to be provided to their bomber commanders. It seems our allies bombed enemy forces in Pruchnik, right in front of Friedrich-Willich’s’s attack zone, so we are able to report on their accuracy.
The first messages from the east were already arriving. There must have been a change of tactics: dawn attacks are now preferred option. General Ott has crossed the Vistula into Plock with 3.Infanterie (motorised) and is attacking General Dworak’s 29th Infantry Division. Ott reports that deserters have told him that Dworak has supply and organisation problems and he believes one good sharp attack will see the Poles crumble.
Battle of Plock
General Kesselring has at last got over the shock of the French surging from the Maginot so unexpectedly and has put a structured attack into operation. Under General Muller, 26 and 34.Infanterie are attacking from Bitburg and 10 and 36.Infanterie from Trier. The objective is Saarlouis, held by three French infantry divisions, a light armour division and two army corps headquarters units. Numbers are about equal, though the French have a slight advantage. Personally, having seen Muller’s personal file (we keep everything in our records!) I don’t think he is the man for the job. He has never shown the skill required for such a tough assignment, and what ability he has is more on the defensive side of things. Still, perhaps during the battle a better suited commander will turn up and take control.
Battle of Saarlouis
We don’t know what impact the Hungarian bombers had (the Junkers 86 is seen to be inferior to the Heinkel 11, which was why Junkers was allowed to export them even as the Luftwaffe was demanding more and more aircraft) but the end result is that the Poles have conceded defeat in Pruchnik. 10 Dywizjon Piechoty is streaming away across the plains, harassed by our bombers. Only three days to break the defenders, but we need to keep moving east as quickly as possible to prevent the Hungarians making unjustified claims.
Another victory: Kostring has used the speed of 13.Infanterie (motorised) to overwhelm the two Polish divisions in Wielun. Losses are a little high (260 of his men compared to 340 Poles). He believes that he may have moved so quickly that Anders has not yet managed to extricate the 6th Infantry from Wieruszow. If he is correct, our trap may still be effective.
These soldiers of 13.Infanterie (motorised) are lucky enough to have one of the new Sdkfz7 half-tracks, and, having beaten twice their number of Poles, are moving into Wielun in comparative comfort.
As it turned out, Kostring was correct. General von Hadeln, who was leading three divisions into Wieruszow, ran straight into the 6th Division. The ensuing action should probably not be dignified by using the term battle: it was over in an hour with our only casualties being 2 men. General Anders saw the situation was hopeless and after losing a dozen men ordered his remaining 7,300 troops to surrender.
The Second “Battle” of Wieruszow
Bombing Summary
20th June
Luftwaffe
Wiersuzow: Grauert with 2 x He 111: 80, 93, 124, 91
Ostroleka: Kesselring with 2 x Ju 87B: 56, 63, 54, 32
Pirmasens: Lohr with 2 x Ju 87B: 41
Grajewo: Grauert with 2 He 111: 84
Johannisburg: Kitzinger with 2 x He 111, 2 x Ju 87B: 128
Pirmasens: Sperrle with 1 Bf 109G, 2 x He 111, 2 x Ju 87B: 147, 113, 133
Johannisburg: Udet with 2 x Ju 87B: 94, 105, 35
Grajewo: Muller-Michiels with 2 x He 111: 152, 82
Polish Air Force
Suwalki: Heller with 2 x Dywizjon Bombowy: 48, 60, 61
Not all the Polish bombers returned: our anti-aircraft units downed some, (including this PZL 23 “Karas”), but too few to slow the attacks. Where are our fighters?
21st June
Luftwaffe
Wielun: Grauert with 2 x He 111: 98, 131, 110
Allenstein: Kesselring with 2 x Ju 87B: 67, 61, 69, 59
Pirmasens: Lohr with 2 x Ju 87B: 50
Grajewo: Muller-Michiels with 2 x He 111: 102, 112, 75
Ostroleka: Kitzinger with 2 x He 111, 2 x Ju 87B: 134
Pirmasens: Sperrle with 1 x Bf 109G, 2 x He 111, 2 x Ju 87B: 149, 131, 137
Rypin: Kitzinger with 2 x He 111: 100, 133, 62
Prichnikt: Keller with 2 x H e 111: 132, 96
Ostraleka: Udet with 2 x Ju 87B: 68, 81, 111
Saarlouis: Dorstling with 1 x Bf 109G, 2 x He 111: 138, 69
Also 129 casualties in Prichnik caused by Hungarian bombing
Fall Weiss at end of June 21st
In Rypin, General List is being counter-attacked and the Poles are moving up reserves. This is now looking a difficult task for a single division. General Ott, despite having the Vistula to negotiate, has ambushed some of Dworak’s 29th Infantry, and anticipates a swift and successful close to the battle of Plock. With now only two headquarters units blocking his way (the infantry division having fled the field), von Both is also hoping for a quick victory in Ostroleka.
West wall at end of June 21st
General Conde is using delaying tactics in Pirmasens, knowing reserves are moving up to assist him. Our bombers are helping, but any victory here is some time and many casualties away. Saarlouis is looking even worse, even though we have encircled a pocket of French troops.
French-Italian border at end of 21st June
The Italians are bombing the French in Barcelonnette heavily before launching their first attack. Even though our allies have a numerical advantage, the French have prepared well and the terrain will aid the defenders. We shall soon see how the Italian army fights.
So ended the 21st June. Polish resistance weakening, battles ending more quickly, casualties down, the Italians and Hungarians on the move, the French nearly under control. Things are looking fairly good for the Reich. Let us hope it stays that way. I just feel there is a long way to go, and many things can go wrong.
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When you get Lodz, Warsaw and Krakow, Poland should surrender. You get everything the Hungarians did not physically take control of. Of course, you won't get the Russian part of the MR agreement.
Let's hope you do better than my current game. So far Poland, Netherlands, Belgium AND LUXEMBOURG have governments in exile! Ugh.
Let's hope you do better than my current game. So far Poland, Netherlands, Belgium AND LUXEMBOURG have governments in exile! Ugh.
When you get Lodz, Warsaw and Krakow, Poland should surrender. You get everything the Hungarians did not physically take control of. Of course, you won't get the Russian part of the MR agreement.
Let's hope you do better than my current game. So far Poland, Netherlands, Belgium AND LUXEMBOURG have governments in exile! Ugh.
Thanks Forster. That is what happened to me in earlier versions and I hoped that:
1. This was not just a happy coincidence and that other results were not possible
2. Ver 1.3 had not changed it.
I can see why you be annoyed. Is GIE solely dependent on National unity, or is there an element of luck?
Netherlands and belgium shouldn't surrender with the provinces in Europe taken, as they have colonial possessoins.
It's all luck AFAIK. You can reload games that are just before a surrender and get different results.
BTW, I dont know if you already ran into this bug, but make sure to give your armies new targets once one of your allies gets a targeted province, otherwise the AI will start to pile up lots of troops doing nothing since they try to reach the province under allied control, but will not actually enter their territory.
CharonJr
CharonJr
Thanks sneakey pete. Yes, I was aware of that problem, I didn't phrase my question very well. I meant countries that were had no other possessions (such as Poland)
I suspected as much, but must admit have never tried it: I always forget to save just before a surrender.
Thanks CharonJr. I didn't know of that bug, but will watch out for it. I regularly check my objectives, mainly to review them to make sure they are still effective and to consider if they need altering (if only from attack to blitzkrieg) or vice versa).
I have a question for anyone who may know. I have conquered Copenhagen, but not Denmark. Searching for the Danish fleet, I found some in Bornholm (fraternising with the Polish fleet) but the rest is in Copenhagen harbour! I have a headquarters (with a brigade attached) in the province. Wouldn't be a problem, except I can't order a port strike, I imagine because I own the province.
Are they there for the duration? Will they leave when (if) Denmark surrenders? (Which may be a while - I need more troops everywhere). Or is there another way to get rid of them?
I could rationalise it that the ships are in the proximity of the harbour, but it still seems unlikely that my naval bombers would not be able to launch specific attacks on the ships, ignoring the port installations. Perhaps the game cannot separate the two.
If I recall correctly, ver1.3 fixed the error that you could not CAPTURE a province if there was a fleet present in port. Obviously that has been corrected: maybe this a further problem that needs to be addressed in 1.4.
I'll wait a few days more (game time) and if it doesn't sort itself out (by the fleet surrendering or leaving port) I'll put it in the bugs forum.