Stalin's brand new People's Democratic Republic on the country formerly known as Poland
With 20% percent more communism, for the same price!
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Stalin's brand new People's Democratic Republic on the country formerly known as Poland
With 20% percent more communism, for the same price!
They really should add a disclaimer at the bottom of the poster:
"First To Fight"
*Because We Have To*
That's a good point, Peti. Kurt's trademark is "never use spell check". :rofl:
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Chapter twenty-three: The Ambassador
In Asia Japan went on with his rampage on China with the conquest of Hainan on November 12 1938. After this, the Japanese forces continued northward into the Chinese provinces of Guangdong and Guangxi, both of which are under control of the Guangxi Clique. Guangdong was of major military importance to the Kuomintang. For instance, the Whampoa Military Academy, which was placed there, had been the source of many good and trustable Kuomintang commanders for the last decades. As the Japanese advance northward, Chiang Kai-shek send General Xue Yue and the 19th Army Group to assist the reorganizing Guangxi troops under Li Zongren. They managed to resist ambush the Japanese forces, causing huge casualties to Major General Iida's unit, who was forced to withdraw to Hainan. As a result of this, Tokio send reinforcements: two Infantry Divisions and the 4th Flight Group. By December these forces marched against the Chinese defenders, who had been reinforced by the 12th Army Group under Yu Han-mou. The capture of the province would reinforce the Japanese blockade of China and thus the fighting was very bloody.
Eventually, though, by January 1939, the Japanese had captured both the Guangdong and Guangxi provinces: The Chinese Republic was more isolated than ever.
The Nakajima Ki-49 Donryu ("Helen") was first used in mass against the Chinese army when the 4th Flight Group was redeployd to Hainan.
Back in England Chamberlain had finally decided what to do with Churchill. As Winston had returned to the papers with his strong declarations against Japan for Tokio's warlike attitude and was attracting undesired (for Chamberlain) attention, the Prime Minister decided to solve the question for once and all. The two men met in 10 Downing Street to discuss the future. It was, indeed, a quite tense situation that was solved by Chamberlain by asking Churchill if he would accept to become Britain's ambassador in Washington DC. There he may be usuful to the crown by improving the "special relationship" with the American cousin in face of the alarming news comming form the other side of the Iron Courtain. Churchill replied that he would be honoured to serve his country in that post.
Apparently, Chamberlain had set himself free from the troublesome Winston and, with a bit of luck, whose new job may signal the end of his political life.
However, had anyone thought so, he would have been seriously wrong.
"Finished? Who, me? Ha ha! I'll be back, baby!"
@trekaddict: That ol tradition is going to change.
@El Pip. If Poland could survive almost five years of Nazi rule, they will be able to wait a bit more.
I hope...
@trekaddict -2-: Yes, you did. I'm trying to think a way to do so. Well, as Britain is still thinking about what to do with his ruling class, perhaps Berlin would go for some action.
@hoi2geek: Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa (People's Republic of Poland). She was still being "Poland" but , first and foremost, a Popular Poland.
@trekaddict: Apparently Josef Stalin was willing, in this crazy ATL, to call it just "Rzeczpospolita" (the Republic) until some of his collaborators mentioned "the Republic? which one?". Of course, his unlucky boy ended in Siberia, but Stalin made up his mind about the question.
@Sumeragi: "That small place between Germany and the USSR"
@Ciryandor: Another mistake. There's a tradition to keep alive, my friend. Error corrected.
@Mr. Santiago. I like that!
@Nathan Madien: "Because we have to and because the SOBs of our allies gave us their backs!".
Too true, too true...
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The mental gymnastics Winston will have to do to side with the Germans over the French will be epic to behold. I am looking forward to him meeting the Kaiser.
This is a bloody damn waste of material. Not going to do my standard chant on why I admire the man in spite of his faults but dear god...
Chapter twenty-four: Behind the Iron Wall
Berlin had been impressed by the speed and vigour the Poles had resisted the Communist subjugation. As early as May 1935 the Abwehr began to look towards how Germany could help the local populations who were now actively resisting Soviet occupation. Of course the traditional military circles were against this move and Stresseman hesitated about it, so the project was stalled for some time until Wilhelm III asked directly what was being doing to help the Poles and raged when knew the truth. Thus the II Department of the Abwehr created a 'Special Operations Group' which was completely devoted to covert actions in Poland.
For this mission a new unit was created, the Bataillon Ebbinghaus, within the Branderburger Regiment. It was formed mostly from Volksdeutsche who were fluent in Polish. It was commanded by Hauptmann (Captain) Theodor von Hippel, who had served under General Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck during the First World War in the East African theatre.
Wilhelm Canaris (center) & Theodor von Hippel (right, with the helmet), inspect a Brandenburger unit.
The unit began by doing clandestine field research in the Baltic and Poland, gathering gathered vital economic, military and geographic information to support the AK. As there was no need to instigate Polish resistance and the usual ill-will between the two nations had vanished in front of the dramatic situation, the cooperation between the Ebbinghaus and the AK started without too much ado.
The Ebbinghaus Bataillon assisted the AK with trainning facilities in Baviera and logistical support. By May 1936 the Polish government in London allowed the creation of a elite special operation unit that was to operate from Germany: the Cichociemni ("the Silent-Dark Ones" or "the Unseen and Silent"), commanded by Captain Jan Górski. By April 1937 this unit was ready to begin covert operations in Poland, air delivery of arms and supplies, and training of agents and by September the unit began his land deliveries of weapons, money and supplies. Some Cichociemni special units were parachuted over Poland and joined the AK (1).
The first drops of aid and men were made in February 1938 from Heinkel He 111 bombers (and later on, from two prototypes of the Junker Ju 89 heavy bomber, the V2 and V5). Adolf Pilch, a young Silesian member of the Cichociemni, was dropped into Poland in April 1938. He contacted numerous small bands of the AK and brought them together as a more effective force relying on German and some stolen Soviet weapons. He even organized a cavalry partisan unit in the Nowogródek area, and broke through to the Kampinos forest near Warsaw, taking control of this area. At its height of operations his unit consisted of up to 1000 men. Until Poland was liberated, Pilch became a thorn on the side of the NKVD.
Major Adolf Pilch "Dolina" (1914 - 2000)
When Edward Frederick Lindley Wood, Viscount Halifax, landed in Rome on April 28th, 1938, to improve British relations with Italy and to ensure the current status quo of Europe, he hardly could imagine that he was to witness a small purge within the Fascist ranks. Evertyhing looked calm and peaceful in Rome and nothing could foretell what was to come. During a meeting with Italo Balbo, Lord Halifax noticed that Italo Balbo looked as if his mind was not in the room. Thus, Halifax was beginning to wonder what was going on when he suggested, in very vague terms, to Balbo that the United Kingdom may be interested to sign a Non-Aggression Pact with Italy and Balbo just nodded and muttered that the Lazio was playing awfully that season. Puzzled and perplexed, Lord Halifax was reduce to silence for a moments. Then, when he was opening his mouth, the bomb exploded.
A Black-shirted aid de camp approached Balbo and muttered some words in his boss' ear. Balbo just jumped from the chair and, with a big grin on his face, exclaimed: "Gotcha!". Then, apparently, he remembered his meeting with Halifax and, offering some silly excuse, he hurried out of the room leaving the baffled Englishman wondering what the hell was going on.
Here we can see Winston Churchill and Lord Halifax having a chat before both departed to their overseas missions. Readers shouldn't be mislead by Winston's not-to-happy face.
After some weeks of bickering between Balbo and one of his most hatred rivals, Roberto Farinacci, the issue had come to a head. It had all begun with a report by General Mario Roatta that shown the poor state of the Italian army, despite Balbo's reforms. It still lacked modern equipment and its units were understrenght, not sufficiently mechanized or even motorized, and reliant on old guns. In spite of the purchase of some hundred tanks to France, the lack of modern and sufficient armor and anti-tank weaponry was acute.
All this was attacked by Farinacci in the press. He began by acussing Balbo of being obsessed with "reckless diplomacy and political maneuvering" and lambested his political rival for letting such a situation to happen. As Balbo remained uncannily and notably quiet, Farinacci grew bolder and included Dino Grandi in his attacks. Grandi wasted no time in replying and the newspapers soon became the battlefield between the two. Grandi managed to achieve what Balbo's silence hadn't, that is, that Farinacci lost his temper. When Grandi rebutted angrily and attacked Farinacci for his lack of experience, provincialism, and flagrant admiration for some extremist theories (2), Farinacci overstretched his hand: in a quite remarkable article, the Fascist leader pontificated about the necessity for unity and order, the necessity for a new leader and man of vision (he, it goes without saying), and the failure of "old aristocratic and bourgeois institutions" to handle the new age. Farinacci blamed the factory-holding elites, the banks, and the land-holders and the "Jewish" influences and "the old elites". He attackedd the "whole antiquated Savoian system" and even dared to suggest that Italy would be better without a King.
It was his end. It is still unkown how Farinacci's advisors didn't stop the article from being published but, when they reacted, it was already to late. Balbo, who had been so uncharacteristically silent before, now rose to the moment. He assembled the Fascist Grand Council for an extraordinary meeting and there he read off the list of "wrong doings" that signalled the end of Farinacci's political career. He acussed Farinacci of questionable loyalty to the crown and nation, his "crippling devotion" to "dangerous extremism" and his corruption. As a final measure he presented the council with evidence of Farinacci's personal financial holdings, that had increased notably since the death of Mussolinni.
While there was no hard evidence linking Farinacci to any wrongdoing, the circumstantial evidence was enough to bury him. In spite of Farinacci's protests of innocence, he was forced to resign from the Grand Council and the king accepted it even before he wrote it. During the following weeks, the Italian Fascist Party was purged from his ultra-right elements.
When Lord Halifax returned to London, empty-handed, he had a good story to tell.
(1) When Poland was finally freed, the Cichociemni had delivered 630 tonnes of war material, mainly by a air bridges, losing 30 planes to air crashes and enemy fire. In addition, 180 soldiers and 10 envoys successfully parachuted into Poland. 42 of them would in fights against the Communist forces, 5 were executed during and after the war and 4 died when their planes were shot down.
(2) One could argue that, at this point, Farinacci was turning into Italy's Gregor Strassser.
@trekaddict -1-: Well, France will feature in the future and will "help" Churchill in their proverbial way to do the mental change.
Like that? :laugh:
@Sumeragi: Darn. But for the last footnote at Winston's pic, I tried to be bloody serious.
@Nathan Madien: A sadly deceased AAR that I still miss. Thank you for honoring me comparing this poor writting with that AAR.
@trekaddict -2- Let's try not to spoil anything: let's simply say that the one "disgraced" will fare much better than the "winner". Very much. Just be patient. Think of King Arthur!
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You being serious is what is hilarious :laugh:
Hmmm.... Nice picture of Billy and Winston.
Okay. That picture so goes into the "Things that look like alternate History but aren't." thread on ah.com
Also, Italy seems to be settling down.
Also, Italy seems to be settling down.
I've got 5 bucks that say that the Soviets aren't going to take Germans in their turf lying down.
Quite a bit of excitement Halifax is getting. Better not shock him too much, Kurt. It won't be good for his health.
I think that's unintentionally offensive, considering he is one-handed.
I think that's unintentionally offensive, considering he is one-handed.
Chapter twenty-five: The King's Crusader
With the New Year came a New Tank. In February 1939 the Mk VI (A15) Crusader began its first trials. It would become one of the primary British cruiser tanks. It had began as a parallel design of another medium thank, the Mk V (A13) Covenanter. The trials doomed the Covenanter: its engine proved to be unreliable and the design was dropped.
The Crusader was heavier than previous designs (20 tons) and for that rise it had five road wheels each side to improve weight distribution. It had a different engine from the Covenanter (of course...), different steering system and a conventional cooling system with radiators in the engine compartment. At the left hand side of the front hull—a place occupied by the engine radiator in the Covenanter—was mounted a small hand-traversed auxiliary turret armed with a Besa machine gun, which was hardly used. Both the A13 and the A15 designs used the same main turret. Armour was to be to 40 mm standard at the front and 30 mm elsehwere.
After undergoing the customary gunnery trials in Lulworth (Dorset), the Crusader was finally accepted and introduced into service. It was not a perfect design, though. One of its weakest point was his main gun, the relatively light QF 2-pounder (40 mm) gun, so the designer of the tank, Nuffield Mechanisation and Aero, began to study a new version armed with a 6-pdr (57 mm) and a new turret to fit the gun in. The redesigned turret had a new mantlet and hatch, but the larger gun restricted turret space so the crew was reduced to three, with the commander acting also as gun loader. The turret also received an extractor fan to clear fumes from the firing of the gun. The resulting tank would be the Crusader Mk.II, which was introduced into service in March 1940 (1).
Crusader tanks in Yorkshire
(1) In fact it's a Crusader Mk.III, but this ATL is rushing things a bit...
@Sumeragi: Really? Let's hope that when I'm hilarious no one remains serious :laugh:
@trekaddict: I was tempted to use it in the GW AAR and kick France together with Germany, but I already did that once...
Yes, Italy seems to be settling down. I intend to have them calm and ince.
@Sumeragi -2-: Ah, are you in AH, too?
@Razgriz 2K9: And you'll probaby be right!
@Nathan Madien: For that reason I didn't send him to Washington DC
Bloody old sayings. I forgot that...
@all: I know that the update is quite small, but New Year's is taking its toll...
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Crusader tanks in Yorkshire
There's something about this picture that doesn't seem right, but I can't put my finger on it. :unsure:
