15 - 22 May '40 - Luxembourg, and the Netherlands fall
"Every day a year, and every night a century! And our bodies are earth, and our thoughts are clay, and we sleep and eat with death!"
- All quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque, 1929 -
The scotch is on the table, officer. Have a seat. How's the missus? And the children?
I just came back from the war meeting, one that was held without Winston, as he is in France with General Ironside for the week.
So, Jerry's little plan for the western front seem to be paying off for him so far. The opportunistic Italian buggers might have overextended their reach in North-Africa as their own native North border is crumbling. and The Royal Navy will have to undergo changes to meet the rising tides.
The date is May 22. 1940. And the war has lasted for 264 long days.
SOVIET SUBMARINES ATTACKING MERCHANT NAVY:
First off, let's discuss the Russians. Ah yes, it's almost like we aren't at war with them anymore now that we have bigger fish to fry. With the buffer zone in Finland currently holding, we only have to worry about them crossing in over Afghanistan - which would be a logistical nightmare for them to attempt-, and the more plausible one. The invasion of Turkey. All of these issues will be a worry for another day. However a more pressing matter is the pesky Soviet Submarine fleet now unaffectionately labeled "The Wolfpack" after the submarine tactics of a Karl Donitz, a German Admiral from the Great war. This Russian Wolfpack is still wrecking havoc on our convoys South in the Indian seas. We are in the process of sending several large fleets to that area in order to remedy the situation. They should be ready for operations come June.
Ah, some better news on this front. The Russians might be hampering our far east convoys. But we are in return decimating the Italian ones. Mussolini has been shipping supplies from the German docks instead of transporting it over the alps. Seeing as our blockade is absolute in the North sea, and rather strong off the coast of Spain, we are decimating their merchant fleet. I hope Mussolini will feel the bitter sting of not getting his German sausages on time.
THE FRENCH NAVY STRIKES BACK:
The French, after suffering horrendous defeats at the hand of the Italian Navy recouped and struck back hard in vengeance, in one large battle this week. The current list of Italian sunk ships these last days are:
(2XDD) 10 Destroyers on May 17th
(CA) Heavy cruiser RN Zara on May 17th
(CL) Light cruiser Alberico Da Barbiano on May 17th
(SUB) 5 Submarines on May 18th
The French are back, old boy! They have risen to meet the challenge. And soon we will arrive to aid them in their venture.
ROYAL NAVY SUBMARINE FLEET RE-ASSIGNED TO MEDITERRANEAN SEA:
The Baltic seas have been rather quiet these last weeks, and so we have decided to send the Royal navy submarine fleet to Toulon, France to patrol the waters, sinking convoys, and helping the French navy control the Mediterranean.
HMS ILLUSTRIOUS, AND THE NEW ROYAL NAVY:
The HMS Illustrious was finally launched this week and made its way to the North sea to meet up with Channel Force, and further strengthening it. Also, We are now in the process of creating a fleet that will be able to battle the Italians. however this will take some time. currently we have a diverted few light cruisers and an aircraft carrier from patrol fleets in China and India. And Dudley Pound is looking at diverting a few Battleships, destroyers, and Heavy cruisers from the North sea to create the Second Mediterranean Fleet.
AUSTRALIAN NAVY SENT TO EGYPT:
Ah, But we're not done yet, chap. Australia sent us news that they can and are willing to send their main fleet to Egypt in order to battle the enemy there. Both New Zealand and Australia has a modest reserve fleet. and with our naval forces in Hong Kong ready to back them up they are confident enough to lend us some help in the Mediterranean. The bloody Italians won't know what hit them..
ITALY ADVANCING THROUGH THE DESERT:
Speaking of which. Italy is still moving forwards on all African fronts. A smaller French militia was encircled and captured. Over a thousand now being held captive. Mid-Africa is still unprotected and will be overrun in a matter of months. But there is good news. We are still delaying our enemies at Sidi Barrani, and this week some much needed help came.
NORTH-AFRICA REINFORCEMENTS:
British Raj cavalry reached the front lines this week. Or, shall I say, the provinces behind them. Hopefully our Indian brother can relieve the Iraqi, and Egyptian soldiers and give them a much needed break.
FAILURE TO INSTIGATE REVOLT IN ITALIAN EAST AFRICA:
SIS forces this week tried to fund the Somali-land partisans to rise up against their oppressors. But the operation was too optimistic and failed to bear any fruits. Not to mention how dangerous it is to sow seeds of revolution and independence in the minds of these smaller nations. I remember the lessons we all learned after the October revolution. Perhaps better the devil we know, eh, chap?
FAILURE TO INSTIGATE REVOLT IN SLOVAKIA:
Another SIS brainchild that failed to get us anywhere. God, damn it, chap! We have been trying to get these bloody resistance movements off the ground. The Slovakian group we were funding was caught by the Gestapo this week and summary executed. Damn it, chap...
EXPEDITIONARY FORCE RE-DEPLOYS IN FRANCE:
Our north Expeditionary force, alongside 2 Norwegian infantry divisions touchdown at Dunkirk this week. Some of the forces were diverted to reserve positions behind the front-line, and some of the stronger British forces were re-deployed in Lille, and Longwy. We also struck a deal with the Norwegians. We would leave a strong presence in Kristiansand and Oslo to guarantee the safety of Norway, in return they would lend us divisions to fight in France. What a strange world we live in, Vikings fighting next to the French, next to the New Zealanders, fighting next to Canadians. Hah! The last grand stand of civilization, old chap! Auxiliary fleet II set sail back to Ålesund in order to pick up the remaining divisions. Within the next 14 days, all of these boys are going to see action. It fills my heart with pride, old boy.
RAF FIGHTER WINGS DEPLOYED TO PARIS:
Speaking of pride. The boys who need no introduction. Hugh Dowding's own. The 4 RAF fighter wings who fought so bravely in the English channel, and defended the Norwegians so gallantly over Skagerak. This week they were re-assigned to Paris, France. Most of the lads were pretty happy to get away from the cold weather of Norway. Not to speak of seeing the lovely ladies of Pari. But they have seen combat as no other in our ranks. Their planes are marked with broken swastikas, and they walk with their head held high. Now they get to show the French something we both have known for ages. That no one, beats the tenacity of the British.
CHURCHILL VISITS PARIS:
As previously mentions, Sir Winston Churchill also arrived this week in France to meet with the top military leaders there. In order to mitigate the miss-communication we've had as French generals are organizing their war separate to our own. Georges was surprising friendly and open to the idea of more co-operation in the coming defence of the Gort line. Gamelin was a little more reserved, and couldn't understand why we would not join them in their lowlands offensive. Churchill is working his magic, and hopefully in the next weeks to come we will see a truly unified French and British force, ready and willing to repel the German horde!
RAF BOMBERS TRIES TO DELAY GERMAN OFFENSIVE:
We sent our RAF bombers, now re-stationed to Norwich, to try and delay the ever advancing German war-machine. It was to little avail.
Yesterday Luxembourg inevitably fell to the German blitzkrieg. 19 divisions retreated to Arlon. That is 220 000 men. 220 000 tough, gritty and determined men who saw no other option but to leave the cinder that once was Luxembourg to the Germans. Even worse, the Huns are closing in on all fronts, collapsing the pockets of fighting Dutch, and Belgium soldiers. On 17:00 May 21st. Luxembourg was officially annexed by the Third Reich..
AMSTERDAM AND ROTTERDAM FALL:
As we both knew, Amsterdam would fall, and so she did. Rotterdam too, now in the process of being completely overrun in the next hours. Most of the Netherlands is lost, and what is left is mostly unguarded. We have requested the French retreat whatever force they can to take up arms at the Gort Line as soon as possible. They have a different view of things...
FRENCH PUSHING THROUGH IN THE ALPS?:
The Allies might be pulling out of the Low countries, but the French have brought the fight to where it can be won. In the Alps. This week France had a major breakthrough as they managed to break the enemy lines and move in on North Italy. If they can get a foothold in Genoa, then they can pinch the units at Turin and cut them off. This is big news, chap! I we have learned anything about the alps, it is that no offensive breakthrough can really be made. So I am skeptical. But as I mentioned last week, if come 1941 we will have 3 elite mountaineer divisions ready to settle the score and tip the Italian war in our favor.
And that is it for this week, old boy. These next 14 days will prove crucial to the British Empire and her Commonwealth. We believe the German army will crash upon the Gort line with such a force that we will have to think on our feet. reinforce, retreat, encircle. We were the greatest empire the world has ever seen. We can still be. Our boys are up for the task. 14 days from now medals will be given out, and we will tell our grand children of the day we showed the Huns what we are made of.
Say a prayer for our boys.
Come next week they'll need it.
England Expects.
