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A!
 
General TBC, flush with sucess from the chinease front but also irritated that the job was left unfinished, was publically broadly in favour of intervention whenever asked by the press. However, in private, the miltiary was split upon the issue and so was Congress. A war in Europe, even a war of defence against unjust aggressors, would always be poltically divisive and potentially extremely unpopular with voters. It would also mean commiting to Europe until the current crisis was over, which could take a decade of dedicated effort and commitment, as well as millions of dollars and thousands of american lives. As a leading member of the alliance, America would also be seen as speaking for it as a whole.

All this meant that when TBC did make it to Dover (after a week of acolades and parades and such elsewhere), he found the whole place to be both working furiously to remain uncommitted whilst also desperstly trting to find something to commit to.

It was business as usual.

Unfortunatly, the general had first hand experienced the speed of modern war. They didn't have weeks to decide. They potentially had hours. And to decide whether the fascists would control the entire western Mediterranean sea by the end of the month or whether the US starts a new world war...what a choice.

In his heart of hearts, it was probably the right thing to do to declare war. However, there was no way the poltical argument and the armed forces would be ready in time for it to make a difference. America would be declaring war but it would then be expecting her european allies to do the fighting for at least the first few weeks. A tough sell at the best of times.

He could always 'volunteer' himself and his veteran tanker corps to see what they could achieve alone... Of course, that would leave the US with no experienced tank commanders or crews (and few tanks) of her own. It would also mean knowingly sending himself and his men to either their deaths or years of imprisonment in enemy camps.

In the end, he was a soldier first so he would do whatever his nation required of him. He just hoped they were both speedy and wise in their choosing. For what it was worth, he would endeavour to get the Order some aid as quickly as possible. He hoped it would be enough.
 
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A all the way. The Teutonic order was bothering no one.

It was an unjust attack!

General TBC, flush with sucess from the chinease front but also irritated that the job was left unfinished, was publically broadly in favour of intervention whenever asked by the press. However, in private, the miltiary was split upon the issue and so was Congress. A war in Europe, even a war of defence against unjust aggressors, would always be poltically divisive and potentially extremely unpopular with voters. It would also mean commiting to Europe until the current crisis was over, which could take a decade of dedicated effort and commitment, as well as millions of dollars and thousands of american lives. As a leading member of the alliance, America would also be seen as speaking for it as a whole.

All this meant that when TBC did make it to Washington (after a week of acolades and parades and such elsewhere), he found the whole place to be both working furiously to remain uncommitted whilst also desperstly trting to find something to commit to.

It was business as usual.

Unfortunatly, the general had first hand experienced the speed of modern war. They didn't have weeks to decide. They potentially had hours. And to decide whether the fascists would control the entire western Mediterranean sea by the end of the month or whether the US starts a new world war...what a choice.

In his heart of hearts, it was probably the right thing to do to declare war. However, there was no way the poltical argument and the armed forces would be ready in time for it to make a difference. America would be declaring war but it would then be expecting her european allies to do the fighting for at least the first few weeks. A tough sell at the best of times.

He could always 'volunteer' himself and his veteran tanker corps to see what they could achieve alone... Of course, that would leave the US with no experienced tank commanders or crews (and few tanks) of her own. It would also mean knowingly sending himself and his men to either their deaths or years of imprisonment in enemy camps.

In the end, he was a soldier first so he would do whatever his nation required of him. He just hoped they were both speedy and wise in their choosing.

What you forget is that the US is not an isolationist country, as in our timeline. The American people have an exceptionally high support for war (the savages!), and the troops are not half bad either.

Oh, and the capital is Dover! I think I might have said Washington was the capital in an earlier chapter, or perhaps the last AAR, but since EU4, the capital of the US has been in Dover, Delaware!
 
Chapter 6 - May 1940: Iberia and Colombia

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President Dunaden steps up to the podium set on the front terrace of the White House. The streets of Dover are crowded with people, all there to listen to Dunaden's speech. He clears his throat, testing the mic.

"This morning, at approximately 2 AM eastern time, our allies the Teutons were unjustly and shamelessly attacked by the fascist government of Arabia. Shortly after, the Lotharingian government also declared war against our friends."

He pauses for a few seconds. The audience is silent.

"It takes little imagination to see how this attack threatens not only democracy in Europe, but also our very way of life. After many, many years of peace between the Anglo Alliance and Lotharingia, the American nation cannot stand by and allow the tyrants of fascism to do as they please in Europe. I regret that the US is at war."

Congress agrees to war with the Covenant of Steel by a majority. And the US is not alone. They call to their side Canada, Antillen, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Mexico, the United States of Central America, Terres du Nord, and Great Britain.

Just as the US declares war, Peru joins the Covenant and, a few hours later, Colombia does as well. This war is no longer centered around Europe, the US has enemies to the south. Not even 24 hours after, Andalusia joins too.

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1st and 2nd armies of the Atlantic Forces are sent to Ireland to prepare to aid the Teutons. The former expeditionary forces in Asia are reformed as 3rd Army, and it is sent with the newly formed 4th Army to prepare for the invasion of South America in Panama.

The Grand Fleet is sent to Ireland to rebase. The Pacific Iron Fleet is diverted from Europe to gain control of the seas around South America. Within hours of war, the Battle for the Channel begins, and the British fleet collides with the Lotharingian. Fortunately, the British have always ruled the oceans, and their impressive force of 18 battleships easily overcome the Lotharingian forces.

That is, until the backup arrives. Dozens of enemy heavy cruisers and battleships arrive, and suddenly the battle is not as much in Britain's favor. Over 50 Lotharingian ships are sunk, but not without bringing over 40 British ships with them. As the enemy begins to retreat, the American Grand Fleet arrives, helping to bring down nearly all of the remaining enemy battleships.

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Not even a week after the war began, Venezuela declares itself aligned with the Covenant of Steel. Now the US is at war with 3 nations to the south.

The Battle for the Channel is more than just naval. Thousands and thousands of planes meet for combat in the airs above the waters, and hundreds of planes are shot down in the next week. The Covenant has the upperhand, fielding over 4000 planes against the 2500 Anglo ones over the Channel. In Iberia, there is a frustrating lack of runways, just three, with a total capacity of 1000 planes. This is nowhere near as many as Dunaden would like to use, and many of those slots are taken but allied airplanes.

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The push in Iberia is so furious, that the Teutonic capital of Perpignan falls by July. 2nd Army lands in Bilbao, the new capital, on the 9th and are sent to stop the Covenant push into Iberia.

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Most of 1st lands soon after, although a few transports are caught up in the Channel, where the battle continues. Now, it is only in Anglo favor. Since May, the Lotharingian Navy has been reduced to 9 ships, while its European allies' navies total 20 ships.

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In the midst of all the chaos, the Lotharingian supported fascist party of the North German Federation attempts a coup of the government, seizing large parts of it, but ultimately failing. They declare the start of the Fourth Reich (what happened to 1 through 3?) and, after taking control of the north part of the country, declares a civil war.

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It does not last long, and the Fourth Reich falls quickly before the NGF forces.

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In Iberia, the situation stabilizes as the US troops arrive on the front. Several Teutonic divisions are cut off and encircled, and a plan is drawn up to push the front back in order to rescue them. It is put in place in late July.

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Just days later, all the cut off Teutons surrender to the enemy. As casualties reach staggeringly high, the offensive is stopped, and the troops begin digging in.

In South America, the invasion begins. The first phase is a small push in Colombia to expand the front. 3rd and 4th armies carry out the plan.

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Bogota proves to be a tough nut to crack, and several weeks of combat stop the American troops in their tracks.

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In another part of the world, Delhi's elected and beloved president Durga Kunwar seems determined to unite India. He invades Gujarat. in September.

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As October begins, Bogota falls, and the situation looks good in South America. Colombia barely hangs on as several marine divisions land in Ecuador.

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Colombia capitulates in December, as the last of its government flees to Peru. The combat was more intense than anticipated, and thousands of refugees flee from the fallen nation, seeking shelter in Central America. The Anglo troops prepare for the invasions of Venezuela and Peru.

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To be continued.
 
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That was one heck of a naval battle. Too bad the Teutonic army could be saved. Nice update.
 
What you forget is that the US is not an isolationist country, as in our timeline. The American people have an exceptionally high support for war (the savages!), and the troops are not half bad either.

I think in-universe that however gungho the public are, the middle classes wouldn't be too thrilled about a war overseas though in this case it could be easily aold by the war hawks and other people who wabt war as a pure war of defence for a fellow Christian nation purely in europe against the evils of fasicm. And I said the army inuniverse wasn't ready because an army that size will never be ready for major deployment overseas. That being said, I do think there would be enough power and popularity for a declaration of war but any bad results would probably mean war exhaustion fairly quickly. Of course, the good general would quite like to show the Hun what for!

Oh, and the capital is Dover! I think I might have said Washington was the capital in an earlier chapter, or perhaps the last AAR, but since EU4, the capita

Wasn't sure whether you were retconning or not so stuck to whichever one I remembered last...whoops. i guess you can add absent mindedness to 'badass general and orator'.

Just as the US declares war, Peru joins the Covenant and, a few hours later, Colombia does as well. This war is no longer centered around Europe, the US has enemies to the south. Not even 24 hours after, Andalusia joins too.

Bugger. Okay, I pity the poor fool who has to beat them in that jungle.

1st and 2nd armies of the Atlantic Forces are sent to Ireland to prepare to aid the Teutons. The former expeditionary forces in Asia are reformed as 3rd Army, and it is sent with the newly formed 4th Army to prepare for the invasion of South America in Panama.

...the general was momentarily confused why, having helped win a land war in asia, he was being sent into even more mountainous terrain, now with added jungle (assuming he is over here?). He supposed that it was good a time as ever to become good at infantry commanding as well and got on with it.

Not even a week after the war began, Venezuela declares itself aligned with the Covenant of Steal. Now the US is at war with 3 nations to the south.

"I'll take 'em on..." The general's boast was proclaimed in the press.
"...though not all at once." Was left out by the censor.

The push in Iberia is so furious, that the Teutonic capital of Perpignan falls by July. 2nd Army lands in Bilbao, the new capital, on the 9th and are sent to stop the Covenant push into Iberia.

Yeah, it's going to be a tough push to get troops there in time to slow down, halt and shove back the fascists but you may yet make it.

Since May, the Lotharingian Navy has been reduced to 9 ships, while its European allies' navies total 20 ships.

Well, that's a good start to the war.

It does not last long, and the Fourth Reich falls quickly before the NGF forces.

That was weird. Moving on.

In Iberia, the situation stabilizes as the US troops arrive on the front. Several Teutonic divisions are cut off and encircled, and a plan is drawn up to push the front back in order to rescue them. It is put in place in late July.

Just in the nick of time there boys.

In South America, the invasion begins. The first phase is a small push in Colombia to expand the front. 3rd and 4th armies carry out the plan.

Victory by Christmas is repeated again by TBC. Reporters are slightly more incredulous this time.

Bogota proves to be a tough nut to crack, and several weeks of combat stop the American troops in their tracks.

Espeically after this. As it turns out, supplying two new armies spreading out over an entire country is rather hard work.

As October begins, Bogota falls, and the situation looks good in South America. Colombia barely hangs on as several marine divisions land in Ecuador.

Colombia capitulates in December, as the last of its government flees to Peru.

"Told you so!" Is not a front page quote but the general idea brings smiles to the frontlines and the people back home regardless. Good progress in the south, a solid halt to enemy progression in europe and victory on the seas has won over many sceptics and made heroes of many men on all sides.

The combat was more intense than anticipated, and thousands of refugees flee from the fallen nation, seeking shelter in Central America. The Anglo troops prepare for the invasions of Venezuela and Peru.

TBC stands confident publicly but in private, there is debate at the war table as to how well the armies will fair in the even harsher terrain further south. Air support will be a gresr factor in campaign success but with a plane shortage in Europe, it is unclear which front will receive the brunt of America's resources at this stage.
 
I think in-universe that however gungho the public are, the middle classes wouldn't be too thrilled about a war overseas though in this case it could be easily aold by the war hawks and other people who wabt war as a pure war of defence for a fellow Christian nation purely in europe against the evils of fasicm. And I said the army inuniverse wasn't ready because an army that size will never be ready for major deployment overseas. That being said, I do think there would be enough power and popularity for a declaration of war but any bad results would probably mean war exhaustion fairly quickly. Of course, the good general would quite like to show the Hun what for!
I'm sure they'd reconsider once they start making money off the war. War creates a large demand for weapons and materiel.
 
I'm sure they'd reconsider once they start making money off the war. War creates a large demand for weapons and materiel.

True but only true if the manpower and resources lost fighting the war arent missed. And your countru isnt, you kniw, invaded or something. The US is a natural fortress and a nearly impossible beast to invade or damage in appreciable ways, espexially now the naval war might well be over but there are still things thst would nake the piblic pissed off. Stupid long wars, bloodbaths, scary bombing of home turf and general apathy are all the usual suspects but who knows what might end up happening? If an ally ends up doing something unspeakabke, then that might well taint the war effort too.

This is to say that whilst it is unlikely that the US will lose war support or suffer disaster, Allies on the other hand, may well do. Especially on the contient itself.
 
True but only true if the manpower and resources lost fighting the war arent missed. And your countru isnt, you kniw, invaded or something. The US is a natural fortress and a nearly impossible beast to invade or damage in appreciable ways, espexially now the naval war might well be over but there are still things thst would nake the piblic pissed off. Stupid long wars, bloodbaths, scary bombing of home turf and general apathy are all the usual suspects but who knows what might end up happening? If an ally ends up doing something unspeakabke, then that might well taint the war effort too.

This is to say that whilst it is unlikely that the US will lose war support or suffer disaster, Allies on the other hand, may well do. Especially on the contient itself.
Long wars don't necessarily become a problem if media coverage is handled correctly (not outright censorship, but rather focusing on favorable stories and downplaying others). Bombing of the home turf would be almost impossible due to the US's natural defenses. General apathy can be kept at bay again by controlled media coverage and PR campaigns. If an ally commits appalling atrocities, the government can again control the media coverage to keep attention on it low at best. Now, what could turn the public against the war is if the casualty rate gets really high while not much progress appears to be made.

But the military-industrial complex wouldn't care for public sentiment. Defense contractors would see money to be made in selling weapons and supplies during the war. The longer the war goes on, the more money to be made. Greed is a powerful motivator.
 
The war effort is going well in the Americas, but Europe's not going as well. Too bad that Fourth Reich movement didn't gain more traction, that could have led to a three-way war.
 
That was one heck of a naval battle. Too bad the Teutonic army could be saved. Nice update.

Our army had no way of saving them... I really hoped I could...

That was weird. Moving on.

Exactly my reaction. First, I thought it was pretty nifty, a Fourth Reich! Then they were gone so quickly, and I just sorta thought, what was the point?

The war effort is going well in the Americas, but Europe's not going as well. Too bad that Fourth Reich movement didn't gain more traction, that could have led to a three-way war.

Yes, Europe is proving troublesome. I think Peru might be tougher than we think.

The Fourth Reich was fairly strong for its size, but it wouldn't have been able to compete against any of the great powers of the world. They would likely have joined the Covenant of Steel!
 
Chapter 7 - Dec 1940: Bloody Europe

President Dunaden receives the Baltic Ambassador in the Oval Office. The older man has been requested by his government to approach Dunaden with an offer. The UBC will join the Anglo Alliance. In return, Dunaden will swear to defend the Democratic government of the UBC. In the way the offer is put, he does not mean against foreign threats. The Communist party has gained a lot of influence in the Baltics, and the government needs a safeguard against any attempted coups or civil wars. This will not be any official guarantee, but the ambassador makes it obvious that his government will not join the alliance without a promise. Dunaden tells the man he will get his answer by the end of the year. The man leaves.

General William Manuel "Jabby" Jabson, in charge of the American Forces in Europe, writes up plans for Operation Rising Eagle. It is the plan to retake the lost Teutonic territory. The first phase begins on December 8th.

The first phase is a run up the west coast. After that, a pocket will be made using the border with Picardy to trap Covenant soldiers behind lines. Lastly, a spearhead will trap the rest of the enemy in the north eastern part of Iberia.

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Casualties in this war are worse than anything before imagined. In 6 months, a million are dead. Britain has lost nearly a third of that as Lotharingia overran British Scandinavia. The Teutonic Order lost about a quarter of a million and the US 100 thousand. At this rate, the Anglo-Covenant War will be bloodier than even the Great War.

Rising Eagle does well in pushing up the coast. By Christmas, 1st Army can see the city of Bordeaux. Then, enemy reinforcements arrive on the line, and a counterattack in launched.

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Then, the next part of Meenen's plan unfolds. On New Year's day, Lotharingia declares war on Picardy. He obviously plans on reaching the continental parts of Britain through the unfortunate obstacle that is Picardy.

Dunaden agrees to the UBP's request, and they join the war with the Anglo Alliance.

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The UBP brings with it a large army of 88 divisions, over 3000 planes, and 88 ships. Picardy brings 49 divisions, about 1000 planes, and 17 ships. But Picardy will not last long unless help can get to them. Bordeaux is finally taken a few days into 1941.

In world news, Turkestan invades Persia. It seems the Persian dream of an empire of old is doomed to die.

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An unusually warm winter allows good progress to be made in Iberia, and soon the American lines are just miles from Picardy. The lines connect on the 17th of January. Picardy will not fall just yet.

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Or so they thought. Mid February sees a renewed enemy offensive, and Picardy dissolves. Rising Eagle grinds to a stop as dozens of Covenant divisions arrive.

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In South America, Venezuela is down to two provinces, completely surrounded by American and Haitian troops. American troops have also penetrated fairly far into Peru, but fierce mountain and jungle combat have made it slow and deadly work.

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Suddenly, British and Picardian troops break through Covenant lines. Apparently, a small stretch of the front was left lightly guarded by Lotharingia, and Picardy and Britain took advantage. Now, Anglo troops flood into Germany, largely unopposed. They reach within miles of the capital of Luxembourg.

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Venezuela falls in mid March as their capital is captured. 9 Peruvian divisions are trapped in the shattered remains of Venezuela, and the US troops close in.

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Operation Rising Eagle continues, but the trapping pocket is slightly further north than before.

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On March 23rd, Delhi invades the last of independent India: Carnatic. The world will see the first united India in World history before too long.

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The pocket is created in April, and over a hundred thousand Lotharingian troops are trapped. The Anglo troops close the ranks to capture the enemy.

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It closes fairly quickly, until they are pushed against the sea, yet they fight on. Along the line, the enemy launches another counterattack, and then entire front is thrown into combat. By this time, Picardy and Britain have been expelled from Lotharingia's land and far from Luxembourg.

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At long last, Japan is ousted from mainland Asia. It took many years, but Japan is now confined to its islands.

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A year after the war began, the war in Europe has become static. Both sides throw attack after attack at their enemy, yet the progress remains null. In Peru, it is rough, dirty work. Many troops are sick with Dengue Fever and malaria in the jungles.

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The death toll reaches 3 million, with about the same amount injured, not including civilian casualties. Several cities have been nearly completely destroyed. Lotharingian bombing and intense shelling and combat have rendered Bordeaux a pile of rubble. The majority of the population has fled south. Paris, which changed hands several times since Picardy was invaded, is a shell of its former self. The last time the Picardian troops retook the city, they found that the esteemed Eiffel tower was nothing more than a heap of twisted metal.

In America, support for the war, high at the beginning, dwindles as reports of the death and destruction make their way to the cities and small towns. As young men continue to die, never to return to their families, people stop seeing any point in this war. Arabia invaded for Al Rif, and they captured it. Yet the Covenant of Steel and the Anglo Alliance continue the war. It is just unhappy muttering. For now.
 
The US is not producing Strats? What are the the air totals by types for each side?
The was is getting messy.
 
Casualties in this war are worse than anything before imagined.

Thought that might be the case since unlike otl ww2, here europe didn't get weaker or depopulated but stronger and stayed full of super big states.

the US 100 thousand.

What, just in Europe? And we haven't even begun aggressive campaigns yet? Oh dear...

The UBP brings with it a large army of 88 divisions, over 3000 planes, and 88 ships. Picardy brings 49 divisions, about 1000 planes, and 17 ships. But Picardy will not last long unless help can get to them. Bordeaux is finally taken a few days into 1941.

True but this does give the allies the opportunity to use their populations to their advantage and link their fronts together to make it painful for the covenant to carry on.

In world news, Turkestan invades Persia. It seems the Persian dream of an empire of old is doomed to die.

We don't want a unified middle east any more than a unified india. It might be too late for the latter (Delhi has basically won at this point) but the former is too strategical well placed to not become a war problem if someone suceeds.

An unusually warm winter allows good progress to be made in Iberia, and soon the American lines are just miles from Picardy. The lines connect on the 17th of January. Picardy will not fall just yet.

Yes, a victory in an uncertain front is good.

Or so they thought. Mid February sees a renewed enemy offensive, and Picardy dissolves. Rising Eagle grinds to a stop as dozens of Covenant divisions arrive.

Hmm...okay, guess I need to clean up south america and sort this out myself!

In South America, Venezuela is down to two provinces, completely surrounded by American and Haitian troops. American troops have also penetrated fairly far into Peru, but fierce mountain and jungle combat have made it slow and deadly work.

Speaking of...
General TBC continues to press forward, though the intense strain of fighting is begining to tell on his army and staff. Over half his tank force has gotten stuck or broken down at least twice in the past week and the amount of sick and dying soldiers from jungle diseases grows by the hour. The sanitation and supply issue for both troops and liberated civillians is dire, to the point that the military censor is desperately trying to keep word and pictures getting out about it to the public.

Suddenly, British and Picardian troops break through Covenant lines. Apparently, a small stretch of the front was left lightly guarded by Lotharingia, and Picardy and Britain took advantage. Now, Anglo troops flood into Germany, largely unopposed. They reach within miles of the capital of Luxembourg.

Another victory for mobile forces and an example again of how modern war goes from slow monotany to lighting fast advances in hours.

Venezuela falls in mid March as their capital is captured. 9 Peruvian divisions are trapped in the shattered remains of Venezuela, and the US troops close in.

Venezula is a broken country. The war and bombing has taken such a toll on the already fragile society that there is geniune call amongst the general staff to cease heavy bombing campaigns in future, for fear of doing more harm than good. One of the reasons the US did so well in China and here before now was that the local populations was generally on their side. TBC writes in his personal diaries the fears of losing such support, and potentially ruing these southern countries so much that they become beacons for communist uprisings in Uncle Sam's back yard.

This would eventually lead to a telegram to Dover asking for some kind of economic rebuilding plan for these war torn countries after they were taken out one by one.

On March 23rd, Delhi invades the last of independent India: Carnatic. The world will see the first united India in World history before too long.

Potentially good or bad.

The pocket is created in April, and over a hundred thousand Lotharingian troops are trapped. The Anglo troops close the ranks to capture the enemy.

Excellent. Capture them and it's great for PR if nothing else.

By this time, Picardy and Britain have been expelled from Lotharingia's land and far from Luxembourg.

Especially in the face of that news.

At long last, Japan is ousted from mainland Asia. It took many years, but Japan is now confined to its islands.

Well at least we helped there. Maybe TBC gets a crate of tea in thanks. I'm sure the troops need some.

A year after the war began, the war in Europe has become static. Both sides throw attack after attack at their enemy, yet the progress remains null. In Peru, it is rough, dirty work. Many troops are sick with Dengue Fever and malaria in the jungles.

"It is a dismal time. Morale is very low. The camps are filled with coughing, spluttering bodies. Men well enough to stand guard are jumping at every shadow and branch snap. Peru seems to have shattered us physically and mentally. The fight goes on but it has been knocked out of us.

Worse, the public has finally gotten wind of the epidemic amongst the troops and the terrible mess we are in. I've offered personal financial reward to any genius who can deliver a medicine for the men but I don't hold out much hope. Not when our machines have been defeated by the jungle and we have been exhuasted by the heat, the insects and the ungodly fear the enemy have put us under. They attack at any hour, seemingly from any and all corners. We make headway and take ever more land but their troops are begining to melt into the mountains and jungles and be utter demons therein. If taking the cities further south does not cause them to surrender, I fear I could be here a hundred years and a day trying to dislodge them from their home turf.

I am very tired. We all are."

-General TBC's diary

The death toll reaches 3 million, with about the same amount injured, not including civilian casualties.

Which are also high, possibly higher considering the bombings. If there hasn't been disease outbreaks before there will be soon.

In America, support for the war, high at the beginning, dwindles as reports of the death and destruction make their way to the cities and small towns. As young men continue to die, never to return to their families, people stop seeing any point in this war.

The South American campaign is a war of defence and is going slightly better than europe, although at increasingly high costs. So I think support there would still be alright, but mounting horror about conditions for everyone involved would probably be the issue there. Newspapers would be having a field day with it by now.

Arabia invaded for Al Rif, and they captured it.

Not good either.

Yet the Covenant of Steel and the Anglo Alliance continue the war. It is just unhappy muttering. For now.

Hmm...thst sounds ominous.
 
Could be better, could be worse. Something has to be done to end the stalemate in Europe.
 
How goes the nuclear program? Has any country come close yet to building a bomb?
 
How goes the nuclear program? Has any country come close yet to building a bomb?

It's very hard to do in HOI4 before 1946 due to massive tech penalties. Only the US could do it before then, and only if they decided to concentrste a ridiculous amount of time and resources to it.

In universe...it depends where the centre of modern Physcis is. Presumably its either amercia, england or somewhere in the covenant though so the war might turn very nasty indeed.
 
The US is not producing Strats? What are the the air totals by types for each side?
The was is getting messy.

I can't remember off the top of my head, but the US has an insane number of planes. The US is producing strats. Right now, they are a little out of date, but there are still about 2.5k of them! The problem is, the fighter count is down to about 2k from the Battle for the Channel, so I need to get my store back up to do any good strategic bombing of Lotharingia.

As for type counts for other countries. Can you see the breakup of types? As far as I am aware you can only see estimated total planes for other countries.

Hmm...thst sounds ominous.

Does it? No no don't be worried.

Could be better, could be worse. Something has to be done to end the stalemate in Europe.

I actually expected Lotharingia to steamroll all of western Europe!

How goes the nuclear program? Has any country come close yet to building a bomb?

One of the coming chapters will talk about it, but at this point the US has devoted some resources to it. The first tech isn't until 1943, so this chapter is still 2 years early. I know a few countries have taken focuses which aid in the research.

It's very hard to do in HOI4 before 1946 due to massive tech penalties. Only the US could do it before then, and only if they decided to concentrste a ridiculous amount of time and resources to it.

In universe...it depends where the centre of modern Physcis is. Presumably its either amercia, england or somewhere in the covenant though so the war might turn very nasty indeed.

It would be in Lotharingia then...
 
Chapter 8 - Jun 1941: The Autumn Riots

This war is a mess.

- General TBC, Commanding Officer, 3rd Army

The fighting in Peru can be described only as hellish. Thick jungle and snow peaked mountains make any form of vehicle useless, and ambushes are a daily occurrence for those units unfortunate enough to be leading the armies. The quick progress against Colombia and Venezuela is nowhere to be found in Peru, where every shadow hides another enemy ready to throw himself to his doom, bringing as many Americans with him as he can.

Far from South America, the north of Picardy is nearly a wasteland. After months of endless fighting, the towns and villages are abandoned, the cities destroyed, and the landscape stained with artillery craters. While the line has stood strong in the last month, it is breaking now. A seemingly unending supply of Lotharingian fighting men has battered the weary Picardian and British troops, and now they are beginning to falter.

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Operation Rising Eagle stalled completely in May, and the next phase is delayed indefinitely. 'Hold the line' is the only order given now.

As they lose ground on land, the sea and air battle exceed all expectations. The Battle for the Channel is now entirely in Anglo favor. Lotharingia's navy is no more, as are most of the navies of the other Covenant countries. Thousands of enemy planes still attempt to seize air supremacy over the waters, but they are beaten back by the more skilled Anglo fighters. At the beginning of the war, Lotharingia had well over 6 thousand planes. Now, they field 2 thousand.

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Within a month, the northern line has collapsed, and the Covenant pushes deep into British territory and along the coast.

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On July 22nd, Kanem Bornu, the insignificant African nation, declares war on Funj to take their western state.

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Swahili, also known as the Republic of Kenya, joins the Stali Pact at the end of July. They are a nation which covers most of the east coast of Africa. While they are not militarily powerful, their control of the coast affords them great power over trade.

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The rest of the line in Picardy collapses in August, and now Covenant troops near the west coast once again. The southern lines mostly hold against the onslaught, but even they lose some ground.

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In South America, Operation Mountain Storm begins. This operation is simply a push into Peruvian territory. Instead of trying to encircle and capture enemy troops, as was the policy in Peru since 1940, General Khaine, in charge of all US forces in South America, believes that Peru will collapse if its capital is taken.

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Another war begins in Europe, as Poland, with the backing of the Stali Pact, invades the NGF. As Lotharingia has always had its eye on the NGF, there is no telling how this will affect Covenant-Stali relations.

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The Covenant reaches the coast in September, and it seems likely the Brits and Picardians will be pushed out of Europe. The southern lines still hold, but they undergo ruthless battering.

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Good news reaches America, as Barcelona, lost nearly a year before, is retaken. It is the first progress in Iberia in many, many months.

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More good news arrives hours later. Even though the Peruvian capital's fall did not mean the fall of Peru, as was predicted, 10 divisions of the enemy, nearly a hundred thousand, are trapped behind our lines. Their capture would be an enormous step towards victory in South America.

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The enemy troops surrender a week later, and the Peruvian Army is down another hundred thousand troops. The US continues its grueling march through Peru.

When the war first began, Americans were willing to go to war with the evil fascists of Europe and South America. With over a year of no progress in Europe, and slow and bloody steps in South America, support for the war in many US towns and cities has dropped. More and more industries are converted to military use, and more and more products become hard to come by. The American people are unhappy.

The first strike begins in Detroit, as thousands of factory workers take to the streets to protest the war. And it doesn't end there. The next day, Chicago joins Detroit in protest, and soon after so does New York. Pretty soon, towns and cities all over the country see thousands of workers refusing to continue working until their conditions have improved, or the war stopped.

All factory production is reduced by 20% from the strikes, and, if things don't change, it will only get worse. Dunaden mulls over his choices. His military advisers, scared at the prospect of a huge lack of supplies, advises an immediate show of military force to quell the strikes. The President disagrees and goes with the much more measured approach. A propaganda campaign, showing those workers who continue to work as heroes, begins. Perhaps this will end the nonsense.

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To everyone's surprise, Persia does not fall to Turkestan. On the contrary, they have completely annexed the invading nation, and Persia has doubled in size.

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Picardy falls in late September. Britain struggles to hold on to its last mainland territory, but it looks hopeless. Already American media is reporting that the end of the war in Europe is months away.

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Even as one of the Anglo Alliance members falls, the Covenant loses one as well. Peru capitulates on the 12th of October, and their troops throw down their arms and surrender. Several thousand Lotharingian troops fight on from Peru's defacto capital, Forte do Principe, but they do not last long. A few divisions remain to clean up the mess. The rest, so tired from a year of horrific fighting, are sent to Iberia. The invasion of Arabia must be planned.

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Production of all plane models halts in November. Soon after, dockyards across all the states close as their workers join the strikes. As production halts, trade dwindles to the point where there is a lack of nearly every material. The protests turn into riots in Detroit and Chicago, and several dozen die in clashes.

Perpignan is retaken after over a year of enemy occupation. It took weeks of combat to finally oust the Covenant forces, and the city is in shambles because of it. The rest of the occupied land will not be easier. The strikes at home have caused a shortage of light tanks, and the tank brigades in Europe and South America are down 3.3 thousand tanks. In addition, the infantry divisions have a small shortage of artillery, and the shortage will grow alarmingly fast if the strikes do not stop.

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Dunaden signs the National Workers' Act on December 20th, 1941, as the strikes reach an alarming level. This act would provide several new rights and laws for workers, including a shorter work day, guaranteed vacation and sick days, and safer working conditions. In addition, a small percentage of converted factories are converted back to commercial use.

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The new Act combined with the propaganda campaign do the trick, and the majority of the striking workers are quite satisfied with the changes. The strikes almost completely dissolve less than a week after the introduction of the act, and production returns mostly to normal. A few protests continue against the war, but their significance is minimal.

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Had the strike continued for much longer, the war in Europe would have been lost. Still, there are severe shortages of tanks, artillery, and planes after months of halted production. It will take months to repair the damage done to the war effort.