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The French resistance is stubborn, but there's no way they can hold off the sheer tides of metal and manpower that the USSA and USSR can field together forever. Hopefully they'll fold before it becomes a messy war of attrition, though...
 
You should land the next wave of troops in southwest France. There's a fine port city in Bordeaux, and it would greatly aid in cutting off French forces in Spain.

I had actually been thinking of some sort of landing somewhere on the west coast but with what's going on in the south it'll have to be put on hold for now...I may still do something like that later we'll have to see :)
 
I had actually been thinking of some sort of landing somewhere on the west coast but with what's going on in the south it'll have to be put on hold for now...I may still do something like that later we'll have to see :)

I think that you should leave a relatively strong force in southern Iberia to protect them from landings, which seem to be French Ai's favourite way of conducting offensives.
 
New chapter time...

Chapter 18 - March-April 1943
As March began the USSA was involved in heavy fighting throughout the Iberian Peninsula in their war against the Axis. The Reactionaries have already been driven from the Americas and now as both France and Spain are driven back into their home territory this war has become more about the Post-War order than the defeat of the Axis, which is by now inevitable. This does not mean the Reactionary forces should be underestimated and mistakes have already been made by Red Army Officers who were convinced that their enemy was crushed. The dangerous veteran French forces in the South must be contained as soon as possible but news is better elsewhere with Madrid under the control of the USSA's Portuguese allies and quick advances in the North, where the city of Bilbao has just been captured by the Red Army.

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After Huelva is recaptured by the growing French advance they instead choose to push North into Badajoz instead of Invading Portugal once again raising the question of what their ultimate objective is. However with the French forces advancing North the USSA launched a counterattack towards Huelva in an attempt to encircle this dangerous French force. Meanwhile advances by the Veracruz Pact continue elsewhere with the American Red Army entering Ciudad Real unopposed. Also back in the south the British have landed in Southern Spain and occupied Cadiz. Despite combating a common enemy there is no illusions of friendship between the Veracruz Pact and the Allies and a race for territory is underway between the two factions just like there is between the USSA and the Soviets further north. The British Imperialists holding part of mainland Spain is undoubtedly a threat to American interests in Iberia.

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Two days later there is more bad news for the USSA as the Red Army is driven back from Toledo by the continued advance of the French from the south with their objective seeming to be to recapture the Spanish capital of Madrid. The French continue to demonstrate, despite their horrid political views, their barbarism and how obviously their cause is lost, that their 'Guerre Rapide' tactics are still lethal to anyone who is unprepared. Attempts continue to be made to halt and trap these French forces with Madrid now vulnerable to falling back under Axis control.

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Despite these setbacks the frontline forces further west continue their advance towards the Mediterranean coast with the Red Army capturing the important city of Zaragoza. Meanwhile attempts to push back the French advance towards Madrid continue with counterattacks being launched by the USSA which have unfortunately met with little success so far.

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Similarily, the counterattack at Huelva also ends in failure not long after with heavy losses for both sides, these failed counteroffensives continue to hurt the image of the Red Army and this situation is currently unacceptable to the leadership in Chicago. However news continues to be better elsewhere with American forces capturing Huesca in the North and reaching the French border. The remnants of the Spanish Army are now mostly concentrated around the city of Pamplona and it is hoped that their destruction will soon come and be a welcome distraction from failures elsewhere.

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The British also continue to take advantage of the USSA's failures by taking more territory along the south coast of Spain with Malaga falling under British control on March 17th. Further north the outskirts of the city of Pamplona falls under Red Army control after days of bitter house-to-house fighting. The battle for this city is not over and Spanish and French forces in the city continue to fight bitterly against the forces of Socialism.

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To the west the American advance towards the Mediterranean Coast continues with the cities of Teruel and Albacete falling under USSA control within a day of each other. Unfortunately this is soon overshadowed by more failures further south as attempts to halt the French advance on Madrid continue to fail and a well-timed Pro-Axis uprising in the Spanish capital throws the Veracruz Pact forces out of the city ahead of the French advance. There is now no doubt that Madrid will fall back under Axis control and all effort must now be put towards ending the threat of this French force that has pushed from Cadiz to the gates of Madrid in less than a month. The one good side of this situation is that the French advance while impressive was also extremely single-minded and has therefore left their flanks vulnerable and it may well be possible to trap this French Army in the city they pushed to desperately to reach.

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There is much better news from the west hours later as the advance forces of the American Red Army reaches Valencia completing the objective of reaching the Mediterranean Coast and effectively cutting Spain in two. Meanwhile the offensive to trap the French in the corridor their advance on Madrid created begins with the French garrison in Huelva retreating after apparently becoming aware of American intentions. Such actions only highlight the selfishness and corruption that is commonplace within reactionary societies.

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By March 24th the Axis Forces in the south are cut off and the earlier failures of the Red Army begin to be reversed to the delight of the leadership in Chicago who have been working hard to suppress any news of such failures from the American public that could possibly inspire a revolt by reactionary elements still present within the USSA. Meanwhile further north the bitter Battle of Pamplona continues with Franco-Spanish forces pouring into the city and pushing the Red Army back out of the city. The Axis are determined to fight for every inch of this city and losses on both sides are horrific in the bitter urban fighting but there is little doubt that such sacrifices are worth it as the Axis can hardly afford such losses in this war that they are undoubtedly losing.

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With the Axis Forces in Madrid now trapped the USSA can resume offensives in the South and not a moment too soon as the opportunistic British have now captured Sevilla. No more Spanish cities must be allowed to fall to the British and to this end an offensive is launched towards Granada and it is hoped that the Red Army can reach the city before the British.

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As March comes to an end several Spanish cities fall to the USSA without much of a fight and with Barcelona falling in early April, there seems to be little doubt that the Spanish military is now mostly broken with only scattered remnants fighting on. The one exception to this is Pamplona where bitter fighting continues with American forces being pushed out of the city once again but the Red Army has already launched a counterattack determined to bleed the Axis forces white for this city they are so determined to fight for.

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Back in the south a large Franco-Spanish Force is defeated outside Granada after heavy fighting during the Red Army's push to capture the city before the British which continues and it is still hoped that the USSA will win this race despite the delays forced by these Axis holdouts in the south. Not long after the French recapture Bilbao in the North taking advantage of the Americans being temporarily driven out of Pamplona. Meanwhile the Red Army continues to secure the Northeast of Spain where they fight not only the scattered remnants of Axis forces but also an Anarchist Militia which is hostile to Reactionary and Socialist alike and seeks to carve out a state of their own in Northern Spain. Thankfully this Anarchist rabble proved no match for the Red Army who defeated them in and around Barcelona before continuing on to the French border.

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Days later a Red Army counteroffensive drives the French out of Bilbao after heavy fighting. These Axis forces in the North just continue to fight on bitterly against their hated Socialist foe but there is clearly no hope of them achieving anything other than a delay to their inevitable defeat. Meanwhile the USSA launch an offensive into France itself where they achieve a victory near the city of Perpignan. The Soviets have also made some progress into Southern France in recent weeks and both Socialist powers are already beginning their race to capture as much French territory as possible before the inevitable surrender. In the south the Red Army capture Granada, achieving their objective of reaching the city before the British.

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Fighting continues over Pamplona with fighting as brutal there as ever. However the Spanish forces, while undoubtedly brave, are beginning to suffer from not being adequately supplied and French reinforcements into the city simply aren't enough to push back the Red Army any longer.

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After weeks of being cut off the Franco-Spanish Forces in Madrid were finally forced to surrender to the USSA after heavy fighting in and around the city. The fighting for Madrid this time was a far cry from the almost unopposed capture of the city by the Portuguese near the start of the war. What is important is that now the city will come back under Socialist control and this time it shall stay that way.

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On April 18th the last Axis forces were finally driven from Pamplona. However, the fighting for the city was not over yet as the Spanish launched a poorly organized counterattack without French support. This offensive will no doubt be crushed but the city of Pamplona, bitterly fought over for so long, is now fully in American hands. Around the same time more offensives were launched by the USSA into France and Perpignan was captured by the Red Army.

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By now the remaining Axis forces in Spain had been reduced to scattered remnants cut off from supply and it was now only a matter of crushing these remnants and securing the Iberian Peninsula for true Socialism. The last serious resistance in the South was around the city of Jaen where several Franco-Spanish divisions have retreated to in order to make a last stand.

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In France the Red Army's advance continued with the capture of Beziers which brought them ever closer to the Soviets to the west who have by now advanced as far as Marseille. Meanwhile further east the USSA achieved a decisive victory over the Axis near Mont-de-Marsan as part of their advance towards the vital Atlantic port city of Bordeaux.

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By April 26th the Axis Forces in Southern Spain have been crushed with Jaen falling to the Red Army while in the North Bilbao has been recaptured. This marks the end of all organized Axis resistance in mainland Spain and now all attention can be diverted towards France, the lair of the Fascist beast. Around the same time forces of the American Red Army meet their Soviet counterparts not far to the East of Beziers. This meeting must no doubt signal the beginning of the end for the French Reactionaries who are quickly running out of room to retreat into. While undoubtedly more rivals than friends the meeting between the soldiers of the USSA and USSR was said to be an occasion of great camaraderie between the fighting men but this will no doubt be nothing more than an interlude as despite being nominally allies the two Socialist powers remain extremely suspicious of one another.

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After this momentous occasion the business of defeating France quickly resumed as the Americans continued to move northwards and achieved another decisive victory at Pau and also entered the city of Toulouse, a prize the USSA had been determined to capture as it will greatly aid in securing the Southeastern region of Occitania which could potentially be incorporated into a future Iberian Socialist Federation once the war is over. For the moment however the ease of capturing Toulouse demonstrated just how overstretched the French have become in the south as even while they have been able to fight the Soviets to a stalemate further North they simply do not have the manpower any more to hold back the Socialist advance in the South where most French forces are by now concentrated around Bordeaux which the Red Army leadership are sure will be a difficult objective to capture due to this.

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As April comes to an end there is little doubt that this war is going to last much longer. As May begins this also brings the celebrations of May Day which are a cause for much celebration this year with the Reactionaries almost defeated. Along the parts of France where American and Soviet divisions where near to each other there was widespread fraternisation due to May Day, an occasion celebrated by both Socialist powers who celebrated the unity of their ideology while for a day ignoring the disagreements and suspicion by both sides. These joint celebrations have never happened before due to poor relations between the USSA and USSR and is unlikely to ever happen again after as there is no doubt that once May 1st is over the two sides will return to distrusting each other and competing for territory, the differences between the two powers are too great for anything to be different. But for now the victory of Socialism over the vile forces of Fascism are cause for much celebration! Onwards Comrades!!

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Wait a second... French still hold some land in Africa?

Also: I think that now it's a parfect time to perform landings in Normandy - French won't be able to defend, because they already are not able to do this, and therefore USSA could capture Paris quickly and without spilling too much blood.
 
Wait a second... French still hold some land in Africa?

Also: I think that now it's a parfect time to perform landings in Normandy - French won't be able to defend, because they already are not able to do this, and therefore USSA could capture Paris quickly and without spilling too much blood.

Yeah you'd think they'd have bigger priorities closer to home right? haha

And don't worry a Naval Operation is very likely, probably not Normandy but somewhere...you'll see soon enough

Yeah go straight for the jugular.

That is certainly the idea alright :)
 
New chapter time!

Chapter 19 - May-June 1943
As May Day was celebrated across the Socialist world the brave soldiers of the USSA have entered Southern France and, along with the Allies and Soviets, stand poised to topple the vile reactionary regime that has ruled France for over a decade and liberate the workers of France at long last. France's Spanish allies have already been driven from their homeland but continue the fight on in Africa and France. The Red Army's advance into France continues with another decisive victory near Perigueux, the time for the destruction of the Axis is near!!

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Even before the Iberian Peninsula was fully secured by forces of the Veracruz Pact several Red Army officers had been advocating an amphibious invasion of Western France in order to bypass French defences in the south and in an attempt to reach Paris before the Soviets. Now, with the French sending more and more reinforcements to the south and with the bulk of the Red Navy having arrived in Europe the military was finally given the go ahead to carry out such an operation. This operation, codenamed Operation Dragoon, will be put into action within the next few days and will consist of two separate landings along the West Coast. The first landing will occur around the city of La Rochelle and will aim to encircle the large Axis force around Bordeaux by linking up with the forces advancing from the south. The trapping and destruction of these forces will no doubt defang the Axis forces in this sector. The second landing will occur in Southern Brittany and will aim to quickly bring the Peninsula under control of the USSA before pushing as far east as they can. All the while the Red Army forces in Southern France will continue pushing north and it is hoped that this along with the two landing operations will collapse the Axis war effort as soon as possible.

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Soon the Invasion force for Operation Dragoon departed their base at Bilbao and the operation was soon underway. Meanwhile the Red Army entered Mont-de-Marsan as their advance northwards continued.

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On May 16th the first landings of Operation Dragoon were carried out with soldiers of the USSA landing in Brittany unopposed, the peninsula is currently almost completely undefended and the French will surely have to divert some of their critically overstretched forces to deal with this Invasion. In contrast, the landings at La Rochelle were fiercely defended by a small but determined French force in well-fortified positions. These landings begun in the early hours of the 16th and as morning approached the Red Army had made only small gains for heavy losses.

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However, the brave men of the Red Army were soon able to secure La Rochelle within the first 24 hours of the Invasion, completing their initial objective. Meanwhile in the south an offensive had been launched towards Bordeaux with the intention of preventing Axis reinforcements from contesting the landings further north. However this offensive turned into a bitter bloodbath south of Bordeaux as the Axis forces proved they are still capable of fighting off the Red Army. The battle ended in defeat for the USSA but the offensive's main objective of keeping the Axis busy in the south was still achieved and aided in the successful landings at La Rochelle.

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Meanwhile the USSA continued to make progress in Brittany but unfortunately French reinforcements had arrived in time to prevent an easy capture of the important city of Rennes. Gains were also made in the south with Perigueux falling to the Red Army after bitter fighting. The French continue to fight fiercely for every inch of their homeland but clearly this will still not be enough to prevent their defeat. They are no doubt determined to make their enemies pay such a high price for the territory they capture as to make them lose heart and end the war. Well this will not happen as there is no price that is too small to pay in completing the liberation of France from Fascist tyranny!

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The landings of Operation Dragoon continued to progress well for the USSA as the important port city of Brest was captured without a fight while forces in La Rochelle broke out of their beachhead, capturing Nantes and moving to encircle the Axis forces in Bordeaux as planned. Meanwhile at sea the French Atlantic Fleet, still strong despite numerous setbacks against the British further north, arrived to combat the Red Navy and cut off supplies to the forces who had landed along the west coast. The Red Navy were unprepared for such a large French navy to attack them at the Bay of Quiberon but were able to prevent a collapse of supply to the fighting men for now, reinforcements are already on the way to deal with this troublesome French fleet.

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The operation to encircle the Axis forces in Bordeaux, now named Operation Ring, continued to make progress with a decisive defeat of French forces near Angouleme. These forces were also prevented from retreating east and were therefore forced back towards Bordeaux were they will no doubt share the same fate as those forces currently in the city itself.

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Further north the French were forced to retreat from Rennes after heavy fighting over the city which became reminiscent of the bitter urban fighting in Pamplona, a battle many of the American combatants at Rennes had been involved in. In the aftermath of the battle the French Propaganda ministry made a statement promising the Socialist invaders fanatical French resistance and "A Thousand Pamplonas" in their continued advance. While they continue to fight bitterly there are signs that the French fighting spirit is beginning to waver in places as some French divisions begin to surrender without a fight, particularly around Central France where many units of the Red Army continue to advance almost unopposed and the major city of Poitiers is soon captured without a fight. It seems that the ridiculously exaggerated promise of a thousand Pamplonas by the regime's mouthpiece is already proving false.

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On May 24th Operation Ring completes its objective and the Axis forces in Bordeaux are now cut off as the two prongs of the operation meet near Angouleme. With this large force now encircled it can now be withered down and destroyed. Surely not even the propaganda ministries of the French and Spanish Reactionaries will be able to put any kind of positive spin on the potential destruction of many of their best divisions in one fell swoop. Meanwhile at sea the French Atlantic Fleet suffers a heavy defeat in the Bay of the Biscay against the USSA whose force includes the pride of the Red Navy, the carrier USS America, the success of which in this battle clearly demonstrated the potential of aircraft carriers which are becoming increasingly important in naval warfare. The French Atlantic Fleet was defeated here but they will no doubt remain a threat to the Red Navy around the French coast for the foreseeable future.

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Success continued for the USSA on land as Angers was captured by the Red Army and not far from the city the forces of the two separate landings of Operation Dragoon linked up, signalling the final success of the operation. Now will be the matter of the advance towards Paris and there does not seem to be much in the way of French forces ahead of them at this moment but the officers of the Red Army know well the price of underestimating the Axis by now and will no doubt avoid making any such mistakes again. Further south the advance into Central France meets its first serious resistance near the historic city of Tours which French propaganda promises will hold, invoking a medieval battle in which the Franks repelled a foreign invasion. The French regime is clearly losing touch with reality if they think the situation they are in will have any kind of favorable outcome for them.

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The situation then became much more unfavorable for the French on May 29th when the large Axis garrison in Bordeaux surrendered to the USSA. Over 18,000 prisoners were taken in this surrender and cameramen of the Red Army captured this momentous event, broadcasting it to the world. Any doubts about the final French defeat evaporated with these images of thousands of France's best soldiers shambling into captivity. The French had inflicted heavy casualties around the city but by the time the Red Army had entered the cities outskirts the remaining Axis forces decided that surrender was the only option left to them.

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Not long after the French were also defeated at Tours and retreated east. There is no doubt that news of the surrender at Bordeaux influenced their decision as loudspeakers broadcasted speeches by French Socialists into Tours to make sure the defenders knew the fate of their once proud army and to appeal to the common soldier to surrender. Ultimately, most French soldiers chose to retreat rather than surrender but very soon they will have no land in which to retreat and surrender will become their only option.

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Further south a combined Soviet-American force captured the French city of Limoges. Such joint operations between the two Socialist powers remained rare due to the ever present distrust but for the moment defeat of the French Reactionaries remains the priority. While the Soviets entered the city itself the American Red Army bypassed Limoges and continued north to aid in operations to advance gains made by the USSA in hopes of denying as much of France as possible to the Soviet revisionists.

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In Early June the French launched a counterattack in the North towards Rennes. The poorly organized attack is quickly halted and clearly demonstrates how the offensive capability of the French Army has all but disappeared by now. The fact that the fanatical French leadership continued to demand such fruitless offensives shows not only their complete disregard for the lives of their soldiers but also their increasingly loosening grip on reality as they apparently continue to believe that such offensives can still bring them a final victory in this war. Meanwhile the Red Army continue their own advance east, achieving victory over a sizeable French force near Le Mans.

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The competition between the Americans and Soviets for French land continues as the easternmost advance of the USSA enters the city of Bourges mere hours before the Soviets, who are clearly unhappy about this and there are even reports of gunfire being exchanged as Soviet forces attempted to enter the city, such reports are to be kept quiet for now as the alliance between the two Socialist powers must last until the Axis are defeated. Meanwhile further North the USSA advance continues with another major victory at Falaise as the Red Army moves closer towards Paris. It appears there is still a large amount of French resistance in Normandy but south of these forces the way to Paris appears to be open.

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Taking a look at the Franco-Soviet Front to the west the fighting there appears to still be a stalemate with heavy fighting occurring in Western Germany where the last French offensive against the Soviets had been halted and there has been little movement in recent months. This is great news for the USSA as it means that they are now all but certain to be the first to reach Paris, the great prize of all the major combatants fighting against the French. This situation also clearly demonstrates that the French still consider the Soviets to be the biggest threat to their way of life.

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Meanwhile the advance of the American Red Army continues with little resistance with the historic city of Orleans being captured without a fight. The loss of Orleans will be a major morale loss for the French as the city is the home of their Royal Family. Puppet of the Reactionaries or not the King is still the French head of state and the loss of the city that bears his family name will no doubt help break the French will to fight on. Further north the Red Army capture Evreux, bringing them within striking distance of Paris!

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It isn't long before the Battle for Paris begins. To the south of the city the Red Army make rapid gains capturing the cities of Troyes and Chartres while to the North the forces of the USSA reach the Northern coast cutting off the French forces still in Normandy and preventing them from coming to the aid of their embattled capital. The French do make some breakout attempts but these are failures.

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On June 26th Paris falls to the Red Army after the French defenders choose to surrender rather than risk further damage to their beloved capital. Unfortunately both the French Government and the puppet king had fled the city before the arrival of the Americans and they continue to fight on from their new capital in Dieppe, although the Red Army is already advancing on this coastal city.

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As June comes to an end there is much cause for celebrations in the USSA as soldiers of the Red Army march through Paris and the French reactionaries, while still determined to continue their useless fight, are clearly on the verge of defeat by now. When the USSA entered this war their main objective was to drive the Axis out of the Americas and secure the Iberian Peninsula alongside their Portuguese comrades. It had been hoped that the USSA might also be able to prevent the Soviets from reaching the Atlantic Coast but capturing the French capital seemed like an unrealistic goal. However, with the Soviets halted by the Maginot Line and continuing to be frustrated along the Franco-German Border as well as the apparent incapability of the British to launch an Invasion of their own into France the dream of capturing Paris became more and more likely...and now that dream is a reality. The USSA's entry into the Second Great War has succeeded beyond all expectations and no matter how this war ends much of Western Europe will now come under the influence of true American Socialism!
 
Excellent, the City of Lights is in American hands! :D Looks like the Soviets have had some trouble penetrating the Rhine, though in the latest screenshots it looks like they've finally managed to establish a bridgehead.
 
Seems like we've got another Cold War a-brewing. At least this time it isn't about which economic system is great and which is the evil spawn of Satan—this time it's just about which reading of Marx is great and which is the evil spawn of Satan. :D
 
New chapter time!

Chapter 20 - July-August 1943
With the red flag now flying over Paris, the final defeat of the French reactionaries is surely imminent. With American troops in their capital and the Soviets beginning to breach their lines along the German border the French can surely not hold out much longer despite their obvious fanaticism. However, in the south the French have launched a strong offensive towards the Mediterranean Coast and seem poised to cut the Soviet Forces there in two. Such a disaster for the Soviets can only benefit the Americans in the long run but if the French decide to turn west they could regain territory currently held by the USSA and their Portuguese comrades and as such preparations may need to be made in case such a situation comes to pass.

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Hours later the American Red Army enter the coastal city of Dieppe, which had been acting as the French capital since the Fall of Paris. Once again the French Government is able to escape the city and soon arrive in Verdun which is already been threatened by the advancing Americans. From Verdun the French propaganda machine continues to demand more needless sacrifice from their own people. One figure noticeably absent from the French leadership in Verdun is their King, Henri VI, who was last seen in Dieppe before the cities capture and the Monarch was certainly not found, dead or alive, by the Americans after the cities fall. The French Propaganda Minister has also remained noticeably silent about the King's fate which for the moment remains a mystery to the USSA and her allies.

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Meanwhile further north the French forces in the Normandy Pocket continued to be slowly ground down with the last forces in the pocket retreating towards Cherbourg where they will no doubt seek to make a last stand. Further East another French counteroffensive was launched towards Reims, this offensive proved to be much better organized than previous attacks by the French Army and there is a danger that Reims might be recaptured.

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On July 4th the last French forces in the Normandy Pocket surrendered near Cherbourg with over 6,000 prisoners entering American captivity. The expected last stand by the French did not materialize and after some fighting near Cherbourg the French General saw the writing on the wall and officially surrendered to the Red Army. Around the same time the American advance through Northern France continued with the fall of Amiens just hours after the surrender near Cherbourg.

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Meanwhile in East Asia, where heavy fighting had been ongoing concurrently with the battles in Europe, the fighting there effectively came to an end with the surrender of the Reactionary Chinese Government to the Soviets who by now had captured all of the major Chinese cities. Days later the Soviets officially established the People's Republic of China as a satellite state while maintaining direct control of both Manchuria and Xinjiang. This unfortunately expected move by the Soviet revisionists has made many Chinese Communists unhappy as they had no doubt expected a unified Communist China, this situation can and will be exploited by MSS Agents who are already making contact with many of the dissatisfied Chinese Communists in the hope of soon swaying China away from Soviet influence!

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Back in Europe the French offensive towards Reims ended in failure as the Americans were able to maintain control of the city despite taking heavy losses. Meanwhile further North the Americans captured the coastal city of Dunkirk allowing them to encircle another French force in Calais and also bringing them within sight of the border with French-occupied Belgium. With the Soviet failure to advance beyond the Netherlands it seems extremely possible that the USSA will now be able to liberate at least some of Belgium themselves.

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News was less positive further south as the second American attempt to capture the well-defended city of Chaumont south of Verdun ended in failure while Verdun itself also continued to hold out against the Red Army. Worse was still to come as the French forces in Chaumont launched a powerful counterattack towards Troyes where the disorganized American soldiers were forced out of the city. After these defeats news of the destruction of the small French force in Calais hardly seemed significant. Meanwhile the Soviets have begun to make some serious progress into Eastern France with the city of Metz falling under their control. With the Maginot Line now breached in the south the fighting along the Franco-German border, long static, may now become mobile again.

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There was some more good news further north for the USSA not long after however as the Red Army achieved a decisive victory near Lille. However the situation back south continues to worsen as after the recapture of Troyes by the French they are once again threatening Reims, this time with a much stronger force. The fact that the French are now diverting several divisions to the front with the USSA is of course concerning as these veterans, who have fought off Soviet advances for months, are undoubtedly the most battle-hardened troops remaining in the French Army and their well-planned offensive has brought them within striking distance of Paris once again. The French cannot regain their capital!
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Back in Asia the Soviets have established a new Socialist puppet state in North Vietnam, which had been occupied by China in the early years of the war. The leader of this new Vietnamese state, Ho Chi Minh, speaks of fighting imperialism in Southeast Asia and of friendship with Moscow and it unfortunately seems like Vietnam will remain a loyal ally of the Soviets for the foreseeable future.

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Back in Europe the French offensives continue with Reims falling to the French. Fortunately the arrival of several American divisions means that the threat of them reaching Paris seems like it is ended. Indeed the French advance has apparently left them extremely overstretched and the Americans are able to launch devastating counteroffensives towards both Reims and Troyes and further north the Red Army achieve another decisive victory near Hirson.

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The counteroffensive towards Reims is also hugely successful for the Red Army who while suffering heavy losses are once again able to drive the French out of the city. Further North there is more good news for the Americans as Sedan is captured after a short skirmish with poorly armed local forces and the first Red Army forces enter Belgium and battle with the local French forces near Mons and Bruges.

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Over the next few days the Red Army recapture both Troyes and Reims while the Soviets continue to advance west capturing the city of Nancy. The city of Nancy was the site of a major US victory over the French Empire in 1918 and it had been hoped that the city would once again be captured by American forces but unfortunately this was not to be the case here. Still these advances by both the Americans and Soviets is beginning to crush the embattled French forces between the two Socialist armies. The end of both the war against the French reactionaries as well as the race for territory between the USSA and USSR is now undoubtedly ending its final stages.

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On July 25th the city of Verdun, long fought over, finally falls to the American Red Army and hours later the American and Soviet Forces in the region meet up. This meeting between the two Red Armies is not as friendly as previous such meetings as a clear rivalry has now developed between the two Socialist powers competing for French territory. Nonetheless this meeting now means that the remaining territory under French control has been cut in two and the Fall of Verdun also leads to the capture or death of several prominent French politicians and the ones who successfully escaped Verdun, including Prime Minister Deloncle, are now roaming the French countryside south of Verdun while a Military Government is formed by the French in Belgium, meanwhile the whereabouts of the French King remain unknown. This collapse of central authority is clear proof that French defeat is now surely imminent.

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The competition for land between the Socialist powers continues as the Americans push south towards Chaumont in an attempt to reach the city before the Soviets, defeating a sizeable French force on the way. Meanwhile the Soviets have entered Eastern Belgium where the Americans have recently defeated French forces near Namur, the city from which the French Military Government is operating.

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However not long after the French Army in Belgium is able to outmanoeuvre the Red Army and recapture Lille. The Americans are able to promptly counterattack and drive the French back out but this was still somewhat of a shock to the Red Army leadership.

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The following day an Uprising occurs in Amiens as a Monarchist youth organization known as Camelots du Roi seizes control of the city from the small Red Army garrison. The proximity of Amiens to Lille where the French had just attacked the day before suggests to the USSA leadership that this was a coordinated action between the Camelots du Roi and the Military Government in Belgium. This suspicious grow further after French commandos land on the Northern coast under cover of darkness to aid the uprising in Amiens. It seems unlikely that the scattered remnants of the French Government were capable of planning this operation on their own, suggesting that another Government may be aiding the French in their fight against Socialism.

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Further south the American advance south continues with Chaumont being captured before the Soviets can reach the city themselves. Further North the remaining French forces have now been squeezed into two large pockets by the advancing American and Soviet forces, one in Northern Belgium and one around Northern Alsace-Lorraine. Once these two pockets are defeated the French ability to fight will be all but destroyed.

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Meanwhile the attempted Monarchist uprising in Amiens is crushed by Red Army reinforcements. This coordinated operation was well planned and it was only the now pitiful state of the French Army that prevented it from becoming a major problem for the USSA. While none of the Commandos could be captured interrogation of several Camelots du Roi members suggests that the Commandos may have been covertly aided by members of the British Government who seek to weaken the Socialists in Europe, even if it means quietly aiding their Axis enemies. There is currently no proof of British involvement in this plot and it would be unwise to seek conflict with the Allies before the Axis are even defeated but rest assured MSS Agents in England will be tasked with seeking proof.

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Back in Alsace-Lorraine the Americans and Soviets are both fighting against French forces in the pocket. There are even some joint operations carried out against major points of French Resistance like at Arlon where the Soviets are able to capture the city before the Americans after heavy fighting. With Alsace-Lorraine now effectively under Soviet control the American Red Army in the sector will be diverted north and south to aid in advances there instead.

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By Early August the Soviets are able to capture the cities of Belfort and Le Creusot effectively blocking any further American advances south. At this point the Soviets demand to be allowed to deal with the French Government, who by now have reorganized in Lyon. The Americans agree and reinforcements are moved north to ensure Belgium comes under American control once the war is over.

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The situation in Belgium is extremely favorable to the Americans with Bruges falling under their control. The last French forces in Belgium now fall back to the capital of Brussels where the Americans hope to reach before the Soviets...

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...and on August 8th the Belgian capital is in American hands and not long after the remaining French forces in Belgium surrender. This ends all effective French resistance in the North and now the only French forces still fighting on are in the south against the Soviets. It now seems unlikely that the USSA will gain control of any more French territory and as such now the priority should be to consolidate control of the territory they now control and wait until the French surrender.

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On August 10th Lyon falls to the Soviets and the French are surely on the verge of defeat now. The following day there is an unexpected development as King Henri VI of France surfaces in England where he announces French surrender to the Allies and calls on the French people to overthrow the Fascist Government. Not long after the French Government is indeed overthrown by Royalists with the help of British Soldiers who were able to sneak into France through lightly defended Soviet territory in the South. The French Royalists agree to hand over control to a British Military Administration for the moment. The British then warn both the Soviets and Americans that any incursion into their territory in France will be considered an act of war. After the surrender of France becomes official the Spanish also agree to peace with Britain but not with the Socialist powers who are occupying their territory. The war will continue for the USSA until Spain is defeated but with the surrender of France and much of France under American control, there is much cause for celebration in the USSA!

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Just caught up with the last couple of updates. Fascinating to see how the war ended up as a battle between the hardliners and the revisionists. Will be interested to see how things untangle. :)
 
LOL what an unholy mess the map of France has become.

Can you get the Spanish to hand over their occupied territory to you? Or will it go to the French puppet that you are surely going to set up any minute now?
 
France has fallen ... been liberated.

And the world asks - who next?
 
With Brussels under American control it is certain, that Belgium will follow the path of true socialism!

You were lucky with that revolt in Amiens - it could occur anywhere in France or Spain, but it happened in place, which best suited
your narrative about Franco-British cooperation.

It will be interesting to see how France will be divided - I am sure, that British will demand at least one coastal province in the south
to have access to their Frech frenemies.
 
Just caught up with the last couple of updates. Fascinating to see how the war ended up as a battle between the hardliners and the revisionists. Will be interested to see how things untangle. :)

Indeed it will, well its hardliners vs revisionists along with a much smaller Britain screaming about how its still relevant XD

LOL what an unholy mess the map of France has become.

Can you get the Spanish to hand over their occupied territory to you? Or will it go to the French puppet that you are surely going to set up any minute now?

Behold the border gore!

Well Spain still needs to be dealt with, how that will go well you shall see soon :)

France has fallen ... been liberated.

And the world asks - who next?

At long last France has been defeated

Well the short answer to that question is...Spain, it's Spain since I'm still at war with them haha

With Brussels under American control it is certain, that Belgium will follow the path of true socialism!

You were lucky with that revolt in Amiens - it could occur anywhere in France or Spain, but it happened in place, which best suited
your narrative about Franco-British cooperation.

It will be interesting to see how France will be divided - I am sure, that British will demand at least one coastal province in the south
to have access to their Frech frenemies.

It certainly will, well at least most of it will anyway

Yeah the uprising in Amiens was good since I could use it to add to the covert cooperation between France & Britain storyline which I was going to be doing anyway since I needed a way to explain how what was left of France would come under British control so quickly after surrender, especially with them being landlocked between the two Socialist powers. But it happening in Amiens at that exact time along with me forgetting that troops can move from Brussels into Lille really helped the narrative so that was very nice :)

About the division of France, it may be messy that's all I'm going to say...but I had actually been hoping that the French would have reached the coast before they surrendered so the future Pro-Allied Government would have a coastline but oh well :p
 
Victory in Europe! Everybody celebrate! :D

Postwar France is going to be even messier than OTL postwar Germany by the looks of things, with no less than three major factions who all have a reason to distrust one another competing for control. Maybe the Americans and Soviets can put their ideological struggle on the back burner long enough to work out some sort of plan for a "united" Red France, at least...
 
Victory in Europe! Everybody celebrate! :D

Postwar France is going to be even messier than OTL postwar Germany by the looks of things, with no less than three major factions who all have a reason to distrust one another competing for control. Maybe the Americans and Soviets can put their ideological struggle on the back burner long enough to work out some sort of plan for a "united" Red France, at least...

Well not quite total victory just yet, there's still the remnants of Spain to deal with first

France is no doubt a mess with how the borders ended up. Yeah a "Popular Front" Government doesn't sound like such a bad idea...or at least it wouldn't if it didn't involve sharing power with revisionists haha