(I swear I didn't rig this)
13 - 20 March '40 - Britain and France declare war on the Soviet Union
“Everyone can see how Communism rots the soul of a nation; how it makes it abject and hungry in peace, and proves it base and abominable in war."
- Winston Churchill, 1940 -
Ah, come in. Scotch? Make it yourself like a good chap, will you?
It appears as if the whole world has gone to war. Today marks our first week in war with the Soviet Union. Sit down and I will run you through the briefing.
Because the need for reinforcements have been so low these last 3 weeks it has let us shift our focus more on upgrading and outfitting our RAF units. This is where the heel is pressing, we need those fighters strong and ready to fight the enemy. Come June and the new 4 Interceptors we should have an airforce more than ready to defend our borders.
Speaking of which, because of our involvement in Norway, and France's obligation to defend the English Channel, the Germans are on a weekly basis bombing Paris. Now these attacks are very limited in damage, and the Luftwaffe has to cross multiple AA heavy provinces. But, and yes there is a rather large but here. The morale and publicity of this is significant. Massive, dare I say. The French government is calling for our help, saying that these attacks must seize. The general public is up in arms over the fact that Notre-Dame, or worse can be bombed to the ground. Now with the war on the Soviet Union, France is more unstable than she has been for decades.
It was a number of unfortunate events that lead us down this path. The Soviets caught us red handed in shipping large supplies across Alta, aiding Finland in their war. We responded foolishly by accusing them of sending oil to the Germans, and leaking important information regarding the positioning of our ships. Demanding that they retreat all ships from the English Channel, and the North Sea. amongst them the destroyer Tashkent. Yes,
the Tashkent
(The Tashkent Incident). Things got out of hand. We're not sure who shot first, but the French Airforce and the Soviet Navy off the coast of Dunkirk got into quite the battle.
Thankfully thinks are looking exceptionally better here. Only a few small riots. The current morale of the people seem to be that of understanding and fear. An understanding of the situation we find ourselves in, and a fear of what might happen if we lose. Churchill capitalised this as he wen't on BBC, broadcasting his speech for the world to hear:
"I speak to you for the first time as Prime Minister in a solemn hour for the life of our country, of our empire, of our allies, and, above all, of the cause of Freedom. The Cabinet, which met at half-past-twelve yesterday, have authorised an immediate declaration of war upon the Soviet Union. Instructions to this effect were sent to our Ambassador in Moscow, and the Russian chargé d'affaires in London and his staff have been given their passports."
"Meanwhile, hostilities have already begun. The Soviet fleet off the coast of Dover were immediately engaged by the French airforce who were there waiting for them."
"We understand the Russian need to be secure on her western frontiers by the removal of all possibility of German aggression, but we cannot be blind as all of Scandinavia dwells brooding under Nazi and Bolshevik threats. Only Finland-superb, nay, sublime-in the jaws of peril-Finland shows what free men can do. The service rendered by Finland to mankind is magnificent. They have exposed, for all the world to see, the military incapacity of the Red Army and of the Red Air Force. Many illusions about Soviet Russia have been dispelled in these fierce months of fighting in the Arctic Circle."
"Everyone can see how Communism rots the soul of a nation; how it makes it abject and hungry in peace, and proves it base and abominable in war. If the light of freedom which still burns so brightly in the frozen North should be finally quenched, it might well herald a return to the Dark Ages, when every vestige of human progress during two thousand years would be engulfed."
"When we think of the insane ambition and insatiable appetite, which have caused this vast, melancholy extension of the war, we can only feel that Hitler's madness has infected Stalin's mind and that the root of the evil and its branch must be extirpated together."
"The British and French peoples have advanced to rescue not only Europe but mankind from the foulest and most soul-destroying tyrannies which have ever darkened and stained the pages of history. Behind them - behind us- behind the Armies and Fleets of Britain and France - gather a group of proud nations and shattered states: the Finns, The Czechs, the Poles, the Norwegians, and the Danes, - upon all of whom the long night of barbarism will descend, unbroken even by a star of hope, unless we conquer, as conquer we must; as conquer we shall."
"This is no class war, but a war in which the whole British Empire and Commonwealth of Nations is engaged without distinction of race, creed or party. If Stalin imagines that his attack on Finland will cause the slightest division of aims or slackening of effort in the great Democracies who are resolved in the pursuit of freedom, he is woefully mistaken. On the contrary, we shall be fortified and encouraged in our efforts to rescue mankind from his tyranny. We shall be strengthened and not weakened in determination and in resources."
Another brilliant speech by Winston, and it seemed to have calmed the public down for now. The House of Common is of course in a bloody uproar. But with the opposition on our side, and with the already restructuring of the government there is little they can do but cause a bloody revolution.
The RAF were issued immediate orders to re-deploy bombing group Norway to Narvik in order to provide some limited support to Finland. Once they've set up operation there, they will start bombing Soviet forces in North Finland. And hopefully claim full air-superiority there.
The Navy was given similar orders. We have dispatched 3 commands towards Arkhangelsk port in order to engage the Soviet Fleet if spotted, to enact a blockade, and to shore bombard Soviet Ground troops. I expect we will find little resistance in the form of a Soviet Navy.
FRENCH AIRFORCE SINKS THE TASHKENT:
Speaking of which, the Tashkent, along with 4 other destroyers were sunk by the Naval bombers of the French Airforce. Clearing the English Channel of Soviet ships.
BRITAIN IN SOVIET NAVY BATTLE:
The Legendary Admiral Dudley Pound and the Home fleet ambushed the other Soviet destroyer force in the North Sea.
The battle was short and decisive: The force of destroyers was swiftly sunk, cementing the declaration of war. This is it, old boy. There's no turning back.
The Winter war still rages on, and Finland must be barely hanging on. We have started ramping up the supply lines.
We now also have full insight on the frontline there, from our Finnish brethren. The situation is not good.
The Soviet have won another battle forcing the Finns out of Sortavala. We know that this has reverted into a trench war. We believe Finland will run out of men and rifles long before the Russians march in on Helsinki.
STRATEGICAL QUESTIONS:
EUROPE:
Let's have a look at the major problems pressing on the British Empire at the current moment. What do we do with this new war we have to wage against the soviets? Well the answer is complex.
1. We could fall back to Narvik, and create a bottleneck there with a strong mountaineer corp. AA, Airforce and the Navy. Or we could go in to Finland with all we have and try to make a push for Moscow.
2. Also we should look at the Oil fields of Baku. If we take them, or bomb them enough, we could starve the Russian and German machinery.
The Situation in Asia is also rather fragile. The border between India and Russia is separated by a small patch of neutral Afghan territory. The Soviets could invade them in order to run in on a defenceless India. A Schlieffen plan for mid-Asia. It would take them some time to mobilise, but it is a possibility. Also the Empire of Japan is still running amok. They could be used against the Soviets, but we risk alienating the United States in the process.
Australia and New Zealand both have a small amount of garrison units at their disposal. Also, they have a small outdated navy. We have sent China Station to Hong Kong to protect the Pacific waters North of them. But Japan is a concern. They will not take kindly on us patrolling in their waters.
The Russians are weak, chap. They lack any modern equipment of any kind, and they are scattered across a vast area of land. But, they can be a mighty nation still. Millions, upon millions of peasants, and we, we are in no position to fight a two front war, not with the manpower we have. So we will have to be clever about this. Press them where they are weak, leave what we can to the allies, wear them down.
There's a special place in hell for people who waste good Scotch, drink up chap.
I'll see you back here next week, hopefully with better news.
England Expects
glad to hear it.
